I would like to thank all those of you who opted not be silent readers. I had to choose between replying to you all individually and writing the next part. I hope you will approve of my choice.
It's a little intriguing to note that while I was on a TFS hiatus because of work commitments, many people who I had never heard nor seen before choose to pm me. Some were sweet, some were concerned and some were just off the tangent. I would like to thank all of you. The sheer volume meant that I could not always reply to each one of personally but I did read every pm. Thank you for the interest and for making me realise that so many people do take the time to read TFS. It was a pleasant surprise.
May I also add for a tiny minority of those people who pm'ed me that writing an ff is something I do out of choice and free will. Just as you are not obligated to read TFS, let alone leave a comment, I am not actually obligated to write TFS. And most certainly not when your pm's become rude demands. Do please bear that in mind and we shall get along splendidly.
The link to the post that contains the links to all the parts of TFS:
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=575037&T PN=1�
XVII-A
And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
& ; ;nbs p; & ;a mp;n bsp; & ; ;nbs p; & ;a mp;n bsp; Anais Nin
Ranveer had astutely sensed the simmering undercurrents and had decided that he and Nachiket would follow suit later in a taxi. He used the pretext of wanting to check out a new discotheque. Jai acknowledged Ranveer's explanation with a curt nod and barely waited for Bani to be seated before releasing the clutch.
The drive home was accomplished in a silence that fairly throbbed with the weight of the unspoken emotions that swirled like mist over both, Jai and Bani.
The car screeched to a halt in the portico and the sudden cessation of the engine magnified the silence of the night. Politely Jai held the car door open for Bani and waited for her to alight.
Upstairs Jai veered off to his study before Bani could say anything.
Bani worried her lip and tried to decide what to say to Jai as she made her way to the balcony, without pausing to switch any of the lights on. The rhythm of the sea as its waves crashed and retreated was oddly soothing. The radiant full moon hung low over the horizon, its pearly white beams dancing upon the water. The heady scent of jasmine and roses filled her senses. The coolness of the sea breeze washed over her and her skin prickled. As she gazed upon the magnificence, she was inexplicably close to tears. She made no effort to control her emotions and as two slow tears slid down her cheeks she waited, for what she could not have said. But still she waited. How long she stood there she could not have said, it felt like a heartbeat only, but the rising moon told her otherwise before the bedroom door crashed open loudly. Unconsciously straightening her shoulders she turned to face Jai.
"I cannot marry you Jai," she said in a low voice and was proud to hear how steady her voice sounded to her own ears.
"Just as well wouldn't you say considering that you're in love with another man," he said in a harsh voice, with only the faintest slurring of his words to confirm what Bani had already realised as soon as Jai had stepped close to her that he had indulged heavily in whisky.
"another man?"
"is it still Pushkar or someone else?"
"pushkar?" she repeated in incredulous shock and then as Pia's smug expression flashed across her mind the colour drained from her face.
Jai's hands cupped her face with arrogant familiarity and tilted it up. "Such an innocent face and such a scheming heart. You played me well Bani Dixit, very well indeed." His fingers tightened in her hair until they hurt as he continued, "I believed in your innocence the fool that I am. I should be asking just how many men there have been but I do you know why I won't ask that?"
Bani's silence and the tears that sparkled like diamonds in her eyelashes seemed to goad him beyond endurance and he gripped her hair even harder till her head was arched back, throwing her taut neckline into stark relief. Her hands instinctively reached up to tug ineffectually at his hands.
"you're hurting me, please…" she said.
"Ask," he snarled in response.
Bani felt darkness closing in on her. Jai's face, harsh with anger swam in her eyes. His body pressed in on her with insistent demand. The smell of whiskey assaulted her senses and all she could do was stare at him with mute shock and sorrow.
He answered his own question, enunciating with relentless precision, "because I don't care."
The tears spilled from her eyes and still she looked at him.
