Chapter 6
hours…their lives were so different, Pia was the queen of her house, Bani well, she had everything, all the comforts and the luxuries but yet to be the wife of her husband…
+++
As Bani entered the hall, she noticed Buaji's thundering face, keya time ane ka….time ka kuch kheyal hi nehi…Munna tere intezaar me baith baith kar nikal gaya….
Bani looked at Bua, she did not believe that Jai Walia would keep his word of returning early,
Kitna achha mauka tha Bua went on, Roshni birthday party me gayi hui thi….
Bani's anger was shooting up, O so Roshni was out and I was supposed to fill in the blank….thank god I was not there….she hung her head and heard all bua had to say…
+++
It was late into the night, Bani got up to relieve herself, she heard a car honking…Bani pulled the curtains to see Jai Walia driving the car, with Roshni sleeping on his shoulders entering the gates of Walia Mansion, as the head lights fell, she felt Jai Walia's eyes briefly on her…Bani drew back the curtains and went to the bathroom
+++
Jai helped Roshni to climb up the stairs, he could feel Ma's disapproval, how many times he has told her not to remain awake but she never listens, she does not retire to bed until he has returned safe and sound, now she has to see that he is helping a semi drunk Roshni to retire to bed, well he knows she does not approve it but key kare kabhi kabhi ho jata hai….
As Jai changed, he remembered Bani standing at the window watching them enter…her sleepy eyes, was she awake too, he felt guilty, its over a week she is here and they are yet to ….he released at deep sigh and looked towards Roshni, with her around, how can he, I hope Bani understands, forgives him….but why would she…..
+++
As Bani wheeled the morning breakfast with Buaji, she noticed that Jai was massaging Roshni's head, so she is having a hangover, seeing Buaji, Roshni sat up and released herself from Jai, chalo kuch toh sharam hai thought Bani, even though she did not care, her feeling towards Roshni was neither bad nor good, to her the whole marriage episode was a fiasco and she wanted to get out of it as fast as possible, specially when she found Jai is also not also interested in her, she waited to go back to her old life but when she saw Pia yesterday she felt bad for sometime, two sisters married on the same day but are having such a different life but when Buaji scolded her for not returning on time, Bani swore that she has to do something fast….
Mr Walia, Bani called out
Jai was literally hiding behind the newspaper, after finding Bani watching them enter the house late night, he was feeling very very uneasy …..
Ha Bani, he answered promptly with his full attention….
Ji mai yeh advertisement dekha tha paper me, Bani shows the cutting, cooking class on french cooking to be imparted by one of the famous chefs of Mumbai for about a month, followed by other lessons….
Mr Walia, I am free between 11 to 5 o'clock in the evening….I was thinking of joining, just to enhance my education and keep myself busy…
Why bother, Roshni commented, agar tumhe seekhna hai, hamara hotel ke chef ko bula lo and he will teach you, ghar me baithe baithe hi…
One minute Roshni, Jai interrupted…Bani go ahead…Ma Bani ko bharti hone ka paise de dena….
Woh mere pass kuch….
It doesn't matter you take the money from Ma, Jai did not even glance at the newspaper cutting displayed by Bani….he noticed the disapprove of Ma's face but he felt happy at least he could do something for Bani at last, the poor girl was bored sitting at home…
+++
Bani was dead tired when she returned home, its three days that she has been working and enjoying every bit of it, the restaurant was in the commercial area, and it had clients of all age groups and taste buds, some liked quick meals, some sumptuous, but the best part is the owners allowed experimentations and Bani has already been summoned by one or two of the regular patrons and been complimented, yes with Jai away on tour and Roshni visiting her relatives things are also relaxed at home as Bua is also not keeping tabs on her return…Bani took out the mobile to call some of her friends, she was gradually contacting her friends, though she still did not speak about her marriage to Jai Walia but she chatted about her job and caught up with the latest gossips, she even called up Pushkar and gave him her new mobile number…
+++
Bani was hurrying through the orders, it was lunch time on a Saturday afternoon and the restaurant was packed, suddenly she was summoned at the restaurant, an important client would like to pay his compliments, Bani asked one of them to take over, straightening her apron and cap, she went out, it was that elderly Italian gentleman who got up to compliment Bani in his heavily accented English, made gestures and finally kissed her hand, while Bani stood smiling at him and nodding her head, trying her best to answer his questions, suddenly her eyes fell on the table opposite to find both Jai & Roshni watching her, they were there with some other people, Bani paled, she quickly excused herself and went back to the kitchen….
