Posted:
Here is a short story I've written. I'm going to post it in 2 parts. Once i'm done with the 2nd part, I'll post it ASAP.
Part 1:
A snowflake, gliding down towards its destination, finally falling to the ground, mixing with the rest of the snowflakes, until it creates a white blanket. Bani loved to watch the snowfall. It felt so enthralling and invigorating. Each snowflake was so monotonous, yet so unique, each with its own intricate designs. Ever since her father took her out for her first winter, all she remembers from that day is how much she loved the snow. She'd seen 12 more winters ever since that first one, and she'd loved each one just as much as the other, each with their own memories.
Bani had been living in New York for her whole life, and she'd loved it. Although it did get sordid at times, with it's crowded roads, and polluted air; she wouldn't leave it for the world. Staring outside the window, looking at the snowfall, she noticed something different. There was a moving van outside. "Dad, the new neighbors are here. Do you think we should go meet them?"
Bani only had a father. Of course, she had had a mother once too, but she left them for another man, and moved to California. Bani did have the occasional birthday call, and of course her mother sent presents over for Christmas, but other than that, they didn't really keep in touch. Bani couldn't bear to see the woman's face, after all that she made her and her father go through. Her father was all she had now. He was more than a father, he was a father, mother, and friend rolled up into one person and she loved him more than anything in the world.
"Sure princess, let's go meet them right now. Maybe invite them over for dinner. It's nice to show hospitality towards them; after all, the neighbors were so nice to us when we first moved here" her father said with a hint of pride in his voice. Her father loved to meet new people. After all, with new people came new experiences. He'd probably go around the whole world if he had enough money or time. His business took up most of his time already, but he would never let that affect their relationship. He was always home when he promised to be, and if he was going to be late, he always called. Bani understood how tough it was to be a single parent. Of course, she had no personal experience in that category, considering she was 12, but she was mature for her age. She understood what most 20 year olds would fail to comprehend. She'd always lend a helping hand towards her father whenever she saw it necessary.
"Oh dad, do you think they have any kids my age? I hope so. It would be nice to have someone else to play with other than Pooja." Pooja lived across the street from them. She was 5'3, one inch taller than Bani, and had glasses. Her hair was always in a braid, with her usual overalls and sneakers. Although she was very kind, she did get annoying at times. She was always so perky and joyful. She had followed Bani around everywhere when she had first moved here. At first, it had been very annoying, but eventually, they came to like each other and became friends.
They closed the door, locked it, and headed out towards the house next door, creating footprints in the snow as they headed to their destination. Once they reached the house, they ascended the stairs leading towards the front door and rang the bell. They waited patiently for a few minutes. They heard a boy screaming "I'll get it" and the next thing they knew, the door flew open.
"Hi, how may I help you?" asked the boy kindly. He looked as if he was 14 or 15. He was tall, so that when Bani had to talk to him, she had to keep her head looking up. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. "Hi, we're your new neighbors. We just came by to say hello and see if everything's going okay," said Bani's father compassionately.
"Oh, please do come in. My name's Jai. Sorry for the mess, we're still unpacking, trying to get settled in." He then started walking into the living room, with Bani and her father following right behind him. "Have a seat. I'll go call my parents." With that he left, screaming "Mom, Dad" on his way upstairs. A few minutes later, footsteps were heard approaching them. A man and a woman in their mid forties approached them and sat down on the sofa next to them. "Hi, I'm Uday and this is my wife Krishna." They looked like a nice couple, but looks aren't always as appealing as they seem. Bani had learned that the hard way. She liked to stay at a distance from people until she found them truly reliable. It took her a while to open up to people she didn't really know.
"Nice to meet you Uday. I'm Nishikant. My daughter Bani and I thought we'd just drop by and say hello. We also thought that we'd invite you over for dinner. That way, you won't have to worry about cooking dinner. It'd be a pleasure to have you," said Bani's father. The couple looked at each other, and then at their son. He nodded his head, assuring them that he was all right with it. They then graciously accepted the offer. "Of course. How could we turn down such a gracious invitation? What time should we be there?" And it was set.
Bani didn't mind meeting new people, but she hated the looks she got when they found out that she didn't have a mother. The "oh, poor dear" look. She'd do anything to avoid it. She had had her fair share of grieving when her mother left, staying in the house on weekends, crying her heart out at night, and she didn't need anyone reminding her of her loss. Of course, she had never let any of that affect her work at school or her relationship with her friends. She had always kept it within the four walls of her house. She and her father had talked about it when her mother left. The topic was inevitable. They both had accepted the fact that she had left them both, and they were ready to move on with their lives.
