Hi guys!
Had to start a new threard as Zindagi has reached over 150 pages.
Here's the link to Chapters 1- 108 http://india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=408222&KW=
Thank you all for your comments and PMs. Sorry for taking forever to update, but I've had a bit of writers' block and on top of it have not been feeling well for quiet a few days. Hopefully the next update will be sooner. If I get time tonight, I will try to update tomorrow.
Hope you all enjoy this update!
Happy Reading!
Anam
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Chapter 109
"I'll get it Mausi" Jai responded and he headed towards the door. He opened the door only to be greeted by Bani and Ruchika.
"Angel am I glad to see you" Jai said engulfing his fiance in a tight embrace. He kissed her tenderly on the lips and then pulled back and smiled at her. He then turned his attention towards his friend. "I'm glad to see you too Ruchika." He smirked at her and kissed her on the cheek.
"It's all right Jai" she grinned knowingly. "I understand completely."
"Did you guys already go to the temple?" Jai asked.
"We did" Bani said, "and then we came right here. Are you sure the man mausi saw was your brother Jai?"
"I haven't seen him but Mausi is certain," Jai answered. "I have to believe her. In all the time Ronit has been gone she never once thought she saw him. Why would she think that now unless it really was Ronit?"
"I hope it is him" Bani said. "That would be wonderful for Mausi and everyone to have him back."
"It would" Jai said thoughtfully. "But the last thing Mausi saw was this man falling off a ladder and that's when the aftershock hit and she lost the picture. She hasn't seen anymore news about him."
"Oh my god!" Ruchika said.
"Yeah, Mausi is frantic" Jai said. "I was just about to put a tape in the VCR so we can replay it when they get back to the feed from the West Coast…"
Just then a frantic Adi and Ranveer walked into the house. They both had been at the meeting and had no idea what was going on at home. Jai had left them a message as he didn't want to interrupt in the middle of the meeting with the foreign delegates.
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"What do we have here?" Dr. Edwards asked as the paramedics rushed through the ER doors with the man from the fire.
"A male in his late 20's early 30's that fell from a ladder approximately two stories and was then pinned under debris from a fallen entry way of a condominium. He's suffered smoke inhalation and we think a fractured right shoulder. His vitals are stable but he was unconscious when we extracted him from the rubble."
"Any response?"
"To deep pain only" the paramedic informed Dr. Edwards.
"Get him into room 5 and hook him up to the monitor. I want a stat portable chest x-ray, right shoulder and skull series. Then we'll need a CAT scan of his head. MOVE!" The nurses ran when they noticed the tone of the doctor's voice. "Does this man have a name?"
"He didn't have any ID on him. His clothes are pretty messed up. He might have lost his wallet in the building."
"Okay, for now he's John Doe # 6. Unfortunately he's not the only person who lost ID this morning."
The paramedics went to the nurse's station and filled out their required paperwork while the ER nurses readied Rishab for the numerous tests that would be ahead of him.
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Mausi watched the news in silence waiting for them to return to the West Coast and her patience was finally rewarded.
"Matt" Katie interrupted, "KNBC is back up and we're going to return to Patrick Healy and find out what's happening out there…"
"Patrick is everyone all right?" Katie asked.
"We're all fine here Katie and Matt" Patrick answered. "About fifteen minutes ago we experienced another earthquake, this one an aftershock from the one that hit at 4:37 this morning. Lucy Jones is here with us and has an update on our situation. Lucy…."
"Forty five minutes after the initial quake which measured approximately a 7.6 on the Richter scale an aftershock of approximately a 6.1was measured on the PALOS VERDES FAULT ZONE…"
Mausi listened to what was being said, but she wasn't really paying attention. She was more interested in getting back to the scene where she'd seen Ronit earlier. She was momentarily distracted when she heard the footsteps and saw Jai, Bani and Ruchika walking towards her.
"Anything Mausi?" Jai asked as he headed over to the bookcase to get the blank tape he'd gone to get earlier.
"They're back on the West Coast but right now it's just official information about the size of the aftershock and location. They haven't shown your brother again."
"Are you okay Mausi?" Ruchika asked concerned as Bani hugged her. "I'm fine" she said forcing a small smile. "Just in shock I imagine. Thank you for coming, both of you" she said acknowledging Ruchika.
Jai popped the tape in the VCR and hit record. He then offered Bani and Ruchika seats and all of them sat quietly and watched the coverage on the earthquake.
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"I do not understand this" Mausi said in complete frustration. "Why have they not returned to that apartment complex? Why won't they tell us what became of the man who was rescuing all those people?"
No one knew what to say. For the last two hours they'd watched scenes from numerous locations in and around Los Angeles; fires, falling buildings, daring rescues, blocked freeways, looting, flipped cars, cracked pavements, but not one sign of the man who was so prominent when the news first broke. They'd seen interviews with at least three different earthquake experts, the mayor and LA police chief, as well as learned all the emergency numbers to call so not to flood the 911 system with non emergencies. Jai did jot down the name of several shelters and hospitals mentioned where victims could go or might possibly be taken but still no more footage of the condo fire.
"I guess it's because there is so much to cover they couldn't stay in that one area" Jai offered as answer.
"How am I supposed to find Ronit?" Mausi asked. "Did he even survive the fall? How am I to know?"
"I don't know Mausi" Jai said after a moment. He could see mausi's heart breaking right in front of him and it was killing him. He had to do something. "You know what? I'm going to call NBC affiliate here right now and see what I can find out. Maybe I can get a copy of the tape from earlier."
