Hi all! You know I always try and finish all my responses before I update, but 2 stalkers have been emotionally blackmailing to update before the weekend is over - and since I haven't gone to bed yet, it is still technically Sunday! So Rads and Divu - 😛 😉 😆
Thanks for the great comments once again, and sorry if this part is again a little boring! 😳 Have a great Monday! 😃
CHAPTER 3
Across the other side of the city, in the very grandiose office that had once belonged to Uday Walia, the object of Bani's musings sat lost in thought.
As soon as Jai Walia, CEO of his father's empire, had inherited the office the first thing he had done was strip the room down to its base and re-furnish it all over again.
Gone was the ostentatiously designed fireplace with the dark wooden carvings and Notre-Dame-esque gargoyles at each end of the mantelpiece.
Gone was the sycophantic self-portrait that hung imposingly above it – intended to evoke awe and admiration, in Jai it had only ever invoked a rebellious scowl that he would never have shown his father in person.
The flamboyant chandelier, the large mahogany desk that reminded the cowering employee on the other side just how important his boss was, the blood-red curtains draped over the windows, the shady brown wooden floor… all of it, stripped and sent to the local junkyard.
In their place Jai had covered the windows with Venetian blinds, blocking the glare of the sun, yet allowing him the calming view of the sea from his desk.
The desk itself was new as well – just as large – but much less imposing. He preferred the freshness of a teak effect rather than the pomposity of mahogany... the whole room was lighter, not so claustrophobic... the intimidating portrait of his father replaced by an enlarged framed photo of himself and his mother - one of her last.
Colleagues, clients, friends... all commented on the beauty of the smiling Krishna Walia... teasing him about how cute he had looked in his late teens, hugging her tightly and grinning mischieviously at the camera. But that photo did not serve as a beautiful reminder of his mother to her son - only he knew his reason for placing it there, in his sightline, so he would see it and remember her every day.
The photo was not a happy memory, it was a painful warning. From that photo Jai's mother screamed to him, "Don't make the same mistake I did son, don't ruin your life for someone else, don't give your heart away only to have it walked all over and thrown back at you... it's safer to keep people at arms length... no girl is worth the misery she might bring you..."
Jai's mother would never have said those words to him - and he knew that. He knew that given the choice she would make the same mistakes again - leave everything for her husband, give him her heart and soul, not caring what she got in return... but he conveniently ignored that aspect of his mother's nature... he saw things as he chose to.
Thus, he chose to build a wall around his heart. A wall that no girl had ever got close enough to even touch...
...until now.
"So… you experienced the fallout of one bad relationship… and you gave up on love altogether…?"
Her voice invaded his thoughts… windchimes… that's what she sounded like… windchimes dancing in a soft cool breeze…
He saw her image in front of him, but everything moved in slow motion… he was holding her in his arms, a tiny smile on her face, the heavy curtains of her eyelashes fell once… twice… as she blinked her eyes open focussing straight on him.
A loud bang startled him out of his reverie!
"Wow Jai, I didn't realise you found Excel spreadsheets so interesting!!" Jai was dragged mentally kicking and screaming from his thoughts by a deep and smooth voice.
Extremely irritated, Jai looked up to see his best friend Ranveer leaning on a large box of files he had just dumped on top of the desk.
Ranveer was perhaps not blessed with Jai's Adonis-like presence, but he certainly came close! He had a fair countenance and light brown eyes, and his cheeky smile was much more flirtatious than he often intended it to be!
His father and Jai's father had been business partners and close friends – the tradition had been continued happily by their sons. While it was true that Jai was the CEO of his father's business kingdom, as Vice-President of the company, Ranveer put in just as much hard work and time. The two of them had maintained the company's reputation and expanded its standing in the business community tenfold in as many years.
Ranveer: We are supposed to be meeting with Damask Inc in ten minutes and you are still looking at accounts?!
Jai: No… no, I was just… I wasn't concentrating sorry… it's been a long night.
Ranveer: I know… me too. 30th birthday parties are never usually quiet…. You know what friends are like, champagne all night, any excuse to celebrate…
Jai: Ranveer, I-
Ranveer: I was expecting the presence of my best friend too, but perhaps he was too busy to attend… lekin theek hai, I still had a good night… he hasn't even explained his absence yet but-
Jai: Ok ok I take the hint, you can stop it now!!
