Posted:
Thank you guys so much for the lovely comments!😳 Really, they always encourage me to do better.😃 Here is the next part. It's very boring, but this is all i could come up with for rite now. however, i promise to try to make the next part juicer.😉😃
Chapter 27 A
Rano stares at the scene in front of her with awe….actually staring at a particular person who she had thought about constantly ever since her last occurrence with him…never letting him leave her mind…doing something as foolish as even daydreaming about him… that very person who is now gripping Saahil's arm tightly against his back, causing him to squint in pain.
Ranveer seems even more handsome than she had last remembered him or perhaps it is just from the sun shining down on him which makes him stand out exceptionally today. Her heart races….
Saahil: Oww!!! What the hell?! (angry)--- Hey, stay out of this buddy! This is between me and her!
Saahil just recieves another painful twist of his arm in return for his rude words.
Ranveer: I'm sorry…but I'm not the kind of person to just walk away from a scene where a guy is harassing a poor innocent girl… and has her pinned against her will.
Saahil: (defensive) I wasn't harassing her! I'm her boyfriend, dammit!
Rano gapes at this, astounded by the nerve of Saahil to go on and say a lie like that. She sees Ranveer turn and look at her, seeking confirmation. She feels as if she has died and gone straight to heaven as his warm chocolate brown eyes bore into her light ones. A blush creeps into her cheeks and she shakes her head quickly.
Ranveer feels a sweep of relief on seeing her reply as a negative for reasons unknown. An idea comes to his mind and decides to have a little fun with the foolish boy before him. He tugs even harder on Saahil's arm, making him groan and leap up in pain.
Ranveer: Is that so? (amusement in his voice)
Angrily Saahil breaks his arm away successfully and spins around to get a view of the b*stard who dared to touch him in this manner. He is slightly intimidated by his tall built frame hovering over him. For once in his life, Saahil actually felt weak and small. But his pride and ego refuse to let him concede to defeat.
Saahil: Damn right it is!
Ranveer: Now how can that be possible….when I am dating her? …I don't find Rano as the cheating type.
Ranveer didn't know which one of the two looked more baffled by what he had said… Saahil or Rano. He refuses to look at Rano at that moment, not able to look at her watching him the way she is now… He keeps his eyes on the pale, shocked boy and uses every power in him to keep him from laughing at the ridicule on his face.
Saahil: You're lying!… Rano doesn't know you!
Ranveer: Really? … Then I guess I must have been going out with Rano's twin or look-alike for the past three months… (teasingly making a thoughtful look)
Saahil is further stupefied by this. Rano has a boyfriend? That too an older guy? She has been with him for three months? He looks at Rano, wanting her to refuse to this, but sees her in a daze, looking at Ranveer with batting eyelashes. Her cheeks burning red.
Saahil: Rano, why aren't you saying anything?! --- Tell him that you don't know him!
Ranveer: …. Sweetheart, tell this insufferable boy that we are together. (nonchalant tone)
Boy? He called him a boy? Saahil wasn't going to spare him. He is eighteen years old. So what if he is a little older than him. That doesn't give him any right to call him a boy. He is a young man.
Rano keeps her gaze transfixed on Ranveer, mesmerized by his appearance and having a dreamy look on her face by the words that had come from his mouth. Them together…. She could already envision it. Oh how she wanted it to be true…. She blushes even more by her thoughts.
Saahil: Rano?
Slightly startled, Rano turns her head in his direction in confusion. What did he want?
Saahil: Why aren't you speaking? Tell him that you don't know him. (demanding)
She is brought back to reality and realizes the current situation. Rano flashes Saahil a hateful look and nears by Ranveer's side.
Rano: No, I will not…because I do know him… very well… I have been with Ranveer for the past three months. (playing along with Ranveer)
Saahil looks from Rano to Ranveer and back to Rano in disbelief. He feels a sinking feeling in him and a mix feeling of anger in him.
Saahil: (accusing tone)…. He is too old for you.
Ranveer: (replying back coolly) And you… too immature.
