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Jai got down from the car first….bani was not aware of this place…it must be one of the several bungalows that he owned……but why has he brought me here…….she was wondering.
Jai started climbing stairs when he realized that bani was still sitting in the car….he turned around to find bani lost in thoughts…..he went back to the car, pulled open the door, grabbed bani's hand and dragged her gently but firmly inside……
Bani was taken aback by his sudden aggression……he took her inside…they entered a big hall. it bore all signs of a house which had no inhabitants for quite a long time….but still it was being maintained by some crew…..she was just thinking about that…when a old looking man came hustling from what seemed like kitchen.
Areee jai beta….bahot dino baad aaye yahan….beta kabhi kabar yaha aate rehna aakhir is ghar se hi to tumhari bachapan ki yaade judi hui hai……
Bani looked at jai……who seemed to have heard nothing what the old man said….he was looking around….everywhere…as if reliving all those moments that he spent there.
He was looking completely lost……he was still holding bani's hand who could feel his grip getting tighter by every passing moment….
Mr.Walia….mera haath…bani screeched .jai came out of his world and saw hurt in her black eyes…and let go off her hand as if it wasn't bani's but of any strangers……
Err……wo kaka ye bani hai….jai said in soft voice.
That old man turned his face towards bani…who was standing stoically without any expression…
Jaanta hu beta…shadi ke waqt to yaha nahi tha mai par paper me photo dekhi hai….billo masi aayi thi kuch din pehle…keh rahi thi badi sushil aur gharelu ladki hai….bahot khush rakhati hai tumhe……bani noticed slight smirk on jai's face which was wiped out in seconds as soon as kaka turned back to him smiling…….
Bani moved forward to touch kaka's feet……nahi beta, aisi halat me barbaar zukna acchi baat nahi aur waise bhi mai sirf yahanka naukar hu….
Kaka aapse kitne baar kaha hai…ke apne aap ko naukar mat kahiye.
Agar aap na hote to kaun is ghar ko itne acche se sambhalta….jai said again…he went near kaka and hug him…..
Bani has never seen jai like this before……
Wo upar room….. he asked glancing upstairs…..
Haan beta wo khula hi hai….use mai kabhi band nahi rakhta….jao.
Jai started going upstairs…this time bani followed him….she did not want any showdown in front of kaka who thought highly of their relationship.
Jai entered the room….the whole room was bathed in bright sunlight which was streaming in through opened French windows……curtains which matched the pearly white colour on the walls perfectly were flying everywhere. This room was slightly more cleaned and was looking as if were taken care of everyday.
There was a cupboard on the right side on top of which some teddy bears and other toys were arranged properly……there were some family photographs framed on the walls……she saw jai. Who again had that lost look in his eyes…..jai then turned and for the first time she noticed a table on which a big photo was kept.
Also For the first time she noticed strong fragrance of nishigandha flowers and she knew why?
There were bunches of nishigandha kept before that photo…..
Her gaze transfixed on the photo where a woman in her late forties were staring at her with smile of content on her face. her eyes made her startled….they had same deep wine shade of colour as jai's….she seemed so alive to bani….she looked at jai and realized in moment that It was jai's mother's photo……the uncanny resemblance made her sure of her guesswork…….
U know bani who is this woman??? Jai spoke suddenly….his voice broke the eerie silence that filled the room moment ago…
She is my mother….but she was not only my mother, she meant world to me…she was my guide,my friend,my support system……I never felt alone when she was with me….you must be wondering where we are standing….its my ancestral house….where I spent my childhood…my mom died here… in this very room……I couldn't get over the fact that my mom wasn't anymore with me….every single nook and corner of this house used to remind me of her……..and it still does……then my dad moved to the new house which is walia mansion…to keep me away from nagging memories of my mother….so that I could recover….i did for the sake of jigyasa…but I could never forget this place…..i can still feel her presence here……
He suddenly came near to bani which made her jump….he hold her by shoulders…..looked deep in her eyes……she couldnot stare back.
Baniii, She had so many dreams for me….she wanted me to become a successful businessman…
Perhaps more successful than my father. But u know what she wanted more than that………she wanted me to be an understanding and loving husband….and great father…unlike my own father who never had time or will for her….who always treated her like a drag. He was indeed good and attentive as father…he fullfiled every wish of mine by throwing as much money as I needed…sometimes more than that….but he never hugged me….he never caress my face and asked me how I was doing…….
My mother wanted me successful not only in my business but also in my married life….
She had cancer….my father flowed money like water but never spared two minutes to talk to her……no wonder she never responded to any of her medication……she used to cuddle and tell me that she will be going on a long journey…that she cant postpone for anything……I used to cry everytime she said that…..but then she used to wipe my face with pallu of her saari and then would continue in her calm voice….
