FF: MIRAGE part 41pg53Updated 20/04 - Page 32

It had been weeks since she decided to give it a try. Decided that maybe, just maybe her worst fears will never get confirmed. That in everything she would end up being happy after all. It was possible right? To have a happy ending…..

Bani walked into the imposing building which housed some of the most prestigious designs in the fashion industry. Coco Chanelle, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, name it, it was there. She needed an outfit for her first official date with Jai today. She felt giddy with trepidation but at the same time with joy. It was like the first date in a long time so naturally, she felt a little nervous. She met with Asha who had been waiting for her.

"That was quite a number you pulled last week," she teased Bani.

"Stop," Bani blushed.

"No, I'm just happy I have a good eye and that dress did the rest," she gave Bani a knowing smile.

"Will you stop with that?" Bani ducked behind a rack.

"I don't know why someone doesn't just walk in her and sweep me off my feet. Whatever happened to the good guys?" she whined.

Bani laughed as she picked out a beautiful white gown, "Come on Asha, he will definitely show up when you least expect it."

"Well I least expect it now, so he better show up," she said, pulling out a deep green number, "Here, try this one."

Bani disappeared into the changing room. Just then her cell began to ring, "Asha, could you get that for me?"

"Sure thing," Asha went to rummage through her bag and came up with the cell, "Hello?"

"How is the most beautiful flower in the garden? The one against whom no other flower can compete? My sweet sweet little angel?"

She put the phone away to glance at the number, a blush creeping over her face, "I…I'm sorry…this is not Bani…"

"What?....Oh!" the man at the other end began to chuckle, "I'm sorry, I really should wait before I give people heart attacks!"

"No…it's okay," Asha said, glancing at the changing room door.

"So, who is it then, that has my flower's phone?" the man asked.

"I'm her stylist, Asha."

"Asha," the man repeated, "Nice name. I'm Micheal."

"I know," she said,and then a gasp escaped her.

"Ah, someone's been talking about me," he said, his smile coming across the airwaves clearly.

"No…it's not…your name was on the screen," Asha stammered, going to knock on the changing room door.

"I'm coming!" Bani called.

"Darn it!" Micheal exclaimed, "And here I thought I was winning a popularity contest."

Asha chuckled and at that moment, Bani emerged from the changing room, "Who is it?"

"Micheal," she said, extending the phone.

Her eyes lit up and she snatched the phone from Asha, "Michael!"

"One and the same baby," he said, "How are you?"

"I'm better now,"she said, plopping down on the couch, a very different glow entering her eyes, "What do I owe the honor of this call?"

"Can I not call you just to find out how you are doing?"

"Tarun, maybe. You, not a chance. Come on now spill, what's going on?" she asked.

"Nothing. Just missing my beautiful baby girl," he said, "By the way, who was that scared little thing that answered the phone?"

Bani glanced at Asha who was trying to look busy with a new outfit and said, "I don't know if I'll ever term her scared but she sure isn't small."

"Mhmm, is she single?"

Bani could just imagine him wriggling his brows and laughed, "You are crazy know that? And you just might be in luck. She is single."

Asha turned around sharply and stared wide eyed at her.

"See? Now you've got her scared."

"Is she beautiful?" Michael asked.

"Michael!" Bani exclaimed laughing as Asha beat a hasty retreat.

"What? Help a broken hearted brother out will ya?" he sort of whined.

"Well too late, she ran away. And yes, she is beautiful," Bani said.

"Good. One more thing to look forward to when I finally come visiting."

"So that's why you're calling?" Bani pounced, "Aha, I knew there was something up."

"It's not going to be for a while, but I am most definitely getting time off soon," he said slowly.

"I don't believe it! You're actually coming here!"

"I know baby," he said, "So, how are things with whatzisname?"

"He has a name Michael," she reprimanded him.

"Mhmm, when a girl defends a guy it's one of two things. Either he's her brother or her boyfriend. Please tell me it's not the latter."