Saahil glares at Ranveer with strong loathing. His hand rolls into a fist as he sees Ranveer place an arm around Rano, drawing her to his side. Rano looks perplexed by this and stares up at Ranveer with quiet eyes.
Ranveer: I strongly advise that you leave now before I make a harassment suit against you.
Furious, offended, and his ego hurt, Saahil storms off in a fit…leaving the supposed dating couple to themselves. Ranveer watches Saahil leave with satisfaction and turns to look down at Rano, who hadn't removed her eyes away from him, blinking silently at him. Quickly he releases her and makes some distance between them. He looks a bit sheepish with what had happened and runs his fingers through his hair.
Ranveer: I'm sorry… but I thought that would be the only way he'd leave you alone. (wanting to defend himself)
Ranveer wasn't too sure on how she would react. He is surprised though but also relieved to see her smile cutely.
Rano: You don't have to be sorry… and you're right… that is the only way he'll leave me alone. …(shyly) Thank you for helping me.
Ranveer: (smiling back) No problem at all…
There is an awkward moment of silence between them.
Rano: (clearing her throat)… Um… I don't mean to sound rude, but what are you even doing here?
Ranveer: … I have been waiting ten minutes for my crazy sister… I came in here looking for her… Do you by any chance know where she is?
Rano: She went to quickly meet up with one of her professors.
Ranveer: Do you know in which direction she went?-- I'm running a bit late and it's necessary that I leave on time.
Rano … Of course… she went down the corridor over there to the left….
Rano points out the corridor to him. Ranveer follows and he sighs with relief on seeing his sister appearing in view, just walking up the corridor towards them. He is not a very patient person….the last ten minutes had felt like eons to him.
Ranveer: Here comes the Jansi ki Rani… taking her time.
Rano can't help but giggle at his comment. He looks back at her and smiles back.
Ranveer: I guess I will see you around some other time, Rano.
Rano: I guess so… and thank you once again. If you weren't here then who knows what woul--
Ranveer: Hey….don't mention it…
Rano looks straight into his warming eyes as he places a gentle hand on her arm. He gives her a swooning smile.
Ranveer: …. I should leave…. Take care of yourself… and if that kid tries to pull anything else on you… just let me know. (winks)
Blushing, Rano nods her head.
Ranveer: Bye, Rano.
Rano quietly watches him make his way over to his sister, who finally recognizes his presence and goes running over to him. Together they go walking towards the exit arm in arm. She smiles shyly, happily to herself and proceeds in going towards her on way…..lost in Ranveer's thoughts at the moment.
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Jai swivels around in his chair, neglecting the pending work to do in front of him and only focusing his attention on his wife's thoughts… He didn't know why…but he felt apprehensive inside and restless…her tear stained face from last night was not leaving his mind… she was obviously very pained from what had happened… otherwise she wouldn't had cried in front of him the way she had done…. Yet when she had awoken this morning… it was like nothing even occurred… she shined radiantly with happiness… happiness which he knew not the reason of. Could this be some facade she is deliberately putting on? That she isn't hurt by any means… Is she truly okay? He knows very well that Bani is a master in hiding her true feelings… she had done it numerous of times with him before….hiding her sorrow away from him during the countless of times he had verbally abused her and behaved like a monster. Or is she truly happy? And if she is….what is the reason behind that smile of hers?
Despite all of this… Jai secretly yearns to hear her melodious voice….have her beautiful face in his sight…bring her by his side…even in his arms, in which her slender body had slept so serenely in last night. He snaps out of his thoughts roughly as he realizes what he is thinking of….why is he experiencing this sense of unease? This impatience? More importantly why does he wish for Bani's presence so strongly? He had just seen her two hours ago… yet it feels like a century has passed by.
He half unconsciously searches his pockets for his cell phone… If he were in his normal state, he would never had called home like he was doing right now. Anxiously he awaits for her to pick up the other line as the phone rings…
"Hello?", he hears his Mausi's voice speak. Jai is immediately disappointed with Bani not picking up the phone, but Mausi doing so instead. He wants to listen to her voice so bad….wants to know if she's alright… know her plans for the day…what's she's doing right now… oh hell, he just wants to hear her talk about anything… so he can lose himself in the melody of her tone… and put ease to his bustling heart.
