Short Story - A Second Chance!

Hi Guys,

A few days ago, I had mentioned in reply to one of the posts that the current situation in KS is frustrating me so much, that I wish I could write a Fan-Fic to express my thoughts on how I would have liked to handle the current storyline, if given an opportunity! Hence, the idea formed and I tried to come up with a short-story, which begins with the birth of Rano's child and ends with the birth of Bani's child and everything in between! The story is full of legal, medical and logical loopholes (Nevertheless much lesser than what Ekta shows!) since what I have tried to write is less of a Story and more or less a dramatization of what I would have liked to see in KS, hence I haven't paid much attention to the details. So, please do excuse them and yes, do correct me also, wherever I have missed out or written incorrectly about the facts in the story! I hope you enjoy reading it and I would be looking forward to your response eagerly!

Statutory Warning : There is nothing remotely 'Short' about my 'Short-Story', so incase you do risk your mind and time to read it, make sure you have the latter part in excess!

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Pushkar and Pia were motionless as they kept staring at the Sonography Monitor, the child was indeed an eager one. Hard to say, whether it was the Miracle of Science or the Divine Power of God that gave such a sense of bliss to both of them, when they looked at the unborn child moving about with a restless abandon in its Mother's womb.

"Pia….Pia…" Pushkar called out to her gently and then kept his hand gingerly over her shoulder which seemed to shake her out of the reverie she was in. "What? What happened?" Pia almost shivered as she took her eyes off the Monitor and looked back at Pushkar, her once luminous eyes now sunken, her radiant skin reduced to a pale shadow of her former self and suddenly it seemed that Pushkar was overcome with the same sensation that he had felt almost 2 years back when he had seen Pia for the first time in Jai Walia's Party. Jai Walia. The man who was a Father to him. The man who was now Father to Pia's unborn child.

And Pia? Pushkar really did not know what she meant for him now, they had both gone through so much together and separately, that his Heart had been numbed to every imaginable memory of Pia he had.

"How are you feeling now? Hope the pain has subsided." Pushkar spoke gently as he handed her a glass of Orange Juice and she took them in her shivering hands, professing an inaudible thanks. As Pushkar looked at Pia, he felt a wave of loathing and yet an unexplainable sense of compassion & mercy for the skeleton of a girl lying on the Hospital Bed.

As Pia took the Glass to her Lips, not taking a sip from it, she took a deep breath and turning towards Pushkar said, "Is it fate that Children have to end up bearing the burden of their Parent's fault?" Pushkar seemed to be taken aback by the sudden question and then recovering, gazed steadily at Pia and said, "No. Not at all. No one should pay for a crime that they never committed in the first place. You of all the people should know this by now." Pia who had been calm till now had tears welling up in her eyes, not so much because of the edge of bitterness in Pushkar's voice but more because of his concern and caring for him, inspite of all that had transpired in the past few weeks.

Pushkar immediately regretted his choice of words and sitting besides Pia, brought her closer to him and patted her protectively on her head. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to sound like this. Please don't cry like this." Pia looked up, her eyes looking more wraithlike than before and she spoke in strangled tones, "What will happen of my child Pushkar?"

Pushkar looked back at Pia and said in a soft voice, "Now you spoke like a true Mother…"

Pia thought about the last few days and realized that the impending Motherhood which she had used ruthlessly to gain what she wanted was now the only source of happiness in her dark life and probably the only hope she had for her future.

"Pia…This is the only chance we have to redeem ourselves, to let everyone get on with their lives, to be able to give a chance to this child. To let the two people who gave us love get back their love once again. Will you support me in this quest?" Pushkar spoke with conviction & sincerity as Pia looked into his eyes and he knew what her answer was.

"Bani….Jai Sir….We need to speak." Pushkar said quietly as he entered Rano's room and stood near the Door. Everyone present turned to look at him, startled by his sudden entry. As Pushkar entered with trepidation, the atmosphere of the room was charged with an abrupt stillness, as Pia followed him, her head bent down. Jai felt as if an electric current had passed all over him, as his whole body tensed rigidly and his eyes flashed with a cold, hateful glint. Bani just stood still, not able to look at Pia and yet not able to take her eyes off her.

"I told you not to ever come in front of me, else I would kill you…With my bare hands." Jai's voice broke the stillness of the room as he walked across to Pia, who shivered and huddled behind Pushkar, holding his hand for support. Jai kept glaring at Pia with a hatred that seemed to burn Pia to cinders.

"You are not the Father of my child." Pia spoke unexpectedly and shortly, still not able to meet Jai's eyes. The room still reverberated with the hushed silence, as the announcement came.

"What? What did you say?" Karuna was the first one to get back her composure as she walked towards Pia and Pushkar and asked once again in her bewildered tone, "But you said that…Then….Who is the Father of the child?"

"Pushkar." Pia uttered the name of her husband, still not letting go of his hand, as he stood steadily by her side. And then almost as an afterthought said, "Nothing happened between Mr. Walia and me in Dubai."

"You lied to all of us, Pia. You put everyone through so much of pain and grief, when you knew the truth. But why?" Karuna looked aghast as Massi came towards Pia and gnashing her teeth said, "Just get lost Pia and never show your face again. I don't want to say anything because you are carrying an innocent life in your womb, but if there is any justice in the World, then God will make you pay for your crimes, in this life itself."

"Mr. Walia, your Medicine." Bani put the tray with Jai's BP Tablet and a Glass of Water on his Study Table, speaking in her soft, unhurried tone. Jai did not bother to turn and look at her as he sat in his Rocking Chair, engrossed in a World of his own.

Bani stood still for sometime as her eyes filled with tears and her heart ached for Jai, for herself, for their child. "Why did all this have to happen to us? Why did our relationship shatter into such meaningless pieces? What did Jai and I ever do to suffer this fate?" Bani had innumerous questions in her Heart and she knew that she did not have answer for any of them. "Its Fate, after all." Bani had reflected. It was fate which had got her into Jai's life, it was fate which had made them fall irrevocably in love with one another, it was fate which had thrown them apart ruthlessly and yet again, it was fate which had tied them with an unbreakable bond now. Bani did not know why Pia had done this to them and she really didn't care to know, all she cared was for Jai, for them, for the marriage they had and for the love they shared.

"Won't you even look at me?" Bani ventured with gentleness, going near to Jai, only to see that he was drinking, his face sallow & washed out, as if age had suddenly caught up with him. As Bani kept her hand on Jai's shoulder, he turned to look at her and she shrank back in dread and astonishment as she saw his eyes, dead with coldness and loathing.

"Ok…Now that your beloved sister has given me a clean character chit, you want that I look at you, right?" Jai spoke, slowly, sharply and with a distinct edge in his voice. Bani was so momentarily terrified that she just could not react to him. Jai got up, keeping the Glass on the Side-table and walked towards Bani, who shrank back in fear, as if he was not the man whom she had come to speak with. "No….I came to give you the Medicine…I.." Bani could hardly breath, not at all expecting such sharp words from Jai.

"Medicine? You came to give me Medicine?" Jai asked with wonder and then broke out into a raucous laughter, further shaking Bani, as he held her by the shoulders in an iron like grip and spoke with a bone-chilling vehemence, "What about the two years of heartache and pain that you have given me Bani? What about the humiliation, dishonor, disgrace that you subjected me to? What about the guilt, the blame, the shame that you gifted me? What about breaking up my family, my friends, my relations….My Heart? What about giving me a Death Sentence without even a Trial? What about taking my right as a Father to me? How am I ever going to repay all this to you, Bani?"

As Jai closed on to Bani, his eyes on fire and his grip so tight, that Bani felt unable to breath at all. Jai kept glaring at Bani and then with a rough shrug, pushed himself away from her and picking up the glass from the Side-table, drained it in one go.

Jai's darkened study plunged into a seeming less abyss and the silence was almost deathly, till Jai's cold and determined voice broke out,

"I am done with this Marriage, Bani. Its over. I don't care now…I simply don't. And for my sake, for your sake, for the sake of the child that you are carrying and maybe for the love we once shared…I want to break free of this sham of a relationship that we have been carrying on."

Time seemed to stand still for Bani as Jai kept his glass back on the Table and turned to face Bani, his face now mellow and slightly calm as he spoke in a defeated tone, "Its not that I hate you for what happened, I know that you were as much a victim as I was, but for some reason, I had put my life on you, thinking, hoping, that even if others give up on me, you won't. Sadly, you shattered the myth. I cannot erase whatever happened, whatever we have shared, good and bad, but I now know that I don't want to live with you anymore…or for that matter have anything to do with all the people in my life. I think I deserve a chance for a better life and I have decided to move on, solitary and alone."

Bani kept staring at the Wall, her face numb with what she had heard…No, it was not the same vitriolic that Jai had spewed on her a few days back when he had come to Walia Mansion to try and get her out of her shock, his voice today, ringed with truth….a truth so bitter that Bani still couldn't come to terms with what she was hearing.

"What about our child?" Bani's voice came hollow and faint as Jai smiled sardonically and answered back in cutting voice, "Our Child? That's a good joke, Mrs. Walia or should I say, Ms. Dixit…Or is it something else now, depending on how benevolent or upset you are with me?"

Bani shut her eyes tightly as they clouded with tears, she wanted to shut her ears and run out of the sight of Jai. What had she done so bad that was inviting such bitterness and hurt from the man whom she loved to death?

"Why do you have to make me pay for Pia's mistake? Everytime." Bani almost yelled in despair and anger, her tears now streaming on her cheeks, as she saw Jai picking up his Jacket and heading towards the Door.

