Chhotu FF: Love follows (Pg13) - Page 12

Bani looked at Mr. Walia. For quite a long time he was downstairs talking to a salesman of a counter. It seemed it would take a little longer for him to get what he wanted to buy for his nephew. Men can be equally imaginative and choosy like women when it came to shopping. Only if they ever admitted that is! From the balcony of the first floor Bani looked at Mr. Walia. She then turned her attention to the clothes and other things in her floor, because if she continued staring at him, it would have continued for God knows how long!

She proceeded further and saw the Food Court! Glancing at Mr. Walia once more and assuming that it would take him some more time to finish his shopping at the particular counter, she went inside the Food Court. She had just remembered to buy Mango Pickle. He would love it she thought shyly. As she returned to the balcony and reached downstairs, she found that Mr. Walia wasn?t at the counter anymore. She looked at that floor as far as her eyes went, but she couldn?t see him. She enquired the salesperson at the counter where she had last seen Mr. Walia, but he was of no help.

In between his conversation with the salesperson, Jai Walia checked Bani at the upper floor balcony from time to time. As he finally got what he wanted for his nephew, he turned towards the stairs to join Bani at the first floor. But she wasn?t there. He looked for her here and there nearby but couldn?t find her. Seeing the Food Court in his left and the Ladies Wear section at his right, he decided to search in the latter as that was what he knew Bani was looking for. Unable to find Bani there also, he stepped out when his eyes fell on the arrow to the next floor. He went to the second floor and searched everywhere but he couldn?t find Bani. Disgusted and worried where was she he tried to call her number but there was no network in that floor. He climbed down straight from the second floor to the first floor to the ground floor, trying to call her whenever his phone received signal. He found something vibrating in his pocket. He realized Bani?s phone was with him only. With disgust he climbed down the last few steps.

In the meantime, Bani searched the ground floor and then assuming that Mr. Walia might have gone looking for her in the first floor, she again went to the first floor. Not finding him there also she worriedly again decided to wait for him at the ground floor counter only. While she was climbing down she saw Mr. Walia talking to some security person when he turned and looked at her. She smiled looking at him, while he frowned and let a breath escape both at the same time.

Jai Walia said the security person that he needn?t go to make announcement any more, he had found his wife. He casually walked towards Bani. Before he could say anything, Bani started narrating how she was looking for him on both the floors. He listened to whatever she said quietly staring at her throughout. She was laughing. God knows what was funny he wondered. He nodded his head and put his arm around her shoulders and directed her to another counter.

Bani noticed that he wasn?t talking that much and was maintaining a kind of silence. He accompanied her at every counter and didn?t leave her side even if she insisted that he could do some shopping on his own to save their time. At one particular shop he selected a Sari and was desperate that it should be bought. Bani wondered whether Mr. Walia?s niece would like that Sari because she had different kind of taste but she took it as he insisted so much. Later on by the time they finished their shopping, Mr. Walia led her to a counter of stationeries and gift items. He picked a showpiece, which had a little white horse running on a grass land and driving the carriage to which it was tied, on the seat was seated a couple: the bride and the groom holding each other?s back, with the other hand the bride was holding a rose while resting her head on the groom?s shoulder who was turned towards her, they looked dreamily at different directions. (Note: I have that show piece! It?s lovely!).

After they settled the last bill, Jai Walia took Bani to a nearby restaurant. He was still maintaining his silent behavior. It was after they were seated, that Bani tried to find out the reason of his behavior. He looked at her apologetically. Sighing he said, ?Nothing! Actually at that time I got a little worried. Though you are not new to the city yet at such a crowded and large place anything can happen and moreover you haven?t been ever alone to such places. I wanted to keep you at least within my sight if not by my side! And even your phone was with me!?

Bani looked at Mr. Walia, his face appeared as if he thought himself as foolish to get worried like that. She knew that there was actually nothing to worry about but his reasons were justified too. Didn?t she panic for her younger sister for some moments when once she wasn?t anywhere in sight in the large library? But the whole thing made her feel special only because the way he was concerned for her safety.

