thanks to all for reading, posting comments and may be waiting????? here we go.............
Part23
Bani then went to the cafeteria with aditya while jay stayed back in his office. When bani came back, she opened the door of jay's cabin to find a person with his back towards her standing by the window. She was sure that it wasn't jay but who it could be whom nobody objected to enter jay's cabin in his absence? She was still thinking these things when she heard saahil's voice. She turned back to see saahil, aditya and jay coming towards the cabin.
Bani: "saahil tumhara exam tha na?"
Saahil: "haan bhai paper deke hi aaya hoon. Actually jay mama ke liye ek surprise hai. bhitar."
Bani: "kaun hai bhitar? Tum jaante ho?"
Saahil: "hmmmā¦.. let's go inside."
As they went inside, the man turned towards them and flashed a gentle smile. He touched aditya's feet and then hugged jay. Everybody was very happy, except bani who felt like an outsider. As the man released jay he looked at bani. Bani just gave a confused smile.
Man: "mamaji who is this pretty girl?"
Jay: "oh she is bani, Nishikant uncle's daughter and mind you she is pretty by face only, not by nature." He winked.
Man(extending his hands towards her): "oh, I should have guessed that you must be bani but anyhow hi I am ranveer, saahil's brother."
Bani(exclaimed): "ranveer oh yes, that's why it seemed to me I've seen the face before, saahil showed me your photographs long time back."
Jay: "ok enough of introduction! Its already lunch time. Chalo ghar jaake lunch karte hain."
All of them left in the same car for aditya's house. Throughout the journey the business men spoke of business & business, while bani and saahil whispered among themselves regarding saahil's affair with rano. Jigyasa and dadi were already waiting for them. After they finished their lunch, they were having a chat.
Ranveer: "mamaji why did you say ke bani is not pretty by nature? Just look at her."
Jay: "ranveer tumhe aaye huye 1 din bhi nahi hua hai, how would you know what she is?"
Ranveer: "but saahil keh raha tha that she is a very good girl."
Jay: "yes he has other reasons. Isn't it saahil?"
Ranveer(inquisitively): "what other reasons?"
Saahil(jumping off his feet): "nothing bro, simply nothing. Ask mumma, dadi, papa they all like bani."
Ranveer: "majority wins jay mama. It says that bani is a good girl."
Jay: "no way."
Saahil: "by the way bro aap kyun confirm karna chahte hain ki bani is a good girl or not? Kahin shaadi karne ka irada toh nahin hai?"
Ranveer: "saahil keep your mouth shut. You are embarrassing both of us. It was a genuine question. Nothing like that."
Bani hit saahil with her elbow. Saahil ran towards jay who also hit with his elbow for not supporting him.
Saahil: "bad boy! Waise dadi ko ye rishta bahut pasand hai. woh kitni baar keh chuki hai ke 'mere ranveer puttar ke saath bani ki jodi bahut achchi jamegi. Kyun dadi?"
He ran away to prevent himself from being beaten up by ranveer. Ranveer looked up to dadi whose face answered it all that she actually thinks so. Jay was enjoying the discussion when it struck to him 'revenge time'. He knew bani was not the same bani in front of everyone as she was to her near and dear ones. So she will be unable to protest in her usual manner in front of so many if he blows the issue out of proportion.
Jay: "ranveer, tumhari dadi ko chahe kuch bhi lage, main tumhe bata doon agar tumne bani se shaadi ki toh tumhari zindagi ki kya halat hogi."
Aditya: "matlab?"
Jay(making his sitting position comfortable): "matlab ye ki agar ranveer bani se shaadi karta hai toh usey pehle kapde dhona, bartan dhona, khana pakana pehle se seekh lena padega. Uske baad ghar ki safai karna, etc. etc. bhi seekh na padega aur jab bachche hongeā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦..ahhhhhhhā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦" bani forcefully put an apple in jay's mouth and left the room. Everybody laughed as jay took out the apple out of his mouth and he checked if his jaws were alright.
Later at night in walia mansion, after jay, bani and masi finished their dinner almost silently bani offered an idea.
Bani: "masi let's watch a movie, saahil ne ek cd di hai. kal se phir classes hain toh phir dekhna nahi hoga."
Masi: "nahi beta main thak gayi hoon. Tum dekh lo."
Bani: "ok. Jay let's watch the movie."
Jay: "no."
Bani literally dragged him to watch the movie. As she was busy inserting the disc into the player, jay saw the title of the movie on the cd cover. It was written 'Exorcist'. Jay's expressions changed into that of fright and worry. What? a horror movie and that too 'Exorcist'? oh he needed to make an excuse but before he could do so bani made him sit on the sofa and she sat beside him. Scene by scene jay's bp got raised and bani who held his hands tightly scared him more. Why on earth did she intend to watch a horror movie? Oh he dislikes it. He couldn't even close his eyes because as soon as he tried to do so, bani's grip used to get tightened. Uff finally the movie finished and then only bani let his hands go. Bani got up to take the cd out while jay drank water like a camel. While putting the cd back in the case, she shrugged her shoulder and sat beside jay.
