Dear,
~Deep~
Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas
From:
Supriya (but you can call me Suppi)
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Author's Note:
This FF is especially dedicated to ~Deep~ and her family. This is my Secret Santa Gift For you. This certainly is not my first FF but I had promised myself that I was through with FF's because of my hectic school schedule. I also know that I am not a writer by any stretch of imagination. But, on the other hand I am totally clumsy with siggies and stuff like that so I decided that the best I could do was to try my best at the Herculean task of penning down a short story so as to make you, ~Deep~ happy on Christmas day. I also express my genuine apologies for the delay in presenting the gift as I do not get internet until 10:00 pm(Indian Standard Time).
If there are any mistakes please pardon me as I did not get time to proof read.
I hope that the coming year brings you and your family a lot of joy and peace.
As I would not like to leave anyone out I also dedicate this to the entire KS Forum. Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year…
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Once upon a time in the great big city of Mumbai, there came a great big storm…right on Christmas eve…and like a whirlwind it changed three lives….
From a far away radio played the famous song sung by Lata Mangeshkar from the movie Barsaat…
Tak dhina dhin, dina dhinTak dhina dhin Barsaat meinTak dhina dhinBarsaat mein humse mile tum sajan, tumse mile humBarsaat meinTak dhina dhin Barsaat mein humse mile tum sajan, tumse mile humBarsaat meinTak dhina dhin Preet ne swikaar kiya aaisa nikul hunAaisa nikul hunSapnon ki rim ghim me nach oota mannMera nach oota mannAaj main tumhari huyi, tum mere sanamAaj main tumhari huyi, tum mere sanamTum mere sanam Barsaat meinTak dhina dhinBarsaat mein humse mile tum sajan, tumse mile humBarsaat meinTak dhina dhin Yeh samaa hai, jaa rahe ho, kaise manaooKaise manaooYeh samaa hai, jaa rahe ho, kaise manaooKaise manaooMain tumhari raahon mein yeh nain bichaooNain bichaooYun na aao roop meri, jaan ki kasamJaan ki kasamBarsaat meinBarsaat mein humse mile tum sajan, tumse mile humBarsaat mein Deir na karna kahin yeh aas toot jayeSaath choot jayeDeir na karna kahin yeh aas toot jayeSaath choot jayeTum na aao, dil ki lagi mujhko hi jalayeKhaak mein milayeAag ki lapton me pukare, mera mannMil na sake khwab haye, mil na sake hum Mil na sake khwab haye, mil na sake humMil na sake khwab haye, mil na sake humMil na sake khwab haye, mil na sake humMil na sake khwab haye, mil na sake humHaye barsaat mein
(Video and link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aASf_NDHPQ)
The lightening strikes as if the it had a great vendetta against the sky.
"kehte hain ki bin mausam barsaat hone se kuch accha hone wala hai…."
In the pelting rain there stood a petite frame shivering slightly looking towards a huge palatial mansion, light up as brightly as a Christmas tree. She hugged her small carry bag closer to her heart…she could feel her heart ,"it almost sounds like a bullet bike" she thinks to herself giving out a small giggle (I kno I kno bad comparison but that's how she is). Standing right behind her was her younger sister mesmerized by the mansion in front.
Then on a serious note adds to herself " I wish baba hadn't left us all alone…"
Slowly a tear trickles down mingling with the rain drops that made her look as if she had been crying for a very long time….
"chalo …"she beckons to her sister with a nod.
As soon as she approaches the mansion she sees cars rearing up to leave…
"looks like the party just came to an end" she thinks to herself shrugging her shoulders.
She goes to the main door…it was more like a huge archway adorned with the most beautiful and intricate carvings…on either sides of the main door was a life-size 'Shilabalika" holding a burning oil lamp which was giving off the most heavenly fragrance. It was so detailed and lifelike that you could almost imagine the chest rising and falling in silent respiration. There was a sudden gust of wind and by instinct she extended her hand so as to prevent the flame from being put out…
"excuse me..ma'am may I help you?"
"I …umm… I have come to meet Mr. Jai Walia…umm can you please give this letter to him?" she said.
