Chapter 6:
Bani walks slowly down the stairs, feeling edgy and a tad nervous by the crowd of people and the media scattered around. She looks wonderful in a teal sari with silver works, looking like it was designed especially for her, paired with only a set of long dangling earrings and matching bangles. She gazes around hoping to see any people whom she knows and is on good terms with unlike her sister-in-law and husband. Bani finds her sister at the end of the staircase chatting with Anu. She catches Rano's eye and sees her sister smile at her and nod her head, beckoning for her to join them. Happily, Bani makes her way towards her.
On reaching the last step, Bani feels an iron grip on her arm, causing her to squint in pain. She turns to her right and sees Jigyasa staring at her with a forced smile. "Where do you think you are going, you fool?--- You should be at your husband's side. This party hasn't been held for your amusement", she mutters through her gritted teeth. "Come, the media is waiting to take pictures…".
Rano's smile fades and she stares at Jigyasa's tight hold on her sister's arm. She watches on angrily, yet helplessly.
Before Bani can even say a word, Jigyasa drags her off leading her towards the center of the party, her grip on her wrist not loosening a bit. Bani tries her best in getting Jigyasa's hold off of her.
She becomes relieved as Jigyasa finally lets go of her hand, but that is shortly lived as she sees where her sister-in-law has led her to….to her husband, who turns around and the smile that had played on his lips moments before vanishes. Instead he becomes grim and stares at her with his flaming eyes. Jigyasa leaves as fast as she came on seeing a group of her kitty friends.
"Is this your wife, Mr. Walia?", the reporter standing in front of him eagerly questions. Jai looks back over to him and nods. "Yes, this is my wife, Bani Walia", he says with no emotion in his voice. Bani is too busy protectingly holding onto her wrist, which still aches in pain from Jigyasa's unbelievably strong grip. The reporter surprises Bani by taking her hand and shaking it with so much enthusiasm.
"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Walia!". Bani smiles meekly at him and pulls out her hand, putting a stop to the annoying shaking. "Tell me, Mrs. Walia, how do you feel about your husband winning the huge business deal? I hear it will benefit the company a lot!". Bani mutely looks up at Jai, who also happens to be looking down at her. She feels his cold hand travel down her back and to her waist. He pulls her into his side. She shudders by the contact of his hand with her bare skin.
Jai: Go on, Darling, answer the nice man's question…(he says in a low tone only for her to hear)
The reporter, oblivious to the tension between husband and wife, mistakes Jai Walia's sudden hold on his wife as affection or possessiveness. He smiles at them.
Bani takes in a deep breath, calming down her racing heart, and smiles shakily at the man. She decides to answer truthfully for once….
Bani: I'm really happy for him. He deserves it after all the hard work he puts into the company. There isn't any other better man worthy of this deal. I'm glad that it is him who has won it.
The reporter quickly notes this down and makes small talk before wandering off to get some snacks and enjoy the party. Jai stares back at Bani and arches one of his eyebrows at her.
Jai: I'm surprised by your response, Mrs. Walia-- you almost even had me convinced. Tell me, did you always want to be an actress when you were young? Is that why you are so talented at deceiving people?
Bani's eyes lower. Not having the strength to put up with his hurtful comments anymore, Bani places her hand over his, which rested on her waist, and pulls it off. She makes an attempt to walk away, but feels him hold her back by her hand. Jai brings her back into him and stares at her with his hard gray eyes.
Jai: (harsh laughter) What an attitude you've got---- Where did you think you were running off to, Mrs. Walia--- we still have pictures to take.
Bani stiffens with his arm around her tight. Ignoring her discomfort and begging looks, he whisks her away towards the impatiently waiting crowd of media, who immediately perk up on seeing Mr. and Mrs. coming to them. They quickly interrogate Jai with numerous of questions regarding about the deal. Bani quietly stands by his side, his arm still around her.
Jai reaches into his pocket, pulls out a cigarette and lights it. He answers their questions in a nonchalant tone. Bani, not used to the awful smoke, tries to hold down her want to cough and holds in her breath, which fails miserably after a few seconds. She can't seem to stop reacting to the smoke. She looks up at him with pleading eyes and asks in a soft tone, only audible to him, "Mr. Walia, please, --the smoke…". Jai turns to her and pauses in the middle of his answer to a journalist. He takes the cigarette out of his mouth…..and breathes out a puff of smoke which hits Bani directly in her face, making her close her eyes and face the other way.
