Ok. A couple of things:
This is the first time I am writing an ff beyond part XIII. Feels weird! I know zilch about Bombay. Never been there, so the Bombay you are going to get is the one of my imagination. My apologies to the mumbaikers and those familiar with Mumbai. Do please bear with ignorance.
Part XIV
Nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes.
There's too much fraternizing with the enemy.
Henry Kissinger
And then taking her face between his hands he lowered his head till his forehead rested against hers.
"welcome to 'Jannat' Bani."
And with a chaste peck on her forehead he released her. He was already at the door to the bathroom before she recovered enough to use her voice.
"Jai"
"hmmmm…." He said absently, taking off his jacket and the scarf he wore in lieu of a tie, and walking in to the other room.
Bani followed.
"I need to speak to you about something…."
"haan…." he said sitting down on the wide stool in front of the cupboards, taking off his shoes.
And then frowning, he eyed her suitcase stacked on the rack, clearly unpacked, "why haven't you unpacked? Didn't Tony send a maid to attend to it?"
"he did….that's what I want to talk to you about……I'm not sure if staying in your room is ……"
Getting up he walked over to her and gave her his undivided attention, "why?"
"because you don't live alone in this house for one thing, and …..i don't know….it's just ….i just feel ….."
"but you had no such problems in your house," he said carefully, gently, trying to understand what exactly she was saying.
"well, that was my house and my staff ……and here it's ….well, what if I tell you that I have my periods and any intimacy is out of the question anyways?"
"one, I refuse to sneak to your room in the middle of the night, as if I were ashamed of our relationship. And two, I would be sneaking off to your room even if you have your periods because i want you beside me, near me. And three, it is my house, not my staff's and not my brother's or nephews. Still, it is your choice."
"I…..i'll…..where do I put my clothes away?" she asked finally, not quite meeting his eyes.
Jai who had been waiting for her answer with suspended breath, heaved a silent sight of relief. He knew with absolute certainty that he would have been unable to stop himself form sneaking into her room if she had answered otherwise. And then found himself enchanted by the soft pink that again tinged her cheeks.
"there. That cupboard." He pointed and then added, as he began to disrobe, "do you mind if a take a shower? It's been a long day, successful but long," and as she nodded he assent he turned and walked away towards the opaque frosted glass screens that separated the bathroom area from the dressing room area, adding over his shoulder, "I'll tell you about it over dinner."
While unpacking her clothes and putting them away in the cupboard, which had very thoughtfully been emptied for her use, she was very conscious of the fact that Jai was bathing, and all that separated them were the opaque glass screens.
Ranveer and Nachiket were unusually prompt in changing and appearing for dinner. But there was no sign as yet of the beautiful house guest. They settled for trying to pump Tony for information, or rather, Nachiket asked while Ranveer made noises indicating that he thought this line of prying inappropriate. But Tony remained the very soul of discretion. And then Jai and Bani appeared. And they all headed to the dining room. Where Bani discovered two things, an exquisite S.H.Raza and a bright Manjit Bawa painting fought for attention. And two, most of the food laid on the imposing Rosewood dining table was non-vegetarian. Jai kicked himself for not remembering that Bani was a vegetarian, and suggested they all go out for dinner. But eventually they settled for ordering Pizza.
It was a quaint meal. Ranveer and Nachiket did not take long to get the subtle message Jai was unconsciously giving out, that this was his woman. And accordingly, Ranveer and Nachiket, fascinated by the very idea of Jai being so possessive about a woman, set out to charm and entertain her, with aim of discovering as much as they could about her.
Jai leaned back in his chair, watching Bani laugh in response to something Ranveer had said. He liked the dignified way in which she had handled their probing question. And he appreciated the social poise with which she made small talk. But he adored the vivacity on her face and he was absolutely delighted with the shy dimple that graced her cheek when she laughed, which in the light hearted company of these two young rascals was often.
In another home, socially and financially a world apart form the gracious environs of "Jannat," another couple were sitting down to dinner. As the senior Mrs. Shukla had gone out with some of her friends, husband and wife had privacy. As usual when the chore of cooking devolved upon Pia, they settled for take out.
"I met Bani today," Pushkar finally blurted out, having racked his brains for how else he could bring it up.
"where? Here in Mumbai?"
"yes. I had to go pick her up from the airport and drop her off, at Jai sir's house."
"Jai sir's house?" Pia repeated in incredulous shock.
"yes," he confirmed heavily.
"how does she know him?"
"I don't know. But clearly she is staying in his house. And she is familiar with him. I mean she calls him Jai. And he had planned to go and pick her up from the airport himself until an unscheduled meeting happened…….she asked about you…"
And then neither knew what to say. And they finished their dinner in silence, both lost in their own thoughts.
Bani proposed a stroll around the garden after dinner. Jai managed to convey very effectively with his eyes the desire not to be accompanied by Nachiket and Ranveer on this walk.
Almost like a callow teenager Jai found himself holding Bani's hand.
"you have a truly beautiful house."
"thanks."
"and I love the vines covering this house. Who planted them?"
"the first owner's wife was a keen gardener I believe. She planted the vines and all the trees on this estate."
"it must be quite old, some of these trees takes many years to mature."
"I don't remember the exact date, but it is old enough to be listed as a heritage building. Which means I can't add one brick or remove it from the house without getting permission," he informed her with quiet pride.
"so, who named it?"
"the English man who originally designed and built it. Apparently he was quite the Indophile. Fell in love with India, married an Indian woman, who was the keen gardener, and named it Jannat. Of course, during his lifetime it was known by an entirely different name…"
"what?"
"Love's folly"
"why?"
"well, his fellow east India official's were not very approving of his love for India, and his marrying a native for love was apparently the unthinkable. But the real folly was building this house. See, the bottom of this garden is literally lapped by the sea waves, and it was the considered opinion of all of them that the sea would erode the land slowly but surely. But his wife, it seems had always loved the sea as much as she did gardens and so he went ahead and built as they had planned it. "
"and then?" Bani asked, utterly enthralled.
"and then they named it 'Jannat,' and scoffed at the sceptics."
"and lived happily ever after," Bani sighed romantically.
"well, not quite."
Bani looked at him questioningly.
And he obliged, "she died very early. During the birth of her first child. A daughter named Rose."
After a long silence, she finally asked, "so how did it come to be your house?"
"well, the said Rose was a spinster and before dying she sold the house. To one of my maternal ancestors. But since my mother was an only child it passed on to her and through her to me. But Rose made an unusual condition at the time of the sale….."
"what?"
"that this house always be owned by the lady of the house. If that condition was not fulfilled then there would be no sale. And that is why no one was willing to buy the house except my mother's great- grandfather."
"so you don't own it?" she asked confused, "who does?"
"my mother did till she died. And now I have guardianship of it till I marry. If I don't then it has to either be sold before I die or willed to my nearest female descendant."
"well, your wife will be the mistress of one exquisite house," Bani said lightly.
"there will be no wife. I do not plan to marry," he said suddenly harsh.
"never?"
"never."
"ah, well, your choice. But you know what they say about never…" she responded light heartedly.
"no I don't. do tell,' he invited huskily.
"never say never!" she said with an impish grin.
He lad the way to the wrought iron bench that was placed at the end of the garden, overlooking the sea. Which was anything but placid. As they sat there, talking, Jai told her about the incredible deal he had pulled off that day. And Bani told him about her conversation with Rano. And without any make up save kohl, and without any artifice, she looked more beautiful than ever. Unable to resist the temptation, he reached forth and caressed her cheek. She stopped mid-sentence. As she saw the intense look on his face, which by now was very familiar, a slow blush warmed her cheeks.
"I love the way you blush," he muttered huskily before drawing her in his arms and kissing her. Soon the kissing was not enough. With a soft moan of frustration, Bani reminded him, "we can't….i …" "I know…." he whispered, trailing kisses down her throat, "but we can still make out….like two teenagers……"
Later that night as Bani slept peacefully in Jai's arm, he thought back to that conversation. In a way he was glad that he had said it all. And that it had been accepted by Bani without any qualms. But the perverseness of human nature suddenly made him wonder. Why hadn't she protested? Did it mean that she would not be willing to marry him even if he asked? And then he shook his head at his own perverseness. He wanted Bani to not get all "marry me or else" with him. And when she did just that, he was surprised? Damn, what the hell was wrong with him?