"forgive me I did not introduce myself…I am Tony the butler of Walia Mansion it's a pleasure to meet you ma'am. I'll be back shortly please do come in to the sitting room" he said as he showed both of the sisters the way to the sitting room.
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There he stood watching the unexpected torrent of rain, a glass of "Diaka Vodka" in his hand…he took just another sip and flung the whole thing out of his window…(I kno throwing vodka is not a big deal but you ought to know that flinging a whole glass of "the most expensive vodka"…diamond vodka IS a big thing)
There was a knock on the door.
"come in" he said in the most grumpiest tone possible.
Tony the butler came inside. "sir, there is a young lady who wishes to see you…"
"at this hour???" he asked irritated at being disturbed from his solitude…
"sir she requested me to give this to you.." tony said extending the drenched envelope.
He gave a revolted glance at the drenched envelope and taking it between two of his fingers as if it were a dead rat opened it and skimmed through the drenched piece of parchment inside. He raised an eyebrow inquisitively and told his butler that he will be meeting this 'young lady' in a few minutes.
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Back in the sitting room the two girls shivered in the cold sitting room.they seemed to be arguing on some point.
"Di, pata nahin kaise log hai… bahar itni thand hai aur phir bhi a/c chala rahein hain?"
"Pia, shh ….stop complaining koi sun lega toh?"
"ok baba… phir bhi mann na padega ..kitna badaa ghar hai na?? Kash humare pas bhi aisa BADA sa ghar hota"…
"Pia, humme jo bhi bhagwan ne diya hai usi se khush hona chahiye… bahar se ye bangla bahut akarshit laggega magar you should always keep in mind that all that glitters isn't gold…har chamakne wali chiz sona nahin hoti…"
"ehem ehem….umm ma'am Sir will be with you in a short while…" Tony said.
And just as Tony made an exit… another door opened from the far end of the room.
Handsome pair of black Versace shoes step into the room. Dressed in a Black Armani suit, Jai Walia looks at the young girl drenched from head to toe clad in a baby blue salwar kameez which now clung to her petite body like a second skin dripping water on the expensive Persian Carpet that he had got on his last visit to London.(Persian carpet in London???? Now that's weird ain't it?)
He carefully scrutinized the shivering young girl and her sister.
"Good evening, My Name is Jai Walia… and how may I help you? Miss…"
"Bani……Dixit…." She answered stuttering. "and my sister…"
"Pia Dixit Pleased to meet you, I' ve read all about you in magazines and in newspapers and on tv too… you are Jai Walia… The biggest business man in India and….ouch" said Pia as bani gave a great big jab on her ribs to stop her endless yapping…
Jai Walia chuckled and added "I think I already know who I am…miss pia dixit". The younger sister colored and looked down at the marble floor embarrassed.
Bani immediately intervened "Um… I'm sorry… meri behen kuch zyada hi bol gayi… who hume humare pitaji Nishikant dixit ne guzarne se pehle ye kaha tha ki hum aapse mile aur unhone who letter bhi diya tha…who aapne.."
"yes I read the letter…well tum aur tumhari behen outhouse mein reh sakte hai aur tum kal theek 9 baje interview par aa jana yeh raha mera card aur…"but he was cut right across by bani who said "umm kiraya kitna hoga?"
jai was surprised. "what??" he asked astonished.
"umm.. rent… monthly rent kitna hoga??" bani asked again
"rent?? Rent ki koi zaroorat nahin." And he turned to leave.
" Par Mr. Walia hum aapka ye ehsaan nahin le sakte … main kisi par bhi dependent nahin hona chahti please mujhe bataiye ke rent kitna hoga…main har mahine rent dongi"
Jai Walia turned and looked at the chit of a girl who didn't even have a secure job and was already talking about rent…a slow smile crept onto his face…he liked her nature…Swabhimaan…khudgarzi…it was the qualities that could take her a long way…
"hmm… thik hai magar phirse soch lo tumhara job abhi tak paka nahin hai…"he said
"chahe mujhe din raat kaam karna hi kyun na pade mein apna phaisla nahin badloongi aur aapko har month end rent mil gayega." she said strongly.