"…so yes, I am indeed happy with the proposition of the deal", he finishes off and looks back over to the paparazzi. He sticks the cigarette back into his mouth. Bani feels her eyes water from suffocation.
After a set of pictures and snaps of the newly weds, the media finally put a rest to their continuous uprising questions and decide to enjoy the party. They leave Jai and Bani alone….
Jai: You can't stand smoke, is it?--- (he breathes out some more smoke, and smirks) Don't worry, Mrs. Walia, you will get used to it soon….
Jai says to her in a teasing tone before leaving her by herself in the midst of the party. Bani watches him trail off with sad looking eyes.
Feeling a squeeze on her shoulder, Bani turns around and finds herself face to face with a beautiful, elegantly dressed woman….. Sonali, a famous film star and also one of Jai Walia's closet friend. ….a good friend of hers also up until all this mess happened.
Sonali: (sympathetic smile) …I don't like it either when he smokes. But he is what he is.
Bani keeps her eyes focused back on Jai who has joined a set of guests, not able to meet Sonali's friendly gaze which would only make her feel guilty with the fact that she is married to the man Sonali loves the most, and probably will always….
Sonali: But hopefully he will get rid of the habit….now that you're in his life.
Bani makes the mistake of looking at her when she says this. Seeing Sonali smile sincerely at her, causes her to break down….
Bani: (blurts out) I'm so sorry….
Sonali arches her professionally thinned eyebrows at her and smiles a confused smile.
Sonali: About what?
Bani: (miserably) You don't have to be sweet to me anymore….I have hurt you. You have every right to be angry with me.
Sonali: (her smile fades) Bani, what are you talking about dear?
Bani: ….You hate me, do you not? --For marrying Mr. Walia?
Sonali is momentarily taken aback and becomes mute. She looks past Bani and at Jai, who smiles generously at his business associates who he currently is speaking to.
Bani: Maine aapke pyaar ko cheenliya hai….(trans: I have taken away your love from you...)
Sonali smiles lightly at seeing Bani's downcast face. She takes Bani by her shoulders and looks down at her.
Sonali: You have not stolen him away from me…..he wasn't even mine to begin with. --- and whatever had happened, it's not like you had any say in it. Bani- I don't blame you nor hate you for anything.
Bani: But----
Sonali: I have no right over Jai……because now he is yours…..he is your husband, Bani. ….. (smiles warmly) And I hope and will pray from the bottom of my heart for both of you to have a successful marriage and be happy together. (she continues on as she sees Bani open her mouth to protest once again) there is a reason why you two are together today, Bani. …perhaps I was never destined to have Jai and you are…maybe it is you two who belong together…maybe it is you who Jai needs in his life….
Bani looks at Sonali with disbelief. How could she even come up with something so impossible? Her, Bani Dixit, destined to be Jai Walia's wife? Destined to be in his life? No….destiny wasn't apart of this. It was just all a big mistake…It is a big mistake….a cruel twist in fate.
Sonali: (her voice lowering)….Bani, please promise me something….promise me that you will keep Jai and yourself happy….promise me that you will try to make your marriage work.
She takes Bani's hands in hers as she says this in a pleading tone. Bani, stunned, stares at her for a long moment. She peers into Sonali's face.
Sonali: For once I am asking you something, Bani….take care of him….make him happy….please.
Bani feels her own eyes water from Sonali's request. It isn't fair….it isn't fair that Sonali doesn't get to have her love, which she deserves….it isn't fair for her to watch the man she loves with another woman….it isn't fair for her to give him up….in fact, none of this is fair….it isn't fair how fate has played such a cruel joke on all of them…Sonali….Jai….and herself….none of it is.
Bani slowly nods her head and smiles reassuringly at Sonali, causing her to smile in relief….
