My late evening awesome foursome friends talked me into wrting something, may be I can switch careers............ dont know..............
Am not going anywhere with the accounting career any wayš
So check it out!
OK ladies here is my fan fiction, tumne maanga aur humne likh diya.......... The second part to follow soon, apna cereal bowl lekar aati hoon then i'll type š
Dont ask me why I wrote this scene, I mean for some reason all i cud come up with was a post J &B separation and Karwa Chauth scene. She works for another resort compnay. That compnay is selling their two resorts one in Nainital and other say in Darjeeling to Walias. Bani is the intermediary for the M&A......
She has been working as Ms.Dixit for so long, and for the past couple of weeks biz brings Mr.W to her office as well.
Its KC day so the wife has been up in since 4 fixing the meal for the niteand has had a rouch day at work with Mr W all nasty and demanding at work. He ofcourse has NO clue its KC day........
She even misses her daily lunch sessions with a group of young profs at work and gets taunten by Mr W about it too he says "MsDIXIT, (that intonation cannot be missed) aapne lagta hai apna lunch aaj miss kar diya, aapka group waha khaa raha hai"
Mrs W: (lying)Thanks for asking Mr W, aaj subah mai Rano se mili thi so we had a brunch! I am nt hungry
Mr W: That means aap woh Darjeeling resort ke occupancy scenarios shaam tak finish kar paayengi (smugly)
At home later in the evening its around 8 or sow hen she gets home......... buys the sieve (have i spelled it right? š ) she had forgotten to buy till today......... Has food on the table, dresses in hubby's fave color pink suits:-)
Has almost everything ready for her KC, except for one minor detail ..............HUBBY is missing š
Vows that she is going to do her KC without him, as both have too much ego to ever ask the other
Doorbell rings
Bani opens
Who else........... Mr W standing there with the largest bouquet of pink roses she has ever seen
Mrs W :Mr Walia (shock and surprise)
Mr Walia: Mrs Walia.........(faint emphasis on the Mrs:-)
Bani senses furious color rushing to her face...................
Turns away to go inside after accepting the flowers, our Mr ofcourse does not need an invite into HIS WIFE'S apartment, follows her........
Mrs: Aapko kaise pata main kahan rehti hoon
Mr: Kyon chhupana chahti ho kya?
Mrs stunned instinctively some how reaches for that slender short mangal sutra around her neck to check to see if it had slipped out of the V of her kurta, it had .............. tucks it in guiltily not looking at him
Mr: Main to tumhare address ki baat kar raha tha Bani, tumne kya socha?
Bani tries to act busy in the kitchen putting stuff away, getting the table ready etc.
Mr: Baneeee
Mrs: no response
Mr Banee, aaj shaam ko Sahil se baat hui usne kaha woh ghar jaldi ja raha hai, kyon ki Rano ka pehla KC hai..............
tears fill up Bani's eyes
Mr: Bani tumne mujhse jhoot kyon bola tum Rano se aaj mili thi
Mrs: Actually main mili thi aaj Rano se
Mr: Banee dont tease me, tum mili hogi but u didnt eat brunch
Mr: Bani bahut baarish hone waali hai, plz finsih ur rituals, and lets eat
She looks at him shocked............... he says "Chalen"
Sheslowly picks up that pooja thali he hands her the sieve still almost wrapped in the newspaper,... taking the paper away.....
J: Mujhe pata nahi hai kya karte hain, tumhe batana padega Bani...........
B: Maine maasi ko phone kya kyon ki mujhe bhi Punjabi reeti rivaz maloom nahi the
J smiles smugly
Walk to the balcony, patio what ever
She holds the thali, he in front, she does teeka on him (not sure if this shud be done guys to maaf karna, i am not a panju myself and havent lived in delhi for over 10 yrs now so dobt know:-(
His cell phone rings
He answers, some buddy of his
J: ya, am at my wife's
Friend..:
J: guffaws...... ya right
Friend.......
Talks away while Bani waits for him to be done, he has his eyes lokcked on hers as he speaks and assuming that she wants him to do something, shifts the phone to his left hand, picks up some sindoor with index finger and thumb, spreads in her parting that was empty uptill now
Bani blushes stunned, when he realizes what he's done he blushes too.....
Quickly ack the caller and hangs u[p
Both cant talk..........
Both do the eye locking scene..........
B: (flustered) Ek minute.........
Picks up the sieve and looks at the moon, looks at hubby, whose eyes as usual transfixed on her:-)
Puts it back on the tray HE is holding now:-)
B: Ab aap mujhe paani deejiye (extends her hand)
J: (Ofcourse! he is not gonna hand it to her) holds the cup close to her lips, she drinks out of it.
J sets it back
Automatically picks up his fave besan ka laddoo and goes to feed himself, looks at her..... winks and gives her one of those warmest smiles and proceeds to feed her, she takes a bite (star hai poora to nahi khaayegi:-)
and stops him, he sets that back, looks at her slowly picks off crumbs from near her lips and feeds himself
J: tumne banaya
B: (sarcastically) nahi maasi ne bheja
J: Goes into peals of laughter at the pointed jealousy
Part II
She does the other ritualistic stuff, and when they are done, head inside... She takes the tray from him and sets it on the dining table and notices a gift bag (pink ofcourse!) and wonders where it came from, Jai is in the meanwhile busy trying to figure out Bani's TV remote........
She doesnt want to ask him but knows it must be from him, opens it and find a box inside containing some exquisite jewelry...........
The phone rings, she is still looking at her present,
J: bani phone
B: Kaun hai (absent mindedly)
J picks it up : Hello, who is this
Bani's friend :Main Diya bol rahi hoon, aap kaun
J: This is her husband Jai Walia (with a smile)
B freezes in shock as Diya has NO clue Bani is married, her hubby picking up Diya's call is the last straw, before she can do a Superman leap and reach the couch, he is already talking with her.................
B has an OMG! look on her face, she tries to grab the phone
Jai avoids her hand and speaks into the phone :Here u go Diya for some reason Bani is really excited to talk with u today and winks
B: Mr. Walia plz, phone deejiye
Jai hands it to her finally
Bani has lost her voice by now, her hrt is doing 200 beats per second all becoz of her infuriating hubby.........
B: Hi! Diya
D: Bani kaun tha woh, is he serious, are u married? are u really married to THE JAI WALIA
B: Diya main tumhe kal call karoon?
D: OMG! U are married to him aren't you, he is there for KC
B: Please Diya (angry and blushing at the same time)
D: Bani I have to hang up now, mujhe apne hubby ko sab batana hai, OK bye
Leaves Bani staring into the receiver............
B: Mr Walia why did u pick up my phone
J: Bani u wanted to know who it was, ur caller ID is not working so I thot Id ask
B: OMG! Ab pata nahi kal kya kahegi
J: Tum itna dar kyon rahi ho Bani?
B: Aapko khaana khakar jaana hoga
J: You are my wife, tum yeh khel tab tak hi khel sakti ho jab tak main participate na karoon, tum ab Ms.Dixit nahi ho, you know that and I do too
B refuses to argue goes and sets the dinner plates and sits down, he follows
J: Bani tumne aaj saara din kuch nahi khaaya, why? (in his usual exasperated tone)
B: Yeh gift mere liye (changing the topic)
J: maine pehle sawal kiya mujhe pehle jawab milna chahiye
B: Mujhe bahut bhook lagi hai
He does not argue, starts to eat, eats a spoon full and then as an afterthought..........picks up the fork with rice and and slowly brings it to her and says, "khao"
She doesnt expect it........ takes the offereing and continues to drill holes into her plate with her eyes, refusing to look at him, him on the other hand has no such qualms continues to stare away, sensing her flaming cheeks..............
J: Ab bataogi mujhe saara din kyon kiya fast? I dont expect thsi from you Bani/ Why do u do this? I have never starved for u why do u do it for me?
B: I wanted to..............
J: Mere ghar mein mere saath nahi rahogi par mere liye itna sab kyon, Bani
B: Mr Walia, main abhi dahi lekar aati hoon................
jAI GIVES UP
They both finish dinner.......... she restacks the leftovers in the frig, her gift bag is lying adjacent on the counter.......she picks up her present again,
B: Mr Walia, its beautiful, (lets say its a bracelet that has her birthstones in it)
Goes on to wear it in her right wrist, he helps with the clasp, noticing she is wearing her kangan, looks up at her, she looking at him for so long, looks away when he tries to look at her. She has her back against the frig and he is in front
B: Its sooooooo pretty, aapne pasand kiya, ya kisi ka help liya (hinting some female co-worker)
J: What do u think? Bani
B: Aap to itne busy rehte hain, kisi ko keh diya hoga, shaayd Sanjana Dayal (if I have time I 'll write another one with his new "mistress" in itš)
J: Sanjana kyon? (feigning innocence)
B: (all riled up blurts......) kyon ki jab aap meetings mein hote hain, woh aap ka cell phone receive karti hai
J: So u noticed
B (nonchalantly) I dont care Mr Walia, maine to unhe dekha bhi nahi hai, aapke office mein hai aap jaante hain usko, I dont know her, mujhe aap se matlab....(stops herself from saying hai).....
J: Hmmm?
B: Mera matlab hai mujhe aap se
J: sun raha hoon.......... giving her one of those super hot looks, his breath fanning her flaming cheeks.
B: Mera kaam aap se rehta hai is liye main phone kar leti hoon aapko and finds her voice trailing off.
He places a hand on both sides of the frig imprisoning her and bends down....................
This moment had been coming for the past 3 hours they were together...... both intensly aware of each other, Bani especially going great lengths to avoid touching him........... and now THIS..............
J: Sanjana aaj nahi aayi
J: (bending down further) maine khareeda tumhare ghar aane se pehle
B: (voice becoming a shrill in a nervous chatter.......) Mr Walia, its very pretty I love it, I will wear it to work tomorrow, mere paas is color ka bag nahi hai..............
J: Bani Thank you nahi bola?
B: Oh! I am sorry
J: Hmmmm
J: (huskily) Dont worry Mrs Walia............I will just take my thank you.......... Happy first Karwa Chauth to you too
Seals her lips with his
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PART III
There shud be a competition for this kinda thing like Sa Re ga ma pa, where ppl can present their story, scene ideas to actual script writers, paise to milenge.........
Awesome Foursome and all the 15 others who loved my first part, here is the next one....
Pata nahi Anu, Raaga etc roz itna kaise likh lete hain, gosh..................
AD, wanted an elevator scene and one when he rescues her from baddies............
I thought about this last nite (ab show ke baare mein sochna chhod diya hai:-) Girls, maaf karna if there is indeed no writer inside of me waiting to "crawl out of my mouth" (my son believes he crawled out of my food pipe and mouth and thats how he was born)
Oh Gosh I am too old for this stuff, but hey what the heck!, its a as good a time pass as eating tube lights Right?
Plus it doesnt even hurt my insides, except my heart which races..............
OK thats enuf warning...........
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The elevator scene
Bani at Jai's office, done with work, and more importantly a huge confrontation with Sanjana Dayal is still fuming when she gets on the elevator, Mr W's private, elevator hops in and waits for it to descend.
Bani had been working at Mr W's the past week and had been noticing Sanjana come in to work with Mr W each morning at 7, she has not been the happiest Bani..................
Bani and Sanjana going over the Darjeeling resort plan, Mr Agarwal wants JW to buy DJ outright just like the Nainital, JW, is not so sure, he wants to laese a part of it first,............
Sanjana has been working with JW lawyers drafting papers for the buyout, and has the lawyers say that its a complete two resort by out, Bani goes over everything with her, and realizes the DJ is also a total buy, checks with JW, he blasts her off, saying "You put on paper what ever suits ur boss"
That enrages Bani some more, she meets with sanju and starts politely as to how she cud have overlooked the details
S: maine socha Mr W is buying it afterall
B: Mr A wud like for him to but Mr W is not very excited
S: lekin kal shaam ko jab hum ghar ja rahe the Mr W ne kaha khareedna itna bura idea nahi hai
B:(oh boy! Oh Boy! assumes the worst) Mr W ne tumhara dil rakhne ke liye khareedna chaha hoga
S: Kya matlab hai aapka
B: Mera matlab hai, Mr. W obviously aapki decisions ko bahut value karte hai tabhi aapse kuch aur mujhse kuch kehte hain
Bani is not aware that JW had just stepped into that room and caught most of S & B conv
B: Aapko unhe bataana chahiye tha ki aapne papers draft karwaye
S: I am sorry Mr W ne aapko daant diya, main unki taraf se maafi maangti hoon
B: Why shud u apologize on his behalf? (Bani si even more jealous and angry)
B: Maybe jab aap dono shaam ko saath saath ghar jaate hain aur .................. (pauses deliberately to refer to the fact that they may be spending the night together) ya phir jab subah kaam par saath saath aate hain, to aap unse kaam ki baaten zyaada kar sakti hai
S: Main samjhi nahi Ms Dixit
B: Aap Mr W se kyon nahi poochti woh zyaada acxhha samjhayenge aapko (sarcasm dripping from her voice walks out of the room in a huff, encounters hubby at the door, gives him a hell has frozen over kinda look and goes off towards the elevator)
She waits for a few minutes, JW's elevator si the first to appear, she enters.................. and Mr JW forces himself into it in the last second, sending shock waves thru her. She reaches for the stop button, wanting to get out
B: I am sorry didnt realize yeh aapka elevator hai
J: too upset to even react just gives a nasty look and hits the door close button..........
B: Mr W I want to get off
The lift starts to descend
JW: What the hell was THAT Bani?
B: Main ek hafte ki chutthi le rahi hoon Mr W, I will ask Tarun to fill in
JW: Bani's whats going on? Why were so so nasty to Sanjana back there?
The elevator just stops and starts beeping
JW: (swears) bijli chali gayi
B: Oh No!
JW walks over to the panel and hits some battery operated interior light
A dull light comes on
JW:Tum Sanjana se itni nafrat kyon karti ho Bani
B: I dont hate her, I dont care for her, Mr W
JW (not amused) Bani main tumse pooch raha hoon wahan office mein kya hua......
JW: And oh BTW(nastily) I want u to be incharge of the merger, not Tarun, if u are going to recommend him then I am going to pull out of thsi whole deal
Bani whips herself into this jealous rage, it was as if JW's irrational burst of jealousy had given permission for hers to exist and finally she was free to allow the corrosive envy that she had been trying hard to to hide to bubble to the surface
B: Sanjana perfect woman hai na aapke liye, usko incharge bana dete hai......
JW: What the hell is that supposed to mean?
B: Apki perfect partner hai na woh HAR TAREEKE SE, office ke kaam mein perfect hai, woh to koi galti kar nahi sakti, na hi kuch galat keh sakti hai kabhi, Bani hamesha galat hai.......... you are so hung up on her, aap hamesha uske baare mein mujhse kyon poochte hain?
JW: Hamesha? Aaj sirf maine yeh poocha ki tymne Sanjana se is tarah se baat kyon ki, uski kya galti hai................
B: OMG! Uski kya galti hai? Mr W usi ne error mein lawyers se galat terms likhwaye agreement mein NOT ME
JW: You cud have told her calmly, itna naraaz hone ki kya zaroorat thi?
Bani's eyes well up with tears, she feels JW cares more for S and not her.......
B: Aaj raat ko jab aap dono ghar jaayenge to usko mana lena aap
JW: Bani kya ho gaya hai tumhe? What the hell is wrong with you?
B: Roz sabah aap uske saath 7 baje kaam par aa rahe hain ek hi car mein Mr Walia (she cannot hide her grief any more), main bachi nahi hoon, shaam ko saath jaate hain subah saath aate hain iska kya matlab hai
JW: OMG! Tum kehna chahti ho ki main aur Sanjana..............
B: (looks away in hurt and pain)
JW: (his anger was like the flick of a velvet whip) For goodness sake, tum yeh sochti ho ki main uske saath jaata hoon aur office 7 baje aata hoon so there is something?
B refuses to respond
JW: Bani if it was you instead of her with me, we wud STILL be IN BED at 7 in the morning, .................. (pausing to let theimplication of his words to sink into her)
aur main hospitals ke chakkar nahi kaat raha hota sanjana ki mummy ko dekhne ke liye...
Bani's color rushes back to her face at that remark (well u see they have this uncanny ability to understand the unsaid things.... right? yahan to phir bhi JW made an oblique reference and how can she miss that š )
When she realizes what he has just said, she is shocked
B: Kyon? Sanjana ki mummy beemar hai?
JW (bitterly) haan, yahan itna kaam hai main bhi jaldi aa raha hoon, woh bhi, so maine socha why not do her a favor........................
B is sorry, but wont say it..........
The elevator is still stuck
JW, in front of her.............
B: Gosh! I feel like a fool, Sanjana kya sochti hogi mere baare mein
JW: You dont look like a fool, you are just a jealous wife (with that twinkle)..........
They stare and and stare...... JW closes his eyes and calmly exhales........
B slowly reaches out and touches his cheek. JW with eyes closed there was a disturbing vulnerability to his face, she cudnt resist the urge to smooth the silky dark hair back from his forehead. He doesnt move............. his lashes form a dusky arc above his cheekbones. It makes B reckless, it makes her want to touch him in other places..........her fingers slide daringly over his ear to the heavy collar of his jacket
JW,(catches her wrist and huskily warns.....) Bani, agar tum koi cheez khatam nahi kar paaogi to shuru bhi mat karna
B: I Dont
JW: Dont what?
B: (softly........)to stop, she laces her hands into his hair behind his ears and draws him closer
JW: (hoarsely trying to avoid her eager hands.......)Bani be sensible
B: Mr W aapke paas hum dono ke hisse ha sense hai..
She had never felt so free and independent........... as she brought his head down to hers and the dark bloom on his jaw rasped like fine sand paper against her tender cheek as JW angled his head lower and with a satisfied groan covers her lips with his....................
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PART IV
PART IV
PART IV
Awesome fOursome.
Here u go.............
AD
Mujhe payment chahiye IN CASH š
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Lets say Bani's silent admirer in the resort company is Tarun Seth.
Jai has been noticing them a lot at work either both working at Bani's desk or Tarun's and is not happy at all, every time he visits Mr.Aggarwal's office, he finds them together working ofcourse, but together........ He has shot his famed arrows at his wife thru his eyes, she has gotten the hint, but just chosen to ignore him..... His patience was already running thin..............
They have some serious issues to address, theya re separated right now, but both wont let the other go..........
Bani's co-worker at Mr.Aggarwal's company, Priya had gotten engaged that nite and the whole "lunch crowd" attended to congratulate the couple. Priya, especially close to Bani had been with her the nite before and both had gone out and gotten mehandi in their hands.............