"good. Aur yaad rakhna mujhe late anewale log pasand nahin hai." He said and called tony and told him to allot the outhouse to the two girls.
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9:00 am.
Walia Group of Industries, Head Office
Bani had been pacing up and down the waiting room she had almost made a thinking ditch(the one scrooge Mc.Duck has….i just love duck tales…. :) )
Just then the intercom buzzed and the receptionist told Bani to calm down and that she had been called to give the interview.
She had never been this nervous in her whole life…
She gently knocked…
"come in" he said with a growl.
Somehow something in that man gave her the hibbie gibbies…she shivered at the very prospect of meeting him.
She took a deep breath and entered the office and right infront of her sat the very man in question… the whole office had this cold masculine feel to it… just like him she thought…
"so miss Dixit…I heard that you have been prancing up and down my waiting room for the last half an hour? I clearly remember telling you to come at 9:00am and not 8:30…" he said.
Bani who had been staring at her lap all this while looked up into his bluish grey eyes…it was like staring at the sky when its just about to rain…stormy…he stared at her cynically…
"Sorry sir, its…its just that I didn't want to be late so I…"she started
"came early?" He asked her "I might not like latecomers but that doesn't necessarily mean that I like early birds too…"
"umm…"Bani didn't know what to say…God was this man impossible.
"ok now back to the point…I see that you have just recently acquired a degree in… hotel management?" He proceeds to ask her a few questions, which she answers.
"but the fact lies that you are inexperienced and the only job that I can offer you is of a waitress in the restaurant below…I can not take any risks in hiring inexperienced people into this organization…its always better to start from the lowest post…I would like to know whether you accept this post Miss.Dixit" He asks her..
"lets see if miss. Independent is all that independent" he thinks. He closes his eyes… feels victory…he could imagine her begging him to give her a better post…
"I accept" said a slow and soft voice almost like a cool breeze hitting him smack on the face bringing him out of his reverie.
He slowly as if in a daze discusses the salary and other formalities.
"you can start right away then. Mr. Mishra will get you started then." He adds.
"thank you ,sir".
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Mr.Mishra was a lively man in his middle ages…He took an instant like towards the 21 yr old girl. He saw his deceased daughter in her. He quickly gave her, her uniform and assigned duties to her and with a final word of caution to be careful around the guests because they could always get a little feisty he left her to start her day at work.
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By the time Bani finished off her duties it was almost lunchtime. She was about to sit down to lunch in the cafeteria when Mr. Kumar , the assistant manager asked her to take a cup of coffee and a plate of spaghetti with meatballs and some bologna salad for the CEO of the company.
She unwillingly obeyed…She came to the great oak door that she dreaded going through and gently knocked… "Come in" the same old growl as before…he seemed mighty irritated…
She gracefully walked in with the tray…
"What took you so long???" he said without looking up from his files… "oh what the heck…keep it on the table"…
Bani came towards the table, there was not a inch of the table which did not have a file or paper covering it… the whole table was a mess…actually the whole room was a mess…few papers lying here two or three files thrown carelessly on the floor… it looked as if the whole place had been run over with a bull dozer… "but in the morning it was so neat and tidy" she speculated.
And amidst all the mess sat Jai Walia in a pale blue shirt, tie loosened up, his blazer hanging from his chair and his top two buttons open. His hair was all messed up…from morning to afternoon he had aged from 36 to 45… she slowly kept the tray on one of the chairs… carefully cleared a part of his table and placed the tray of steaming hot food on it… then proceeded to leave with a "thank you sir,".
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At work Bani met Pushkar who was a22 yr old Executive at WGI…He seemed friendly and they quickly became friends..
Bani returned tired after a long days work and all she wanted to do was to just fall into her bed and doze off but luck was not on her side…she had been summoned to the Walia mansion for dinner with the Walias.
She found a nice corn blue salwaar with silver works…simple but elegant… and Pia was dressed in a red halter top and a black mini skirt… Bani did not approve of the way Pia was dressed but in the end Pia had her way.
