JB: Zindagi Ka Safar (2) Imp. Note Pg 44 - Page 10

Originally posted by: swati_bhatia

👏
gr8 part
plz cont soon

Thank you!

Originally posted by: Sheena_Row

Hi Anam, Hi Sheena! 😛

I am glad Ronit/Rishab is out of the woods and gained consciousness - I am hoping that the truth comes out soon, glad he is thinking of Anju as his GF. yup...let's see what the past is. He better be thinking of Anju as his gf, after all those emails and times he's spent with her. lol!

Also glad Jai, Bani and company will finally be meeting Anju's JDD guy!! Yeah, it will be nice for Jai and Bani to finally meet the love of Anju's life.


Very nice update, except too short! Been sick for past few days so haven't been able to write much! Thanks for the comments Sheena!

Originally posted by: pooks

Another gripping part Anam. 👏 👏 Am glad that Rohir a.k.a Rishab is acknowledging Anju as his GF and I hope he comes clean with her soon. I am anticipating certain fireworks when he meets Jai and the truth comes out in the open that he is his long lost brother. Wonder how Anju would react to it.

Thanks! He will def. tell her about his past in the next few updates, plus she also has a past that she's been hiding so she will also tell him.

Anam

Originally posted by: bugs_bunny

so rishab is ronit?? right?? 😛 😛 yes yes he is! otherwise why would he say ronit?? hehe, he might be confused.

hahah!! yaya! i was right all along! (hopefully im not going way in over my head here) 😆 😆 you'll find out for sure if you were right or not.

really excited about your next update!!! thanks, will update soon.
continue soon!!

Originally posted by: Vedo

Gr8 update Anam!
👏
So he is Ronit? 😕
I wonder what it is he's hidden from Anju
Please continue soon

V.

Thank you. You'll find out what he's hiding from Anju in the next few updates.

Thanks again for the comments!

Anam

Thanks for the feedback guys! Loved reading all of your comments.

Finally the chapter most of you have been waiting for! I hope you all like it.

Looking forward to the comments.

Happy Reading!

Anam

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Chapter 114

"Jai this is so frustrating" Bani said as the duo met with yet another reporter who couldn't remember the man dubbed The Westminster Hero.

"I know angel" Jai sighed. "But I have faith we'll find someone who remembers. I'm grateful though that the people here are being so cooperative about talking to us. I bet when we do find someone who remembers we'll be able to find Ronit."

"Are you sure this is your brother?" Bani asked cautiously. She didn't want to upset Jai but after all his brother had been missing for 15 years and people can change a lot in that amount of time.

"I didn't see him Bani" Jai admitted. "Mausi did and she's certain it's Ronit. I have to believe Mausi would know her own family. She's never made a claim like this before in all the years Ronit has been gone." Bani nodded. Jai was right, if Mausi believed this man was her nephew, than the chances were he was indeed Ronit.

For the next hour Bani and Jai continued to question reporters at the station with no luck. Most of them were home in bed when the earthquake hit and once it did they immediately readied themselves for work as they knew they'd all be needed to cover different quake related stories. One of the people they ran into suggested they talk to Patrick Healy who was working the over night shift at the station the night of the earthquake. Both were excited when they finally got their first real lead and headed over to where they were told they could find the man.

Patrick Healy was sitting at a small desk going over copy when Jai and Bani found him. "Excuse me, are you Patrick Healy?" Jai asked.

"Yes, I'm Patrick Healy" he smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm Jai Walia and this is my fiance, Bani Malhotra" Jai introduced as he shook the reporter's hand. "We're from Mumbai, India."

"I'm very pleased to meet you both" Patrick smirked. "What brings you to LA, especially during an earthquake?"

"We're here about a clip we saw, actually one that my mother saw shortly after the earthquake hit" Jai explained. "Do you remember the story on The Westminster Hero? I think it was in Santa Monica."

Patrick furrowed his brow in thought. "Westminster and Santa Monica are no where near each other" he said.

"It was the name of an apartment or condo complex that was on fire" Bani added. "There was a man pulling people from the building. He was climbing down a ladder when an aftershock hit." Bani hoped her recollection would help jog the reporter's memory.

"Right!" Healy said suddenly. "I do remember that. That man was unbelievable."

Jais' heart began pounding. He swallowed hard before exchanging an excited glance with Bani.

"I need to find that man" Jai said trying to conceal the depth of his excitement. "I think he's my brother." Jai deliberately left out the part about Ronit being missing. "Do you know what name he was using by any chance?"

"I'm afraid not" Healy replied. "I've actually had several calls from viewers wanting to know what happened to the guy. He really made an impression on people."

"Do you at least know what happened to him?" Jai asked patiently. He was praying he wouldn't end up back at square one.

"I'm not 100% sure but I think they took him to the hospital. Seems to me he was rendered unconscious after the aftershock hit."

