Hi guys!
I'm finally back! Sorry it took me so long. I had so much going on at work and then my vacation came and I kind of totally forgot about writing Zindagi lol! I guess I was having too much fun with my family to even think about writing.
I hope you guys are still interested in reading Zindagi. If not, please do let me know so I don't waste my time writing.
Another note, I do realize I screwed up on the ages of Jigs, Jai and Ronit as well as Anu, Ranveer and Sahil. I have thought of a way to fix that error and will edit the last chapter sometime this week to fix it.
Thanks to Rivya and others for pointing that out to me.
Anyways, hope you like this chapter. Looking forward to your comments!
Happy Reading!
Anam
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Chapter 121
Ronit's eyes widened. His heart began pounding and his palms were sweaty. He glanced over at Anjali who gave him an encouraging nod and he turned back to Jai. "I'd like that" he whispered.
"All right" Jai smiled. He was almost as nervous as his brother when he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.
"Jai, why don't you use my phone" Anjali suggested. "The reception's bound to be better than a cell phone and I think this call warrants it." She handed Jai and Ronit each a portable phone.
"Thanks Anju" Jai replied with a heartfelt smile.
"Come on Bani" Anjali called, "why don't you and I take care of these dishes while they talk to Mausi?"
"Lead the way" Bani agreed readily. They each gave their other halves an encouraging smile and disappeared into the kitchen.
He motioned for Ronit to pick up his phone after he dialed the number he knew by heart. Together they waited for someone to answer.
"Hello?"
"Anu!" Jai said smiling. He glanced at Ronit who was grinning from ear to ear.
"Mamaji! Oh my god, thank god you've called. We've been waiting for you to call" Anu said in her usual upbeat manner. "You made it there all right? How's Bani di doing? Have you found Ronit mama yet? Have you felt any after shocks? Mausi said the news reported they're still having them…"
"Whoa Anu!" Jai laughed. "Slow down. Is Mausi there?" Ronit couldn't keep the grin off his face. Anu sounded just like Jai described. Full of life.
"What mamaji? You don't want to talk to your only niece?"
"Anu, my jaan you know I love you but I need to talk to Mausi. Is she there?"
"Yes mamaji, she's right here. Let me get her for you."
While Jai waited for mausi to come on the line he cupped his hand over the receiver and softly said, "Kids!" Ronit got a big chuckle out of it and it helped dissipate his nervousness.
"Jai!" Mausi said relief evident in her voice. "I've been waiting for your call. I am glad you and Bani made it to California in one piece."
Ronit caught his breath when he heard the woman who was always like a second mother to them come on the line. His heart was pounding again. He began pacing nervously, yet it was a nervousness he welcomed.
"We sure did Mausi" Jai smiled. "I'm sorry I didn't call sooner but we sort of got distracted."
"Distracted?" Mausi repeated in a worried tone. "Tell me you were not caught in one of those aftershocks I've been hearing about on the news."
"No, it's nothing like that, Mausi" Jai said.
Mausi suddenly developed a lump in her throat. "You've found him, haven't you munna?" She asked.
"I have Mausi" Jai replied, his voice cracking. "He's with me right now."
"You've found him" Mausi choked out. Tears began flowing freely down her cheeks. She held her hand to her quivering lips for a moment. "Baghwan ka lakh lakh shukar hai!"
Ronit smiled, now he knew why he understood Hindi so well. Though his features were dark, he could have passed for many nationalities and until today had no idea of his heritage.
"Mausi, he wants to talk to you, but there's something you need to know before he does. Ronit had some sort of accident and has no memory prior to it. He doesn't remember much about his life in India at all."
"I always knew he would never leave his family of his own volition" Mausi said through her tears. "We shall help him munna. We shall help your brother regain his memory and make new memories of his family. Please, may I speak with my son? May I talk with Ronit?"
"Of course Mausi" Jai said, a Cheshire grin lighting up his face.
"Jai, mujhe samjh nahi a rahi ke kaise tumhara shukriya ada karoon? Thank you for finding Ronit."
"Thank you Mausi" Jai replied with a glint in his eyes, "but you might want to thank Anju for that one."
"Kya matlab?" Mausi questioned.
"I'll let my brother tell you all about it" Jai grinned. He nodded to his brother. It was time for him to talk to mausi. Ronit stopped his pacing and swallowed hard.
"Hello, Mausi?" Ronit said after taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.
As happy as Mausi had been when Jai told her he'd found Ronit it was nothing like the happiness she felt in her heart hearing his voice. Her heart swelled with joy hearing the voice of her first born nephew. How she wished he were there in person so she could wrap her arms around him, hold him close and never let him leave.
