Eisode XI [Fizulki, the first part is for you. Enjoy!]
The bell rings and Pushkar opens the door. A tear stained Pia is in the doorway.
"What do you want Pia?"
"Mujhe di se milna hai Pushkar. It's very important."
"Important for whom, you or her?"
"Pushkar just how selfish do you think I am?" Pia asks in pain, but Pushkar only looks at her sardonically, without saying anyhing.
"I need to speak to di to explain why Mr.Walia reacted the way he did when he saw that hospital form."
Pushkar finally engages wih her asking, "what have you to do with that?"
And as Pia confesses, Pushkar's expression hardens.
"You know what your problem is Pia? You never stop to think about anyone other than yourself. You say you love your sisters, and I'm sure that you but you always choose to see everything from your perspective and convenience. You could not make your marriage work, could not sustain your love and so you found it impossible that Bani could love Mr.Walia and really want to make her marriage work."
"Pushkar why do you have to bring our marriage into this? And how was I know that di would fall in love with him given the circumstances of their marriage?"
"Because our marriage resulted in her marriage and you don't know even half he problems it caused in her marriage! And you find it so difficult to believe she fell in love with him because you never saw him as a person only as a bank balance! And the bitter truth is that once you got married to me you magically expected that you could have me and Mr.Walia's bank balance. And when that did not happen, not only did you walk out on me but you even aborted our child. For all your love for your sisters you can never even begin to understand either of them because they care for people and not money. And that makes it even more ironic that of all the three of you are the only one who married a poor person!" Pushkar ends with a bitter laugh, which has a tinge of cruelty in it.
Pia is completely shattered, weeping openly, "please pushkar, stop. I just want to talk to di."
"Why? So she can absolve you of your guilt as always? Well, she is not here. She was very unwell and had to be taken to a hospital. What happened last night was probably the last straw, she was already under such severe stress."
"Hospital? Oh my God! Where? I want to see her imme…."
"She is no longer there. No, I am not going to tell you where she is. She needs looking after and to be taken care, which is what she is getting. The last thing she needs is you."
Pushkar is implacable on this and accepting defeat, Pia leaves. Her thick skn has finally been breached and she is forced to reflect, perhaps for the first time in her life, on what kind of a person she is.
_________
Masi walks into the living room of the farmhouse where Jai is sitting.
"Masi, kissi ko shak to nahin hua?"
"Nahin munna, sab yahi samajhte hain ki tum bahut upset ho aur issliye kuch din akele farmhouse par rehna chahte ho. Unhe to yeh bhi nahin pata ki main aaj tumse milne aayee hoon. Ab batao ki kya hua hai, aur Bani kahan hain?"
"Bani yahin hain masi. Main kal usse hospital se seedha yahin lay aaya tha. She has miscarried Masi, because of all the stree and tension and I..," Jai can't go on.
With tears in her eyes Maasi looks at Jai and then as she thinks of something tenses, "Munna, kahin tum isska dosh Bani par to nahin…" but Jai does not let her finish as he states emphatically, "No Masi, I do not blame Bani! I blame myself for not realising what was going on. I'll tell you the truth but you have to promise me that …" here Masi interrupts him, "Jai I already know the truth. I have known it for a long time, but Bani made me promise not to tell you. Aur main woh kasam tord kar uski tapasya nakaam nahin karna chahte thi. My god, how much that girl loves you! She must be heartbroken right now!"
"Actually Masi, she does not know as yet that she has miscarried. The doctor said she is very weak. I'll tell her when she is a little stronger. Until then I am going to stay here and take care of her."
[sorry people, but I've always been a supporter of Bani losing the baby. I think it important for a relationship to work without forced crutches.]
________
For Bani the next two days pass in a medicated haze. She has vague recollections of Jai taking care of her, feeding her, talking to her and holding her.
On the third night, she awakens fully, feeling much stronger and lucid. She sits up in bed, disoriented until she recalls that she is in the farmhouse that belongs to Mr. Walia. As if remembering something she turns towards the other half of the bed and Jai is sleeping there.
Getting out of bed, Bani goes and stands besides the French Windows that open onto a beautiful stone courtyard, bathed in the soft light of a half moon. Restless, she opens the windows and steps outside. Besides the stone fountain with its softly gurgling waterfall is a marble bench on which she seats herself. And tries to make sense of the past few days. There is a sense of unease which plagues her. She is frowning in concentration when she insticntively realises what it is. Placing her hands on her abdomen, she begins weeping softly, moaning softly to herself, "my baby, oh my poor baby."
Jai's arm cradles her shoulders, turning her into the shelter of his body as his other hand tenderly touches her hands, "our baby, Bani. Our's," he says in a tear filled voice. Bani turns fully into his body and looping her arms around his neck sobs into his shoulder. He holds her tightly, letting her sob out her agony.
After a while, Bani's frenzied weeping is reduced to a more quiet outporing. Tenderly stroking her hair, Jai finally speaks, "bas Bani, you'll make yourself sick if you cry anymore. It's time you let our child go," and hugging her more tightly he buries his face in her hair.
After a moment Bani pulls back from the embrace, Jai loosens his grip but his arms are still around her. Withdrawing her arms from his neck and without looking at him says in a near whisper, "I'm sorry Mr.Walia. I know what this child meant to you." Jai cups her face, forcing her to meet his eyes, "Bani, don't ever apologise to me for something that was beyond your control. And yes, this child meant the world to me, as it did to you, but you know why?" She does not answer, only continues to stare into his eyes. "It meant the world to us because it was a part of both of us. You and me, Bani. It was a tangible proof of the love that both of harboured but never dared to say out loud. And now our child has gone, leaving just you and me. Maybe because we weren't ready for It, regardless of the love we felt for our child." A tear finally spills over from Jai's eyes and begins its slow journey. Bani is transfixed by the sight. She has never seen Jai cry. Without taking her eyes off his face she lifts a hand and tenderly wipes the tear away. Neither says anything. There is no need to say anything. She reaches forward and resting her head on his chest wraps her arms around him.
They both get up and with their arms still around each other head back to the bedroom. They get into bed and then quite natuarlly, Jai reaches for Bani, she unhesitatingly turns to him and rests her head on his chest. And they both fall asleep.
_________
Jai and Bani are simultaneously woken by the sound of a cell phone beeping a reminder. Bani is still lying wrapped in his arms as he reaches out one lazy hand and hits the kill button on the phone.
"You know for the past three days, every morning this remonder alarm on your phone has been waking me up while you slept. It is set for much later than your wake up alarm. What the devil is it for?"
Bani turns a delicate shade of pink and tries to get up, but he refuses to let her get up.
"Please Mr.Walia, I want to get up," Bani requests shyly.
"Ok, but only if you give me the answer."
Bani is silent.
"Fine, I've anyways always had this fantasy of spending the whole day in bed. Having my wife in my arms is only a welcome addition to that fantasy," Jai teases.
Bani is nonplussed at this very playful side of Jai.
Reluctantly and blushing even more, Bani says, "ok. I promise. But first let me get up."
Standing by the bed, meeting his eyes only fleetingly, she answers, "the reminder is for your medication," and then turning literally flees to the bathroom.
Jai loks at her retreating form with a very tender smile on his face.
_______
Guys, the last episode became so long that i had to split into two! I've realised that i have become hopelessly addicted to my own imagined JB fantasy.
Besides, it helps pass the time till Mon!
Hope you enjoy this one. Next one will be along shortly.
regards-armana
Edited by armana - 18 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