Jai Walia saw his wife looking dreamily in no particular direction, like lost in a good thought. It reminded him of the showpiece he bought. He took it out from the bag and shoved it across the table in Bani?s direction. She looked down and then puzzled she looked at him. He smiled and said, ?Bani keep this one beside our photographs on the table in our room. It will look good there. Isn?t it?? She nodded her head and said, ?Okay.? She then asked, ?But why there? There are so many places to keep it in the house.? Jai Walia made himself more at comfort on the chair and then with a sly grin he said, ?Guess!?

Bani kept on seeing the showpiece from various angles but couldn?t come to any conclusion. She was about to give up when it struck her that the showpiece was a symbol of being in love, of the promise of happiness and togetherness for lifetime. She shyly smiled and then looked at Mr. Walia who was looking at her with an undefined look of admiration. She said, ?No I couldn?t guess!? and quickly looked down.

Jai Walia was at first a little surprised at her reply but after that started smiling. He asked, ?Seriously you couldn?t guess?? She shook her head in negative. He then continued, ?But your eyes are telling a different story!? He took the showpiece from her hand and lovingly looking at it he said, ?We will be always together like them, happy and contented and in??.love.? Both of them smiled.

They had a light meal and then left for home. While going to the parking area Jai Walia asked, ?You didn?t tell me yet where you disappeared on the first floor that time?? Bani replied, ?I went to the Food Court, I had to buy something.? He joked, ?It better be a good thing worth causing the confusion!? Bani chirpily replied, ?It?s Aam ka Achhar for someone!? and waited to see Mr. Walia?s reaction. Jai Walia, who was already at the door of the driver?s side stopped. He looked at Bani on the other side and with a grin plastered on his face he said, ?That someone better be I.? The ride back home was lovely as they were opening up more than before with each other.

After returning home, they freshened up. After that Bani took all the shopping bags and went to give them to Mr. Walia?s niece and nephew. She didn?t notice that a bag has gone missing since there were so many bags. Meanwhile Jai Walia was in his Masi?s room. The Sari which he had selected in the shopping mall, he gave it to Masi and asked her to give it to Bani from her side. Seeing Masi refusing to do so, Jai Walia explained how well the colour suited Bani and all that. Suddenly realizing that Masi was smiling, he stopped saying anything. Finally he smiled shyly and then asked whether she would give the Sari to Bani. Masi just asked him that why wasn?t he giving it to her himself instead of asking her to do so. He replied that she won?t take it as she might say that she doesn?t need any more Saris or may be she would say that it should be given to his niece. Masi then made him understand that if given lovingly, she won?t be able to refuse him and instead it will make her happier if he presented her that Sari instead of her (Masi).

Accepting Masi?s reasoning Jai Walia decided to present the Sari to Bani himself. But what the problem was that they were still not too much free with themselves and each of them had their own share of hesitations and doubts. After the beautiful change in their relationship, the emotions lying beneath giving a present will be more transparent and he was still reluctant to admit it all. The reason behind this was that every day he felt that he loved his wife than he had imagined and he himself used to get surprised at his state. But finally when he decided that he would present the Sari to Bani, he felt suddenly excited. He imagined what will happen then, what they will talk about, how he will approach, how Bani will react, likewise.

Anxiously waiting for Bani to come to their room to sleep, Jai Walia was finding it hard to contain his excitement. He looked at the wall clock and calculated how long it was that after finishing their dinner with the whole family, he had said to Bani that he had something to talk about with her. He had hardly got to see her after their return from shopping. All around the house she was in demand. He felt good thinking about the fact that most of the family members relied on her, trusted her and loved her. But where was she? Intehaan ho gayi intezaar ki!