"Ronit, I have prayed everyday since you left that one day you would return to us. Oh Ronit, I am so happy to hear your voice."
Ronit had another brief flash when he heard mausi speak to him.
"I'll pray for you Ronit. Dekhna agar Baghwan ne chaha toh tum zaroor apni class mein top karoge. " his mausi said, a loving smile etched on her face as she played with the dark bangs that fell onto his forehead. "I have faith you will do well Ronit. You have studied hard and with God watching out for you, I know you will succeed."
"Thank you Mausi" the young teenager smiled. "You always know how to make me feel better."
"I'm happy to hear your voice too Mausi" Ronit said, his heart filled with warmth. "I've missed hearing your voice."
"Oh Ronit" Mausi cried in happiness. "I can not wait to see you. Will you be coming home with Jai and Bani?"
"We really haven't discussed it" Ronit said. He realized at that moment his life really was going to change. "But don't you worry; I want nothing more than to see you and the rest of the family. Maybe it will jog my memory a little. God, I've missed out on all these years with my family. I am so sorry for having left…"
"Do not apologize to me beta" Mausi said. "We have you back now. That is all that truly matters. Why you left is not important."
"Maybe not" Ronit said thoughtfully, "but I'd really like to know what happened. I'd almost given up on ever finding out who I really am and then wham; Jai comes barreling into Anjali's living room."
"You are acquainted with Anjali?" Mausi asked curiously.
"You could say that Mausi" he replied with a sheepish grin. "We…umm…"
"Haan haan bolo, tell mausi about Anjali and yourself" Jai teased
"Woh mausi…Anjali…" Ronit tried to explain.
"Oh my god! You were Rishab? Her young man? Bilkul Jai par gaye ho tum bhi. He was acting just like you are right now when he was afraid to admit his feelings for Bani."
"Yes Mausi, I've been using the name Rishab Singhania, until a few hours ago that is."
"This is truly amazing" Mausi said smiling. "Anjali is a fantastic woman. She's been a wonderful friend to Jai and Bani, both. I often wondered why Jai and Anjali never chose to date since they were such good friends, but seeing Jai with Bani now, I know he could never love another woman the way he does Bani."
"Ah, that's right" Ronit grinned, turning to look at his brother. "I owe Jai a big thank you. I told Anjali earlier today I wanted to thank the man that let her get away."
"You're welcome" Jai said with a playful smirk. Mausi again was brought to tears, hearing the friendly banter between her two oldest children.
"Do you love Anjali, Ronit?" Mausi asked even though she had an idea of what Ronit meant to Anjali.
"Umm…woh mausi…mein…"
"Woh…mein kya laga rakhi hai. It's a simple question beta. Yes or No?"
"Yes" Ronit said nervously
Mausi smiled knowingly. She always loved Anjali like a daughter and she wanted nothing but happiness for both Anjali and Ronit.
Mausi and Ronit chatted for a while longer and then he talked briefly to Anu, Sahil, and Ranveer who were almost as excited as Mausi. By the time Ronit got off the phone with his family, he felt like hopping on a plane right then go meet them all.
"Wow" Ronit laughed when he got off the phone. Anjali and Bani were just returning from having finished all the dishes in the kitchen. "That was amazing. They are amazing."
"Just wait until you meet them. They are terrific people" Jai said proudly.
"Jai is right" Anjali commented. "If you had to choose a family, they'd be on top of the list. No wonder I love you so much."
Ronit smiled at Anjali. "That goes both ways, you know. I really am looking forward to meeting all of them. They seem wonderful."
"Why not go back with Jai and Bani?" Anjali suggested. "You can get to know your family and I'll even meet you there for the wedding."
"That's right!" Ronit grinned. "You two are getting married next month."
"Christmas Eve to be exact" Bani smiled.
Ronit's eyes lit up at the thoughts of being home for Christmas. The holidays were always the hardest for him and the thought of spending the Christmas holidays with the family he'd lost was very enticing.
"I'd love to" Ronit said thoughtfully. "Jai, can you and Bani give me a few days to get some stuff dealt with? I'll have to make arrangements at my stores."
"No problem" Jai grinned. "Besides, since we're here we should probably take advantage of what the West coast has to offer. And, I'd love to see your stores. My brother, the successful Walia."
"Okay then. Let's do it. Shall we plan to leave Friday? That should give me enough time to get my affairs in order."
"Friday it is then" Jai smiled. "God it's good to have you back."
"It feels good little brother" Ronit smiled. "It really feels good."
To be continued…
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