13 th December, 2006.
Saturday.
As usual Bani woke up before he did. As she emerged from her shower, he stirred into wakefulness. As if right on cue, a discreet knock sounded on the door. Bani opened the door to find Tony with a tray.
"Coffee for Jai sir. And since I forgot to ask your preference, I have also brought some Tea."
As Jai buried his face in the pillow, trying to go back to sleep, Bani smiled her thanks, and dismissed Tony. And poured the coffee for Jai, and the tea for herself, admiring the intricate pattern beaten into the old fashioned silver tea service.
"Jai, get up," she repeated five minutes later, "don't you have to go for work?"
Finally, he awakened and groggily downing his coffee, was pushed into the bathroom by Bani who was not amenable to his sudden suggestion of playing hooky form his office. Still laughing at his morning grumpiness she returned to her tea and the newspaper.
Breakfast afforded no privacy since Ranveer and Nachiket were also present. But secretly Bani was amused at Jai's transformation form the sleepy, grumpy Jai to Mr.Walia, the efficient business man. Jai finally managed to speak privately with Bani by dint of rudely shooing Nachiket and Ranveer out of the front door.
"I'll be back by 6. latest," he reassured her, for the third time since he had emerged from the bathroom.
"ok. Listen, if it's all right with you can I do some sketches? Of the house…."she asked hesitantly. "Oh and I wanted to meet Rano again today……so can I call her over? If that is all right with you?"
"Bani," he said taking her hands in his, "feel absolutely free to do whatever you want. Sketch, call people over, go out, even worship again in my mother's puja room if you want," he said. Stunned by the intensity in his voice she remained silent....
"ab main jaon? Der ho rahi hai.." and when she nodded, dropped a kiss on her cheek and left.
As she returned downstairs with her sketch pad and pencils from Jai's room, Tony came to her to ask what she'd like for lunch. After last night's fiasco, he was under strict instructions from Jai to consult with her.
She spent the morning in absolute bliss. And then Rano came over at lunchtime. And stayed till tea time. The shock of the sudden announcement of Jai and Bani's relationship over, she wanted to hear all the details that could be shared. Soon their comfortable gossip session came to dealing with unpleasant encounters. Rano was as surprised as Bani had been to discover that Pia and Pushkar both worked for Jai. They both talked about pia with the ease and familiarity of very old friends. As he came to clear the tea away, Tony asked Bani about dinner, causing Rano to look sharply at Bani who missed that searching glance since she was busy answering Tony.
Bani hesitated an instant before she made her way to Krishna Walia's puja room in the evening. Yesterday she had not known whom it belonged to, today armed with that knowledge, her action felt more presumptuous. But doing arti in the evening was a routine she had always followed, cherishing it as a legacy of her mother. The difference was that in delhi, assuming that Jai was not the particularly religious kind, she had quietly performed her evening ritual without involving Jai. A practise made easier by the fact that her little wall temple was in her studio, the one room she never invited Jai into, and the one room he never asked about.
Jai and the boys (a term which amused Bani whenever Jai used it) came while she was still in the puja room. Jai was a little surprised and truth to tell the teeniest bit irritated at their insistence on returning home with him. Bani felt a twinge of discomfort at the automatic way in which all of them waited for her to come outside and give them Prasad. But to Jai, it subconsciously felt like the most natural act in the world. As Ranveer and Nachiket, unable to disobey the message flashing unambiguously in those black eyes, headed to their rooms, Jai and Bani headed upstairs. Bani ordered tea while Jai showered. The balmy evening beckoned and she chose the veranda. Opting to lean over the wide balustrade and stare dreamily at the fiery sun setting into the watery embrace of the undulating sea. As she breathed in the heady fragrance of the climbing roses subtly mixed with the heavier jasmine, it was easy to believe that this was a dream. Jai's gentle embrace from behind, and his head settling on her head with a contented sigh, felt natural. And thus they stayed till Tony arrived with the tea.
Dinner was followed, of all things, by a boisterous game of monopoly! Jai had been on the verge of snorting in disbelief at the suggestion by Nachiket. And had just opened his mouth to ask him irritably why he did not have party to go to on a Saturday night, when he caught sight of both Ranveer and Bani's faces. The former gleamed with suppressed laughter, entirely, Jai was certain, at his mamaji's discomfort. And Bani's gleamed with such childlike anticipation that he found himself enthusiastically agreeing. Much to Nachiket's surprise who'd come up with this only to needle his brother, who so clearly wanted to be alone with Bani.
To their immense shock, all the three men found it a tremendously enjoyable experience, with all of them resorting to cheating openly once it became obvious that Bani was beating them hollow. "All through my childhood my s…friend and I played board games. I am rather good at all of them," she finished with a demure smile.
Part XV-A
A starlet to Mae West: My goodness! What lovely diamonds!
Mae West: goodness had nothing to do with it dearie.
Poor Fellows
What it takes on this planet,
to make love to each other in peace.
Everyone pries under your sheets,
everyone interferes with your loving.
They say terrible things about a man and a woman,
who after much milling about,
all sorts of compunctions,
do something unique,
they both lie with each other in one bed.
I ask myself whether frogs are so furtive,
or sneeze as they please.
Whether they whisper to each other in swamps about illegitimate frogs,
or the joys of amphibious living.
I ask myself if birds single out enemy birds,
or bulls gossip with bullocks before they go out in public with cows.
Even the roads have eyes and the parks their police.
Hotels spy on their guests,
windows name names,
canons and squadrons depart on missions to liquidate love.
All those ears and those jaws
working incessantly,
till a man and his girl
have to waste their climax,
full tilt,
on a bicycle.
Pablo Neruda.
Sunday, 14 th December, 2006.
Evening
While waiting for Bani to get ready and emerge, Jai's idly wandering eye fell on her sketch pad lying carelessly, half open on the study table in the bedroom. About to pick it up, curious to see her work, his hand stilled. She trusted him enough for him to be able ask, and it was a proof of her trust that she had left it here, in plain sight, half open. To then see it without her knowledge was breaking that bond. Tonight, he decided, I'll ask her to show them to me after we return form Tarun and Rano's reception. And that immediately prompted a glance at his watch, to check if they were running late. Not yet. But if she did not appear in the next 10 minutes they would be. Ah, well, if women began to be punctual the world would probably stop spinning in shock. He enjoyed a chuckle at the thought.
"what's the joke?" her voice floated over his shoulder.
She was ready on time! He turned. And thought the world had indeed stopped spinning.
He stared at her in silence for long that she began to wonder if she had a smudge on her face.
"Jai? What is it?"
"Just wait here, for one second. I'll be right back," he said and hurried out of the room. Bani took the opportunity to duck back into the dressing room and make sure everything was in place.
She emerged to find Jai walking in. Coming up to her, he placed a small velvet box in her hand.
"what is it?"
"a gift. open it."
The most exquisite pair of earrings she had ever seen lay nestled inside the box. A perfect pear shaped diamond hung from an exquisite baroque setting, comprising a large, blood red ruby centred amongst diamonds. Definitely, the most exquisite design she had ever seen, but probably the most expensive as well, she thought a second later. The sheer size and clarity of the stones was beautiful. She looked up at him, shaking her head. "I can't ….they're too expensive ..t….."
"I want to see you wearing them." Just that, but the way it was said was enough to make her bones feel liquid.
Taking a deep breath, she reluctantly conceded, "only if you promise something…."
"anything," he said with the careless arrogance of true generosity.
"you won't say no to something I want to give you…."
"anything," he repeated, with a smile. And then waited while she exchanged her plain solitaires for the earrings.
Ranveer and Nachiket were waiting downstairs, and hearing footsteps they turned. Took one look at the couple descending the stairs and looked at each other. "You think what I am thinking?" Nachiket asked. "only if you are indeed thinking at all," Ranveer responded dryly. The hit did not register till a while later.