It was almost 7 o'clock and the Walias were due any minute now. Bani looked at herself in the mirror one last time. She wasn't usually so worried about how she looked, but first impressions were the most important. She was wearing a simple flowing black skirt with a light pink blouse. The attire was simple, yet it made Bani look gorgeous. She then put on some lip-gloss and eyeliner and headed downstairs. She hated putting on make up, but she would make an exception today.
The doorbell rang and Bani immediately got up to answer it. She let the Walias in and led them into the living room. Soon after that, her father came down. "Hello, I hope I didn't keep you waiting. I hope you guys like Chinese," he said once he saw the Walias. "Oh, of course. We're just glad to be here. Yes, Chinese sounds good. Jai especially loves Chinese," said Krishna curtly.
While having dinner, the topic of schools came up. Bani went to a private school. She didn't like it very much, but her dad wanted her in a safe environment. She hated the fact that some of the rules were so strict. She felt so congested in there, as if there were no space to breathe. Although it did have its cons, there were always pros too. She was getting a good education in a safe environment, she had made a lot of friends, and the part she loved most was that it was both a middle school and high school. So when she got into high school, she didn't have to go through the horror of being in a new school, with new people.
"Yes, we're thinking of sending Jai to College Preparatory School of America. It's this nice private school we've heard about. Have you heard about it?" Bani almost choked. Did she hear correct? "Yeah, I go to that school," said Bani. Jai looked half as amazed as Bani, but he kept himself composed. "So, I guess you can show me around some time. That is, if you don't mind" he said with a hint of sincerity in his voice. Bani was just astounded. She hadn't had many run ins with guys. She wasn't even used to talking to them, let alone showing them around. "Yeah, sure. I'd love to. Although there isn't much to show. It's not that big of a school." He merely said, "I'll take you up on that offer" and continued eating.
The night had gone presumably well, and Bani was tired. She was just waiting for the Walias to leave so that she could fall into bed and sleep. They were at the door now, saying their goodbyes to her and her father. "I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow," was all Jai said, and then he winked at her. Bani was a bit shocked. She had never been winked at, well, not by a guy. She didn't know what it meant. Did he like her? Did she like him?
Forget about sleep, the minute Bani laid down on the bed, her thoughts drifted to the night's events. She had never been so head over heels about a guy. Of course, she did have the occasional crush, but other than that, she hadn't really liked a guy. She wasn't even allowed to date until she was 14. Maybe Jai and her could go out. Oh, how she hoped he would. He looked so hot tonight. She had never noticed before, but he had light gray eyes, almost crystal like. They suited him so well. With the thought of Jai in mind, sleep finally pervaded Bani.
The next morning, Bani got up as usual and got dressed for school. She never had to choose her clothes, considering she had to wear the uniform at her school. She didn't know why, but she wanted to look good today. She spent time straightening her hair, making it look as if it were just perfect by itself, as if she had done nothing, giving it the sexy sleepy look. She put some lip-gloss and eyeliner on, and put some bracelets on her wrists. She didn't know why, but she guessed she wanted to look good for Jai. She wanted him to notice her.
She walked to school, as she did every day. The school wasn't very far away from her house, and she liked to get the exercise. The day went by as usual. She hadn't seen any sign of Jai, but she did get compliments about her appearance from all her friends. By the time it was lunch, it seemed as though all her efforts of the morning had gone to waste. She had gotten her lunch, and was going to go sit by Pooja when she spotted him. He was wearing the school uniform, but he looked so hot in it. She didn't know how he pulled it off, but she was just glad she got to see him. He was sitting with a bunch of jocks, mostly basketball players.
She went and sat by Pooja at their usual lunch table, but she just wasn't into it. She would have rather been with Jai, sitting at his table. She didn't have to wait long, because a few minutes later she saw Jai coming towards her. She tried to fix herself up as much as possible, but it seemed worthless. "Hey Bani. What's up?" he said nonchalantly.