Bani(quite excited): "nice movie na?"
Jay(completely shocked): "what did you find so nice in it?"
Bani: "come on jay. It was nice. Oh how much I love these horror movies. Simply thrilling."
Jay: "what? You love these stuffs and that is why you also made me watch the movie, all the time trying to release your scare on me?"
Bani: "were you scared?"
Jay: "yeah a little bit, but not like you."
Bani: "me? Who said I was scared?"
Jay: "so why did you hold my hand so tightly?"
Bani: "arre woh toh special effect tha, movie se jitna darna tha darr liya, thoda aur darane ke liye karna padta hai. just look at your face."
Jay: "baniiiiiā¦.. were you really not scared?"
Bani(laughed): "no way, I've seen the movie about 10 times. I am not afraid of it anymore but I knew that my sweeeeeeeet friend dislikes horror movies soā¦ā¦ā¦."
Jay: "so?"
Bani(in a stern voice): "so to take revenge on you for what you did in jigyasa didi's house I made this plan. Now it's time to sleep. Good night and sweet dreams."
She tried to leave but she hardly realized that she had made him angry. Jay didn't speak a word to her, not even looked at her, went to his room and banged the door that made a loud noise. Oh wow, look what she did? But there was another concern. She was all alone in the living room, not even jay was there to escort her to her room. How she will go upstairs, she thought. She cursed herself for lying to jay, she was actually scared and now what? She hurriedly climbed the stairs and sang a song under her breath to comfort her. As she was going to cross jay's room, the door flew open and there was jay with a big smile on his face. He wished her good night and waited outside until she entered her room. Oh he knew that bani sang odd songs at odd hours only when she was scared. A big relief for jay.
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Part24
Wow a fine Saturday morning. Bani's stay in walia mansion was already extended as her parents were supposed to attend a marriage ceremony of some relative. Bani was busy eating fruits when she saw jay leaving for the office. How boring! She stopped jay.
Bani(sweetly): "jay office ja rahe ho?"
Jay(confused): "kyun kuch aur lag raha hai?"
Bani: "jay ek kaam karo, aaj office mat jao, hum sab baith kar aaj masti karenge."
Jay: "masti?"
Bani: "haan. Aaj hum sab khoob khelenge. Bahut maza aayega."
Jay(smilingly): "bani hum kal bhi khel sakte hai na?"
Bani: "nahi. Kal nahi. Mera aaj bahut mann kar raha hai."
Jay: "bani agar khelenge bhi toh bus hum do jan."
Bani: "arre do jan nahi, masi, dadi sab rahengi na aur saahil aur ranveer bhi rahenge."
Jay : "saahil ke toh classes abhi off hai toh woh aa sakta hai par tumhare classes toh hai na? aur ranveer? usey office nahin jana kya?"
Bani: "uff ek saath kitne sawaal poochte ho. Ranveer ayega, jeejaji ne kaha hai koi problem nahi aur jahan tak meri baat hai main tumhare liye aaj class absent kar rahi hoon aur tum ho kiā¦"
Jay: "oh really?"
Bani(dramatically): "it's so bad of you. main apne dost ke saath time spent karne ke liye class absent kar rahi hoon. Main. Bani dixit. Aur mere dost mr. jay walia ko iski kadar hi nahi. Look jay kisine kaha hai 'all work and no play makes jay a dull boy'."
Jay: "not jay it'sā¦ā¦ā¦"
Bani: "do you mind if it's my version? Anyway you are not going anywhere." She snatched his bag and placed it on the sofa. Jay was like 'what's happening?'
Jay: "masi dekho na ye kya bachcho ki tarah zid kar rahi hai."
Masi: "arre aaj ruk ja na. Aditya se baat hui hai. Tere nahi jaane se koi problem nahi hogi. Itna keh rahi hai toh ruk ja."
Jay: "masi aap bhi? Lagta hai poore family mein isne jadoo kar ke rakkha hua hai. har koi isi ka side leta hai."
Finally after making some calls, jay surrendered to her wish and they waited for the rest to come. By 11 o' clock everyone gathered and they had a blast by playing different games. They began with 'name-place-animal-things' then carom then cards and it continued till lunch hour. After finishing their lunch another session of game began which continued till 7 o' clock. All were happy and contented at the end of the day. Even jay was way too happy but throughout the games he had a question in his mind. He couldn't digest the fact that bani actually missed her classes only to spend quality time with him. After the games were over and everybody was having tea, jay went to a secluded place and called pia.
Jay: "hi pia, I am jay. How are you doing?"
Pia: "fine. Just came back from college."
Jay: "college? ok pia aaj bani ke dost college gaye the kya?"
Pia: "nahi toh. Aaj koi meeting thi isiliye 2nd years ke classes off the."
Jay: "are you sure?"
Pia: "yes. Cent percent."
Jay: "oh. Ok. Have a nice time."
Jay's doubts were cleared. Now what was he supposed to do? Tell masi that bani was lying or something else? He joined the rest and thought for a while when he saw tony with a bag in his hands. Eureka!
Jay: "bani I must say, tumne aaj bahut achcha kiya mujhe rok ke."