Two hours later jai turned to look for Bani. Somewhere in the melee that inevitably surrounded him in social gatherings she had unobtrusively slipped away. Engrossed in searching for her, he did not see Roshni approaching him till it was too late.
"we need to talk," she said abruptly, without preamble.
"I don't think so," he replied politely but implacably.
"I tell you that you were wrong all those years ago and you don't think we have to talk?" she asked in disbelief.
"the past is over and done with Roshni. I see no point in going over it again," he said brusquely, controlling his irritation. "Excuse me," he said and walked away.
Leaving her standing there, "it's not over till I say so Jai," she said softly, to herself, her beautiful face glittering with malice. "Not by a long shot."
Jai finally saw her. Standing a little apart, talking to some people. In a sea of beautiful women who were over dressed, over made up and loaded with too many jewels she stood out. She wore no jewellery save the earrings he had given her and two bangles, a delicate band of diamonds circling each slender wrist. Her graceful neck was bare, and the weight of that heavy fall of hair, caught up in a bun at the nape of her neck seemed almost too heavy for the fragile line of her clavicles, bared by the plunging neckline of the blouse she wore.
As he made his way over there, three pairs of eyes tracked him, varying emotion registering in all of them.
Is she the reason Jai is unwilling to even talk to me? Roshni asked herself, with sudden shock.
Jigyasa was unsure of what she was feeling. As a sister she was happy that Jai was displaying such an interest in a woman after such a long time. But she was also worried. She had tried to get all that she could out of Ranveer. But that was not much. All she knew was her name and that she was Jai's girlfriend. And that Ranveer thought she was awesome. But was she suitable? What kind of girl came and lived openly with her lover? Jigyasa was not happy at the answer that came to her mind. But what troubled her the most was the fact that she was wearing her mother's jewellery.
Pia could not quite understand what was happening. Since Tarun was one of Mr.Walia's oldest friend, it was but natural that not only was the reception being held in one of Mr.Walia's hotel's but it had also been organised by the event management company Jai sir owned. It had been her job to organise this party and she was here in her official capacity, to oversee things. And Bani was here. With Mr.Walia. She took in Bani's appearance with a feeling of disbelief. The sister she had last met nearly 7 years ago had changed almost beyond recognition. Gone was the plumpness, revealing a fragile bone structure so reminiscent of their mother's fragile beauty that it was heartbreaking. And for someone who had never displayed any fashion sense that Pia could remember, she was exquisitely dressed in a pale pink chiffon saree, with a tiny line of silver zardosi embroidery edging the four borders. And randomly scattered through out the saree were tiny little flowers that glimmered as they caught the light. And her long hair, a black so deep that it glinted blue where the light caught it, which Pia had always pronounced old-fashioned, was twisted into a chignon. Imparting to her a distinctive air of elegant sophistication, unsurprising in a crowd of women where all of them invariably had fashionably cut and coloured hair, worn loose on their shoulders. Including Pia. And the jewellery she had on, exquisite, Pia thought with a twinge of barely suppressed envy.
Pia was very, very curious about how Bani knew Jai. Maybe, it was because Rano had married one of Mr.Walia's closest friend and maybe, Tarun had asked if Bani could stay in his house, since the Shashtri's were obviously staying with Rano and Tarun? But what really floored Pia was Mr. Walia. Who had obviously escorted her here and had spent the entire evening either glued to her side or heading back to her side with in a few minutes every time they were separated. Maybe, she decided with a toss of her head, it was time she clarified a few things.
Mohan reached her before Jai did. "hello Bani."
"hi"
"you're looking lovely," he said sincerely.
"thanks."
"listen…about what happened that night in delhi….."
"Mohan, if you don't mind can we just forget about it?"
"only after I apologise," he said sheepishly, "I'm sorry about the way I behaved."
"it's allright. Apology accepted. And now can we please forget about it?"
"so you won't hold it against me?"
"No, I won't."
"not even when I propose to a second time? Without being drunk this time around?"
Bani looked at him in stupefaction. Just as she opened her mouth to put an end to his unrealistic expectations once and for all, a female voice interrupted.
"Hello again Bani," Jigyasa said politely with a smile, and then turned to greet Mohan, whom she promptly dispatched to get her something to drink.
"bani?" he turned to ask before departing towards the bar.
"no thanks."
Bani could not tell if Jigyasa had or not overheard Mohan's question.
Bani had been introduced to the Jai's family during the course of the evening. And had been aware of the speculation running rife in their minds behind their polite greetings and casual friendliness. She had been expecting a grilling but not this soon.
"Hello Jigyasadi,' she responded politely, but warily, automatically adding the respectful suffix, and then realising it, "..uh…would you prefer it if I addressed you as Mrs.Bali?" she added.
"not at all, in fact you can just call me Jigyasa. Only family calls me di," Jigyasa retorted lightly, subtly putting Bani in her place as an outsider.
An pause ensued; awkward on Bani's part and deliberate on Jigyasa's; but Bani held her ground.
"Mrs. Bali it is then," Bani returned steadily, countering her with dignity.
After a considering look, Jigyasa remarked with a friendly smile, "very beautiful earrings. Can I ask where you bought them from? I think I'd like to visit that shop."
"they're a gift I'm afraid. I don't know where they were bought from."
And just that suddenly Jigyasa stopped fencing around, "very interesting. You are entertaining a proposal of marriage from Mohan, quite an eligible catch, while wearing the family jewels of the Walia's. Those earrings belonged to my mother. And they were bought at Van Cleef & Arpel's, in Paris."
Before Bani could get over her shock and respond, Jai reached them.
Jai had a feeling what Moahn had gone to meet Bani about; earlier when he had spoken to Jai he had seemed very embarrassed about his drunken behaviour with her the last time in delhi; so he'd probably been apologising. But what, Jai wondered with a frown did Jigyasa have to say to Bani, as yet another acquaintance greeted him, delaying him. Jigyasa was a wonderful elder sister, caring, loving, and even fun, but that did not mean she was a wonderful human being with every one. Jai had always wondered if it had been the knowledge of their father's affair; which Jigyasa had inadvertently stumbled upon as a child and the subsequent lying about it at the request of Krishna Walia; that had in some ways left its mark of bitterness on her. She had chosen to marry Aditya, a man two years younger than her, madly in love with her, but not exactly the world's most domineering man. But he seemed more than content to let Jigyasa rule the roost in his house, and if he was happy than who was Jai to wonder about it. Aditya; whom Jai counted amongst his closest friends; was at heart a peace loving, gentle soul and maybe that was absolutely the right person for his domineering, controlling elder sister. But….his sudden reverie, which he had been indulging in while exchanging polite, social pleasantries with his acquaintances, was broken into rather sharply, by Bani's face. Which had gone chalk white with shock. Rudely excusing himself, cutting someone off mid sentence, he went to where Bani and Jigyasa were.
There was an odd, inexplicable silence gripping the two women, and Jai could not decipher it. He looked questioningly at both of them. It was Jigyasa, who with a tinkling laugh broke it. "I thought I'd keep Bani company while Mohan gets my drink."
Bani remained silent but she smiled at him. And then turning to Jigyasa added lightly, "thanks for telling me. I'd no idea."
"you're welcome," Jigyasa replied sweetly.
"what?" Jai asked, and again it was Jigyasa who answered, "girl talk, Jai, girl talk!"
Mohan arrived with Jigyasa's gin and an extra one, he'd got for Bani. "In case you changed your mind," he said with an engaging smile, offering her the gin.
"she doesn't drink gin," Jai answered, shortly, before Bani could, and then signalling a waiter, "whiskey for me and a glass of red wine, please," and then turning, "Mohan, can I order anything for you are you going to settle for that gin?"
"gin is fine for me," Mohan said slowly, looking at Jai and Bani, as if seeing something for the first time.
In another part of the party, Pia sauntered towards Rano.
"hello Rano, congratulations on your marriage, and to you too, Mr.Sablok" she drawled flashing a smile at both her and Tarun.
Tarun was a little taken aback to find the employee in charge of organising the party addressing his wife with such familiarity. He looked at Rano, whose face had hardened into an unfamiliar expression of contempt and who said very, very sweetly, "all those etiquette classes with Mrs. Mehra in school obviously taught you nothing. One congratulates only the groom, never the bride. You should be wishing me happy."