It seemed as though Bani had forgotten how to speak. "Nothing much. How's your first day here? she barely managed to say. She didn't know why she felt like this in front of him, so lost for words and so self-conscious. She never felt this way before, especially not in front of a guy. "Yeah, it's okay. I've made a lot of friends, but it's still doesn't feel like home yet. You know? Anyway, you ready to fulfill your promise?" Bani was perplexed for a moment, until it finally hit her. The promise she had made to him. How was she going to fulfill that when she could barely speak properly in front of him? But then again, how could she refuse him? She would look like such a loser if she did. "Ummm. Yeah, sure."
Bani was showing him around school, when they started talking. It wasn't about anything special, but it was better than an eerie silence between them. It felt so comfortable to talk to him. It felt as if Bani could continue talking to him forever, about anything. After a while, Bani had forgotten how shy and weird she had felt around him before and all that mattered to her was to be able to talk to him. She had never felt so close to a guy. She wondered what it was about him.
It had been a few weeks since that first day of school for Jai and by now, Jai and Bani were best friends. Bani was feeling as if they should be more than just friends, but was afraid of expressing her feelings, at the thought of being rejected. She felt as if she loved him. She had never fell in love before, and didn't know how it felt, but if this was it, then she loved it.
Bani had decided to take Jai where she hadn't taken anyone else: her special place. She had founded that place just a few years ago, three years to be exact, and she hadn't told anyone about it, not even her father. It was her special place where she could just relax and be in her own little world. She had felt such a strong connection with Jai that she believed that he could be brought here.
"Jai, I want to show you something" was all she had to say to get him to follow her. He trusted her without a doubt and instinctively followed behind her. When she brought him to the place, he was shocked. It seemed so soothing and tranquil. He could probably stay up here for hours on end without any disturbances. You could never find this in his old home in Chicago. It was almost impossible to just get some peace in the privacy of his own room. There were always horns honking and dogs barking. "Whoa Bani, this is so awesome. I can't believe you never brought me here before. How'd you ever find this place, anyway?"
Bani was pretty sure that no one else had ever found out about this place, that is, till now. "Well, after my mom left us, I was really mad and sad. I couldn't stay at home, because then my dad would be sad at the fact that I was sad. So, instead, I found this place. It was kind of a surprise. I don't think anyone knows about it except for me, and now you. It's kind of like my relaxing spot. After my mom left, I spent most of my time here, trying to get over it. I would just think. Now that I'm over that, it's just a place where I can relax after a long day, or if I'm really nervous about anything. I just watch the sunset, and it relaxes my nerves" Bani said. She was looking at his face, expectant of a respond. She didn't want him to think of her as a total loser with no life.
The next thing she knew, he captured her lips in a kiss. He kissed her so passionately, that she wanted to respond with much greater passion. He finally ended the kiss and Bani was left in shock. That was her first kiss ever, and it was so perfect. She had never believed in perfection, but that was as close to it as she had ever gotten. She just stood there, amazed, and waiting for a response from him. He was looking at the floor, sheepishly. "Bani, sorry for…" was all he said.
Bani wasn't sure how to respond. Of course, she had wanted the kiss as much as he did, but how was she to tell him that. So, she let her actions speak louder than her words. She leaned in and kissed him.
Jai was surprised at first, but then he kissed her back, just as passionately, if not with more than he had before. He then pulled apart and just stared at her. "Bani, you're so beautiful. I don't know why it took me so long to do that. I've been meaning to do that ever since I first saw you. You looked so mesmerizing." Bani started blushing. She hadn't had so many compliments aimed at her before. She was so relieved that she finally expressed her feelings and it was an even bigger relief finding out he felt the same way.
Ever since that first kiss, Jai and Bani had been going to their special spot ever since. They just loved to sit there and talk. They talked for hours on end, about anything and everything. If something were bothering her, she would tell him and vice versa. They told each other everything and never kept any secrets. They never did tell anyone about their relationship, afraid that someone might try and come between them. Bani couldn't tell her father, he'd be outraged. She wasn't allowed to date for another couple years, and he'd kill her for breaking his rules. After all, they were set for her own good. And Jai being a couple years older than her didn't make matters any better.
It had been a couple months since Jai had moved and things were going better than ever. Jai and Bani were joined to the hip by now. They were inseparable. Bani was as happy as ever, but she had noticed something. That Jai was starting to retract a bit from her. Whenever she would put her hand in his, he would take his hand back. It was as if he were hiding something from her. After school, Bani decided she would go to her special place to think about it. When she got there, she noticed that she wasn't alone. He was there. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were here. It's okay, I'll go," she said with a hint of surprise in her voice. "No, it's okay. I actually wanted to talk to you. I need to tell you something," Jai said while trying to avoid looking in her eyes. Bani sat down next to him, waiting for him to continue. "Bani, I'm moving," Jai said dryly.
