Finding Bani - ff- Part VIII, Page 8

Finding Bani

Thank you very much for your encouragement & appreciation for my first fanfic mai apke bina nehi reh sakti hu. This is my second fanfic based on post ONS. Once again as my hindi is not very good, the language is mixed. Last but not the least looking forward to your comments.

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Part 1

Jai is standing on the balcony overlooking the living room, dressed in black with scarf, looking his formadible old self. Watching the children playing and having fun…Jigyasa is celebrating birth of her 1^st grand child…Anu's child raima is about 7 months old…Jigyasa and her parties he thinks…anyway atleast this house has brighten up a bit after nearly 5 months after Bani's departure…..5 months 5 days to be exact…Masi comes and stands next to him…Beta…chal…return gift dene ka samay ho gaya….

He goes down with Masi…the children are accompanied by their moms..most of them older than Anu…mainly daughters / grand daughters of his industrialist aquaintences….the ladies give a gasp as Jai Walia walk towards them…his handsome and formadible look still attracts young girls but his lonely and cold eyes prevent them from approaching him..

He greets them and smiles at the ones he knows personally...his smile does not reach his eyes…very mechanical…like most of the things he does nowadays…he has to survive, he knows and he has to do it till he is able to apologise to…

Jijaji….Rano comes forward with the gifts she has arranged as per his instructions, he hands over the gifts to the children with help from Rano & Raashi, both of them take good care of him, just the way Bani would have approved….he cuddles some of the friendly kids, one or two start crying when he looks down at them…..he just pats the head lightly…once the distribution is over, he stands back and waits for sometime…then slowly makes towards his study…

Aditya who was playing with the children look at his receding back and let out a sigh….

--

After dinner, all the family members assemble and chat about the evening party..Jigyasa mainly interested who was wearing what, sari, jewelry …Jigyasa nowadays has also become soft …no bani to taunt…raashi is too soft and rano does not care…she now sticks to discussions like saris & jewelleries. Jai gets bored and goes into his study….Aditya follows…

As Aditya enters Jai pour another nightcap and hands over to Adi…no he does not drink much…with his state of mental condition, he cannot afford to have drugs or alcohol to control his senses…he has to have his control over his will power…he has to live till he finds her…..

Come aditya….he tries to bring some cheer into his voice….

Adi: Aree Jai, aaj bahut mazaa a gaya……every evening after dinner he tries to entertain his friend a little, tries to cheer him up…like every day he finds Jai listening to him initially but soon his thoughts are far away…..for the past 5 months Aditya was trying to make Jai open up to him but unable to do so…something very serious must have happen otherwise Bani would not have gone away….she has just vanished from the face of the earth it seems..but with each passing day he finds Jai Walia more determined to find her…Aditya knows that the matter concerns Pia, he knows Rano is aware of the situation but like bani, Rano too is also a very reserved and after the incident she also has become more quiet and looks shattered at times but somehow now she calls Jai 'jijaji' not Mr Walia which she earlier did.

After finishing their nightcaps silently, aditya calls, Jai sone chale…ha aditya chalo…they get up, switch off the lights and goes to up to their respective rooms.

Jai Walia bed room is the one he used to share with Bani…no one is allowed to enter except masi and tony…masi is the one whom Jai cannot say no and tony comes to clean and tidy the room.

Jai enters his room, goes to the cupboard, takes out his nightdress, changes, goes into the bathroom. The room like before is kept the same way as Bani left it except a few of her photographs which he has added…it looks as it Bani will just walk in drying her hair and flirting with him with her eyes. He comes out, sits on the bed and picks Bani's photograph, looks at it for sometime, kisses it, switches off the bedside lamp, and goes to sleep.

****

Jai is working in his office, the door is slightly ajar and he could hear Reva, his secretary talking with someone, on hearing the other voice, his fingers stop on the laptop, he frowns..

Reva : Pia for what do you want to see Mr Walia

Pia (trying to charm Reva): Aree Reva, its personal, is he in, just tell him I am here

Reva a very intelligent & no nonsense professional lady….looks up at Pia from her computer: If it is personal Pia then you have to see him at his residence….otherwise Rano and you know where to find her…

Pia: But it is Mr Walia I want to see Reva, I have a proposal for him..

Reva: You said personal, you know where he lives, so all personal proposals at his house and for official ones, come through your boss or see Rano..

Pia: But Reva, I am going in..before she could take a step, the adjoining door shuts with a big loud bang.

