Hi guys,
Thank you for the lovely comments and messages. You make me smile every time. Thanks for that. I hope I won't dissapoint you with the next part. It turned out a bit longer cause I get carried away when I write, and I have post two parts together because I will not be able to update before tuesday.please ignore any mistake. Hope you will have lots of fun on 31st dec, and be carefull with fireworks!!!!
have fun and do comment, please!!!
lot of love,
Ranjana
____________________________________________________
Theek hai Aditya. Let her pay rent. Uski amanat samjh kar rakh lenge. We will give it back to her whenever she will need it.
So it was decided. Bani, Pia and Rano had a new house, a new family.
*************************************************
Part 5
Bani soon got a job in a coffee shop as a waitress. Aditya had offered her a job in a Walia Group restaurant bit she kindly refused after explaining that she wanted a job on her own efforts.With her salary she somehow managed to pay the rent, and pay for necessary things for Pia and Rano. Bani did not want to touch the money in their account. Slowly they all got settled in the Walia Mansion and they got along with everybody. Three years passed by in a blink and nobody could even imagine a time when the three girls were not in there lives. Their interaction with Mr. Walia was limited, but he kept a tab on them through Adi Uncle and Mausi. The girls knew about this. Mr. Walia was being a good guardian to them, but still, they were not very comfortable in talking to him. They never saw Mrs. Walia after their first day in Mumbai. Nobody in the house ever mentioned her, and the girls never felt the need to bring up the topic of Mrs. Walia. In these three years they found out how famous their new family is. They were in the media every other day.
Mr. Walia,through his conversations with his family, could notice how much impact the girls had made on his family. Every member changed, only for the better. Because of Bani's sweet lecture's Tarun got help and gave up his excessive drinking, the reason he did not take over the Walia industries initially after Uday Walia's death. Bani, along with Karuna took care of his health. The drinking had already done a lot of damage.
Pushkar started to respect woman outside his family a lot more. The girls made them realize that even woman outside the family are someone's sister and mother. One slap from Pia (everybody thought he deserved it and supported Pia) moved his brain to the right place.
Mausi and Dadi simply dotted on the girls.
At every party and to every guest Aditya mentioned having five kids instead of two. At work he kept mentioning to Mr. Walia what a funny prank Pia played on Pushkar, or amusing comments Rano made during dinner, or Bani teaching Karuna how to cook something..
But nobody in the house was more grateful of the arrival of the girls, then Jigyasa. (believe it or not 😛, meri kahani hai, kuch bhi kar sakte hai hum😉)
She thanked God everyday for sending her angels in her life. Bani, Rano and Pia ganged up with all the family members to save Aditya's and Jigyasa's relationship, which was as good as over when the girls came in to their lives. Their communication was much better now and everything worked out between them.
Anu, who only focussed on guys, started focussing on her studies because of Rano, and Bani helped her work towards her passion, interior decoration.
Jigyasa and Karuna got a new shopping partner-in-crime in the form of Pia. She had great taste and both of them loved buying stuff for Pia, Bani and Rano, something Bani would not always appreciate, but Jigyasa and Karuna knew how to pacify Bani. Noticing Pia's sixth sense for fashion Jigyasa helped her get a job as an assistant-fashiondesigner for a friend. Pia did very well and soon got the opportunity to design her own collection of clothes which she named: R and B Curiosity. R for Rano, B for Bani and curiosity was the English translation of Jigyasa's name. But most of all Jigyasa was grateful for the change her angels, and especially Bani, brought in Ranveer. Ranveer was an extreme introvert. He never went out or made a lot of friends. Jigyasa did not want Ranveer to be a part animal like other guys, but she was scared of his silence. Slowly and gradually he opened up. He had fun for the first time in his adult life. He took the girls out along with Anu and Pushkar. He learned how to deal with Pia's flirty and bubbly nature, and picked up a thing or two from her. He fought like kids with Rano. But the most amazing was the friendship he formed with Bani. They became the best of friends. They would talk for hours, at night in the big swing in the garden about their future plans, their insecurities and their goals. It was a wonderful relationship he shared with Bani, but it never was a romantic one. Everybody in the Walia Mansion, even the servants, knew about his unexpressed feelings for Rano, except maybe Rano. His fear of rejection made him fight with Rano over the smallest things.