"Then I won't," she said, biting her lower lip.

"What?!"

"Calm down Michael…"

"Calm down? Last I heard this guy was bad news!"

"Well maybe not so bad, but…"

"But?! There's a but?!" he was near hysterical now.

Bani could just see him pacing now, swinging his arms as he spoke, "Michael, somehow I think he's a little different than when we first met…"

"Urgghhh! How many times have I told you," he said with a dramatic sigh, "Circumstances change, people don't."

"Thanks a lot," she said with a sulk.

"Stop sulking," he ordered, "It doesn't look god on you."

"Well so much for you trusting my judgment.

"Honey, that's not it," he said.

Bani pictured him sitting down to try to explain himself and she smiled at how well she knew him.

"It's more like we don't want you to get hurt. We just want you to be careful."

"Careful doesn't always get you what you want Michael."

"Why should you be the one to find that out?"

"Will everyone just stop?" she said in exasperation, but at the same time she was touched by their concern, "I'm not a child okay? I think I know my own heart and I know I need to do this. Whatever happens….I'll deal with it."

He sighed, "I need to have a talk with that man," Michael muttered.

"I think Tarun has that covered," she said with a smile.

"He needs to know there's more than one person he's going to need to answer to." Michael was more grumpy now.

"I'll be sure to let him know that."

"And what about the Good Doctor?"

"He's doing really well. I think we can expect wedding bells soon."

"What?!" he bellowed, "What the hell makes you say that?"

"Little birdie told me," she laughed, still always amused how he loved to play surrogate father.

"Na ah, there is no way we are letting her do that."

"And by we you mean….."

"Me and you both," he stated.

"I'm sorry big guy, but I'm kind of sold on this one," she laughed as Asha returned to her side, giving her a considering look.

"You're supposed to be on my side."

"And I am, just not this time."

"Where are you?" he asked suddenly.

"I'm with my stylist."

"Going somewhere?"

"Yep."

"Need I ask?"

"You may."

"So?"

She paused, knowing his reaction, "I'm going out on a date."

Michael was silent, "By date you mean with him?"

"His name is Jai, Michael."

"So?"

She laughed at his stubbornness, "You should stop acting like someone is taking away your lollipop."

"But someone is, and I just hope it's not all melted by the time I get it back."

"It won't be," she assured him.

"Better not be," he said softly, but Bani knew like all the other men in her life, he was not playing.

"Okay now, I gotta go or else Asha will have a fit!"

"Trying to get rid of me are we?"

"Never, but I do have to get ready."

'Tell my newest girlfriend to pick something lovely for herself. On me."

"But of course it's on you," she laughed, "Please tell me when you'll be arriving. I haven't set eyes on you in almost two years."

"I know Sweet Cheeks," he went back to using the term of endearment he had coined due to her overly rosy cheeks growing up, "I'll be there as soon as I can."

"And please get that knucklehead brother of mine to come too."

"I shall try oh captain, I shall try. Take care of you."

"You too."

She held her phone delicately for a while, before shaking her head and turning back to Asha, who she found regarding her through the most knowing eyes possible.

"What?" she asked.

"I don't know what you're doing with Jai Walia," she said.

"Huh?" Bani frowned.

"Honey, whoever this guy is, he seems to be the one who has your heart."

"What?" Bani gave an incredulous laugh, "You're crazy."

"No I'm not, you should have seen your face," Asha insisted, "You were positively glowing!"

Bani stopped and turned to look atAsha, "You know, I get that all the time. I used to think it was just the people back in the US that thought that cos we were unusually close and still are….but trust me, he's just my friend stroke big brother. Nothing more."

"Mhmm, that's what you say until some other girl has to fight you off to keep her man."

"You are crazy," Bani said, "Now get me a dress. I only have a few hours left."