Reva (giving Pia a mean look): You have got the message and now l-e-a-v-e.

Pia goes out to the corridor..curses her luck….god I am been trying to meet him over a month now…today I have come in the first hour so that I can catch him before he is too busy but with no luck…ghar me Rano and office me Reva…dono bodyguard ban gaye hai…he does not receive his phone calls…if he hears her voice…he slams the phone down….she stands in the corridor is plan out her next strategy….just then Rano walks out of her cabin, sees her and in very stern voice asks:

What are you doing here Pia…

Oh rano…I have come to see you…

For what…money…or any other matter….

Can't I come to meet my younger sister….

What sister…I have only one sister and that is my Di, Bani…I do not have any other sister….anyways tumhara duty nehi kya…idhar muft ki roti torne ke liye tumhe naukri nehi di gayi….

Kysa naukri…..Walia Hilton ka receptionist…mai to is company ka Event Manager thi….

You have lost the right yourself and if you do not like your present job you can leave…many people do…send me your resignation and I will be too happy to accept it…tumhara yeh roz roz ki drama bazi…I do not like..

How will I survive Rano, Pushkar bhi aajkal mujhe mur kar nehi dekta …

Anything else Pia…I have lot of work to do…if you have finished…& from next time please call up for an appointment before coming…I don't have time to waste….

Rano walks off with a sad face, leaving stunt Pia behind.

I am going to read it then comment but I wanted to be first.

-Rimpy

I love the way everyone is snubbing Pia. And her last comment about Pushkar and giving her any attention was great. Please continue soon.


-Rimpy

Congrats on your second ff tin👏👏👏
I also like everyone who is ingoring pia,😡 and they don't give a crap about her
I like how Puskhar doesn't give her any attention, why is he leaving with her, he should just divorce her, he deserves something better then her
Haha Pia is the receptionist of the Walia Hotel😆😆😆 Love it
I wish Ekta Mayi read your ff and got some ideas, especially abou the receptionist😆😆😆
I am sure that Jai will be succesful in finding Bani
please write soon😛

haila...new ff...
grat start hun loved it... 👏
ok love rano and reva for keeping besharam away from jai...
aagar aur bodygaurds ki zaru rat hai toh i can faz in my aplication w/ resume...
baas one yes and im the next flight out to mumbai... 😳 ...
akir JW needs protection from pea brain...
aagar zarurat pade naa toh IF ki bohot sari ladiyan tayar hai JW ki body gaurd banne ke liye...kyun girls...
am i right... 😉
and love jai for shutting the door on her face...
rano so funny...muft ki roti...lol...and how cute she calls jai jijaji...lekin kyun...what happned...
change kyun...and why is rano on jais side...bani ke paas kaun hai bhai...
update soon...pls...pretty pls...
JAZ

that was superb start.loved it.too good.jai really miss bani's presence in his life.cant wait to read more.plz cont soon. 😊

A great start... Like the new avataar of Jai... just like before but a lot more lonely now....thats sad... Bani should come and fix him soon....

awww sooo sad!
jai wont let anyone enter the room
haah pia a receptionist
now thats funny right there!

Part II

In the meanwhile in Jai Walia's office

Reva Sawant has been working for Jai Walia for last 8/9 years…after graduation, she had completed her secretarial course when she came to help Mrs D'souza, the elderly secretary of Jai Walia. After few months, Mrs D'souza went on 3 months leave to states to visit her son and stayed back. Her temporary job became permanent.

Reva is an intelligent girl…she shares a friendly relationship with Jai but does not cross the line …he is the boss and she is his secretary…they joke, they tease each other but at the same time does not pry into each other's life until and unless it is called for…Reva has seen girlfriends in and out of Jai's life the Sonalis, the Pias bought presents for them, sent flowers, cards with sweet messages on Jai's behalf, Jai simply relied on her judgement and trusted her discreetness. Does she love Jai, yes, like an elder brother she never had, a caring employer who stood by her when their landlord of 20 years suddenly sent them an eviction notice, her father had his bye pass surgery, through her joys & sorrows, Jai was always a pillar of strength for her…but suddenly the pillar has shaken….

Bani came into his life when Pia left him stranded on the marriage alter and Bani stood in her place to save the family honour.