+++
Thankfully the Walia family members were not aware of her new mobile connection, she always kept it in silence mode and used it discreetly at home, as Bani walked in the evening, her heartbeat increased, she quickly crossed the hall to go up to her room, but Bua's voice called out for her as soon as she put her step on the first stair….
Needless to say, Bani got a good thrashing, for concealing the fact and how can she forget that she is Jai Walia's wife, she doesn't have any feelings towards her husband's prestige and position. Bani hated being shouted at in the middle of the hall, Bua was sarcastic, agar tujhe khana banane ka itna hi shok hai, ghar me banaya kar, mai cook ko retire karwa dungi, umar ho gaya uska…
Bani was in verge of tears but she controlled herself, waited for Bua to finish and turned to leave for her room, saw Jai Walia walking past, maybe going out again….Bani lost her control….
Chugalkhor, she lashed out to him and ran up, not heading to her Bua's summons….
Jai raised his hand and signaled his Ma to stop, Roshni bhi na ekdum bachchi hai, after leaving the restaurant she promptly dialed home the conveyed the news, Roshni & Ma had their typical Saas-Bahu relations at times, he knew there will be sparks flying as Ma was very strict how her family should behave in this house, he had seen her directing Bani how to do and what to do as per this family, as Ma left the hall, Jai stood there for sometime, then made a call, after disconnecting it, he smiled, it has been quite sometime that people called him names, he recalled Bani's expression, eyes blazing, nose flaring, he slid his mobile in his pocket and climbed up the stairs.
+++
Bani was scrubbing herself thoroughly standing below the shower, she was mad with her Bua, it is just because she has had a very formal relationship with bua, that is why she has kept quiet, what shaadi, it hardly has any legal entity, moreover she never wanted to be Mrs Jai Walia, she is not any way, it is about 20 days that she has been here, she has noticed the hesitation on the part of the family members in introducing her to their friends and acquaintances, for them she was just Bani…..
Bani opened the bathroom door with her hair in turban and in her toweling robe, she found Jai Walia standing with his hands in his pockets…
Aap, Bani glared, she felt uneasy for having insufficient clothing on….
Tumne mujhe chulagkhor kiyu kaha…
Kiyu nehi kahungi, aap kiyu mere sikayat ki buaji se…
Kiyu nehi karoonga, mai chugalkhor toh tum jhooti ho, tumhe french cooking sikhna tha, so it was practical classes I guess,
Bani turned away, she started taking out clothes, cannot stand half naked in front of him,…
I am waiting for your answer….Jai asked again,
Bani turned around….I think you know the answer, because of this stupid marriage I am stuck here, nehi toh aaj mai kisi 5 star hotel me kaam karti, earning a hefty salary…just like my other friends….she looked steadily at him…
Tumne jhoot kiyu kaha, he asked softly,
Did I have a choice, agar me saach bolti keya aap mujhe naukri karne dete…..
Jai came forward to remove the turban from her head, her wet hair came tumbling down, he felt the wet tresses, nehi karne deta…..he said honestly, Bani I am sorry I know you are not happy here, I have done nothing to make you happy…
Bani remained silent…
Bani, believe me it is very difficult for me to accept the fact that I have married the 2nd time, that too with a young girl like you…I understand you did not want to get married….Bani looked up into his eyes…
Yes Bani, your eyes tell me everytime I look at you, what am I doing here, they seem to convey…
No wonder he was nowhere near her all these days……
She touched his palm, I am sorry Mr Walia I will go and resign tomorrow…
She turned to go to the bathroom to change, Jai heard her releasing her sigh, he pulled her into his embrace.
+++
Shiv Shakti
