ss When Jai met Bani updt pg6pt3 end - Page 3

Jai walked past them to the reception and then to the exit. The security moved and gave him way. Jai stared at the street and his car. he saw his BMW bathing in the pool of water. He had to spend hell to get the car back to normal condition. He turned back to his cabin. On the way back he collided with Bani. Bani steadied her and moved away. Jai threw her a look and walked to his cabin. He stopped on his track and looked on over his shoulder.
'Ms Diixt…'
Bani looked at him.
'Does your family know that you are here?' he asked facing her.
'Yes.' She answered him.
'What time was the interview supposed to be?'
'At 12.30pm.'
He couldn't believe it. 'Excuse me?'
'Your staff did not take the interview on time…' she retorted.
What was she implying? He did not like her tone. 'Well why did you not leave then?'
'I thought may be they will.. I mean I did not want to miss this opportunity….' She said quietly lowering her gaze.
'Hell with this job you should have gone back…' he couldn't believe how irresponsible the younger lots are.
Bani nodded in acceptance.
'What is that supposed to mean.' He asked seeing her shaking her head.
She looked hesitantly for a second and then said slowly… 'I should have now that I know ... I haven't got the job….'
Jai couldn't conceal his smile. He stared at her for a moment and then said, 'I usually don't make these kinds of offers since this day had been a crazy one…'
Bani looked at him eagerly.
"You got the job Ms Dixit…'
Bani's face widened to a smile.
'You will have this job only if we survive this weather. The way it's raining non stop I…..' he stopped abruptly at the look on her face. Her face had gone paper white. He had frightened her and he felt like a jerk about that.
'Are you alright?' he asked walking up to her.
Bani took few seconds to compose her. 'What do you think? Won't we pull through this situation'? Her voice trembled looking at him anxiously.
"Pray…' jai was not good at cheering people he lacked that art. He was always blunt. He walked to his cabin and shut the door.

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Bani sat down on the settee with a white face and prayers in her heart. She did not want to die not so soon. Bani jumped at the rattling noise of the windows. The wind blew and the windows rattled mercilessly. She clutched her file to her chest. To Bani's horror thunder struck shaking the building. She screamed shutting her eyes tightly.
Jai and his staff ran hurriedly to her side. Bani stood in the middle of the people who looked sympathetically at her.
The reception lady walked up to her and put her arms around Bani. Bani opened her eyes in embarrassment. 'It's okay…' the woman patted her shoulder. Lightning struck illuminating the room. Bani's gaze fell on the man whose stare bore into her. The lightning was followed by thunder deafening their ears. Bani clutched the woman's hand tightly. Tears flooded her eyes flowing freely on to her cheeks. 'This it. I knew it… this is the end…' she muttered shrugging away from the lady who tried to sooth her fears.

Jai knew that was his doing he shouldn't have frightened her. He felt his duty to calm the girl in distress. He took long steps and stopped in front of her. He touched her shoulder and felt her body tremble. The next moment Bani fainted in his arms. Jai swore and lifted her fragile figure in his arms and walked to his cabin his staffs following him. He put her slowly on the settee and looked at his staff. Raman brought him a glass of water immediately. Raman was always alert at his boss's presence he always knew what he wanted with out saying it. Jai took the water and sprinkled on her face. Bani jerked and snapped opened her eyes. She sat up immediately blushing. "I am sorry….' She murmured. Jai threw a glance at his staff crowded around her. They dispersed one by one at the look from their boss. The reception lady lingered looking at Jai and then to Bani. Jai threw her a look. "She will be fine Shobna ji.' He said.
The woman didn't seem to budge from there. Jai immediately said frustrated. "you can relax I'll not eat her alive.'
The woman's face whitened. She knew her boss. But she knew the situation she did not want to leave a young woman in his charge. The girl looked very helpless in her eyes and she felt a kind of responsibility towards the girl.
Jai studied the woman and he swore inside. What was he a sex maniac for god sake? What does the woman think of herself? He bit back his tongue and stared at her.
Bani was unaware of the tension between the two people in the room. She was frightened and her whole being was focused on life. She wanted to live. She wanted to make a name for herself. She wanted to marry to a wonderful man and she wanted children. GOD..You can't take these things away from me. Please.. she prayed.



