Part XXII
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 was bowled, he could not recollect seeing a new mother so beautiful.
++++++++++++++++
Neev was five months old and already quite a handful. He could crawl in amazing speed and tried to climb stairs if no one was looking. He loved being center of attention, which he was anyway and loved to show off his skills, learning new ones every day….he could climb stairs, stand up holding his father's leg, play hide & seek with his uncle and other cousins- hiding under Masi's pallu and Dadi's blanket or wherever Aditya hid him as he was his partner in these games, he knew his father's favourite car and rode in it everyday after Jai returned from work, used his father as 'High Chair' sitting on him and was more interested in what his father was eating than his own cereals but Jai used his patience and rewarded him with bits & pieces of his own food if he ate the cereals properly. In short all the members of Walia Mansion were involved in bringing Neev up, even Jigyasa and Pia, who were normally too busy with themselves.
Inspite of getting full attention from everyone, Neev needed to see his mother every half an hour or so…wherever he was he made in a point to note that Bani is within his view…if Bani was working in the study, he peeped in to have a look and then went back to his activities. When Bani had appointments, he either went along but since he was so mischevious at times it became impossible for Bani to concentrate…therefore she called the parties at home but at times when it was not possible he went to his father's office. Jai could manage him very well, Bani taught him how to change his clothes, feed him, take him to the toilet etc., it was an unspoken agreement between them that Jai has to learn how to take care of his child and prepare himself for taking over the childcare when Bani left for her further studies.
Despite of Bani's best efforts, Neev had another bad habit. He could not sleep without Bani and needed his feed from her before going off to sleep. Much to Bani's dismay the doctor, Jai and all in the house saw no fault in that…keya hai bachcha hai…Bani got mad with Jai, aap bhi unlogo ke saath ha me ha mila rahe hai…sab jante huwe bhi…
Jai: Bani have patience. Chhota hai…ek saal me der hai abhi…
+++
As predicted by Bani, Masi out lived her doctors forecast. One evening Jai returned from Office was sitting with Masi, who now had to use the wheelchair as she was too weak to move on her own but her all other faculties were fine….Munna mai ek cheez puchho, tu gussa toh nehi karega….
Jai: Aap puchhiye toh sahi…
Maasi: Abh mai toh koi kaam nehi kar sakti toh pura din tumlogo ki harkate dekhte rehti hu…mai kai din se sooch rahi thi…yeh baath kahu…beta tum aur Bani me saab theek toh hai na…
JW frowns: Mai kuch samjha nehi maasi….
Massi: Beta mujhe lagta hai tum aur Bani me kuch faasla hai kuch dooriya...ha mai manti hu..tum dono abh ek bachche ka mata-pita ho...shuru me to mujhe aisa lagta tha, nai nai shaadi hui hai, ek dosre ke saath free hone me time lagega...lekin ek saal ho gaya, Bani ma ban gayi...phirbhi mujhe aisa kiyu lagta hai tum dono ek hokar bhi ek nehi ho..kabhi jhagarte nehi dekha, tum raat ko der se ateh ho tabhi Bani gussa nehi karti...tum keya khate ho, keya pite ho..jab woh mera and biji ka bahut khayal rakti hai...aur tum bhi usse gussa nehi karte ho...mai yeh nehi kehti har samay gussa karna chahiye, jhagarna chahiye lekin aisa toh nehi hai tujhe Bani ki har baath achha lagta ho..aur usse tera...tu usse koi gifts nehi deta...Roshni, bhagwan ka sukar hai ki woh wapis chali gayi, ko tu kitna gift deta tha..tune Bani ko, anniversary me na Neev ke janam ke baad kuch diya...matlab maine toh nehi dekha, tu agar jaldi bhi office se chala aye toh, Bani study me kaam karte rehti hai nehi toh Nachiket, Anu aur Pushkar ke saath baate karte rehti hai.....tu samaj rahe hai na keya bol rahi hu mai..
Jai holds Maasi's hands...Masi relax...aisa koi baath nehi hai...Bani aur mai ek dosre ke bahut kareeb hai...woh kaha jati hai, keya karti hai din bhar, mujhe maloom rehta hai aur jaha tak gift ka sawal hai...jab roshni se mera rishta tha mai kafi chhota tha, soochta tha ladkiyo ko khush rakhne ka yeh ek tarika hai, lekin keya huwa, rishta toot gaya...Bani janti hai, mera jo hai, ussi ka hai, agar usse kuch pasand hoga mai khareedkar jaroor doonga ....jaha taak Bani ka Nachiket, Pushkar / Anu se dosti woh toh apne umar ke hisab se theekhi hai, mai usse kafi bara hu aur woh log uska dost hai...aur raha kaam ki baath...project thora delayed hai, delay matlab paisa bekar jana...yeh samaj lijiye maasi yeh project jiska incharge maine usko banaya hai is like her 2nd child....aur mai keya batayo...agar aap chahate ho to mai apke samne Bani ko kiss bhi kar sakta hu mere pyar dikhane ke liye, lekin uske baad toh mera pitai ho jayega Bani ke haatho...
Masi laughed...nehi nehi beta.....uska koi jaroorat nehi, proof ke liye neev hai na...yeh jaankar khushi hui Bani tujhe pit bhi sakti hai...
Jai: Aur nehi toh keya ...utna haak toh uska hai hi na, maasi
Masi: Ha Jaroor beta, mai khamka chinta kar rahi thi..khush rahe beta ..khush rahe...
Just then, Neev entered on Anu's lap, seeing his father was excited and jumped to him...showing outside…
Ha ha beta…chal ghumkar ateh hai….As they go out Bani who was carrying soup for Masi, smile at them and they wave their goodbyes to her….
++++
Fan Fictions
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