He began to laugh, "you are little better than a slut. You had it all planned didn't you? The press, the whole domestic act……it was all planned. To entrap me. Well, too bad honey. you should have settled for being a mistress. Because that's all you're worth."
Finally Bani spoke. "But that's exactly what I have been Jai. Your unconditional mistress from that first night you spent in my bed," she said softly, without bitterness.
"well then mistress mine, let's get to bed," he taunted cruelly. At her incredulous look, he laughed mirthlessly, "oh yes! I still want that delectable body of yours."
"No," she bit out.
"No?" he echoed with a mocking twist of his lips. And then bent his head. His warm lips feathered over her face, traced her jaw and began to trail down her neck till they reached the hollow of her throat, where a pulse beat hammered insistently. His tongue flicked out and began to lick a path along the hollow of her shoulder, pausing to nuzzle the strap of her camisole top aside. As she squirmed a protest, he tightened his hands in her hair, sheer pain immobilising her. His mouth followed the strap of her bra down to its lacy cup. He traced the lacy edge with nibbling kisses that made her feel faint. He arched her backwards till she thought she would fall backwards were it not for the arms that imprisoned her ruthlessly. Automatically her hands clenched upon his shoulders.
As the other strap of her camisole was nuzzled aside, she tried again, "please Jai. Not like this….not in such anger." Even to her own ears her voice sounded husky. He lifted his head and the mockery on his face made her flinch even before he said, "why darling your body seems to have no such compunction," and for emphasis he glanced fleetingly at the evidence of her arousal that was straining so insistently. Her eyes automatically followed his and then closed in agony.
He laughed and released her and then before she could realise it, swung her into his arms and headed towards the bed.
Bani opened her eyes as she was lowered to the bed.
"so be it," she said with a finality that made him pause. But before he could say or do anything she reached up and threading her hands in his hair pulled him close in gesture that was equal parts violence and desire.
Bani made love to Jai as never before. With the tenderness borne of her love for him, with the wild abandonment of complete trust and with the sensuality of a beguiling siren. Jai was powerless to resist, and where she led he followed, unable and also in the end unwilling to resist a seduction so powerful that his blood thrummed with the spell she cast over him.
As she cradled his body slick with sweat, his face turned into the hollow of her shoulder, tears streamed down her face.
Breathing harshly, he let himself hold onto the slender body that bore his weight in such a loving embrace and tried to gather the strength to overcome the betrayal of his own body. She was a witch and he was ensnared he told himself.
Finally he released her and rolling over propped himself on one elbow. Bani took a deep breath and tried to explain but he silenced her with a careless, "don't bother. I don't want to hear it." His fingers lifted the strand of pearls, which were still around her slender throat and he drawled, "you've truly earned them tonight." And with he rolled over till he was on the other side of the bed and turning his back on her closed his eyes.
It was a long time before Bani could breathe without each breath slicing like a knife through her chest.
Jai was gone before Bani woke up. Not allowing herself the luxury of tears, Bani got up, bathed, dressed, and called Tony to have breakfast sent up. And then she forced herself to eat it.
Jai sat in his office and brooded. He had woken early and in all honesty, he had all but fled. Not that he would admit that to anyone, even under threat of torture. The admission evoked a fierce scowl. To think that he had had to flee from his own house and his own bed! How innocent she had looked as she lay asleep; curled up like a child on her side, cheek resting upon one hand and the other flung out towards his side of the bed while her hair lay in tangled abandonment. As he had stood there looking down on her, the marks of his abandoned loving standing out starkly against the pale delicacy of her skin, for a fleeting moment he could not doubt her innocence. But the next instant he realised his stupidity and left before that body with its potent appeal clouded his judgement again.