Pia looked at her and then allowed her lower lip to quiver and her eyes to gather brightness before she said in a soft, trembling voice. "I see you are still angry with me Rano. Will you never forgive me?"
"It's not my forgiveness you ought to asking for Pia," Rano returned coldly.
"I know," Pia sighed, "but it would help me gather the courage I need to face her if you too could forgive me…." She trailed off.
Bound by the limitations of her nature, Rano could only sigh, and say, "look, I don't have to forgive you anything."
"do you think she will speak to me?" Pia asked sounding hesitant.
"I'm sure she will," Rano responded helplessly. As Pia thanked her and walked away a fascinated Tarun turned to Rano for an explanation, which she promised to give him later.
An hour later Bani had a raging headache. Somehow, Jigyasa's words had served as a trigger. They had brought her crashing back to reality. Made her aware of the curious, speculative glances she was receiving, made her aware of the whispering questions about her identity and the nature of her relationship with Jai. And while it was easy to not give a damn about what people had to say when deciding the course of one's actions, it was damn hard to block one's ears to what they were saying. And the earrings. She was appalled. She could not blame Jigyasa. She would have to talk to Jai about them. Suddenly she felt suffocated, and excusing herself left Jai's side to walk to a dark corner, to find a moment alone, where she did not have to smile at the people who while pretending to talk to her and Jai were constantly wondering about her.
Jai could tell something was troubling Bani. Suddenly her smile had seemed to slip a notch and she had become quieter. He wanted to follow her as she excused herself, but he could not, since he was in the middle of a long, complicated conversation. He looked around and caught Ranveer's eye. He looked at Bani's receding figure and then looked back at Ranveer, nodding by a fraction. Ranveer followed his gaze and then nodded his head before putting his drink down and abandoning the company of a very charming young lady, Rashi Chopra.
As she stood appreciating the relative quietness of the secluded corner she had found, Bani kneaded her temple with one hand and wondered how much longer they would have to stay here. She was alerted to the fact that she was no longer alone by the heavy cloying scent of wild musk, a popular perfume base that she detested.
"hello," said a very beautiful woman, whom Bani could not place immediately but who seemed vaguely familiar.
"Hi," Bani said and then after a moment, during which that woman said nothing, just looked her over, added, "I'm sorry….have we met?"
"No. But I thought it's time we did meet."
Bani remained silent, puzzled but also put off by an instinctive dislike.
"I'm Roshni Chopra," she said, flicking her hair off her face with a stylized gesture.
"Bani," she replied politely but dismissively.
"Just Bani? No surname or do you wish for new one?" she asked with sarcastic smirk.
"I fail to see how it is any of your business," Bani retorted calmly.
"Oh but it is. You see, what you are hoping for was once mine….." Roshni said with a superior smile and another hair flick.
"excuse me," Bani said and was about to turn away when Roshni put a hand on her arm, and then said, "leaving so soon? Oh come on, I think it's very worthwhile for Jai's past and present to come face to face."
Bani turned and knew she wasn't entirely successful in keeping the shock from showing on her face. Roshni assumed it was because of what she had said. Bani was shocked because she suddenly remembered where she had seen Roshni before. At the wedding in Delhi, the night Jai had gotten so angry and then drunk, the night she had taken him back to her house…….
"Nothing to say?" roshni asked with a small, triumphant smile.
"get your hands off me," Bani replied evenly.
Still smiling Roshni complied but before either could say or do anything two belligerent, loud male voices intruded simultaneously, "Bani ……mami…."……"Bani ….bhabi…." and then both stopped in mutual surprise at hearing the other.
While Ranveer and Nachiket looked at each other, and Roshni looking at them in shock, Bani shrugged Roshni's hand off her arm and saying, "excuse me….." turned and grasping the arm of each, tugged Ranveer and Nachiket, walking off further into the darkness.
An exasperated Roshni had no choice but to retreat. She could not follow them without being seen. But that did not mean she intended to let Bani off the hook that easily.
With her back to the party crowd, Bani faced the two young men, now looking a little uncomfortable.
"care to explain that?"
"well…." " i…." both began together and then stopped. And looked at each other.
Ranveer looked at her with a look of innocence on his face and asked, "what?"
Smart on the uptake Nachiket too decided to play it innocent, "ji?"
"what was that all about?" she asked.
"what was what?" Nachiket asked.
"don't play the fool," Bani said, "you know exactly what I mean," and looked at both of them so sternly that they figured she was serious enough not be fobbed off.
"we don't like Roshni….and we figured she was being nasty to you….."
"and we happen to like you……and we did not want you upset……"
The sheepish manner in which they said it and the concern evident on their faces and in their protective stances touched the heart of Bani who over the years of her successful independence had also grown increasingly lonely. She could not help the softening of her face and knew that there was a suspicious sheen in her eyes.
"I can take care of myself you know!" she said softly, "but …I guess I know now how wonderful it must be to have brothers .…." and with that she reached out to hug both of them. With typical masculine discomfort at such a display of emotion, they hugged her back gingerly, "but no more of this, ok?" and they both mumbled their yes's while hugging her.
"so can I join in this hug fest or is this by invitation only?" Jai's amused drawl caused the boys to jerk back. "have these two idiots been bothering you?"
"on the contrary, they have been taking very good care of me," Bani assured him with a warm smile, "even when I don't need to be taken care of."
But later as she sat in the whisper smooth Bentley, which was Jai's personal car, all the thoughts that had given her a headache came back with a vengeance, especially when she recalled Ranveer and Nachiket's actions.
But now, in the presence of the chauffer was hardly the time to broach the subject, she thought with a tired sigh.
"What's wrong Bani?" Jai asked in concern, taking in the frown pleating her forehead.
"nothing….i just have a headache."
"hmmmm……and I thought women only have a headache when they're not in the mood!" he teased as the car turned into the driveway of his house.
As they reached the bedroom, Jai's phone began ringing. It was a business call, and he stopped at the door to his study, motioning for her to go on .Bani switched on one bedside lamp in the bedroom to dispel the darkness with its dim glow and then headed for the veranda. She had to talk to Jai about the earrings, she could not possibly accept them. She flung open the glass doors and stood there, letting the sea breeze cool her heated brow. She took off those wretched earrings and placed them on the nearby study table. And then pulling out the pins holding her chignon in place she gave her head a hard shake, sending the heavy hair cascading down her back. Her head felt lighter instantly. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath of the tangy, sea kissed air, bracing herself for the conversation she knew would not be pleasant.
Jai finished his call and walked into the bedroom, automatically looking for Bani.
Standing just beyond the doorway to the veranda, she seemed to gather the all the light into herself till silhouetted against the inky black sky she gleamed with the muted intensity of a sea pearl. Radiating with a subdued intensity that made Jai think of angels and moonbeams.
Her reverie was broken by Jai's feather light touch on her shoulders. He swept her hair off her shoulder, his fingers tracing a sensual path across the white skin they bared. She shivered involuntarily. And then as his mouth replaced his hands she gasped in sensual shock. Her neck bowed in obedience to some unspoken command and his lips trailed across her nape. His hands slowly encircled her waist, till she was moulded against his body.
"standing here right now you look like an angel, and I feel that if I touch you, you will disappear…..like the morning dew…..and yet if I don't, if I don't hold you, hold onto you…..i will…." He couldn't complete the thought, but the shudder that ran through his body completed it for him.
Bani turned in his embrace and gave in to that nameless, unquantifiable something that bound them both together. Kissing him fiercely she traced the harsh contours of his face with restless fingers. Jai held her so tightly that she felt she would not be able to breathe and the thought only added to her sense of exultation. Jai stopped kissing her and the sound of their harsh, laboured breathing filled their ears. He looked into her face, and she looked at him with a slow, sensual smile that promised to take him to the very stars; it did not need her soft whisper "we can," to tell him that. He already knew.