The engagement was at Mr. W's hotel (where else? incidentally the pix Ekta shows to be JW's hotel is Oberoi Towers in nariman Point Mumbai, lets assume its that......), the event goes of smoothly, the drinking and dancing happens until after midnite......... Bani is hanging out with her friends andhaving a good time tho she does not drink ;-)
Its time to go, Tarun offers to share her cab and drop her off first, she agrees, they step out of the hotel, Tarun goes off to hail a cab, Bani wanders around the jogger's path....., Tarun realizes he is missing his cell phone, remembers having lent it to a friend for a call, goes off inside the hotel to get it,..............
Bani waits and walks around, not realizing, two creeps have been watching her every move since she stepped out of the hotel........... ........ Walk up to her and ask who she is waiting for, seeing them decently dressed, she actually responds and tells them she is waitingf or her friend
Then the guys get more creepy leave her no room to walk, sidling up against her, saying "Agar aapke husband busy hain to hamare saath chaliye"
Bani's face pales, she seems to have lost a her voice,she opens her mouth and just exhales air, fear grips her as the guys get more insistent.............
Just then Mr JW's car makes its way out of the basement, she doenst know that, she is busy trying to get away........... the guys start following her briskly........
She starts cursing tarun under her breath, as to why its taking him so long, she is scared and starts sweating breaks into a run .................
One of the creep's fat hand clamps around her wrist and an obscene smile splits his rubbery lips.....
Bani becomes the object of the welcome rescue as Jai instructs his driver to stop, gets off his car and tackles creep number one first, whose has his hand around Bnai's wrist, Bani is too stunned to react at first and later realizing who her rescuer is relief turns into shock.......... She utters "Mr Walia aap" hoarsely
In the meanwhile JW and his chauffer are busy punching the creeps black and blue, JW swearing away........., one of them lays in a heap on teh sidewalk, while the other is getting some solid punching from Mr JW. His chauffer is busy calling the cops.
JW: Dharshan ACP ko phone karo, thaane mein nahi
D: Sir number?
JW : 98*********
D dials.........
A squad car doing rounds in the area shows up in minutes, grabs the guys and JW spits some pithy instructions to the guys about having spoken to the ACP.......
Mr. JW has appraoched her by then,
J: Bani tum theek ho na (totally worried)
Bani ack with her eyes:-) running her hands up and down her arms and shuddering wondering what might have happened had JW been a few minutes late...........
Bani though cannot believe her good fortune, suddenly realizes that tarun must be looking for her, just then the phone rings
T: Kahan ho tum, main hotel ke gate ke bahar tumhara intezaar kar raha hoon
B: Woh kuch gunde mere peeche padh gaye the
T: Kahan ho tum jaldi batao
JW grabs her phone and barks into it "Dont bother!" and hangs up for her
Bani is suddenly outraged..........
J:(standing before her, hands on his hips, thru his teeth) Get in the car Bani
B: before she can open her mouth)
J: GET IN THE GODDAMN CAR RIGHT NOW!
B:Main Tarun ke saath aayi, main usi ke saath jaaoongi (sulking away as she slowly walks to hsi car)
J I want u to be very careful what u say right now Bani, main tumse abhi bahut khush nahi hoon (his eyes boiling over)
B: Aap kab mere se khush the Mr walia
J: Shut up and get in Bani
J: Darshan chalo..............
B's phone rings again
J: Agar tumhaare hero ka phone hai usko bolo, phir se chhup jaayega
B does not pick it up.........
The car makes its way thru the almost empty roads of downtown Mumbai.........
J: Raat ke 1 baje hotel ke bahar kya kar rahi thi tum?
B: Thanks for your help, but its none of your biz
J: Tarun ke saath tum hotel aayi thi ?(accusingly)
Bani looks away
J: Tum apna mooh pher logi to main gaadi se disappear nahi honga Bani, ANSWER ME
B: woh aaj Priya ka engagement tha, Sunflower Room mein wahan aaye the hum sab log
J: Incredulously) Kaun sa aadmi ek ladki ko Mumbai mein raat ke 1 baje sadak par chhodkar gayab hota hai?
B: (righetously defending Tarun) Tarun gayab nahi ho gaya Mr Walia, woh apna cell phone bhool gaya tha, he asked me to stop a cab in teh meanwhile.........
J is even more agitated and annoyed
J: He left YOU on the street to look for a cab?
He buries his face in his hands and swears........... runs his fingers thru his hair and looks at her exasperatedly.................
J: Baneee,Do you realize agar main nahi aata to kya hota?
Bani starts sobbing, he gently puts his arm around her shoulders and holds her tight and lets her sob away................. into his chest............flips open the glove compartment which is at the back side of the CD conatiner between the two front row seats, gets hers oem tissues..........
She accepts them with a nod, furiously rbbing her swollen red eyes...............
Darshan assuming Bani wants to go to her apartment ahs pulled over in front of her builduing
JW steps out, opens her door..........
She steps out and they walk towards teh elevator.
J: We need to talk
B: Thanks for the ride (hinting for him to leave)
J: Dont be ridiculous
They reach home, J gets the key from her opens the door, flips the light switch .......
Sends her off to the couch, gets her more water............ Jai takes off his jacket, yanks his scarf out and undoes the second button on his shirt and rolls up his sleeve in a move to relax or get ready for war Bani doesnt know which.......... Bani's eyes lock on his, her face freezes...., Jai's eyes dont leave her as he proceeds to drape her chair with hsi jacket and scarf..........
She has calmed down almost fully, waiting for him to leave. He wont budge
J: How long have you been seeing Tarun (trying to sound inscrutable)
B: Mere saath kaam karta hai, I am his friend, aur kuch nahi
J: kya is "friend" ko maloom hai ki USKI friend shaadi shuda hai
B flushes
B: (guiltily) nahi...........
J: kyon?
B: Maine kisi ko Mr Aggarwal ke office mein nahi bataya
J: mujhe aur kisi se matlab nahi hai, why DIDNT U TELL TARUN (barks)
B: Mr Walia woh sirf mera dost hai
J:(with an expression that cud have strangulated Tarun had he been there)Kitna kamaal ka dost hai! he goes around with MY wife, endangers her life and
B(defending Tarun yet again) woh apna cell phone lene........
J: stop it bani, dont say one WORD...............
J: I want this guy fired! (smugly)
B: No!
J: um abhi bhi sochti ho Tarun ki aaj koi galti nahi thi?
B bends her head down guiltily
J: Thats what I thot! (nastily)
J forces himself to calm down........ walks over and sits down by her on the couch...........
J: Tum yahan akeli, main wahan kaam mein busy, I just cannot let the situation be like thsi Bani
B: Main theek hoon
J: You have to make a decision soon, ya to tum mere ghar aa rahi ho ya main yahan...........
Bani blushes stunned!
J: I wont allow thsi Bani, bahut ho chuka tumhara khel
B: i dont want to live with you (lying......... sulkily)
J: Tumhaare paas koi choice nahi hai, aise hi lagi raho tum Tarun ke saath, aur ..................
J suddenly realizing............turns angrily towards her and demands
J: Has he touched you?
B: (before she cud make up her mind to lie or give him a flippant answer........ blurts) NOOO!
J: Good! Usko apne haath pair ki zaroorat hogi, naukri karne ke liye
Both dont say anything.............
Just look at each other
Bani's mind working overtime to send him home.......... some how make him leave
J: You shud rest (gently smoothing her hair back from her face)
B: Mujhe movie dekhna hai
J softens
J: Kaun si
B:Woh kal Priya ne diya
J walks over to her TV, opens her DVD box, plugs it in
Walks back to the couch
B: Mujhe popcorn chahiye
J amused.........."OK"
B: popcorn, microwave ke oopar waale shelf mein hai
Few mins......
J: Yeh lo
His cell phoen rings
J: Haan laakar mujhe de do aur chale jao
Doorbell rings Darshan brings his laptop bags hands him the car keys and leaves
B is officially scared on seeing that
J brings her popcorn
B: Mujhe lights nahi chahiye
J: Bani lekin mujhe kaam karna hai
B: Mujhe lights nahi chahiye
J exasperated
J turns off the living room light and leaves the kitchen one on
J joins her on the couch turns on his lap top and turns to her
J: Aur kuch? (before he starts working)
B: (pretends to think............) Hmmm blanket?
Bani smiles to herself in a wicked sorta way, the great JAI WALIA has been reduced to a mere house help today, Bani's own personal slave, wonder what Jigyasa will think about it she wonders...........
J (smiles mockingly) sets his laptop back on the coffee table
goes over to her bed brings her fave blanket............. tucks her in, she merely nibbles on the popcorn.........
J : aur kuch? ..............May I (pointing to his laptop)
B: remote kahan hai?
J cannot take it anymore, his wife being so maddening was quite new to him.......... no body leave alone, no woman had ever made THE JW slave like this:-)
Picks up the remote from the coffee table and mock-menacingly bends over to her, she brings her hand up from under the blanket and takes it............ he notices her mehandi
and slowly pulls her other hand out and holds both wrists and starts LOOKING like a project file:-)
Turns sideways and meets her nervous eyes............ and asks "Dono haath mein ek design banate hain ya alag alag"
B: (Where does he think of such questions kinda look on her face) shrugs flirtatiously..... "meri marzi"
J traces the design on her right palm with an index finger... creating all sorts of feelings inside her. she quickly shuts her palm, trapping his finger........
J: Banee......Its beautiful, aisa lag raha hai shaadi tumhari hui hai
B turns beetroot red looks away
J: I never saw ur mehandi after our wedding..........
J and B's hands begin to tussle, him trying to open her palms her refusing to relax her fist, her bangles tinkle and he laughs huskily at the fight she is putting up............ JW obviously the stronger of the two letting her take the lead:-)........ and the tussle continues, her triumphant laughter, mixing with his husky ones over the tinkle of her bangles
He looks at her, bends down further and nuzzles her face while she tries to avoid her lips
J (sensuously looking at her lips.......) maine poocha tumhe aur kuch to nahi chahiye...
B: (avoiding the inevitable)haan
J: (still trying to beat his wife in the game, hovering over her face, everywhere except her unattainable lips) kya?
B: You need to shave!
J: Nice try Bani, I am not falling for it this time!(and then with consummate ease brings his lips down on hers his kiss deepening and lengthening........ drawing her trembling body toward him)
P.S. Being the JW he is he wud have dragged her home tonite itself but I decided to lengthen their separation to torment both a lil more š
*********************************************************
Bani slams the door shut and walks out in a daze. She cant believe what Mr Aggarwal has just said to her. It just cannot be true. Her face is ashen. She slowly walks back to her desk and sets her lap top. Mr A had just revealed that the Rs. 25 lakhs personal loan he had granted her a month ago was actually funded by JW.!!!!!! Bani was not prepared for this. Another shock was to follow, Mr A had finaly convinced JW not to lease part of Darjeeling but to go out and buy it all (read part 2). Mr JW had agreed! Now Mr A and his comapny and his employees INCLUDING HIS WIFE were all part of the Walia Group. Mr A had also informed her that JW wanted the loan to be paid off in a month
Bani did not know what to do. She had taken that loan for Pushkar. He was setting up his first business, a florist in Mumbai's famous biz district..... Pia had pleaded Bani for support despite knowing she doesnt live with Mr JW anymore, with great difficulty Bani had approached Mr A and requested a loan. She knew commercial banks wud not lend her such a high amount considering her non-existent credit history
Now Bani was pushed to a corner.............. And Oh! Mr A told her as a favor Mr JW had informed his assistant that he wanted a "personal meeting with Ms.Bani Dixit" later that day so that Bani can plead her case and may be buy more time.
The thought of meeting Mr W made her sick with fear. Bani's mind was working overtime, doing a quick assessment of her financial situation and where she cud come up with that kind of money. SHE DID NOT WANT TO GO MEET HER HUSBAND. the animosity had increased in the last month or so. She knew what JW was capable of, . But she had not expected things to come to this this quickly. She was aware that her husband desired her physically and he had made it apparent many many times. There wud be too many akward moments, too many opportunities to surrender to the guilty feelings that lay so shallowly beneath the veneer of her detachment
She checked her watch it was 2 PM, her meeting with JW was at 4. She had not seen him in over three weeks now after the HUGE showdown with Jigs at a mutual friend's wedding. Bani had vowed never to see the Walias again if she cud. To top it off JW had seen her lunching with Tarun more than once, she was happy Tarun was alive......
The cab pulls outside JW's hotel. Gets off pays teh cabbie, walks in with her head held high. Tells the lobby mgr she has an appointment with Mr JW at 4. He sends her off to his elevator. Bani hits the floor, cruelly she amuses herself by thinking that a cat 5 tornado probably wud spin less than her stomach right now.
Steps off at the 15th floor, Mr JW's assistant Ms. Singh greets her with a pleasant smile.
Bani excuses herself to use the rest room, goes off splashes water on her face, hides it in a towel until eternity, wipes off, starts counting to calm herself, gets herself a drink of water.
Steps out and is greeted by the big brass W facing teh reception desk at the lobby, sends her stomach back into a spin.
Ms Singh smiles as she walks towards JW's office overlooking the Arabian sea. She knocks.
J: Come in
does not lift his head from looking down at the lap top
J: Yes?
B: Uhhmmm.
(that's ALL it takes for hubby to swing his head up and lock eyes)
J: Mrs Baneee Walia!!
Bani childishly wonders for a second why that doesnt sound too bad at all...... Jolted back to the real world trying not to fall on the floor in a nervous heap wishing her face would NOT take on a newer shade of red each time he said her name like that:
B:Aap mujhse milna chahte the?
J disconcertingly was watching her from under his lashes, swivelling in his chair elbows on the hand rest......fingers linked his solid platinum watch gleaming in the Mumbai mid day sun coming off the window.
Bani wonders if that Rolex costs more than her personal loan. I probably did she concludes angrily............
It was his eyes that really disrupted her carefully composed indifference, Oh how she hated those eyes!!
**********************************************************
J continues to drum his fingers on his left fist..........
B: Mr W main aapka yahan rythm sun ne nahi aayi
J amused as always.............
J: wont u sit Bani
B gives hima dirty look in exchange and proceeds to take one of the two chairs opp Mr.W's huge polished cherry desk
B bends down and fiddles with her pallu and purse refusing to meet his eyes, hears a chair creak and when she lifts her head up Mr W is in front of her, leaning against teh desk, arms folded at his chest. B stonily stares at his hands, notcing that darned watch again and the fine smattering of hair beneath it following it all the way into his white shirt sleeve and realizes slow color rising to her face................
J: Bani, coffee?
B: Nahi (still looking at his wrist)
J: Anything cold, you look hot!
Thats it! He got what he wanted, her eyes fly to his at that remark. Fidn them laughing..........
J: I meant tumhe garmi lag rahi hogi na?
B: Main yahan coffee ya kuch bhi peene nahi aayi. Why did you want to see me?
J ignores her leans backwards, picks up the intercom and asks Ms Singh to bring Bani some chilled lemonade.
B: main kuch nahi peeoongi. Mujhe office mein kaam hai, aapne mujhe kyon bulaya? Aapka loan main ek hafte mein chuka doongi. Mujhe nahi chahiye aapse kuch bh......... (quickly corrects herself) mujhe nahi chahiye aapka paisa..............
J(bluntly) keh chuki tum?
B: Mr A ne mujhe woh loan grant kiya. I had no idea you were planning all this.
Knock on the door
J: Come in
Ms Singh: Mr W lemonade for the lady (winks at her rhyme)
J: Smiles back cheerfully THANKS!
Bani tries to smile but cant
Ms. Singh leaves
J: Bani drink your lemonade! (noticing the tiny beads of sweat above her upper lip)
B picks it up and angrily gulps it down "Fine! Mr W. Here u go"
B: Mujeh aur nahi chahiye" slams the glass back on the table.
J: Careful! Mera table todogi kya? (in jest)
B thinks "I wish!"
J picks up the frosted glass raises a toast and starts drinking
Jaws flex, cheeks plump up as he drinks, B drawn to it......... thinks he seems to take an inordinate length of time about it, although it may have just been a few seconds in real. JW releases the glass from his lips, runs his tongue over his upper lip grabbing the residual sweetness of the chilled drink....................Bani cannot help remember how those lips felt on hers.......... atingle shoots through her body and her lips part in anticipation and just that moment her eyes rise only to be arrested by his in that knowing look and Bani wants the earth to swallow her
THIS IS NOT GOING WELL She thinks looking away. Owing him money was hard enough without having to want to kiss him..................
J: Lets get back to biz. Shall we? (JW gets up walks over sits in his chair swivells................)
B: Thats why I am here (she bites the words out)
J: When you have the check ready, take it to accounting and get your receipt (bluntly)
B suddenly realizing that she may NEVER have that money
B: Mr W woh mujhe ek mahine se zyaada waqt chahiye................ please
J: Kya kaha last mein? I missed ...........sorry (sounding quasi-sincere)
B:PLEASE!
J: Oh! I thot tumwoh paise arrange kar chuki ho?
B: Woh Pushkar ko biz start karne ke liye diya
J looks at her broodingly, later with envy thinks "How can she give herself totally to ANY cause like this? How can she be sooo goddamn caring about every Tom Dick and harry in the world and NOT him?. Does she even have any clue what she is doing to HIM?"
J: (raises his hand) I dont want to know, tumne unka kya kiya. I just need my money
J: If thats it............. thanks for coming Bani..........
B confused, not sure if its actually over...............
B: Mr W agar main arrange anhi kar paayi to................. mujhe.................aapse
The gleam comes back into JW's eyes, like a seasoned hunter angling its prey, gets back up from his chair walks back to hers..........
Leans over the arm rest, she shrinks back..........
Reaches behind her pulls her claw clip from her hair attaches it back to her purse handle like he had noticed on some women's purses:-)
J: I dont like your hair tied back like that (husky warning)
Watches B's silky locks frame around her face
B blushing wildly, nervously "Agar main woh loan return nahi kar paayi"
J: Now you talk!!
Pulls himself back, drags the other guest chair by her and sits down!!
*********************************************************
Part C
J: Speak up Bani
Bani hated her situation today. She wished she had never borrowed that money. Why cudnt she have told Pia that Pushkar cud asked Mr W directly. Why DID SHE DO IT.
Her husband was not an easy man, he was easily the most ruthless, arrogant, insensitive man she had ever had the misfortune to meet.
B: Mr Walia, shaayd main woh paise aapko itni jaldi nahi lauta paaoongi
J exhales as if his tension was being relieved her she thinks sarcastically
J: to?