He knew nothing about her, and she had never told him anything. Not about her sister, not about her past, not about her life, not even about her past lovers. The thought of Bani being intimate with anyone, especially Pushkar made his hands clench into fists. Bloody hell, he told himself, for all he knew there was a regular parade of lovers in her life. Maybe there were already other men present in her life. Like that slick polished Rumaan, with whom Bani had exchanged such a guarded, unspoken message, before pretending that they were simply friends. He could not help laughing with bitterness that was entirely self directed. You fool, he told himself, when will you realise that women are never honest. Everything they do and say is directed to some end no can fathom. How many more betrayals do you need? Has experience taught you nothing? The phone broke into his reverie. It was his secretary, she had the doctor on hold.
Jai's fury knew no bounds as he terminated the call.
His next call was to Roshni, but she was still asleep, the servant on the other end informed her. restlessly Jai paced his office trying to suppress the urge to go over to Roshni's house and strangle her with his bare hands.
As he paced alone, without his conscious realisation, Bani and Roshni fused in his imagination into a single entity. Both were lying manipulative deceivers.
Bani sat in the garden, on the bench by the sea where Jai had told her the history of "Jannat." What do I do, she asked the rustling breeze and the blooming flowers. What has happened to Jai? What lies has Pia spun? Should she bare her soul to him? but what if he rejected her, a scared part of asked. What have I got to lose, she asked herself. My pride, my self respect…..but are they worth more than love? No she decided. Love was worth more than the fear of rejection. She would tell Jai that she loved him. tell him the truth about Pushkar, about her painting and even about that night.
Please God, she beseeched silently, don't let this happen. Please make Jai listen to me, please let him understand me. Give me the strength to tell him how much I love him, how long I have loved him, that he ……..Tony's arrival broke into her fervent pleas.
He looked dejected and stood there silently, not quite looking her in the eye.
"What is it Tony?" she asked after a pause.
He shifted awkwardly and then began slowly, "uh…Jai sir called…."
Hope blossomed in Bani's heart, maybe Jai was on his way home…..he wanted to talk to her….to hear her side…..
Tony fell silent and then in rush blurted out, "he asked me to tell you that you had better be gone before he returns in the evening. Or he'll have you thrown out by security," he ended in a whisper. And then with a last sorrowful look at her turned and quickly walked away.
Bani sat in numbed shock and then pulled herself together. No Jai, not like this she said to herself with determination. You will hear me. I am not willing to let us go without putting up one hell of a fight.
XVII-B
Tuesday. 16 December.
Evening
There is no happiness in love, except at the end of an English novel.
&nbs p; &n bsp; &nbs p; &n bsp; &nbs p; &n bsp; Anthony Trollope
Jai walked in just as Bani emerged from his mother's puja room. She checked for an instant and her fingers tightened on the silver thali and then she smiled and walked forward. As she reached out to put the tilak on his forehead, he gripped wrist in a punishing hold.
"what the hell are you still doing here?" he snarled.
"we need to talk Jai. I think there has been a misunderstanding and there are things you should know." She said firmly.
"I am not interested. Not now. Not ever." He bit out with barely restrained fury and then dropping her wrist contemptuously he added, "get out of my house or I will have you thrown out. You have one hour."
He turned away but before he had taken a step Bani stepped around him, till he was facing her again. He was pleased to note that she was no longer looking all that composed. Colour stained her cheeks and her lips trembled slightly.
"I love you Jai," she said simply, naked vulnerability flashing on her unguarded face.
For a long moment he looked at her, looking so very innocent and so heartbreakingly beautiful in a pale chiffon sari printed all over with pale pink roses and soft green leaves. She wore no jewellery and her hair curtained her face in a graceful fall. he could not help but notice how beautiful her eyes looked, more hazel than brown, they seemed to be deep pools that invited him to drown in their swirling depths. And then he threw his head back and laughed.
Bani flinched, but tried again, "I love you. doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"Too late sweetheart. I've already seen the truth hidden beneath that delicious body of yours. I repeat, get out."