"At least you have the solace that you are paying for the crimes committed by your own blood. You made me pay and pay heavily, for my innocence & more importantly, for a Nobody. Bani, did I ever question you, why?" Jai's voice came out chilling and ominous as he kept staring fixedly and emotionlessly at Bani.

Bani heaved a deep sigh as she held on to the Door, feeling pale and tremulous and could barely plead in a whisper, "Can't you give me one last chance?"

Jai kept looking at Bani, the darkness of the room now weighing heavily, almost rendering both of them breathless and hissed slowly, cuttingly and with a finality, "You gave me None, Bani."

As Bani clutched her stomach and crumbled with a flood of tears on the cold marble floor, Jai stormed off the Door, not bothering to look back.

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Everyone was gathered at the Breakfast Table, trying to appear nonchalant and normal, but no one was able to forget Pia's declaration a night before and everyone gathered at the Table wondered how they would approach Jai and render an apology. As Jai came quietly and sat down, not bothering to wish or even look at anyone, there was a distinct tension in the atmosphere as Jai brusquely ordered his Orange Juice and Boiled Eggs from Tony. There seemed to be something very different about Jai today. Gone was his lost, haggard and guilty self which seemed to submerge in the gaggle of noises. Today he seemed to be a new man, or rather the man they once knew, revered and feared. His eyes had the same determined and no-nonsensical glint which could snap shut anyone in a matter of seconds by just one frosty glare. As Jai attacked his Breakfast with a ravenous speed, Massi coughed and asked gently, "Beta, Bani kahan hai?"

Jai stopped his fork in mid-air, with the piece of boiled egg on it and turned to look at Massi with a frigid and disinterested look and answered in staccato tone, "Woh toh aapki beti hai, aapko pata hona chahiye. Toh aap mujh se kyon pooch rahi hain?" Massi and the others were shocked into silence with the rude retort as Karuna kept looking at Jai, trying to comprehend what exactly Jai was upto. "Jai, Ma ka matlab tha, kya tum nein Bani ko dekha hai. Subah se kisi ko nahin mili. Kahin Rano se milne Hospital toh nahin gayi?" Karuna spoke in her mature and controlled manner.

"I have no idea Karuna and I am getting late for work! See you in the Office at 11, we have a meeting with the Delegates from Dubai for the Hotel Project. Catch you at the Boardroom then!" Jai gave a tight smile at the bewildered Karuna and strided out of Walia Mansion as the rest of the Family kept staring at one another in confusion and wonder.

Jai along with Aditya, Ranveer, Saahil, Pushkar, Karuna, Tarun from the Walia Industries the Representative of the Dubai Group sat around the Conference Table, waiting for Jai to begin the Motion. Jai seemed engrossed in the Tabulated Reports that he was studying, nodding once in a while as Pushkar, who was bent besides him kept adding his comments. "That's fine Pushkar! Go ahead with the proposed plan! Get me the Budget draft approved from Mr. Mehta, I'll sign it." Pushkar felt distinctly odd, yet a frisson of pleasure escaped him, as he felt Jai speaking to him in the same way as he used to, almost 2 years back, when he was Jai Walia's golden boy and heir apparent to Walia Industries…Till Pia happened and everything changed. Pushkar tried to get his thoughts concentrated to the work in hand and tried his best to block the conversation he had with Pia in the Hospital before they had ended up telling the biggest lie of their cumulative Life.

"Tarun, we can't wait for your client to come in now, the time has passed and we need to sign the memoranda. So, we pass a motion without Bani and get it going." Jai shot out as Tarun fumbled with his papers, desperately urging Bani to turn up and quietly tried to call her up on his Cell phone, while Jai kept staring at Tarun, his expression unreadable. "Come on Bani…Pick up the phone…." Tarun mumbled, looking tense as he kept jabbing his cellphone. "I…I can't get through Bani. She must be stuck somewhere. Can we postpone this meeting?" Everyone looked at Tarun and then almost simultaneously at Jai, who was pokerfaced and kept silent for a while, before leaning forward on the Table and looking directly at Tarun, said in an expressionless voice, "You see, Mr. Sablok, I don't care for people who had no value of time and frankly couldn't be less bothered about why Bani hasn't turned up. So we set the ball rolling without her." As Tarun kept staring at Jai, he stood up and before beginning the Presentation, thought for a while and smiling shortly said, "Incase your punctual client does turn up, please tell her that she is no longer required on this Project. We are going ahead without her. I have no need of Team Members who can't bother to show up without explanations in an Important Board Meeting. Ok guys, here we go."

As Jai deftly presented his work, everyone else tried their best to ignore the cold comments made by him for Bani and fearing the worst, just concentrated on the meeting. But Tarun sat slumped, fuming at Jai's virtual banishment of Bani without even giving her a chance to explain. "Smug B******, he will never learn, will he?" Tarun kept quiet through out the length of the meeting, as the lights of the Conference Room came on.

"Ok guys, now we break for Tea. Mr. Zubair, we can discuss some of the points that I had mentioned in my Office. Aditya, Karuna, Ranveer, Pushkar will join me." Saahil just tried to act nonchalant as he was ignored by Jai but Tarun miffed as he stood up and spoke, "I think you forgot to invite me Jai." Jai gave a confused look at Tarun and said, "Did I? I don't think so, I was pretty clear on who all should come with me for the Informal Chat. I thought you heard it." Tarun tried hard to keep his temper in check as he swallowed the humiliation and said coldly, "I happen to the Legal Advisor of Walia Industries and hence I have to be present in all Formal and Informal Meetings regarding this Project."

The whole atmosphere of the room tensed as Jai and Tarun stood at either end of the Conference Table, like two rivals, fighting it over mentally. Jai kept staring at Tarun, his expression unreadable, but Pushkar who had known Jai since eternity, sensed instantly what was coming and he winced, as Jai spoke, in a sharp, frigid yet controlled tone, "Just for your Information, you were appointed by Bani Dixit, who only happens to control 10% of the Company Shares and I just revoked this arbitrary appointment since I control 51% of the Company Shares. So we no longer need your Services. You can collect your Fees from the Accounts Department. Saahil will show you the way. Now if you will excuse us."

As Jai stormed off, followed by the others, Tarun was left speechless and stunned, as he realized that his Best Friend had just rendered him jobless and publicly humiliated. Saahil could only gape like a fish who has been thrown out of its Fish-bowl!

"Mr. Walia, can I speak to you please?" Jai looked up from his Laptop and saw Bani standing at the Door and for a moment his Heart skipped a beat, but controlling any trace of emotion that he felt at the moment, he beckoned her in, casually. "Make it quick, I have a Conference Call scheduled in the next 10 minutes." Jai did not bother to look up as he kept punching the Keyboard. Bani stood silent for sometime, looking at Jai, her face unreadable and then she spoke, wearily and slowly, "Why did you terminate Tarun in this manner? We could have at least spoken on this. Tarun put his Law Practice in the backburner to help me out in the Crisis and he needs this job now." Jai felt himself flushing as he realized how the mere sound of Bani taking sides with Tarun made his intestines burn in jealousy , but taking a mental deep breath, he continued punching a few numbers and then looking at Bani with a sarcastic expression said, "Nice to hear that you still owe loyalty to your Friends, even though you did forget your loyalties for your once upon a time husband." Bani just let a frustrated sigh, as she realized that it was no use arguing with him and as she turned to go back, Jai spoke again, "Just for your information, a) You had no business appointing Legal Advisors without my approval ; b) Tarun specializes in Criminal Law and is a no-gooder in Company Advisory ; c) I am not his local guardian to bother about where his Dinner would come from. If he was foolish enough to leave his Practice to join Walia Industries, he better be prepared to be thrown out and face the consequences. I hope I make myself clear on this."

Bani fought the urge to lose her temper and without turning back said in a cold tone, "Very well said Mr. Walia, but you forgot that while I might have been making these so called unfortunate Business decisions behind your back, it was you, who had given me the authority to do so and considering that you had abandoned your House and your Business, I did what I could for the best of all."

"I abandoned the House? Really? That takes some cheek to say, right? You get me thrown out of my own House and then say that I abandoned all of you?" Jai was now fuming; his face flushed as he stride towards Bani and roughly turned her to face him. "I did not get you thrown out of your House, Mr. Walia. Stop accusing me of things that I haven't done." Bani was now red in the face and looking ready to cry any moment as Jai viciously answered back, "Yes, first you should face the consequences of things that you have done and then we can probably debate on what you haven't done." Bani shrugged off Jai's grip as she began crying copiously and in-between sobs said, "Do what you want to. I have given up….If you think that I am really this bad, then probably all that you said yesterday is true and this marriage is best ended. Anything that gives you peace." Jai kept glowering at Bani, without uttering a single word and said quietly, with a deep strain of hurt in his voice, "Your beloved Lawyer Friend has already done the needful. I got the Divorce Notice from you today evening from his Office. Thanks for the prompt action, I had no idea you were so eager to free both of us."

Bani was too shocked by what she had heard to pay attention to Jai's biting words as she tried to comprehend. She had indeed filed for Divorce a few days back, but had kept it on hold till Raashi recovered and had specifically told Tarun to not mention this to anyone and he had ended up sending those papers to Jai himself. How could Tarun commit such a huge blunder?

"I….I had told Tarun to hold them back…How did you get them?" Bani blurted bewildered, as Jai kept glaring at her even more firecly and replied back in a terse tone, "Well obviously, your Lawyer Friend is not as efficient as you think he is. I don't know which Red letter day you were waiting for to send these papers, but I did get them earlier than intended. And now that I have them, I don't want to waste time anymore. Tell Tarun that my Lawyer will contact his Office in the next 48 hours and begin the formalities. Needless to say, you can decide on whatever you want to have in Alimony."