Bani finally got some time to go to her room. Seeing Mr. Walia in the room, she became glad as she needn?t look for him anywhere else and that saved her time. She casually said, ?Say what you wanted to talk about?? while she looked for something in her cupboard. Mr. Walia said, ?First you finish your work then I will say.? Taking out some thing from the cupboard she hurriedly said, ?Okay then I?ll be back after one hour. Your niece won?t leave me before that, she has loads of things to do now!? She laughed and then left.

Jai Walia looked at the wall clock. It was already half past 10 and still she needed one more hour to finally talk to him? Ridiculous he thought. He was getting angry. On one hand he was so excited about his plan and on the other hand she was unavailable! To kill time, he did some more work. On realizing that actually one and a half hour had passed, he once passed by near his niece?s room. He could hear giggles, his niece?s excited voice and his wife?s laughter and voice. Disappointed he sighed and went back to his room and waited for some more time. The wait didn?t seem to end and the anger went on building.

Finally when Bani was able to go back to her room it was about 1 o? clock. She saw the sleeping figure of her husband and felt bad that she couldn?t talk to him. Wait for morning! She sighed. Making him sleep in a more comfortable position, she also retired to bed! She wondered what it could be he wanted to talk about! What if he wanted to say those three words in return? She blushed at her own thought and looking at him once more she closed her eyes.

Next day morning after waking up the first thing that Jai Walia did was to check whether his wife was beside. Indeed she was. Sleeping peacefully similarly as she appeared at early morning when once his sleep was broken. The immediate thought that had appeared to him at that time was to give her the present but then he chided himself. Neither was it the time or situation. Now it was time for her to wake up. Let her wake up, then we?ll see he thought and went to read the newspaper. When he returned, Bani was already talking to the servants regarding some preparations. It was an important day as some ritual was to be held that day. On seeing him she exclaimed, ?Where were you? I was looking for you? and saying that she left.

Jai Walia noticed for the consecutive day, how his wife has become an important part of the family. Everybody needs her orders;,everybody consults her and how much she did for the family. But what about him? He didn?t want to act silly but he wasn?t liking the fact that when he wanted her to be with him, she wasn?t available. And above that he had his own imaginations of the present giving scene. As he didn?t go to office that day, he had to bear the disappearance of Bani from his sight. Her voice, her name could be heard throughout the house but getting to see her especially when he wasn?t engaged in the preparations was a tough thing to do. His niece also kept her busy, always calling for this and that. It was afternoon when his anger had grown to mountain size. He was an impatient man, a reserved man: these natures and the current situation were completely opposite.

Throughout the time while Bani was busy doing some thing, she kept on checking Mr. Walia. He was too silent than usual but she wasn?t getting any time to reach out to him. At afternoon, she finally got some time. But she was so tired that she couldn?t wait for Mr. Walia and fell asleep. Just the evening had begun, when Mr. Walia?s niece came and took Bani to her room.

Jai Walia had seen his wife sleeping and then he went back to study. He knew the kind of work she was doing throughout the day, she was bound to get tired. But what about the present? Let?s see, he angrily thought. In the evening when he was returning from his study to his room to get a nap, he saw his niece tagging Bani along with her. Gone with the wind, he wondered. Finally an hour before the ritual was scheduled to begin, Bani went to her room. She saw Mr. Walia doing some work. She said, ?Get ready soon? and took out his clothes to wear for the rituals. She took out her clothes too and was going away when suddenly she remembered something. She said, ?Well what was it that you wanted to talk about last night? Sorry I was very busy since yesterday. See since morning this is the second time I got to talk to you.? ?Thanks? came a sarcastic comment from Mr. Walia.