They made their way up to Walia mansion. There just before dinner Tony, the butler introduced the sisters to the Walia family.
There was Mrs. Balwinder Walia, Jai Walia's aunt. She took an instant liking to the sisters but she liked Bani better than the scantily dressed Pia. "You can call me maasi" she had told them whe she heard Bani address her as Mrs. Walia. Then there was Jigyasa( Walia) Chada, Jai Walia's sister and her ex-husband Aditya chada. Jigyasa seemed to detest the two 'middle class refugees' as she called them. But, aditya and his mother whom they all called 'daadi' liked the two sweet girls who lived in their outhouse. Then there was Ranveer, jigyasa's eldest son and his wife Rano… Both were a cute couple…Ranveer was about 28 yrs old and Rano was 27…Both had a love marriage. Jigyasa's Second son Sahil and his wife Natalie (had to get rid of him) had both settled down in London and sometimes visited…Sahil was 25 yrs old and Natalie was a 30 year old russian Widow who had caught sahil's eye in italy when they were on a world tour. Natalie had a 7 year old daughter Valentine from her first husband who was a 50 year old baron whom she had married for his money(it was still a mystery how the guy died will get back to that in the sequel…back to the point Natalie is an older version of Pia) . Then there was Jigyasa's youngest child Anu who was about Pia's age i.e; 19 yrs old…
Introductions had ended right on time because when the old antique grandfather clock chimed 8:00 pm everyone went quite…And with an air of a lion who was entering his territory came Jai Walia, dressed to kill in his trademark black Valentino suit he came down to dinner and sat down at the head of the table…everybody then gathered around and took their places for dinner.
After dinner, Pia had gone clubbing and there she met Pushkar and what can I say it was love at first sight…
Then followed a full fledged courtship of two months at the end of which Pushkar took Pia for a dinner at th dansant an Italian hotel with a mini canal as a replication of Venice. And there in a Gondola when the stars were out and the moon had turned the silent,dark canal into a ribbon of silver he had popped the question that had been troubling him for the past 2 months…
"Yes" had answered the ecstatic Pia. But Pushkar had never expected that what followed in the days to come.
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[ Author's Note: I am rushing things up a bit coz I was running out of time and its supposed to be a short story and not a novel…so please bear with me…anywayz it is actually an amalgam of my own imagination with the original storyline of KS…]
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6 months had gone by in the blink of an eye. Bani had been promoted to the post of the General Manager of "Pearl Harbour"… Life had been smooth, Even Pia had found a job as a model for one of the upcoming fashion magazines with the prospect of someday walking the ramp…
Bani had even got used to Jai Walia throwing his world famous tantrums. She could finally manage to say a complete sentence with him around without stuttering…But the man still gave Bani the hibbie gibbies (author's note: ok fine I admit it I am a huge 'Madagascar' fan and so's my Bani).
Bani had no clue about Pushkar and Pia and had even started to like the handsome young executive…
Meanwhile, Jai Walia who had never believed in love had fallen head over heels in love with the youngest Dixit sister.
The four vertices of the love 'quadrilateral' had not known that fate was going to awaken them from their respective dream worlds like a bolt out of the blue…
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The trouble started when Jai Walia finally decided to boldly put forward his proposition to Pia.
Bani and Pushkar had gone to Pune for a business meet. It was the day when Bani was to give a presentation on behalf of the WGI. It had been the biggest day of Bani's life but she hadn't known that back in Mumbai the clockwork that would shatter her dreams and make her whole life crash down on top of her like a ton of bricks was just about to be set…
Pia had received an anonymous SMS on her mobile asking her to come to Th Dansant.
"Must be Pushkar trying to surprise me by coming early, afterall it is our four month anniversary…" thought Pia and proceeded towards the said restaurant.
She was greeted by the well dressed matre d'htel and was led to the private hall in the restaurant which overlooked th canal vnesse. She looked around the whole restaurant looked deserted.
"Has the restaurant closed early today?" she asked.