Jai licks his dry lips and replies back hoarsely, "Mausi?".
Mausi: (cheery) Munna? Arre, Munna… hum abhi tumhare bhaare mein baatein khar rahe the… (trans: Arre Munna, … we were just talking about you.)
Jai: Hum?….
Mausi: Hain… tumhari Dadi, Rano, aur Bahu….
He feels his heart skip a beat…. So Bani is around? Is she besides Mausi? Damn… why couldn't she pick up the phone?
Jai: … I am hoping you all are only speaking good things about me?…
Mausi: (laughing) Hain hain, of course… Would a mother ever speak bad about her own son?
Jai: Of course not… but she surely can complain, can't she?
Mausi: (laughing once again) No, not this time… We are just reassuring your wife here that you will take good care of her health in her condition…. After all you were there to help Jigyasa out with her three pregnancies…you will know what you are doing.
Jai: (stunned) …..Mausi?
Mausi: Lao Munna… yeh tumhari Paatni gur gur phone ko dhek raahi hai… shayad woh tumse baat khaarne chaati hai… (trans: Here, Munna… your wife is staring intently at the phone… perhaps she wishes to talk to you.)
In a matter of seconds he hears his wife's breathless voice on the phone, "….Hello?" Jai rests his back against his chair and takes in the shy voice…now feeling at peace on finally hearing her. He however suddenly remembers what Mausi had said.
Jai: Bani… Mausi ko kaise pata chala? I was hoping in telling her ourselves…but now even she thinks you are pregnant like everyone else….
Bani: (hesitant)… Ji… woh…..main….woh….
"Arre Bani puttar, tum bholti kyon nahi? Hum koi ajnabee hai, kya?…Ke tum humare saamne tumhari paati ke saath nahi bolsaakte?….", Jai hears Dadi say teasingly in the background. He also listens to Mausi and Rano's giggles. (trans: Arre Bani puttar, why aren't you speaking? Are we strangers?---That you can not even speak to your husband in front of us?)
"Accha baba, hum samajde ke tum tumhari privacy ko chaaye… Chalo…hum saab chaalte kitchen mein…", Mausi now speaks…. (trans: Accha baba, we understand you want your privacy… Come… Let's go to the kitchen.)
Bani: (low voice)….Ji….woh….Dadi had told Mausi everything…about last night. (she says after they leave out of earshot)
Jai: Hmmm… (disapproval in his tone)
Jai was hoping to keep this away from Mausi. He didn't want her to learn about what had happened with Jigyasa. As for the pregnancy… he wanted to explain everything clearly to her… not having the heart to lie about him and Bani having a child… and then having her heart broken on learning that there is no child….
Bani: (lightly sighs) Abh woh mere peeche nahi chorde… kahin bhaari badaam ke dhud laake aate hai… baacha ka faaida ke liye… yaan fruits khaalaate hai… aapko pata ke maine paanch kehle kaachuke hai?… abh Dadi dusra shelareh hai… (trans: Now she does not get off from my back…. Sometimes she brings almond milk… for the child's benefit… or fruits to eat… do you know that I have eaten five bananas?….now Dadi is peeling the other one.)
Jai laughs a throaty laugh on hearing this, putting a smile on Bani's lips.
Jai: Sounds to me that they are more like slowly killing you rather than taking care of you.
Bani: (giggling) … Mausi baut dhyaan raakte hai… … mujhe baas dhaar laagate hai ke unko kaise masoos hoga jaab pata chaalte ke hum saach mein---…. (getting upset) (trans: Mausi takes very good care…. I am just afraid of how she will feel when she learns that we aren't---)
Jai: Bani… uske baare mein maat soch…. We will deal with it when the time comes…. We are doing this for Anu… Even you had said so….
Bani: Ji…..