Part XV-B
It was as if the world that had been held at bay for so long was determined to intrude with a vengeance. The next morning Bani never did get a chance to talk to Jai about the earrings. Because the morning arrived with the pictures of Jai and Bani leaving the reception splashed across the less reputable tabloids. The more respectable publications restricted themselves to polite mentions about the new woman in Jai Walia's life. Across all there was speculation about her, the mysteriously ordinary looking woman, as one crass tabloid put it, who had snared one of India's most eligible bachelors. Somehow, the fact that Bani was living in Jai Walia's house had been unearthed and delightfully served as a scandalously juicy tidbit in the less reputable tabloids.
Bani and Jai had not really talked about the media reports, both were at a bit of a loss for what to say.
Roshini savoured each word, her anonymous phone conversations with the media had paid rich dividends.
Jigyasa read the newspapers with well bred distaste, her initial speculation about Bani hardening into a dislike founded on misconceptions about Bani and prompted by her sisterly concern and love for Jai.
In Bangalore Massi was startled to discover that Jai had actually invited one of his paramours into his house. Usually he was far more discreet, conducting his affairs outside of his home, using either his penthouse apartment on Napean Sea road or the farmhouse at Alibagh. After talking to Jigyasa, Massi became seriously alarmed at the possibility that Jai had fallen prey to a mercenary woman, who had somehow entrapped Jai.
Breakfast was strained to say the least. Bani was upset, Jai was angry and Ranveer and Nachiket clearly at a loss for what to say, wanting to show their support to both Jai and Bani but very afraid of saying the wrong thing. They settled for not mentioning the reports at all, smiling at Bani with all their affection and finishing breakfast quickly and heading off, giving Jai and Bani privacy.
Jai lingered at the breakfast table, feeling uncharacteristically uncertain about what exactly to say. He was used to having his private life under scrutiny but Bani was not. And somehow there was something more than a little malicious about the tone adopted by some of the reports when speculating about who exactly this Bani was. Still, it came with the territory of dating Jai Walia.
Bani did realise that dating Jai Walia had its own share of baggage, but not that it would be this big. Still, she was not a child she could handle it. Or so she told herself. The truth was that for the first time since accidentally sleeping over him in the plane, Bani began to appreciate the consequences of a relationship with Jai. All of a sudden she was worried that this might spill over into the one aspect of her life she had been at pains to keep under wraps, her identity as Saraswati.
Clearing his throat, Jai finally spoke, "Bani, I am really sorry about this….but it kind of comes with the territory…"
"I get it," Bani said, attempting a smile. "I guess there is a downside to dating Mr.Eligible…but don't worry….i'm sure it's a storm in a teacup, in another day or two everyone will find something new to speculate about."
Jai looked relieved.
Bani was much more honest about her apprehensions when she spoke to Rano, who tried to be briskly hopeful, echoing Bani's own response to Jai.
"I'm sure it'll soon be forgotten……no one will discover your secret…..and don't worry, I've already spoken to mum and dad, so you won't be getting any panic stricken calls from them!"
"Thanks darling, don't know what I'd do without you," Bani sighed into the phone, she had not even thought about mamma and bade papa.
"listen, if you want Tarun and I can postpone our honeymoon. I don't like the idea of leaving you alone and flying off," Rano added worriedly, undoing much of her own earlier brisk hopefulness.
"Don't be silly!" Bani shot back. "look it's just the shock. You know how much I hate having my privacy disturbed and somehow I just did not anticipate this..this…interest in me. You and Tarun will not cancel your plans over something as silly as this! Now go and finish your packing, if I know you, and I do, you still haven't completed it, and you leave in what, 2 hours?"
"Darn it! I hate packing!" Rano grumbled, "remember how you always did it for me in school? Wish you were here now."
Bani laughed as she said, "god Rano, you and packing! Shall I come over and do it for you as usual?"
"I wish I'd thought of that earlier…but now there's no time…..i'll just have to do it myself," she finished glumly.
………………………………………………….
Bani hung up and looked around her restlessly. Restlessness and a nagging sense of pressure at the base of her skull were a bad combination. The pressure at the base of her skull promised a headache later in the day. The restlessness was more problematic.
Last night she had lain awake long after Jai had curved his warm body around her's and gone off to sleep. Slipping out of his hold, she had sat by the bedside for a long while, abstractedly staring at his face in the dim light offered by a pale moon. She wanted to paint him. She wanted to paint the contradictions, the sensuality and the self-control, the harshness and the gentleness, the loneliness and the warmth…..she wanted for the first time in her artistic career to paint a portrait. Helpless in the face of the pull of her art, she had switched on the lamp furthermost from the bed and flipping open her sketch book began to draw the preliminary studies of his face. It was nearly four before she flexed her exhausted fingers and decided to call it a night and crawled into bed. And now urge to continue her work gripped her, making her restless. What she wouldn't give to be in her studio right now! but she could not even go back to her house right now, not until she had completed the sketches she would need in order to paint his portrait.
She decided to indulge in one of her favourite self-indulgences.
As Tony carried in another vase that he had unearthed into the dining room he smiled. He had been the butler of this house for a long time. And in all that time this house had always been bereft of a mistress. It had always been a house of men, even in the presence of Massi, who was content in mothering Jai sir but she had never taken on the mantle of being the mistress of the house, perhaps because she never really lived here full time, or maybe because she had never felt comfortable in donning the role that truly did not and never could belong to her. And through it all the house had been run efficiently and expertly by him. Many women had tried, subtly and blatantly, to occupy that place. Tony still remembered Ms. Roshni with a shudder. And Jigyasa maam's constant directions to him were made bearable only by the fact that Jai sir rarely allowed any of her decisions and rules to hold sway in the house. But it was different with Bani maam. Slowly but surely, without even realising it Jai sir had been treating Bani maam as if she were the mistress of this house. And somehow the way she was subtly filling the house with her presence, her personality was transforming the house.
And Tony had taken his cue from Jai Sir. But he found himself acknowledging with a smile, even if Jai sir had not made very clear just how important Bani maam was to him, somehow Bani maam was a very easy person to like and respect.
Bnai placed the last vases of flowers and again found herself with nothing to do to take her mind off what she really wanted to do. Bani sighed in defeat. She knew herself and her creative fits, when in the grip of one everything else paled into insignificance. But she would just have to control it till she was back in delhi, in her studio. But that left her at a serious loss for what to do now. She decided to do the other sketching studies for other paintings that this house and its environs prompted her to want to paint. Till now her sketches of the house had been of the picture postcard variety. Now she wanted to do studies that would later be transformed into paintings.
The hours flew by as they always did when she was working seriously.
Tony deposited lunch on a tray right where she was busy working. Not disturbing her long enough even to confide in her that Jai sir had called twice to ask Tony if Bani maam was allright.
It was nearing four in the afternoon when she decided to call it a day. She was in the shower when her cell phone began buzzing. It was Rumaan, her agent and manager and friend. She called back.
"Bani! sweetheart! Read the gossip rags today?" he asked with his usual lack of tact and twang.
"trust you Rumaan, to bring up what most others would have been polite enough to ignore," Bani conceded with a laugh. But then she knew Rumaan, he was blunt not malicious and besides their relationship went back a long time. When she had been a struggling artist looking for her first break he was the one who had spotted her, backed her, represented her and accepted all her terms and conditions.
"yeah, well, you know me!" he quipped. "listen, as it happens, I'm also in Bombay, although not in the very serious money vicinity of Jai Walia, so why don't we meet? We need to talk some business…..and some gossip!"
"ok. When?"
"let's see…….ummm….today is no can do….how about tomorrow morning?"
"all right."
"By the way, don't let all this gossip affect you. I know how iffy you are about your privacy….but don't take it to heart, my darling," he said seriously, a state of being Rumaan rarely allowed himself to display.
"Thanks Rumi," Bani teased him with the nickname he hated, touched by the concern he was so uncomfortable in displaying normally.
………………..
As Bani finished getting dressed, Tony knocked to inform her that there was a visitor for her at the gate, and security at the gate was asking for instructions.
"who is it?"
"A Pia Shukla, maam."
Bani stilled and then squared her shoulders, "let her in."
Pia felt humiliated that the guard would not let her in without the explicit permission of Bani. But as she made her way to the house, she was awed by the magnificence of the house and the grounds. As a mere employee she had never been invited to the famous house of Jai Walia. By the time Tony flung the stately doors open and ushered her into the small sitting room that opened off the lobby, she was irritable.