Jai had been watching Natchiket closely the last few weeks and had now seen a pattern in the movement of his brother. It was rather specific…every Thursday Natchiket would leave the office way before lunch and would return well after lunch. If he followed him then Natchiket might guess what he was up to, but he would rather send a nobody so that it raised less suspicion.

He hung around in the doorway, knowing fully well that Natchiket would soon leave. The employees who walked past regarded him strangely but minded their business. Last thing they wanted was for him to fire them for staring at him. Ranveer came along.

"Mamaji?"

"Mhmm?" Jai turned to him.

"What are you doing?" he asked with a frown.

"Nothing," he said, foegning innocence, "Just studying the way my employees work. You know, first hand information."

"Aha," Ranveer said suspiciously, "Since when?"

Jai gave him a funny look, "Since today. What's your problem?"

"Nothing, just seems like you're up to something."

"But then I always am Ranveer," Jai laced his hands round his nephew's shoulder, "What would this world be without Jai Walia to meddle in it?"

At that moment, he saw Natchiket emerge from his office. He pretended to be engrossed in conversation with Ranveer whose back was turned to him, so that Natchiket did not think that he had seen him come out and leave. Natchiket hurried away.

"Bull's eye!" Jai said happily to Ranveer

"Huh?" Ranveer was utterly confused.

"Just a minute," he said and taking out his phone, dialed a number, after a few seconds, "You know what to do."

He immediately disconnected and Ranveer was looking at him even more warily than before. He gave him a wolfish smile.

"You're right Ranveer, I am up to something."

So saying he went back into his office to make sure he finished all he had to do today. He was going out with Bani tonight and he was not about to have anyone disturb him in anyway. Not friend, not family and definitely not enemy.

Purva was feeling guilty about all she had been doing the last couple of weeks. Not once or twice, she had done this….sneaking out of the office to meet Natchiket who had often threatened to show up here if she refused to come out. The first time she had been a nervous wreck as all this hide and seek stuff was just not her! If you can't do it out in the open then don't do it at all, that's what she always says. Yet here she was, sneaking out again to go see Natchiket. It was truly crazy, but oh, it was like for the first time in a long time she was living again! The rush of running around and trying to dodge people you knew gave her such an adrenaline high that she found herself reminiscing almost through out the night about every single minute spent with him. When they weren't together, they spent endless hours on the phone at night. Lord, she felt like a hormonal school girl!

He had been the perfect gentleman true to his words. He had never asked for anything she was not ready to give. Yes, it was only a few weeks but she was already sure the kind of person he was. Good, solid, level head on his shoulder…well as for the rest, she could only imagine. Her thoughts as she sat in the car waiting for the traffic light to turn green caused her to blush, and be thankful that she was very much alone in the car.

She knew that her mother and father in law gave her funny looks every now and then. She was unusually defensive at times and always had a silly smile these days. She seemed more and more cautious around them and it made her edgy.

She set the car in motion and drove towards the secluded beach front that had become their own. It was out of the way and very, very few people went there at all which was the perfect place to be, especially when everyone else was somewhere else taking a break. As she pulled up the car to the front, she saw his car was already parked. She glanced in her mirrors to make sure she hadn't been followed and after a few minutes, she got out and went through the gate which had been left open by a security guard who waved at her as she passed his stand. Natchiket told her it was their little arrangement with the man who was to be look out to report any irregularities so that they could be on their watch.

She saw him now, his face hidden from her by the sun shining directly in her eyes. As she approached, she saw the smile that was now imprinted in her memory permanently. She smiled back and rather than hug or kiss her, he held out his hand to her. She shyly took it and they began to walk in silence to where he had a simple lunch laid out for both of them.

So wrapped up in their little rendevouz were they, and so engrossed was the security man in watching them that he did not see the lithe figure scramble into a position in which the couple came into full view, and the clicking sound of a camera went off severally, followed by the attendant whirring.

"Oh Jai Sir, you're gonna love this!!" the man said, chuckling to himself as he clicked away.