A year after the girls moved in Ranveer made his first presentation in Walia group of Industries. On the basis of that presentation the board of directors would decide whether or not Ranveer would get an independent project to handle for the company, as a manager. On his birthday party he got the news he bagged the project and his post. People congratulated him, said that he was bound to get the project, after all he had Aditya Bali's genes and Jai Walia's business sense in his blood. He could not deny that, but mentioned the help and support of his best friend….Bani. He asked his father and uncle if she could be his PA. Aditya was thrilled. It would mean that Bani would have to give up her job as a waitress, and he hated her working as a waitress, although he never told her that. After a lot of coaxing Bani agreed, and after working as a waitress for a year she became Ranveer's PA. They formed a great team.
After working for two years as Ranveer's PA, Bani got to do her own project too. But she was still officially his PA. Everybody was pleased with her work. So she heard. In the last meeting it was decided that Ranveer had to go abroad for two months for their latest project. Bani told him she could not go. She could not leave Pia and Rano for such a long time. Ranveer did not agree at first, he felt lost in meetings without Bani, but on hearing Rano's name he agreed.
At the same time Aditya stepped into the office both Ranveer and Bani shared.
'Are Bani, you don't want to go to Switserland with Ranveer? Why?' He asked
'It's nothing like that, I can't leave Pia and Rano alone like that.'
'Alone, what do you mean alone. All the family members are there. That means you don't trust us huh? Aditya asked in mocked anger.
'No Uncle, I don't mean that. I just mean I……'
'Bani!!!! Papa is just joking, aur tum ho ki safaai de rahi ho. Aur papa aap bhi na…' Ranveer knew she was afraid to have hurt her Adi Uncle.
'okay sorry for upsetting your friend Ranveer' Aditya was holding his ears in front of Ranveer and Bani. 'But still you should go with Ranveer. It will be good. Waise I came to give you this. Jai's PA going on maternity leave and he asked you Ranveer if you could interview the candidates today, and select one. Is that okay?'
'Sure papa I will do that. In the meanwhile Bani can work on the project you gave her, right?' he asked Bani who just nodded her head.
Aditya was on his way to his own office while he turned around and chuckled: 'You are a crazy girl you know that. The first one I know who turned a free trip to Switzerland down.'
The entire day Bani worked on her project. At four in the afternoon she looked up from her file to notice a dejected Ranveer entering the office.
'Kya hua Ranveer? Did you appoint a PA for Mr. Walia? Koi mili?'
'Haan mili na. Bahut mili. Lekin ek bhi mamaji ke PA banne layak nahin. Some of them were more interested in their make-up, some in their clothes, and even some in me. I got scared looking at them and sitting with them Bani. They were flirting shamelessly with me.'
Bani laughed out loudly. 'So did you flirt back. Did you show them what Pia taught you?'
'Bani don't laugh. Tell me what to do. I have not appointed anyone and mamaji called me to say he needs his new PA tomorrow. I can't appoint any of those girls. They are not capable aur mamaji unko aur mujhko kacchcha chaba jaayenge. You know his reputation. I don't have the time to do another interview session. I have to leave for Switzerland tomorrow afternoon. Mai kya karu?'
'Ask Adi uncle for help. Maybe he will know a solution.'
Aditya stepped in their office. He had heard their conversation.
'I think I have a solution. Bani, have you thought about going to Switzerland?'
'Yes uncle, mai nahin jaungi. I just can't.'
'Theek hai Beta.' Aditya smiled. 'That actually solves your problem Ranveer. You are in Switzerland for two months. Bani can be Jai's PA, and I will make sure I hire a PA for Jai in the meanwhile.'
'Par uncle, mai kaise. I mean how can I be Mr. Walia's PA.I mean….'
'You mean you are scared of mamaji and don't want to work with him.' Ranveer teased her.
Bani turned red like a tomato.
'Bani don't worry, you are the best in what you do. If I could I would whisk you away, but Ranveer guards you too well. I will talk to Jai and he won't mind you working for him. Kal se tu Jai ke saath kaam karegi.'
Bani had no other option then to agree.
Bani was a bunch of nerves when she arrived at 8.30 in the morning the next day. She met Mr. Walia's PA the previous day to make sure she knew most of the things and Mr. Walia's routine. She decided to come half a hour earlier then her new boss so she could adjust her desk the way she likes it. She had heard about his reputation of a shrewd businessman and a ruthless and very demanding boss. The thought made her feel uncomfortable.
At nine her boss was still not in. After waiting for 15 minutes she decided to go in to his office. 'Maybe he is trying to call on his phone in the office to notify he is late.' She thought.