As Bani stood rooted to the spot, he looked over body with insulting thoroughness before drawling, "well. On the other hand it is a delightful body indeed and since you are so willing why don't we come to an understanding? I will set you up in an apartment here, and give you a generous allowance. In return for absolute ownership. You will be available to me and only me. I will not tolerate any other man in your life. But I will make it worth your while."
The thali crashed to the floor. Bani stared at the thali on the floor and then at the nerveless fingers that had dropped it of their own volition. The eyes that were finally raised to Jai's face were blank with absolute shock.
The door opened and Ranveer and Nachiket walked in, took in the scene and came to an abrupt halt. Bani never even registered their presence until Nachiket stooped to pick up the thali and Ranveer touched her arm and asked, "what's wrong?"
She shook her arm free from Ranveer's grasp without taking her eyes off Jai's face. They were no longer blank. They glittered like mud splattered emeralds.
"One hour. Fine." And then turned and slowly made her way upstairs.
"Don't," Jai said to both Ranveer and Nachiket in a tone that brooked no argument and turning on his heel walked out of the house.
Jai came back to the house to find Ranveer and Nachiket in the drawing room looking anything but pleased at the presence of Roshni. Dressed in an exquisite ice blue sari she looked sophisticated and beautiful.
She got up gracefully and murmured, "Jai, I am so glad you called me home to talk rather than the impersonality of a phone."
When he did not immediately say anything she continued, "actually I was surprised that you had received the package. I wasn't sure that Bani would give it to you once she realised it was from me. I had given explicit instructions to the courier firm that only you were to receive it. Anyways, I am so glad you got it. I was just about to re-send the papers."
Silence again.
"you may leave us, we need some privacy," she said sweetly to Ranveer and Nachiket after an expectant pause.
"Stay," Jai bit out curtly.
Roshni looked disconcerted and began, "but honestly Jai I don't think…" only to be cut off by Jai.
"I really don't give a damn about what you think Roshni. What I have to stay is simple: stop trying. I do not want you and I never will. Get out of my life and stay out," he said in an even tone, the lack of anger making the words even more ominous.
"But Jai.." she began again to be cut off again.
"Did you think that you could send me some stupid report that the child you aborted had Down's Syndrome and I would not check to confirm whether it was true? Grow up Roshni. I checked with the doctor. She said that the baby was fine and at four months you were past the dangers of a natural miscarriage. Four months my dearest, when we had been seeing each other for only three."
Roshni blanched, her last desperate gamble had failed. The silence stretched. Ranveer and Nachiket looked from one to the other.
Head tilted to one side Jai asked in curiously dispassionate voice, "what exactly were you hoping to achieve? That I'd believe you aborted the child because of the inherent flaw and not because it was not mine? That I'd forget to look at the obvious? That I would not want a child even if the child was not perfect? You thought me an idiot and a selfish fool. And you are wrong on both counts."
For a moment it looked as if Roshni was not going to answer and then surprisingly she did, "ah, well. It was worth a try. Back then if I'd known that you were going to ask me to marry you I never would have gone out with Vijay. But there you are. I did not know, I got pregnant accidentally and I knew that Vijay would never marry me."
"did you love him?" Jai asked with the same distant politeness.
"do you love Bani?" she countered with a toss of her head.
Jai stilled and then said evenly. "no."
"I was in love you know. Not Vijay but you. but I suppose it was always too late for me."
"because you were pregnant with Vijay's child," Jai stated calmly.
"I suppose that's how you would look at it but no, not because of that. If I had felt for even one moment that you felt anything stronger than tolerance for me I would have told you the truth about the baby instead of trying to trap you."
Jai was not sure of what to say and while he tried to formulate a response, Nachiket beat him to it, "but then why was it too late?"
Roshni looked at him and smiled but with such sadness that both Ranveer and Nachiket could not help but empathise.