Karuna Deb watched her son not for the first time in recent months since Rano Dixit came into his life. Forget that he had appeared healthy in the last few years, now he was positively glowing! She guessed a person never knew what he was missing until he found something that showed him the mirror of his loneliness. She wanted him always happy like this…she couldn't watch him go through another heart break. It had been what, four…five months since they started dating? Shouldn't he be talking marriage now?

"Jeet?" she began softly.

"Ohhhh dear!" Aparajeet sighed as he very well knew that tone of his mother's.

"Don't get smart with me," she snapped at him, but with an amused smile playing on her lips.

He sat up and sighed again, "Now what Ma?"

She feigned an innocent look, "I just wanted to know….how your girlfriend is."

"She's fine Ma, we're both fine."

"And your plans for the future?" she rushed in, unable to stop herself.

"Ah, now I see where this is going," he said with a shake of his head and a low chuckle.

"Come on Jeet, the two of you have been going at it…."

"Ma!" his eyes widened in shock, and in spite of himself, he colored a little.

"Oh get your mind out of the gutter!" she snapped, then turned considering, "Although…"

"Ma!. J…j…just stop right there okay?! Just stop….thinking!"

She laughed heartily, "Okay, I see my son is quite the gentleman. But still, you should be thinking about settling down. You are thirty two in a few weeks you know."

"I know Ma, and for once even I am ahead of you."

"Really?" her eyes were wide with pleasant surprise.

"I have thought about it seriously and I think… well, it doesn't get better than the woman I have now. She is phenomenal."

"Isn't she just?" Karuna said, wanting to encourage him so she could hear his complete thoughts.

"Did you ever feel this way Mom?" he turned enquiring eyes on her, "I mean….like you know this is it…this is the right person for you. This is the person you want to wake up to every morning…the person you want to see lying next to you at night….the one you want nursing you back to health…just….the one?"

Karuna looked at her son for the longest moment as her eyes suddenly filled with tears which persistently began to overflow. He wasn't worried…he understood. He got up and went to sit next to his mother, pulling her into his warm embrace.

"I know," he said softly, "I miss him too."

"I'm happy for you Jeet," she sniffed, swiping at the teas on her cheeks, "I was so afraid that you would miss out on the joy of having a good woman in your life, what with all those floozies you were always getting on with."

He chuckled at her tone which had gone a tad protective.

"Well I got it good this time Ma."

"Yes you did," she said, giving him a proud look, "Now hurry up and get hitched will you? Before someone beats you to it."

"Now why will you go and say a thing like that?"

"Cos time my dear boy, waits for no one."

The man walked into Jai's office with a huge smile, "Yep, you guessed right Mr. Walia. There is a rather beautiful woman."

He handed Jai the packet in his hands and Jai immediately tore it open and unlike him, his moth dropped open. Wasn't this the Virani woman? It was definitely her! What the hell was going on here? He knew for a fact this woman was widowd a few years ago…si what was Natchiket trying to do? Hit up on a widow? Oh, that was just cruel. Of all the things he could possibly do wrong….even he wouldn't go this far!!

He glanced at the man, "Where are the negatives?"

The man groaned, and grudgingly handed over the negatives.

"This better be the only copies my friend, or else…"

"Hey, you don't need to threaten me on that one. I happen to have a perfectly good memory, okay?"

Jai took out a brown envelop and tossed it to him, "Job well done."

"Thanks boss!" he beamed and jumped to his feet, carefully exiting the office.

Jai stared at the pictures more closely. There was one where Natchiket seemed to be explaining something to her and it wasn't Natchiket, but Purva herself that caught his attention. She was hanging on his every word in rapt attention. In another one they were smiling at each other…in another he was touching her face in what Jai could best describe as reverence.