Ranveer, innocently: Stop what?! Maine kya kaha?!
Jai: Stop the guilt trip ok! I was on my way to your party and stopped to buy your birthday card when-
Ranveer: Sirf birthday card?! It's my 30th yaar!
Jai: Are you going to listen to me or not?!
Just as Bani had done with Laxmi, Jai explained exactly what had happened to him the night before. The difference was that he explained the situation factually – no emotions involved – they got locked in, they chatted, decided to keep in touch – bas!
But Ranveer wasn't stupid, neither was he blind.
Ranveer: "Bas…"? You just thought it would be nice to keep in touch with her?
Jai, looking away: Ye… yes… she was a sweet girl, nice to talk to…
Ranveer: Liar.
Jai looked indignant, and seeing the small smirk on Ranveer's face his annoyance increased.
Jai: What do you mean?!
Ranveer: Tumhara chehra saaf-saaf bataa raha hai how "sweet" she was!
Jai rolled his eyes: Not again Ranveer! You are obsessed with fixing me up! Yeah ok… she was cute… but-
Ranveer: -but nothing Hitler Walia!
Jai scowled at Ranveer's deliberate use of the name he had often surreptitiously heard his employees calling him.
Ranveer: I have known you since we were kids – and the look on your face when you were talking about her… I've never seen you smile like that Jai. That girl was something special… wasn't she?
Jai stood up and took the box of files from under Ranveer's hand, causing him to lose his balance and topple onto the desk. Without a word he picked up his briefcase, hitched the box under his arm and walked towards the door.
Ranveer called out: Walking away just confirms my thoughts Jai, you can hide it from the world, but you can't hide it from me!! She made the great Jai Walia look lovestruck, she must be a girl worth meeting, and believe me, I will find out who she is!!
Jai sighed and shook his head: Sherlock ke bachche! I told you na, she has my number… she'll call, and maybe – if you behave – you'll get to meet her too!! Ab apni bak-bak bandh karo, we're late for the meeting!
With that Jai walked out of the office, trying hard to hide the smile surfacing on his face.
Ranveer turned around, picked his briefcase up and straightened his tie. He made his way to the door, past the picture of Jai and Krishna Walia – a woman he had loved as a mother in place of his own who had died before he was old enough to call her that. He stopped and turned back to look at the picture, gazing lovingly at her kind face.
Ranveer: Aap fikar mat karna Ma… if this girl is as special as you were, I promise, I'll make sure she becomes Mrs Hitler whether he likes it or not!
*************************************
One week later…
Bani leaned close to the mirror, tracing a well-manicured fingernail along the edge of her mouth, making sure her shimmery pink lipstick stayed just where it was supposed to!
Looking at the clock she brushed her long shiny hair once more, critically appraised her reflection and rolled her eyes.
"I don't even want to go out with Tarun," she sighed, "why am I still making an effort?!"
Laxmi knocked on her door: Ready Bani Rani?
Bani glared at her.
When Tarun had called her last Sunday to cancel their date due to a problem with the delivery of his new Merc, she had been less than disappointed. When he had said those famous last words "I'll call you…" she hadn't expected him to actually do that – in fact, she had suspected that he had only re-arranged their date so that he could obtain an opportunity to stand her up in the same way that he thought she had done the night before.
But unfortunately, or fortunately – she wasn't even sure – he had called back yesterday afternoon hoping to reschedule.
Laxmi: Tarun's waiting in the lounge.
Bani sarcastically: Whoop-dee-doo!!
Laxmi: Why are you in such a foul mood Bani?! If you really hate the idea so much toh phir manaa kardo na! Tell him you are still pining for an erased telephone number!
Bani glowered: Why do you have to rub it in? Why are you being so mean to me?! As it is, it's been a horrible week and-
Laxmi: It hasn't been a horrible week at all, you are just still in a bad mood about your Mr. Cynical.
Bani opened her mouth to refute Laxmi's words, but knew she couldn't do it. She knew it was true – ever since she had realised she had washed away her contact with the man who she hadn't been able to stop thinking about for a week, everything had seemed bleak and grey.
She had tried to recreate the number from memory but after hearing about 38 people shout "wrong number" in her ear, she had given up. She had trawled through directories looking for his residential number – but unsurprisingly, he was unlisted.