B: Meri salari se aap woh har mahine kaat leejiye, I know usme bahut time lagega, but jaldi hi Pushkar is promising ki uske paas profits aane lagega to he can repay the principal faster
J just looks and listens intently
B: Main yeh nahi keh rahi hoon ki main return nahi karoongi
J interrupting her angrily
J: I knwo what you mean (reaching for a purple vinyl folder from his desk)
B:Mr W?
J still thinking and reading
Its B's personnel file
J: You make Rs.x a month.......
B: Mera file aapke paas kahan se............
J: I own........... (locks his eyes) leaving teh rset unsaid.......
She shoots daggers
J continues to read
J: Hmmm tum itna advance kyon leti ho?
B: None of your biz
J: (shrugs) It is mine now Bani......... tapping the copy of the loan form
Leafs thru the rest of the file
B thinks tartly "Look all you want its just my official data! I cudnt care less, its not like it has my bra size or anything"
Just that moment he looks up meets her eyes
J (huskily) I already know THAT! š³ lowering a heated gaze to her neck transparently visible under the peach saree.............
B gives him a "Go away" kind of look.................
B: (cannot take it anymore) It was ALL our plan YOU wanted me to be indebted to YOU. YOU LET mr A lend it to me, aapne wait kiya dekha, aur mauka paakar company khareed liya. I HATE YOU.
J: Be very careful Bani.... aur kya kaha tumne? I want you to be indebted to ME? Do you have any idea what I want you to be? (looks intensely and then looks away, she was the most infuriating woman he had ever met)
B: Aapne kya decide kiya hai?
J:(going off on a tangent) I am trying to get into some South east Asian franchise for a leading hotel chain based out of Bangkok. They have 7 resorts in the south east
B: Kya matlab? (confused)
J: Oh! I mean, meri aaj kal kuch Thai biz men se baat cheet chal rahi hai us baare mein......
They want to visit India next week, around 5 of them I think............ They are very impressed with India's cultural image and values............
B: Mr W looks like aap mujhe tang karne par tule hain. I want to go.
Gets up to leave
J pushes her back gently in her chair and his voice takes on the haunting/husky threatening quality again
J:I want a WIFE!
B ( She gets it the moment it spills from his mouth) YOU ARE CRAZY!
J: Mr Kim is bringing hsi wife along
B:(angrily, flustered) YOU ARE CRAZY MR W. NOOOO!!
J calmly:I am not letting go...............
B totally scared......... looks up at his eyes
J: Of my money.......... I meant............
J: Banee........Whats mine is MINE. You knwo that..............
Bani unzips her purse open and pulls out a Kleenex and folds it up carefully with nervous shaky hands and presses it over her upper lip, despite the room being chilled like the North Pole
J: Mr Kim was wondering if I was married, I suddenly realized I HAD A WIFE (tauntingly) and her name is............ Ms Banee Di,............... Walia.
B: nahi Mr Walia.......... I need time.. I have to ask around..............aap mujhe sirf thoda sa waqt deejiye
J: TWO DAYS! (abruptly)
J: Friday morning I am sending Darshan over Banee apna suitcases pack karke rakhna ya usko check de dena
JW gets up leans over again , gently tucks an errant bra strap into her blouse on her right shoulder..........
J: (softly in her ear)The next time u wear this saree I suggest u go for a strapless bra, the neck on this one is too bloody plunging.............
********************************************************
PART D
It takes Bani a while to recover from his touch on her shoulder and what he has just said. Collects her composure and gets ready to leave. Its futile to talk with this man. Especially in the mood that he is in she thinks. He has his back turned towards her and is by the huge windows looking at the bay She gets up to leave....
J:(still looking at the waters) Jigyasa Ranveer aur Rashi ke saath hamare Shimla resort gayi hai, Sahil aur Rano Germany mein hain yeh to tumhe pata hoga...................
Was he by any chance trying to make this easy for her? BUT WHY?
B turns around, he has turned around by now both look at each other. Bani bends down standing still
He walks up to her
J: Do you want me to tell Mr A ya tum khud kahogi?
B: kis baare mein?
J doesnt respond just looks
J: That you are my wife and your husband has told you that your single's party is over?
B: Nahiii (she has to do it, but she doesnt know how or when................)
J: (changing the topic on her again)Its your choice, u can continue working from Monday or quit after coming HOME.
Gives another chance to Bani to turn red..........
Bani is frustrated and helpless its her turn to walk over to the windows and she looks at the seniors doing their evening walks and the young love birds holding hands flirting laughing........... walking by the embankment levy overlooking the hotel, dividing the endless ocean from the world humans inhabit................. Ballloon sellers and chaat waalas hawk their wares........... its turning out to be a perfect breezy Mumbai evening actually, she thinks to herself. Wonders if any body she sees down there is faced with the same predicament as she is................
J leaning against his desk, arms folded, feet crossed at the ankles.............
J: Ya tum yahan kaam karna chahogi? I can talk with Mr A about it
B: (still looking out the window)Mujhe kitne din tak rehna hoga gha..... mera matlab US ghar me, she corrects herself.
J (hiding his amusement) Shaayad ek hafta shaayad 6 mahine.................. it all depends on Mr Kim, if he decides to partner he may stay longer........ dont know
B's heart does a huge flip flop. OMG! A week wud be fine, how can she live with this man for 6 months in the same house?
B: Itni der nahi lagegi mujhe Mr.W. Ek mahine ke andar hi main woh loan repay kar doongi. Then you will have to give Mrs.Kim some new lessons on Indian culture and marriages (turns around faces him tauntingly with a forced smile)
B: I have to go! (starts walking to wards the door again)
She wishes to run away............. may be to Mount Abu............ Not even tell Pia about it........ Rano wudnt know either, JW can spend a week or so stewing about it she thinks nastily, until HE FINDS HER............. doesnt want to think about what wud happen afterwards
J cals after her "Banee"
B turns around and looks at him
J still leaning on his desk "Dont even THINK about it!" Bani cannot hide her guilty expression
J continues pointedly "Getting u back into my house is MY first priority, the rest can wait............ for now"
I just have to KILL HIM, thats it all my problems will go away............... God! how she wanted to do that........... she thinks, slamming the door behind her........
*********************************************************
PART E
This will go down as the shortest two days of Bani's life. She calls Mr A from the cab that evening and tells him that she is taking the next couple of days off. He worries, she reassures him that everything is OK and she did indeed have that chat with Mr W and he has agreed to "talk about it" she tells him.....
Cabbie drops her off at home, she charts out her escape plan first and gives up when it doesnt take her beyond Mt Abu.................... Stands in her balcony and reminisces about that wedding and the showdown with Jigs. The physical thing she felt for him was never going away it wud never simmer or die for her..................... its the other pesky stuff she thot smiling self depricatingly................
She had met Jigs and Mr W at the wedding, Jigs at her nastiest best smugly informs her that she wud never get a chance to host a wedding for HER kids coz thank God Jai bhayya had sense and nothing happened between them or Jigs wud have to deal with a younger breed of trailer trash just like Bani and sisters....... that hurt Bani immensely and she shot back with "I am glad Jigyasa aunty that I was not pregnant, coz I wud never be able to forgive myself for bringing another arrogant bas**** like ur brother or a ...... like u into the world, agar mujhe pata bhi lagta main pregnant hoon to main terminate karwati"
Jai catches the last part of her conversation!!!!
She can never forget that look on his face for the rest of her life..................
She didnt know what she feared most the boss, the husband, the lover or the pure unadulterared enemy.............
She goes back in...........
Calls Pia to get an update on how biz is going, doesnt reveal too much..............asks if Pushkar can arrange money from elsewhere nder an emergency. Pia is confused but doesnt pry but promises to to talk with Pushkar and get back to her..............
She spends Wednesday scouring the market for loans, online, over the phone, and by foot!
The amounts and rates come nowhere close to what Mr A had advanced to her
She wearily returns home in the evening, decides to take a shower and finish reading her book
Walks out of the shower, wraps her twoel around her head, its too big, cant get it right, falls off to the floor as she rushes to pick up the ringing cell phone under her pillow........
B:(husky) Hello!
J: Bani?
Almost drops the phone and heart starts racing
B: Mr Walia?
J: Who did u think it was?
B: Arjun Rampal (snaps back)
J spends until eternity laughing, she can feel his eyes tear............
J: Nope! this is just ur husband..........
Bani's phone slips partly becoz of what he said partly becoz her wet hair is drenching he hair and hand.............
J: Hellooo! Bani kahan ho
B: Sorry! (quickly curses herself in her mind for being so polite) woh mera haath geela tha, baalon mein paani hai to phone gir gaya........
J just exhales deeply...............
Both dont say a word
J (hoarsely) were u in the shower?
Gathering her towelling robe close to her neck with her left hand............
B: Aapne kyon phone kiya?
J: I asked first...........
B: hhaan
J: Are u done or did I get u out of it?
B: I was drying my hair........
J: Dont.....
breathes heavily
J: Bani do u have a passport?
B: Nahi............ kyon?
J:We'll just have to get you one..........swing by my office tomorrow and sign the forms, Ms. Singh will prepare the package...............
B: Main kal busy hoon.........
J: OK fine! You can do it after you come home
Set for Mr walia!
Bani starts shivering
J: (tickled) Bani kal se shower mein jaane se pehle pankha zaroor band kar lena!
Click!
********************************************************
TWO DAYS ARE OVER
Bani actually spent the entire second day moping, plotting newer and better schemes to get back at hubby and will set things into motion as soon as she can............
Packs what ever she wud need for her stay at Walia Mansion, jewelry, books CDs clothes..... Calls the owner and informs him about being away, she lies its only for a month..........
Wonders how her life would ahve been if she hadnt left Mt Abu. Wonder what it wud have been like if Pia had married him and not her..............
Tosses and turns all nite, not able to sleep all nite. No calls from JW all day Thursday makes her wonder if she shud even go ahaed with her plan or just atke time off and go to Mt Abu. She decides to speak with Mr A and tell him about her "married" status. He is going to be hugely shocked she thinks but he has to know. The sooner the better, he had been a better boss than JW ever was she thinks nastily!. Maybe she can ask him to keep it under wraps she is ready to tell every body.
Soon she planned to quit Mr Aggarwals Valley Resorts and start looking for a job elsewhere. She refused to work for a company owned by Mr W. she has to repay the loan so may be a better paying job or one that wud advance her atleast part of that money so that she can get out of this situation š”
Its almost midnite............
Her cell phone rings She knows who it is without looking she lets it ring, strangely her heart does that drum roll in ESP,each time............
B: Hmmm
J: So gayi thi kya?
B: Hmmm
J:(innocently) Baat nahi karogi?
B: Kuch important kehna tha aapko?
J: Ho gayi tumhari packing?
B:(sarcasm) Nahi agle hafte tak ho jaayegi
J: Its ok tum aa jao kal subah, ghar se koi jaakar tumhara samaan lekar aa jaayega
B: Nahi main apne samaan ke bina nahi aaoongi
J: (authoritatively)Bani we made a deal. I want you in this house TOMORROW MORNING!! Or I need my money back.
B: Ab mujhe sona hai........
J:(silky promise) Good! Get your full nite's sleep when you can. Its probably your last one!
Pause..............
B(irritated at being unable to win .......ever with him and frsutrated at being sleepless) I dont want you to touch me. If you do I am leaving Mr W
J:(huskily) I am Baneee.......... u just dont realize it............
Click!
Friday morning dawns..................
Bani si not sure when Darshan is going to arrive. She wont wait she thinks, will just take a cab...... Serves Mr W right.
Showers, suddenly realizes she had forgotten about Tarun totally the last couple days, he must be thinking she has taken ill or something. Must call him today FROM MY CELL PHONE she promises herself........
Dresses in a blak salwar and kurta š¤¢ realizing fully well that JW does not like her in anything except sarees. After teh fiasco with her blouse at his off, she dare not wear one again she thinks................ Clips her hair again!
Throws all her left overs from the frig. generally fidgets not able to concentrate on TV.
8.50AM Doorbell rings
Its Darshan Singh!
D: Good morning Maam, Sir ne bheja..........
Bani si thankful that JW has not divulged all the gory details of his revenge slavery scheme to his chauffer....
B: Gmorning... aap kaise ho?
D: Main theek hoon maan
B: Mere bags wahan pade hain
D no qs asked pics em up goes off to the elevator
This is it Bani thinks.................. stomach doing a somersault.............. prays for courage and will power to fight till finish..............
B picks up the other bag and her purse, locks up and goes down..... finds D coming back up, takes her other bag .......... Its JW's white Merc.........
He shud have just let me atke a cab she thinks
What if she had ran away (smiles wickedly to herself!) Mr JW wudnt tolerate THAT! Hence thsi personal attention.............
Bani in the back seat............ She wants to go meet Maasi and Dadi she loves them soooo
Outside Walia mansion........
Steps off nervously enters.........
Rings the bell...
Tony opens
T: Good morning Maam, Sir to nahi hain......
B: Tony main yahan.............
D brings the bags Tony just takes the bags and goes upstairs. A good butler shudnt interfere right...............
She follows him
B: Dadi aur maasi kahan hai?
T: aapko nahi maloom dono teerath karne gaye hain? Kal shaam ko gaye
B feels her shackles rise (How DARE HE, HE HAD PLANNED THSI ALL, How dare he, she silently fumes)
T: Maam aap kuch khaayengi?
B: Nahi
The luggage has obviously been put in JW's room
Tony leaves the scene
Bani ready to explode, picks up all the bags and walks across the hallway to the room farthest from JW's
Unpacks maniacally..........
Reads her book, watches TV
Takes a nap.................
Does not leave the room ..........Tony comes and goes asking /bringing food something to drink periodically............
Its 7 PM decides to go take a shower, does that, wraps herself in her robe............. walks out brushing her hair
The object of her thoughts saunters in wearing THE PINK SHIRT ( š Hey! its my fantasy alright?) and black trousers, sleeves folded up neatly 1/3 of the way . Rough day! Bani surmises from the way he looks hair all tousled........... Let him, he NEEDS all the money she bi****S to herself
JW walks into her bathroom!
B thinks "Uh Ohh!! This is not good". She tries to sneak out to the bedroom but JW is quicker he seals of her entry and holds the door
knob by his hand. She has her back against the door and JW in front.
He is just looking not saying a word.
B: You need to knock first!
J Hello......... Mrs Walia.......... Welcome! (did not sound like a welcome at all to her more like a threat)
Trying to distract him from where his eyes were going.
B Mr Wa..........
J: Shhhhhhh!! (he places his index finger almost on her lips DOES NOT TOUCH).
Slowly he traces the path of a droplet of water sliding down her neck
with his finger without touching.
B mesmerized follows the path of hsi finger..........
J: You said no hands last nite remember Banee?"
(He waves both his hands innocently in front of her and places them
on either side of her head on the door and bends down to catch the
droplet with his mouth.
This is a slow ecstatic torment, she does not know how to react steels herself to stay still..........
J slowly lifts his face from her neck area and leans his forehead on
hers and says "Tum change kar lo, varna sardi lag jaayegi. Aur tumhe
to pata hai ki zyaada bukhaar se pneumonia bhi ho sakta hai. We have a busy week next week!
Cant have you get sick"
Walks away leaving her seethe in fury!
***********************************************************
PART G
The imprint of his lips under her collar bone burnt Bani for hours after JW was gone. As if she was thinking about him any less.............. he sends these love postcards every
once in a while she thot bitterly.............. as she dressed for the nite in her blue capri pajamas
For a man who usually went after what he wanted, and got them too, JW was showing incredible patience and perseverance where Bani was concerened............ It was
unsettling for her to imagine what was in store and how long this cat and mouse game would be played...........
HE WAS NOT STALKING HER. In fact he did not keep tabs on where she was or what she was doing how she was spending time when he was not around............. He just
let her be......... many times he did seem distant and unintrested in her affairs. It all changed when ........he came face to face with her, that he turned her world upside down
like this.
He did not come back to her room again that nite, did not insist that she move back into his, was not being a very good host she thot, didnt bother to ask her if everything
was ok, if she ate or rested.............. (Did he want him to?)
Bani bolted her door on the inside and went to bed, she had eaten a heavy snack after her late evening nap and wasnt too hungry..... Her husband being a just a few feet
away across the hallway was sure to keep her up all nite.......
Left her bedside lamp on, tucked her cell phone under her pillow and tried to sleep...
Woke up to the sounds of the hedge being watered ........It was 9 AM! How cud she have slept that long she wondred, hurriedly freshened herself up and wondered if it was
time to let go of her self imposed curfew. Where was JW she wondered!
Opens her door peeks across the hallway, no sign of anybody. Oh ya Mr Walia ne to sabko rafa dafa kar diya mere aane se pehle she sulks, ghar pe to koi hai
nahi..............
Walks over to the balcony and sees the gardner trying to hold on to a serpentine out of control hose ending up spraying most of the water over himself and some sparingly on the hedge :-) There was open land as far as her eyes cud see, where the green well-manicured lush lawns ended the sands of the ocean began and then the ocean itself..............
the breeze was salty and cool on her skin.....
Closes her eyes and drank it all in..... the birds, the breeze and the ocean.............
Did not realize hubby walking in and standing by the round table across the room over looking the balcony, just leans on the table, legs crossed at the ankles..... he is all showered, shaved, and wearing a much washed white cotton full-sleeve shirt, sleeves rolled up comfortably till the elbow accentuating the gleam of his Rolex against the darker skin of his wrist............, with navy blue Dockers and matching suede loafers in his feet.........
Waits patiently until Bani turns around to enter the room finds him looking at her with deep unfathomable eyes..........flusters her.........
B: Mr Walia aap knock kyon nahi karte
J: Good Morning Bani.....
B: I dont like this, main aapke kamre mein aane se pehle knock zaroor karti hoon (its another thing that she has not ventured out of her room yet:-)
J: Tum aayi kyon nahi neeche breakfast karne, aaj Tony ne tumhare fave poha banaya hai
B: I was sleeping
J: Did u sleep well last nite? Did u dream of me? (winking)
B: (blushes) NOOOO! (ONLY YOU, ONLY YOU she thinks)
J: Thats what i thought.................. (knowingly)
J: Tumhaare kamre se view kaisa laga?
B(honestly) Its great! I love it
J: (pointing to the folder on the table) Bani apne passport ke forms sign kar do
B(thinks......Why cant he FORGET something for a change?) Mr Walia I dont need a passport
J: Bani dont argue......... Thai visa ke liye bhejna hai AFTER we get YOUR passport.......
B: Mr Walia I am not going anywhere with you
J(amused) not ANYWHERE Bani, just Thailand
B(spontaneously) Very Funny!
