Part XXI
JW runs his fingers through his hair. Captain Suri, you are the boss and my family's life is in your hands. Do whatever you think is the best, I am with you…he hurries back to Bani….
Jai tries to remember all the lessons he had undertaken with Bani on how to tackle an emergency situation. His brain refused to work, going blank in this crucial moment, he was sweating profusely but thanks to Rinku, the flight attendant, who was guiding Bani to remain calm. Jai collected his nerves, held Bani in his arms and starts murmuring soothing words in her ears, asking her to be a brave girl, he knows she is very brave and will pull through and he will not let anything happen to her etc etc….after twenty minutes or so, which seemed like ages, the plane lands on the football field, midst of a match going on, scaring away the players…Bani screamed on top of her voice when the plane tyres screeched to a halt….Jai looked helplessly at Capt Suri who came out of the cockpit and opened the door of the plane.
It took few minutes for Captain Suri to get the attention of the inquisitive village folks gathering around the plane and conveyed them their situation in the plane in broken marathi. Within 15 minutes the most sought after midwife of the village entered the plane to take stock of the situation. Seeing her Jai got a fright of his life. An old lady wearing ill fitting spectacles dressed in a faded sari in traditional marathi way, holding the hand of her son climbed into plane and smiled at frightened Jai showing a few missing teeth, assured him she in a language which Jai could hardly understand but guessed that she will take care.
Her son conveyed to Jai to relax as there is still sometime for the baby's arrival but they would like to shift Bani to a nearby house, so that hot water and other provisions would easily be arranged. Jai looked at Capt Suri, who assured him this is the best possible arrangement under the circumstances as now he would not like to take the risk in flying Bani to Mumbai even if the weather improves…it will be too risky if something happens mid air. You and I are hardly any midwives Sir and Rinku has only traning and no experience. The village mukhiya also re-assured Jai, chinta na karo, mai bhi dai ma ki haath se paida huwa....
Bani was shifted to a house nearby in a room next to the kitchen. It was a mud house but appeared to be neat & clean though a bit stuffy….dai ma & her assistants who have gathered now shoved Jai out of the room, saying it is no place for a man. Jai looked around and stood in a corner of the courtyard. He had booked the best room in Beach Candy Hospital for Bani and Dr Upadhyay had assured him that he can be present during the birth of his child. He saw the ladies going in and out of the room, 2 of them were busy chatting and chewing pan, offering to others…Jai temper was rising, he could hear Bani spasm increasing but the ladies were taking it very casually…As the sun was setting, Rinku handed over him his jacket saying don't worry Sir, they know what they are doing, some of them much better than the city nurses….relax Sir...
Jai Walia was a thorough urban man. Never spent a night in village other than his farm house but it was hardly a village house…he shakes his head and calls the all mighty…
Neev Walia makes his appearance around midnight, Jai was standing near the doorway when Bani gave a loud cry and shrieked 'I love you Mr Walia', Jai's entire core shook and he wanted to enter as he could not believe his ears, but the men prevented him…aree keya saab…idhar khare rahiye…iss samay aurate yesahi barbarate rehte hai…shaken Jai thinks maybe so…even when their lovemaking hit the climax, Bani never cried out this…before he could steady himself, his thoughts are pierced by a shrill cry…Neev had arrived…the ladies from inside announced …Jai was a wee bit disappointed as he was hoping for a daughter…but when Dai ma who suddenly turned into a beauty in Jai's eyes brought Neev, cleaned and wrapped in a torn sari, he feel head over heels in love, with soft black hair and crumpled face, he looked the like a little angel, as he sat with Neev in his arms next to Bani, she could hardly keep her eyes open and gave a tired smiled …apne dekh liya hai na Mr Walia, saab theek hai na…
It was around 4 o'clock in the morning when the Walia Industries flight left for Mumbai, taking Bani & Jai with their new born son. Before leaving Jai emptied whatever little money he had in is wallet…in the world of credit cards, Jai hardly carried any cash other than a few hundreds. Captain Suri & Rinku followed suit. Jai promised the villagers to be back with his family again.
When they landed at Mumbai, Aditya and Jigyasa were waiting for them with Ambulance. Jai could not remember when was the last time, he was so happy to see his sister, he handed over Neev now wrapped in his father's jacket to Jigyasa and climbed into the ambulance with Bani.
Dr Upadhyay checked both the mother & the son and gave a clean chit to Jai, very professionally done Mr Walia, he just pushed in the normal injections and after two days Bani with her son left the hospital for Walia Mansion…
Masi gave them a traditional welcome, with Neev in Bani's arms and Jai's arm wrapped around Bani's shoulder they made a lovely picture. Photographs were taken and Neev was surrounded and comments poured in like, nak Jai ka jaisa hai, ankhe Bani ka, so on and so forth…Bani looked down at her son trying to match his features with the comments, Neev gave a bored yawn and turned his head towards his mother's bosom…aree usko bhuk lag gaya bhuk lag gaya…was the verdict…Bani looked up to see Jai looking at her intensely, she stares back and they get lost into each others eyes…
Hai hai kya scene hai, jug jug jiyo mere bete…tumhara jodi salamat rahe…Dadi's words jolts Bani and a slow blush creeps into her face…Jai is bowled, he could not recollect seeing a new mother so beautiful.
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