She had taken instant liking of Bani when she came first to work for Jai Walia virtually like a destitute from Mt Abu…she liked the level headed simple girl much younger than herself earning a living to support her sisters. Married to Jai Walia Reva had few glimpses as to how Jai misbehaved with Bani and Bani bearing the brunt of Jai Walia temper for her sister's mistake. Then all of a sudden Jai Walia falls in love…and that too madly….intially he had taken her to choose presents for Bani…but then later he did himself..she had seen Jai through his relationships but never had seen so deeply in love as he was with Bani…and Bani too, initially all shy of the attention she was receiving from her much older husband but then she became his partner in true sense…his pillar of strength. Everything was working fine until Bani lost her baby in mysterious circumstances and withdrew into a shell of mourning…Jai mourned for her…he wanted her back…doctors asked him to give her sometime…Since few projects and major tie ups were coming forth Jai had to go on tour…Pia being his business coordinator / event manager who handled his press and well as his parties accompanied him. Suddenly as if Pia realized what Jai had and what Pushkar did not…..who was finding it very difficult to stick to a job getting sacked by the Walias because of eloping with Pia…eventually when Bani came around, she started a fresh with Jai and both in seventh heaven except at the every given opportunity Pia threw herself at Jai (she has seen Pia in action at every given opportunity trying to seek Jai's attention) left Pushkar went Walia Mansion to stay….Reva does not know that happened next but she can only guess, Bani left.

Reva wished she had an opportunity with Bani …to say a few words on Jai's behalf but that was not to be…Jai is now living like a robot devoid of most of his feeling except for those he feels for Bani or extreme anger he has towards Pia…

Reva sighs as Pia leaves..she has to cheer him up…or rather try to cheer him up…goes to the coffee machine, takes out two cups of coffee, goes into Jai's chamber…puts down the cups one for him and one for her…watches him looking out of the window and staring at nothing…

Boss lets have coffee and I guess I have to reschedule your appointments a little, so lets discuss about it.

Good old Reva, Jai muses, comes and takes up the coffee, takes a small sip….

So which ones you want me to reschedule, Reva holding a printout of the scheduler asks in a cheerful voice….

Jai in a thoughtful voice…Reva can you send me somewhere where there will be no telephones, no one knows me, where I can be all alone for sometime, where I do not have to be Jai Walia…..looks at her…..for three four days ….or a week max…

Reva – That is a very good idea, infact I wanted to suggest, do you remember the place where my parents went after my father recuperated from his bye-pass.? As Jai tries to recollect, Reva says…this place in 20 k.m. from Managalore on the sea side…but the best part about the hotel or should I call it the home is about the way it is managed…it is a semi – heritage property built in Victorian style run by a couple who are in their late fifities or early sixties…the rooms are not airconditioned but well ventilated, no TVs, or phones in the room…there are about 5 rooms which can accommodate couples and meals are taken together. You do not have to disclose your full name or occupation or from where you come from if you do not want to but to get a booking you must be recommended by a guest who has stayed before…my father's friend Rai uncle is a childhood friend of Mr Shetty the owner, he recommended my father…my parents came back raving about the place and is planning their next visit already…Reva stops to catch her breath and look for Jai's reaction….

Jai thinks for a while…then says sounds good, can I get a booking there….

When do you want to leave…
Today if possible
I will try my best boss…
++++++

5.p.m. the same day


Jai is received at the airport by a pleasant looking young man about 30 years by the name of Hariharan, and is driven to the Shetty's home stay. Jai could feel his spirits lifting as soon as they steer clear of the traffic and drive on the highway..yeah maybe it is a good decision after all, nobody knows where he is except for Reva..he has already switched off his mobile and if his family wants to get in touch with him, Reva will leave a word on their behalf with the Shetty's.

About 45 minutes later…they enter a village and take the road towards leading to the end of the village…he could see the sea 2/3 level down from the road…at the end of road they hit upon a wrought iron gate…well there's the house. It is a white double storied house with running varanda's in the front……Hariharan gets down and open the gate himself…and drives Jai to the front of the house…Jai gets out…as an elderly gentleman and a lady comes out welcoming him …Reva has given him a beautiful packed basket with cookies, chocolates, cheese and other snack items, nothing very expensive but of good quality for the lady of the house…it is a custom she said…..these will be shared with all the inmates during his stay.

Hello Jai welcome to our home, said the elderly man with a smilling face wearing identical while t-shirt monogrammed with Shetty's home stay with blue jeans and sneekers like Hariharan.

I am Srinivas and this is my wife Padma…and also introduced with two other couple all who have arrived in the afternoon from Delhi and Bangalore respectively. They were all in their fifties/ sixties…another couple is expected tomorrow morning…..

