Hey guys,
Thx a million for your nice posts. I just love them! 😃Here comes part 17. Hope you guys will like it and Im eargerly waiting for your comments. Oh and Ive started writing a ff in the Karam Apnaa Apnaa forum as well. Its called Battle of the Hearts. This is the link if you would like to read it. 😉 https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=471917&KW=ba ttle Part 17 Jai slams the door of his car and runs into the flat. He opts for the elevator, but when it takes too long he takes the stairs. When he reaches the fifth floor he is out of his breath. He stops infront of Bani's door and bend forover, placing his hands on his knees and taking deep breaths. He tries to control his heartbeat. When he is finally able to breath normal again, he stands up straight and runs his hand through his hair before his knocks the door. There is no reply so he tries the doorbell. Yet no reply. He wonders why nobody is home as it is already 9 pm. He could understand that Pia wouldnt be home, but Bani and Rano? He shook his head and put his hand on his stomach. Everytime he would get worried his stomach would get upset. He'd get nauches and wanting to throw up anytime. He hated himself for it, but all he could do was not think about it. Jai keeps standing infront of the door for almost an hour. Despite knowning that nobody was home he would knock and ring the bell every five to ten minutes. Just as he was going to knock again he heard a door behind him opening. He turned around and a young man walked out busy talking over his phone. He didnt seem to notice Jai as he walked straight passed him and started to descend the stairs in a hurry. Jai signed again and turned back to Bani's closed door. 'Hey dude.' Jai got startled by the voice. He turned around and saw the same man that has just walked passed him. 'If you are here waiting for one of those three sisters, you are wasting your time. They have moved out this afternoon. You're too late buddy.' Jai was tunderstruck. He couldnt believe that Bani had slipped out of his fingers once again. After he could find his tongue back he asked the young man if he knew where they went. 'I don't know yaar. Those girls hardly ever spoke to anyone. I just saw them packing their stuff and leaving this afternoon. They handed their keys over to me, as my dad is the owner of this building and had rented them the appartment. I never asked them where they were going and they never told me and I dont think they've told anyone else.' Jai couldnt believe his missforutne. He just nodded his head and thanked the guy before walking down the stairs slowly and lost in mind.
Bani walked into the restaurant. It was early morning and the restaurant wouldnt open untill afternoon, but today was a big day and preperations would take alot of time. Pushkar had called a meeting yesterday and told everyone that today their boss would have dinner with some important businessmen at the restaurant and it was made clear that everything should be perfect! As head of the catering Bani was basically responsible for the whole event. With her eyes still closed she walked into the kitchen. She was suprised she found mr. Khan already there. 'Are, mr. Khan aab yahan? Isi waqt?' He looked up from his cop of coffee and nodded her to come and sit next to him. Bani was very fond of Mr. Khan. She has just known him for two weeks now but it feels as if they knew each other for ages. Mr. Khan was an almost 65 year old man, but he surely didnt look that old nor did he act like an old person. He was enjoying life to the fullest and despite having three sons who could and wanted to take care of him, he refused to retire. He loved his job and he loved to be out of the house. Certainly after his wife passed away two years back. Pushkar had told her that in the last 10 years that he had known mr. Khan he had never seen him sad untill the day his wife was no more. Everybody around knew how much mr. Khan loved his wife as he kept telling his lovestory to them all the time and never did any of the girls and boys working at the restaurant get bored. Infact they always begged him to tell him how he won his wife's heart and how he kept her happy for 40 years. Bani sighed deeply at the thought of such a happy marriage and wished that one day she would be just as happy as mr. Khan and his wife have been. As for right now she didnt have time for love. there were things to do, but she first wanted a hot cup of coffee to wake up and come to her senses. She walked up to mr. Khan and dropped herself on the chair next to him. The table was full of picteres, menu's and recipes. She wondered what he was upto, but she didnt need to ask as he answered her question right after pouring her some hot coffee. 'Bani my daughter. I want to make something really special this evening. It has to be something mindblowing. Something I havent made in the last 40 years that I've been working in this restaurant.' Bani took a sip of her hot coffee and looked at mr. Khan. He seemed so concerned yet determined to achieve his goal. She smiled to herself. 'Mr. Khan, before I ask you what makes this evening so special to make you so worried I want to ask you for a favour.' He stopped with what he was doing and looked at Bani being even more worried. 'Yes, my daughter. Is there any problem? Did anyone tell you something? Are in some trouble?' Bani smiled and put her hand on his arm. 'Nahin, there is no such thing. Please , dont worry. It's just that I've been working here now for two months and all that time you have always adressed me as "my daughter", while I've been addressing you as mr. Khan. In this two weeks you have been able to reach to the core of my heart and make a little place for yourself. You are the fun loving crazy and most adorable uncle I always wanted but never had. So if you wouldnt mind I would like to call you uncle hencefort instead of mr. Khan?' Her dark eyes were giving him a heartmelting look. He looked at her with alot of love and answered. 'And you Bani are the daughter I always dreamt of and never had and being your uncle will be my honor!' Bani jumped of her seat and huged her new uncle with tears in her eyes. 'Hey cut the drama and get back to work!' Pushkar walked into the kitchen. 'Look there my daughter. This is the son I never dreamt of but still got!' All tree of them burst out laughing and Pushkar hugs mr. Khan before he sits himself and puzzles with his two most favourite employees how they would manage the menu for that evening.
