’AJNABI’ (COMPLETED...FINALLY!) - Page 8

Wow MT...That was just fab!!👏👏👏

"Pushkar…Pushkar….Mujhe yeh project Mr. Walia se discuss karni thi, kya tum mere saath chaloge?" Bani asked her best friend of two months, who was busy making a Presentation on his Laptop and without looking at Bani, replied back in an absent-minded manner, "Bani….I am really busy….There is an important Board Meeting coming up and I have to finish this Presentation before that and give it to Jai Sir. Aur waise bhi, Nasik Project File toh tumhein mila hua hai, toh mein kya karoonga tumhare saath aakar?"

Bani gave an expasperated look at Pushkar and shrugged her delicate shoulders as she thought to herself that how could she explain to Pushkar why she couldn't face Jai alone…..she was invariably tounge-tied in front of him and ended up looking like a fool everytime she spoke to him on any matter, official or unofficial. Somehow all her self-assurance and confidence went outside the window, when Jai Walia stood in front of her eyes.

It had been a little over two months that Bani had been employed with the Walia Industries and almost a fortnight or so that she had been reporting to Jai directly. Inspite of the almost icy-demenour that Jai possessed most of the time, Bani had come to know that Jai was one of the warmest, kindest and most simple human being she had met in the 23 years of her life and her respect for her employer and mentor was only growing day by day. But what had been nagging Bani was the strange and unknown feeling she had begun to have for Mr. Walia, something for which she couldn't give a name, something which was alien to her and something which weighed on her mind day in and day out…..That meeting of seven years back, somehow she knew that Jai was the strange who had knocked on the doors of her house and heart that rainy night, but then she was filled with a doubt as to how could life bring her back to the same man again and in this manner…….Bani tried to get rid of the thought, arguing with herself that all that happened 7 years back was only a dream, a figment of her imagination……which could never come true again.

As Bani trudged outside of Pushkar's Cabin, he called back, "Hey Bani, ruko, main bhi aata hoon tumhare saath, mujhe bhi kuch discuss karna tha Jai Sir se." Pushkar put on his jacket and grabbed Bani by her arm and almost dragged her along to the Chairman's Office. Bani adored Pushkar, he was the brother she never had, the friend whom she always wanted and the fact that he was so close to Jai, made Bani all the more fonder of him.

Pushkar never really felt the need to knock on Jai's Office Door and he breezed past in, much to Bani's chargain who always treated Jai with the utmost respect and distance and never once let her guard down in front of him. "Jai Sir, I have almost wrapped up the New York Project Report, will email it you by evening….Actually can I send it to you by tomorrow, woh aaj meri ek special date hai." Pushkar grinned in his cheeky way and Jai looked up from his Laptop on which he was almost always engrossed, deep in work, and gave a saradonic but warm look and replied back, "But ofcourse Pushkar, shaam ke waqt tum Library main toh bitaoge nahin, Date hi ho sakta hai….But I want the report tomorrow morning in my Inbox by 9 Sharp….warna baaki ki zindagi ek bhi date par nahin jaa paaoge." Pushkar smiled back widely and plopped himself comfortably in a chair, while Bani kept standing in her formal and diffident way with the file clutched firmly in her hands. "Yes Bani?" Jai looked up at her, suddenly noticing her presence in the room and once again, the unknown, sinking sensation pervaded Bani's young heart as she got mesmerized by Jai's deep brown eyes which seemed to bore deep into her soul, or so it seemed to a deeply infatuated girl. "Bani? I am talking to you? Did you have something to say?" Jai looked a little bewildered and kept staring at Bani and Pushkar turned towards her and began laughing, "Bani, yeh tumhein day dreaming ki aadat kab se pad gayi, Jai Sir tum se kuch pooch rahein hain." Bani blushed to her roots and turned crimson and mumbled something about the Nasik Project Report and quickly and clumsily handed over the file to Jai who still looked a little perplexed at Bani's behavior.

