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Chapter 3:
A long and exhausting week had passed with her husband's tantrums and hurtful inflicting words. No matter what Bani did to help him, to reach out to him, Jai Walia would only push her back. On top of that, Jigyasa never left a chance to insult her or Rano. Bani feels suffocated and restless. Suffocated from being in this hell hole and restless from the worry over her sister.....
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The ringing of her cell phone alerts her and takes her out of her thoughts. Wiping away her tears, Bani looks over at the dresser and sees her cell phone flashing. She gets up from the bed and walks over to get it.
Bani: (soft) Hello?
There is a numbing silence on the other line, which confuses her.
Bani: Hello? (curiously)
Again no one speaks, but she can hear a faint breathing….a familiar one. Bani's heart leaps with relief as she realizes who it can be.
Bani: (whispers) Pia?--- Pia is it you?
She can hear her sister hold back her tears, which causes tears to rebuild in her own eyes. Bani goes over to the door and closes it. She rushes off to the far side of the room and continues to talk in a low voice.
Bani: Pia, main jaante hoon ki yeh tum ho. Oh Pia, tum kahan ho!
(trans. Pia, I know it is you. Oh Pia, where are you?!)Her heart begins to ache terribly as she hears Pia sniffle and cry on the other side.
Pia: Oh Di...(breathes out) I'm so sorry....so, so terribly sorry. Yeh saabh meri fault hai...Agar main yeh nahi kharti, to phir aph aur Mr. Walia ke saath----
(trans: This is all my fault....If I didn't do this, then you and Mr. Walia-----)Bani: (soothingly) Nahi, Pia....yeh tumhari koi gaalti nahi hai..
.(trans: No, Pia...this isn't any of your fault..)Pia: Paar Di-- mere wajah se aph Mr. Walia ke saath shaadi kharni thi!--
(trans: But Di, because of me you had to marry Mr. Walia!) He must be angry--- no furious! And I know that he must be making your life miserable!
Bani becomes confused as to how her sister learned of her and Jai's marriage, but then she realizes that their marriage is the hottest news lately and is discussed everywhere. Pia must have seen it somewhere in the newspaper or on television.
Bani: (unconvincing tone) Pia....aise-- aise kuch nahi hai....main aur Rano teek hai...really.
(Trans: Pia....it-it isn't like that at all....me and Rano are fine...really.)Pia: (crying) You are lying to me... Please don't try to comfort me, Didi. I'm a horrible person. You should hate me, yell at me, not comfort me!
She does. Bani did hate her sister, hate her for leaving her into the mess she created, hate her for running away without telling her, and hate her for leaving her with a terribly enraged and revenge seeking Jai Walia…. Bani wanted so much to yell at her instead of trying to soothe her. But Pia is her sister, and no matter what silly mistakes she makes, she will continue to love her. ...no mater what.
Bani: (changing the topic) ....Tum kaise ho? ...tum kahan ho?
(trans: how are you? ...where are you?)Pia: Di--- hum----
(trans: Di----we----)"Kiske saath baath khar rahi ho, Bani?
(trans: Who are you talking to Bani?)", a familiar deadly voice says from behind. Bani freezes and almost drops the phone. Her breathing stops..... and her heart seems to stop functioning. Clutching hard onto her cell phone, Bani slowly turns around and faces Jai, who stands in the middle of the doorway, peering at her with his intense looking eyes. He looks impressively attractive dressed in all black from head to toe and his hair wet from a shower. Jai Walia is a panther on the verge to kill....Bani's heart races.
Bani: (stammers) J-Ji...woh main---
Pia: Di, kya hua? A-aph kiske saath baath khar rahi hai?
(trans: Di, what happened? Who are you talking to?)Bani doesn't respond. She doesn't dare to, instead her eyes stay focused on Jai, who has a threatening expression on his face. He strides over to her side, continuing to stare her down, making her feel like a mouse in front of his built form.
Jai: Maine tumse kuch poocha hai, Bani.....kaun hai phone paar. (his voice sharp, authoritative)
(trans: I had asked you something, Bani....who is on the phone?)Bani slightly trembles and removes the phone away from her ear. Quickly she shuts it closed. Jai sees this and continues to gaze at her with his gray dangerous eyes.