A short moment of silence engulfs them which Bani breaks by asking him in a shy manner…
Bani: Ji… aapko kuch chaaye tha? Kya main Mausi ko phone dhaaon? (trans: Did you need anything? …Should I give Mausi the phone?)
Jai is stumped with this question and struggles for an answer. Damn… he should had planned out his reason before calling… Him and his impatience…
Jai: Uh… Nahi…. Actually… Hain… woh… (swallowing, thinking) … main sochara tha ke ….agar koi mujhe khana baajsakta…???(trans: I was thinking that…if anyone could send me food?)
Bani: Ji, khana? … Paar mujhe to laaga ke aap baar se khaate ho? (softly asks him) (trans: Food?…But I had thought you eat from outside?)
Jai: Hain… kaarta hoon… lekin aaj mera maan karta ke main ghar ka khaana khaoon…(trans: Yes… I do…but today I feel like eating home made food…)
Bani: (smiling) Ji, main abhi baanati hoon…. Aur aapka koi driver ko daawongi….(trans: I will make it right now… and give it to one of your drivers…)
Jai: Thank you. (relieved with finding an excuse)
Bani: (sweetly)… Ji… aur kuch?
Jai: (grins) No… that's all. I will see you in the evening, Bani. ….Aur hain, zaroor Mausi aur Dadi se paachke rehna… bhagwaan kaare ke unh dono tumhe sau kehle kaahlaanliye ke koshish nahi kaaronge….. (trans: And yes, make sure to stay away from Mausi and Dadi… Hope to God that those two do not try to feed you a hundred bananas.… )
Bani: (laughing cutely) Bye, Mr. Walia….
Smiling to himself, Jai disconnects the call and runs his fingers through his hair…..
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Rano: Arre, Di, yeh aap kya khar rahe hai? (trans: Arre, Di, what are you doing?)
Bani: Kya khar rahe hi hoon main, Rano? (trans: What am I doing, Rano?)
Rano: Please… aap baatjaaye…aaram kaariye… (trans: Sit down… Take rest…) Leave work for everyone else… I don't want you stressing yourself….
Bani: (throwing her a confused look) Rano? Main baas khaana baanaari ho…issme stress wale baath kahan hai? (trans: Rano? … I am just cooking food… where is the stress in that?)
Dadi: Arre Bani puttar… samja karo… tumhari behen tumhare bhaare mein fikar kaarte hai…. Abh tum maa baanwale ho… woh to baas tumhare dhek paal dhyaan kaarne chaate hai…. (trans: Arre Bani puttar… try to understand… your sister is worried for you…. Now you are becoming into a mother… she just wants to take care of you.) Aur yeh to tumhari phela baacha bhi hai… so naturally she will be concerned.
Rano: Ji…. I want my little niece/nephew to be a strong fit baby… and for that to happen, you, my dearest sister cannot undergo any stress… so I will not let you do any work.
Bani looks away guiltily from her sister. She had wanted to tell Rano about everything… tell her that she isn't pregnant with Jai Walia's child and in fact it is Anu who is pregnant… she knows that she can trust her sister with anything but she also is aware that on discovering the truth, Rano's attitude towards Anu will change… which is something she doesn't wish for.
Bani: (helpless) Mausi? … Aap samaajaaye nah isse…. (trans: You make her understand.)
Mausi: (giggling) Arre Rano beti… your sister is just pregnant… not physically incapable of doing anything. It is just simple cooking… aur mujhe pata hai ke meri Bahu mera Munna ke liye kaas khaana bahna na chaati hai…. Kyon, Bahu? (trans: And I know that my Bahu wants to make a special meal for my Munna…. Right, Bahu?)
Bani flushes a dark shade of red as the women and Rano laugh at her for doing so……
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Bani paces back and forth in the bedroom, fiddling with her pallu, and muttering under her breath… silently cursing her husband. It is now close to 11 o'clock and his presence is still missing… he did not even show for Dinner. She had repeatedly bothered Mausi with enquires about him and even had made her call him a couple of times.