As Pushkar toyed with Jai's latest Palmtop, changing the setting (which always irritated Jai much to Pushkar's amusement) Bani kept looking in Jai's direction while he was studying the file in a very serious and absorbed way. A shy smile lit up Bani's face as she realized how charming Jai looked when he was busy and lost in some work, how his salt and pepper hair curled up in the sides, how his brows furrowed in concentration, how he tapped his cheeks with his fingers, how he murmered something softly…….and suddenly Bani realized what was going wrong with her, how could she think in his manner for her mentor, for the man who had helped them when all the doors had been shut on them, for someone who had not only given them a house to live, but had made them a part of his family also…..A surge of guilt pervaded Bani's being and she pretended to look out of the large bay window which overlooked the Sea…..Bani loved Jai's Cabin, every nook and corner seemed to echo his personality, the books scattered causally in one corner of the Room, the Beige coloured Rug which covered the Floor, the striking Anjali Ela Menon Painting which seemed to lend an altogether different atmosphere…..The bright Yellow Dalhiya's which were kept behind Jai's seat……."This is good work Bani, this is indeed good work….Yeh tumnein khud kiya hai, without any help?" Jai spoke with a hint of admiration as he still fingered the Project Report going through some of the calculations and before Bani could answer, Pushkar replied enthusiastically, "Jai Sir, aapko pata hai, Bani kal raat ko Office se 2 baje ghar wapas gayi hai, pura report finish kar ke….." This time Jai looked up at Bani, who seemed to get red without any reason and awkwardly gave a formal smile at Jai, who looked expressionless for some time and then said, " I am impressed. I know that you are not experience enough yet, but if you can make such a detailed analysis on paper, I am sure you could execute the Project equally well. I want you to handle the Nasik Project on your own Bani, ofcourse Pushkar and Ranveer are always there to help you out. What do you say?" Bani looked shocked and spoke with nervousness, "Sir….Main pura project kaise handle kar sakti hoon, mujhe itna experience nahin hai abhi…..Pushkar aur Ranveer dono apne Projects main tied up hain…." Bani suddenly felt that she shouldn't have sounded so under-confidenced and Jai might feel offended with her refusal, but Jai smiled back warmly, the rare sunshine smile that Bani longed to see everyday. "No problems, agar Pushkar aur Ranveer available nahin hain, then I will help you out! Mujhe do din ke baad Nashik jaana hai, apni ek relative se milne, tum mere saath chal sakti ho, wahan main tumhein hamare Nashik Office ke colleagues se introduce kara doonga, and you can get a hands-on experience working with them. What do you say?" All Bani heard was that Jai had asked her to come along with her and that was enough to send her heart soaring……..

"Di….aapka jaana zaroori hai kya? Woh bhi 2 din ke liye….Hum yahan kya karenge? Oh this is so boring." Pia grumbled as she lied down on the Bed as Bani packed her clothes and other necessited into a overnight bag, while Rano answerd back from her study table, "Shut up will you Pia. Di kaam par jaa rahin hai, Picnic par nahin." Pia kept her nail filer away and answered cheekily, "Mr. Walia ke saath log sirf kaam par hi jaa sakte hai, unke saath Picnic par kaun jaana chahega?" Rano couldn't help laughing at Pia's sarcasm while Bani did not bother to answer back and just made a annoyed face at Pia and told her to shut up and be a good girl and take care of Rano while she is away.

"Bani Madam, Jai Sir ne kaha hai, ki shaam ke theek 6 baje aap Main porch par aajaye." Tony came to let Bani know about Jai's message and as in afterthouth added that Jai is very particular about punctuality and that if he said 6 in the evening, it means that time. Bani smiled and thanked Tony for the additional information and finally prodded to her Bed to sleep…or rather to dream.

"Tum agar 2 minute aur der se aati, toh main nikal chuka hota." Jai was sitting in the Driver's seat drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, while Bani, who had not even had the time to comb her wet hair gave an apologetic look at Jai and quickly put her Bag in the back of the Car and opened the back door. "Bani. Kya main tumhein Driver lagta hoon?" Jai asked apparently without any expression in his voice as Bani suddenly realized that Jai was going to drive the Car and she was sitting in the back. As Bani looked onto Jai, they both burst out laughing and Bani came and sat in the front seat with Jai.

It was almost an hour or so that they were out on the road, and the time being late evening, they had managed to beat the crowd and were now headed towards the outskirts of Mumbai, which looked lush green and inviting with rain-drenched roads spiraling towards nowhere and the greenery carpeting the whole stretch! Jai had not uttered a single word till now and Bani had not gathered the guts to even look at Jai, and had obstinately looked out of the window at the passing stretch of roads, meadows, cattle, people and everything she could set her eyes on. It was enough that she was traveling with Jai and was sitting with him in such close proximity; this experience itself would give her endless nights of dreams! "Toh batao Bani, ab tak raste main kitne Ped gine tum nein?" Jai questioned Bani, as his eyes were still on the road ahead and Bani was suddenly woken up from her revere and looked towards Jai who now turned to look at her and smiled. Bani gave a shy smile back and said, "108 at the last count, ab andhera ho gaya hai, isliye mujhe ab theek se dikhayi nahin de raha." Jai almost jerked as he looked at Bani startled and then after composing himself said, "Don't tell me, you were actually counting trees?" Bani threw caution to the winds and surprising herself said, "Aap mujh se baat nahin kar rahe the, main apne aap se aap ke saath baat nahin kar sakti, toh mujhe laga ki Ped gin kar hi time bitaya jaa sakta hai." Jai begun laughing openly at Bani's answer and as she blushed and realized that she shouldn't have spoken too much, Jai stopped the Car near a road-side Kiosk and asked her for Tea. "Acutally main apne saath Coffee laayi hoon, peeche Flask mein pada hai. Aap lenge?" Jai looked amazed and said, "Tumhein kaise pata ki main sirf Coffee pita hoon?" Bani smiled and almost bit her lip and then composing herself said softly, "Aap bhool rahe hai, ki subah ka breakfast hum log Walia House main karte hain." Jai grinned again and Bani stepped out of the Car to get the Flask of Steaming Hot Coffee and poured it into Jai's steel mug and handed it over to him. "Hmm, nice weather. Do you like the rain?" Jai's eyes were wandering through the lush green foliage which had surrounded the whole area, drenched with last night's downpour. Bani who had been standing a little apart from Jai, sipping her Coffee looked at him and said quietly, "Mujhe baarish bahut pasand hai……I have some beautiful memories associated with the Rain." Jai didn't know whether it was the way Bani spoke or was it some chord that struck in his heart, that made him look at Bani suddenly and their eyes met and it seemed they kept looking at one another for eternity. Jai suddenly drew a sharp breath and looked away draining away the Coffee, almost scalding his mouth and leapt inside his Car and kept staring vacantly at the space. Bani didn't feel like finishing her Coffee and poured it on the Road and placing the Flask and Cups back, she quietly came and sat alongside Jai as he drove down, both of them immersed in a strange and nostalgic silence.