Jai banged the papers on the Table and sat on his chair again, typing furiously on the Keyboard as Bani kept looking at him, in a heartbroken manner, like a warrior who had given up on the fight before the War could conclude.

"The Baby and Mother are doing perfectly fine, Mr. Walia. I can see that you are indeed taking good care of your wife." As Dr. Simran Mathur, the elegant and motherly Obstetrician came out of the room where she had checked Bani, she sat across the Table with Jai and writing some prescriptions and tests, handed the same to him. "I am glad you came with Bani today." As Jai sat motionless, he glanced to see Bani coming into the Consultation Room, looking slightly washed out as she adjusted the Pallu of her Sari and trying hard not to look at Jai, sat alongside with him. "When will the results of the Blood Sample come by, Doctor?" asked Jai, as Dr. Mathur replied, slightly preoccupied with a CD in her hand, marking something on it, "In two days or so. We need to check both the Parent's blood samples for the Rh Negative Test. You might not be aware of it, as you are first time Parents." Jai and Bani's face clouded almost simultaneously as they both thought about the child that they had lost.

"Here Bani, this is a copy of the Sonography CD that you had asked for. You should see it with your Husband. Mr. Walia, trust me, it's a great feeling to see the miracle of your unborn child in the Mother's womb. Nothing can make your Heart melt more." Dr. Mathur smiled warmly, as Jai tried best not to show any emotion, and he made way out of the Hosptial along with Bani who followed him quietly, lost in a World of her own.

4 Months later

Jai had been traveling in and out of the Country for the last 2 months now, barely meeting his Family, preferring to stay in a Hotel, whenever he was in India before heading off to some Overseas Destination! Jai had dedicated his entire energy and vigor to his Work and the results were showing. The Walia Group had been showing a decided slump in the last few months, in which Jai had not been able to work to his true self because of the emotional crisis that he was facing, but now he seemed to be revved up with a new enthusiasm and a mad zeal, which gave him boundless energy to go on, tiring all his Competitors! Jai had recently been awarded the 'Entrepreneur of the Year' Award by the Prestigious Ernst & Young Annual Business Awards Summit! While making his short and crisp acceptance speech, Jai had fielded a rather awkward question by an eager young reporter who had asked him if he owed his success to any one person in particular. Thinking for a while, fully knowing that everyone would be watching the Televised Presentation, he had looked directly into the Camera and had literally conveyed his words to the person intended. "My life has been divided in two segments. One in which I was Single and the Other in which I got married! My success in the first part was contributed ably by my Parents besides my Friends, Colleagues and my own Ambition to reach the top of the World. But the success of the latter part of my Life will solely be dedicated to that One Woman who changed my Life, Forever! And wherever I reach from here, she will always be with me in Spirit, urging me to only march forward and never look back, not even by mistake." The Auditorium had thundered in applause, so had the Walia Family, as everyone gushed on what a splendid tribute Jai had made for Bani. Only Bani sat alone in her room, supported by a pillow, her eyes moist as she read the lines in between and understood what exactly Jai had been trying to convey…..That it was Hatred for her that was firing him and not Love.

"Tony, why is the House plunged in Darkness? Where is everyone?" Jai took the Glass of Water from Tony, as the Lights came on, brightening the gloomy room. Tony kept looking at Jai uncomfortably and then coughing said in a low voice, "Sir, everyone has gone to the Hospital." Jai, bewildered and worried asked Tony, "Why? What happened? Is Bani fine?" Tony looking increasingly awkward spoke hesitatingly, "Bani Mam is fine Sir. Its Pia Mam, actually. She has been blessed with a baby boy today morning. Everyone has gone to see them." Jai's face clouded darkly, as the expression of concern turned into one of utter distaste and thinly concealed anger, as he walked up to his Room.

Jai sat, brooding on his arm chair, sipping in the glass of Whiskey, thinking about the last few months! Jai had sent across the Divorce papers from his side as intended, only to be shocked out of his wits, when he received a "Stay Order" on the Divorce Petition, filed by Bani, who had got the Court to sign an order which forbid Jai to obtain a Divorce till Bani had her Delivery. Jai was shaken with cold fury as he had marched into Bani's bedroom and demanded an explanation. "Mr. Walia, there is nothing to explain. You can read for yourself what is written in the Stay Order Notice. You cannot obtain a Divorce till I give birth to the baby." Bani's voice had been cool and calm as she spoke to him, unmindful of his murderous rage. "What the hell do you think you are? What do you take me for anyway? You file a Divorce case when you feel like, you put a stay order on it when you don't feel like? Can you tell me once and for all, what you want out of me?" Jai had fumed, as Bani had turned to look at him, her face almost angelic and glowing, without a trace of resentment or tension on it. "Nothing more than staying with my family when I need them the most. You might have given up on your child, but I want to give it the best of everything and at this moment, I feel that it needs a happy Mother and for that I need to have a Family around me." Jai had just scowled as he snapped, "You only need relationships as and when you feel Bani. Suit yourself, I don't want to waste anymore of my time on you, fighting cases or arguing it out. I don't give a shit for this marriage, so its as good as over for me. Hang on to it till you wish to and just send me a SMS when you get bored of it and want to move on, I wish to have my room back."

As Jai had stormed off of the room, immediately regretting the bitter words that he had spoken, Bani had collapsed on the Bed, holding her tummy gingerly and had said in a voice full of emotion, "Whatever happens…I want to give you as my last my gift to your Father. I am just waiting for you to come out Krishna, your Father gave me everything that I have now, including you and I have to try and repay some of it, at any cost." Tears had streamed down her cheeks as they fell on her palms protecting the child in her womb.

Jai was jolted out of his reverie as he heard a soft knock on the Door of his Study, the room where he spent most of his time in, whenever he was at Walia Mansion. "Come In…." Jai drawled in his deep baritone voice and had sensed who the intruder was. Bani held out a box of Kaju Barfi in front of Jai as he looked up at her and then his eyes fell on her rounded figure. Her stomach looked prominently bulged, though Bani hadn't put on much additional weight elsewhere. Bani seemed to literally glow in the darkness, her skin glistening like a pearl, her eyes shining like Candles glowing in the Water, her silky hair left loose. She actually looked like an Angle, innocent and pure. "You….You look different." Jai muttered, forgetting the box of Sweets held out infront of her, Bani instantly blushed at the implication and lowering her eyes said, "Pia had a baby boy today morning. All of us went to wish her in the Hospital." And almost as an afterthought, looking warmly at Jai, added, "The baby is beautiful….Takes entirely on his Father." Jai felt distinctly uneasy, he had not been on speaking terms to Bani since their last showdown and had occasionally encountered her whenever he was in Walia Mansion, but that was not saying much, cause he had hardly been around. Being alone and away from the House and the Family, Jai had ceased to be so bitter about all that had happened and had deeply regretted his actions towards Bani also, considering that she was Pregnant and in much need of emotional support. Jai had no desire to take any Sweets, not for Pia or her child atleast, but somehow he could not say no to Bani today and he quietly took half a piece of the Kaju Barfi, professing, "Can't have more, Sugar Problem."

"You should take your Medicines regularly and you seem to miss our on your visit to the Doctor also." Bani chided gently, as a faint smile escaped Jai's lips and both of them were startled as they realized that they were speaking like a normal couple after what seemed like ages. "I hope you follow these rules yourself too. I guess you do, you seem to positively glow." Jai smiled warmly, as he took a chair out for Bani to sit on and helped her slide in, holding her back gently. "Thanks…..Yes, I do take good care of myself. Or atleast Massi and Daadi do. See how much weight I have gained, they keep feeding me Besan Ke Laddoos the whole day and Dr. Mathur is furious at me for consuming so much of fat." Bani let out a tinkling laugher as Jai joined it and commented, "Well, we all have our own problems. I love Ladoos but can't have them and you don't like Sweets but are force fed on them! Look at it this way, all the chubbiness will be inherited by our Baby." As both Jai and Bani laughed aloud, they simultaneously realized what Jai had just said, "Our Baby" and it quietened them for a while. "How is Pia feeling?" Jai asked, his tone flat and officious as Bani looked poignant and said slowly, "Must be fine….I didn't meet her." Jai looked up at Bani, shocked and said, "But why? You should have gone and seen her Bani. She is your sister after all and I guess she needs you the most at this time." Bani felt tears overcoming her as she breathed deeply and said, "She was my sister, I no longer feel I owe anything to her. We are both fine without seeing one another now. I did go and see the baby though, in the Nursery. I gave him your Gold Chain as a Present. Hope you don't mind." Bani looked at Jai hesitatingly as he felt his eyes moistened too, after a long time indeed and spoke kindly, "I can't hold grudges against an innocent, Bani. I have let bygones be bygones, Pia doesn't affect me anymore and I only wish her child, the best in life." Bani had tears in her eyes now, as a watery smile spread across her face as she spoke softly, "Yes, he will have the best in Life…..He has been blessed with a wonderful Father after all." Jai looked upto Bani and said, "Hmm, Pushkar is a wonderful guy! He will give all that he can to the Child." Bani and Jai did not speak for some time, seemingly enjoying the silence of the room and the cordiality they shared now. "So, how is the Dubai Project coming along?" Bani asked, getting up and arranging the strewn books, files and papers on Jai's desk in an orderly fashion. Jai smiled mischievously and quipped back, "Seems like your Lawyer friend has not been keeping you updated on my business ventures. Do tell him that its bad for his business." Bani let out a grin and without turning to face Jai said, "My Lawyer friend has other things in mind these days. Since you have been traveling so much, you must have not heard that he is finally getting hitched." Jai who had got up to help Bani to organize the mess on his table, stood stunned and the blood almost drained off his face as he spoke in a thunder-struck voice, "You are getting married to Tarun?"

