Part Two…
Bani came out of her bathroom, drying her head with a towel. She was wearing a pair of casual white three quarter pant and cotton baby pink t shirt. She stood in front of the mirror and stared at her reflection for a while. A sigh came out of her mouth.
The T shirt said, "Mamma's Girl". Her father would always be so angry if she wore this T. "This is not fair nightingale, you are my girl, not your mother's."
He won't ever come back to call her nightingale again, her mother won't ever come back to smirk at her father when he'd admit defeat that their daughter loves her mom better.
"Aisa kyon ho gaya Mamma? Kyon hua aisa papa?" she asked softly. "Kitne khush the hum sab ek sath, ap dono, mai aur Bhaia. Kyon?"
She closed her eyes unable to face herself anymore.
"Heaven only knows what lies before me
Heaven only knows what all my searching is for
All my life I've waited for a miracle
But I can't ask for anything more, no more."
Miracle, yes what is it if it is not miracle. Everything was alright. But suddenly everything changed..
Flashback
"Mamma, ap kabhi nehi sudhrogi, kitne bare ho, abhi saree nehi pehen na shikha?" said Bani crossly as she neatly tied up her mother's Saree pallu with a pin. "Kuch nehi ata hai apko. Apki sari kam main karti hu. Na apko saree pehen na ati, na jwellery match karna, na make up karna..uff."
Her mother smiled at her, "Kyon, mere beti hain na mere pass, to mujhe yeh sab karne ki kya jaroorat. Isi liye to beti hoti hain."
"Hmph, keh diya aur ho gaya, try to understand mom, you are the one that was supposed to help me dress up."
"Abhi taiyar nehi hua? Kya karti ho?" asked her father from the door.
"ofho Dad, wait karo na. Ek ghante se keh raha hu aur pach minute…" Bani herself giggled at her joke. "Lo, mamma bilkul ready. Dad be careful. Kahi kisine pasand kar li to?" her Dad just rolled his eyes.
"Bani beta, be a good girl. Bhaia se jhagra mat karna, ok?" said her mom.
"Ok, jhagra nehi karungi, main marungi,wo mar khayegi. I'm the terror of the north sea." Bani tried to sound like a pirate, "Yoo hoo hoo and a bottle of Ram"
"Now my sweety nightingale, your voice doesn't suit with pirate songs…" warned her Dad.
"Dad, is this a compliment or not? Thora shidha bat karo na, main budhdhu hu, kuch samajh nehi ata." Bani made a sad face.
Her dad raffled her hairs and they both left for a wedding party, leaving her and her brother alone at home.
Bani never knew it would be her last conversation with her parents.
She was reading a book, when her brother came to her room, face pale and white. "Bani.." bani looked up, alarmed.
Her brother never calls her in her real name if it is not something serious "Bhaia, kya hua, sab thik hai na?"
"Bani, mom.. Dad…" he holded his sister in his arms and broke down crying.
End of Flashback
Bani never know how three months passed after that fateful night, her Mom and Dad died in a car crash. Her brother, Nihan, went to the residential halls of BUET, to stay. He was a student of fourth and final year. He was also an assistant teacher of NDC, he got the job through honorary post, for his splendid academic performance.
Bani, however, came to live with her chacha and chachi. Major Raj Dixit and Mrs Payel Dixit. They both are very nice and full of life. They took her just like their daughter. They have two sons, twins actually. Sahil and Shiv, both reading in class 4. Payel always wanted a daughter. But when she gave birth to her twins, she was told that she won't be able to conceive again. So she took Bani in whole heartedly.
Bani was a strong girl, she took the tragedy. But since then she changed a lot. She changed her school shift and dropped all the extra curricular activities she did. She just lost the confidence and interest of life.
………………………
Jai was walking towards the computer lab, in a hurry. Then he saw him, "God, help me. I don't want to be seen by him right now.." But poor Jai! God doesn't listen to him often.
"Jai Walia, where are you going, I've to talk with you."
Jai muttered, "Mar gayi aj."
"where were you yesterday? Class pe to nehi the. Attendance ki marks kam ho jayegi to HSC me jake phas jaogi, yaad hai ke nehi?"
"Oh Titash sir, I just, erm, caught into something."
"something??? Girlfriend?" Titash winked. Jai groaned, "yeh admi teacher hai ya meri dost?"
Sir Vincent Titash Rojario was one of the youngest teachers of NDC, in fact there was only one teacher who was younger than him. Titash Rojario is an excellent teacher but he has sharp eyes as an eagle and clever mind as Sherlock homes. He never fails to notice who misses class in which day. And being very close to almost every student, he can easily demand why they were missing.
"Sir, yeh, ahem.."
Titash Rojario winked again and said, "No worry, go, computer Lab is waiting for you." He suddenly lowered his voice and said, "But Jai, it is the last time. Next time ayengi na to shidha jake Terence Sir ko bata dunga." He grinned at Jai and left him, Jai could listen him whistle as he passed.
"God, mere hi life me kyon yeh sab character ko laya ho, ek Colonel bap, Dr housewife Mom, stupid brother, snobby sister, nosy teacher, silly student.. Where should I go.." he entered the lab still complaing to himself.
Hope you are still awake, let me know if you have liked it or not..
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