"It was always too late for me because Jai was already in love. With an idea, and image, an angel if you will, one whom I could never match up to. And I knew it every time Jai looked at me but searched for someone else. Every time he heard me but listened for someone else's voice….but I was young and thought my love would be enough……and then I grew older and wiser…..and I no longer love you….but that young Roshni did and her memory drove me to scheme and plan…and lie…..and I'm sorry Jai. Sorry for both you and me, but most of all for that silly young girl who wore an outsized flower in hair the whole evening, looking like a fool simply because it made Jai look at her with gentle eyes for the first time….." her voice trailed off, thick with unshed tears, head bent as if to hide her face.
The silence stretched for a long time.
Roshni broke it. Lifting her head she cleared her throat and smiled slowly, looking, thought Jai more beautiful than he had ever thought her to be. "Well. Good bye then," she said and walked away. At the doorway she turned and looked at Jai, "you are wrong you know. You do love Bani. Your eyes never search for somebody else when you look at her face." And then she was gone.
There seemed to be nothing that anyone could say. Ranveer and Nachiket looked at Jai in sympathetic but discreet silence.
Jai made his way out and came to an abrupt halt. There on the pristine floor was a slash of red where Bani had involuntarily dropped the thali. Like a scar the vermillion, made sticky by the oil of the diya in the thali, seemed to accuse Jai. He bellowed for Tony.
"clean that up." And without waiting for a response from his butler who looked at him mournfully he made his way upstairs. His first instinct was to seek the sanctuary of his study where there would be no lingering memory of Bani's presence. But Jai was not a coward by nature and he forced himself to go to his bedroom. It looked exactly as it had before Bani had entered his life and his home. He took a deep breath of relief and immediately regretted it as he caught the faintest whiff of Bani's presence. A fragrance that at first felt light and intangible but which always evoked a deeper base, reminding him of fragrant flowers releasing their heady essence under the warmth of the sun. With a grimace he opened the balcony doors in an effort to let in fresh air. But the sea breeze brought with it the heady fragrance of roses and jasmines, which forcibly reminded him of last night. When on the balcony their scent had mingled so powerfully with that of Bani's till his senses felt swamped. He closed the doors with a snap and as he turned his eye fell on the rosewood table. He switched on the lamp on the table, its mellow warmth bathing a corner of the otherwise dark room.
A familiar, ornate velvet box anchored a sheet of paper. He opened the box and found himself looking at his mother's earrings, which he had gifted to Bani on the night of Tarun and Rano's reception. He picked up the cream sheet, embossed with his own letter head.
Jai-
Heirlooms are not meant to be gifted outside of family. And certainly not to a mere mistress. Thank you for their loan. They are exquisite.
The pearls I have taken. I believe I have earned them.
Though not quite in the way you perceive.
Did you know the legend about pearls?
It was believed that when Phoebe (the pagan moon goddess) weeps for her beloved her tears fall into the sea and are frozen into pearls.
The only measure of pearls then are the tears for a beloved. And I have earned mine many times over.
All that remains before the balance of our what we had is settled for good is one gift. Mine to you, which you had promised to let me give you. The only truth that matters is then my final gift to you, even though I know you don't believe me: I love you; you are my 'foreign self.'
And that is the blight on my life.
I wanted to give you more, so much more……..
Bani.
Jai looked up blindly, out through the glass doors. The gibbous moon hanging low over the horizon was blurred by the sharp sting in his eyes. He looked again at the open box on the table. The blood red rubies ablaze in the cold white fire of diamonds. A finite emblem of Bani, the tears that caught in her wet eyelashes and sparkled like diamonds, the vermillion scar that marked her irrevocable departure…..he snapped the box shut. But could not put the letter down. Looking up he stared at the painting hung just above the table, now spotlighted by the lamp placed just below it. He stared at it for a long time before it came into focus.
He had seen it in the first exhibition of Saraswati's paintings and had wanted it. He had had his art dealer pursue the purchase with Sarawati's agent for nearly a year. Offering a then exorbitant amount for a painting by an artist who was at that time a relative newcomer. As an investment it was more than astute. In the years since, as Sarawati's reputation as an artist had grown so had the value of this painting. As one of the only known paintings by Sarawati that was not a landscape it was worth even more, both monetarily and critically. But that was not why he had wanted to buy it. His desire to own this painting; and then to cherish it far above his priceless art collection to the extent that it was the only painting that graced his bedroom; was rooted in another source.