Bani: I promise……
************************************************************ ************************************************************
Hours went by in a blur and a few guests were already beginning to leave the party. After bidding Sonali a farewell and promising to call her sometimes, Bani finds Rano, who stood by Dadi throughout the party, looking clearly bored to death, and joins her sister's side with a small smile.
After a couple of minutes, Bani feels a tap on her shoulder and looks away from Rano and stares into Aditya's worried looking face. Her smile disappears and immediately she becomes curious.
Bani: Bhaiya… kya hua? (trans: What happened?) Is there anything wrong?
Aditya: Woh- Bani… Jai….
Bani: (alert) Mr. Walia ko kya hua?(trans: What has happened to, Mr. Walia?)
Aditya:… he's drunk… completely drunk, Bani.
Bani: (quickly, concerned) Woh kahan hai, bhaiya?(trans: Where is he, Bhaiya?)
Aditya: …In the garden. I tried helping him out of there, but he just doesn't listen.
Bani, not wasting another second, makes a movement to walk towards the doors leading to the garden, but feels a tug on her hand. Turning around, she stares into Rano's disapproving face.
Rano: Maat jao, Didi… (trans: Don't go, Didi) who cares what the man does to himself. He has made it perfectly clear to us all that he doesn't need anybody to take care of him… so why do you always go running to his side?
Bani:….. He's my husband, Rano.
Bani is surprised by how easily and calmly she had said it.
Rano: To kya?(trans: So what?) -- Has this husband of yours ever treated you with respect, Didi?-- Nahi, nah? (trans: no, right?)
Bani looks into her sister's face long and hard. She faintly shakes her head and pulls her hand out of hers.
Bani: Tum nahi samajonge, Rano… (trans: You wont understand, Rano.)
Giving her brother a thankful look, Bani rushes away from Aditya and Rano and down the hall towards the garden…….
************************************************************ ************************************************************ ******
She finds him sitting in one of the garden chairs, his legs resting up on the table before him, and his head tilted to the side. Running over to him, Bani places a gentle touch on his shoulder and bends down by his side. Jai stirs in his unconscious state and looks around with woozy eyes. He finds Bani bending down on the ground before him, and slowly blinks at her, confused.
Bani: Mr. Walia, I will take you to your room.
Jai shrugs off her hand from his shoulder.
Jai: ..I-I'm fine… I don't neeeed anyone's help…. Nooot yours… not Aditya's… nobody's…leave me alone…
Bani: (gentle tone) Mr. Walia, please, come with me.
Jai: (growls) I said I'm fffine.
Bani: No you are not. You're not well, Mr. Walia…and not in a condition to be by yourself…
Jai: (brushing off her hand once again) why doo you bloody care?-- why shoould you? --- I-I'm nothing to you… and you're definitely nothing to mee… just gooo away, Bani… leave me the hell alone… I can take care of myseeellf----
As he says this, Jai grips onto the armchairs of the chair and pushes himself up. He makes an attempt to walk on his own, but only ends up losing his balance and falling.
Bani: (concerned) Mr. Walia!
Jai groans and continues to lay on the cold grass, too weak to get up by himself. Bani takes him gently by his arm, wraps it around her neck, pulls him off of the ground, places a hand on his chest, grips tight around his waist, and carefully leads him inside. Jai silently lets himself be taken away….
She brings him to his bedroom, where Jai regains some type of control and motions her to move away from him with the raise of his index finger. As she backs away and remains standing, Bani watches Jai fall down onto his bed and slowly drift off into a deep slumber.
Bani walks over to the end of the bed where his feet are and takes his shoes in her hands. She unties the laces and slides off his black polished designer shoes off his feet. She places them neatly by the edge of the bed on the floor. Taking the comforter in her hands, Bani lays it securely on him, making sure that he is covered completely in it. As she flicks the room lights off and opens the bedroom door, she hears a small mutter escape from his lips. "…Pia".
Stopping only for a few seconds after hearing this, Bani lowers her eyes and closes the door firmly shut….
************************************************************ ************************************************************ ***
this part didn't really go the way i wanted to. so forgive me if it's not all that great. as you can tell i don't know anything about business, so just nod your heads and go along with it.😆
Edited by indian_godess - 17 years ago
Mangal Lakshmi
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