Padma: You see Jai, we generally get pensioners coming to stay with us…and for many of them, it is their annual holiday…young people like you, who are tired of stress and strain also drop in from time to time…we have many repeat guests…

As it was tea time, tea is served with some cakes and biscuits, Jai sits down in the verandah with all of them to have his share while hariharan took his luggage upstairs…he came to know about the other couple one is Manish & Nidhi and the other Santha and Karthik…he was just Jai…even if they guessed his other name, they did not show is on their face.

This house is run by Srinivas & Padma alongwith their daughter Ira and her fianc Hariharan.

The ground floor consisted of large sitting room with dinning room on one side and library and billiard rooms on the other side.

Jai goes upstairs, to his room, to change. He was overdressed…though he had left his jacket and scarf back, his trousers and full shirt are too formal for this atmosphere…he enters the room…it is quite large with four poster bed covered with an attractive bed spread….he goes out to the verandah and look out to the setting sun over the sea….he enters closes the door, pulls the lace curtains…takes a look of the room..a sofa set near the verandah and a writing desk at the other end of the room…bedside table with lamps..then he gets the smell…looks around ' white lilies' at the corner table next to the sofa…he bends and takes a deep smell….

Goes into the bathroom…which he finds to be surprisingly modern, with a big bathtub & titled flooring unlike the red flooring of the entire house…the bathroom was rather luxorious..through the large glass window of the bathroom he could see the backyard of the house…Hariharan talking to a young lady wearing a blue checked apron sitting on a bench below a mango tree..she must be Ira he guessed…he opens his bags, one only and the other his hand luggage carrying one or two files of the new charities he was planning ..just in case he feels like reading them….photograph of Bani…he takes out the photograph and keeps the bag inside the cupboard..places the photograph on the bedside table…opens his suitcase…good old tony…ever so faithful & understanding…he had asked him to pack the bag and send it to office..he had not mentioned about Bani's photograph to tony as he always carries one but tony… added another photograph..his & bani's taken during the wedding of his niece & nephews, Bani looking radiant, they had just turned into lovers, on the day of Anu's engagement…he recollects, it was so beautiful…he was a man with experience, she was a girl learning to be a woman…after that he simple could not have enough of her…they became like lovelorn teenagers…trying to please each…getting up late in the mornings….Bani running around trying to get him ready, fix his breakfast, attend puja with Maasi & Dadi……thank god he wore a scarf, otherwise he had to spend half the time in front of the mirror like bani to cover her handiwork, as he called them…He smiles..remembers how bani used glare at him through the mirror every morning on seeing new marks while trying to cover them with all the tricks she had in her limited knowledge…no saris and if saris then blouses with high necks, suits with conservative neck lines or dupatta around her neck…….and if she failed, she simply hit him to release her frustration…that is until he took her in his arms again…..

He unpacks, changes and then goes down to the living room…this place has something, he is already feeling like home….Karthik is sitting in front of the chess board smoking a pipe…playing by himself…..Jai comes and says…can I,

Karthik…Oh Jai…please, please, I was looking for a partner in fact
Jai…well I do not know how good I am now, used to play long ago

They start playing as others assemble at the living room, library and before they realize it was 08.30 time for dinner….

Karthik…Jai you are good, with a little brushing up you will be tremendous

Jai…You are not bad yourself Karthik….you nearly had me check mated couple of occasions…

They go for Dinner…which was being served by Srinivas & Padma with help of Hariharan…soup, breadrolls, boiled vegetables, potato salad & grilled fish…Jai was hungry…

Wouldn't you join us, Santha asked Padma…

Padma…No Santha…dinner time is planning time for the next day…so we have it with at our quarters….

I thought you live in the house itself….

We used to until we converted this place into a hotel…we live beyond the courtyard at the back…our rooms, the kitchen, store etc are there, except for Hariharan…he stays in the village and will only be allowed to stay here after his marriage to Ira…Srinivas informed with a smile.

Jai: You have a trememndous cook….I wish I could pinch him for myself….

Srinivas : with a laugh….now that is impossible…the cooking is mainly done by my daughter as she loves to cook with the help for her mother & friend…

Others join in to compliment them about the food….bed tea will be served at 7 o'clock for those who would like to have….

Jai finishes his dinner then walks into the library….

Dear Friends,

Thanks for your lovely comments...In this story I have tried to incorporate some of the suggestions given by you in my last fanfic...like Karva Chauth...tomorrow I will post it..till then happy reading, commenting & suggesting...love...tin 😃