A wave of panic hit Jai like a ton of bricks. "The last thing my mother saw was my brother falling off a ladder and then the camera went crazy. That must have been when the aftershock hit."

"Why don't you try one of the hospitals in the area of the Westminster complex?" Healy suggested. "They might know something."

Jai nodded. "I have a list here a friend of mine compiled of all the area hospitals" he aid pulling the list from his pocket. "Would you know which ones are closest?"

Patrick took the list from Jai and glanced at it for a moment. "I'd try these two first" he suggested pointing to numbers two and seven on the list. "They'd be the most likely places and he would have been one of the first casualties so I don't think he'd have been diverted elsewhere."

"Thank you Mr. Healy" Jai smiled, extending his hand to the man.

"Good luck" Patrick replied shaking Jais' hand and smiling approvingly at Bani. "I hope your brother's okay. When you find him see if maybe he'll give us an interview. I'm sure there are some people out there that would love to hear what happened."

"I'll mention it to him" Jai promised. "Thanks again." With that Jai and Bani headed over to the first hospital Patrick Healy suggested. Hopefully he would soon find his brother.

-----------------

"Beverly Hills PD" Ryan answered the phone wearily. If ever there was a time he hated desk duty it was during a crisis. He'd be very grateful when things were back to normal and he was back at his own office rather than the police station.

"Ryan, its Rishab" Rishab said, his voice still slightly raspy.

"Rishab!" Ryan shouted excitedly. "Hey guys, it's Rishab on the phone. He's all right!" A few cheers could be heard in the squad room as Ryan delivered the good news. "Where the hell have you been buddy? Ritesh called here yesterday in a near panic. I have to tell you I was pretty worried myself when I couldn't get hold of you."

"I'm sorry I worried everyone" Rishab apologized. "I fell off a ladder when the first aftershock hit and the front of my building toppled down onto of me. I was knocked out. I must have lost my jacket during the commotion because I had no ID on me and I've been listed as a John Doe."

"Whoa" Ryan whistled. "Have you called Ritesh yet? He's going crazy. He calls here at least once an hour looking for an update."

"Not yet" Rishab said. "I need to get hold of Anjali first. She's not answering her cell phone. Is she there?"

"Anjali?" Ryan asked in surprise. "Anjali's been trying to track you down since Ritesh called me yesterday. I gave her that as an assignment."

"Is she there, Ryan?" Rishab asked. "I really need to talk to her." He wasn't in the mood to get into it with Ryan right now. He knew he'd have to answer some questions later but he didn't care. Right now he just needed to hear Anjali's voice.

Ryan looked over towards another officer's office where Anjali was and caught her closing the door on her way out. "Hey Anjali!" Ryan shouted across the squad room. "Phone call over here!"

Anjali acknowledged Ryan and walked over to his desk. Ryan's smile as he handed her the phone unnerved her slightly and she shot him a dirty look. "Anjali here" she answered still glaring at Ryan who looked like the cat who ate the canary.

"Anjali! God it's good to hear your voice" Rishab smiled contentedly

"Rishab" Anjali said sighing with relief. "Thank God you're all right. I've been looking for you. Where are you?" Anjali was so relieved to hear Rishab's voice she didn't care that Ryan was listening to everything she said; still, she made a mental note not to turn her cell phone off even for a few minutes.

"I'm in the hospital" he said "and I'm in desperate need of a visitor. I'm sure you must be busy…"

"I'm on my way" was all Anjali replied.

Rishab told Anjali where he was and she quickly jotted down his room number and ended the call. She glanced up at Ryan for a moment and smiled. "I'll be back Ryan!" she said and quickly walked out of the station. Anjali was on cloud nine. Rishab was all right and she'd be seeing him shortly.

--------------

Jai let out a frustrated sigh when he and Bani left the first hospital on their list. Silently he held the rented car door open for Bani while she got in the car and then walked over to his side and eased himself behind the wheel. He started the car and headed out into the late afternoon traffic.

"Where's the next hospital, Bani" Jai asked quietly. Bani was the navigator and picked up the copy of the Thomas Guide from the floor of the car that Anjali gave them at the police station and quickly located the next hospital on their list.

Bani glanced up from her directory and looked for a street sign. "It looks like it's about five miles north of here" she said. Jai just nodded and Bani knew how hard it must be for him going through all the ups and downs every time they had a lead.

"He might be at the next hospital Jai" Bani said with encouragement. "The woman at the information desk did say it's a much larger hospital."

"Maybe" Jai said with a smile. "I'm not giving up Bani. Far from it."

"Good" she said approvingly. They drove for a few more minutes in silence when Bani had a thought. "Jai, did you call Anjali? You told her you'd let her know when you found out something."

"I haven't found out anything yet" he said, "but I guess I can let her know where we're headed."