Bani couldn't help but remembering how a rain-drenched and bitterly cold night had introuduced her to an enigmatic stranger who had suddenly lit up her dark and dreary home and had given her the best birthday present she could have ever had.

It was almost three hours or so that they had left Mumbai and as they were driving past the outskirts, the Car broke down. "Damn……Why does it always happen with me?" Jai banged his fists with impatience on the Steering wheel and got down to examine what had gone wrong with his Car and as Bani came alongside, he shrugged his head in frustration and said, "Pata nahin kya problem hai, kuch samajh nahin aa raha. Phone bhi nahin lag raha hai….." Jai glanced at his watch, which clocked 9 Pm and looked at Bani, who seemed strangely unpetrubed. "Tumhein dar nahin lag raha? Raat ke 9 baja is sunsaan sadak par, sirf hum dono hai, aur koi nahin." Bani smiled back in a shy manner, confident that the darkness of the night will hide her expression and replied back, "Mujhe andhere aur akelepan se bilkul dar nahin lagta Mr. Walia…..kabhi lagta tha, magar ek dost ne woh dar bhi nikal diya." Somehow Bani felt that Jai was staring at her, even in the darkness, she could feel his eyes boring into her own and trying to guage a lost moment in the past……Jai did not answer back as he prodded Bani to sit in the Car as it might be unsafe outside. Jai switched on the lights of the Car and leaned back on his seat in exhaustion as Bani looked at him and said, "Aap bahut thak gaye hain Mr. Walia?" Jai just nodded his head and told her that he had a long day at the Office and had decided to travel in the evening so that they would save time the next day and he could both meet his Aunt and also go to the Nasik Office with her. "Pata nahin kyon, aaj is Car main baith kar, ek bahut poorani baat yaad aagayi…..Main aise hi ek baar, baarish mein phas gaya tha aur meri gaadi bhi kharab ho gayi thi….." Bani felt herself tightening and suddenly beads of perspiration appeared on her forehead as she looked away from Jai into the still darkness that seemed to loom ominiously ouside from the Car windows. Jai kept trying to call up from his Cellphone but since they were in the middle of nowhere, there was no network and he gave up in exasperation and irritation a while later. It had started raining, beginning with a slight drizzle and then suddenly it turned into a downpour. "Oh God, ab baarish bhi shuru ho gayi, kya Karen?" Jai looked at Bani, a little amazed by her lack of any worry or concern, infact it seemed to Jai, that Bani looked almost happy with the situation. Bani answered back calmly, "Kuch nahin kar sakte Mr. Walia…..Baarish ke rukne ke baad hi kuch kar sakte hain." Jai nodded in agreement and proceeded to open his Laptop as Bani took out a book and pretended to be deeply engrossed in the book. A while lapsed when Jai, without looking up from his Laptop said very matter of factly, "Interesting Book?" Bani was startled and looked up at Jai and said, "Ya….Nice story….." Jai smiled in a knowing way and kept quiet as Bani once again went back to her Book and then Jai said, "Mujhe nahin pata tha ki tumhein kitab ulti pakad kar bhi padni aati hai." Suddenly Bani felt blood rushing to her face as she saw Jai openly grinning, while still typing away on his Laptop and Bani realized that all the while she had been holding the book upside down. At a complete loss of words,she quickly shut the book and kept it inside her bag and proceeded to look outside the window into the darkness of the night. "Ab yeh mat kehna ki tum andhere mein ped gin rahin ho." Bani couldn't help blushing and laughing at the same time by the manner in which Jai spoke as he shut down his Laptop and looked at her in a way that seemed to make Bani tingle with pleasure and nervousness. As Bani grinned in a slighty foolish manner to hide her apparent awkwardness, Jai kept staring at Bani and then spoke in a different voice, "Tum ab bhi utni hi acchi Coffee banati ho, jitni acchi tum ne Mount Abu mein banayi thi…..Hopefully your Maths is also better now." As Bani kept staring at Jai stunned and unable to respond, Jai smiled back, the same enigmatic and intriguing smile that had left its mark on the 16 year old, 7 years back and said, "Main tumhe apne ghar mein dekhte hi pehchaan gaya tha……Princess….."

Will continue (Hopefully!😆)

Love,

MT