Bani was shocked. She wasn't expecting this. She couldn't handle it. So, she merely got up and ran home. The minute she got home, she slammed the door, and ran upstairs to her room. She couldn't take all this now. Jai was the first guy she had actually loved, and now he was leaving her. Why was everyone leaving her? Was there something wrong with her? First her mom left, and now Jai. It's only a matter of time before her dad left. She didn't leave her room the whole night, but just sat down in her room, huddled in a corner, crying her eyes out.
The next week was the hardest for both Jai and Bain. Neither of them wanted to go away from their first love, but they had no choice. They usually spent most of their time together either in silence or talking about the move. Even though they were together, they seemed so far apart. It felt as if some part of their hearts were being ripped out and stepped on.
The day finally came when Jai had to move. It was the saddest day Bani had ever been through. Even when her mom left, it wasn't this sad. It could have been expected from Bani's mom, the symptoms shown clearly with her behavior. She would come late at night, smelling like beer, would forget to pack Bani's lunch in the morning, and then the day finally came when the truth came out. She had never expected this from Jai. Maybe she was just so love stricken she had missed the signs. How would things have changed even if she had noticed the signs? He would still be moving.
Before Jai left, he came over to Bani's house for their last farewells. He knocked on the door and waited patiently for someone to answer. When Bani's father opened the door, he immediately asked for Bani. "Mr. Dixit, can I speak to Bani please. I want to speak to her once before I leave," he said with a hint of urgency in his voice. Bani's father went upstairs and told Bani that Jai was waiting for her. She wasn't ready for this day. No matter how much she prepared herself mentally and emotionally, she just couldn't face the fact that he was actually leaving. With a sad expression still adorning her face, she walked downstairs.
The minute she stepped downstairs, she had wished that she had stayed in her room. She couldn't do this. She wasn't good with goodbyes. She needed to be very strong to keep her tears from falling. She saw him standing by the door, waiting for her to come down. Bani hurriedly got the gift from her pocket and put it in her hands. She wanted to give it to him as a token of remembrance. It had taken her two weeks of her allowance to pay for it, but she didn't care, as long as Jai didn't leave empty handed. She stepped in front of Jai, and without saying anything, she handed him the gift. She then gave him a goodbye kiss and ran upstairs crying.
Jai was a little surprised by the gesture, but instead of following her upstairs, he left. He was sitting in the back seat of his parent's car, while both his parents sat up front, chatting about the new house, and the new town, with the new people, and with the moving truck right behind them. He had then decided to open the present. He took off the wrapping, and saw a letter inside, but before he opened the letter, he decided to see what the gift it. He opened the box and saw a chain. He pulled it up, and saw a heart dangling from the end, engraved with the letters JB. He almost had tears in his eyes, as he remembered the precious memories shared together. He then opened the letter to read it.
Dear Jai,
I was never good with good byes, which is why I chose this form of a goodbye rather than a formal one. Writing my feelings about you is easier to me than expressing them in words. There may never be enough words to express how I feel about you, but I will try, to the best of my ability, to express them. The first time I saw you, it was as if God had sent an angel down to heaven. You were the only one I could talk to, to whom I could express my deepest desires and feelings. The only time I felt as if I couldn't trust you was with my feelings towards you. I was too afraid of rejection to express them to you. Yet, I feel as if I cannot harbor them inside me for too long. This may be the last time you or I ever meet, and I want it to be with feelings of pleasure rather than the sadness of being ripped apart. I love you Jai. That's as simple as I can make it. I love you from the deepest bottom of my heart, and I hope that you feel the same about me. I don't know how or when this happened, but it did, and I can't thank God enough for letting it happen. The memories that we shared will be harbored in my heart forever, and I will cherish them for as long as I live. My only hope is that one day, I get to meet you again and that the same love and passion that we have for each other, remain the same, if not increase. As the saying goes, "You never know how much a person means until they leave."
Yours truly,
Bani
By the time Jai had finished reading, tears were falling down his cheeks, burning them, as if they were acid. He couldn't believe he was loved so much. He made a vow to work hard and strive with the incentive of one day, meeting Bani, just as she had hoped.