Bani almost dropped the papers she held in her hand and looking at Jai's expression, she burst out laughing, her cheeks flushing red, as she giggled like a school girl much to Jai's bewilderment and shock as he kept staring at Bani, willing her to say that what he feared was not true. "You really think I would get married to Tarun? And that too when I am 8 months Pregnant with your child?" As Jai kept gaping at Bani, she was completely consumed by the hilarity of Jai's absurd question and his subsequent expression and the bunch of papers fell from her hand as she lost balance, laughing so hard. Jai immediately leapt to her side and held her firmly yet gently by her waist which was no longer encasing in his arms anymore. "Easy Bani…..I wonder what you found so funny. I really thought that since Tarun is getting married, the most likely person he would get married to, would be you." Bani blushed as she realized that Jai was very sincere and serious in what he had just uttered and looking up to him, she said softly, "Tarun is a good friend, just like Pushkar. Nothing more and nothing less." As Jai helped Bani back to the chair where she had been seated, she gazed at him wistfully and almost whispered into his ears, "You really think that I would marry again?" Jai sat on his knees infront of Bani, his hands still holding on to her shoulders and pausing for a while said, "All that I feared the most kept coming true for me…..and losing you to someone else is something that I have always feared the most. I….I just don't trust my luck anymore, Bani." Jai almost collapsed, looking like a weather-beaten trekker who was just too exhausted to go on anymore. Bani put her soft palm against Jai's rugged, unshaven cheeks and smiling gently answered, "I don't know whether you will lose me or not, but I can say with full conviction, that you will never lose me to someone else." Jai looked up at Bani and for a moment, the months of agony and pain seemed to wash over, as if nothing had happened and that they had been happily together forever.

Both Jai and Bani did not know when it happened, but Jai had held Bani's neck in a gentle embrace as she kissed her lips with such tenderness, that it hurt. As Bani responded back, her eyes closed and her hands enclosing Jai's back, both of them heard a faint gaggle of noises, which they ignored till it came pounding on their heads and as if woken out of a deep dream, Jai pushed himself back and turned towards the Wall, as the Study Door opened and the stream of light flooded the Mahogany walled room. "Bani Mami, I thought you must be here, everyone's been looking for you." Raashi entered full stream, as Bani colored profusely, not able to look back at Jai, who was anyway staring out from the Window as if pretending that no one was in the room. As Raashi gave some Prashad to Bani, she noticed Jai standing near the window and for a moment, blushed in awkwardness and coughing nervously stated, "Jai Mamaji, I didn't know you were also here…I mean, this is your Study ofcourse….But I thought you were still traveling. I came without knocking since Bani Mami is mostly in this room." Raashi spoke incoherently as Jai looked back at her, seemingly without any giving away of what had just happened, as he murmured, "Its alright!" to a relieved Raashi and saw Bani slipping away from the room.

"Congratulations Tarun. When is the Wedding?" Jai had come to the Living Room where the entire Walia Family had congregated and Tarun was also present. Jai's eyes searched for Bani, but she wasn't around. Tarun looked up at Jai, he was seeing him after a long time indeed, but had been up to date with his current business quests which had his photographs and names plastered all over the Media. "Thanks Jai. Everything got arranged pretty quickly, the marriage is next week." Tarun felt slightly awkward speaking in such formal tones to his once upon a time best friend, but things had taken a very ugly turn for their friendship lately and Tarun felt that it was best to keep away from Jai as of now, and also Bani, as Tarun felt that she had in some way created a rift between him and Jai. Tarun had got into a huge argument with Bani over the Divorce Notice sent to Jai and she had told him no uncertain terms that he was deliberately trying to cause harm to her marriage. Tarun had been utterly sarcastic to Bani and had told her rather heartlessly that the main cause of her marriage failing was Bani's doing and it would be really a fitting reply if Jai left her penniless and on the Road. Bani had been too shocked to reply back and had just walked out of Tarun's Office, not again bothering to speak to him and cutting out on all his phone calls and messages, but had thankfully, remained cordial in front of everyone. The last thing Tarun wanted was Jai coming to know how he had behaved with Bani, because he knew that even if Jai wanted out of the Marriage, his love for Bani was unquestionable and he would have literally killed Tarun if he had been privy to his showdown with Bani. And now that Tarun was marrying Lakshmi, Karuna's daughter and Jai's niece, he felt that it would be in his best interest to keep away from Jai and Bani as much as possible.

"Raashi, where is Bani?" Jai had not wanted to show that he was looking for his wife, especially as the whole gang, including Tarun was present, but he simply couldn't help it. Raashi who had just handed over a Cup of Coffee to Jai said, "Mamiji has gone to the Doctor I think, her check-ups are almost twice a week now." Jai looked a little upset and remarked, "Why did you let her go alone Raashi? Someone should have accompanied her atleast." Raashi flushed and said apologetically, "Mamiji has been going to all her check-ups alone, Jai Mamaji. She had insisted that no one come with her, what we could do about it." As Raashi looked at Jai, she pondered a bit more and spoke hesitatingly and in a slow voice, "She has not been keeping too well, though she looks alright! I accidentally happened to see some of her Medical Reports, it didn't look very good to me, though most of it made no sense to me also, I might be wrong." Jai looked puzzled as he wondered on why Bani had gone for all her Medical Check-ups alone and thought about what Raashi had mentioned about Bani's reports.

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"Hi, Doctor Mathur. I hope I am not early for my appointment. Thanks for taking out time and keeping this confidential." As Jai took a seat opposite to Dr. Mathur, he noticed the usually cheerful and lively Doctor looking grave and somber. "I am glad you finally came Mr. Walia. I had been trying to contact you for the last 4 months now, but it was impossible to come across to you." Jai looked a little bewildered and answered back, "Actually I have been traveling a lot for the last few months and have hardly been in Mumbai, but you should have just left a message with Bani, I would have got to know it." Dr. Mathur looked straight into Jai's eyes and spoke in a grim tone, "It is about Bani, Mr. Walia, that I have trying to contact you so desperately. But your Office always answered me that you were unavailable and could never get through your International Cell Number and the emails that I sent to you were all unanswered. I must say that your Secretary is very loyal to you, because try as I might, she refused to divulge your details to me, without letting her know why I wanted to contact you." Jai now looked anxious as he leaned toward the Table and spoke in a fervent tone, "What is the matter Dr. Mathur?"

Dr. Mathur removed her glasses and fiddling with it, weighted her words and spoke slowly, "Bani never disclosed her past medical history to me. As it happened, that her previous gynecologist happened to be a colleague of mine and she happened to see Bani in my Clinic and told me that Bani had suffered a serious miscarriage earlier. I urgently carried some special tests on Bani and my worst fears proved true." Jai kept staring at Dr. Mathur, as if he was still waiting for her to drive her point home. "Yes, Bani did suffer a miscarriage earlier, in the middle trimester of her Pregnancy, but her Doctors had confirmed later that she was alright afterwards. What exactly are you trying to tell me Doctor?" Jai looked vexed and confused as Dr. Mathur continued to gaze Jai with the same troubled expression and taking a deep breath said, "What the Doctors forgot to mention was that if Bani conceived within a year of having the Miscarriage, she would have a serious health complication. I don't know how much your wife has been keeping secrets away from you Mr. Walia, but Bani's Pregnancy is very complicated." Jai looked totally shaken as he sat still trying to comprhened what he was hearing and after a while spoke slowly, "How risky is it?" Dr. Mathur did not take her gaze away from Jai's face and said, "It's a 70 to 30 Ratio." Jai did not flicker an eyelid and said determinedly, "Save Bani, don't even leave the 30% at risk, save her at any cost."

Dr. Mathur had been probably been anticipating a similar response, but not such a passionate one. She looked at Jai wondering if he was the same man who had refused to come with his young, pregnant wife for even a single check-up and the one where he had turned up, he had shown absolutely no interest whatsoever in his wife or his child. And now he was almost begging her to save Bani, not even thinking twice about losing his child in the process.

"Mr. Walia….You didn't get what I said. 70% is the chance for the baby to be saved…" As Jai sat, stricken and unbelieving, the words came slowly, deliberately and painfully from Dr. Mathur's lips, "Bani now has only a 30% chance to survive the childbirth. Its too late to do anything now."

Jai did not even hear what Dr. Mathur spoke afterwards, his head in a whirlwind, his Heart in a deep turmoil, his mind spinning with what had just hit him…The Odds were stacked against Bani, heavily against his Ban….Only 30% chance for survival.

"Mr. Walia, we will try our best to save Bani and the baby, but its really very late now. I had tried to convince Bani to abort the child, but she just wouldn't listen to me. I even threatened to pull out of the case, as I couldn't deliberately let any of my patient throw away her life in this manner, but she was obstinate on having the baby, fully knowing how complicated her case was. That was one of the reasons why I had tried so hard to get in touch with you, knowing that probably you would be the only person who could make her see reason, but unfortunately, you came too late."

Dr. Mathur looked at Jai, he was staring vacantly at the space, his mind in a jumble, as she asked him gently, "Mr. Walia, are you listening to what I am saying." Jai looked blankly at Dr. Mathur and nodded his head absently, "What is the best we can do now? There must be some way out. Medical Science is so advanced now, surely there must be some way to save Bani." Dr. Mathur looked supportively towards Jai and said, "Be rest assured Mr. Walia, I have tried to the best of my abilities and am still trying. Bani is like a daughter to me, I will do all I can to save her and the child too. But I needed to apprise you of the situation, it is indeed a very grave one. She really needs your emotional support at this time, she had been very brave and courageous, maybe a little foolhardy too, but nevertheless, she must have loved you a lot, for her urge to give you a child overtook everything else, even over her life."