"where is Bani? Take me to wherever she is," she ordered Tony.
"Bani maam is in her bedroom. Please wait here, as soon as she is downstairs I will take you to the drawing room," Tony informed her in freezingly polite tones, before turning and walking away, pulling shut the door behind him with finality.
Bani looked around the empty drawing room and called out for Tony in puzzlement.
"I ushered Ms. Shukla in the waiting room," Tony informed her, "shall I bring her here?"
"yes please."
Pia was incensed, but had the sense to realise that she had no choice but to wait for Bani…..it was only five minutes later that Tony re-appeared and said, "If you will please follow me? Bani maam will see you now…."
Pia entered the magnificent drawing room to find Bani seated on the sofa, looking very much at home, and, if truth be told rather beautiful, dressed in a rather simple outfit that somehow screamed elegance and money. A loose fitting pair of silky trousers in beige that rode low on her hips, anchored in place by a plain wide suede belt and a loose white silk shirt that clung to her shapely torso. Her hair was in a plait, and her only jewellery was a pair of diamond solitaire earrings. Her face was bare of makeup save kohl, which rimmed her eyes. A classic Hermes watch with it's trademark rectangular dial and green crocodile leather strap adorned the wrist of one hand. Her feet were shod in plain slip-ons in highly polished tan leather.
Pia immediately felt overdressed and over made up with her expertly applied make up and her smart navy blue business suit, with its short skirt, and the jacket detailing of big chunky brass buttons. And suddenly her blouse with its low neckline and line of sequins felt flashy, as did her oversize earrings and bracelets and rings.
"Pia," Bani said politely, uncertainly, standing up.
"Bani di," Pia said, struggling to suppress the envy and irritation in her voice.
Pia seated herself in the chair opposite Bani.
There was a moment of silence, broken by Tony, "refreshments maam?"
"Iced Tea," Pia immediately spoke up.
But to her irritation Tony behaved as if she had not spoken at all, continuing to look steadily at Bani.
"Iced Tea please and perhaps something to eat?" she said with an enquiring look at Pia, who just glared at Tony.
"right away maam."
Silence reigned after Tony's departure. Bani refused to break it.
Pia was distinctly uncomfortable with the steady way Bani was gazing at her. Somehow this was a lot harder than she had imagined. And neither was this meeting going the way she had excepted. Not that she had quite excepted Bani to take one look at her and sweep her into a hug, but certainly not this polite , steady watchfulness.
"bani di…..i wanted to talk to you…."
"about what?"
"just say hello actually……a…a..how are you?"
"quite well. I hope you and pushkar are …..happy."
"yes we are."
"good."
Silence
"I er…also wanted..to …er…apologise….."
Bani waited in silence, prey to a range of conflicting emotions. Pia was her younger sister and Bani did still love her. But Bani also found it impossible to overlook Pia's behaviour and actions. But maybe Rano was right, and Pia was sorry, so Bani waited, regarding Pia steadily.
"well, aren't you going to say something?" Pia demanded, a little unnerved by the calm way Bani was regarding her.
"about what?"
"my apology!"
"Pia, you are yet to make an apology," Bani said with the hint of a smile.
Tony's entrance with the refreshments suspended the conversation. In the momentary lull that followed Pia pulled herself together. She was here for a purpose.
Pia apologised very prettily indeed for the way she had behaved after their father's death. Bani accepted the apology.
The next half hour was spent in polite catching up on each other's lives in the past six years. it was well into the conversation that Pia realised with a start that she was the one doing all the talking. Talking about her job and her husband and her life with all the importance she could bestow on all three. All the while Bani had very skilfully evaded her probing queries, giving evasive, non-definite answers to Pia's question.
"enough about me," Pia said with a tinkling, self-conscious laugh. "Tell me some thing about your life di, I've missed having my di in my life," she added ingratiatingly.
"nothing really to tell. I live in delhi, I illustrate children's books….what else is there to say?"
"what about you and Jai sir? Not trying to pry here but just curious and truth to tell, just a little worried as a sister, even if we haven't stayed in touch, I still love you," Pia said with false sincerity, which she managed to fake quite well actually.
Well enough to fool Bani certainly, who did not doubt Pia's sincerity but hesitated simply because the past seven years had hardened into habit a trait she had always had since childhood, her intense sense of privacy.
While she was still struggling to formulate an answer that would not hurt Pia while still not telling her the entire truth, to her rescue arrived Tony. With a problem and a crisis.
"maam there is a courier delivery man outside who refuses to relinquish his packet to anyone save Mr. Walia. Jai sir can't be reached as he is in a meeting. And the cook is not feeling well, he wants the evening off to go to the hospital. Perhaps I should mention that in my opinion the cook is a hypochondriac."
Bani was thankful for the interruption and more than a little amused to see the unflappable Tony look the slightest bit irritated. Tony was offended that the courier man doubted Tony's efficiency and clearly, the cook and the butler did not enjoy the best of relationships if Tony's tone was any indication.
"give cook the evening off, we'll figure out dinner later. And get my cell phone from the bedroom please, I'll speak to Jai," Bani said soothingly.
Tony trotted off with alacrity.
"I guess my question is already answered," Pia said, suppressing her irritation with effort, "you and he are…. what? Engaged? Must be for you to be behaving like the mistress of the house." Pia managed to rob her words of both, their punning offensiveness and her envy, keeping her tone light and teasing.
The palest of pinks coloured Bani's cheeks but her voice remained steady, as she said, "nothing off the sort. And I am not the mistress of this house."
Bani dialled Jai's personal cell phone and he took the call the moment he saw Bani flashing on the screen. He asked Bani to get the courier man on the phone. Tony summoned him into the drawing room and then proceeded to watch him all the while that he was there as if he was going to steal the silver if Tony didn't keep a watch over him.
What ever Jai said to him over the phone in thirty short seconds did the trick because the courier guy promptly handed the large envelope to Bani and after duly taking her signature departed, escorted by Tony.
Pia once again tried to broach the subject of Jai Walia, but this time Bnai was a lot more direct. "look, I don't feel comfortable discussing this, so can we please drop the subject?"
Pia had no choice but to acquiesce. The conversation remained less personal after that, although Pia tried very hard to pry as much as she could. Finally, she was unable to prevent herself from gushing over di's jewellery, both the earrings at the party, and the solitaires and the watch she watch she was wearing today. Since Pia had always been materially inclined her gushing remarks about these things fell far more naturally, and for the first time since Pia had arrived, Bani's smile was warm and unreserved. This was more like the sister Bani had always known and even cherished.
Bani made her way to the puja room, Pia had requested if she could stay and sit through it, citing nostalgia for their mother's routine, and Bani found it impossible to turn the request down. As Bani was engaged in her rituals, Pia pondered her current predicament. She still could not believe that her boring, ordinary elder sister had managed to wriggle her way into the house of someone like Jai Walia.
It was pretty early into her marriage that a few unpleasant facts had impressed themselves upon Pia. The Puskar who had seemed so sophisticated to Pia confined to Mt.Abu had when compared to the reality of Mumbai was not as dazzling as she had thought. And the job and the money which had impressed her to no end was not all that much. Sure, it was step up from her father's station, and a big step at that, but it was nowhere big enough a step to satisfy the material aspirations of Pia. And working for Mr.Walia's company had been an eye opener. Now that was the kind of man she would have wanted to rend up with. And she had, to be honest, tried to catch his eyes and his interest. But he had never even looked at her. Which till now had not really rankled because deep down she did unwillingly concede the unlikely-hood of someone like him being interested in an employee. But to see her sister succeed particularly with this man was galling. But it did open new possibilities. If Bani was just a passing fancy of Jai Walia, then it behoved Pia to get some mileage out of their relationship while she still could. And if, god forbid, Bani became a permanent part of his life (pia thought that very unlikely, and that though afforded her a great deal of satisfaction) then it was imperative she make a permanent place in Bani's life.
Almost as if it were a long-standing routine, Jai, Ranveer and Nachiket all arrived together within minutes of Bani completing her puja. They checked for an instant upon seeing Pia, whom only Jai recognised as his employee, Pia Shukla. But they waited for the introduction till after they had taken their Prasad.