Bani sat up and looked at the people around her breaking her from her never ending thoughts. Shobna looked at her. 'How do you feel now?'
Bani shook her head.
'She is fine now you can leave…' Jai said controlling his voice. The woman ignored him.
Jai got up in frustration and pulled the woman's hand and walked out side his cabin. He dropped her arms immediately and glared at her. Shobna rubbed her wrist and glared at him back.
'What do you think about me woman? I'll just make a pass at any girl who comes by?' Jai was shaking with uncontrollable anger. 'You had known me from how long?' he did not know what he was saying to her he was angry and hurt.
'Mr. Walia.. I ….' Shobna felt guilty.
'I frightened her damn it I want to talk to her….'
Shoban's eyes widened.
'I told her there won't be any tomorrow and I told her it was the end of this world….' Jai looked at the woman for some understanding.
Shobna's face cracked into a smile.
'Good…' Jai smiled at the woman. 'She will be safe I promise..' he added before going to his cabin and shutting the door.

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Bani sat lost in thoughts. She refused to think about her family. She didn't want to think how frightened they will be. The phone line was dead and there was no way reaching them. She pushed the thoughts away and looked up as he strode in. she sat in good posture straightening her crumbled cotton dress.
'Are you okay?' he asked taking his seat behind his desk.
Bani shook her head. She was not okay. She wanted to go home.
He knew she was still frightened. He decided to draw her into a conversation.
'Where do you live Ms. Dixit?'
'Santa Cruz west.' She spoke in her small voice.
'What does your father do?'
Bani's face fell.. Her father did not have any permanent Job. She didn't want to give him that information she fell silent.
Jai repeated the question impatiently. He was not good at this. He never wasted time for idle talk.
Bani thought for a while and decided why not give him the information any ways all of them are going to die. The way the weather was playing havoc with their lives she was going to loose nothing. She would talk and talk to this stranger and die peacefully.
'He doesn't have a permanent job he drifts from one to the other…'
Jai felt bad for her no wonder she looked desperate for the job. Jai didn't have anything else to ask. The silence fell in between them. The light from the candle dimmed. It would be any minute they would be in complete darkness. He would go and get a fresh one from the reception. Jai was unaware of the stock. there was no fresh one in the reception or any where in the building. All the staffs had been using them with out much of a thought.

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Bani looked at the candle and sighed. The lightning struck illuminating the room followed by loud thunder. Bani shut her mouth and closed her ears with her palm.
Jai stared at the petite figure. His heart went out to the girl in the room. Bani took her hands off and turned to him with a feeble smile. She shouldn't get scared she repeated to her self. She was a brave girl she should continue talking with him that would get her mind away from fear. Bani cleared her throat. 'Where do you live?' she asked breaking the silence.
'Juhu..' came the curt reply.
'What does your wife do?'
'Nothing…' he said looking at her.
'Oh she is a house wife how cute…..'
'I have no wife…'
'Oh…' Bani colored. 'To cover her foolishness she asked, "How many children do you have?'
'None…'
Bani felt bad.
'I am not married…' he said finally. The lights from the candle went off. She heard him swore.
Bani felt even more foolish for asking him about the children. The lightning struck again and Bani felt she saw a third person in the room. A cry caught in her throat. She strained her ears and felt the sound of foot steps. She knew Jai was seated behind the desk and no one opened the door and came. It was an intruder. She needed to act soon. Bani moved swiftly to the desk. She hit her feet on the foot of the table and winced.
'Are you alright? She heard him.
'Yes' she murmured walking behind the desk and tugging at his sleeve.
Jai couldn't understand what was happening. 'What are you…….' Before he could finish the sentence she closed his mouth with her palm and whispered. 'Be quiet…'


God this innocent looking woman is over me…. Jai's thoughts clogged with suspicions. She was no different from other woman once she learned he was single she was at it.