Jai walked absently back to his Car, his thoughts reeling to so many things, that he felt his head spinning. As Jai collapsed in the back seat of his Car, his Blackberry constantly buzzing, his memories took a back turn and led him into the allies of past, when Bani had entered his life, right after Pia had walked out of it! Jai had felt strangled and asphyxiated in the forced marriage, to a girl whom he had not imagined in his wildest dreams, would come to share her life with him. Jai had hated going back home, to enter his Bedroom, to share his inner world with a perfectly strange woman, worse still, the sister of the girl who had so ruthlessly ditched him. But strange are the ways of love, Jai himself did not know when and how Bani had made a soundless entry in his Heart, overtaking it with such compulsion. How his petite, demure and quiet wife had become an indispensable part of his life, like a lifelong habit, never seen, but always there! Bani had to just go out of sight and Jai would be a helpless child, not able to find his clothes, missing his important papers, forgetting to take his Medicines. Bani was there in every corner of the House and had unobtrusively made an entry into his Heart also, a Heart which he had closed firm shut for everyone after Pia.

And then that magical night had happened and everything seemed to change forever…..Bani was no longer the same girl he had known, the one who dutifully gave him his Morning Tea at 7 Sharp, the one who took out his Clothes and laid them ready on the Bed before he came out of the Washroom, the one who knew exactly how he wanted his Toast to be done, the one who was shaper than an alarm clock when it came to give him his medicines on time, the one who bore his temper tantrums with a Buddha like countenance, the one who fought with him fiercely in private, but defended him like a rock in Public, the one who stood steadfastedly with all his decisions……And suddenly, Jai felt himself falling in love with the woman he had married. Jai had known from long that Bani had a soft corner for him, but had tried to ignore it, knowing that they had no future! And then the news of her Pregnancy, it had given a new hope to Jai, a surge of life. He was not only going to become a Father, but have a child with the woman he so loved now….But fate had to intervene and things were never the same! Roshni had strewn apart all his dreams and Bani had fallen prey to it….The storm had settled, but Jai and Bani had lost their beloved child and before they could come to terms with what was happening, a dark, lurking cloud had overtaken all that they were left with also.

As the Car pulled up at the Front Porch of Walia Mansion, Jai was jerked out of his memories, as he looked at the House, which he had once called his own, now everything looked alien…..Pia had destroyed everything that he and Bani had so lovingly nurtured and built! A surging wave of bitterness overcame Jai, as he banged open the door and stormed into the House, shouting for Bani. Tony came scurrying by, looking frightened as hell and nervously answered to a now thundering Jai, "Sir….There is no one at Home, everyone has gone to Chandigarh for Tarun Sir and Lakshmi Mam's Wedding." Jai glowered at the now shivering Tony and said in a cutting tone, "Where is Bani? Has she also gone with them?" Tony thanked Jesus for giving brains to Bani to stay put at Walia House, as the last thing he wanted right now was give an affirmative answer. "No Sir, Bani Mam is at Home. She has gone to Pushkar Sir's House to see the Baby, I think." Tony gulped, as he watched Jai's face going darker by the second as he coldly ordered Tony to let him know the moment Bani arrives back. As Jai walked to his Study, Tony prayed to God to somehow make Bani stay where she is right now so that she doesn't have to face Godzilla's temper today at least.

The raindrops lashed against the huge bay window of Jai's study, heightening the eerie atmosphere in the room, as it stayed plunged in darkness, with only the soft glow emaciating from Jai's laptop, lighting the room in a surreal way. There was a soft knock on the Study Door and Jai looking up from his laptop, stared at the Door before almost growling, "Come In." Bani stepped inside and Jai noticed that even in the darkness, her skin was glowing iridescently. Jai's thoughts reverted to what Dr. Mathur had told him, strangely enough, Bani looked in the best of her health and spirit. But Dr. Mathur had explained to him that Bani's health complication were internal and even though she glowed with health, her chances of making it through the delivery were getting bleaker day by day. "How is the baby?" Jai asked in a staccato voice, surprising Bani who came in walking slowly, taking baby steps. She was looking very heavy now and he could imagine that she must be having trouble getting from one place to another. "He is fine, a very frisky little thing! They had his name-keeping ceremony today." As Bani smiled, waiting for Jai's response, which did not come, she asked him gently, "Won't you ask his name?" Jai still did not respond and kept staring at Bani who smiled, looking like an Angle and said, "It's a beautiful name, my favourite. But unfortunately, I can never call him by his name now. I will have to always address him by his pet-name." Jai was suddenly thrown out of gear at what Bani had said and forgetting what was going on his mind, he asked curiously, "Why? Why can't you call the baby by his name?" Bani was now smiling full force and halting for a second, replied, "They have kept his name Jai. Now you see why I can't take his name, not atleast when I will scold him." Bani broke into a tinkling laughter, as she realized that she was getting increasingly tired standing there and she looked around for a chair.

"Actually, you won't be around to scold him Bani, so its as well that your sister and brother-in-law kept my namesake…Maybe as a loving reminder of what they have done to me, together and separately." Jai's cutting voice came to rest on Bani's pleasant state of mind as she swerved to face Jai, astounded at the sudden change in temperament, considering that she had seen a decided change in him for the past few days, since Jai had returned from his overseas trips. "What are you saying? What happened? And why do we have to start all over again with Pia? I thought you said you were over what happened." Bani stood infront of Jai, bewildered and upset as Jai seethed and answered back, "You will never learn will you Bani. Even after so much happened, you still chose to keep a secret from me and such a big one at that. What were you thinking anyway? That you are doing me some sort of favour by hiding the fact that your Pregnancy is an extremely complicated one?" The color drained from Bani's face, leaving her pale and slightly wobbly as she fumbled with the chair and held it on for support before quivering her lips, "How…How did you come to know?" Jai was now fuming in full blast and coming closer to Bani hissed on her face, "Dr. Mathur had been trying to contact me for the last 4 months now. Why wasn't she able to get in touch with me, Bani? Who gave instructions to my Office to keep her call shielded from me? Who gave her my wrong email ID? Who kept feeding her wrong information that I was not contactable? How dare you Bani…How dare you hide such a huge truth from me? How dare you lie to me and to your own Doctor repeatedly, putting yourself, putting your child to risk. Will you only learn when you are dead, Bani?" Jai was now towering over Bani, his temper in full blast, but she did not look fazed, as she kept looking back at him with her steadfast, calm eyes and replied in an unflustered tone, "I thought you didn't care about me or the baby. And you weren't around when I had to make the decision, hence I did what I felt was in the best interest of the Child, for myself and for you." Jai stood with his mouth agape, not believing the audacity of what Bani was saying and holding her by her shoulders, gnashed his teeth in anger and said, "Just for your information Bani, all the decisions you have made till now have always been in the best interests, but who's best interest anyway? For once, if you had let your mind rule your noble Heart, probably none of us would be in this emotional mess. Your best intentions have always been ruined hopelessly by your action and you still don't seem to have learnt your lessons." Bani now looked a little shaken as she realized the truth in Jai's bitter words and kept silent as Jai kept going, "You punished me needlessly for killing your Mother, when you knew very well that it was nothing more than an accident. Fine, I hid the truth from you, but did I commit such a big crime, that you took my child away from me. Goddamit, you killed my baby with your sheer carelessness. I lost my child because you were too proud to tell me that you cared for me and that you wanted to save my life. And I am supposed to feel guilt for that? Even after knowing that it was your Parents who had 'Accidentally' destroyed your life, you never felt the need for an apology, did you? I never expected one from you Bani, I am not a petty man, but a word of regret for what your Parents did to me would have made me feel more cared for. But no, it is only your husband who has to pay for his mistakes, your family will always be forgiven for all their crimes."

Jai shrugged Bani violently and moved away from her, facing the Window, as Bani stood helplessly, shocked at what she had heard and muttered in a lost way, "I…..I thought you would forgive me for what happened then. I never hated you…It was only the shock of knowing about my Mother that had jolted me. I never meant bad for you, not even in my dreams….And I did not kill my child….Please don't say that." Bani was now crying, her Heart breaking up painfully, as Jai looked unmerciful and said coldly, "Yes, you did. You killed our child. You were the one who thought that my money would be more important to me than my family. I literally begged for you to come back and you kept accusing that I only wanted you back because of the child. You never once trusted me Bani and I never once took my trust off you. And now again, you have lied to me, about the complications in this Pregnancy. What the hell do you think you will achieve out of this? You will leave me this child, so that I can hear from the rest of the World that I got you killed to have my heir? That is what you want, right?"

Bani almost crumbled on the floor, a mass of sobbing heap, unable to bear what Jai was accusing her of and kept saying, "No…No….Please don't say such things…Please. I have made my mistakes, but I have never in my remotest thoughts, wanted any harm come to you. Don't say all this."

Jai kept glaring at the hysterically sobbing Bani and a storm of resentment & acrimony overtook him and he continued unabated, "No, you will have to listen to me Bani. I have always listened to you, for you, from everyone. I supported you when everyone was against you, I took you back, when you had broken my Heart, my Spirit, my Trust, my Confidence, without questioning you once. But you did not even give me a hearing when that B**** of a sister of yours labeled me an Adulterer. Where did your love go then? If you could forgive your dead Parents for destroying our Marriage, why couldn't you forgive me for committing a mistake that I did not even do deliberately? Even if I had slept with Pia, you knew that she had trapped me, yet, you did not forgive me. Did I ever ask you take her child as part of our family? You only chose to forgive me the day you came to know that I am not the Father of Pia's child."