Part 1:
A snowflake, gliding down towards its destination, finally falling to the ground, mixing with the rest of the snowflakes, until it creates a white blanket. Bani loved to watch the snowfall. It felt so enthralling and invigorating. Each snowflake was so monotonous, yet so unique, each with its own intricate designs. Ever since her father took her out for her first winter, all she remembers from that day is how much she loved the snow. She'd seen 12 more winters ever since that first one, and she'd loved each one just as much as the other, each with their own memories.
Bani had been living in New York for her whole life, and she'd loved it. Although it did get sordid at times, with it's crowded roads, and polluted air; she wouldn't leave it for the world. Staring outside the window, looking at the snowfall, she noticed something different. There was a moving van outside. "Dad, the new neighbors are here. Do you think we should go meet them?"
Bani only had a father. Of course, she had had a mother once too, but she left them for another man, and moved to California. Bani did have the occasional birthday call, and of course her mother sent presents over for Christmas, but other than that, they didn't really keep in touch. Bani couldn't bear to see the woman's face, after all that she made her and her father go through. Her father was all she had now. He was more than a father, he was a father, mother, and friend rolled up into one person and she loved him more than anything in the world.
"Sure princess, let's go meet them right now. Maybe invite them over for dinner. It's nice to show hospitality towards them; after all, the neighbors were so nice to us when we first moved here" her father said with a hint of pride in his voice. Her father loved to meet new people. After all, with new people came new experiences. He'd probably go around the whole world if he had enough money or time. His business took up most of his time already, but he would never let that affect their relationship. He was always home when he promised to be, and if he was going to be late, he always called. Bani understood how tough it was to be a single parent. Of course, she had no personal experience in that category, considering she was 12, but she was mature for her age. She understood what most 20 year olds would fail to comprehend. She'd always lend a helping hand towards her father whenever she saw it necessary.
"Oh dad, do you think they have any kids my age? I hope so. It would be nice to have someone else to play with other than Pooja." Pooja lived across the street from them. She was 5'3, one inch taller than Bani, and had glasses. Her hair was always in a braid, with her usual overalls and sneakers. Although she was very kind, she did get annoying at times. She was always so perky and joyful. She had followed Bani around everywhere when she had first moved here. At first, it had been very annoying, but eventually, they came to like each other and became friends.
They closed the door, locked it, and headed out towards the house next door, creating footprints in the snow as they headed to their destination. Once they reached the house, they ascended the stairs leading towards the front door and rang the bell. They waited patiently for a few minutes. They heard a boy screaming "I'll get it" and the next thing they knew, the door flew open.
"Hi, how may I help you?" asked the boy kindly. He looked as if he was 14 or 15. He was tall, so that when Bani had to talk to him, she had to keep her head looking up. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. "Hi, we're your new neighbors. We just came by to say hello and see if everything's going okay," said Bani's father compassionately.
"Oh, please do come in. My name's Jai. Sorry for the mess, we're still unpacking, trying to get settled in." He then started walking into the living room, with Bani and her father following right behind him. "Have a seat. I'll go call my parents." With that he left, screaming "Mom, Dad" on his way upstairs. A few minutes later, footsteps were heard approaching them. A man and a woman in their mid forties approached them and sat down on the sofa next to them. "Hi, I'm Uday and this is my wife Krishna." They looked like a nice couple, but looks aren't always as appealing as they seem. Bani had learned that the hard way. She liked to stay at a distance from people until she found them truly reliable. It took her a while to open up to people she didn't really know.
"Nice to meet you Uday. I'm Nishikant. My daughter Bani and I thought we'd just drop by and say hello. We also thought that we'd invite you over for dinner. That way, you won't have to worry about cooking dinner. It'd be a pleasure to have you," said Bani's father. The couple looked at each other, and then at their son. He nodded his head, assuring them that he was all right with it. They then graciously accepted the offer. "Of course. How could we turn down such a gracious invitation? What time should we be there?" And it was set.
Bani didn't mind meeting new people, but she hated the looks she got when they found out that she didn't have a mother. The "oh, poor dear" look. She'd do anything to avoid it. She had had her fair share of grieving when her mother left, staying in the house on weekends, crying her heart out at night, and she didn't need anyone reminding her of her loss. Of course, she had never let any of that affect her work at school or her relationship with her friends. She had always kept it within the four walls of her house. She and her father had talked about it when her mother left. The topic was inevitable. They both had accepted the fact that she had left them both, and they were ready to move on with their lives.