"no ma'am , the whole restaurant has been booked" replied the manager.
"pushkar must have inherited a fortune to do this…"Pia thought excited by the thought…Her dreams of marrying a rich man and living luxuriously were not going to be shattered after all.
The whole hall had been decorated with blood red roses.(Pia's favorite btw…P.S: I hate red roses) It was dimly lit by the numerous aromatic candles that had been placed. ("how romantic" thought Pia) And on the balcony she could see the silhouette of a well built man. Hearing the door close he turned. And Pia could do nothing but open and close her mouth like a goldfish. It was Jai Walia, dressed in a black designer Tuxedo by Prada. Hair gelled back and smelling of the latest Hugo Boss, he radiated charisma.
He approached her and led her to her chair. Then he got down to his knees, and all this was taking place so quickly that Pia could not even register what was happening.
"You're driving me crazy…
Loving the way I do…would you love me too?
Cara mia…to me you are like water to the dreary desert voyager,
And life to the lifeless.
You are like the breath of spring,
Like the moon in the silent night sky…
All I would like to say is that I could do anything for you
If you wish for the stars I'll have them at you're feet.
If you ask me for my life I would lay it down for you.
I just want to ask you Addorisima, Will you marry me?"
And saying so he opened a red velvet box and in it lay the most beautiful ring.
Adorned with tiny diamonds and in the middle a pink diamond shaped like a heart… It sparkled in the candle light, and without thinking Pia answered with a "yes".
[Author's note: I have practically gagged writing this scene and absolutely wasted a lot of beautiful French words on Pia the Pachyderm…she was better off with Pushkar the pansy (I can't use words any higher than that coz I don't wanna spoil Christmas with such awful words) ]
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After Bani had finished her presentation she and Pushkar went down to the restaurant below to have dinner.
"Bani, I have something very important to tell you." Pushkar told her
"I also have something to tell you" Bani replied. "I must do it tonight I must tell him how I feel about him" she added to herself.
"ok you go first Bani." Pushkar had said.
But Bani shook her head. "What I have to say can wait you first..."
"Bani, I can't hide it from you any longer because I am not doing justice to our friendship… I didn't tell this to you yet because we were waiting for the right moment but it never seemed to come."
"we????" Bani asked confused.
"I mean me and Pia. I know she ought to have told you this herself but she could never bring herself up to it . "
"she wanted to tell me about what?"
" Bani, I and Pia got engaged 4 months ago … please do not refuse I want to marry her and I love her very much and she loves me too…she was too scared to tell you this but it is unfair to our 'friendship' if I had not told you this…please forgive us for hiding this from you… and as you are Pia's only family I want to ask for her hand in marriage…"Pushkar told Bani with pleading eyes…
Tears welled up in Bani's eyes and eventhough she loved Pushkar from her heart of hearts she hardened her heart and decided to sacrifice her first love for her baby sister. She nodded giving Pushkar an affirmative.
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That night Pia just sat ogling at the beautiful ring on her finger. She had totally forgotten about Pushkar that night. After she had accepted his proposal Jai had taken her into his arms and kissed her. The rest of the evening had passed in a daze with them dancing into the night, having the most exquisite dinner in candlelight and drinking the world's best champagne on a gondola. Pia simply overlooked the fact that exactly 4 months ago she had got engaged to be married on the same gondola at the same spot to Pushkar who was at that moment thinking of her and wishing that he were alongside her on that fateful night.
Jai, Pia and Pushkar slept a blissful sleep dreaming of their own wonderful future.
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The next day Bani and Pushkar were to return and the same day Pia was to get betrothed to Jai Walia… A huge party had been organized because after all Jai Walia the most eligible bachelor in India was to tie the knot.
Jigyasa of course had thrown a huge tantrum. But Jai Walia's decision was final.