"This is my younger sister, Pia," Bani said easily, "Mr.Walia, Ranveer and Nachiket," she added for Pia's benefit.
All three were surprised, but only two of them showed it.
"that's nice to know. A surprise but a pleasant one," Jai said cordially, his social, charming persona firmly in place.
All three of them excused themselves to go, shower, and change.
Bani expected Pia to take the hint and politely end her visit. However, Pia displayed no such inclination. Even following Bani into the kitchen where Tony was about to have palpitations at the thought of having to try and make the tea and coffee to serve to the three men. A butler, he confided in Bani mournfully, was expected to run the house with discretion and efficiency, not give the residents' indigestion by trying to stand in as a replacement cook.
Bani laughed and soothed his fears, making both, the tea for Ranveer and Nachiket and Coffee for Jai. Before Tony left with the tea she asked him to seat Pia in the drwing room and provide her with some magazines (at which Pia looked distinctly unhappy but Bani was not looking at her). and then excusing herself picked up the coffee and left.
Jai was a little surprised to see Bani with the coffee tray, upon being told the story of the sick cook, he laughed and filled her in on the long-standing feud that raged between Tony and the cook. And suggested that they all head out for dinner instead of Bani cooking, which ha dbeen her solution. At which Bani grimaced uncomfortably and told Jai that Pia was still here.
Jai casually told her to invite Pia along as well. And her husband, when Bani told him that pia was married, whom Jai was surprised to discover was none other than Pushkar.
My apologies:
This is not only a much shorter part, but it is also technically incomplete. But i am really pressed for time, and so have not been able to complete it as yet. Nonetheless i decided to post it. Hopefully, soon i will have time to complete the rest of TFS. Thank you for your patience.
Part XVI-A
Monday Evening,
15 December
One good deed deserves another.
And so when the maitre'd of the very exclusive restaurant Jai chose to grace with his presence for dinner called up a few tabloid reporters in order to make a quick buck, the editor of one of the reporters, a society gossip queen and columnist, decided to repay a favour. She promptly called up Roshni and told her that Jai Walia was dining at "Olive" and the reservation was for six people.
Roshni was furious but after a moment decided that she could use this opportunity rather well.
Pia had opted to return home and get suitably dressed and pick up Pushkar and then meet them at the restaurant itself.
Jai was very curious to see how the dinner party unfolded. As he had met Pia as Bani's younger sister, he had realised with a start that there was very little indeed that he did know about Bani. And that this might not be a bad way to find out more. Besides, Bani would want him to be polite to her sister, wouldn't she? But what a kind of a relationship did they share, given that until now Bani had not deemed it fit to even mention the existence of a sister. When she had said that her parents were dead without offering any details he had automatically assumed that she was an only child. And Jai Walia did not like the realising that his assumptions were incorrect. What else did he not know about Bani? Did he even know what the right questions were? Bani returned form inviting Pia and Pushkar to dinner.
"so how come you never told me about your sister?"
"didn't think it was important…….we haven't really kept in touch….."
"why?"
she looked distinctly uncomfortable, "long, unpleasant story……can I tell you later?"
"sure," he'd shrugged casually, but his mind sprung into speculative action.
"do I need to change or am I dressed ok for where you want to go for dinner?" she asked.
"I think you look beautiful no matter what you wear….but you need to change……wear something to match these," he said withdrawing a flat velvet case from his pocket.
He'd bought her a strand of pearls. Iridescent milky white pearls that gleamed with subdued radiance. A radiance that proclaimed their very expensive pedigree, which was not that of the cultured pearls now flooding the market. The clasp was in the shape of an exquisite flower comprising diamonds and rubies and emeralds.
"they're beautiful….but…."
"I know most women prefer diamonds but somehow…."last night as you stood you reminded of pearls…..don't know why and so today when I saw these in the shop window……," he confessed a tad uncomfortably.
"I love pearls," she said softly.
Jai was already ready and dressed in a pair of black linen trousers and a black Chinese collared shirt, watch gleaming on his wrist and hair glinting with dampness by the time Bani changed and emerged. He stood by the study table, looking out to the sea, fingers idly drumming on the table top where the pearls rested in their open case and her sketch book lay. The sight of him took her breath away. And she paused at the threshold for a long moment, just looking at him. Finally, she walked to him.
She defied his expectations as always. He had somehow expected a sari. But here she was in a long, floating skirt. Made of overlaid, drifting panels of chiffon, each a subtly different shade of green. Her camisole styled top was a bright shocking pink, which oddly enough harmonised exquisitely with the green. Her skin, more of which than was usual showing, gleamed white. Her hair was still in a plait and again her watch and her solitaires were her only jewellery. Delicate stilettos in silver added inches to her height. As she reached him she turned and lifted her plait. He clasped the pearls around her neck.
She turned and taking step back twirled for his approval with all the delight of child.
He smiled, "you look like a wandering wood nymph…."
"good heavens! Poetry from the prosaic business man!" Bani teased.
"I like to surprise…..keep you on your toes," he shot back, immediately.
"Shall we?" she asked with a laugh.
He offered her his arm and she tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow.
"Bani, can I see the sketches you've made?" he asked abruptly, as he began to turn away from the table.
Bani was startled. She had not anticipated this request and she was caught unprepared. Sure, Jai might not have the artistic judgement to see in her sketches the framework for more serious paintings. He might lack the insight to connect Bani's sketches with Sarawati's signature style. Although she doubted both assumptions; given the amount of first rate art work that graced the walls of his house, he was at the very least a discerning connoisseur; but how on earth would she explain the sketches she had done of his face without his permission, his knowledge? Besides, no one had ever been allowed to see her sketches. Not even Rano. But isn't it time, she asked herself. He has asked, and maybe it's time to let him into my so very closely guarded world, time to let him really see me for all that I am, she debated in the fraction of a second that it takes to blink. Unconsciously her body relaxed as she made her decision.
Bani tensed and he felt her body stiffen in withdrawal. Clearly he had transgressed, onto a private part that she would prefer to keep private. Like the fact that she had a sister. And the implied rebuff hurt him, more than he would have expected. And that, he told himself in grim silence is what you get Jai Walia for forgetting that however unusual, however different, Bani is still a woman. And some things never change.
And so, just as she opened her mouth to speak, he beat her to it, saying curtly, "let's save that for another time. It is not all that important and we are getting late. I've already made the reservations."
Bani's breath caught in her throat, it felt like he had turned around and slapped her. What was such an integral part of her life, of her as a person, and what she had been about to share with someone for the very first time in her life, was of no importance for him. That, she told herself, as they walked downstairs in silence, reminds me of my place very effectively. I'm the flavour of the month, the current amusement but no more than that. And I'm a fool for forgetting that for even a minute.
As Jai turned to escort Bani into the restaurant, Ranveer and Ncahiket trailing behind, to their sudden shock they were accosted by reporters and cameras going off with a blinding flash. Automatically Jai's polite hand at her waist tightened into a protective hold, pulling her against the bulk of his body, sheltering her. But that did not deter either the photographers or the questions being hurled.
"….how did you meet?"
"…..what do you do for a living?"
"……where are you from?"
"….are you getting married?"
"…you are living together?"
"….don't you think that your living in sin will serve as a bad example?'
With each question that was hurled with such nauseating innuendo, Bani found herself shrinking further into Jai's side, and his arm kept gripping her tighter.
Just as they made it to entrance, a question hurled by one of the reporters had Jai turning around, his eyes glittering and jaw line taut with self-control.
"….we have been reliably informed that this is not the first such liaison you have entered into, would you care to comment on that miss Bani?"
The look on Jai's face was enough to silence that reporter. Everyone else also fell silent. But another more intrepid reporter used the lull to ask, "that's Bani Dixit, right?" pen poised over pad, no doubt waiting to have the full name confirmed so they could go looking for more dirt.
"No. It's Bani Walia. With a W," Jai said crushingly and swept inside the restaurant, his arm still firmly around Bani. A stunned Ranveer and Nachiket followed. The restaurant staff prevented the media people from following.