J: (smiles that she can relax with him) Bani sign karo
B: Mr Walia I am not going.......
J(loses his smile, becomes steely eyed) Bani u will go where ever I want u to.............. until u owe me that money, u dont have a choice Bani...........
B speechless, grabs the pen he hands her.....
B angrily "FINE! WHERE DO U WANT ME TO SIGN"and signs Bani WALIA (;-) on each spot he points........ Does not look up to his face coz he is watching her sign too. Bani's hand shakes her signature messes up a lil, coz of the proximity...........
he has left barely an inch of space between them...... all fresh and raring to go.......... while she was still in her sleep clothes........... she thinks. "I will buy out all the supplies of this cologne in Mumbai when I get that money" she thinks
nastily........"and throw it in the ocean"
She is done......... He stuffs it back into the folder does not move from behind her............
She cannot step away until he does
J: Yahan ka ocean air bahut salty hai na? (laughingly)
B: Turns around in that cramped room he has given her to.....
B: Haan ****** trees ke wajah se bahut saare nesting birds bhi hain, I want to buy a book on bird watching..............
J bends down suggests softly........ "Tell me later"!......... binds her resisting lips with his......... her splayed palms on his chest pushing with all her might... ready to shove him away............. "Stop fighting me Banee" he breathes into her lips
He is done in what seems like eons to Bani her hands have crushed his shirt front like cellophane, head bending down, eyes closed....... almost leaning on his open shirt front............ hot all over...... hands still crushing his shirt........., He patiently waits for her to use him as a shield against her own emotions, breathing hoarsely himself..............
She realizes suddenly and lets go
............... JW steps back runs his hand thru his hair (first time in the day š ) and then smoothes his shirt looking at her mock-accusingly
J:Banee ocean air sach mein bahut salty hai (winks again!)
JW is off, reaches the door turns back............."Banee, Go wash off all that salt in the shower and get ur pass port photo taken unless u want me to come back"
Walks away.
*******************************************************
PART-H
Bani is ready for the day, walks down the stairs stealthily wearing simple blue jeans and a
sleeveless white Polo t-shirt hair tied back with her fave white, faux ivory /bone claw clip walking
shoes on her feet,goes over to the dining table sits down opens the serving bowls and sees poha
with cashews in it ( usually ppl make it with roasted peanuts, for our JW cashews are peanuts for
him:-). Bani doesnt like em much...... Serves herself two serving spooon fulls, pours some
juice.......... sits down to eat.......
Tony walks by, nervous he wasnt around to serve
T: Gmorning Maam
B: Gmorning Tony
B: (hesitantly) sir chale gaye?
T: Maloom nahi maam, kyyon? aapko kuch kehna tha?
B: Nahi
Continues eating, she has separated all her cashews and stacked them on the side of her plate as
and when she finds them in her spoon (;-).............
She is sitting at the table with her back to the stairs, doenst see Mr JW step down stealthily as
well:-)
Tony is gone now..........
Bani is chewing away deep in thot.......... making patterns with her fork on her plate......... she
needs to talk with Mr Walia she decides about going back to work, she wud tell every one at
Valley resorts abt being married she decides. She is meeting Pia for lunch to share
everything....... well not everything she blushes......................... closes her eyes for a minute to
let her hrt calm down drops her fork on her plate ............. AND HE NEEDS TO STOP TOUCHING
ME OR I WALK OUT she thinks, he can sell her body parts and get his money back she
fumes..................
J swiftly unclips her hair thing her almost wet hair cascades down her back........... she swings
around startled...
J Wearing ivory is an offence tumhe maloom nahi
B:(almost choking on her poha) Mmr.Wwali a.......hhh please..........
J waves it in front of her......... she lunges......, he switches it from hand to hand........ and finally
tucks it into his shirt pocket.... all eyes, just examines her from head to toe, drinking in her bare
untanned arms.......... her t-shirt with no buttons and face scrubbed of all make up...........
Her hair is all over her face now.......... and her t-shirt neck line suddenly seems too plunging, she
doesnt know what to do, shoves her hair back clutches the front of her shirt........... and sits down
wearily..........
B: its NOT IVORY, Mera hai mujhe maloom hoga na, its mine dont touch it! give it back......
Nope! doesnt get it back........
J: Kitne clips hain aise tumahre paas?
B: 100!
J Ouch!
B: Mujhe aap se baat karni hai
J: abhi kahan ja rahi ho?
B: Mr Walia please............
He sits down at the head of the table by her picks up her fork and devours all her cashews from
her plate............ Bani has a stunned O on her face.........
B:Mera nashta hai
J: I know (smiles), tumhe cashews nahi achhe lagte na, u shud have asked Tony to make some
with peanuts................. (relishing eating out of her fork,)
B I need to talk
J: "hmm" continues eating off her plate......... just the cashews.........
B: . I want u to knock every time u come to my room............. (sternly) If you touch me again I am
leaving............. NO HANDS NO..........
J looks up from the plate for her to finish
She is too angry and flushed to complete her sentence
J NO......? (softly)
B:(changing the topic) Main Monday se kaam par ja rahi hoon
J: Theek hai you can go with me
B: Apne office. I dont want to work with u (living is hard enuf she thinks)
J: I dont think u feel that Bani (knowingly)
B: Main Mr A ke office mein sabko batana chahti hoon
Looks up at her face imm....... a spark of satisfaction crosses his eyes she is sure she saw
it.............
J: abhi kahan ja rahi ho?
B: Kahin nahi
J: I can give u a lift
B: Apne room mein ja rahi hoon (saccharine sweet)
J: Can give u a lift to there too (winks)
Gets up and goes hopefully out of the house and HER LIFE BANI PRAYS............
Bani has her lunch date (takes a cab both ways:-), explains everything to Pia. Pia is shocked and
outraged that Mr walia wud do something like this, both talk talk and talk some more........... Pia
tells her that she and Pushkar want to have a baby. Bani feels a bowling ball hit the pit of her
stomach.........
She spontaneously wonders what it wud be like to carry JW's child, quickly dismisses that thot as
insane, spends the day window shopping with Pia, gets home at 9 PM, worried if JW is home......
Bani is back home showers, dresses in her blue capri night suit, walks out to brush her hair before
bed routine, finds Mr JW relaxing on her bed................ arms behind his head, one of her pillow
spropped up against the wall, dressed casually in an old t-shirt and sweats.............
B sees his reflection stunned turns around ready to shout....Her cell phone rings, she worries if it
is Tarun lunges across Mr W (Yes!) to get it from under her pillow............... it rings and rings and
stops.... she gets up to go
Her MS is caught in his t-shirt button, she cant get up, she is sprawled horizontally across his
chest.............
B: Oh no!
J still looking not a word!
B yanks it and further tangles it.
B: Mr Walia please
J: shrugs lazily hands still behind his back... "its yours Bani not mine"
B almost in tears "Why are u doing this?"
J (innocently) what did i do?
B: Mr Walia its your shirt.........
J: Bani its u mangal sutra
Bani struggles
and just gives up anchors her elbows on his chest and hides her face closes her eyes and runs
her hands thru her hair in frustration......
J not wanting to torment her anymore...........
brings his hands out from back and tries to untangle
J: Bani peeche se utaar dogi to jaldi niklega
B:(shocked! clutching on it tightly) NOOOO!
J (understanding that she is not ready to take it off, u know senti stuff:-) Bani, I'll try (softly).
Twists it back and forth and it comes off
Bani is a nervous wreck....
B: thanks
J:Thats it? (holding on to her wrist so that she cant get up)
B:GO AWAY!
J: In a minute(huskily)
laces his fingers thru her hair and brings her face down to his "Aage se phone bedside table ya
dresser par rakhna"...............
*********************************************************
One of the readers is tired of the alphabetizing this whole thing so here is
PART 6
Monday morning 10 am J in his office, busy working away. Ms Singh knocks
J:Yes?
S: Jai (first name basis, tahst right...... š ) here is Bani's passport form package, review it so we can send some one to the Commissioner's office and speed it up
J: Sure, let me take a look
Ms Singh leaves
Jai opens the folder......... forms neatly stapled together, sees Bani's picture and stares at it. Its what she was wearing on Saturday he thinks, the white t-shirt and no make up look, she looked incredibly younger than her 23 yrs he felt.....
Smiles to himself that she lied that she was going back to her room............. wonders if she brought them here in person, coz she didnt hand it to him this morning, in fact she was not even up when he left for work at 8..................
Picks up the phone pushes Ms.Singh's key,
J: Ms Singh, did Bani bring her passport photos?
S: No Jai, Darshan gave it to me
J OK thanx
Hangs up and a slow smile spreads on his face........... she didnt want to risk seeing him again he muses, he hadnt been making it easy on her, š³ since she moved in.
Heck he wasnt making it easy on HIMSELF he curses................
He could tell how it wa saffecting her too.............
Picks it up walks by to the bay windows, idly flicking thru the forms requiring his inspection............. He had lost of work to take care of strangely lacking in application............ first time in life not really worried about the occupancy at his various hotels or which new one to buy next
Bani was a calm composed, self-respecting girl he knew that.......... she was not as expressive as he is(hsi mouth twitched) but he was driving her over teh edge.............. She did not care for his wealth or hsi power, she hadnt touched a penny of his money during the separation, her name still appeared in all his private bank accounts.......... she didnt seem like she cared for it at all..........
Behind the cool calm exterior he knew there existed a very vulnerable, nervous person trying her best to fight herself and his physicality........he wanted to reach out and touch the woman inside, he wanted to know what she was thinking, he wanted to feel what she was feeling...........
He was not normally known as a violent man, very charming on the contrary, but his wife stirred feelings him that he didnt know even existed......... She just managed to get beneath his skin, her new found independence give her that added spunk, egging her on to take him on.............
On the day he had overheard Tarun Seth at valley Resorts talk about wanting to marry Bani Dixit and how she had agreed to "date him" tahts what Tarun had said...........he entertained thoughts of going over to her cubicle and closing his fingers around her throat and squeezing the life out of her as Tarun looked on..........helplessly..............
That was one of the reasons, he had decided to buy Mr A out on impulse that afternoon, he wnated to end Tarun's career at his company as gently as possible, the closest thing he can get to end now, if not his life!
The loan Mr A had wanted for Bani had just been an added bonus, he WANTED her back, in his life, his house, his BED....................He wanted to find out what sort of games she has been playing behind his back, having her in his house would be a start...............
JW glanced impatiently at the narrow gold watch on his wrist.............. it was time for his 10 O clock, he looke at his wife one last time and closed the folder, called Ms Singh in and asked her to submit the forms
Cell phone rings, picks it up without chkg who it was, the object of his THOUGHTS...........
B:Hello Mr Walia......
Jcloses his eyes at the mention of the word his heart skips 10 beats.........
B:Mr Walia?
J Thanks for the photos Bani........
B: no response
J: Bani, Thai embassy se pata karwaya hai, we may have to go in person........
B totally ignores his words, may be its in French she thinks.......
B: Mujhe Mr A ne Darjeeling resort ko merge karne ke liye meeting set up karne ko kaha
J: Ms. singh se baat kar lo I dont know what my day looks like, I have a 10 O clock.
B: Aap aaj office mein hain?
J: Aur kahan hota?
B: Kal aap nahi the ghar pe maine socha aap Bombay mein nahi hai
J(softly) Did u miss me?
B IN YOUR DREAMS! (snaps)
J ALL the time Baneee,(huskily) all the fr***g time (half hoarse, half tormented his left hand effortlessly thru his hair, not realizing its the beginning of a busy day and he needs to look well-groomedš)
)
B: I have to go (barely audible herself)
J: Dont........
B: Mr Walia.....
J: Bani............I meant from my dreams...........( voice sounding more like himself now with a mockery intact......she knew so well)
Click!
******************************************************
PART 7
AD tumhe dedicate kiya yeh.............
(All those who hate to read abt dry biz stuff can skip this part, I hate what they show in Hindi movies and TV shows where they say things like "Hamara maal pasand aaya is liye hame 5 crore ka order mila, is liye 2 crore ka fayda hoga" crap. It ANNOYS ME, so I decided to write some sensible stuff, so rdrs who dont care for it can skip. Thx)
Bani had managed to tell all the 20 staff members at Mr A's Mumbai office. Tarun was away at Darjeeling ands he wanted to break this news in person so she refrained form calling his cell abt it.......... Unless one of the others had already called him and spilled the beans...........Valley Resorts main office was at Shimla where Mr A's biggest resort was (which had 42 cottages:-), and the one in Darjeeling had 28.......... Mr JW was going to lease part of Darjeeling but buy out Shimla in full, but suddenly a month or so ago, Bani tries to recollect, Mr A ack having recvd the offer to
sell...... Bani herslf had found out abt the sale on the day Mr A dropped the bombshell about her personal loan..............
Wednesday morning Bani not at all feeling peachy, not in the best of the moods either gets in to work, doesnt have a bite to eat or drink...........she knows that she has to head to Mr JW's to present the initial losgistics of Shimla AND Darjeeling. She is wearing her black pant suit with a cream/yellow blouse, hair OPEN framing her face. She didn't want to give JW a chance to touch her when she was in HIS territory. She hadnt seen him after the phone call on Monday morning, she again wondered where he was and who he was with (:-))
Checked, re-checked, loaded all her slides in her lap top and got ready to head out to JW's for the meeting at 11AM
JW's "buy offer" was contingent upon disclosure of full facts and "inspection of facilities" and other such real estate buy logistics. Bani's job today was to present ALL the facts as known to Mr A about hsi two properties, full and fair..........
Gets off the cab, takes the elevator to Mr JW's offices, the meeting today was with his whole Corp team consisting of his accounting head, Operations head, HR lead and and a third party company that usually pitched in to handle all legal and govt formalities..........
Ms Singh greeted her cheerfully at the front office, and sent her off in the direction of the Bd room. Bani prayed for her facts to be accurate and enters the room...
Mr JW already in there, Bani is used to the usual flip flop her stomach does on seeing him, today he is dressed in coffee colored pants and a cream/yellow full sleeve shirt, rolled up signature style (1/3rd š style), his shoes match his pants accurately, may be they were custom sewn she thinks bitterly, his silver Rolex making patterns on the Bd Room ceiling playing with sun's rays š ....
There are a few from the meeting team already present............
J looks up from his laptop when he sees the door swing open, eyes meet hers, she looks away
B: (looking in general at a spot behind JW's head on the wall) Good morning all!
J is too quick, he has already caught her look at the disgust she felt at his shoes (;)
The folks in the room wave a cheerful hello and " Hi! Baneeeee"and tease her about how prepared she is and go back to work
The projector cable is by Mr JW laptop she sets her laptop down, pulls the power cord from under the table and leans over to hook it up with the projector cable......... notices a nick in JW's jaw where he has obviously hurt himself shaving in the morning he notices that she has noticed it....................
The same cologne, mingled with the man's scent, made Bani even more ill..........
J: U dont like my shirt? (softly)
B: (deliberately cheery and loud) Excuse Me Mr W what did u say?
J: (two can play this game kinda look on his face louder than her ) I thot u didnt like my shirt Banee
Now Bani is is not so sure
B: I am sorry but what gave u the idea?
J: Tum zyaada khush nahi lagi jab tumne kamre mein enter kiya aur mujhe dekha so I am just assuming its just my shirt and not ME! (looks around for approval from the audience)
B:I shall reserve my opinion on the man and his shirt at this time Mr W (she smiles forced....)
Hushed laughter spreads.
More people join in............Meeting begins............
Bani starts off with Shimla.............
The sales figures, occupancies future outlook, licensing, everything and anything her research cud find she shared...........
B:It wud be the second foothold for Walia Properties and Investments in the North of India, after Shimla and considering the increased Southern tourist exodus to Northern hill stations in summer it would do very well in JW's portfolio
J: What about the landslide in Shimla last year?
B: (a little nervous) yes?
J: (very biz like, not at all like a hubby. He prepared well for his meetings he expected everyone to do the same)Shimla-Mandi road was closed for over 6 days and the property being bang on the highway....... the HP govt forced the resort to act as public shelter, how much revenue was lost?
B: goes thru her files and is able to answer, Well....... a little over Rs.1lakh 37 thousand
J: Over 37 thousand or under?
B: (trite) 1,37,765 to be precise.
J: Why shud I buy if I have to lose that kind of money, may be even more than once a year?
B: The road paving project has begun HP govt has assured ki kaam 18 months mein ho jaayega, and already 9 months have passed.............. so landslides shud not affect the road going fwd.
(Looks like he has collected all the nasty questions from the group for himself , she thinks, the team questions are a breeze, she walks tall:-)
J: One more question Bani........... may be the last before we break for coffee.
B: Hmm?
J: Himachal Govt is not new issuing building permits to resorts, then how can we construct on the vacant piece of land by the back cottages, Mr A informed that HP govt and Shimla zoning commission are at loggerheads over it, how can u help
B is stumped.......... She seriously does not have a clue.
B: I can get back to you on that Mr W. I havent recvd any new notices or directives from the govt regarding the property....
J: I am sure your ppl have back in shimla, aapki last kab hui unse baat?
B: A week ago
J: It pays to talk every day when u are selling (mockery)
PPl start getting up to leave for coffee, JW chats casually, some decide to take a walk to relax some go for coffee..... Bani in no mood for coffee, still feeling sick decides to review her Darjeeling notes............
J DOES NOT GO..... š
Bani does not lift her head up from her laptop she knows its only her and him and is in no mood to talk after the recent drubbing.........
J sits back down and starts punching keys in his laptop
J: Banee, so are u sorry for the cut on my jaw? (taunting)
B Noooo! (still doesnt look up)
J: I know what cud heal it...........
B: I dont, and dont want to know............
Pause ............. he watches angry color rush up her face..................
J: Arent u taking a break? u shud go stretch out and relax and have something to eat......
B I am not hungry
B: I dont see YOU realxing?
J: I am...........
B: Agar yeh aapka relaxation hai to i really dont think i will like it when u are excited...........
J: (huskily)Oh banee.........Tumne mujhe excited dekha hai and you didnt hate me at all.
THATS IT!!!
She cant have this conv now, she gets up and leaves................ his amused eyes following her .........................
*********************************************************
Part 8
Bani went back to the conference room in around 5 minutes and learnt that Mr JW had afterall extended the break to help ppl grab a bite before they can reassmble on darjeeling.
Mr JW still intact at his chair, typing away, deep in thought, not really looking up to see who it was, he probably knows its me she thinks wryly............. š”
Bani goes back to review her slides.
Ms Singh enters cheerful as usual Does she EVEr have a bad day B wonders......
Places two packed boxes on the table, looks like its from the hotel's 24 hr coffee shop.
