This part is especially for my friend, Davia. Hope you like it Jaan!😃
chapter 4:
Bani had thought by joining the office again, her life would turn right side up. She'd finally get something to look forward to do and wouldn't have to wallow around at the Mansion and go through Jigyasa's insults. But now....she wanted to do nothing but wallow and go through never ending insults.... The office was horrible. No one ever called her just plain and simple Bani anymore....no, she was now Mrs. Walia for everyone... On top of that, she wasn't allowed to do anything. Her husband made sure of that. She wasn't in on the projects, deals, meetings....well she was in them, but wasn't a part of them, which upset her. Jai Walia was refraining her from something she loves...her work. Despite all this, her husband some how always managed to find an opportunity to continue to bash her left and right and find faults in everything she does.
So far another week and a half had gone by....Bani had no clue how she made it this far living....
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Bani arrives at the Mansion exhausted from the long hours at work, ready to slip into her room and wanting to disappear forever, but is approached by a snooty Jigyasa.
Jigyasa: Bani Bhabhi! You're here! How was work? (fake enthusiasm, smiling nastily at her)
Bani stares at her, curiously and confused.
Bani: J-Ji...it was alright....thank you for asking.
Jigyasa: You must be tired, haina?
Bani: ....Yes, I am a little tired....
She doesn't know where this conversation is going. Jigyasa is never nice to her....she doesn't acknowledge her the other times when she's not taunting her. Why is she all of a sudden interested in her?
Jigyasa:...Well you will have to hide your tiredness because in three hours, we are holding dinner for our foreign delegates and they are expecting a delicious meal!
Bani: Delegates?
Bani didn't hear anything nor was she informed about any delegates coming over at the Mansion tonight.
Jigyasa: (brightens up again, cheery) Well of course, Bhabhi! Surely Bhaiya told you! Why, you are going to be the hostess for tonight!
Her face pales and she stares at Jigyasa, shocked.
Bani: Ji, main?
Jigyasa: Ji, aph! ...Kyon, koi problem hai, Bhabhi?
(trans: Yes, you! ...Why, is there a problem, Bhabhi?)How come no one told her? ---Bani slowly shakes her head.
Bani: No...no problem at all. Has everything been prepared for their visit?
Jigyasa: Do not worry, everything is taken care of……except Dinner.
Bani mistakes Jigyasa's fake worry for a real one.
Bani: Hasn't Tony started on the Dinner yet?
Jigyasa: Nahi woh...ek problem hai....
(tran: No...there...there's a problem)Bani: Kaise problem?...
(trans: What kind of problem?)Jigyasa smirks at her and says happily, "I have given Tony a day off....".
It finally hits Bani....Jigyasa planned it. Yes, the day that important guests were coming over, she gave the Butler/Cook a day off.....she should had expected this. After all, just like her husband, her sister-in-law is out to get her too....
Bani: (practically cries) Aph--- aapne aise kyon kiya?
(trans: You--- why did you do this?)Jigyasa: Bani...(nonchalantly) I had to....poor Tony's mother passed away last night and he was informed this morning...I couldn't have the poor fellow work when he is grieving over his mother's death....
Bani feels the anger build in side of her. What a stupid excuse to use for her deliberate plan. Everyone knows that Tony is an orphan and has no relatives or family of his own.
Jigyasa: Since Tony is gone....and I have no knowledge of cooking whatsoever, why don't you make the Dinner Bhabhi? I've heard so many compliments of your cooking from almost everyone. If it really is good as everyone says, then I think you will fascinate the delegates, which is what we really need, to impress them I mean. .....Say that you will do it, nah Bani Bhabhi? (emphasizes Bani Bhabhi)
Bani takes in a deep breath. She can do this, she is sure that she can. She will not let Jigyasa win in her motives.
Bani: Ji....
Jigyasa: Lovely. I suggest you start on it now.... we need to serve a lot of guests which means you need to cook a lot of food....
Bani softly nods her head and watches Jigyasa turn and begin to walk away.
Jigyasa: Oh!
Jigyasa halts in her steps and faces Bani once again. She smiles coyly at her.
Jigyasa: I almost forgot! Please do make western food for our foreign guests. We want them to feel at home as much as possible.....
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Bani scatters around the kitchen, not knowing what to do. The foreign delegates will be here in in two hours and she still had nothing made. She was freaking out. There was no food in the fridge, cabinets or anywhere else in the kitchen........not anywhere! Where did they disappear to?!
"Bhabhi!---- Bhabhi!--- Bhabhi have you---- Oh, Bhabhi, what is this?", Bani hears Jigyasa's loud shrilling voice say from behind. Turning around, Bani looks at Jigyasa with frightened eyes.
Bani: There's no food! No food at all!
Jigyasa: Why, Bani! How can that be? There was so much food in here this morn------ oh my, of course.
Bani: (desperate) What?
Jigyasa: (stifles a laugh) Oh dear...I'm so sorry.... I forgot that I made Tony give the food away.... as charity you see....
Bani: Charity?!