Munna!!! I will have to go beta….but if you promise to be a good husband and dotting father,I will surely come back……
My remorseful face used to lit up…..but at the tender age of 12 I didn't know how to be a good husband and father……….but still I used to promise her. Cause I was ready to go to any extent to make her stay with me forever….
I will come back as your baby….all these years I brought you up,I became not only your mother but also your friend….so then…. it will be your turn to shower me with same love and care…….
Those were the words I used to summon up whenever I found myself drowned in her memories….that one day she will be with me…
In all these years those words were gone on the back burner…..but today when the doctor told me about we having a baby girl and when I saw her on screen…….I thought yes!!!! This is it…..this is the time when my mom will come back to me forever as my daughter…….
Jai was advancing on her slowly…….bani could see plain hysteria in those deep brown eyes….she totally realized why jai brought her here……she kept on going backward till her back hit the wall…….
Did you hear bani……he was shaking her madly by her shoulders as if waking her up from a bad dream…..as if trying to bring his old bani back to herself……
Did you hear bani……this child means everything to me in this whole world…..this isn't an ordinary fetus…..bani………this is my mother goddamitt ……and he hit his fist on a picture frame on wall……that frame broke into pieces….there were glass pieces on the floor……blood was oozing out of his hand……but he was not concerned a bit……
He suddenly let bani go……and in very threatening voice announced …….
I don't care what are you doing all this for……I don't care how my bani turned into a golddigger………I simply know one fact that you are carrying my precious child and I would not let you or for that matter anybody to mess up with it…..she will come back to me…..
In very businesslike tone he further added…….you want divorce? You will get it….
You want 50% of my property? I will give you 90% but for that you will have to stay with me till you deliver this child safely……and hand her over to me…..
Bani was about to protest …..after all she knew….that this child was the only souvenir she is going to have once she give jai's all property back to him and return to mount abu where she belonged….she cant let the child go away….however precious it may be to jai…….jai seemed to have read her mind through her very expressive eyes…….
He was determined….he wasn't going to give her any chance……
Bani, don't forget that I am still your man……and you are still my wife……nobody in this whole world can stop me from claiming for you and this child…….you are mine……and with those words……he bend his face and kissed her lips……her mind was telling her to push him off…..but she was helpless by her soul and body in which it resides……
She engulfed in his authoritative gesture……his hand was still bleeding profusely but they were engrossed in this most awaited moment, that anything else hardly mattered at that point……he was being really harsh on her as if venting out all his anger,frustration on her ……he was not the same jai walia who soothed her with his warm kisses on anu's engagement night which led to the most momentous night of her life…….night in which they conceived this baby………she was almost panting for breath…..
Bani heard footsteps on stairs and with great difficulty she managed to push him apart……he was still looking like an injured tiger ready to pounce on his prey……but when he saw traces of blood on bani's lower lip and pure shock and anguish on her face….he realized what he had done…….he pulled himself together and moved forward….bani waved her hand in air as if warning him not to come near……
Bani bit her lip and bend down and picked up her duppata and carefully draped it around…….she was right……kaka was standing outside with tray in his hands……
He came inside…..from his body language it was preety clear that he didn't know nothing of what happened between the two……
Bani heaved a deep sigh……
Jai was standing near one of the windows……his hands in his pockets. He knew that damage was done…….
He brought bani to this house to make her realize how important this baby is for him……..but he had hurt her by his impulsiveness……he wanted to hold her close to him………he wanted to kiss her……make her feel special….but not this way……he was repenting for what he had done…….
Kaka yaha first aid box hoga? He heard bani's composed voice……
.this is the composure he hated…..he wanted her to reveal everything as to why she was behaving so oddly these days…………surge of anger once again pervaded his body…….
Haan beta…lekin kisliye??? Wo maine Mr.Walia ko wo frame nikalne ke liye kaha tha….par galtise wo tut gayi aur unhe chot lag gayi……she said with a very concerned voice…….
Haan beta mai abhi lataa hu…….kaka left them all alone again.
Jai turned back to see bani……but she was sitting in front of his mother's photo….eyes closed….but tears flowing without pause……she was muttering something under her breath…….she was looking as if she was apologizing for something……jai went there and patted her on her shoulder …….she shivered……she opened her eyes……jai was sitting beside her…….expressions of fury reinstated by his calm and composed look as if what happened moments ago was just nightmare……and her true jai was here.
His expressions changed to helplessness……for a moment she thought to hug him and assure him….that given a chance she would never desert him for anything in this whole world………..but she couldn't do that…….she got up and stood near window. she could still feel his gaze trailing her. she knew he was sorry but she didn't want him to say that to her…….she was obstinately looking out of window….
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