GULABO ....... this is for u, i took my time and hurried at the same time 😆
Chapter 8
"Looking for some action, sweetheart?" The voice came out of nowhere, honey sweet, startling Bani. Grasping her throat, Bani jumped away from the voice. When another bolt of lightning split the night, she spied two men in a nondescript grey sedan. One man was white and one was black and they looked to be thirty-something.
Ignoring them, Bani picked up her pace trying to put distance between them. When they got out of their car, adrenalin shot through her. Panicking, Bani ran. She should've taken her chances at being sucked into the sky and whisked to Timbucktoo. Now what would happen to her? Stumbling over a crack in the sidewalk, she lost a high heel, tore holes in the feet of her hose and skinned her knees. They stung her ferociously.
Hands grabbed Bani's upper arms, hauling her backward. "What are you running from lady? Got any ID on you?" said a gruff voice.
Terrified, Bani fought with all her might, screaming. A lot of good it did her as the wind whipped all sound away. "Let go of me. Help! Somebody help me!"
"We're the cops lady. You're under arrest" said the gruff voice again. Cold handcuffs clamped around her wrists. "You must be pretty desperate or stupid to be out on a night like tonight" the voice added.
"Both" Bani mumbled. Gulping in huge breaths, she studied the men. They were in plain clothes but clean cut otherwise. But did that mean anything?
"Show me your badges if you're indeed the police" demanded Bani.
The two men whipped their identification, including shiny metal badges out for her inspection. "Satisfied? Let's go down to the precinct now" they told her coldly.
"Am I in trouble…" asked Bani.
"We haven't read you your rights yet. You'd be best advised to remain quiet until you speak with an attorney." The older man led the way.
Small stones and pebbles punished her tender, bare foot as Banu hobbled to the sedan next to the younger officer. He opened the back door and motioned her inside. "Your chariot madam. You can tell your story at headquarters. Anybody else out here with you needing help?" he asked Bani.
Bani shook her head and said "just you, me, and the tornadoes." Bani watched the sky for funnel formations. "Wherever you go, stay away from the 17th Street Causeway" she advised the officers.
They ignored her and spoke about their families as if she wasn't there. They stopped twice more, rounding up two more potential prostitutes. One wore frilly pink lace and satin. The other wore black leather and chains ……… woaaaaaahhhhhh …… this one sure reminds me of lacey, said Bani to herself. The cab reeked with their heavy perfume and whiskey.
When they finally reached police headquarters, the young cop held the door wide for them. "File out ladies. We're at the ball" he said sarcastically.
That about fit. Her date had turned into a rat and her carriage into a pumpkin.
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Jai stared blankly at Pushkar as the younger man held his hand over the telephone receiver and repeated "She's where? For what?" with a completely shocked expression.
Shock tinged Pushkar's voice and he was pale as he murmured "Bani is in jail for streetwalking, Jai. They've got her at the Sheriff's Office on Sunrise Boulevard. They want me to come down and post bail."
Jai jumped to his feet pacing. His future wife was in jail? For prostitution? Bani? "What happened to her date?" Or had the guy been a real date afterall?
This was Bani they were talking about. Scared-of-her-own-shadow Bani. Straight-as-an-arrow Bani. They must be mistaken about his Bani. She'd die in there. He had to get her out. She'd be forever grateful to him for that.
"Sorry man, but I gotta go and check on Bani" said Pushkar as he switched off the television, grabbed his keys and walked towards the door.
"I'm going with you" said Jai as he dogged Pushkar's heels to walk out the door first.
"Is Bani okay? I'll drive. I'll get us there faster" he added.
"You mean you'll get us thrown in there with her?" asked Pushkar as he climbed into Jai's jee, scrunching his lanky frame inside.
"I think she's okay. They didn't say she wasn't. Wouldn't she be at the hospital if she were hurt?" asked Pushkar with fear.
"I bet she's scared to death. Your sister probably never dreamed she'd ever see the inside of a jail" said Jai, slapped the steering wheel with the flat of his hand and said "Come on car."
He was about to inject it with Viagra if it didn't get up to speed quick. Cursing loudly, Jai pounded the dashboard with his fist, momentarily losing control of the vehicle that swerved into the oncoming lane of traffic.
"What's going on with your sister Pushkar?" asked Jai. He jerked the steering wheel to the right, pulling the jeep back into his own lane, barely hearing the car horns blasting at him. His foot weighed heavy on the gas pedal as he hurried to the police station. The slick roads and heavy rains didn't help traffic or his disposition. The only consolation was that the night matched his mood.
"Bani is pretty pissed off at the parents for insisting that she marry you" replied Pushkar as he clutched the seat, his feet pressing against the floorboards as if he could control the brakes by remote control.