Bani: Ji....koi nahi....woh baas main ek sahaili ke saath----she-she was just saying goodbye.
(trans: No one....I was just with a friend----)Jai: (cuts in, raises an eyebrow) sahaili?....I had no clue that you had friends here in Mumbai, Mrs. Walia....
She flushes, which amuses him.
Bani: Ji woh--- office se---
(trans: From the office---)Jai: Office! Really? (fake enthusiasm) Who?
Bani: (shakes her head) I'm not sure if you'll know her---
Jai: (casually) You're right. I do have a lot of employees and no time to remember them all.
There is a short silence that passes through them which Bani breaks by asking in a shaky voice, "Aph ko kuch chaaye tha?".
(trans: Did you need anything?)Jai: (snaps, grouchy) Hm. Tumhara Bhai aaye tha mera paas---- telling me to let you come back to the office.
(trans: Hm. Your brother came to me---telling me to let you come back to the office.)Bani's face brightens on hearing this even though he had said it in a not so pleased tone. She had been missing the office and her work terribly. It was awful sitting in the Mansion with nothing to do except to cry over her unlucky fate.
Jai: (staring her down) And here I am seeing that you must be missing your work by your calls to your office friends.
She lowers her head down and fiddles with her cell phone. A strong feeling of guilt rushes inside of her, making her feel awful and lower than before. Bani hated to lie...especially to Jai Walia, a man whom she respects so much. Before speaking again, he stares at her for a silent moment, making her uncomfortable under his focused gaze.
Jai: Start today or whenever. I personally don't care. All I want you to do is to make sure that I don't see your face at the office. It's the only place where I get peace now a days and now that you're going to be there----- (sneers)
Jai stares at her up and down, shakes his head with disgust , and turns around ready to leave the room, but halts in his steps as he hears Bani's phone go off. If Bani was scared before, she is absolutely terrified now. She watches him face her once again with a curious piercing look. His eyes fall onto her cell phone in her hand. Everything inside of her abruptly stops and Bani suddenly finds it difficult to breathe.
He notices her not making any attempt to pick up the phone, which fills him with even more curiosity.
Jai: When your cell phone is ringing, it means someone is calling you, Bani. (sarcastic, hard tone)
Bani flinches, but doesn't dare to take the call. She knew who it was....and was afraid of what will happen next.
Bani: (stammers, blurts out) S-s-someone will not stop calling me and -and has been pestering me all day... it's the same number ...
Another lie. Oh God did Bani hate herself more than ever....She tries her best to hide her fear, but Jai can clearly read her panic-stricken face....He walks on back over to her, building more fear into her. Jai reaches his hand out to her....
Jai: Give it to me....
The phone stops ringing.... Bani lets out a small sigh of relief.
Bani: ....it's stopped.
After a short few seconds, her phone begins to ring obnoxiously again. The color from her face drains and Jai continues to look grim. He doesn't remove his hand. Now his guess has been confirmed. By noting Bani's apprehension and refusing to pick up the phone before him, Jai Walia knows it must be Pia, his darling ex-fiance.
Jai: Mujhe dado, Bani... let me see who is harassing my wife. (sarcastic tone, demanding)
(trans: Give it to me, Bani...)Again she flinches. With a lot of force and unwillingness, Bani puts her phone into his hand. She switches her gaze over to the floor, not able to meet his eyes, and prays with all her heart that Pia will not speak....
He opens the flip phone with impatience and barks, "Hello?". Jai hears a startled gasp from the other line. He slowly smirks with pleasure on being right.
Jai: (teasingly) Hello?
Pia: .............
Jai: Hello?--- Hello?
Jai casts a look at his wife before walking casually over to the other side of the room, digging his free hand into his pocket.
Jai: (lets out a tired sigh) Pia...Pia....Pia....
Bani's eyes pop out and her body becomes stiff. She looks up in a flash and stares at Jai with astonishment. She closes her eyes with defeat. They were doomed....Jai Walia would probably now figure out where Pia is and will not spare her.... her and Pushkar. Panicking by the thought, Bani rushes over to her husband's side. Jai stops her with holding a hand and giving her a silencing look.
Jai: Don't trouble my poor wife...she is already hassled as it is....the least you can do for her is let her be....