Okay, so maybe his brother wasn't playing with the woman….but why hide it? It wasn't as if they adhered to any of those ancient laws as such….I mean sure there would always be those people but he was mighty sure his family was not one of them. So why all the secrecy?

One thing was however clear to him. If he had found out about this, someone else was also likely to stumble upon it. And he didn't want any member of his family ridiculed for a thing like this….and not to talk of the poor woman. She would be eaten alive after the success of their opening night. He pondered now, what the best course of action would be. After what seemed like an eternity, he picked up his phone.

"Ranveer, is Natchiket back in the office?"

"Matter of fact he's just walking in," Ranveer said.

"Could you tell him to come to my office please?"

"Ji Mamaji."

He disconnected and waited for Natchiket to show up. He still wasn't sure how to approach it but he knew something had to be done and fast! Natchiket opened his door and glanced warily around.

"What is it Jai?" he asked, shutting the door behind him.

Please," he motioned Natchiket to a seat.

"Why do I have the feeling I ought to stand for this?" he eyed Jai again.

"Maybe you have to," jai muttered.

Natchiket went from wary to simmering anger, "Jai, what have you done?"

"I haven't done anything I shouldn't have," Jai said, getting defensive, "If you had come clean in the first place…"

His sentence trailed off as Natchiket all but blazed hot right in front of him, "You had me followed?!"

"You weren't forth coming," Jai stated.

"And isn't that supposed to give you a hint?" Natchiket bellowed.

"Well I thought it was some ordinary girl!," he raised his voice, then lowered when he said, "Not the Virani woman!"

"How dare you?!" Natchiket advanced on Jai.

"Look,I could have kept quiet about this and let you believe I knew nothing about this. But I'm telling you because if it were that easy for me to find out who your lady love is, imagine what another person with these in his or her hands would do."

At the indication of the pictures, Natchiket snatched them from Jai and went through them, shaking his head in disbelief as a bitter laugh escaped him.

"The man has pictures," Nathciket flung them at Jai.

"Listen, you may not appreciate it right now but at least think of her," Jai said reasonably, "If the Press comes to know about this they will have a field day. And she doesn't need that…neither does her family."

"Since when do you care for anyone but yourself?" Natchiket sneered.

Jai was silent and just watching his brother. He had known Natchiket would be agitated, but this he never expected. Was his brother already a goner? That was weird.

"Natchiket…"

"You Know what…..just don't say anything!" Natchiket snapped, "I have enough problems on my hands and add on top of that you suddenly becoming defender of the universe, meddling in my business! You know, I almost prefer it when you were least interested in my life."

With that he walked out, banging Jai's door behind him. Jai stood there, stunned at his brother's reaction. He knew Natchiket was feeling caged, but in spite of himself, the words had cut him deep. What was worse, he knew this was the first time in years that this emotion held any meaning for him. Ironic, since the situation was very similar to…He let the thought trail off. The tables were turned and he somewhat understood something for the first time in a long time.

How do you help someone that isn't ready to accept your help? Needless to say, he knew he would be in a rotten mood for the rest of the day….

I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE MISSING JB BUT BEARWITH ME….I NEVER WANT TO WRITE CRAP AND POST IT. NEED TO ARRANGE MY THOUGHTS SO I GET THE BEST WHICH IS WHY I SET EVERYONE UP FOR AN EXPLOSIVE NEXT PART…HOPE THIS PART ISN'T A TOTAL BUST!!!

Didn't even know u had updated - can u please put a date in the title so we know when u updated it? If its not a big deal...

I loved the doc's talk with his mom - so sweet 😆 Nach all sensitive regarding his lady love - hope Jai is able to get through his concerns to him. Michael seems to be quite a sweetheart. But you are already sestting the stage for J to be explosively jealous of Michael?

Cute update jai getting nachiket followed and nachiket hurting jai's feeling ,, they are actually havin fights like normal siblings,, micheal,, I think jai will think bani is with micheal ,, and get jealous ,, and misunderstanding will occur,,