Part XVI-B
No one spoke until they were all seated, the menus placed in front of them.
"well, aren't you both going to congratulate us?" Jai asked finally, looking at Ranveer and Nachiket quizzically.
As if released from their uncertainty, both fell over themselves trying to express how happy they were, and announcing that they were going to call Bani bhabi/mami from now on itself.
Bani was still too stunned to react.
"…er…Jai…i…."
Just then Pia and Pushkar arrived.
Pia was furious.
For a start as soon as she reached the table and took in Bani's appearance and that of the rest of the women around them she knew she had dressed all wrong. "Olive" was subdued elegance, and against the Mediterranean style interiors done in white, Bani's stood out fantastically and yet not in a loud, flashy way. And the casualness of her attire fitted right in, with those gorgeous double string of pearls standing out so well against the bright pink. And here she was, dressed to kill in a glittering, sequinned and stone embroidered white sari which for a start was way too flashy. And thanks to the colour, she blended in perfectly with the dcor. And then there was her overly made up face, and overly loud jewellery and the very carefully coiffed hair. Damn! She thought to herself, I thought Mr.Walia would pick a more formal, happening place.
And this was before she was informed that Jai and Bani were getting married.
It was downhill after that.
As Pia prattled on about Bani di and her dull, boring, bookworm childhood avatar in her loud, high pitched voice, liberally interspersing her stories (in which Pia always came out better!) with her tinkling laugh (it sounded like shattered glass being swept up, Ranveer later told Nachiket) and her pouting expression (which she thought was very sexy, but which-if the goldfishes can forgive one for making the cruel comparison- made her look rather like a goldfish), Bani's headache descended with a vengeance.
And then, just as the dessert plates were being cleared off the table, someone yoddled clear across the open air courtyard.
"Bani? Yoohooo! Bani darling!......."
Startled everyone looked up. A handsome man, dressed a little too flashily was waving energetically at Bani from across the courtyard. As he saw Bani recognise him he began to make his way over to their table.
Bani's face tightened and then smoothened into a resigned blankness, Jai noted.
As the unknown man neared the table, Bani got up and was swept into a hug of such familiarity that Jai's hands instinctively tightened.
"God, darling, what a lovely surprise! You look fabulous!" the unknown man was saying, holding Bani at an arm's length and running his eyes over Bani in a way that made Jai want to slap him.
"Hi Rumaan," Bani said casually and then turning towards the table, proceeded to introduce everyone, "Jai, Ranveer, Nachiket, Pushkar, Pia…..and this is Rumaan….a friend." The last was said with a warning glance at Rumaan, who indicated with a slight nod that he understood.
Jai noticed the exchange. But he politely shook hands with Rumaan and invited him to join them for coffee. With a charming smile Rumaan declined the invitation and paused only long enough to remind Bani that they were going to meet tomorrow morning before taking his leave.
An odd silence gripped the table. And then everyone rushed into conversation except for Jai and Bani. As Jai asked for the check, Bani excused herself to go the ladies room. Ranveer and Nachiket got up to meet some friends of theirs who had just entered.
Pia gave a brittle laugh and spoke, "you look as if you are thinking unpleasant thoughts, Mr. Walia….or should I call you something else now that you are going to marry my elder sister?"
"Mr.Walia will do quite well," Jai said with icy formality. His patience was at an end. As an employee who was competent, he overlooked her silly attempts to attract his interest and her flirtatiousness. But she was intolerable as a person. And he saw no reason to have to put up with her.
Pia understood a lot of what was going through Jai Walia's mind concerning her. She instinctively knew that by the time the dinner had ended he had come to regard her with distaste. Oh, he hid it well behind his impeccable manners but that did not alter the fact that not only did he not find her attractive physically (which was enough to stupefy her) but that he also did not respect her as a person. And that infuriated her. And that he clearly wanted Bani was enough to send her over the edge. She knew what she was about to do was stupid but she was beyond caring. All she wanted was to make Bani's life a little unhappier. And punish Jai Walia.
So it was with reckless abandonment that she spoke next. Pia was not a fool. She had not missed the subtle tension that gripped Bani and Jai. Or the fact that Rumaan had irritated Jai. Or even the fact that Jai did not seem to know much about Bani's past.
"so when is the happy occasion to be?' she asked.
"we haven't decided as yet," Jai returned curtly.
"I presume we are going to be invited…..even though…..well, I guess we are over the awkwardness now," she said with a bright smile and the faintest hint of malice.
"Pia…" Pushkar said warningly.
"what?" she asked Pushkar with false innocence, "arre, I'm sure Jiju…I mean Mr.Walia knows all about it…"she trailed off deliberately, throwing Jai an arch look, expecting him to ask the obvious question.
But he remained stubbornly silent, enjoying the flash of frustration that swept over Pia's face. He was curious as hell, but he also knew for a fact that he was not going to participate in whatever silly game Pia was playing.
Disconcerted by his silence, Pia persevered nonetheless. "No seriously Pushkar, I am sure Mr.Walia knows about Bani di's past life. And I am sure that di is over you now, I mean she was in love with you a long time ago...."
The silence that followed was thunderous. A muscle beat visibly in the throat of Jai and it was a tribute to his tremendous will power that he restrained himself from giving in to the murderous rage that engulfed him. Pushkar's blanched face was suspended midway between Pia and Jai.
Pia having dropped the bombshell she wanted, got a little more than she had bargained for. Looking into the still face of Jai for the first time she began to feel afraid. But as the silence continued she began to relax.
Bani ran cool water over her wrists and tried to think beyond the impending sense of disaster and the headache that gripped her. What on earth was the matter with Jai? And Pia? Where do I even begin to deal with tangled skeins this blasted evening had brought with it, she wondered aloud in a bewilderment. She stood up straight, looked at herself in the mirror, and tried to give herself a talking to: ok, Bani. stop this. You have to get back out there and somehow make sense of all this. Can't I hide in one of the loo stalls, moaned a more harassed part of her mind.
Bani was still seriously engaged in a dialogue with herself when she noticed the apprehensive glance she was attracting from the well-groomed middle aged woman who had just walked into the ladies room. Bani gave her a wan smile, which was returned with an even more apprehensive glance, and squaring her shoulders, walked out of the ladies room.
She regretted her decision, and fervently wished that she had indeed stayed in the bathroom as soon as she reached the table. Jai looked silently furious enough to be contemplating murder, Pushkar looked terrified and Pia alternated between smugness and uncertainty. Bani's heart sank, that expression of smugness on Pia's face had never boded any good. If Bani's childhood memories were anything to go by, it meant that Pia had achieved whatever it was she had wanted, regardless of how much ruckus it caused for anyone else. Ranveer and Nachiket were absent.
As soon as Jai spotted her, he stood up, and barely managing to incline his head in what might be called, by a stretch of the imagination, a polite nod that was clearly meant to include both Pia and Pushkar, strode to Bani.
"Jai?" her voice was uncertain, half question and half plea.
"Let's go," he said curtly and without waiting turned and strode towards the entrance.
Bani hesitated for a split second, caught by both, his abruptness and the startled look on Pia's face, and then she followed Jai. Ranveer and Nachiket, who were returning to the table caught with Bani instead, puzzlement writ large on their face.
"what happened mami?" Ranveer asked quietly, "is everything allright?"
"I…yes, uh…Jai wants to leave…" Bani trailed off.
"ok, so bhai is anti-social but this is abrupt even for him…." Nachiket began and then brightening up, added "or maybe, he suddenly wanted to be all alone with bhabi!"
Ranveer looked at the tense set of Jai's shoulder's as he stalked ahead of them and Bani's troubled face, and cut Nachiket off mid jest with a gesture, and taking Bani's arm, began to quicken their pace. Puzzled Nachiket followed suit.
At the table, Pushkar finally found his voice after two attempts, which produced nothing but a croak.
"Pia, tum pagal ho gayi ho kya?"
"how dare you Puskar?" Pia quivered with outrage, and standing up prepared to make a dramatic exit.
She was prevented by the waiter who came to present the bill.
To all those of you have continued to wait with such unswerving patience: my apologies for the delay. But now i will complete TFS.
Thanks
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