He got down from bed and went towards Bani who was looking at him a bit scared. May be scared of the fact that he was angry. He held her hands firmly and then said, ?Bani it?s a good thing that you care for my family and everything, everyone. But what about me? Who am I of yours? You don?t have time for me!? Bani was troubled. Both his family and he were her priorities along with her sisters. But it wasn?t the time to make him angrier. His complaint wasn?t too much unjustified. She sweetly said, ?Now all my time is yours. Tell me what you want to say!? He tried to say but he couldn?t. His anger was far greater at that moment. Suddenly someone called out Bani. She carefully looked at him after answering whoever called that she was coming. He left her hands and took his clothes to get changed. Uphill task Bani wondered. She was feeling sad for not giving him her time but she didn?t know why she was finding all this funny. The way he complained, wasn?t it unexpected of him! Eureka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

During the ceremony, people were just discussing about Antakshari (not playing it). Actually they were about to play the game but somebody started discussing about her experience during such a game and from that a full fledged discussion went on and on. Bani looked at Mr. Walia who was looking in her direction sometimes but his anger was evident. Somebody started a discussion on words from which very few songs begin. Bani chirped that there is a very good song beginning with ?Th?. When everybody started requesting her to sing the song, she began:

Thaare vaaste re dhola nain mhaare jaage re jaage

Nain mhaare jaage re saari rain jaage

Tu mera kon laage

Tere vaaste re sajana nain mere jaage re jaage

Nain mere jaage re saari rain jaage

Tu mera kon laage

She noticed Mr. Walia paying attention to her song but showing that he wasn?t. When the line ?Tu mera kon lage? came he turned to look at her in surprise. Wasn?t it the same question he asked her few hours back? He turned and was passing the group when he heard

Mhaare dil ko bas mein karake dil se anajaanaapan kyuun

Tere bin main ji na sakuungi phir ye begaanaapan kyuun

Chaahe tadapa le chaahe tarasa le jitana bhi chaahe dil ko jala le

Main to nahin toduun tere prem dhaage re

Tere prem dhaage

Tu mera kon laage

He stopped listening to it and the people in the group dragged him to join them. Bani continued:

Mere man ka bhed na samajhe ankhiyon ki baat na jaane

Phiruun kyuun tere aage pichhe haay maine din raat na jaane

Basti chhodi nagari chhodi tere liye duniya saari chhodi

Paas aayuun main tu bairi duur bhaage re

Bairi duur bhaage

Tu mera kon laage

He was already leaving the group. He paused listening to ?Bairi duur bhage? and he couldn?t stop himself from smiling. Yet he decided to leave the group. He walked straight aimlessly when Bani?s voice was heard:

Sun re zara o jaane vaale biraha ki aag laga ke

Haradam teri raah takuungi palakon mein dip jalaake

Sang sang tere saajan mere pyaar rahega saanjh savere

Pichhe tu chalega mera pyaar aage re

Mera pyaar aage re

Mera pyaar aage

Tu mera kon laage

He silently kept on walking. He heard everybody clapping. She was mostly everyone?s favourite but his the most. It was late when the whole ritual ended. After dinner Bani was going to her room. She saw Mr. Walia climbing the stairs. Looking here and there for once, she climbed the stairs fast and overtook him. She was two steps ahead of Mr. Walia. He tried to go past her but she wasn?t letting him go. When they both reached their room, with Mr. Walia following Bani he heard her sing in a low voice: Peeche tu chalega mera pyaar aage.

Seeing him behind, Bani suddenly called out the butler Tony and asked him whether he had brought the thermometer. After she took it from him, she closed the door. Jai Walia who wasn?t talking to her at any cost got worried. He enquired, ?Do you have fever or what? Why did you do so much of work? You could?..? He was interrupted by his wife. She coolly said, ?It?s not for me, I just wanted to check whether your anger cooled down or not!? He started to laugh. Bani laughed too and cheekily asked, ?Am I forgiven?? He softly replied, ?Long ago!? Bani just looked at him. He said long ago, but it didn?t seem so! Was he then pretending rest of the time? she wondered. As if reading her thoughts, Jai Walia replied, ?Who can be angry with such a lovely wife for such a long time and that too then when she sings such beautiful romantic song for him??