Jigyasa: Why yes....I do it every year....there are so many starved children who are in need of food... Usually after that is done, I get Tony to buy new groceries....but I gave him the rest of the day off....I forgot there is no food....
Bani closes her eyes and exhales. Don't cry, Bani....Don't cry in front of this evil woman....do not show her that you have been defeated...do not let her enjoy this victory of hers....
Jigyasa: Well, I'm sorry Bani, I would help, but my presences is required elsewhere.... I will be back in time for the dinner....hopefully you'll handle things, right?
Bani opens her eyes and restrains herself from strangling her right there.
Bani: (croaks) Yes....I will...
Jigyasa: Good....(smirks) Well see you in the evening, Bhabhi....
And she whisks away from sight....Bani turns back around to the island in the center of the kitchen and digs her face into her hands.
Bani: (moans) What am I going to do now?
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Jai pleasantly gets the delegates seated and smiles generously at their comments about his home. Jigyasa appears in a burnt orange sari, looking wicked with her hair let out loose, make up done to perfection, her lips blood red, and mischief glistening in her eyes. She greets the guests politely and makes small talk. Soon 8 o'clock strikes and Jigyasa announces for Dinner.
Jai: (raises an eyebrow) Jigyasa, where is Tony?
He quietly asks her as the delegates are seated at the long dining table by a replacement butler.
Jigyasa: I have him the day off, Bhaiya.
Jai: You what? Why?
Jigyasa: (shrugs her shoulders) I felt that he deserved it after working for so long....
Jai: (huffs) You give him a damn day off on the day he's needed the most....do you ever use your brain, Jigyasa?
Jigyasa: Bhaiya...please do not lose your temper...everything is fine. Bani Bhabhi has got everything under control...(smiles wickedly)
Jai stares at her, puzzled
Jai: What do you mean?
Jigyasa: Why, Bhaiya, did you not know?--- Your wife is the one who prepared tonight's dinner.....
His whole face expression changes into bewilderment, shock, and finally to anger. He opens his mouth to retort and yell at his sister for allowing this, but is interrupted by Mr. Blackwell. "Mr. Walia...what are you doing standing there? Come and join us too. You don't need permission to sit down in your own home". All the other men laugh with Mr. Blackwell. Jai smiles meekly, glares at Jigyasa, and sits down at the front of the table. Jigyasa sits besides him. Another man, Mr. Gibson, lets out a sound of delight.
Mr. G: Mr. Walia...the food smells fantastic!
Before Jai can even say anything, Jigyasa speaks up.
Jigyasa: Well of course it does, Mr. Gibson...My sister-in-law, meaning my brother's wife has prepared it especially for you all....
"How sweet of her", Ms. Capets exclaims. Jai continues to sit in his chair, grim and fuming with anger.
"Mr. Walia, I do not see your wife anywhere...will she not be joining us for dinner?", one of the delegates questions him. Startled, Jai looks up at him. He opens his mouth to reply in a "No", but is cut off by a strong determined voice from a far, "Yes I will be accompanying you all in Dinner...".
Jai looks behind him and see Bani standing not so away, nearby the staircase, just coming off the last step. She walks towards them slowly, yet in an elegant style... She looks breathtakingly beautiful in a flashy lemon yellow sari, a diamond necklace paired along with diamond earrings, her wrists adorned with her red wedding bangles, a bright smile on her face, and her hair shiny and straight....Jai is momentarily stunned by her appearance....but anger floods back into him. What the bloody hell is she doing here? Is all that races through his mind.
Bani finally approaches the dining table and seats herself down in the last empty seat, on the other side of Jai.
Bani: I am the Hostess after all....
Bani casts a look at Jigyasa when she says this and sees her sister-in-law scowl. Jai stares her down with his gray eyes, but Bani avoids him and looks at the guests instead.
Bani: I'm sorry for taking so long....
The delegates forgive her with their pleasant smiles. "It is quite alright, Mrs. Walia...we have heard that you have made Dinner tonight...", Mr. Gibson says with a fond smile.
Jigyasa seems to become excited once again and says in an eager voice, "Dinner! Of course!--- Peter, please begin to serve everyone." Obediently Peter listens, other servants come out and begin to lift the covered dishes. Most of the delegates eye the food and look at one another awkwardly. Jai's blood boils after his shock passes by. Jigyasa doesn't bother to hide her evil smile. Bani sits quietly in her seat, still avoiding her husband's murder looking eyes.
"Uh...Mr. Walia...what is this?", one of the men questions. Taking his eyes off of his unaffected wife, Jai stares at his guests, baffled. The servants continue to place food into each one of their plates. A few of the delegates have already began to dig in.
Jai: I am very sorry--- I don't know what my wife was thinking. This wasn't what ------
Mr. Blackwell: Your wife was thinking with a brilliant mind! This food is delicious!
Bani relieved, smiles wonderfully at Mr. Blackwell. Jai looks stunned and startled. He convinces himself that he has heard Mr. Blackwell wrong.
Jai: I'm sorry?-- What did you say?