Pia: (breathes out in a rush) Mr. Walia, please! Bani Didi aur Rano se kuch maat karo! Main aapke gunergarh hoon! Mujhe saaza dado! Meri Didi aur choti behen ko nahi, please! (pleads)
(trans: Don't do anythingn to Bani Didi and Rano! I am your culprit! Punish me! Not my Didi and little sister, please!)Jai laughs as this is the most hilarious thing he's ever heard. His bitter laughter worries Bani.
Jai: Hear yourself, Pia! Begging to me! How pathetic! (nasty)
Pia: (whimpers) ....Mr. Walia....
Jai: (in a nonchalant tone) How are you by the way? More than a week has passed by and there is no news of you or of that lover boy of yours! --- Wait, wait, pardon me, your husband now, isn't it? You two must have eloped by now, haven't you?
Pia: (silent)
Jai: Well Congratulations and may your marriage be a success!
Pia: Mr. Walia-- Didi---
Jai: Oh! Your Didi? If you'd really like to know, your sister is perfectly fine with me. Happy in fact. You know----
Jai turns and looks at Bani's weeping face. He continues to smirk and look at her up and down. Bani burns up under his roaming eyes.
Jai: We both have gotten married ourselves....
Pia: Ji, main jaante hoon....
.(trans: Yes, I know...)Jai: Oh you know? Oh of course---- it is the most recently discussed topic nowadays, you must have seen it on TV or read it somewhere in the newspaper.
Pia:……
Jai:....Well?--- No congratulations or well wishes for us both? Are you not happy for your sister and brother-in-law, Pia? (emphasizes brother-in-law)
He hears her cry which fills him with great pleasure.
Jai: (nastily) Would you like to hear how happy your sister is, Pia? Really she is so ecstatic.
Before Pia can even speak, Jai hands the phone over to Bani and proceeds to smile at her in an evil way. Bani looks at him with her tearing eyes.
Jai: Go on, Bani, talk to your sister...tell her how you feel about our marriage....tell her how happy you are.
Gulping, Bani hesitantly takes her phone back and slowly places it next to her ear. Jai watches her with great interest.
Jai: Tell her....(forceful tone)
Bani: (shakes)...M-Main baut khush hoon (sobs) baut khush.....
(trans: I am happy...very happy)Pia: (cries) Oh Didi! I-----
Jai snatches the phone back away from her, startling Bani.
Pia: I'm so sorry! This is all my fault! I shouldn't have run away! Otherwise you wouldn't be in this mess!
Jai: (harsh tone) Interesting that you've realized your mistake, Saali-Ji.
Pia: (startled) Mr. Walia, don't punish my sisters, I beg you. They shouldn't have to go through pain for what I have done.
Jai: Oh but they do, Pia, they do.
Pia: ---w-what do you mean?
Jai: (his voice raging) Pia Dixit, you cunning-two-timing-b*tch, you had accepted my proposal and promised to be by my side throughout the rest of my life--- I did not force you to accept--- I had given you the option--- You could have easily had said no and all of this wouldn't have happened--- but no, you agreed to marry me, played with my emotions, went behind my back and romanced with another man--- on our wedding day you left me only a single sentence explaining that you cannot marry me and left my life without my knowledge---- left me behind to be humiliated on being ditched at the altar--- disgraced in front of the whole damn society!
Pia: .......(speechless)
Jai: ….You have left, Pia...I don't know where you are....nor do I care anymore. But I know that I can't reach you which makes it impossible for me to make your life a living hell after what you have put me through---- but your sister here, my wife, makes it possible for me.....
Bani shakes.
Pia: (cries) Please....
Jai: and I know that when I give her pain....I will be giving you pain, Pia Dixit.... I will be giving you pain....
Pia: Mr. Walia, don't do this! You can't do this!
Jai: (spits) Watch me....
Jai shuts the phone closed and hands it over to Bani. There is a piercing silence.....
Jai: (deadly tone) I am sure by now this "someone" will stop calling you now....she will not harass you anymore.....
Bani continues to weep in front of him, feeling absolutely helpless. Seeing her not making any attempt of taking her cell phone back from him, Jai throws her it onto her bed and before slamming the door shut behind him, he says in a hard tone, "Make sure you come to the office on time...".
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Edited by indian_godess - 17 years ago
Kumkum Bhagya
Tu Dhadkan Main Dil
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