Mausi: Arre, agar tumhe itana paareshaani hai phir tum kyon nahi call kaarte?…..Mujhe bhaar bhaar kyon saataate ho? (trans: Arre, if you are so worried then why do you not call? … Why do you keep bugging me?)
Bani: (pleading) Please, Mausi…. Woh aapke baatein maante hai… please… you call….(trans: He listens to you….)
Mausi had grimaced and shook her head at her, yet still called. After a few minutes Mausi came back and informed her that he would take awhile since there is still a lot of work left to do at the office. Bani frowned and left to go to her room…..
Bani: Main Mr. Walia ko nahi choordongi…. Kya office ke kaam family se zyaada important hai? … Budu… Duffer… mujhe ek bhaar bhi nahi call kiya… (frustrated) (trans: I will not spare Mr. Walia… Is the office work more important than family? …Idiot… he did not even call me once.)
Bani stops in the middle of her banter and stills as she hears the bedroom door slowly creak open. Relieved, she turns to look at her husband… happy with him finally being here… but she is immediately disappointed and confused on seeing Anu instead… staring at her with small beady little eyes…
Bani: (surprised)… Anu???
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Jai sighs tiredly as he takes his key out from the ignition, turning his car off. He gets out from the vehicle and shuts the door from behind him. Putting his keys into his pant pocket, he walks on over to the Mansion's steps, where he is welcomed by his butler, who takes his briefcase and coat from him.
He notes that it is 11:23 PM and is sure that Bani must be sleeping. Quietly he makes it to his room and softly turns the doorknob, not wishing to make any noise to disturb her. However, once he opens the door… he is startled to see that the lights are on…and to see Anu crying in his wife's lap as she strokes her hair to soothe her….
Anu: (in between her soft sobs) I'm…I'm so sorry, Bani Mami…. Yeh…yeh saab meri wajah se….(trans: This is all happening because of me…)
Bani: Shhh….Anu…. Sweetie, aise maat socho… saach mein… main tumhare saath gussa nahi hoon… (trans: Don't think like this… really… I am not mad at you.)
Anu: Kaise nahi, Mami? … I have made you go through so much…. Mama insulted you in front of everyone… you wouldn't had go to through all that if it wasn't for me….
Bani: Anu, tum---
"I am glad you have finally realized that much….," they both hear a familiar deep voice. Alarmed, both Anu and Bani look up and find Jai at the doorway, staring back at them….. Scared, Anu flies up from Bani's lap and wipes away her tears. She grips tight onto Bani's hand….wanting some support.
Anu: (whispers) Mamaji?
Jai closes the door behind him shut and steps forwards into the room…approaching them at the bed. He stares down at Anu from his tall height….
Jai: Tell me, Anu… why didn't you realize this last night? … When your mother was in the middle of disgracing Bani in front of everyone? (demanding)
Guiltily Anu shifts her gaze down to the floor.
Jai: Neeche kyon dhek khar rahi ho? (trans: Why are you looking down?) You look at me when I am talking to you, Anu.
Anu swallows hard and gives Bani a quick terrified glance before meeting her Mamaji's angry eyes. Bani tightens her hold on Anu's hand and soothingly places a hand on her hair. She also looks back at Jai.
Bani: Mr. Walia… (pleadingly)
Jai: Nahi Bani… tum beech mein nahi bhoolongi.. Main mera bhaanji ke saath bholna chaata hoon. (trans: No, Bani… you will not speak in between… I want to speak to my niece.)
Bani is silenced by this. She grows concerned, thinking of what he is about to say to Anu, who is already an emotional mess as it is.
Jai: Tell me… why didn't you do anything? Why did you quietly watch the thamasha that was happening because of you?
Anu bursts into a fit of tears by his stern voice. She raises her joined hands together and begs before him.
Anu: Mujhe maaf kardo, Mamaji…. Please mujhe maaf kardo…. Main baut bura insaan hoon… I am a coward… I couldn't speak nor do anything to stop what had happened… I was scared--scared to see myself fall in everyone's eyes…
Jai: So you chose to let Bani fall instead?