"It's wonderful, Mrs. Walia! I've never tasted anything this good in my life!", another man exclaims. Bani thanks him with a ginger smile. Jai proceeds to look bemused and completely thrown off. What just happened?.....
The rest also begin to eat their served food and let out pleased sounds.
"This is great...."
"Absolutely terrific"
"What do you call this, Mrs. Walia" , one man asks, pointing to one of the dishes.
Bani: (smiles) Palak Paneer....
"It's my favourite so far...", he says with a happy grin. "Mine also", another man says. Bani looks over at Jigyasa's, who happens to sit across from her, and hides a smile from Jigyasa's defeated looking face. Her eyes switch over to Jai, and is startled to see him staring at her so intensely....his eyes puzzled....yet amazed at the same time. She flushes and looks down at her dinner plate.
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Dinner went by smoothly and was a success. Bani's dinner pleased the delegates a lot and they hassled her with numerous of questions about the exquisite food she cooked and some even begged for recipes. She laughed, talked, and mingled with the delegates for a little awhile, until they had to leave. Jai was still left speechless ....he didn't say much, said a few things here and there, greeted farewells to the guests, but his attention was mostly lost....as if he were wondering in his thoughts.
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He tilts his head back, closes his eyes, digs his hands into his pant pockets, and lets himself be soaked in the cold shivering rain. Jai enjoys the feel of the rain hitting him hard against his face, drenching his clothes, wetting his hair, droplets rolling down his face, and lets himself relax underneath the pouring water. He hopes and wishes that the rain will wash away his troubles, heartaches, agony and calm him....soothe him....give him comfort.
More than three weeks have gone by.... and the feeling of hurt and betrayal inside of him is still fresh....his wounds are still open… Would this feeling ever go away? Will the pain in him ever fade? ....Will he ever learn to move on?... Will he proceed to be lonely and miserable.....cold and dark inside?... God is he miserable.....so depressed... so alone...no support at all....none whatsoever.....
He was so dazed and caught up in his thoughts and emotions that he did not even realize that he was no longer getting soaked under the hard rain, but instead was protected against it.... until he heard a loud crashing in the sky, alerting him and causing him to stand right up.
Jai looks around, shaken a bit, and notices a red umbrella hovering over his head.....Turning slowly to his right, Jai's eyes land on Bani, standing right next to him, smiling faintly and politely at him, holding the umbrella over him, shielding him away from the thudding droplets. She hadn't changed yet, she is still dressed in the same lemon sari she wore for Dinner.... Jai's breath is taken away on the sight of her.....
Bani: (soothingly) Mr. Walia... aph yahan bhaar kya khar rahi ho? You will fall ill from the rain....
(trans: what are you doing out here?)Jai continues to stare at her with a dazed look on his face.
Bani: (smiles) Come inside.
For a moment he is happy and relieved on seeing her... her comforting voice touches him.....her smile reaches out to him, easing him…her eyes hold sincerity in them, which he can clearly see and relaxes him…he was just about to return the smile until he sees Pia's image appear before him in her....smirking at him.... her eyes full of tease....her face glowing with satisfaction at his helpless state...laughing insanely with pleasure at his defeat…..shaking her head at him…
Rage floods back into him. Jai blinks his eyes and sees Pia's gleaming face vanish and replaced with Bani's light smiling one....however, the anger inside of him is still there.
Jai stares at her for a good long moment before doing something that frightens her. He thrusts the umbrella out of her hands, knocking it down. Bani lets out a small gasp. The rain hurriedly engulfs her…drenching her quickly.
Bani: Mr. Walia?
Jai: Tum bhar bhar mera peeche kyon phari ho?
(tran: Why are you always after me?) Do you have nothing else better to do other than to come and laugh at my state?
Bani opens her mouth to protest, but Jai silences her.
Jai: Don't you think that you and your sister have hurt me enough? Are you not satisfied quite yet that you had to come here and personally see how I am?
She looks the other way. Her eyes widen quickly as she feels a tight grip on her arm and is roughly shaken by Jai.
Jai: Take a good look at me, Bani! A really close look! Are you happy with what you see?!
Bani unwillingly stares into his face and shudders with what she sees.....a broken man. Her eyes well up with tears. Jai shakes her once again, making her squint in pain.
Jai: Are you?!
Of course not! I understand! Your hate, your anger, your hurt, all of it! You deserve to feel this way! You do!...I'm here to help.....to take your pain away.... she wanted to scream to him, yet, she remains mum.
He pushes her arm away with disgust and sneers at her.
Jai: Why am I even asking you a question that I already know the answer to…of course it makes you happy…it makes you bloody ecstatic with joy, doesn't it, Bani?
Bani gazes at him with her watering eyes, expressing so many things to him....her concern for him....her worry....care....and sorrow. Jai refrains from looking into them any longer and turns away from her.
Jai: Do me a favor and get lost. I don't want to see your face. (biting tone)
A few moments later he hears the French doors close behind him and knows that she has left the garden......
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Hope it wasn't disappointing. Please leave your comments!-- Oh and please tell me if any of you would like to be sent a PM whenever I update.
Edited by indian_godess - 17 years ago
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Vasudha