Ms Singh "Here is snack for the Sir and lunch for the lady" (sorry Tisha mujhe maaf karna NEVER AGAIN I promise! š ) , and giggles like a teenager
JW: You shud write poetry for a living Ms Singh
Ms Singh I think so too Jai........
Leaves............
JW(looking at B): B u shud eat, I just ordered lunch
B: I am not hungry Mr W, but thansk for asking...........
JW Bani plz dont argue for everything (sternly)
B: Why dont you EAT? (she part yells part snaps)
JW Bani, I am calling off thsi meeting right now if u want to skip lunch (noticing she is looking real pale and tired)
Bani: OK FIIIINEEE!( Half of souhern mumbai did hear that!)
Grabs a box, looks at the label it says "Chicken" on it, she almost flings it backs, picks up another one it says "Veggie"
Opens it uninterested.................
A can of Sprite and a can of Coke also sit on the tray, picks up teh Sprite and opens, only to have half of it bubble out, B grabs almost all the tissues on the tray and sponges it off before it can get to her PC
Opens her box, start chewing on the side of chips, liking the salty feel of it..........
JW is still waiting for her to take a bite of her sandiwch, which she does, coerced by his eyes.........
JW 's cell phone rings
JW:Hello
Aditya: Jai, its me, Darjeeling ka saara kaam mostly ho chuka hai
JW: Oh great!
Aditya where are u? In Bangkok?
JW (casually) nahi B ka passport nahi aaya hai so we are still on hold on that
A: Financials review kar liye D ke?
JW : tahts what we are doing as we speak.
A: Bani si presenting?
JW (looking at hsi wife, trying to enjoy her sandwich) yep
A: Can I talk to her?
JW: sure,! (Gets up walks around to B's chair) B busy sulking, nibbling on her sandwich....... (she had already packed the other 3 traingles neatly back into the box..)hands sticky, holding on to them,
Looks up startled......
JW: Its for you, Its Aditya
, She sets her sandwich back in the box...............
Searches for a tissue, cant find it,
JW leans on the table facing her, bends down, pushes her hair back from her left ear, characteristically with his left hand , his watch kisses her cheek ( š )and places the phone on her ear...............
Its ends a chill thru B's spine, the phone smells like he does, "he probably marinates it in cologne all nite she jokes to herself....................
Starts talking with aditya ignoring her hubby acting as her PA................
A: kaisi ho Bani
B: main achhi hoon Uncle
A: rano is having lots of fun in Germany, last nite they left Munich for Berlin..............
B: Uncle I told her not to call me unless its an emergency, (and she laughs)
A Kyon Banee
B: Uncle usko maine life mein doosri baar itna excited dekha tha jab trip plan hua, first was when she joined the Max Mueller Bhawan in Mumbai to learn German ............
A laughs aloud
A: tum theek ho
B: jee uncle (voice softer and kinda sad)
A: Take care beta
, B looks at hubby, who is busy munching away on her chips, to indicate she is done
JW takes over, talks and hangs up.............
JW tucks the phone into his pocket.
One chip is left in her sack, Bani wants it, she reaches, but he reachse at the same time and fails, he holds her wrist instead,
B: Mr W aapka apna lunch hai woh khaayiye
JW I aske dfor coleslaw, I didnt get any chips (sad like a kid)
B: Well thats the last one and its mine...........
JW ignoring her shrieky protests, guides her chip to his mouth much to her annoyance makes sure he imprints her fingers with u know what š³ ..........
To be fair he lets go of 1/4th of it
Chewing on it , relishing every bit š” and looking at her after letting go of her wrist
B almost throws it back down on the tray "That shud be toxic enuf to kill a dozen rats in the hotel's basement" she concludes...........
JW walks back to his chair, grabbing HER sandiwch box......... opens eats it all in a few minutes..
Bani is trying to concentrate on herw ork ignoring his existence.............
Sanjana walks in..........................
Looking beautiful in yellow, sunny, bright and chirpy
Bani suddenly realizes it was she who was the most imp for the meeting today and where was she?
JW looks up smiles gladly miffing B
JW: hI!
S: Hi! Mr Walia
S: Hai Ms DIXIT ( with a fake smile............pointedly)
S knows that the other girl in the room is the boss's wife but after B's showdown at her office two months ago, S had decided to go for the prize money! š .............
B thinks "Oh Great! the hawker across the hotel knows Iam is married to JW by now, except Ms S"
Bani wonders "where was she?" "I am NOT asking"
S tries to set up her PC, walks over to Jw to pull the network cable from under his side of table
Looks at JW
S: mr W thats a big cut on ur jaw
J (milking it) Thanks S, I almost rushed to the ER, to have it looked at, but was able to contain the bleeding in the last minute.......... grins effortlessly
Bani thinks "OH PLEEEEEZ"
S: you were not paying attention were u, what WERE U thinking?
B is suddenly all curious, shudnt be shudnt be........... but..........
Looks up at JW's profile and holds her breath for the reply, S bending dwon to plug her power cord into the outlet misses it
JW (looks directly at his wife) Oh just the usual! (holds her gaze until S reappears from under the atble :-)
B exhales painfully as her heart has stopped beating long ago, the air she exhales sprays her face crimson.............
She bends down cursing herslf " I am going to be sooooooo happy when I am living (read hiding) with the indegenous tribes in French Polynesian Islands"
S looks at the sandiwich box
S:Oh great! lunch!
JW Are u hungry?
S uhhhh
JW Go ahead and have it........
S Magar aap?
JW I dont feel hungry!
B is outraged, bites her lips lest her yell escapes thinks "Ya right, he ate all my sandwiches and MY very last chip"
JW: bani was ravenous!(eyes taunting) so she didnt even share!
B (smiling like a sugar cane field )Oh ya Mr W, I DONT like to share (looks at SD when she says that!)
JW mocking further) Not even her CHIPS!
B picks up that last 1/4th from the tray and pointedly looking at him, kinda daring him.....and starts chewing on it as if its a Lindt truffle
JW has a "walked right into THAT one didnt u honey!" look on his face........ cannot hide his amusement
Set Mr Walia!!
********************************************************
Part 9
S: Bani will you have some? (offering her HUBBY's sandwich)
JW S Bani is a vegetarian (mock-sadness), the only one in OUR house..........
S didnt expect that!
B: no Thanks S, But u see I am a Dixit and Mr W a well, a walia............ (he likes to gobble any damn thing in the world, Arrgh! including PEOPLE)
JW: (ashamed and smiling) Oh well S, I eat ........ any thing except people ofcourse! (winks at his wife)
B has given up on him by now and plans to get the blood supply to her face cut off in emergency surgery that nite
Its out of S's league coz hubby and wife are at it now,s eh starts eating what she can get:-)
The meeting begins, Bani presents the financials, and details everything she knows for over an hour, hour and a half..........
B: this property was acquired by Mr A a few years after the Shimla property and is barely a couple of yrs old in his ownership and have rented it out based on a package deal with Shimla.
J interrupts, "u mean to say u have NO independent Darjeeling performance data, all of it is tied with Shimla?
Bani: I DO Mr Walia, but its based on scenarios, actually based on the 7-9% actual Darjeeling stand alone occupancy, I kinda extrapolated on that...........
J How come I never heard of this before from Mr A (Is really annoyed)
B: I am not sure why, may be its oone of the reasons why Mr A wants to retire and let go of the biz altogether
B prsents more data. Jai looks impressed
S (cattily) Its not Mr W 's ONLY property Ms DIXIT, its just one in 40 he already owns, we are not doing time share on any of ours right now, so I am not sure why u have included time-share plans on thsi one
B: Because Ms S, time-share is the order of the day esp in resorts in the North East of India, wud u like for me to show u more data on that
S: Idont think we have the time right now...........
Third Party guy: I heard thsi property is being marked for "Heritage Building" coz its over 100 yrs old and u mentioned that Mr A was planning renovations, I am confused! (For the uninitiated reader, if Govt of India marks a property Heritage based on Historical Survey u cannot even nail a pic on the wall without getting permission)
B: as we started renovation BEFORE the Govt earmarked it, they have approved the existing plans provided we dont touch anything else, and Mr A's Man Friday, Tarun Seth assures us that the work is going really well
J: (pissed) he probablly is not going to have an objective opinion abt it so I already have Aditya looking at it
B: (her turn to be pissed) Mr Walia, like u trust ur people I trust MINE (smiles, forced)
JW has this "If I were u I wudnt be so gutsy, we'll take this offline and thats when I'll wring ur neck look"
J cud explode, but he implodes instead and B can hear him hiss from a mile away.............
J(Nastily) Heard Best Western is eyeing a property across teh street, hwo is that going?
B: well its not heritage for sure, plus they dont have the views we have and Tarun tells me that the deal may not even go thru as W Bengal govt hasnt had a very peachy experience dealing with the co..............
JW: So you do talk about work (winks at the audience)
B: Just the way u do Sir, with important people (smiles sweeetly)
She mentions Tarun's name more than necessary in the next hour, each time adding a complimenatry pre-fix to hsi name.........
Set, match for Bani!
She is tired and in pain, wraps up while ppl applaud all of them compliement except JW ans SD.................and talk among themselves with her, cheery atmosphere that things are going well, JW snaps off instructions to hsi team to go about applying for ownership trfr if inspection is clean............. Joke with colleagues abt greasing palms in both state govts..................
Bani packs up her stuff and leaves. Wants to go home and rest. Wants to go back to her apartment, but knows its a bad idea.
Takes her cab
Reaches home, still inpain, takes another pain killer, her third for the day............ showers.....tries to sleep but cant, watches some TV
Its 8, she is in bed reading her book in her pink paisley nite capris and a plain pink tank top..........
JW walks in ready to go to an evening party she thinks in looking utterly sexy and fresh...........
in lemon yellow Lacoste t-shirt and blue jeans (Gucci Armaani what ever!), t-shirt untucked, a hand in pocket........ walks in like a man on a mission, ready to tear her up
JW (without concentrating on her being sick, taunting) U are home and not on the phone with Wonder Boy?
B: shuts here eyes tightly rolling over to her side and ignores
JW: So does he know his "friend" practically has elevated him to the CEO's job at Valley resorts
B realizing he is not going away
B: Mr w I am tired I dont feel good, please go!
Worried a lil
J: Baneee what happened, or are u just trying to divert me so that I dont talk nasty abt Tarun
B: Oh! go to hell!
JW: If u go with me, I will (taunts)
B starts crying..........
J: U are so thoroughly under his thumb are'nt u bani?
B U are being ridiculous and unreasonable
JW still not in a mood for anything rational............
B: (yells) I DONT FEEL GOOD. I AM SICK. I DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT TARUN
There! she said it
JW: what is wrong (half shouting himself)
B: Meri tabiyat theek nahi hai, i feel nauseous, dard bahut ho raha hai.........
Jai sits down on the bed by her side, B springs up almost as if someone has shot her, she sits up on the bed putting some distance, the cologne makes her feel droopy and faint
J (intently) Kab se?
B aaj subah se
His brain already fast fwding to other possibilities, connecting the dots, her inarticulate behavior, not being very expressive, and reluctance to part with more info...............
JW (pale like someone just landed a one tonne punch on his belly) Are u pregnant?
B shocked, outraged and really angry. HOW DARE YOU? ITS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, shoves him from the bed
Its like he has been cemented there, he does not move
JW''s yes bore into her body with X-ray vision, B feels tigheting in her core at the intimate vision, clasps her arms tightly around her body trying to hide from the piercing, exploding eyes and face........
JW :(Softly biting each and every word out) Did u get careless? Kya hero ko maloom hai woh apni saari zindagi jail mein bitaayega YOU, too for committing adultery and swindling my money
?
B forgets she is in pain and rains blows on his back and shoulder "How dare u Mr walia? I AM NOT PREGNANT, because If I was I wont be crampy"
Starts sobbing, in whimpers..............
JW face is confused at first, and then something hits him like a lighting, his face pales, eyes soften, colr rushes back making him flush for a second
JW: baneee, please look at me
B: Shrugs him off violently I want u to GO!
Still sobbing
JW runs his hand thru his neatly combed just showered hair and curses violently tohimself under is breath, picks up call phone from his pocket dials a number
JW: Dr Shroff, its me Jai
B: Are u crazy? Aap kisko phone kar rahe hain?
JW places an index finger on hs lip asking her tos hut up
B ignores B: Mr W I AM NOT GOING TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR (blushes)
JW:walks away to the balcony
B rushing after him part shouting part pleading
JW: Shud she be in so much pain, doctor?
JW turns around Tumne aaj kya khaaya?
B mum JW listening
JW: OK i can ask
JW (placing hand on receiver) Is it this bad every month?
B flushes and manages a faint No!
JW: Nahi Doctor...........
JW she is nauseous too.........
Dr: Oh she must have not eaten anything all day and must have taken multiple pain killers, so why dont I prescribe something that will keep the bile down reduce the hrt burn that causes her to throw up and may be something to help her rest.......
JW hangs up, B is back in bed, hiding
Walks over to her side sits down, calls the pharmacy again and calls in her meds, and they promise to drop it off in an hr....
B turns over facing the opp side
JW I want u to take the week off, and u dont have to go in next week too
B doesnt bother to respond "I will do as I please" she thinks
JW Banee look at me
B: Go away
JW: Banee turn around
B: No!!
starts to cry again..........
JW forces her to turn around being as gentle as possible using force.................
she does reluctantly.............. he wipes off her tears gently with his thumb
B pushes his hand away............ he tries to cup her face draw it closer to him
She pushes as hard as she can, he is amused to see her fighting spirit back
He doesnt give up
She finds him almost on her top, except he is still sitting, trying his best not to crush her using his arm for support................
JW (taunting) I thot I wll say sorry!)
B starts pummeling his chest "I dont wnat ur thank u or ur sorry aap jaayiye"
JW traces the invisible path of her tears, sending a tingle down her spine
Smiles and bends down continuing to fight her protests and her kicking legs.
B: aapko kahin jaana hoga na/ Looking at his attire
JW: Not anymore!
B: Aap mere liye to tayyar nahi hue na?
Jw: looks like u got ready for ME! ( giving her his hottest look)
Her blouse strap almost slips from hers houlder she tries to pull it back, he does it for her being the gentleman he is and traces the path of the strap with his finger........ long and slow............
B:DON'T!
JW I still havent said sorry!
JW i meant showed u how sorry I am
B avoiding his nuzzle
JW still hovering abv her face like an aircraft waiting to land:-), "Banee main baaton se zyaada action mein score karta hoon, u know that, please............. pleads, coaxes, flirts with his breath
B:(protest down to a whimper, blushing) I am still in pain
JW gathers her close and hides her face in his neck " I know sweetheart, I know I am sorry"
B: Please go!
JW NO!
B lifts her finger and traces that cut on his jaw...............
JW freezes and just stares at her eyes holding.............. sucks his breath in breathing hoarsely..........
JW: dekho mere jaise handsome aadmi ka kya kar diya tumne (jokes huskily)
B: Miane kya kiya (does not get his hint)
JW continues to nuzzle playing the teasing flirting game.........
JW:U have to help me shave from tomorrow, kitna charge karogi?
B:My freedom (doesnt mean it)
JW: No deal!...............
B you(starts to say something)
JW takes it as an offer and says impatiently " Good choice..........OK its a deal"
JW, runs his fingers thru her hair brings her face out of hiding and closes the gap! with a groan
B finally relaxes and surrenders ......................
***********************************************************
10 A
Bani is getting ready next morning, trying not to think too much about the heated interaction with hubby, she is wearing a purple salwar kameez and looking gorgeous as sual.
She goe sback to alst nite again, she had actually fallen asleep head on hubby's chest, both lying on th bed width wise, on the center.............
He had lain there, letting her sleep to the dangerous rythm of his banging heart............
listening to the hundred voice mails he recvd that day on the cell phone!
Tony had knocked, to inform JW abt the pharmacy guy's arrival after an hr, he had eased himself from under her and placed a pillow under her head and gone off to get it...........
She had woken up middle of the nite, found the meds by the bed, with a trite note "TAKE IT!"
She had complied and gone back to sleep...........
Now trying to get ready for work, feeling 100% and looking like a million bucks, humming her fave song by the group Rythms unlimited (), works away at her earrings, hair forming a wet curtain on her side of face
JW watching her leaning on the door jamb, dressed in Navy blue trousers and a white/navy/red bold stripe shirt, folded...... yadda yadda...........
B smells his cologne turns around starled finds him walking slowly toward her dresser
JW: I thot women bathed in lavender or rose scented soap, lekin yahan to strawberries ka smell aa raha hai
B blushes, tries not to respond but words slip out
B: (trying to sound expressionless, hiding the shaky voice) Mujhe lavender nahi achha lagta ......
J (husky) Yes! I agree, much more functional and strawberries happen to be my favorite fruit!
B(smiling artificially) main strawberry nahi hoon! walks closer to the dresser and turns around to face him.
He s tands in front, with an inch or two of space to spare between.................
JW Mmmmmmm, .......... and bends down near her shoulders.......
B: Stop it! Walks toward her, her back hits the dresser drawer and she stops in panic, he places both hands on the dresser by her side, tries to sniff again, its her hair on the shoulder now.......
lifts his left hand tucks it back and takes a deep breath on her bare neck shoulder, his watch clasp, pulls off her purple dupatta
Bani is shocked, flushes and pulls it back
JW: Mera watch to honest hai....
B: Mere room mein aane se pehle utaar dejiye (warns)
JW untangles her dupatta and slowly drapes herw ith it.........
JW: how are u feeling now? (serious)
B Fine. Thanks.......... I mean davai ke liye ( and looks down shy)
JW Bani u can look at me, plz main duniya ka sabse senstive aadmi nahi hoon, na hi mujhe maloom hai ki meri wife ko kab kya problem hai, but.............. (swears when she continues to be shy) BANEEE, we are married !!
Bani is even more shocked and closes her eyes tightly!!
B: thanks (softly)
JW: Tum kya ga rahi thi?
B: Kuch nahi?
JW u were...
B: Oh woh mere fave grp ka gaana tha, ruthms unlimited................ uska lead singer bahut cute hai, mujhe woh bahut pasand hai, (meets his eyes now, sees something akin to jealousy again for a second)
JW Hmmmm?
B: aaaj unka concert hai main aur Diya tickets ke liye try kar rahe hain
JW Hmmm? (carressing herw ith his eyes)
B Mil jaayega to shaam ko, yipeeee! he can see she is excited
JW (expressionless) Great! Enjoy ur show
Starts walking away leaving Bani confused........
