Part VI
Bani nods, looks at her watch, my god the whole discussion has taken nearly two hours, takes leave and walks towards the lift thoughtfully….
Past three years, Bani never thought of marriage, children etc, it was her big dream she was chasing, she went to the library to read about it, and Jaipur being a city of palaces and forts, she went around to find about their maintenance, restoration and upkeep….this is something 'bolt out of the blue' she thought….she bumped into someone…looks up to find Nachiket smiling at her…
Nachi: Arre Bani kaha khoi hui ho....
Bani smiles and presses the lift button, kahi nehi…
Nachi: Idhar kaha ayi thi….
Bani: Woh actually…yeh Mr Walia ne bulaya tha…regarding my further studies…kuch aur janna tha unko….as the lift door closes…tum batao tum kaha ja rahe ho….
Nachi: Jail me….
Bani: Matlab….
Nachi softly: Mai apne ma se milne ja raha hu…aaj visiting day hai unka....
Bani hesitantly : Oh I see....
Nachi: Don't feel bad Bani, I am quite used to it, 13 saal hone ko hai yeh jail ki chakkar lagate huwe....jab chhota tha tab bhaiya leke jate the....gari me baithe rehte the mai andar jata tha...adult hone ke baad khud jata hu....unka duniya ujar geya lekin woh mujhe nehi chhora....I feel bad for him.....they get down from the lift....tum ghar he ja rahe ho na....chalo tumhe chhor du raste me hi parega......
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Bani walks into Walia Mansion...yes she wanted to know the payback method…the thought never crossed Mr Walia's mind….yes it is something extra-ordinary he has asked for but then the amount he will be spending is also extra-ordinary…what she did not tell Mr Walia is that she has already received a negative reply from Harvard, refusing scholarship but she is welcome to study the course otherwise…he is buying happiness for his masi who is terminally ill and somewhat for himself also, to add happiness to his otherwise lonely life…she is buying her future…..it is simple trading….and their marriage…it will just be a packaging, a gift wrapping paper ….
Bani finds the house quiet…now where has everyone gone….she notices Tony coming out of Masi's room and going towards the kitchen….
Bani: Tony, ghar me sab kaha…
Tony: Masi ka pain thora bar gaya hai, to maine sleeping pill di hai unko...abh sow rahi hai aur dadi apna kamra me aram kar rahi hai...baki saab bahar hai...
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Restless Bani does not notice the time and is walking in the garden, will she call up mamaji, normally she discusses her career related issues with him though mamaji is a lenient man, not very conservative too, but this is something he will put his foot down and ask her to come back to Mt Abu at the earliest…Bani sits on the jhoola….she swings in it slowly…forward…backward…forward…backward…
Suddenly she hears Nachiket calling her….Hi Bani, still lost in your thoughts…
Bani smiling: Not really, masi is not well and there is nobody in the house…so I came to garden….nothing to do you see…
Nachi: Don't worry masi will be well by dinner time, tum dekh lena….unko pain ka attack ho jata hai beech beech me…she has cancer you know…he comes and sits at the other end of the jhoola….
Bani: Ha maine suna hai, abh tum batayo, apne ma se mulakat huwa….
Nachi: They are going to release her before the term is over you know…abh unko lekar mai keya karu…nachiket gets lost in his thoughts…
Bani: Unhone kuch kaha…keya keya karna chahati release ke baad….
Nachi: Kuch khas nehi, mera view janna chahati hai,…..
Bani: Ha toh, tum keya chahate ho?
Nachi: I can only give a decision after discussing it with bhaiya, what does he want….
Bani: Lekin Ma toh tumhara hai ….
Nachiket smiles: Bhaiya is head of the family, you will not understand and moreover all my important decisions are taken after discussing it with him….
Bani: You mean to say, he takes the decision and you follow….
Nachi: No Bani you are wrong, I will give my options, he will give his, and then we agree to one which suits me the most as I have to take the onus of the consequences...suddenly Nachiket looks beyond Bani….aaj bhaiya jaldi a gaya…let me go now….before he goes out or gets busy with somebody else….
Bani turns back to see the lights of the study are on and Jai Walia is opening windows to let fresh air in….Bani moves into the darkened corner of the garden quietly…Bani sees Nachiket walk in to greet Jai, who in turn pours out a drink for both of them….……Bani gets up to go into the house and pass by the study window and hears Jai Walia saying, Ma hai tumhara, chahe jaisa bhi ho…lekin ek baath hai, she will not enter this house or any of our other properties, baki, it is upto you, if you need any help just tell me…..Bani enters the house….
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