Meanwhile Pia was getting nervous with the passing second. "main Pushkar ko kya jawab doongi?? I got so carried away with all that dazzle. But the fact lies that Pushkar can never be as rich as Mr. Walia. After all he is just an employee working under Mr. Walia. Oh what am I to do???Pushkar aur di Kisi Bhi Waqt aa sakte hain. Di…Si kya kahegi??? Aur agar Mr. Walia ko mere aur Pushkar ke bare mein pata chala toh wo..wo…mein kis musibat mein phas gayi… Ek taraf mera pyar hai, Pushkar aur dusri taraf mere sapne, mere kwabh … main kya karun????"
Dressed in a red sleeveless evening gown made of the finest satin Pia looked extremely soigne.
A huge slit on the side exposed her shapely legs and on her neck and ears were the diamonds gifted by Jai Walia. She made her way downstairs and the formal engagement took place and as she smiled towards the crowd cheering for her she saw the shocked expression on two faces….
Bani and Pushkar looked on as Pia formally got engaged to Jai Walia. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined such a scene…
Pushkar felt his dreams shattering as he saw the love of his life getting betrothed to his father figure and all he wished to do at the moment was to bash the life out of the smiling man in the black Tux standing next to whom he thought was rightfully his.
Then suddenly as if by instinct Bani approached Pia and right there in front of all the media and people she slapped Pia right across her stupid little face…
"How dare y…" Jai Walia came to the rescue of his fiance but was cut right across by Bani who gave him such a seething look that he couldn't complete his sentence.
"I would prefer that you do not interfere in my private matters Mr. Jai Walia…and dear little sister I have a lot to talk to you about…" and saying so she practically dragged Pia into one of the adjoining rooms where she confronted her asking her how she could do such a thing…had she not thought about Pushkar and gave her one hell of a lecture…
But Pia told her elder sister to mind her own business and not to interfere in her life…she said that she was no longer a baby and could make her own decisions… she told Bani that she was marrying Jai Walia for his money as pushkar was just a middle class guy and could never fulfill her needs…and there followed a full fledged contretemps which involved Pia getting three more slaps and ended in her rushing out of the room in tears… But Pia as Pia got her way and finally Bani had to bow down to her sister's wishes and the marriage preparations were on full swing…
Pushkar on the other hand had broken down and had found Bani on his side whenever he needed a shoulder to cry on [pushky's such a pansy…and I kno I am rushing up things but remember this is supposed to finish this Christmas and not next].
Pushkar had tried to confront Pia many times reminding her of the love that they shared all those nights he had spent with her star gazing… all the dreams that they had of their future…and some how something was melting inside Pia…
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Finally the day of Jai and Pia's wedding had arrived. You wouldn't have found a happier man than Jai that day....
"kanya ko bulaiye muhurat nikla jaa raha hai"
"theek hai panditji, main Pia ko abhi le aati hoon" said Bani…
she went up to the brides makeup room… but there was no one in sight
"Pia….Pia…pata nahin kahan chaligayi hai ye ladki…Pia…Pia..muhurat nikla jaa raha..shaadi nahin karni kya???" she said looking all over the room. Strange…she wasn't in the bathroom….neither anywhere in the room…so where was she???
And as if to answer her question a piece of paper blows off the makeup table and sticks onto her hands…Bani takes a look at it.. the handwriting seemed familiar…
And what was written in it took the life out of her and she sat down on the floor…the piece of paper shaking in her hands… then out of nowhere Jigyasa pops up…
"Bani…Pia kahan hai panditji bularahe hain…tum waise zammen par kyun baiti ho??saree kharab ho jayegi…Bani Pia kahan hai…"Jigyasa asked getting worried by the second after seeing the pale and unresponsive Bani.
Bani thrusts the paper in to jigyasa's hands…
"ye kya hai???" Jigyasa says inquisitively…
"Pia….pia…Jigyasa aunty….pia bhag gayi…" and saying so Bani breaks down.
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Jai was getting irritated… where was Pia itni der kyun laga rahi thi??? And the stuffy sherwani designer especially for him by rohit bal was making him more and more grumpier he wanted to get this marriage ceremony over with…
"Dekho Jai mamaji mami aa rahi hai…"said anu.