Turns around at the door
JWBani I spoke to Mr Kim today, he is vry excited ki hum Bangkok ja rahe hain, he was disappointed tho ki hamare koi bache nahi hai
B looks at him like why do i care what Mr Kim thinks
JW continues mockingly thsi time, "I was wondering, I had a plan..........I realize how much pain u were in last nite...... how about we make Mr Kim happy and make u feel better?
Angry color rushes to her face
B: YOU ARE CRAZY, Get lost!
JW (huskily) Think abt it! I love my biz and........ I care for you................ so, we better find a solution............. we cud have fun practising getting it right............
Walks away leaving the stunned wife !!!!
**********************************************************
PART 10-B
Jai walked by the bay windows with his afternoon cuppa making a face at the molten bitterness"No sugar! What was I thinking!" he swears.........., watching the sunlight glisten on the waves........ his thots drift to nite before........... his tantrum............his tantrums were always brief he compliemnted himself, coz his attention was soon taken over by other challenging ideas his overworked mind constantly came up with!
He enjoyed jolting people out of their complacency dropping verbal bombshells. And he did it last nite much to his own embarrassment! And since she had moved in again, thsi was the first time she had given him an opportunity to express that volatile temprament. He thrived on confrontations, full forceful and frank was his operational style.
He was an expressive man alright, he could not hide his emotions............. but there were pieces of his personality that came out in full force only with Bani. She tended to bring out the worst and best too (twitching lips into a smile at the kiss last nite). Many times his wife didnt make it easy for him to have a civilized conversation with her.
Bani he thought on the other hand, was mostly in her calm collected emotional shell, letting it out in full force ONLY for him. Her deepest emotions of anger, passion or hate always was for his viewing pleasure only, it was a private screening:-) A smug smile took over hsi face, when he realized that she was being a complete honest Bani only with him, and with no one else. Her cool serenity always slipped when he was around!
Walked back to his desk and decides to check with Ms Singh abt Bani's passport................
Checks, its done, will be delivered today.
Picks up the phone dials Bani's number.
JW:Bani its me (authoritatively)
B: Aap hello nahi keh sakte kabhi? (annoyed he jolted her from her work reverie)
JW (smiles) Hello Mrs Walia how are you?
B: I refuse to answer.
JW: Bani stop arguing for everything (exasperated)
B: (short) Kya kaam tha, main busy hoon Mr W.
JW: Me too Mrs Walia, mujhe Darjeeling ke slides chahiye.
B: Mera ek naam hai, dont call me THAT.
JW What do u prefer (taunting demanding)
B:I will e-mail those, jab aap phone rakh doge to
JW: That wud be too easy
B: Mr W I am busy mujhe saara kaam finsih karke concert mein jaana hai
JW Tickets mil gaye? Do u need help? (mock? sincereity)
B: NO THANKS! Diya's husband works for the bank that is sponsoring it, woh la rahe hain
JW Main try karoon?
B: Aap kisko jaante hain, aap to music fan bhi nahi hai (taunting)
JW Ouch!
B: Plz main e-mail kar doon slides phir (sweet, pleading, flirting)
JW I like the please but not with THIS sentence (husky)
B: Mr W pl...... Main phone rakh rahi hoon
JW: Be here at 5. The third party guy has some questions.
B: Sorry main nahi aa sakti, I will send some one with teh answers
JW 5 at my office
JW:Oh bTW, Mrs Walia........... thanks for not wearing one of ur 99 clips today!
Click!
Bani picks up the scissors on her desk and goes for her hair......... and throws it down in disgust...... How did he see her when she left for work , she thot he had left earlier?
Its 5.30, a sulky Bani walks into JW's office and slams the door shut behind her, dressed in a turqoise , black and silver flowy gypsy skirt, tied at the waist and a black sleeveless blouse with a generous neckline front and back....... hair tied back with a borrowed clip, left hand encased in turqoise and black bangles........ silver hoops in her ears.............
She had obviously changed for the concert...............
He si on hsi phone, seees her enter, and draws a breath
JW" Can I call u back?"
JW's eyes doesnt leave her one minute, his eyes run over her in smoldering male appraisal , his gaze meant to disturb and arouse B."He does not have xray vision" B thot "He cudnt possibly knwo what I am feeling I shud have changed AFTER my meeting with him"
His knowing smile indicated he knew what she was thinking.
She stood there the door behind her, watching his slow progress toward her............ why does he always make me feel like a prey she wondered..........
JW bends down relaeses the laptop bag from her dead fingers and places it on the couch by the side................ still eyes not laeving her
JW: You are late! (accusing)
JW: Hmmmmmmm but ............My very own gypsy wife! Just what the mail order company promised (husky)
B: Darjeeling ka meeting kahan hai
JW Right here! (same tone!)
Reaches behind her and pulls of her clip and throws it away
JW: Tum mujhe itna tease kyon karti ho Baneee?
B: I dont do anything to u (shuts her eyes)
She can feel his breath on her face........ "Why cant he not wear that goddamn cologne one day for a change she wonders
JW:Tumne woh clip is liye pehna kyon ki maine tumhe kaha ki mat pehno (challenges)
B: NOOO! Maine is liye pehna kyon ki is skirt ke saath match kar raha hai (defiant)
JW Oh! the skirt! Mujhe inventory lena hai apne mail order wife ka.
B: GO AWAY! (Shoves him in the process exposong her mid riff from the short top)
JW chooses the exact moment to place his left hand on her waist
B feels like some one poured hot boiling water all over her.............
JW sucks hsi breath again hoarsely at her response.........
B:(pushes the errant hand away) Bataye kya kaam hai, abhi Diya se koi phone nahi aaya, I can do what ever u want (nastily)
JW (innocently) u can?
B: Shut up kahan hai Mr Shah?(very JW like)
JW: Tickets nahi mile?
B (almost in tears) nahi
JW: I have a couple, tumhe chahiye
B is all excited for one second and then realizes that her hubby always has a cach for everything
B, Nahi koi baat nahi, abhi Diya ka phone aata hoga.........
As if on cue, her cell phone rings.............
Diya is a bigger fan, Bani thinks there can be no one like herself but.............
D: Bani Dev is trying pata nahi, tkts ka scene mushkil lag raha hai
B's hrt breaks..... tries not to show
D Bani are u there?
B hiding tears haan bolo
D: I dont knwo Bani the show is just two hrs away and it doenst look good.........
B OK I hope he keeps trying (bends down to flick a tear away)
D devastated (I wanted to GO Bani tum itna lightly le rahi ho?
B:I am sorry, I will call u back
JW: kaun tha
B (sulking) Diya
JW Lets finish our meeting and u can go, great she got the tkts (mocking)
B: she didnt (starts to cry and angrily stops herself)
JW Oh she didnt?
B: NOOOOOOOO!
JW Oh u can have mine
B Mujhe aapse koi favor nahi chahiye Mr W
JW Favor nahi Bani I want u to have it (quasi-sincere:-)
B Sach mein? (her face lights up)
He has walked back to the couch, and is sitting down, she sees two shiny glossy tkt folder like thing with all the sponsor names on it. Walks there herself.........
MUST BE THE TICKETS! She is over joyed
B: Oh Thanks Mr walia, I am soooooo happy (she squeals)
JW slowly picks up the tickets and places it in his shirt pocket
JW: Not so fast Bani.............
B 's face pales
B: Kya matlab
JW U get the tkts, u look at the " your cute guy" (does an affected quote unquote in the air) aur main?
B(sincerely) aap bhi chaliye
JW: No ! I dont care for the guy or the group
B: To phir? (scared)
JW: Main soch raha tha, tum mera ek kaam kar do aur tkts le lo
B Haan kya kaam? (she poor thing si thrilled, like a kid all enthu)
JW: I want YOU to kiss me! for a change...... (softly)
B feels like some one slapped her
B (Screams shouts yells altogether) You are a sick man! Mujhe nahi dekhna concert, u are sick....... maine aapke paise liye to aapne mujhe apne ghar pe forcefully rakha hai, abhi mujhe concert dekhna hai to aap mujhse kuch aur...................... I am sorry I know u, I am sorry I married u
JW(amused and aroused by hera nger walks toward her) socho Diya ko kitna bura lagega?
B: She will be FINE! She is married to a great guy, phir kabhi jaayenge
JW (flatly) theek hai fine, ghar jao!
B:(unreasonably angry) Thats why u called me yahan Mr shah hai hi nahi, aapke jaisa horrible man maine zindagi mein nahi dekha
She does not want to go feels for Diya, is torn
She just stands there between his desk and the sofa
JW lets her fight her inner fairies./demons and walks away to hsi desk
B: Just one!
JW Sorry?
B: Just one kiss THATS ALL!
JW Sure I ll take what I can get
Gets up she thinks a lil unsteadily at first and surely walks up to her
B: Aap mujhe kahin aur touch nahi karenge
JW Aur kuch?
B:Main kiss karoongi aap nahi (blushing)
JW(huskily) aur kuch?
B shakes her bent head
JW waits nad waits and waits............
Bani slowly walks up to him and pecks on his cheek.
B steps back "Mere tickets"
JW "Sorry foul!" (husky, hands in pocket, knuckles protruding tightly thru the fabric........ exercising exemplary control
B goes near again and pecks him in the corner of his mouth.
B Mr W plz mere tickets
JW "Foul Mrs Walia (husky) 'that was a polite good bye kiss"
B (husky) FINE!! FINE!!
B shuts her eyes "Aap apni aankhen band keejiye' Her tautly strung nerves quivered........
He is soooooo good abt follwoing isntructions. She plunges her hands into hsi shimmering hair locking her fingers at teh back of his skull lest she fainted and opens her mouth on his, making an inarticulate sound in her throat which she wud later think of as a protest............ she coaxes and cajoles with her lips, nope...... no luck.......finally......he decides to end her torment and opens his mouth...............and
the rest I leave to all ur vivid imagination š³ š³ š³
He cheats, opens his eyes , glittering with fierce triumph,......................... looking down at his wife.......... responds to her unspoken pleas for help................ finding her clinging to him......... as the seconds tick
Shuts his body and mind off with a violent curse and moves his lips away to her soft cheek,. bruising it in the process...........
B hides her face on fire in the V of his shirt...........
JW: (softly) Darshan tumhara wait kar raha hoga neeche, u shud go enjoy the show.
B refuses to move and let go.......
JW(coaxingly) Bani Diya has the tickets she shud be waiting for you to have coffee with ur "cute guy" before the show begins, miss karna chahti ho kya?
B feels like some one just poured a tank full of icy water on her
Pushes him violently shoots mortars "Kya matlab"
JW: Matlab Diya ko tkts pahunchakar maine Convention center tak ride de diya company driver ne, tumhe darshan chhod dega
B:Diya ke paas already the tkts?
JW I am afraid yes(mischievously)
She decides to kill him that nite BUT it will have to wait until after her concert š” š” š”
Walks out haughtily
JW calls out "bani apna lipstick zaroor touch up kar lena!Its all over me...." enjoy the show Mrs Walia
DOOR SLAMS!!
*****************************************************
NO J&B Scene in thsi one, š š š
Read this while I type part 11-B
PART 11 A
Bani wakes up to the same spraying hose again, turns around looks at her bedside clock it s
11AM!
What was I doing sleeping in so late? she wonders.................. only to raelize later that when she
hit the bed last nite it was almost midnite, the concert had lasted over 4 hours.
Darshan had waited patiently for her and Diya, and Bani had insisted that she wud drop Diya off
first even tho it was the opp way, she cared for her friend no doubt, but wanted to delay the
homecoming in order to enrage JW.
"She will teach him a lesson" she promises to herself grimly
Diya had been in on teh secret all day long B did not know if she cud trust her again, despite
Diya's fervent pleas that it was a harmless prank. How many more are going to fall for his charms
she wonders.
Diya cudnt stop talking abt JW! She wanted to know how he was in person, she had seen pix,
read interviews but it was quite unbelievable to her that her best friend was married to such a
handsome wealthy man, who DID NOT have a playboy past.
B tried to calm herd own by saying "its not as romantic as it seems" (she remembered blushing
while she said that)
Diya wanted to know how JW had broken the news of teh tkts to her, she had told her "Oh he just
told me after much "coaxing"" she admitted to Diya. Bani had to hide her face briefly in her hands
in order for Diya not to see her reaction nor did she ask for the definition of coaxing !
Diya: So is he as they make him out to be in magazines?
B: (reluctantly) Yaa!
Diya: How did u meet him?
B (thinks) u dont wnat to know..........
Diya:He seesm very sexy in magazines, is he that sexy in real?
Bani (Thinks "100% MORE!") Not really (lies)
Diya, U are kidding, Bani I dont believe u
Diya: Is he that demanding in bed too? (giggles)
Bani: diya stop.......... (blushes) I dont wnat to answer that
Diya: Cmon yaar even I am married........... I wont be shocked
Bani: Abhi concert start hone waala hai plz chup.....
Diya: So teh answer is YES?
Bani: Tumhe jo bhi sochna hai soch lo (cant control the blushing)
Diya Ooooooooooohhhhh!
Bani stop it Diya
D: Does he do stuff or make u do stuff?
B: DIYA I AM LEAVING ENJOY UR SHOW. Plus we have been separated for some time now so......... (trails off blushing)
D: After moving back in now, u mean to say............. OMG! How can u Bani?, Poor Mr Walia.
B: Shut up, diya just shut up (plaedingly)
D: He is patiently waiting for you now? OMG! Such a cutie.............
B: Diya bahut personal hai.........
D I am sorry............(she is really hurt, turns her face away)
B tries to pacify her by parting with one piece of info
B: OK (softly) when we were together, I used to be tired all day ! I hate him! š³ (doesnt mean it ofcourse)
D Baneeeeeeeeeeeeeee how cute OMG! (AD, Pi, soap...... This is for u)
Diya: Where was he before I met Dev?
B: I dont know, but u are welcome to have him NOW! (bitterly)
B thinks if D's opinion of JW wud change if she were to tell her about JW using her as a ransom in
order to get his money back and the awful things he said abt Tarun and her. SHE HATED JW . Or thats what her mind told her, if not her body..................
D: I dont think he WANTS anyone but you........... Bani tum bahut lucky ho....(.mock-remorse)
B: He gives u that impression Diya, woh real mein bahut different hai
D: Kaise? OMG! He is so rich also........
B: I dont know, he is very aggressive, doesnt take no for an answer, bahut possessive hai, jealous hai.................. mujhe unke money se kuch lena dena nahi
D: sarcastically narrows her eyes"Bani hum first row VIP seats mein baithe hain, and we just met the lead singer, the hottie................. he knows ur hubby too,
B: (flushes) JW knows more ppl than I do definitely
D: Unhone mujhe dinner pe bulaya hai
B(jealous) Oh wow! Go have fun
D: Lallu, u me, him and Dev after u guys come back from Bangkok
B blushes again
D: Gosh bani how can u be SO NORMAL?
B laughs to herself, at the tornado building up inside her................... God! Whats wrong with these wome, Roshni Sanjana, now Diya..
Knock on the door coz she had locked herself last nite,
Loads her ammunition and goes off charging
Its TONY!
T: Gmorning Mam
Bani hurriedly wears her jacket, wrap thing over her spaghetti strap tank top night shirt........
B: Gmorning
T Sir ne aapke liye note diya hai (He has this look on his face like "in the age of e-mails and cell phone Sir ne mujhe kabootar bana diya, miya biwi ke beech notes!"
B: thanks
He leaves
B shuts teh door
Opens it nervously
"Be ready at 11 we have visa appointment at 1, we can grab some lunch on the way--JW"
She crushes it and throws it away
*********************************************************
PART 11B
It has the watch the sleeve the hair and then some..................(for the uninitiated, go read the adda thread of the AF, to know what those articles mean to us)
Enjoy!
She thinks she is devious JW is deviouser" :-) š He premepted the fact that she wud NOT inform him on coming home, so he had asked Darshan to call him after dropping her off and also Tony to let him know after he let her in.
Set Mr Walia on that!
Bani sits in bed and sulks and sulks. Why does SHE need a visa? š” She is not going for work. Where is Mr Walia, how dare he avoid her..... Who the hell is he to set up dinner dates with Diya, she is NOT GOING! š” How come he is not checking on her? Does he even know she is up?
But she still got ready anyway, showered, pink chiffon saree, minimum make up and jewelry, combs her hair with a shower brush to get the tangles out, and thinks that this is usually the time JW walks in to her room, she goes over to her door, unlatches it, peeks out, and is disappointed when she realizes that he must be at WORK! When SHE is ready to fight he is nowhere to be seen!
š
Silly me she thinks..........walks back to the dresser
Looks at her reflection and notices the faint bruise on her left cheek and traces it with her brush "Why does he do this to me?" Why do i let him affect me so much?"
starts brushing again and winces when brush encounters the tangled hair
JW has been leaning on the door jamb since she turned away from it, dressed in sky blue cotton shirt with shoulder straps, sleeves rolled up 1/3rd, and the SECOND BUTTON UNDONE! (which will TOP her JW's Tools to Torment Bani list that she will make later)and blue black Dockers, silver watch in place..........
JW: Ouch!
B drops her brush doesnt turn around feels a thrill in her heart! hides it...........
Starts looking for her earrings........
JW: Goodmorning Baneee
B: Goodmorning mr walia (purposely sing song, tho shaky voice)
JW: Kaisa tha concert? Did u have fun with Diya?
walking over casually to the dresser, leaning by the side of the mirror on the wall, facing her, seeing her get ready, arms folded.................
B drops her earring clasp! š³
JW: Oh Boy! U are jumpy today .......
Bani peers on the dresser, looks at the floor and instinctively looks at her neck and blouse.......... befopre she cud go any further.............
JW:Main kuch help karoon?
B: Nahi
JW: I am really good at finding things, especially ON people(chuckles)
B No thanks, main koi doosra pehan loongi..............
She hurriedly finds a tiny CLIP ON pair and wears it
B: thanks for the passes Mr W, Diya ne kaha those were like Rs2000 tkts
JW (nonchalantly, shrugs) I dont know Bani, accounting ne pay kiya hoga, or may be they were free I dont know.............. ā¤ļø
B looks at him and wonders if this man really cares about money as much as he says he does, he removes all full stops when it comes to pampering some one..........
JW Kya soch rahi ho? (playing with her stuff on the dresser smelling stuff and twitching his nose)
B snatching it away and placing it back, closing lids, "Kuch Nahi"
JW So what did your cute rock star say?
B: woh aapko achhe se jaanta hai, he said aapne uski help ki jab uska aurangabad mein ghar mein legal problems ho gayi thi
JW: That was a loong time ago Banee (again careless)
B (finally) Main aapse bahut naraaz hoon! (There she said it!)