Bani(raising her collars in self-appreciation): "dekha!"
Jay: "mere liye apne classes bhi miss kiye."
Bani and saahil looked at each other and then she gave a hesitant smile.
Jay: "bani you are such a good friend. Please mere liye ek aur favour. Pleeeeeeeease. I know tum mana toh karogi nahi."
Bani(confused): "kya?"
Jay: "aaj mera gajar ka halwa khane ka bahut mann kar raha hai woh bhi tumhare haatho ka. Tony abhi abhi gajar leke aaya hai, maine dekha. Please bana dogi?"
Bani: "me?"
Saahil: "oh yeah bani. Hume bhi khana hai."
Bani: "jay are you serious? I mean tumhe sachmuch khanaaaa hai?"
Jay enjoyed it. He knew that except preparing tea she knew nothing. This is going to be interesting he thought. Bani left for the kitchen and came out after about an hour. She was holding a tray with many bowls. She distributed the bowls to everybody and lastly gave one to jay. Saahil was getting impatient to try it but ranveer insisted that jay should begin first as he was the one who made the request. A confused jay was in a trouble. The smell was good. But that can't always be the criteria of a tasty food. He was worried, what he was going to put in his mouth. He saw everyone looking at him and waiting for him to begin. Bani was not there, she left for some reason. Jay finally gathered some courage and put a spoon half-filled with the halwa in his mouth. He closed his eyes in anxiety. But as soon as he put the spoon in his mouth his eyes flew open. He immediately took another spoon of halwa and then exclaimed 'wow'. Everybody was happy. They began their pet-puja while jay looked for bani here and there after finishing his share. He saw bani coming out of a room. He smiled, forgetting all about his revenge and was very happy to know that she could prepare such delicious halwa.
Jay: "bani it was mindblowing."
Bani: "really?"
Jay: "really."
Bani: "jaante ho tumhari jagah agar main rehti toh main kya kehti?"
Jay: "kya?"
Bani: "bani jee karta hai tumhare haath chum loon."
Jay: "kya? haath chum loon? Ok please apna haath aage badhana."
Bani extended her hand and as soon as jay kissed it he uttered 'chchi'.
Jay: "what bani? Ye kya tha?"
Bani: "oh sorry main bolna bhul gayi thiā¦ā¦..ke maineā¦ā¦.."
Jay(still spitting): "maine kya?"
Bani: "ke maine odomos lagaya tha."
Jay(screamed): "odomos? shit"
Bani couldn't control her laughter and laughed till it started to ache in the stomach.
Bani: "kyun jay kaisi rahi? Tumhe kya laga mujhe halwa banana nahi aata? arre maine hi toh tony se kaha tha carrots lane ke liye. Here take it, one more bowl of halwa."
Jay took the bowl from her hands reluctantly and finished the content quickly. In his mind he swore that tonight he will make bani pay for all this.
At night when bani was entering her room, it was completely dark inside. She was organizing her hairs to a decent look and her pace was quite good. Suddenly a volume of air entered her ear and there was a loud noise 'whoooooooh'. She jumped off her feet and hit somebody may be a human being. Someone switched on the lights and she found jay standing in front of her, holding her close. Her heartbeat was too fast to register the event and she embraced jay resting her head on his chest. Jay could feel her heartbeat. He saw his wish to tease her for being so frightened, vanishing with her heartbeats. This was not what he intended to do but he couldn't help it either. Few moments later bani loosened her hold on jay.
Bani: "jay are you mad or what? Mera toh dil hi baith gaya tha."
Jay: "bani tumne suna hai 'sau sonar ki, ek lohar ki'?"
Bani: "hmmmā¦.. ab jao, aur haan yaad rakhna har sonar mere jitna achcha nahi hota."
Jay raised an eyebrow and went straight to his room, completely lost in his thoughts. He didn't intend to make things go like that. he had actually planned to scare her more but what happened to him? Why couldn't he? Anyway he couldn't find an answer so he retired to the bed but sleep evaded his eyes. Something was amiss. Something he liked, which he doesn't have now. What? On the otherhand bani also couldn't sleep. Firstly the scary act by jay and secondlyā¦.. secondly? Jay himself.
Two days later when bani returned from college, jay was at home to collect some file. On hearing the doorbell he himself opened the door. He saw bani standing in front of him with eyes half closed and body leaning against the door frame. He guessed that she was not feeling well. He put his hands on her shoulder to take her inside the house when she collapsed in his arms. He held her carefully and made her sit on the sofa. He called the doctor and accompanied bani till the doctor came with worry written on his face. As masi was not at home, it was his responsibility to look after her. As he waited for her to regain her consciousness he felt a sudden comfort holding her so close. The thing that lacked that night when he went to sleep. He stared at her and continued to do so. After the doctor arrived he diagonosed that she had in fact inhaled some kind of chemical may be in her lab and there was no cause of worry. Jay was with her even after the doctor left and waited for her to regain consciousness or may be not otherwise how he would be able to watch her so intently, all calm and quiet. Hold jay hold, she happens to be your friend!
Kumkum Bhagya