It was almost 7 o'clock and the Walias were due any minute now. Bani looked at herself in the mirror one last time. She wasn't usually so worried about how she looked, but first impressions were the most important. She was wearing a simple flowing black skirt with a light pink blouse. The attire was simple, yet it made Bani look gorgeous. She then put on some lip-gloss and eyeliner and headed downstairs. She hated putting on make up, but she would make an exception today.
The doorbell rang and Bani immediately got up to answer it. She let the Walias in and led them into the living room. Soon after that, her father came down. "Hello, I hope I didn't keep you waiting. I hope you guys like Chinese," he said once he saw the Walias. "Oh, of course. We're just glad to be here. Yes, Chinese sounds good. Jai especially loves Chinese," said Krishna curtly.
While having dinner, the topic of schools came up. Bani went to a private school. She didn't like it very much, but her dad wanted her in a safe environment. She hated the fact that some of the rules were so strict. She felt so congested in there, as if there were no space to breathe. Although it did have its cons, there were always pros too. She was getting a good education in a safe environment, she had made a lot of friends, and the part she loved most was that it was both a middle school and high school. So when she got into high school, she didn't have to go through the horror of being in a new school, with new people.
"Yes, we're thinking of sending Jai to College Preparatory School of America. It's this nice private school we've heard about. Have you heard about it?" Bani almost choked. Did she hear correct? "Yeah, I go to that school," said Bani. Jai looked half as amazed as Bani, but he kept himself composed. "So, I guess you can show me around some time. That is, if you don't mind" he said with a hint of sincerity in his voice. Bani was just astounded. She hadn't had many run ins with guys. She wasn't even used to talking to them, let alone showing them around. "Yeah, sure. I'd love to. Although there isn't much to show. It's not that big of a school." He merely said, "I'll take you up on that offer" and continued eating.
The night had gone presumably well, and Bani was tired. She was just waiting for the Walias to leave so that she could fall into bed and sleep. They were at the door now, saying their goodbyes to her and her father. "I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow," was all Jai said, and then he winked at her. Bani was a bit shocked. She had never been winked at, well, not by a guy. She didn't know what it meant. Did he like her? Did she like him?
Forget about sleep, the minute Bani laid down on the bed, her thoughts drifted to the night's events. She had never been so head over heels about a guy. Of course, she did have the occasional crush, but other than that, she hadn't really liked a guy. She wasn't even allowed to date until she was 14. Maybe Jai and her could go out. Oh, how she hoped he would. He looked so hot tonight. She had never noticed before, but he had light gray eyes, almost crystal like. They suited him so well. With the thought of Jai in mind, sleep finally pervaded Bani.
The next morning, Bani got up as usual and got dressed for school. She never had to choose her clothes, considering she had to wear the uniform at her school. She didn't know why, but she wanted to look good today. She spent time straightening her hair, making it look as if it were just perfect by itself, as if she had done nothing, giving it the sexy sleepy look. She put some lip-gloss and eyeliner on, and put some bracelets on her wrists. She didn't know why, but she guessed she wanted to look good for Jai. She wanted him to notice her.
She walked to school, as she did every day. The school wasn't very far away from her house, and she liked to get the exercise. The day went by as usual. She hadn't seen any sign of Jai, but she did get compliments about her appearance from all her friends. By the time it was lunch, it seemed as though all her efforts of the morning had gone to waste. She had gotten her lunch, and was going to go sit by Pooja when she spotted him. He was wearing the school uniform, but he looked so hot in it. She didn't know how he pulled it off, but she was just glad she got to see him. He was sitting with a bunch of jocks, mostly basketball players.
She went and sat by Pooja at their usual lunch table, but she just wasn't into it. She would have rather been with Jai, sitting at his table. She didn't have to wait long, because a few minutes later she saw Jai coming towards her. She tried to fix herself up as much as possible, but it seemed worthless. "Hey Bani. What's up?" he said nonchalantly.
