Part VII Jai looses all appetite for lunch, sits quietly through the same most of the time...after lunch goes out of the house and walks towards the village…after waiting about one hour he watches Bani pass by he follows her from a distance…she enters the orphanage and gets busy with children, playing with them, helping with their homework, after watching from behind the tree for sometime, he enters, Ira had promised to inform the authorities and so he had no difficulty in entering…he enters casually, starts mingling with the children, giving out sweets and toys organized by Ira on his behalf. …Jai Walia with his charm & smile, won over the children and the authorities, most naturally he puts a hand over Bani's shoulders and handsover the rest of the presents to her to be distributed to the children…Bani goes stiff but too shocked to react otherwise…he asks the children to call him uncle…he is married to their Bani di…language though a barrier but then asked Bani to translate through limited knowledge picked up over the last 5 months. Jai plays a perfect husband and an uncle for the next two hours. Before leaving, he takes Bani into the In-charge's office, Mrs Kumaran, who is already bowled over by Jai, is too glad to receive them, offers them coffee…Jai asks her about the grants she receives to run the orphanage, goes through the files she provides him with..they discuss the facilities…yes the need funds to repair the buildings thoroughly before the monsoon arrives…Jai then instructs her to write to 'Bani Walia Trust' and requests her to send the letter to Ira by today evening.
Mrs Kumaran looks at their departing figures. He is such a charming man, she thinks…a little too old for her maybe …but looks to be very caring….then you cannot judge a person unless & until you live under one roof …she sighs.
Jai & Bani walk out of the orphanage and walk along the sea coast in silence…Bani walks leads the way and Jai simply follows her…on reaching a secluded spot, Jai suddenly takes hold of Bani and makes her lean against a tree trunk with his hands on both sides, touches her head with his forehead and breathes deep….few minutes pass as if both are trying to gather their thoughts…
Bani: Apne kaise jana mai idhar hu…
Jai: Maine nehi jana, bhagwan ne bheja..mai to apne aap se bhag raha tha....wohi tumhe mere se phirse mila diya...then he holds her face between his two palms...mere taraf dekho Bani…and looks into her eyes..mai aur akele nehi reh sakta…pagal ho jayunga mai tumhare bina.....Tumne mujhe ek mauka bhi nehi diya mafi mangne ke liye... mai samajta tha ek tumhi ho is duniya me jo mujhe mere na kuch kahe samaj jate.....Bani... I was too drunk....kis waje se tumhe divorce chahiye tha mujhe pata chala…isiliye…os raat Pia ke saath…..Bani keeps a hand on his mouth…she does not want to hear any more….then she starts walking towards the sea…the sun is setting, the waves washing her feet…Meanwhile, Jai gives her an anguished look and watches her from behind…he is at a loss as to what to do next…Bani was always very introverted…and she never spoke to him about her needs or desires, busy taking care of others..providing for them....her happiness lied there…
As the sun sets…they walk towards the hotel and part ways on reaching destination….
Jai's mood becomes very pensive…and after dinner he takes out the bottle which Tony had thoughtfully packed for him and pours himself a drink…he could still feel Bani's breath on him…her hearbeat increasing when he touched her….her eyes still so filled with love…then why is she so reclusive, why does not she want to come to him…he changes to his night clothes and sits in the balcony with his glass….the alcohol seems to have lost effect on him too…after few sips he puts the glass away…should he go down and look for Ira ..what will Ira do…she has already done so much…suddenly his senses become alert …he thought he heard faint knocking sound…Must be Ira..wanting to find out the progress….he quickly gets up and opens the door…Bani
Bani: mai andar a sakti hu, Mr Walia..
Jai: Tumhe pochne ki kya jarorat hai, Bani, yeh to tumhara haq hai…
Edited by tintiny - 18 years ago
Cricket