Before he could think even further Bani whispered. 'There's some one in the room other than us. I saw and I heard him…..' She dropped her hand from his mouth.
'Who?'
'Be quiet… and get under the table you can see him just wait for the lightening to strike again.'
Jai had no clue what she was talking about. He obeyed her. Taking care not to make any more noises they got under the table. He was a big built man where as Bani was petite. Bani caught her breath and waited along with him for the lightning to strike and illuminate the room. Jai heard her muttering prayers and he shook his head exasperated. What was he doing under the table with a frantic woman? Who screamed and yelled all the time the thunder struck…..
Jai lost his patience and tried to get up. She pulled him back. "what do you think you are doing?' she whispered. 'Do you think I am some kind of crazy person? I swear I saw a figure in the room…..'
Jai stared into the darkness not believing her. He decided to play along with her. Next instant the lightning struck illuminating the room. Jai saw a silhouette of a man near the window. Then next instant Jai shoved her aside and pounced on the intruder. Bani gaped in horror. 'What are you doing? She yelled. She got out of the table and stared into the darkness at the sound coming from the two men. She heard them struggle with each other. The lightning struck again and she saw the intruder struggling out of Jai's hard grip. 'Give me your duppatta'. Jai ordered. Bani looked horrified.
'Give me dixit. Let me tie him to the chair.' She heard the urgency in his voice.
'No..' Bani muttered.
'No? For God's grace give it to me" he shouted holding the man imprisoned.
Bani shook her head. She couldn't give him peace of her clothing what would her mother think? The lightning struck again and she saw jai stare at her with rage struggling with the man. 'Alright, come and get the torch from the floor….' He yelled.
'Where?' she asked taking a step forward.
'Here… next to my feet…'
Bani walked to the direction in the darkness..
'Where are you?' he was impatient.
'I am coming…..' she walked near him and collided with them.
'Be careful….. Take the torch from the ground…'
Bani bend down and searched for the torch. 'Where's it?'
'Next to my feet….' He grumbled.
Bani searched for one more time and got the torch. 'I got it…' she switched it on and turned to them. She directed the torch on to the intruders face. He blinked. She saw them man trapped in Jai's steel grip.
'Come closer…' she heard jai.
Bani walked little closer to him. Jai pulled the shawl from her shoulder making Bani jerk back the torch fell from her hand and she looked at him shocked.
Jai tied the intruders hand with her duppatta and pushed him on the settee took long strides picked her up from the floor along with the torch. Bani shoved his hand and stood aside fire in her eyes. How dare he how dare?
'I am sorry Dixit… you wouldn't give me and I had no choice……' he said looking down at her. Bani stared at him. when she didn't budge he snapped.
'What Dixit? I just took your damn shawl I did not rip you apart….'
Bani threw him an angry glance and stared in the darkness.


Jai walked back to the intruder with the torch in his hand. 'Thank you for bringing the torch… we were in darkness….' He was sarcastic. The intruder looked away.
Bani's attention turned to the man. He looked very fragile. Suddenly she felt sorry for him. And she didn't like the look Jai had on his face. She saw jai lift his hand towards the man's face. She screamed. "STOP….'
Jai looked at her in astonishment
'Don't hurt him…..' she walked towards them and looked upon the man. Jai threw his hand heavenwards.
'Why did you break in here?' she asked the man who looked at her for sympathy.
He was quiet. 'Tell me why did you sneak in here?' she sat on her knees and looked expectantly at him. The man couldn't take his eyes of her. He had never seen any one talk to him with compassion. He looked into her saucer eyes and said, 'MEin yahan chori karne keliyein aya hoon….' He couldn't lie to her not to the girl whose eyes sparked with kindness and compassion.
Jai smirked.
'Yahan kya hoga chorikarne kelien?' Bani asked him with kindness.
Jai couldn't take it. "kyon Dixit? Yahan chori karne keliyein kuch bhi nahin hein kya?
Bani's face turned pink. She had offended him for sure.
Bani ignored him completely and turned her attention once more to the man. 'Why are you doing this you don't look healthy enough to……..' before she could finish she heard Jai laugh raucously. Her face turned crimson pink. The man took pity on her and glared at the monster who laughed mercilessly.