Part XXVIII
o.k but both Nachiket and Masi unconvincing with clear disbelieve on their face, Jai lowered his gaze and concentrated on feeding Neev…
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Jai took Neev to the office, which was nothing unusual and Neev enjoyed his visits and knew his way around. The girls spoilt him and he had his favourites also, as soon as the lift opened, Neev scurried away looking for his friends…Nachiket took the opportunity to follow Jai into his cabin…
Bhaiya aap bura na mane, I need to know, I dropped her to the airport and she looked drained and fatigued. Maine soocha tha, it is because of the party lekin aaj mujhe kuch aur hi lag rahe hai'…
Jai pours a drink, tumhe aisa kiyu lag raha hai…
Do saal pahele, maine dekha ek ladki, sabki sow jane ki baad, chhup kar niche apke study ke taraf jati hui, mujhe bara ajeeb laga tha, kiyoki agar parai ke bare me baath karna hai toh chhup chhup ke jaane ka keya jaroorat hai, apke study me knock ki, mai sone ne hi ja raha tha itne me bahar bhi a gayi, her palms curled in a fist…do din me apne apna shaadi ka ailan kiya toh mujhe laga she had gone to you to give her acceptance….lekin kal se mujhe aisa kiyu lag rahe baath kuch aur hai, no girl comes out from her to be husband's room within a minute specially when they are alone, every time I asked something from her ki bhaiya se baath kijiye na on my behalf, she used to avoid speaking to you but did whatever she could do on her own including receiving my mother when she was released from jail or to see her off when she went to Australia, never spoke about her future aur agar parai karne gayi hai toh kal aapko dekhkar aisa kiyu laga that your world has fallen apart…
Jai covers his face with his hands….then slowly shares with Nachiket the deal which he had signed with Bani….
Nachiket takes few minutes to recover himself from the shock…Bhaiya woh bhag gayi, aapka bharosa nehi torna chahati thi, usko pyar ho gaya apse, kiyuki maine kai bar dekha baath toh woh hum se karti thi lekin nazaar hamesha aap nehi toh neev ke upar rehti thi, aur jab hum chira te the, sharma jati thi…. aapko dundh ke lana hoga mere bhabi ko….in this world with state-of-the-art communication technology it might take sometime but will not be impossible, I will help you in all possible ways…
Their discussion gets distrupted as Neev entered…wanted to go home…Bali, chalo ghar, he coaxed his father….
Maine phone kiya tha beta, abhi ayi nehi, Jai picks him up…
Father & son return in the evening …Jai was tired, he tried his best to keep Neev entertained the whole day, taking him to the zoo, toy shops etc., but every now & then he asked for his mother and Jai gave all sort of excuses ….as they enter, Neev releases himself from Jai and runs inside calling out for Bani…then pulling Jai along searched the whole house and when he finally realized that she has not returned he went quiet, hardly ate anything in the night and held on to his father with all his strength refusing to go to anybody else…..
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A week has passed, Neev has become very tempermental, doesn't utter Bani's name, is very possessive about his father, infact Jai was now operating from home and Bani has not contacted neither here nor anyone in Mt Abu, as Jai has come to know through a discreet call made by Nachiket there. He himself has spoken to her Mamaji the day after she left. Yes, she has gone to study, and as promised he did not stop her but there was an misunderstanding, too personal to share, Mamaji need not worry, he, her husband is there to take care. Raghu, though not very satisfied with his answer, could not question him any futher as Jai did not give him the chance and Raghu knew though he is a formadible man but he knew how to take care of his family.
Neev was sleeping holding Jai's arm, Jai was pondering over the email he received from Harvard University today, that no Bani Dixit or Walia has enrolled in any stream for this season. The mails sent to her mail i.d by Nachiket has also bounced back saying user does not exists…where should be look for her now, even with latest technology, if someone wants to remain un-traced it is still possible. With his connections, he has been able to secure this much information, within a week. She has taken taken the north west airline flight to Chicago under Bani Dixit name. No person has enrolled in the Chicago University by that name nor in and around Chicago. His hope was Harvard because that is where she wanted to study but then Harvard has also confirmed today that Bani Dixit /Walia has not enrolled. He picks up Bani's photograph from the bedside table, its Bani carrying Neev entering Walia Mansion for the first time with him standing with his arm around her…beautiful picture, infact a prize winning photo, nobody will guess it was anything otherwise than a normal marriage. His body aches, he misses her, strangely his room in which he has been living for last so many years looks alien to him, without her the whole Walia Mansion has lost its charm, specially his room…..he hears a soft knocking…come in, he calls out….sits up with a start on seeing the person who was entering….
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