The loneliness, the ambiguity, the melancholy all spoke to him, then as they did now, of a moment of truth. On a long past evening when he had stood outside the chapel in the cold darkness of the mist and drizzle and found that life was something that had escaped his definition, his understanding, that god was an inscrutable image, he had felt what the painting articulated: that he stood in an impenetrable fog, that he knew not himself whether he was going towards the light or escaping from it. And then he had taken the step that led him back into the chapel, to the huddled figure weeping her heartbreak in that most ancient of sanctuaries; that one place where all those whom life had inexorably cast aside found at least a fleeting refuge: the house of god. And he had found his angel.
Why did I not hold onto you on that long since past night, he asked himself in silent anguish. Why did I not realise the worth of what I was gifted that night. My very own angel, who left me with a note and memories that haunt me.
And now I have earned another note. He sighed but still remained blind to the obvious truth. After a while he moved, stiffly with the discomfort of one whose body is an afterthought to his mental numbness, and opening the drawer of the table withdrew a beautiful leather folder. Its only contents were a dried poinsettia flower carefully preserved by being pressed into heavy bond paper and then covered with a transparent wrap and a note, much creased from repeated handling. To this collection he added Bani's note, displaying a subconscious apprehension that was entirely absent from his conscious mind.
XVII-C
Tuesday. 16 December.
After Midnight.
Delhi.
Bani exited the airport in a bone chilling cold wind and driving rain. And it was so familiar, this bitter Delhi December that through the fog of misery that surrounded her, she gave an involuntary smile. She hailed a cab and then counted the minutes till she reached home. As the car sped through dark streets she remembered her departure, not daring to let herself remember anymore than that for fear of breaking down.
Earlier in the Evening.
Bani packed in a daze. It was a tribute to her will power that she did not allow herself to indulge in tears. Later, she told herself, later I will have the luxury of both time and solitude. But not now. not until I get out of here. It did not occur to her to call for help, not even Rumaan, with whim she had cancelled her meeting in the morning without any explanation. With an effort she packed and then finally there were the two velvet boxes. Her first instinct was to leave both of them behind. As she stood lost in contemplation a hesitant knock sounded on the door followed by the presence of Ranveer and Nachiket.
"Bhabi what's happened? Why are you packing?"
"Mami, what's wrong?"
She looked at them as if she did not recognise them. They both hurried over to her.
"please, tell us what's wrong? it's bhai isn't it? Bhabi, whatever it is we can help you fix it," pleaded Nachiket urgently.
Ranveer gently led her to a chair and seated her, "Mami, we want to help."
"please don't call me ….that," she said huskily at last.
Ranveer and Nachiket exchanged a look as she went on in a voice that trembled slightly, "there is nothing you can do…..J..Jai and I are…..please, I have to go…." She trailed off.
They did not say a word and then reaching a wordless decision both looked at her.
"ok. If you've finished packing I'll take your luggage downstairs," Nachiket said and at Bani's grateful nod took her suitcase and left.
"Where do you want to go, shall I take you to a hotel?" Ranveer asked hopefully, desperately trying to ensure that at the very least she did not depart from Bombay.
"No…I ..the airport. I have to go home. To delhi."
"Stay in Bombay for a day at least. You're in shock. Wait till Rano returns…..wait, why don't I take you to Tarun's house? There is a spare set of keys in Mamaji's study," he suggested desperately.
"no. I need to go home. Would you please call me a cab?" she asked getting up.
"Don't be silly. Nachiket and I will take you wherever you have to go….i'll go and organise a ticket for you," he said sadly and left.
