Part 4(b)
In his cottage in Ooty, bani just kept to herself. Tarun was away during the day whilst she would go off on long walks.
One evening, she didn't return. Tarun drove around looking for her, finally found her sobbing away at Mata's mandir.
Tarun: Bani, chalo utho, hum ghar chaltey hai.
Bani looked at him, eyes red and tired streaks of tears down her face. He lifted her up by her arm and walked her to his car.
At home, Tarun led her to the fireplace in the living area and seated her on his swing (he had a swing inside in cottage) whilst he went and prepared two mugs of hot chocolate. He sat next to her and started making empty conversation about his cottage in ooty his childhood pastimes, his family. All this to lull bani into a comfort zone so she would open up and bring to the fore her pent up feelings.
He placed his hand on Bani's hand,
Tarun: Bani I am your friend and it helps if you share your problems with your friend. you know you can trust me.
The word trust triggered a wave of emotions in Bani and with tears threatening to flow from her eyes she exclaimed
B: Trust. Does such a word exist. Trust means betrayal. I trusted them and they betrayed me.
T: Jai and ..
Tarun had shown the drawings he found in her room to his psychologist friend in ooty. He wanted her to see him. Get her to open up.
B: Pia. He and her..together..slept..
Tarun froze in shock. He had known Jai for so long and never thought him capable of this accusation.
T: This can't be true. Who told you this bani? jai is not like that. He could never do this. Impossible
B: I thought I knew him too. He admitted it ..
Tarun couldn't believe what he had just heard.
Anger was building inside of him. He stood up walked around the room hand running through his hair. He knew Jai loved Bani and could never imagine Jai capable of cheating on her. At that moment, he felt like punching Jai up.
B: He doesn't love me tarun. He never loved me. I was just a majboori to him. He never wanted to marry me, he was forced to. He always wanted her, she was supposed to be his bride. I was just a compromise.. just a compromise. Jigyasa aunty called me manhoos. I am manhoos.. why did this happen to me.. I don't deserve any happiness. Everytime I experience a bit of happiness a dark storm whirls by sucking away all happiness like a twister..
bani broke down crying , tarun took her into his arms and gently carressed her hair, her head on his laps.
Over the next few days, Bani had opened up to tarun. They shared a closeness and he became her support and confidant. She wouldn't see his psychologist friend so he related all to him whilst he advised tarun on the steps to take to help bani.
Tarun had to return to Mumbai. Bani wasn't keen on returning so he let her stay in ooty with his psychologist friend keep a watch on her. Tarun was set to return the following weekend.
Meanwhile, Jai had called tarun several times a day enquiring about bani. tarun did not disclose what bani had told him as he wanted to hear jai's confession from his mouth. He was curt and cold in his reply ensuring him that bani was safe and in good hands.