Jai looked up and sure enough there was Pia…his lovely bride to be coming down the staircase…Jigyasa was holding her by her arm and bringing her to the mandap… a ghunghat was covering her face from the world and slow chime of her anklets was making him go crazy…
Finally the day had come when Jai Walia would finally tie the knot…but little did he know that a few minutes from now his life was going to be turned upside-down…
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Jigyasa had gotten the shock of her life when she heard that Pia..her honewali bhabhi had left Jai Walia…the Jai Walia at thee alter and eloped with that do kaudi ka doodhwala Pushkar.
"uski himmat kaise hui Pia bhabhi ko lejane ki…use Jai ne aapna mankar job di nahin to who wahi pada rehta us slum mein jahan se use Jai ne uthaya tha…."
"Ab kya karenge Jigyasa aunty??" a teary Bani had asked…
"ye shaadi toh nahin ruk sakti, humare khandaan ka naak kat jayega agar kisi ko pata chala ki dulhan mandap chodh kar bhag gayi hai…"Jigyasa had said…
"par Pia toh wapis nahin ayegi…ab hum dulhan kahan se doondlayenge???" Bani said.
Jigyasa had this big smirk on her face…"humme doondneki koi zaaroorat nahin padegi kyun dulhan to humare paas hi hai…."
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Bani was practically crying under the ghunghat…
"Pia tumne aisa kyun kiya??"she thought…
Jigyasa aunty had forced her to wear the ghunghat and sit instead of Pia in the mandap…and when Bani had protested she reminded her that her sister had practically cut the Walia's nose by running away with that doodhwala lover of hers and as penitence she Bani should do this atleast for that man's sake who had given her a job, food and shelter and that Pia had proved to be a deceiving little adventuress who had put her little brother under her spell and had planned to humiliate him in public, to make fun of his mardangi she Jigyasa his sister would not allow it .
And finally unwillingly she had taken the 7 pheras of the sacred fire.
The pandits chanted…
"ishe eka padi bhava…
urjesa dwipadi bhava…
rayas posaya tripadi bhava …
mayo bhavyaya chatuspadi bhava…
prajabya panchapadi bhava…
ritubhya satpadi bhava…
sakha sapta padi bhava…
The Seven Vows:
1. may we both have a happy and prosperous married life by the grace of god.
2. May we both be able to attain and fulfill our hopes and aspirations by the grace of god.
3. May we both live righteous and virtuous lives in accordance with the injunctions of the scriptures, by the grace of god.
4. may we both enjoy together all the material joys of life as well as seek spiritual fulfillment by the grace of god.
5. may we together beget children who will be handsome, strong, erudite and virtuous by the grace of god.
6. may we both live together with our offspring, set up a household wherein shall be observed all duties and obligations expected of a righteous family by the grace of god.
7. may we be blessed to take care of our parents and other family elders in their twilight years and may we ourselves live to a ripe old age not only to see our children become successful but to see our grandchildren and great grandchildren by the grace of god.
And when Jai put the mangalsutra, the symbol of her marriage to him on her neck the pandit's words haunted her to the core of her soul…
"mangalyam thantunanena
mamajeevan hetuna
kante bhadrani subhage
chiranjeea mayasaha"
The meaning of which is: the hopes and aspirations of my life are represented by this mangalya, the auspicious ornament. I find no better place than your neck, live with me forever. Oh my good looking auspicious bride, keep it with care…
The rest of the rituals went by in a daze for Bani who could hear the pandit's words over and over again in her mind…
"Kanya ke maang mein aap sindoor bhariye…" the pandit said to Jai…
Bani froze in fear…
Jai Walia slowly with a smile picked up her ghoonghat and was about to fill her maang that reality stuck him right across his face… the person in the ghonghat was not Pia…but rather it was a very frightened Bani who looked as if she had been crying sitting there in the mandap beside him…
He has gotten the ashock of his life… he got up in a huff and left the mandap leaving Bani to cry silently…sitting hidden in the ghoonghat…..