She entered the office to find an exact replica of the study in Walia Mansion. The same furniture, the same chairs, the same sofa.
She saw a jacket on the sofa. She picked it up and hung it on the chair. 'Maybe he forgot it yesterday.'
Suddenly she heard a noise in the bathroom. She turned around and came face to face with her new boss.
'Good morning miss Dixit.'
'Good morning Mr. Walia.I did not see you come…… I mean would you like to have some coffee Mr. Walia.' she said quickly.
He just nodded. She left to get his coffee the way he liked it. She made it whenever he came to Walia Mansion so Dadi and Mausi could sit and catch up with Mr. Walia.
'I did not see him come in. Was he here before me?' she could not stop thinking this while she made his coffee. She got the diary with appointments from her desk and knocked on the door of Mr. Walia's office. She entered the office. He was sitting behind his desk. She placed the coffee on his desk and apprehensively looked at Mr. Walia. He looked very tired and it seemed like he did not shave today.
'Maybe he left his house in a hurry.' She thought.
'Mr. Walia your coffee. Would you like to discuss your appointments now or later?'
'Now is fine Miss Dixit.'
'please call me Bani Mr. Walia.' and she started her work.
She worked all day in her own cabin. Mr. Walia would call on the intercom when he needed some details, so she did not see him the rest of the day, and he did not have any meetings till three for a change. At half past two she went in his office to remind him about his meeting he had half a hour later. She was surprised. He had shaved, and he was wearing a different suit. Bani gave him the project file he would need, with her views and she had made notes on important points.
After briefly going through the file and the points he said: 'Well done Ms, Dix….I mean Bani. I'm impressed. No wonder Ranveer guards his PA so well even from his father.'
Bani blushed.
'Thank you Mr. Walia. Would you like anything else?'
'No thank you. Make sure you are ready, we will go to the meeting together.'
'Sure Mr. Walia.' and Bani left.
When Bani came home she was really tired. Being Jai Walia's PA was not a joke. If she had to work so hard, she did not want to know how much work he had to do in one day. She helped with dinner. As usual everybody, from Rano to Dadi, told Bani what they did that day, and made Bani promise to help them with something or just to talk to them, like she did every evening. Bani was tired and she really wanted to go to bed, but she could not say no. She sat with Jigyasa and Karuna till Mausi came and on seeing her tired face shooed her off to bed. The rest of the family protested stating it was just nine o 'clock and they still had to talk to Bani, but Mausi did not pay heed to any of them. Mausi did not know that the rest of the family one by one sneaked in to Bani's room to talk to her.
When Bani woke up the next morning she felt really tired. Adi uncle, Pushkar and Anu left her room at one in the morning. She slept immediately after that, to be called by Ranveer. He talked for over an hour to her.
She said her morning prayers and helped Tony making breakfast and tea for everyone.
When she was done with that she noticed it was already seven in the morning. She wanted to leave in 15 minutes because she left some work unfinished yesterday, and she wanted to complete it. She quickly grabbed a sandwich and rushed to her room to get ready. Since she became Ranveer's PA she did not wear her Indian dresses to the office. She thought she looked much younger in Indian clothes and did not want people think she was not capable of handling projects. But more than that she feared it might effect Ranveer's work too. Bani quickly got dressed, put on some light make-up, grabbed her stuff, woke Rano and Pia (they still slept in the same room), and rushed down. She met Mausi on her way out, showed her the sandwich in her hand and left the house before Mausi could stop her to make her have breakfast with everybody.
The office was half an hour away from Walia Mansion. Bani decided to take a taxi as the rest of the family would need the cars. Bani rushed upstairs to her cabin. She took the file she needed and started working. She noticed the information in it was incomplete. She needed another file which, was in Mr.Walia's office, to complete here work.
She looked at her watch. It was just passed eight. He would not be in his office, she did not see him come in. She decided to make some coffee first, in case he would come in early.
She stood in front of his office and out of habit raised her hand to almost knock on the door.
'Hey Bhagwaan. Tu bhi pagal hai Bani, kiske liye knock kar rahi hai? For the ghost who lives inside after Mr. Walia goes home?' she laughed at herself.
She went inside and turned on the small light on Mr. Walia's desk and looked for the file. She took it, switched of the light and turned around. She stopped. For a moment it seemed like she could not breath. She turned white, ready to scream, like she indeed had seen a ghost.
Edited by RANJANA_RRJ - 18 years ago
Cricket
Anupamaa