"Jai, why don't you call NBC and I will call other channels who are also running this breaking news, maybe they will be able to provide us with some footage" Adi said as he started dialing on his cell phone.
"Yeah, good idea" Jai smiled. He nodded to Bani and she stood to join Jai.
"I'll go with him" she smiled. She walked towards her fiance and the two headed up to Jais' room so he could start placing some calls.
"Mausi" Ruchika said once Bani and Jai were out of earshot, "Why don't we take your mind off Ronit and go over the details for Bani's shower. It is tomorrow after all."
Mausi slowly nodded her head.
"That's a good idea Ruchika. We can't do anything about Ronit right now and we can't postpone this shower now can we?" Daadi said as she looked at mausi. She needed her friend to be strong right now and to get her mind off of all this, they needed to distract her.
"Yeah we shouldn't postpone the shower. I don't want anything to come between the wedding." Mausi said as she gave a weak smile.
"Not likely" Ruchika grinned. "After all, they are getting married in less than a month."
"Yes they are" Mausi agreed with a half smile. "Let's go into the kitchen and go over what we need to do."
"Good" Ruchika said. The three women went into the kitchen and began plans for the surprise wedding shower tomorrow afternoon.
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"This is unbelievable" Jai said in sheer frustration. "Two hours I've been on the phone. Our local station, NBC New York, NBC Los Angeles and no one can help. There must be some way to get that tape."
"What about Anjali?" Bani suggested. "She's a volunteer for the LAPD and she lives in the area. Maybe she can help you."
Jai sighed. "Maybe" he said. "Or she might chew my head off for calling her right now."
"Anjali won't chew your head off" Bani said. "And even if she can't help you, she might have a suggestion as to who can help."
"True" Jai said. "Okay, I'll give it a shot." Once again Jai picked up the phone, this time calling his Anju.
"Hello?" A rushed voice answered.
"Anju?" Jai questioned not sure he'd dialed the right number.
"Jai is that you? What's going on?" Anjali asked in surprise.
"Anju, I know this is a bad time for you but something happened earlier today. Mausi was watching the earthquake coverage on TV and saw Ronit."
"What? You're brother Ronit? Jai that's incredible" Anjali replied.
"Yeah it is incredible" Jai said. "The problem is the man she saw was injured in a fall when the aftershock hit and since then they've gone on to cover other disasters. They haven't gone back to that complex and Mausi is beside herself. I've tried to contact the network here and see if I could get a tape but no one wants to even listen to me."
"Jai, you know I'd love to help you. I'd do anything for you under normal circumstances but these circumstances are anything but normal" Anjali said.
"I know Anju" Jai frowned. "I figured that much but I had to try."
"Jai look, there's just no way I can do anything for you right now. But if you want to get your butt out here, I'm sure I can get the Beverly Hills PD to grant you privileges as a visitor. You could look for your brother and use the station as a base of operations. Heck, you can even work out of my office - that's the best I can do right now. Sorry jaan, but I can't do anything else for you, it's crazy here and we're up to our hips in alligators, you know."
"Yeah I know. We've been watching the news."
"Jai I got to run. Why don't you call Officer D'Souza and ask him if he can help you out. You're good friends with him and he might be able to get you more information out of there and may even grant you privileges from LAPD as a visitor for investigation from India. He's got big connections everywhere, I'm sure he'll be able to help you from your end and I'll try my best here for you.."
"I might just do that Anju" Jai said thinking about her idea. "Thanks for the suggestion."
"Oh and Jai? If you do come give it another 24-48 hours at least. We still might have a few sizeable aftershocks."
"Thanks for the warning. If I come I'll get a flight for Sunday."
"Call me and let me know when you decide to come."
"I will. Thanks Anju. Take care of yourself."
"You too Jai" Anjali said. "Bye."
"Bye" Jai said hanging up the phone.
"What did she say?" Bani asked.
"She's too busy at work with everything right now" Jai told her. "She suggested I come to California myself and look for Ronit or at least the tape. She said the Beverly Hills PD would grant me every courtesy as a fellow visitor."
"Jai, that's a great idea" Bani said excitedly. "This way you'll be right there. You might even be able to find him."
"Yeah I might at that" Jai replied. "And maybe I'll find out why he left us all those years ago."
"I want to come with you" Bani said quickly.
"Bani, it could be dangerous" Jai said with concern. "There still might be aftershocks. I don't want to expose you to any danger if I can help it."
"Jai, I appreciate your concern, really I do" Bani smiled. She reached up and caressed his cheek ever so gently, "but I want to be with you. I want to help you find your brother."
Jai gazed lovingly into Bani's sparkling eyes. "All right" he consented. "We'll find Ronit together and bring him home."
"Thank you" Bani grinned. She wrapped her arms around Jai and hugged him tightly.
"What about wedding plans?" Jai asked with a raised brow.
Bani frowned. "When will we leave?"
"Sunday" Jai said.
"Let's go talk to Ruchika. She'll let us know what has to be done immediately and we can take care of anything before we go. Beside, everything is done. Few little things are left and that can be done. Right now, finding your brother is much more important."
"And the Youth Center?"
"Tarun is there full time now. I'm sure they can do without me for a few days."
"All right then" Jai said with a grin, "Let's tell Mausi of our plans and get started."
Hand in hand Jai and Bani headed downstairs to inform Mausi of their plans to go to California.
To be continued…
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Bridal Shower? What, in India? 😆 I know lol! I've brought so much of western stuff into India with Zindagi Ka Safar so I figured, why not bridal shower too? If you guys have any ideas for it, please feel free to PM me. I'm open to all suggestion and ideas!
Thank you again for reading. Looking forward to your comments!
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