Bends down sulking
JW Oh kyon? (mock-innocently)
B YOU KNOW IT!
JW (brooding) Baneee just becoz I agree to ur schemes that doesnt mean I approve of them.
Banee understand the reference flushes and looks away
JW Aur tum jo mere saath kar rahi ho? IS THAT FAIR?
B: Main yahan aapke ghar mein, is kamre mein hoon, aapki baat maankar
JW: You SAID it, tum yahan ho is KAMRE mein..........
B looks away.......
B I dont want to go to Thailand
JW: thats number two (chuckles)
B: I promise main yahin rahoongi, Aditya Uncle can guard me
JW swears under his breath
JW: I want u where I can see you
B: Abhi main din mein bhi kahin ja sakti hoon, raat ko agar nahi aayi to? Kal raat jab main aayi tab aap SO CHUKE THE (accusingly, lump in her throat)
JW Thats number three.... tumhe pata hai main soya nahi tha, Tony ne mujhe bola tum aa chuki ho
B: Agar main apne apartment chali jaati to?
JW Tum nahi gayi (softly, firmly)
Bani walks away to the patio, almost opening the door to it, leans on it and closes her eyes. opens to find him in front.......
JW: U answered ur own q Bani, um chahti nahi jaana, tum chahti ho ki main torment hooon, tum chahti ho main tumhe dhoondoo. You know I can find u, u want me to come after u. U want me to check on you..........
B Nahi aap galat......JW DONT LIE (Runs his hand thru his hair, she watches spell bound)
JW:Baneee I am NOT a patient man
Silence extends interminably..........
B Diya aapke se bahut imprssed hai (changing the subject, trying to hide her jealousy)
JW thats number four, tabhi tum mujhse milne ke liye itni besabar thi (Amused totally)
JW Aur kya kaha Diya ne?
B aapne mujhse pooche bina dinner plan banaya
W Oh! I forgot to mention......
B: She thinks u are very sexy (regrets it the moment she blurts)
Closes the gap
JW: Tumne kya kaha?
B: I dont think so
Laughs hard
JW: We have to do something about that!
B: Stop nahi to main visa ke liye nahi aaoongi
JW :Oh No! (moc fearful) that wud be so sad
JW starts his signature nuzzle, ears, neck, cheeks, forhead.......
B: STOP!
JW Make me!
She raises her hand to push his jaw away
JW comes right back on
JW: how come all blouses have an indecent neckline? He traces it until she slaps his hand off when it approaches the dangerous area..........
B: (Got her chance!) Aap apne shirt mein doosra button kyon nahi band karte?
JW (smug) so u noticed?
B Closes her eyes tightly ( oops! she thinks) her heart already in its final beats............
JW But tum mere shirt ka neckline increase kar sakti ho, I dont mind AT ALL........
Her hands on his chest pushing him away.............. or atleast trying to..........
He ignores her protests finds her ear, nuzzles it leaves it throbbing to find the next easter egg on her neck below her collar bone........
JW slides his arm around her bare waist........
B shivers
JW:Kya hua
B: Aapka watch......... its cold! š³
JW I am sorry, let me warm u up........ š³
B: Visa..... she murmurs indistinctly, Mr W we better leave..........
JW Abhi.............. he murmurs, abhi......... while he teased her lips until hers parted and his came over them, possessing hers deeply, his hands travelling all over her body finding stopping at his favorite rest areas like a thirsty man getting a well deserved hydrating break............
Her hands wrap themselves around his neck and clings to him for dear life,...............
JW between kisses "its all ur fault agar mera Thai deal nahi hua to, who the hell asked u to wear a pink saree on visa day? (swears huskily)............
Seconds wrap around minutes and minutes................. Oh well who is looking at the clock ........................
JW (in her ear ........laughing) I think I found your clasp!
**********************************************
12A
This one became too long so cudnt put them on a plane
Sorry!
*******************************************************
B & JW almost didnt make it to their appointment. Bani was sure they were not going to make it, kept taunting him for making them late
JW turns around and coolly asks "Maine socha tum to jaana nahi chahti thi Bk, so its good if we miss it right"
The look on her face was priceless!
Darshan had gotten the day off coz he worked late and so JW behind the wheel
6 PM dusk.............
Visa approved, JW calls his travel desk books the tkts for Sat nite tomm nite basically....Bani si tired, nervous, upset that he is finally making her go, and she is terrified of flying............. terrified of being with JW alone to a strange city, on their way back home
B: Aapko aaj kaam par nahi jaana (opens and looks at her passport for the nth time)
JW enjoying her excitement, amused "Nahi" "Kyon main ek din ki chutthi nahi le sakta"
B: Sure kyon nahi (smiles)
Remembers that she better not get too close to him, coz she never knows whats going on in that devious mind of his.............
JW: Mera note nahi mila tumhe aaj subah?
B: Mila tha (upset maybe he didnt call.........)
JW I didnt want to wake u Banee tum raat ko late soi ho,
B: Oh! (relief) Maine socha........
JW (all interested) Hmmm kya socha?
B: Kuch nahi
B: Mr W, I will not stay in the same room with you
JW laughs........
B: I know its your plan. Aap mujhe wahan le jaakar...........
JW haan le jaakar?
B looks out the window..........
JW: Jai Walia make the rules Baneee
B turns around with a verbal whiplash, all annoyed hissing..
B:BANI WALIA MAKES THE RULES FOR JAI WALIA (the moment she says it she is not so sure anymore, turns crimson)
JW:(laughs hysterically) I didnt catch the name clearly, kya naam bola
B: No!
JW Bani what?
B Bani walia (almost a whisper)
JW Walia kaun hai?
B looking out the window again..........
B I dont know, I dont want to know...........
JW look at me
B: Please Mr Walia
JW: Bani whether u like it or not that name belongs to you, its mine and will always be mine......
B thinks not if I can help it!
B(sulking) Mujhe Pia se milna hai
JW(teasing) last week hi to mili na, on Saturday,
B: Meri ek hi behan ab yahan hai mujhe us se milna hai before we go, mera matlab I go.......
JW:Pati bhi ek hi hai tumhara (softly, amused)
B:I dont want him...........
JW Oh! achha mujhe kuch aur impression mila tumhare room mein embassy jaane se pehle
As usual he had been the one to control his urges and stop her much to her ambarrassment.........
B: i dont want to talk about it! (flushes)
JW: Good , hame baat nahi karni chahiye.............(amused)
B punches the radio, the AC, the CD player keys, and looks for a CD,........ just randomly distracts him
JW:Kya kar rahi ho?
B: mujhe yeh CD nahi sun na
JW: i dont know Bani, I listen to biz news only, ..............pata nahi Sahil ya Anu ki choice hai, go buy more CDs and stack em here
B: Mujhe bhook lagi hai
JW: banee plz wait, ruk jao half hour hamare rest mein kha lete hain.
B: Nahi abhi kahin khana hai
JW speeds............ turns around, goes the opp way, doesn talk to her, knowing she is sulking
B:Ab kahan ja rahe hai
JW no response
B:Mr W mujhe aaj raat ko Pia ke ghar rukna hai
JW: We are going home Bani.
B:Thats not my house
JW: OK fine we are going to MY house
JW somehow manages to ignore her tantrum and drive home
Parks, gets off, opens her door
JW: Chalo
B: mujhe Pia ke ghar jaana hai
JW: Abhi nahi Banee, its past 7, tumne usko call bhi nahi kiya (patiently)
B:Mujhe Bk nahi jaana
JW: dont worry main hoon na, trust me
B: wohi to nahi kar sakti (blurts)
JW starts laughing.........
JW showing immense patience, he thot he never had not born with it never acquired it................
JW:Abhi andar chalo, subah tkts cancel kar lenge
B: Promise?
JW: Swear (pinches his throat)
Tony has a huge spread ready as usual, she eats ravenously, JW just stares intensly part amused, part in an understanding way
B goes back to her room........ showers, readies for bed is removving the pink bangles she forgot to.............. looks at her passport again, laefs thru it
JW(from the doorway, closing the door behind him) aur tum Bk jaana nahi chahti
B:Passport slips and falls, he picks it up
JW:(gently) whats bothering you
B YOU!
JW: U are funny when u are nervous
B: U are NEVER funny..............
JW: do u really not wnat to go?
B:Mujhe Pia se milna tha
JW:Kal saara din uske aath rehna(gently pushes her hair back from her face, cups it in his hands)
B:I dont want to be kissed, mujhe sona hai.
JW AchhaTum so jao and then I will kiss you(winks)
B:NO!
He is still in his blue pant shirt, he gently brings her closer to his body, she hides in the V again, eyes closed arms by her side, trying her best not to wrap it around him..................
JW has no such pretensions, he wraps his arms close and tight and breathes into her hair and they just stand there...............
JW:Car mein mujhe tumne itna pareshaan kiya, sorry nahi bologi?
B: Nahi
JW chuckles again..............
JW: main boloon, instead?
B surprised she lifts up her head to look at his face,
JW:Chalo mujhe dekha to...........
B: realises she is being tricked again, tries to move away, he holds her wrist to pull her back, her pulse begins to thump against the fingers encircling her wrist........ he accidentally cracks a bangle, and it falls off
JW:(sincerely) I am soo sorry Banee ..........Kisses her long slender wrist thru her remaining bangles, watching her intently.........there was something disturbingly erotic about the way he kissed her wrist like that.........
B:Dekha aapne kya kar diya pink mera fave tha
JW:Mera bhi (winks)
B:Go away
JW: Now I REALLY ahve to say sorry (she thinks he is going to kiss her)
pUlls her back to him this time holding her upper arms, breath warm on her face.............. and goes near her lips she waits.......... eyes closed......whispers"SORRY!"
And steps back
eyes dancing devilishly.............
JW:If u want to be kissed u have to ask....... (winks)
It takes a moment for her to register what he just said, from his tone and expression, her knees buckle, he starts to laugh,she takes a furious swing at him................ JW side steps it and pulls her toward him for a long slow kiss of silky exploration........... his grip tightening further to support her trembling body..........................
************************************************************ ********************************************
Bani waks to the knock on the door.
Its Tony with a HUGE CARTON
T:Maam, yeh aap ke liye aaya hai
B:Mere liye?
She is sleepy and confused
There is a note in an envelope
She opens the box first, wondering what it cud be looks like bangles in every conceivable color................... opens the note with shaky hands.............
Color suffuses her cheeks when she reads it
"Hope you like them, I am sorry about last nite, ONLY for the bruise on ur wrist, nowhere else (a wink symbol)"
JW
********************************************************
PART 13
Thai airways Flight 23, taxied off the gate at 4 AM (sched dep 2 AM) Sunday morning from Mumbai's Shivaji Intl airport and crawled to a stop to wait in line for take off clearance............. J and B settled down in their biz class seats in the front row............. B again looks around the plane for signals on the cabin crew's faces for the reason for the new delay........B a nervous wreck had contemplated getting off of it more than one time. Her face all pale, telling any one who cared to see it her whole opinion about flying. JW on the other hand by her side by the WINDOW (she didnt want to peek out:-)reading his favorite Golfer's digest, intermittenly looking over his shoulder to observe the deteriorating condition of his wife, part amused, part concerened.JW dressed in wrinkle free off white trousers, and a olive green all cotton full sleeve shirt, tan suede on his feet looked every bit the frequent flier he was.
Her on the other hand dressed in blue jeans and a pink Polo t-shirt looked like a girl who had may have slipped out of her college class to watch her fave movie and had found her Prof in the next seat at the multiplex.
the difference in bothe their demeanor was stark! š
She had NOT packed for him, she didnt want him to misconnstrue that as her wanting to reconcile š³
wud she? š He had bought her a lot of books, tour guides on Bk on his way home that evening, she
had tried to read of those after the bags were chkd in, in order to avoid talking with him
Bani had spent the entire day at Pia's after getting her packing all done. Pia looked like she was a
lil miffed at first š” hearing about B's sudden overseas trip had later managed to hide her
despondence behind some fake cheer. She was really concerened about how Di was going to do
on that flight......... Bani in order to not make Pia too worrie dhad calmed her down and had
promsied she wud be fine. She had later called Rano during the day and informed her as well, and
had sounded amazingly calm and confident during that conversation... Watched hubby flip the
page of the magazine, in deft movements of his hands, the sprinkling of dark hair on their back... long sensitive fingers, those fingers she thought, how can she forget them, they were made to carress a woman, and thatwoman these days is ME she realizes in shock, š³ her face paling further........
JW unaware of his wife's scrutiny looked at B again, his mind opened its door a crack and thots of
hsi wife started flowing out freely, his calm, sometimes even aloof, stoic wife was struggling to keep her composure he observed.
She never let her guard down except when she was with him, he wondered if even her sisters knew the real Bani. A faint smile twitched his lips, when he thot about her tantrum last nite. She shadnt pitched even one during their first stint of post-married life. Either she was getting really comfortable with him finally or she had HAD IT, had to be one or the other:-)
She had been so swamped playing a nurturing older sibling, Mom, caregiver to a drunk Dad, he doubted if she ever experienced being a child or a teenager. Being the oldest didnt help either he mused. He replayed the nite before in his mind and savored every thing she had said. Maybe the fear of impending flying had caused it.Or maybe it was being alone with him for such a long period
Beneath that veneer of self assuarnce lay a young vulnerable, at times even a childish person.
He wanted to hold her and reassure her that she had nothing to fear, he could never hurt her, oh well, not more than what he had already hurt her, he admitted to himself wryly.
He was a businessman, not a relationship expert, he knew how to increase his wealth he was not the best tutor or practitioner of sensitivity. He was making progress definitely in stripping off her defenses, her resistance was weakening. He had to take it slow in order not to scare her away completely. He had to show her what he maent to her, and what she means to him. "Iam going to apply the focus and resolve for once outside of business and maybe ask my pig headedness for a hand:-) He was not going to force her,or do anything she didnt want to......but he was not going to
let her deny her feelings or his either. His seductive onslaught on her the past week was a fair warning to her that he intended to fulfill his fantasies where she was concerned. He wanted to posess her mind and body and body as of now was more available than her mind š
B (nervous, squeaky voice)Plane phir se kyon ruk gaya?
J (closes teh mag puts it away, leans over to his wife to give his undivided attention) Banee take off
clearance nahi mila hoga (softly) Its like a traffic jam on the road (explaining........)
B: Pehle late kyon hua phir, plane mein koi problem hai na?
JW (has to shut his eyes and purse his lips for a min lest the smiles escapes) Nahi Baneee, itne
saare logon ka samaan load karna hai, food, plus, Bk se aayi late thi plane......
B: Bk se kyon late aayi (almost in tears.....this has to be trouble she concludes)
JW: Banee kabhi kabhi weather sahi nahi hota, clouds hote hain, to speed kam ho jaata hai
B You are lying
JW has to laugh. for that one
B Dont laugh its not funny", (fidgets with her belt, (which he helped clip:- among teaching her other
things like how to recline her seat, how to turn on the TV, the music, where the rest room was,
how to open and close the overhead bins .............), smooths her jeans with sweaty palms as if it
were a wrinkly tafetta skirt)
JW has no choice, reaches over grabs both her hands in a firm grip, and holds each one of hers
with each one of his, its like Bani has found her rescuer's hand, about to save her from drowning...
Se grips hard........
He doesnt let go... Bani eyes closed leans back and exhales nervously.......
JW: Look at me Banee
Startled looks at him
JW: agar mere haathon ko aise pakdogi roz to hame roz yeh trip karna chahiye (winks)
B is disgusted , wants her hands back... nope!
JW: Paani ya kuch peeogi
B: NO!
JW: Food? (to distract her)
B Mmm mmm shakes her head, resting back...eyes closed
JW: Want to read?
B nahi
JW: Ipod sunogi?
B: Mmm mm
JW: want to take a walk (all belted it its impossible waiting to take off, but stil to amuse her)
B: mmm mm
JW: Can I kiss u?
Startled, face turning crimson, open eye wide and instinctively looks at his lips
B: You are crazy!
JW: i know! (looks at her deeply)
B shuts her eyes back again
Plane finally takes off, Bani squeezing the nerves and blood out of JW's hands while the plane
climbs...............
Plane reaches reqd altitude, crew gets off their seats and starts readying the meal and
refreshments................
Captain does the welcome message "sit back relax and enjoy the flight and do let us know what
we can do to make it better"
B (thinks) Can we go back so that I can get off? That wud make me feel better
They serve the 5 course meal, she refuses to eat, only drinks some orange juice after much
persuasion......
JW hungry and also sorely needing to exercise his tired fingers decides to give the meal a try.....
not too hungry himself, gives up
They turn off lights ppl start watching movies, turn on reading lightsJW helps B recline her seat
and does the same to his...............
Bani actually relaxes a lil bit and decides its not too bad afterall, cant even feel the plane move she
thinks its like a house that has a motor turned on she feels........she had washed up brushed her
teeth and gotten ready for bed
Until the plane hits a pocket of turbulence!!
It gently rocks
B eyes fly open
B: Mr Walia oh no!
JW eyes closed trying to get some sleep hismelf... "Baneee dont worry, its just bad weather"
B: aapko kya maloom aap pilot hain kya?
J has to laugh......
JW:Nahi, true, so kya kahoon, abhi gir jaayega (teasing again)
B is even more terrified "U are horrible"
JW: Baneee, its ok, please calm down, kuch nahi hoga.Rano bhi to gayi hai na, once u reach call
her and ask how she did it, talk to sahil too
B Oh haan she is going to Stuttgart tomorrow
JW (thanking is lucky stars for mentioning Rano's name) Great!
He reaches and holds her lefthand and sandwiches it between both his warmly, turns off the lite,
covers herw ith the balnket
JW:Plaese try to sleep, sweethrt, I promise hum subah Bk mein ho nge
B bluhse at the endearment but doent care to protes, closes her eyes back again
Plane steadies, B turns around and faces him, on her side, feels her body relax involuntarily and
sleep take over.....
*************************************************
JW:Tum mujhse ladne ka plan bana rahi ho kya?
B startled eyes fly open,................ sun shining thru the crack on the window..........
Her hair all tousled, JW had taken her clip off while sleeping, her right arm curved around his
chest, her head on his shoulder, pillow slipped off to her back,left arm, encircling holding his
right...
B looks at hime like "Who are YOU?"
JW:Good morning Mrs Walia we are almost there
Thats it, it works like the heart jolter thing, her color rushes back and she tries to get up
Nope again!, he deliberately curves his left arm around her waist all smiling, both facing each other
the first banter for the day begins............
B: Hum pahunch gaye? Wow! Wow! overjoyed all smile, itni jaldi?