It seemed as though Bani had forgotten how to speak. "Nothing much. How's your first day here? she barely managed to say. She didn't know why she felt like this in front of him, so lost for words and so self-conscious. She never felt this way before, especially not in front of a guy. "Yeah, it's okay. I've made a lot of friends, but it's still doesn't feel like home yet. You know? Anyway, you ready to fulfill your promise?" Bani was perplexed for a moment, until it finally hit her. The promise she had made to him. How was she going to fulfill that when she could barely speak properly in front of him? But then again, how could she refuse him? She would look like such a loser if she did. "Ummm. Yeah, sure."
Bani was showing him around school, when they started talking. It wasn't about anything special, but it was better than an eerie silence between them. It felt so comfortable to talk to him. It felt as if Bani could continue talking to him forever, about anything. After a while, Bani had forgotten how shy and weird she had felt around him before and all that mattered to her was to be able to talk to him. She had never felt so close to a guy. She wondered what it was about him.
It had been a few weeks since that first day of school for Jai and by now, Jai and Bani were best friends. Bani was feeling as if they should be more than just friends, but was afraid of expressing her feelings, at the thought of being rejected. She felt as if she loved him. She had never fell in love before, and didn't know how it felt, but if this was it, then she loved it.
Bani had decided to take Jai where she hadn't taken anyone else: her special place. She had founded that place just a few years ago, three years to be exact, and she hadn't told anyone about it, not even her father. It was her special place where she could just relax and be in her own little world. She had felt such a strong connection with Jai that she believed that he could be brought here.
"Jai, I want to show you something" was all she had to say to get him to follow her. He trusted her without a doubt and instinctively followed behind her. When she brought him to the place, he was shocked. It seemed so soothing and tranquil. He could probably stay up here for hours on end without any disturbances. You could never find this in his old home in Chicago. It was almost impossible to just get some peace in the privacy of his own room. There were always horns honking and dogs barking. "Whoa Bani, this is so awesome. I can't believe you never brought me here before. How'd you ever find this place, anyway?"
Bani was pretty sure that no one else had ever found out about this place, that is, till now. "Well, after my mom left us, I was really mad and sad. I couldn't stay at home, because then my dad would be sad at the fact that I was sad. So, instead, I found this place. It was kind of a surprise. I don't think anyone knows about it except for me, and now you. It's kind of like my relaxing spot. After my mom left, I spent most of my time here, trying to get over it. I would just think. Now that I'm over that, it's just a place where I can relax after a long day, or if I'm really nervous about anything. I just watch the sunset, and it relaxes my nerves" Bani said. She was looking at his face, expectant of a respond. She didn't want him to think of her as a total loser with no life.
The next thing she knew, he captured her lips in a kiss. He kissed her so passionately, that she wanted to respond with much greater passion. He finally ended the kiss and Bani was left in shock. That was her first kiss ever, and it was so perfect. She had never believed in perfection, but that was as close to it as she had ever gotten. She just stood there, amazed, and waiting for a response from him. He was looking at the floor, sheepishly. "Bani, sorry for…" was all he said.
Bani wasn't sure how to respond. Of course, she had wanted the kiss as much as he did, but how was she to tell him that. So, she let her actions speak louder than her words. She leaned in and kissed him.
Jai was surprised at first, but then he kissed her back, just as passionately, if not with more than he had before. He then pulled apart and just stared at her. "Bani, you're so beautiful. I don't know why it took me so long to do that. I've been meaning to do that ever since I first saw you. You looked so mesmerizing." Bani started blushing. She hadn't had so many compliments aimed at her before. She was so relieved that she finally expressed her feelings and it was an even bigger relief finding out he felt the same way.
Ever since that first kiss, Jai and Bani had been going to their special spot ever since. They just loved to sit there and talk. They talked for hours on end, about anything and everything. If something were bothering her, she would tell him and vice versa. They told each other everything and never kept any secrets. They never did tell anyone about their relationship, afraid that someone might try and come between them. Bani couldn't tell her father, he'd be outraged. She wasn't allowed to date for another couple years, and he'd kill her for breaking his rules. After all, they were set for her own good. And Jai being a couple years older than her didn't make matters any better.
It had been a couple months since Jai had moved and things were going better than ever. Jai and Bani were joined to the hip by now. They were inseparable. Bani was as happy as ever, but she had noticed something. That Jai was starting to retract a bit from her. Whenever she would put her hand in his, he would take his hand back. It was as if he were hiding something from her. After school, Bani decided she would go to her special place to think about it. When she got there, she noticed that she wasn't alone. He was there. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were here. It's okay, I'll go," she said with a hint of surprise in her voice. "No, it's okay. I actually wanted to talk to you. I need to tell you something," Jai said while trying to avoid looking in her eyes. Bani sat down next to him, waiting for him to continue. "Bani, I'm moving," Jai said dryly.