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Jigyasa told Jai the entire story of course adding some pieces of her own device how Bani had tricked him and made her sister run away with doodhwala…how she, jigyasa had warned him to stay away from the two sinister sisters who were born gold-diggers…She also told him that Bani only married him for his money she and Pia had made up this plan to trap him into marrying one of them and then deceive him ….how Bani planned to divorce him and ask for alimony…. How she and her sister should pay for this but at the moment he would have to marry Bani as she had trapped him good and if he refused all the people will raise a finger on his mardangi…
And finally Jai came down and sat back in the mandap…
He picked up Bani's ghoonghat and with a lot of force applied the sindoor in her maang….and finished off all the remaining rituals with a dark face…No one would say that he was happy a minute ago and the Dixit sisters had turned him to stone…They were going to pay for this… Wanted Divorce did she?? Well he wasn't going to let her have her way…now he was going to write the script and as for the treachery Bani was going to have hell to pay for……
"I'm going to turn her and her sister's life into living hell…"He took a vow to himself that day…
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The first thing he did was to hire a detective to track down Pia and Pushkar…then he called up a press conference to justify his marriage to Bani instead of Pia…
Through out the whole process Bani sat tight-lipped. It was as if she had turned to stone…
And when a reporter asked her whether she was happy marrying Mr. Jai Walia, who had previously been her sister's fiance she didn't answer for a moment and then Jai gave her a slight push and she broke out of her reverie and answered the question in three simple words…
"I am happy."
And the conference had come to an end…
In office the usually workaholic Jai Walia shut himself in his office day in and day out , refused to talk to anyone and told aditya to handle the business…Totally neglected food and returned home drunk…
This had been going on for the past three to four weeks…
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there was a knock on Jai Walia's study… Jai did not answer… the door opened and in came his wife of a month… He carefully looked at her scrutinizing every inch of her.
"What the hell are you doing in my study??" He asked her in a dangerous tone…
"Didn't I tell you to stay away from me??? Can't you get that???Are you stupid??? I think not or else how would you and your sister plan all this up??? What the hell do you want???" He said taking a step towards her with every sentence…
Bani gave him the papers that were in her hands with a pretense of bravado.
He looked at the papers…then looked up at her… "Divorce???" he sneered at her showing all his pearly whites…
"I'll give you divorce…" he said and put his hand inside his pocket and took out a lighter…
And right in front of her very eyes he burnt the papers and let them burn until they had turned to ash…
She looked at him with fear in her eyes…
He pushed roughly her onto the wall and then trapped her in between himself and the wall…They were so close that Bani could feel his warm breath on her collar bone…
"What do you take me for Bani Dixit…opps!!! I mean Mrs. Bani Walia??" He spat each and every word out… "a fool?? Did you actually think that I would fall for your tricks each and every time??? For your kind information I know all about your little plan that you devised with that stupid little sister of yours…and I am not going to let you trick me again… What did you think that I would give you a divorce that easily??? No I am going to make you pay…make you pay for what you did to me…you treacherous, two-timing b**ch I am not going to let you off the hook that easily…you are gonna have hell to pay for… and as for your little sister… I will personally make sure that she regrets ever meeting that double crossing ba$t*rd Pushkar…"
He was holding her arms with such great force that her bangles broke not only injuring her but him as well in the process…blood was dripping from Bani's arms but she didn't flinch…
"I am gonna make sure that he never gets a job in any corner of this world…lets see how that gold-digger of a sister of yours ever fulfills her oh so great dreams… She wants to live luxuriously is it?? …I am gonna make sure that she doesn't find a place to call her own.. I am going to make sure that she doesn't get any happiness in her marriage…I am gonna make her travel through hell… you sisters have underestimated me…"
At that moment Bani's cell phone rings…
Both look at it…
"Pick it up" he growls at her…
she slowly brings the phone to her ears…
"Hello" she manages to say…
"Hello…."comes the familiar voice…
Bani gives out a gasp…
Jai Walia gives a very dangerous smile… he very well knew who was on the other side….
"Pia…………" he growls out her name....
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Author's note: Sorry ~deep~ couldn't complete it but will finish it off in two or three more parts I know i am a horrible writer but still guys try to bear me.....😭😭
Love,
suppi😉
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