JW: Haan short cut (amused)
B: Stop it! (digs deeper into his shoulder in revenge)
JW:Banee tumne woh books padhe Thailand ke baare mein
B:A lil bit
JW: Pata nahi books mein mention kiya hoga ya nahi but U have to kiss your husband first thing
every morning its a Thai custom... (husky, laughing, eyes twinkling........... nears her face)Her
heart begins to pound like a freight train again......he smothers her choked murmurs with his lips
as the familiar addictive taste of him begins to saturate her senses!!
********************************************************
PART 14
Plane descends in Don Muang airport, Bangkok at Noon Thai time on Sunday afternoon.
The airport si 25 kms north of the main city. Mr Kim has sent his facilitator to the airport who is waiting for J and B holding a placard and escorts them o the waiting limo. Before that, there is crisis with the luggage and one of B's bags is lost in transit. J albeit tired and weary after the long flight, (u see he didnt sleep as well as wifey did) wrangles with Thai Airways agents to get a timeline. B obviously not very happy, decides to let the issue go.
3 PM by the time luggage crisis is resolved
The limo takes them to Millenium Hilton situated on the banks of Chao Phraya river offering sweeping views of bangkok. Mr A has made reservations on the top floor in the delux view suite. The suite has an elegantly designed living room styled after ancient thai palace in jade, gold and red. The two roms leading from it, one is done in jade and gold and the master in crimson and gold. B has personally never seen a room this big in her life, and another shock awaits her when she enters the bathroom, fitted with a tub as big as a swimming pool, with gold faucets and trims.
The luggage guy (kya naam hota hai? help me here) leaves after accepting his hefty tip.
JW (turns around, opens the curtains) Suite kaisa laga?
B: (genuinely) Its very beautiful Mr Walia.
JW:Tumne kya socha main jaan bhoojkar ek kamra book karoonga?
B(flushes and lies) nahi to
JW (curious ) to tumne kya socha tha?
B: I dont think anymore (tersely)
JW: tumhe kaun sa kamra chahiye? (they both walk to his room)
B: red and gold!! (bends down to feel the silky red and gold sheet on the bed sits down)
JW laughs"sure" (stands in front, hands in pocket, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, rocks on the balls of his feet)
B:NO! its too big, I want the green and gold.
JW:we cud share(softly) approaches her, how can he look so dangerously sexy even when he has just gotten off a 6 hr plane ride she wonders, by the time she is done wondering, he has.........
B arching her back, almost laying on the bed, "NO!"
He bends down "Have I told you how u look in jeans?" (husky)
B: Mujeh maloom hai main kaise dikhti hoon (smug)
JW (throws his head back and laughs) Kaise? Lets see if our reviews match (bends down further)
B brings her hands in front as a shield, TOO LATE!
He si already bending over
J(huskily) jab bhi tum overhead bin se samaan nikaal rahi thi tumahara, I cud see a tiny patch of skin, begging to be touched" (slides his hands between her waistband and her t-shirt)
B I know (trying to sound like a seductress all confident, but comes out squeaky)
JW: its your turn (waits)
B:It fully covers me (realizing conv is slipping into dangerous territory)
JW: Thats a minus............
Starts nuzzling, she is tired, he is too, both roll on the bed sideways, she slides her fingers thru his hair, his mouth starts trailing a path of fire on her face and neck, and he finally swoops down on hers..........
. Bani showers changes into a peach color salwar suit, they order room service something vegetarian for her from the menu and Bani is ravenous, eats and goes to her green and gold room.
JW doesnt appraoch her afterwards, is last seen by her working away on his laptop, when she goes to bed at 9 PM
JW is gone all day Monday (laeves after 9 and promises to be back by 4 to take her sightseeing) for his meeting with Mr Sukhon (Kim Sukhon) he said, but not a formal business meeting so he decides to dress casual a black Polo short-sleeve t-shirt with its signature red logo on his left chest, and faded blue jeans. He decides to chuck the formal look for the evning, shampooed hair, no gel, just brushed back with a casual flick.
5 PM
B reads about Bk for a while, flips channels in TV nothing interests her, thinks about calling him around 7 PM after waking from her nap, but decides against it. Her impatience increases with every tick of the clock by the bed. How can he do this in anew country. Is work that important, why cant he take the EVENING OFF? He probably has forgotten all about me she thinks
Decides to pamper herself, walks into hubby's bathroom, and tries some of the array of bath salts and bubble baths that form a neat row near the vanity mirror..
Soaks and reads a book for sometime, when done, goes back to her room and picks out her clothes for the evening.She had bought this saree on her shopping trip with Pia two weeks ago at one of the famous boutiques in Mumbai and had saved it for a special occasion.
What better time to wear it when JW is not around she thinks!
Takes her saree and things back into hubby's bathroom taht has a HUGE avnity with sorround lights and starts dressing herself slowly................
Its a fuchsia pink saree with a halter-neck back less blouse (yes she lives in Mumbai and watches TV and bought it after seeing Rani's promo in KANK:-)and looks exactly teh same! thanks Soap!)
She smiles to heself draping her saree around, when she remembers Dadi's remarkk one day when she was newly married. dadi had said she had looked like Rani M. Wonder what Dadi would say now she thinks.
Wears her signature pink bangles in one hand leaves the other one bare, and her neck except for her MS gold chain. Her heart skips a beat when she looks at her reflection as she thinks of the person who occupies her mind 99% of the time these days. Her face suffuses with a warm red color, kinda compliemnting the saree, as she drapes her pallu over her shoulder, and realizes in shock that there is no way she can pin it on her shoulder. Decides she's got to be super careful about holding it all evening long. Dabs Clinique Happy in all her pulse points......... looks at her reflection and is quite impressed! Hair brsuhed and flowing freely, carressing her bare back, "i acn give Rani a run for her money!" she muses...........Models herself in front of the mirror, walks back and forth and freezes when she sees her back view in the almost 360 degree view the mirror provides. Closes her eyes, she feels a tingle pass thru her body, shudders in response as if JW had touched her physically...........steadies herself and looks at the bed side clock, its past 8 PM!
NO SIGN OF JW.
Walks into the room, and finds his laptop on the desk by the huge windows. She is shocked! If his laptop is at the hotel WHERE THE HELL IS HE? Walks by to the window, Bangkok's night views were breathtaking. Hums a tune, turns around looks at the laptop, turns it on and goes on the web and plays songs randomly from her fave website's jukebox.
Pours herself some juice from the refrigerator and wlaks back to the window.
This is it she thinks! I am not going to wait anymore, if he doesnt care about me I dont either. I plan to enjoy my stay here. I dont need him to enjoy my evening.She might need him for something else altogether but not this nite, she tells herself bitterly. She knows JW just has to touch her and she feels as if she had foolishly captured the exposed end of a live elctrical wire, violent shocks running up her arm, running along every exposed nerve. One touch of his can have me completely burned down to ashes, why is he doing this to me? I need to end this when I go back. I have to start thinking of a life without him............................
Jukebox starts playing.......................
Tere bina jiya jaaye na, Tere bina jiya jaaye na. Bin tere tere bin saajna, saans mein saans aaye na
Jab bhi khayalon mein tu aaye, mere badan mein khushboo chhaye. Meheke badan mein raha na jaaye, raha jaaye na.
Tere bina jiya jaaye na, Tere bina jiya jaaye na. Bin tere tere bin saajna, saans mein saans aaye na.
Reshmi raaten roz na hongi, yeh saugaten roz na hongi. Zindagi tujh bin raas na aaye, raas aaye na
Walks over to the lobby and asks directions for the closest restaurant, is escorted to the one by the entrance. Looks very exclusive and pricey and romantically dark with candles the only source of light on every table. She walks in waits to be seated, waiting with her is some one who also looks like an Indian. She smiles, and he introduces himself as Sanjay Singh and is in Bk on a biz trip from spore works for some South East Asian Bank. Very young and pleassant Bani thinks. Hewants to knwo if she is waiting for someone, she denies and he asks her if he can buy her a DRINK! She accepts and they proceed to the table shown by the hostess.
She orders a soda, he orders a screwdriver.
They talk about Mumbai, India, life in general.
Bani suddenly feels a chill crawl up her spine and shakes it off as her imagination, continues talking.....
JW (flat)Hi! Mrs Walia
Startled, turns around almost dropping her soda on her saree
Standing so close to her she was sure he could hear her heart race thunderously like that.Just when she wanted to act cool and aloof and appear unmoved at his proximity her body decides to go on a sensual overdrive, responding to his closeness with all the thirst of a parched desert traveller presented with a jug full of cold water!
His eyes travel over her, tumbling silk of hair, notes the bare back and shoulder beside it, like a solder torch, follows it down her neck and back to her face.
B: (her voice failing her, drying painfully, making her moisten her lips so thats he can speak again) Hi! Mr Walia (JW's eyes watch that tiny provocative movement, making her heart do another happy dance).
Bani's face pales. She had introduced herself as Bani (no last name u see:-)
Sanjay:(extending his hand) Hello Mr Walia. Are u by any cahnce the Walia of Walia Resorts?
JW (tearing his eyes off his wife, looks a lil uninterested at the stranger, but still tries to be pleasant coz its his wife he wants to kill right, not the stranger:-) Yes, thats me (smiles)
Sanjay: I ve stayed at your Mumbai and Pune hotels, they are fabulous. Its such an honor to see you here (gushes)
JW(a lil embarrassed) The pleasure is all mine.....
Sanjay:(turning towards B) Banee u are his wife? Wow! I shud have known a you must belong to a guy like him! (kinda embarrassed and sheepish, smiling).
B thinks I DONT BELONG TO HIM. I belong to myself.!
B: Mr Walia, why dont u join us ? (Her bravest line in her life), you should relax, you look tired, Can I order you something? (picks up the beverage menu in an affected way and pretends to read)
JW (muscle clenching in his jaw) No Banee thanks, I want to relax differently.
B's breath catches in her throat
JW smiles at Sanjay, snakes his left arm around his wife's waist and pulls her up like a rag doll.
Bani feels his watch brand her back again.
JW: sanjay so nice to meet you. We are staying her, if u are too, then we can meet for lunch or dinner sometime.
S: I wish I cud Mr Walia (JW interrupts and insists he wants to be called Jai, everyone except hsi WIFE), I mean Jai, but I leave for Spore tomm morning. I work for Colonial Investmenst Trust.
They shake hands again.
JW gently shoves B in the direction of the elevator. She tries to free herself but doesnt work. Decides not to pitch a tantrum and acquiesces.NOT A WORD FROM HUBBY.
Inside the elevator JW almost punches holes where the numbers once used to be! watches the floor indicator panel with unbelievable curiosity. Get off, walk to the suite, shoves teh card key and pulls it out.
JW walked purposefully inside the suite, arm still in the steely grip around her waist.Juke box is playing "Bheege hot tere, pyaasa dil mera, .............. (Kunal G's hit song)
The click of the lock sounded like a mortar being fired. Bani, forcefully detaches herself and walks away to the windows in the living room, deliberately ignoring him......... when his chilling voice hits her ears.....
JW(soft, threatening, silky, letters carved in ice)
Game's over, Banee!
..
*******************************************************
PART 15 A
JW paced the lobby , irritation had started creasing his brows, hands clenched in pockets he was
wondering where Bani was, they were supposed to leave the hotel for sight seeing at 9 AM, when
theyw oke up it was 9!
He obviously the faster of teh two, was ready before 10, had stepped down, airing the warning that
she better be there in half hr. She was still no where in sight at almost 11. It was HER idea to go
sightseeing, he just wanted to stay in the room, ....... He had visited Bk many times previously
and it didnt hold any particular charm for him
His thoughts slipped back to the previous day and particularly the the two nites that had recently
passed. The moment they both had been waiting for, the moment she said she had been
"avoiding" had come by and gone. A smile creases his lips, these were the best days he can ever
think of he had with his wife in all the time he had been married to her. She had been as
passionate and expressive as he had been, though she would never be able to see him eye to eye
if he ever said that to her. Their ship sailing thru turbulent waters may have spotted a lighthouse he
thought. That lighthouse was what they ahd shared the previous days nites.He had hurt her again
flinging an accusation about yet another starnger. His temper was still uncontrollable, especially
when it came to matters that related to her. More than temper what he had felt that night on seeing
her dressed like that sitting across from another man, had opened the floogates of anger, passion
and jealousy all mixed together.............
She was the only woman, only human being infact who had crossed him and had lived to talk
about it. He did not suffer fools. People stayed out of his path when the storm came, she despite
being calm and composed had braved it all each time. Even though he possessed her body her
mind was still out of reach, he still did not know what she felt about reconciling. He still did not
know what Tarun means to her. Was she really serious when she "promised" she wud date him?
And of course the reason that took her from his house in the first place. That needs to be sorted
out as well. In some ways he was more unsure about his relationship with her now than he was
before the love making happened. He was only sure of one thing, HE DID NOT WANT TO LOSE
HER. Whether he wanted to analyze his feelings before he analyzed hers was something he
needs to give thought to.
The guest relations manager walks by to talk with him about the quality of service and to inform
him that Bani's luggage should be delivered by the time they get back that nite...and interrupts the
flow of thoughts. JW dressed today in khakhi all cotton trousers and a crimson and green
checked shirt, and comfortable tan suedes on his feet. Checks time, for the 5th time in half
hour,the hands on his steel Rolex still wouldnt move despite his fierceest glare. .................
Looks up, sees her walk up to him, in white capris and a blue Polo sleeveles tee, comfy walking
shoes on her feet.
Bani gets off the elevator. Smiles to herself at the thot of their first morning argument
and how JW had warned her about being downstairs at the lobby in half hour. It was all HIS fault
anyway.......... The half hour was up when she got in the shower! She sees him pacing the lobby
like a panther, lost in thoughts. His shirt open enough to reveal what she had seen the night before
and then some........ his hair still a lil damp from the morning shower, curling around his
ears................
completely unaware of the admiring glances from passer by Thai women tourists/guests.
A couple of them say something to each other and smile admiringly at him, one even winked at
her friend indicating to Bani that they may have been thinking something flirtatious! Bani saw that!
How can he be so unaware of other women but ME? She realized his methods of calculated
persuasion but was powerless to do anything about it. Her small white purse carried the essentials
she would need for the day including the purse size Thai tour book and her unfinished novel. She
hadnt had a bite to eat and was hungry too.
She sees him walk up to her, sure confident, undoubtedly male and HERS! she thinks quickly
dismissing taht thought as pompous............ She smells Romance by RL on him,
JW (irritated) Where the hell were you?
B: (knows he is upset) I am hungry
JW: bani I wanted u downstairs at 10.15, abhi its 11 !
B: woh piya ka phone aa gaya tha.
J exasperated "Cant she wait until you get back?
B: Mr Walia aapko kya maloom, we have never been away from each other, yeh pehli baar hai,
what do u know (emotional outburst)
JW (hand on her elbow almost pushing her into the coffee shop) How come she doesnt miss Rano?
and she misses only my wife? They are waiting to be seated at the coffee shop.........
B colors at the word wife "I am her sister first and then......(quickly checks herself and stops)
JW complete change in atitude, stops stands in front "Sister first and then? (softly)
B: I am hungry (looks away cant see his eyes)
JW smiles amused........................
hostess esats them...........
JW: Do u realize thsi si the first meal we are having together in 6 months?" Waitress appears
B bends down and doesnt respond looks at the menu..................
JW: I'll have some coffee (to the waitress) and an omlette.......... sunny side up....
B:Mujhe nahi maloom, kya khaoon main (looks at him innocently)
JW: Thats why I recommend becoming a non vegetarian like your husband. (looks at the menu
again)
That sends Bani's heart in a tizzy again looks out the window.
JW: How about some tea and some toast and pancakes?
B: Itna saara? No!
JW: You eat what u can, dont worry............
Food is served, he butters her toast, pours syrup on her pcs, and makes her tea. she pretends to
read her book.
JW: Piya ne kya kaha?
B: Kuch nahi usko yahan se kuch ssamaan chahiye tha, she wanted to know if I can buy.
JW: Oh1 is not interested at all, eats his omletee while wife is still stuck on her second pancake,
she loves her tea,
JW: Are you full?
B(lost) nahi.......
JW: Want a bite" profers the fork with a bite of omlette
B: NO! twitches her nose..........
JW: Its tastes great, just like me (winks)
Furious color rushes to her face at that implication............
B mutilates the reaminder of her pancake imagining its..................
JW picks up her book from the table, a slim paper back, she lunges.......... Mr walia give it back
JW: what do u read zara dekhoon..........
B: Please u are so rude
Moves the book from his face and gives her the most absolutely cute smile................
JW:Hoon na?
B: I wnat my book back......
JW Only on one condition
B Kya (sulkily)
JW: I want to taste the pancakes u are eating
B pushes her entire plate fwd clanking with his "U can eat it all" raeches for the book
JW hides the book on his lap, and holds her right hand with his left sending tingles all along B's
spine, makes her poke a piece, dunks it in some syrup and makes her feed him................. all the
while looking at her.............. wraps his lips around the piece and chews on it, later to only bring
his tongue out and collect the syrup from his lips............. she watches fork in mid air in her
hand..... drops it with a clunk and looks away when he knows that she watched it all...........
JW (hsukily pleads) Lets go back to the room...........
B: NO!! Hum do din se kamre se bahar nahi nikle (breathless and shaky)
JW Whose fault is that? (mock accusingly).
B bends down and is unable to answer.....
JW reaches out and holds her hands warmly with his............ "Bani I was teasing, please dont be
shy I promise u will see Bk today"
B: can I have my book back
JW: here........... Kim and his wife want to meet you, also hame apna resort dekhne bhi jaana hai.
Runs his hand thru his hair ruffling it, B watches giving it her undivided attention........
JW: You havent seen our resort yet. I have a month ago........ Vivian tumhe invite karna chahti
hai....... you have so much to do and u take two bl----- hours to get ready (angry again)
B: It was not MY fault (snaps)
JW signs the bill, gets up, "lets go Bani, I promise we can eat some place later" she gets up and
picks up her book and bag........
He holds her hand with his left in a firm grip, walk out and get in the Merc that he has rented for
the day........... lets her in and gets in. The driver sees them from far and starts walking toward his
car........
B: I know what I want to see first (all chirpy and child like) Wat Phra Kaeo, the Temple of the
emerald Buddha
J is amused, turns around slides his fingers thru her hair pulls her face down to his and covers her
lips with his with a graon "Mrs Walia....Tum mere liye kabhi itni excited ho jao na please" Little
shudders of excitement flickered over her flesh melting her protests as their mouths blended into a
perfect whole.......
CID
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