Jai's eyes were now on fire, his voice coming from the pit of his stomach as he loomed towards Bani and spitting fire said, "What if Bani, you had been sedated and raped and had conceived a child? What would you have felt if I had made you feel like the perpetrator and refused to accept you or the child? How would you feel to be an outcast in your own Family, when all your heart ached was for tenderness and acceptance?"

As Bani gazed back vacantly at Jai, the tears now marking a red trail on her cheeks, as Jai knelt besides her and with tears in his eyes said in an moving voice, "You did the same to me Bani. You left me homeless, alone and abandoned when I needed you the most. You placed your so called self-respect above your so called love for me. Do you still expect me to love you the way I had loved you before?" As Bani kept gazing back, her eyes vacant and listless, Jai almost cried out, "You know what, the greatest irony of my life is. That I still love you, as much as I loved you, more than I loved you before and I know that I am going to carry this Love in my Heart to my Deathbed. Then how could you think that I want this child more than I want you Bani? When did you stop understanding my silence and only listen to my words?"

Jai was now crying openly, collapsing on the floor, his head buried Bani's lap, holding her by her waist, crying like a child. "Why Bani? Why did you do this? Yes, I said that I wanted to be out of the Marriage, Yes, I said that I did not want you or the child, but couldn't you see, it was only my heartache and hurt that had made me say all that? Why couldn't you read my eyes Bani? Why couldn't you see what was in my Heart?"

As warm teardrops fell on Jai's forehead, Bani kept her cheeks on Jai's head and broke down crying along with him. "I am sorry…..I really am. I don't want to die…I want to live with you." As Bani sobbed away, Jai lifted her head and cradled it gently, lying it on his chest as he wished to God to take everything he had, but only give his Bani back to him.

Jai was rushing alongside the Wheelchair, on which Bani lie, clutching her stomach and writhing in a blood-curdling agony, or so Jai felt. " Move…Move it dammnit." Jai almost screamed as a frightened nurse scuttled in the way of the Wheelchair. As the attendant wheeled Bani across the crowded corridor, Jai felt that his Heart would stop beating any moment and he prayed to every God in the Universe to not let him faint till Bani was out of danger.

It was a small cubicle, actually, with tubes hanging from the ceiling, an oxygen tank and a monitor to measure maternal and fetal heart rates. A huge mural on the Wall showed a peaceful Mountain Scenery – no doubt to help the mothers gaze at something while they tried to breathe the labor pains away.

11:30 Pm : Still no Dr. Mathur.

"What the hell's she doing?" Jai asked, "Removing every organ in the woman's body?" (Dr. Mathur was held up in an emergency operation at some other Hospital)

"Shhh," Bani ordered. "Let's concentrate on concentrating. Worst comes to worst, the pretty intern we met in the Lobby will do the delivery." As Jai remembered the Bubblegum chewing teenager in a Lab coat standing in the Lobby flirting with a Senior Doctor, he glared at Bani, not one bit amused by his wife's remarks!

12:30 Am : A small, slender young woman with streaked hair tied in a high pony-tail came hopping by and introduced herself as Dr. Sahay, the stand-by Gynecologist for Dr. Mathur.

Jai looked suspiciously at the young lady and remembered her as the Bubble-gum chewing freako he had encountered at the Lobby of the Hospital and thundered,

"Where the hell is Dr. Mathur?"

"She is still in the surgery. I am told that it is a very delicate procedure. But in any case, I'll be her understudy. Now I'll check your wife."

As she proceeded to examine Bani and check for cervical dilatation, Jai got the uncomfortable feeling that this kid was somehow taking over.

By now Bani's contractions were so frequent and so painful that she was unable to concentrate on anything else.

"I will ask one of the nurses to come and stay with Mrs. Walia while I take you to get a cup of Coffee," Dr. Sahay smiled seductively, infuriating Jai more than ever, as she continued in a coquettish tone, "It will calm you down."

Jai glanced at Bani, who had managed to understand the last exchange.

"Please go Mr. Walia," she said, forcing a smile, "you deserve a break from me."

Feeling ambivalence verging on guilt, Jai welcomed the opportunity to get a break from watching his beloved wife in pain. He and the young Bubble-gum chewing Doctor stood drinking Coffee at the nurses station, when a Doctor who looked barely old enough to be an intern hurried up to Dr. Sahay. "Sahay," he said breathlessly, "I have got some trouble with a preemie in Room Five. I am kind of scared I am not controlling labor-"

The Bubblegum chewing Doctor smiled and said, "I will take a look." She put her arm around the younger Doctor and went off to give advice.

Well, Jai thought, she must be pretty good if they run up to her like that with their problems. He went back to see Bani. The interval between contractions had diminished slightly but they were lengthening and intensifying.

"Call Dr. Mathur, Mr. Walia," she muttered, "I can't take much more of this."

"No need to worry, Mrs. Walia," came the voice of the Bubblegum chewing Doctor, who had glided into the room. "I have spoken to Dr. Mathur and assured her that you are nowhere near full dilatation and she had time to take a breather. She was in Surgery for seven hours."

Jai was growing increasingly anxious. "Don't you think its time to give her something for the pain?"

"Oh, she will have an epidural just as was planned, I have all her papers on me right now, so she can be conscious at the birth. But that will have to wait. Meanwhile I wil consult the anesthesiologist about giving her something to ease the discomfort."

"Great," said Jai with relief, "that's great."

"Have you eaten anything today?" came Bani's voice weak with exhaustion now.

Jai came and took her hand. "I don't remember. All I know is that you haven't eaten anything since we got here."

"I can't. But that doesn't mean that you should starve to death. Go down and get a-"

"No, Bani. I intend to stay right here, with you." Jai said with a determined finality.

Just then the Bubblegum Doctor strode back into the room, her modest stature dwarfed by an enormous anesthesiologist, who begins the tedious protocol.

Suddenly, Bani screamed out in pain, almost falling out of the Bed where she had been propped, scaring the living daylights out of Jai, Bubblegum Doctor and the Giant anesthesiologist.

"Oh My Gawd…The labour is getting out of hand." Sahay looked a rattled now, a definite change from the happy go lucky attitude that she had been sporting till now. As Jai was literally pushed out of the Labor Room, he could hear Bani shriek hysterically, "Get me the damn Doctor. Get me Dr. Mathur. NOW."

"The woman is hysterical," the anesthesiologist muttered as Sahay suddenly looked like a changed person altogether, suddenly gearing into action, as her Hand-nurse came by with her Team. Bani had got very heavy during the last months of her Pregnancy. It took all of Dr. Sahay's strength – with the help of Jai whom she had dragged from outside, to turn Bani over so she could rest on her elbow and knees. The doors flew open and two other nurses rushed in to roll the bed to the Delivery Room.

"Mr. Walia, stay with me." Bani pleaded as Jai looked on desperately, at a complete loss, mentally cursing Dr. Mathur for taking so long. Jai ran into the Surgeon's dressing room. Sahay, looking only a little flustered was putting on her greens.

"I am also coming in." snapped Jai. "I am sorry, but this is no time for Husbands. Your wife is having a Caesarian," replied Dr. Sahay.

"And who the hell is competent to do one around here? The Tea Boy?" yelled Jai.

The young Doctor lost her temper.

"Listen, Mr. Walia, she is my patient and you will stay outside and wait or else I will call security and have you tied to a chair. Every minute that we spend arguing is taking time from your baby in distress. So sit down, shut up, and let me go."

Jai slammed the heel of his fist against one of he lockers in the Surgeon's room, as the young Doctor glared fiercely at him and stormed off. No one in his entire life had dared to speak to Jai in this manner and this chit of a girl told him to shut up? Jai was fuming and thought to herself, let Bani be safe and sound, I will make sure you are not worth even prescribing medicines to Cows and Buffaloes.

What had probably been the most agonizing and painful wait in the last 42 years of his life, ended with his Heartbeat almost stopping, as he saw the Red Light flicking off and Dr. Sahay coming out, looking beaten and exhausted as she almost threw the Mouth band and walked wearily towards the Corridor. Jai kept standing in a corner, his face devoid of any expression and his Heart fearing the worst.

Dr. Sahay looked up to meet Jai's eyes and kept staring at him for some time as Jai almost pleaded silently to her to tell him that nothing had happened to Bani.

"Congratulations. You had a baby girl." Dr. Sahay spoke in a flat voice, motionless, from the spot where she was standing.

Jai had his breath trapped in his throat as he walked unsteadily towards the young Doctor and holding her by the shoulders, said in a strangled voice, "Bani?" Dr. Sahay kept looking at him for some time and Jai felt that he will die any moment of a Heart Failure now and she spoke clearly, "Mrs. Walia is fine. Obviously under sedation, she should be conscious in the next 6 hrs so. You can see your baby though. The nurse will get her."

And suddenly, the enormity of the situation hit him alongside with a relief that a almost sank him. Bani was alive, she was fine, she had not left him, she was a Mother….And at that very moment, the new truth dawned on him, leaving Jai astounded and stumped as he tried to gasp with the fact that both Bani and he were Parent's now, they had a child of their own. As Jai gasped at the revelation and steadied himself, he heard a small yet shrill voice piercing his thoughts as he saw the Nurse coming towards him with what seemed like a bundle in her hands. As Jai held on to his breath and kept staring at the Vision, the elderly nurse stood in front of Jai and smiling warmly said, "Congratulations Mr. Walia. Your daughter is absolutely gorgeous." As the nurse handed over the precious little angle in Jai's strong yet shaky hands, he gasped as he looked over the child. She was like a carbon copy of Bani, as Jai kept gazing at the child, fearing that she might slip out of his hands, tears flowed unabashed as they fell on the child's face, making her yell even more.