Twice she had swallowed her fears and called his office, but the matronly cold voice of his senior receptionist had left her babbling like an idiot until she slammed the phone down and cursed her spinelessness.
Laxmi: Now stop gaping at me and go! The sooner you leave, the sooner you can come back home and start moping again!
Laxmi was well and truly tired of Bani feeling sorry for herself – she was not the kind of friend who would sit and sympathise with Bani, allowing her to sulk and wallow in self-pity. Laxmi was very practical, a pragmatic girl. Perhaps it was what made her a good economics teacher!
Bani, being an english literature and drama teacher, was a little more prone to just that – drama! She had a tendency to get so emotionally involved in a situation that she couldn't see clearly in front of her – quite often unable to see the wood for the trees.
In this sense, the two were the perfect foil for each other – notwithstanding the inevitable arguments their differing personalities led to.
Bani's face fell and she turned to walk out of the room. Feeling guilty Laxmi hurried after her quickly clasping her in a bear hug that eventually had Bani smiling once more.
It didn't matter how much they might argue – Bani and Laxmi were not just best friends, they were sisters – the voice of reason in each others' heads.
Laxmi: Ab chalo, show me that beautiful smile! I know you don't want to go but it's just one date, and then you politely tell him that it's better if you just remain acquaintances. Ok? Then when you get home I'll call Nachiket and see if he has managed to find Mr Cynical's number through his business contacts. Theek hai?
Bani smiled and they hugged. Checking her make-up one final time, Bani finally went to the lounge to meet her date.
"Look on the bright side," she thought, "at least he's taking you to your favourite restaurant for dinner!"
*************************************
The restaurant, as usual, was rammed full with the crme de la crme of Mumbai society. Tarun, quite proud of the fact that he had managed to secure a reservation, finally shut up about his new car to converse with the maitre d'.
Bani looked around the restaurant in admiration of the beautiful dcor and elegant ambience. She made a mental note to remind Nachiket to bring Laxmi here in the future. Both the girls loved the restaurant, but on their salaries, it wasn't possible to make it much more than an annual visit!
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of loud laughter and she looked over towards the back of the room.
A group of 18 to 20 people sat at a large round table and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying whatever it was that a fair and handsome young man was telling them. Gesticulating towards the man sitting opposite him, she jumped again as the large group burst out into noisy laughter once more. The dark-suited man had his back to her, but something about him looked…. vaguely familiar…
A large ornate mirror on the wall in front of him offered her a reflection of his face, but before she could look properly Tarun patted her shoulder, beckoning for her to follow them to a table at the opposite wall.
If Bani had been expecting a gentleman, she was perhaps to be disapppointed. As Tarun took his own seat, Bani was surprised that he had not even tried to take her seat out first… she didn't need a man to pull her chair out for her… but the gesture would have been nice!
As she sat she heard the group at the opposite wall dissolve into laughter again and looked over. The dark-suited man who had looked familiar still had his back to her, and the position of his glass in front of him obscured his face from her sightline.
Tarun: They sound like they're having a good time!
Bani: Yes… some business dinner probably… client-schmoozing as Nachiket calls it!
Tarun: Nachiket…?
Bani: Laxmi's fiance… you know Laxmi, she-
Tarun: Ah yes! She's the lovely lady who set us up! I hope you remembered to thank her!
Bani balked, wondering whether he was joking, or whether he really was so arrogant as to suggest Laxmi deserved praise for setting Bani up with him!
She laughed awkwardly, deciding to let it pass. She took a deep breath and thanked the waiter for the wine list he was holding out to her. If the night was to continue this way then she would most definitely need a Pinot Grigio for company!!
*************************************
On the other side of the room, the dark-suited man looked up into the mirror in front of him as a pink sparkle caught his eye. His heartbeat sped up as he recognised the girl he saw in the mirror… the girl who seemed to be quite enamoured by the handsome, well-dressed fellow opposite her… the girl he hadn't been able to stop thinking about all week long.
"Bani…?" he said uncertainly, causing the fair and handsome man opposite him to look up.
One look at his face, and it didn't take Ranveer long to comprehend exactly whom Jai was referring to.
Cricket
Anupamaa