Bani was shocked. She wasn't expecting this. She couldn't handle it. So, she merely got up and ran home. The minute she got home, she slammed the door, and ran upstairs to her room. She couldn't take all this now. Jai was the first guy she had actually loved, and now he was leaving her. Why was everyone leaving her? Was there something wrong with her? First her mom left, and now Jai. It's only a matter of time before her dad left. She didn't leave her room the whole night, but just sat down in her room, huddled in a corner, crying her eyes out.
The next week was the hardest for both Jai and Bain. Neither of them wanted to go away from their first love, but they had no choice. They usually spent most of their time together either in silence or talking about the move. Even though they were together, they seemed so far apart. It felt as if some part of their hearts were being ripped out and stepped on.
The day finally came when Jai had to move. It was the saddest day Bani had ever been through. Even when her mom left, it wasn't this sad. It could have been expected from Bani's mom, the symptoms shown clearly with her behavior. She would come late at night, smelling like beer, would forget to pack Bani's lunch in the morning, and then the day finally came when the truth came out. She had never expected this from Jai. Maybe she was just so love stricken she had missed the signs. How would things have changed even if she had noticed the signs? He would still be moving.
Before Jai left, he came over to Bani's house for their last farewells. He knocked on the door and waited patiently for someone to answer. When Bani's father opened the door, he immediately asked for Bani. "Mr. Dixit, can I speak to Bani please. I want to speak to her once before I leave," he said with a hint of urgency in his voice. Bani's father went upstairs and told Bani that Jai was waiting for her. She wasn't ready for this day. No matter how much she prepared herself mentally and emotionally, she just couldn't face the fact that he was actually leaving. With a sad expression still adorning her face, she walked downstairs.
The minute she stepped downstairs, she had wished that she had stayed in her room. She couldn't do this. She wasn't good with goodbyes. She needed to be very strong to keep her tears from falling. She saw him standing by the door, waiting for her to come down. Bani hurriedly got the gift from her pocket and put it in her hands. She wanted to give it to him as a token of remembrance. It had taken her two weeks of her allowance to pay for it, but she didn't care, as long as Jai didn't leave empty handed. She stepped in front of Jai, and without saying anything, she handed him the gift. She then gave him a goodbye kiss and ran upstairs crying.
Jai was a little surprised by the gesture, but instead of following her upstairs, he left. He was sitting in the back seat of his parent's car, while both his parents sat up front, chatting about the new house, and the new town, with the new people, and with the moving truck right behind them. He had then decided to open the present. He took off the wrapping, and saw a letter inside, but before he opened the letter, he decided to see what the gift it. He opened the box and saw a chain. He pulled it up, and saw a heart dangling from the end, engraved with the letters JB. He almost had tears in his eyes, as he remembered the precious memories shared together. He then opened the letter to read it.
Dear Jai,
I was never good with good byes, which is why I chose this form of a goodbye rather than a formal one. Writing my feelings about you is easier to me than expressing them in words. There may never be enough words to express how I feel about you, but I will try, to the best of my ability, to express them. The first time I saw you, it was as if God had sent an angel down to heaven. You were the only one I could talk to, to whom I could express my deepest desires and feelings. The only time I felt as if I couldn't trust you was with my feelings towards you. I was too afraid of rejection to express them to you. Yet, I feel as if I cannot harbor them inside me for too long. This may be the last time you or I ever meet, and I want it to be with feelings of pleasure rather than the sadness of being ripped apart. I love you Jai. That's as simple as I can make it. I love you from the deepest bottom of my heart, and I hope that you feel the same about me. I don't know how or when this happened, but it did, and I can't thank God enough for letting it happen. The memories that we shared will be harbored in my heart forever, and I will cherish them for as long as I live. My only hope is that one day, I get to meet you again and that the same love and passion that we have for each other, remain the same, if not increase. As the saying goes, "You never know how much a person means until they leave."
Yours truly,
Bani
By the time Jai had finished reading, tears were falling down his cheeks, burning them, as if they were acid. He couldn't believe he was loved so much. He made a vow to work hard and strive with the incentive of one day, meeting Bani, just as she had hoped.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