"Really Mr. Walia, you should thank God, the child takes after her Mother," quipped Dr. Sahay as she winked coquettishly at a stunned Jai, who looked lost and then let out a huge grin! "How can I ever thank you Doctor? You have given me greatest gift of my life." As Jai spoke with full emotion, the young Doctor kept smiling slyly and then said in flirtish tone, "Oh, you can thank me in ways that you had never imagined, Mr. Walia." As Jai flushed under the implication, Dr. Sahay let out a high pitched giggle and patting Jai on his broad back said nonchalantly, "No need to be so sentimental here. I was only doing my job, which incidentally I am very good at. But you really want to thank me?" As Jai kept gaping at the Doctor's audacity and at the vision of his new born daughter, the Doctor seemed to think dramatically for some time and then said, "Ok…Why don't you name her after me? That would be a nice way to thank me!" Before Jai could answer back, Dr. Sahay hopped out of sight as Dr. Simran walked in speedily.

Dr. Mathur had apologized profusely to Jai, stating that she had been held in an emergency operation and since the child had come out almost 4 weeks prior to the Delivery Date, there was the confusion. Jai had been too elated, too excited and overall too giddy to bother with anything! He had almost kissed the shocked Dr. Mathur on her cheeks as she had congratulated him for the child. The rest of the family along with the newly weds, Tarun and Lakshmi had also come rushing by, only to be flooded with happiness to see Bani hale and hearty and the child lying on the Cot peacefully. Both sides of the family argued whom the child had taken to and finally it was Tony who proclaimed that the Little Madam was a perfect mix of both Jai Sir and Bani Mam.

Jai had gone to meet Dr. Mathur in her Cabin, he felt it was criminal for him to stay even a moment away from Bani and his baby, but he had wanted to speak to Dr. Mathur urgently. "Dr. Mathur, hope I am not disturbing you." As Jai knocked softly on the Door, Dr. Mathur smiled at him and beckoned him in. "I just wanted to offer my deepest thanks to you and to the Hospital Staff who took such good care of Bani and handled her case so well. Bani is about to be discharged now, I just wanted to meet the young Doctor who handled the Delivery, Dr. Sahay."

Dr. Mathur's face broke into a huge grin and said, "Oh god, I hope you did not have a run in with her. Most patients have a tough time understanding our little genius." Jai smiled confusedly and said, "Actually, to be honest, the young lady was pretty audacious and gave me quite a hearing the other day, but without doubt, her looks belie her efficiency and brilliance."

Dr. Mathur kept smiling and said, "Most people have the same impression. She is one of the youngest but also the brightest in my Team, and like all genius' s a bit of a misnomer!" Jai then said gravely, "You know, I really thought that I will lose Bani, 70% Odds stacked against you does sound very ominous." Dr. Mathur looked straight at Jai and said, "Maybe in Business, but in Life, 30% Odds stacked in your favour could change the direction of everything! Love is the biggest miracle of all, Mr. Walia and probably it was yours which saved your Wife."

As Jai made his way back to the Hospital Room where Bani was waiting for him to take her and the little one home, his thoughts went to the moment he had met Bani after she had come back to consciousness and he had carried the newborn to her. As Bani sat propped up against the pillow, looking washed out and pale, her face seemed to light up like a thousand watt bulb at the sight of Jai gingerly carrying a small bundle wrapped in the Hospital Blue towards her. As Bani quivered, her eyes full of tears, Jai had shut his eyes tightly to hold back his own, as he had gently handed over the wailing child in Bani's arms and by magic, she had stopped crying, sensing the warmth of the woman who had given birth to her. There had been no need to say anything, explain anything, Jai, Bani and the baby seemed to communicate with one another in the Universal Language of Human Emotions….Love!

Jai felt as if he were flying in the clouds, as he made way to Bani's room, his mind looming on how the child had swept apart the dark clouds of gloom from Bani and his life! As he smiled to himself, hearing the gaggle of voices coming from inside Bani's room, he knew that the family he had left far behind had once again come together to celebrate this happiness together. Jai stood in his tracks as he saw Pushkar standing quietly in a corner and as their eyes met, Jai and Pushkar smiled at one another! "Hi…..You met Bani?" Jai stood apart from Pushkar and he nodded in reply, "Your baby is so cute Jai Sir! She goes on you, completely." Jai blushed a bit, suddenly becoming aware of the age difference between Pushkar and himself, as both of them had recently become Fathers! Jai said,"Thanks, she is really something else! How is your kid? I mean, Jai." Pushkar grinned widely and replied back, "He is fine now and I just hope he takes on his namesake when he grows up." Jai smiled at the compliment and as he excused himself to go inside Bani's room, Pushkar looked hestitant and then without any explanation offered a piece of paper in an envelope to Jai. "What is this?" Jai took the paper in his hand, it looked like a Medical Report, with the name of a Diagnostic Lab printed on its Envelope! Pushkar did not reply, as he looked increasingly uncomfortable and Jai gazing at the Envelope and at Pushkar in a bewildered manner, opened the piece of paper. It was a DNA Report. Jai glanced through the Report and looked more confused than ever. "Why are you showing this to me, Pushkar? This is the DNA Report of your son, right?" Jai was now quite confused, as Pushkar taking a deep breath said, "Yes, I had taken the DNA Test quite some time back, before Jai was born and by some coincidence I had gone to the same Diagnostic Lab a few days back to get some Tests done and I came upon this report." Jai still did not comprehend and kept looking at Pushkar, waiting for him to drive the point home. Pushkar paused and looking at Jai said, "Pia and I had lied to you, to all of you, in the Hospital, when we had told you that Pia's child wasn't yours." Jai now looked stunned as he kept staring at Pushkar, who continued, "You did not want the child and rightly so, after all that Pia had done. But she did repent later on and I felt that the child should not be punished for the mistakes that its Mother had committed. I made a deal with Pia that I would give my name and all the money I had to the child, if she would tell everyone that the child's Father was not Jai Walia but Pushkar Shukla." Jai stood stunned, not believing what he was hearing. "We thought that everyone had brought our lie, but Bani came to meet me alone and I had to confess the truth to her. I told her that you are indeed the Child's Father. Bani was livid with me for telling such a huge lie but I told her that whatever we did was in the best interest of the child. Bani did not want you to lose the child and she literally begged me to convince Pia to give the child to you. But you did not want the child and there was little point in subjecting everyone to this agony once more. Hence, for the best interest of all concerned, we decided that this secret would remain with us." Jai kept staring intently at Pushkar, but his mind was somewhere else, his words looming ominously over his head when he had accused Bani of not able to forgive him till she got to know that Pia is not carrying his child! But Bani knew it, she not only knew that Jai was indeed the Father of Pia's child, she actually tried to get Pia and Pushkar to give the child to him.

Pushkar now had tears in his eyes as he said, "Only True Love has the power to drink even the most bitter of all tears! It takes a lot of courage to accept and love with such honesty! Anyone else in Bani's place would have found it impossible to even look at the child, but she held him with such tenderness and protection. Not because she is related the child by her blood, but because she is related to the child by her Heart! Bani loved Jai because she saw you in him." Jai leaned on the cold, sterile walls, his eyes clouded by tears as Pushkar continued, "I got these DNA Reports two days back and it mentioned that I am indeed the Father of the Child! Though in all honesty Sir, it doesn't make any difference to me! Jai became my son the moment he was placed in my hands, his Genetics did not matter one bit to me, I was connected to my Son through my Heart, my being his Biological Father is only a coincidence for me. I did not know whether to tell this to Bani or not, because, I know that it doesn't matter to her! She loves Jai as her own son and it doesn't matter to her that she did not give birth to him, because she knows, that he is your blood and hence it is a part of her anyway! But I wanted to let you know that Bani had never held any grudge against you for what happened in Dubai. Her heart was broken, yes, but her love and faith were untouched! A woman's heart is very tough to understand, her anger hides the deepest fears and by showing her detachment to you, she was only proving that your actions have the power to make or break her life."

Pushkar finished his monologue and smiling at Jai said, "Sir, I have to take leave now. Pia and I have to take Jai for his Vaccination! The first 3 months are impossible. All the best to you and Bani."