Jai is sitting behind his desk starring at the same picture he had grabbed from his little princess. He smile brightens the picture. She has put one of her arm around Jai and the other around Bani. It was a true kodak moment and they looked like a happy family. Jai didnt get shocked by that thought as it has made a place of its own in his mind by now. He sighs deeply and closes his eyes. 'Where did you go Bani? You have no idea how bad we need you.' When he opens his eyes again he sees his nephew standing infront of him. 'Goodmorning uncle.' Jai sits up straight and quickly puts the picture away.'Sahil? Please sit down.' He gives a hopefull look to Sahil. 'Im sorry uncle, she didnt come to college yesterday. Ive stayed till closing time going up and down the library and other study facilities, but she was no where to be found.' Jai tried to hide his disappointment. After looking for Bani all over Mumbai and Mount Abu without success he had pinned all his hope on Rano. 'That's ok, maybe she will come today.' Sahil knew that his uncle would say that. It's the same line he had to hear for the past two moths. He knew his uncle was desperate to bring Bani back. Anjali wasnt doing great and sometimes Sahil had this sith sense telling him that that was not the only reason his uncle wanted Bani back in their lives. Sahil had been looking out for Rano day after day after day. Not only for his uncle's sake, but for his aswell. He couldnt sleep the night out of guilt and he just wanted to apologise to her and be her friend. 'Sahil? Are you ok? Your face has dropped all of the sudden.' Jai gave a concerned look to his nephew. Sahil looked ip to his uncle and before he realised it, he went confessing everything to him. Jai was shocked. He didnt know what to feel, guilt for being rude to Bani, regret for what Rano has been through or disgusted and angry with his nephew. 'I'm so sorry mamaji. Ive been such a jerk.' Jai dropped himsel back in the chair and closed his eyes once again. 'Well that makes us two Sahil.'
Rano was standning in the kitchen, making herself a nice cup of tea. The tv was on as she was watching the re-run of Jabb Love Hua. He grabbed a couple of biscutes and dropped herself on the couch. As she was sipping from her hot tea and totally lost in the love story that was starting to develop between Rahul and Gehena, the doorbell rang. With a sigh and silghtly irritated she went to open the door. Natwar was standing there with a big simle on his face. She gave him a grumpy face and without saying a word she walked right back in and dropped herself once again on her favorite spot. Natwar rolled his eyes and walked in closing the doors behind him. 'What did I deserve that for! Who got on your nerves this time princess?' He dropped himself next to her, gave her a peck on the cheek and grabbed her cup of tea taking a gulp out of it burning his tongue. He rushed into the kitchen and spit the tea out. Rano followed him and kept standing in the doorpost looking at him over her glasses. He gave her a helpless look and she couldnt control herself anymore and burst out laughing.
Natwar was sitting on the couch next to Rano. His feet were on the table and his eyes fixed on the tv. A ice-lollypop was stuck in his mouth to pacify his burnt tongue. Rano was givng him an amused look. She tried to talk to him but he was ignoring him. The fact that she started to giggle every 2 minutes didnt exactly help. 'Are baba, Im sorry. Please forgive me. Atleast look at me.' She grabbed Natwars face and turned it towards her, but she pulled away and returned to watch tv. Rano sighed deeply and than got up, stood right infront of the tv, hold her ears and started doing sit-ups. Natwar couldnt hold his poker face anymore and he started smiling. 'Alright, alright.' Rano jumped next to him on the couch. 'Really?' Natwar turned around holding his breath, thinking whether he should tell Rano what was on his chest or not. 'Natwar!' Rano yelled impatiently. He smiled. 'No, not yet.' Natwar got up from the couch. He knew that whatever he was going to tell her now, was important and dangerous too. 'Listen Rano. I will forgive you but on one condition.' Rano stood up and assured him she would accept any condition. 'Are you sure? You dont even know what my condition is?' Rano sighed.'Yesss! I dont need to know. I swear on our friendship that I will accept your condition!' Natwar kept quiet for a little while and than gathering all his courage he looked Rano straight in the eyes. 'You will have to come back to college.' He saw how Rano's smile died on her lips and the blood rushed out of her face.
Anupamaa