Jai pulled his cell phone from his pocket and punched the speed dial button for Anjali's cell phone. Just as he thought he was about to connect his phone began to ring.

"Hello" Jai said just as Anjali said "Anjali Mittal here."

"Anju?" Jai questioned. "I was just trying to call you."

"Does this mean we both have news?" Anjali chuckled.

"You certainly sound happy" Jai said noticing her upbeat tone. "I take it your news is good?"

"Rishab called. He's all right" Anjali said smirking into the phone. "I'm on my way over to see him now."

Jai turned to Bani and winked. "That's great news Anju. I bet you're relieved." Bani heaved a sigh of relief when she heard Rishab was all right.

"Jai, you have no idea" Anjali stated. "Enough about me, what's the news on your brother?"

"I'm not sure yet, but we do have a lead" Jai replied. "That's why I'm calling. Bani and I are on our way to St. John's hospital to see if maybe he's there. One of the newscasters at KNBC remembered the story about the man saving people in the fire and said he thinks he was taken to the hospital. We've already checked out the closest one to the apartment complex but the woman there told us St. John's is the biggest in the area, that he might be there."

Anjali laughed. "I'm on my way over to St. John's right now," she said. "Rishab was hurt during the earthquake and that's where he's been."

"Does that mean Bani and I can meet Rishab?" Jai asked with a sly grin.

"Of course you can" Anjali said. "Call me after you talk to admitting about your brother."

"Will do Anju" Jai said. Jai hung up the phone and turned to Bani. "Looks like Rishab is at St. John's. He was hurt in the earthquake."

"I hope he's okay" Bani replied.

"I'm sure he is" Jai said. "Anju wants us to meet him."

"Good" Bani smiled. "I'm looking forward to that."

----------------

"Hi there" Anjali smiled brightly as she walked into Rishab's hospital room.

Rishab opened his eyes and gazed directly at Anjali with a huge smile adorning his face. "You're the best sight I've seen since I woke up" he grinned. Anjali's heart fluttered when Rishab smiled at her. She always loved it when he looked at her like that but right now she was positively elated.

"I've missed you" she grinned, walking over towards his bed.

"Good" he said. "I guess what they say is true then, absence makes the heart grow fonder?"

Anjali was mere inches from Rishab's bed now and her heart was about to burst. "It's true" she smiled. "I was really scared there for awhile."

"No reason to be scared now" he said. "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere."

"Rishab…"

Before Anjali could finish her sentence, Rishab grabbed her and pulled her onto the bed next to him kissing her with such passion Anjali thought she'd died and gone to heaven.

For no other reason than each of them needed to breathe, their kiss slowly ended, leaving them both breathless. "Wow Rishab, that was some kiss" Anjali smirked.

Rishab chuckled, his eyes never leaving Anjali's. "I enjoyed it. That's all I've been thinking about since I woke up. Actually, it's all I've been thinking about since the earthquake hit."

"Kissing me?" Anjali asked in amusement. She raised her hand to stroke his face and her hand tingled when he kissed her palm.

"Anjali, I don't know exactly how to say this, so I'm just going to come right out and say it" Rishab said slowly. He pulled her close to him and she rested her head on his shoulder. "Anjali, when you and I met I wasn't looking for a relationship but there was just something about you that I couldn't resist."

"Must be my charm" Anjali said jokingly.

"Maybe" Rishab smiled. "Whatever it was I wanted to get to know you, but I still wasn't planning on anything serious. I deluded myself into thinking we could just date casually, you know, nothing long term."

"Long term means commitment" Anjali replied thoughtfully. "It means learning what you can about each other, sharing hopes and dreams for the future, sharing events from your past and not judging the other person."

"Exactly!" Rishab said. "I'm not ready for that… What I mean to say is I didn't think I was ready for that but everything's changed."

"What do you mean?" Anjali asked, though she had a pretty good idea where he was going with this.

"Anjali, I'm crazy about you" Rishab confessed. "There was a moment there where I thought I was a goner and the only thought on my mind was telling you how much I love you."

Anjali pulled away and gazed into Rishab's eyes. The look of pure love in his deep brown eyes told her all she needed to know. She felt her eyes well with tears and a small smile tug at the corners of her lips. "I'm glad to hear you say that Rishab, because all I could think about myself the last few days is how much I love you too. I felt like my heart was being ripped out thinking that something terrible happened to you."

Rishab raised his head to the side and grinned. He leaned in and kissed Anjali again, this time their kiss was gentle but it held the same passion as their earlier one.

Rishab pulled away and just stared at the woman he loved. No one had ever made him feel things like Anjali did and he wanted to feel that way for the rest of his life, but he knew he had to come clean with her. "Anjali, there is something you need to know about me" Rishab said seriously.

"You can tell me anything, Rishab" Anjali whispered, gazing at him adoringly. "I assume this is something about your past?"

"How did you know that?" Rishab asked.

To be continued…