Impulsively Bani picked up one of the velvet cases. Opening it she took out the pearls and wore them, putting the empty case in her handbag. The other velvet box she placed on the table. After a moment she opened the letter pad lying on the table and wrote a note and then anchoring the single sheet with the velvet case stood up. At the doorway she paused, and hungrily looked around the room, imprinting it upon her senses, her memory. Tears pooled in her eyes. Angrily she brushed them aside and left.
The taxi driver honked to get the attention of the chowkidar to have the gate opened. Seeing Bahadur kaka opening the gates personally, Bani smiled. No matter what she said, he and Jaya insisted on taking care of her personally.
Alone at last, she sank on her bed and finally gave way to the anguish that had been reined in for so long.
17 December.
Wednesday.
Mumbai
Maasi arrived as did Jigyasa, both full of questions, solicitude and a tinge of relief. All of Tuesday Jigyasa had tried to meet him and failing that speak to him but he had managed to keep her at bay. But 24 hours it seems was the outer limit. As for Maasi, the tabloid announcement of his impending nuptials was enough to make her pack her bags and abandon her daughter karuna.
Jigyasa looked shocked and then thoughtful when Jai snapped at her that the precious earrings were safe, Bani had not taken them.
Maasi bustled into the house agog and full of queries but she took one look at Jai's face and enfolded him in a wordless embrace. She was not even his real Maasi, a cousin sister of his mother, who had been an only child, but after the death of Krishna Walia, this lonely widow was all that Jai had in terms of maternal love. But it was enough, more than enough. Her only daughter, karuna, the same age as Jigyasa was already married and settled and Maasi had been both free and willing to shower all her maternal love on Jai, who reminded her so forcefully of her cousin. Krishna and Kavita, despite being cousins had been closes than most real sisters.
As Maasi set about making food for Jai with her own hands, much to the cook's horror and Jai's digestive discomfort (she was not exactly the world's most accomplished cook), she settled for getting information out of Tony. She was the only member of the family who could draw Tony out, that best of butlers who saw and understood far more than he ever indicated by word, deed or gesture. He understood Massi's love and concern for Jai, indeed shared much of it, and over the years had absolute proof that Maasi was neither a gossip nor indiscreet. And so he talked to her about the delightful Bani maam without reservations and without constraints. Maasi's consternation was great indeed by the time his recital came to an end. And the Bani Tony talked about bore very little resemblance indeed to the blas gold digger she had imagined. Instead Bani sounded like a wonderful girl who loved Jai to bits for himself and not his wealth. Having cooked a storm that was guaranteed to give Jai indigestion she set out to corner Nachiket and Ranveer and pump them for information. Both of whom blanched when they heard that Maasi had cooked dinner, mentally made other dinner plans and told her everything she wanted to know about Bani. They did so partly because her sweetness notwithstanding Maasi's word was close to being the law in the house because Jai decreed it to be so. Partly because they were equally fond of this plump motherly woman who never hesitated to mother them to bits right alongside Jai. But most of all because they genuinely thought that Bani had been perfect. Out of Jai's hearing they still insisted upon addressing her as Mami and Bhabi.
Jai remained oblivious to the investigations being conducted behind his back and in his house. For their inquisitiveness all of them; maasi, the boys, Aditya and even Jigyasa held their peace in the face of Jai's suppressed anguish and fury. He concentrated instead on evenly distributing his bad mood across the whole length and breadth of his employees.
It was with a massive sigh of relief that they greeted his departure for a work related trip. Let the European branch of Walia Inc. bear the brunt of his bad temper, they sighed in relief before getting down to dissecting the probable source of their boss's bad mood. The consensus pegged the cause as Ms. Bani Dixit's departure from his life. Jai's chuffer, one of the privileged few to have known and met the mysterious young woman found his reminiscences of her much in demand. Pushkar refused to say anything at all about Bani and Pia remained torn between knowingly telling everyone that Bani was her sister and resentment that Bani was still the centre of so much attention.
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