Sliding a sidelong glance at his friend, between clenched teeth Jai asked Pushkar "Why is she pissed off? She's mooned around me for as long as I can remember. I thought she'd be ecstatic to get me." Saying that Jai bit back a sigh.
Pushkar whistled long and low. "Listen to yourself, guy. You sound as if you think she should fall down at your feet and praise the gods for dropping you in her lap. If I were in her place, I'd be steaming. You're lucky she still talks to you" said Pushkar angrily.
"She'd better do some fast talking tonight. The police station is no place for my fiancee..." said Jai.
Pushkar shook his head and said "You're not getting it Jai. If you go in there all high and mighty and heavy handed, you'll just drive her further away."
Pushkar studied Jai for a minute and then asked him "Do you really want to marry my sister Jai?"
"Sure!" replied Jai. Confused, Jai looked at the younger man as he navigated the back roads down to Sunrise Boulevard. "Why do you ask Pushkar?"
"A brother is supposed to look out for his sister. Do you mean you want to really marry her, like till death-do-you-apart kind of marrying? Or do you mean that you want to marry her in name only to keep your inheritance?" asked Pushkar seriously.
"What kind of a question is that? You heard the ultimatum. Either we marry or I lose my inheritance and your parents will want to punish Bani too. It's to our mutual benefit..." said Jai.
Pushkar's lips twisted and he swore softly under his breath, turning away from Jai to look out his window at the rainy night.
"Hey! I'm making the ultimate sacrifice to help both of us, not just me..." said Jai on seeing Pushkar's expression.
"I didn't realize how conceited you'd become Jai Walia. I should teach you a lesson for playing with my di's feelings this way" said Pushkar through gritted teeth.
"What way? She'll barely talk to me. I'm not lying to her. Bani knows where I stand" replied Jai.
Pushkar twisted in his seat. "Does she really know Jai? You've sworn not to give up till she's given into you. Are you sure you don't feel more for her than you say and show? Or have you turned into a real creep?" asked Pushkar.
Creep? Was he being a creep? Jai was speechless. He was putting his relationship with Pia on the line to make their parents happy, help Bani save her inheritance and of course his too, give up three years of his life, and he was a creep? Jai voiced his opinion but it rang hollow in his own ears hearing it aloud.
"So now you should be sainted for your noble thoughts and deeds? We should call you Saint Jai" Pushkar snorted. "Sorry if I don't share your opinion Jai."
The rain pelted the car, making driving nearly impossible. What a horrible night. Normally it took half an hour to get downtown at this time of night, at most. Because of the weather, they'd already been on the road forty-five minutes. "Come on. Move it!" Finally Jai was able to turn onto Sunrise. The police station was only a few blocks ahead.
"I'm no saint" Jai said dryly. He'd always thought Bani was the saint. The perfect one. The one who never did anything wrong. The one who was allergic to trouble or causing bad feelings. So what had happened to make them switch places? He was ready to do their parents bidding and Bani was the one thwarting their plans and wishes. And she was in the county lock up causing all this worry and concern. Was she okay? Had they scared her? Had they hurt her? Those cops on the television shows didn't always look too gentle. He'd kill them if they hurt his Bani.
"A guy and a girl can be just friends …… but at one point or another one of them will fall for the other, maybe temporarily, maybe at the wrong time, maybe too late or maybe, just maybe ...........forever."
HUMOUR FOR THE DAY
12 Tips from junior employees to senior managers on how to enhance their relationship
1. Never give me work in the morning. Always wait until 4:55 and then bring it to me. The challenge of a deadline is refreshing.
2. If it's really a "rush job," run in and interrupt me every 10 minutes to inquire how it's going. That helps.
3. Always leave without telling anyone where you're going. It gives me a chance to be creative when someone asks where you are.
4. If my arms are full of papers, boxes, books or supplies, don't open the door for me. I need to learn how to function as a paraplegic and opening doors is good training.
5. If you give me more than one job to do, don't tell me which is the priority. Let me guess.
6. Do your best to keep me late. I like the office and really have nowhere to go or anything to do.
7. If a job I do pleases you, keep it a secret. Leaks like that could cost me a promotion.
8. If you don't like my work, tell everyone. I like my name to be popular in conversation.
9. If you have special instructions for a job, don't write them down. In fact, save them until the job is almost done.
10. Never introduce me to the people you're with. When you refer to them later, my shrewd deductions will identify them.
11. Be nice to me only when the job I'm doing for you could really change your life.
12. Tell me all your little problems. No one else has any and it's nice to know someone is less fortunate.