Shocked by his accusing tone, Anu hurriedly shakes her head in a negative.
Anu: (hastily) I didn't…I didn't want to put her through that… I would never wish to make Bani mami look bad. ---- Bani Mami, (looking desperately in Bani's direction) I would never… I love you too much to do that!
Bani: I know, Anu. (comforting her, laying a hand on her shoulder)
Jai: Perhaps you didn't wish for it, but it had almost happened, didn't it, Anu? … What were you thinking? ---Letting Bani carry your burden on her shoulders? Letting her fall because of you?
Anu: (defending herself) Mamaji, I didn't know Mama would do what she did…. I had just thought that everyone would accept the news…. Just for a little bit until I gained courage for myself to break the truth…. If I knew that Mama would---- I would had never----
Jai: And how long will it take for you to gain that courage? …. When do you suppose you will finally be able to tell your parents?…. What's stopping you from telling them, Anu? (demanding)
Bani's heart goes out to Anu, who is dumbfounded and speechless.. Not having any replies to her Mamaji's questions.
Jai: (bitterly) Is it the guilt inside of you that prevents you? … The fact that you are afraid to see the disappointment in your parent's eyes? … If you were going to be this scared of everyone's reaction on discovering that you are pregnant, Anu…. Then why did you do it? Why have you gone and done something that will bring our family shame? Anu, you have ruined your life with your own hands … You had so many opportunities ahead of you…. To have a good life… but now you got yourself pregnant…. You barely can take care of yourself half of the time… how can you take care of another being's life?
There is a long period of silence that passes through them… with Anu lowering her head down in shame… Jai standing with his one hand rolled into a fist… and Bani staring at him with a knowing look. His eyes meets hers and he then realizes that he has gone too far… her words come back to him… The last thing Anu needs is more stress from him… stress that can affect the unborn child. He couldn't help himself though from feeling furious at her… angry from what she had done and for allowing Bani to suffer instead. Jai lets out a sigh and runs his fingers through his hair, frustrated…
Anu: (through her tears) I did not think with a clear mind… I did not think of the consequences… I admit this…. But now I am ready to face the consequences…. I am responsible for my own actions… no one else…. As for my child… I will give my child every amount of love possible… I have now realized that I am a mother… a young woman… I am no longer a child, Mamaji… I am… I am sorry for acting like a coward… for not standing up to my own mistake… for letting Bani Mami fall for me…. I am just so sorry for everything.
Slowly his anger and disapproval towards his niece fades and he instead becomes sympathetic. The poor girl did indeed look sorry and regretful for what she had done….and so lost. What she needs is support… support to help her get through this… not hatred. She seems so helpless and confused with what she is going to do… Jai takes slow steps towards her. Frightened, Anu raises her head as her eyes see a pair of black shoes approach her. She is startled to see his hand take hers and pull her up from her position on the bed…. But seeing a small warm smile on his lips calms her and tears of relief leave her eyes….
Jai: Come here…
He indicates to her with outstretched arms… Happily Anu goes into them and lets herself be wrapped into an affectionate embrace. She hugs him tight, thankfully….Jai strokes her hair…and kisses the top of her head. Bani stands from the bed and smiles thankfully on seeing this sight… She places a caressing hand on Anu's back… Her eyes meet with her husbands and they shine brightly at him….
For a moment she had been worried on seeing him angry….fearing for Anu's well-being… she does not want any trouble to fall on her that will affect the child….she is glad that he has kept this in mind.
Jai: … You will tell them the truth… your parents deserve to know what is going on in their daughter's life… you may take a few days though, if you would like… I will not rush you… but I will also not let you take too much time in doing so… the sooner you tell your parents, the sooner we can get you married to that boyfriend of yours before your stomach reveals everything…
Anu nods her head hastily in agreement, showing him that she understands.
Anu: (her voice cracking) Thank you so much, Mamaji… thank you….
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please leave comments despite the boring update.