Jai stood motionless for what seemed like eternity and then made his way slowly inside the Hospital Room, where Bani looking radiant in a simple yellow Sari was sitting on the Couch, happily watching Ranveer and Raashi fighting over who would hold the Baby now! While Nachiket kept clicking innumerous pictures of the baby and Massi was giving instructions on the phone to Tony for the 'Grah Pravesh' of Bani and the Baby. "Arre, Jai you have come finally, where were you?" Massi looked up and continued talking on the phone to Tony. "Jai Mamaji, please tell Ranveer to let me hold the baby, he is not giving her to me." Raashi came tugging Jai on his elbow as he smiled, still reeling with his meeting from Pushkar. Ranveer made a face at Raashi and kept cooing to the child, Bani looked at Jai, smiling shyly and then asked, "Did you meet Pushkar? He was there a moment ago." Jai nodded his head in reply and as he took the child from Ranveer's hand, the Bubblegum Chewing Doctor came striding away. "Hi, Mrs. Walia. How are you doing? Guys, I need the room cleared, I want to do a final check-up before the Mother is discharged." Dr. Sahay shooed away the gang in her usual 'I don't give a damn' attitude and winking at Jai she said impishly, "You can stay Mr. Walia." Jai had to hide his smile at her blatant flirting and just hoped that Bani won't notice it! As Dr. Sahay dexterously finished her Check-up, Bani smiled at her and said, "I can't thank you enough for that you have done for me. You save my child and my life. How can we ever repay you?" Dr. Sahay looked up from the Reports she was filling and throwing a glance towards Jai who was talking in some gibberish to the child said, "Actually, your husband, Mr. Walia promised me something already. Didn't you appraise your wife, Sir?" Jai blushed in response as Bani looked at him questioningly. "Er…I promised Doctor Sahay that I will name the baby after her." Bani looked amused as she could not imagine Jai making such promises and that also to a creature like Dr. Sahay. Bani smiled in response and said, "I am truly amazed that my husband made such a promise, considering he had decided the child's name ages back. But a promise is a promise and it will be fulfilled." Dr. Sahay finished filling the report and smiling coquettishly at Jai said, "Great, so the Walia Heir will now be my namesake! I have something to boast about now!" As Dr. Sahay wished Jai and Bani luck, kissing the baby on her forehead, Jai stopped her and asked, "But you haven't told us your name. Sahay is your second name. What is your first name?" Dr. Sahay looked stumped for a moment and turning back said, "Oh, how typical of me. I forgot to mention my proper name to you. No one calls me by that name, which does make my Mother a very sad person, she kept it with great love, as she was expecting a baby boy." Jai looked increasingly nervous as he wondered if Dr. Sahay's first name would be as unorthodox as the lady in question. "So what is it, anyway?" Jai asked slowly, eyeing her name badge which had K. Sahay written on it. "Krishna. Krishna Sahay! Say hello to your namesake sweetheart." Krishna Sahay hopped off after planting one more kiss on the Little Krishna's cheeks, bumping into Nachiket who had got some flowers for Bani. "Oh Wow, are those for me! Thank you." Before Nachiket could answer, Krishna took those flowers and scooted off. Nachiket looked bemused as he said confusedly, "What was that?"

Jai and Bani were looking at one another, "This is surely divine intervention. I can't believe this!" as they both gazed on to Little Krishna now peacefully sleeping in her Father's arms. As Nachiket picked up the luggage in Bani's room, Jai took Bani in his arms and planting a kiss on her cheeks, quipped mischeviously, "God save us, if our little one turns out to be anything like her namesake." Bani and Jai both burst out into a spontaneous laugher, waking Little Krishna out of her deep slumber, as she burst into a shrill wail!

Lots of Love and Luck,

Yours,

MT

Author's Note :

Meggy, this was basically formed in response to one of your brilliant posts, so thanks to you!👍🏼

Oval, I really need to have your expert and crisp opinion on all the medical and legal nonsense that I have sprouted, most of which would surely be wrong! (You can PM me the same, no need to bother the others!😉😆)

Pri, since you keep taking my last short-story as a reference point for how PR could have been solved, I do hope you like this one also!😊

Phd. Gang : I will dedicate this story as the frustrated let-out of my overworked mind, hope you guys like it!

Rest of my fellow KSian's : There is absolutely no romance in the story, since I am hopelessly bad at describing kissing and stuff, so basically, no hanky panky stuff here!😆

Also, before some of my special friends here accuse me, I would like to state that I have borrowed some parts of the Hosptial Scene from one of my all time Fav books, since it required some Medical Terms, which I'm totally unfamiliar with!

Lets see if you can guess which part is borrowed from which book? The rest is all the result of my jumbled & nonsensical, but swear upon, original brain!😉

Also a special thanks to my special friends on IF who keep threatening me at regular intervals to finish my unfinished FF, which I never do! So this complete story is sort of a make-up thing for them😳

👏 now going back to read again and comment!


*****

whew!! 😕 took me a while but i'm finally back to give you my rambling comments once again!! 😆

Central characters, one by one...


Pushkar

Well done on turning him into a mature character MT!! the useless Pooch has finally been given something interesting to do!! 😆

I do believe that if your FF came true, this is what I would expect of Pushkar. Considering how he has been loved and taken care of by JW all his life (not that that stopped him from running off with JW's fiance 🤢 ), without being related to him blood, i would expect that he could do the same in a similiar situation.


Pia

Well since she did the right thing for once in her life I have to use milder words dont i?! 😕

Having said that, i do think this is a realistic twist for her character. Out of all the KS characters that have suffered at the hands of the krappy kreatives - i do think hers has suffered the worst!!

She has gone from being a self-centred but happy-go-lucky modern girl, fiercely protective of her sisters and healthily competitive... to being a freakish psycho with no motive for her actions and the epitome of pure evil! In the process, she is left with no possible way to 100% redemption!! 😕

At least the way you have dealt with her in your ff has given her her humanity back!! 👏


Bani

Before posting my comments I had a look through to see the points others had made, and unsurprisingly a few say that Bani has been unfairly represented and her POV isn't explored.

Ok technically that is the case, this story has been told from JW's POV - but that does not mean Bani has been unfairly represented i think. I think you have stayed quite true to her character. I say this because of the way you have dealt with her attitude towards Pia's baby.

Though sometimes misguided, Bani is inherently a sensitive and kind person, and this treatment of an innocent child is exactly what I would have expected!! And the fact that she even begs Pushkar to allow JW to keep the child shows how much she loves him - another indisputable fact!! 😳

In response to someone's comments you have said how difficult it is to write from Bani's POV - and from experience I will wholeheartedly agree with you!! 😕 Her reaction to the truth about the ONS has been so confusing even unreasonable and silly at times - but the fault of this lies purely at the feet of the Krappy Kreatives!! 😡

I want my old-style Bani back, the one that made you want to root for her! Back in the old days when she called JW khadoos and we applauded her, or when she returned home from her mother's barsi and gave him hell for insulting her unreasonably and we all had tears in our eyes for the horrible situation they were both stuck in!! 😭

Until the Kreatives decide how she is supposed to react, we, the viewer can do nothing but try and make excuses for each aspect of our confusion with her!! They need to rectify this ridiculous mix of Perpetrator, Victim and Bani Bond, and imbibe her with some consistency, before we start wondering why we loved her in the first place!! 🤢


Jai

Just for your treatment of his character you get a biiiiiiiiig 🤗 !!

THIS is the JW we all want back, this is the character we fell in love - tortured but stoic, arrogant but fair!! well done MT 👏 love you for this!!!

In particular I LOVED what he said to St. Billo after the truth comes out! "Woh toh aap ki beti hai, aapko pata hona chaahiye"!! 👏 I don't think you realise how much I would be willing to pay to hear him say that to her!!!! 😡

His behaviour with Bani when the truth comes out, is in my opinion, completely deserved!! Even on KC night the same happened! "As long as she's happy with the situation, then everyone should be happy" kind of attitude... I am so glad he turned around and refused to bite this time!!!! 👏

And after that you so beautifully start back at square-1 with their relationship. Bani is the peaceful, patient, demure and strong woman, and Jai is the cold, smart, calculating, but so painfully vulnerable man!!

I really really hope the Kreatives read your story and take some pointers!!!! 😃


J-B

And the two of them together - absolutely mind-blowing!!! 😳

The doctor's appointments, the kaju ki barfi, his assumption in Tarun's wedding, the divorce papers, the kiss, the way he lies his head in her lap - angry at her Banigiri, but destroyed at the thought of losing her!! 😭 it was perfect rekha, absolutely perfect!!!

And finally, the birth of little Krishna!!

Labour, childbirth, pre- and post-natal scenes, brilliantly written!!! 😆 👏

For some reason, JW's antsy-ness reminded me of Ross in Friends, when Rachael gives birth... hmmm... i'm not sure that's what I'm supposed to be thinking of is it?!! 😆

Both of them were just so endearing throughout the entire situation!!! 😳


Last but not least, Krishna Sahay - wonderful character!! 😆 She's just so funny and so kick-ass cool!!! Loved her!!




All in all Re, an absolutely rocking effort!! It definitely competes for the top spot in my all-time favourite FF's list.

Now I will stop my rambling and just say, well done, keep it up, lots of love,

Cordy xxxxxxx

MT,

That was awesome...Even if Kekta incorporates 50 percent of what you wrote it would be sooo good....KS would be KS... 😉 But very well written....I wan planning to study before my angel got up but had to read the entire thing in one go...so well penned.....Absolutely love Dr Sahay's character..............U not only redeemed Jai Walia but Bani as well.... 👏

Nidhi

hey MT....the ff was toooooooooooo gooooood shd tell way tooo good than the real KS!!!!! 👏
you brought back JW 😳 n bani n iloved it!!!!!! 👏
its really short!!!! 😆
njoyed reading it 😃 ..........
lav

wow...Rekha di...this was awesome...I wish this is what they show in KS...but alas...my wishes shall always remain that...
Rivs

hey di,
sorry got your sms when i was in Bus. just came now.
will read as soon as my back stops aching and i can sit on chair properly 😆 and post my comment...

actually its marvellous, beautiful and keeps you glued to your chair.these are some things i cant write without even reading it 😉 😆 😛

will read soon and post a 'short' comment 😉

Brilliant. Words fail me. All I can say to u is: it ws amazingly realistic, I wish
KS had gone this. I have one thing to say to Kekta too: hire MT if you want
KS to beat all the other shows on Indian TV!! 👏
👏

hi MT,
nice "short " story.... 👏 loved it...

and it's written by a true jai supporter 😉 😃 ....

thanks....

Really loved your story. You should submit to Balaji so we can get to see some of this action in play. Would really love to see Ram play out your version of JW instead of the insipid JW we get to see for a couple of seconds per episode....