It was time for Bani to get back to her original being, shy! He seemed to have the edge at the moment. Till the time she was singing the song, her courage and confidence was different as he appeared different. But when he is in his usual self to her, it was hard to get back that confidence. She felt then why did she do all those things in the first place? Jai Walia noticed the slight smile, the pink blush and the shy look. Oh how much he loved her more like that. He took out the Sari from a bag and held it in front of Bani with two hands. She looked at it and then exclaimed, ?Oh I was having a feeling that something was missing! You give it yourself, after all you selected it.? He calmly said, ?Then take it. It?s for you. I selected it for you. I wanted you to wear this one. This colour suits you.? He said it all in one breath. This was not how he had planned, not even near to it. If he had to give it like this way then there were few opportunities throughout the day. He was feeling angry to ruin his own plan. But was he to be blamed for his hesitation. After all he also needed some time to be completely free with Bani especially when it came to sharing his feelings. But what feelings now? The way he had said it, all the effect was invisible. He was arguing with himself.

Bani was excited and too much happy on getting a present from him. She always used to get happy but after the change in their relationship, after they were close at hearts, this was the first occasion when he gifted something to her, something completely out of his own choice, something that he wished for her. She said, ?But Mr. Walia??? Hearing her voice Jai Walia felt a new excitement and new surge of flow of feelings. He said, ?Bani I have a name! Don?t address me like that though I like hearing it from you yet?? She replied bewildered, ?But I?.I can?t take your name?..? Jai Walia shrugged his shoulders and started taking out his night clothes from the almirah. Everything went wrong he wondered. Bani went near him and softly asked, ?Can we go back to Suniye?? How beautifully she was trying to make it more comfortable for both of them! he wondered. He smiled and nodded his head showing a cheeky grin. Bani was feeling it funny as well as so wifey wifey that she turned to hide her grin. Jai Walia held her hand firmly so that she couldn?t escape. He whispered, ?Suniye.? Bani just thought of running away from there. It was getting all so romantic but she wished to run away. He always made these little moments so special, she liked them but her inner self just wanted to escape to prevent herself from dying of shyness and blushing. She didn?t reply but was trying to free her hand which he intentionally didn?t allow her to do.

Jaane do na, jaane jaane do na, mujhe to jaane do na

Chhodo baahein meri, mujhe to jaane do na

Na na zid na karo, na na na aise zid na karo

Tumhein meri kasam hai, suno jaane bhi do na

Gaining her voice she said, ?Please please please leave my hand, I just remembered something.? Leaving her hand due to the honesty in her voice he raised an eyebrow and asked, ?What?? Bani walked past him, rummaged a shopping bag and took out that showpiece of the bride and groom. Adoringly she placed it in front of her and her husband?s photograph, on which his reflection was falling too. She turned towards her husband and exclaimed, ?Perfect.? Jai Walia held her shoulders and looking deep in her eyes admiringly said, ?Perfect.?

Dil hamaara hua hai kisi ka

Pyaar shaayad hai naam isi ka

Kaisa aalam hai yeh bekhudi ka

Pyaar shaayad hai naam isi ka

Dil hamaara hua hai kisi ka

Pyaar shaayad hai naam isi ka

Kaisa aalam hai yeh bekhudi ka

Pyaar shaayad hai naam isi ka

Dil hamaara hua hai kisi ka

Hum paraaye hue ek mulaaqaat mein

Baat aage badhi baat hi baat mein

Bekhabar ho gaye jab mili yeh nazar

Jaan aur dil pe hua hai yeh kaisa asar

Rukh badalne laga zindagi ka

Pyaar shaayad hai naam isi ka

Dil hamaara hua hai kisi ka

Pyaar shaayad hai naam isi ka

Dil hamaara hua hai kisi ka

Unse jab tak hamein yun mohabbat na thi

Itni duniya kabhi khoobsurat na thi

Dil ka aana kahe, dil ka jaana kahe

Aisi deewangi ko bhalaa kya kahe

Rang hai har taraf aashiqui ka

Pyaar shaayad hai naam isi ka

Dil hamaara hua hai kisi ka

Pyaar shaayad hai naam isi ka

Dil hamaara hua hai kisi ka

Dil hamaara hua hai kisi ka