It had been a week since Kiran had returned and Saahil had practically stopped going to work,brought his work home,any excuse to spend more time with his daughter and her children.He was trying to pack thirteen years of absence into a week.After a long time he got around to planning to celebrate her coming home.He had organized a party and those of her friends she had met in the time she had been back invited those who hadn't heard and the party was all set to be a reunion.
Tarun and Bani needless to say had started to drive Choti ma crazy as they realized she was soft as sponge cake.The house was always abuzz with noise from one fight or some kind of mischief they were getting into.They had made a few friends in the short time they were and were always off somewhere and excited their grandfather no less when with tales of their escapades.
Later that night as the finishing touches were being put to the decorations,Tarun wandered into the kitchen and Choti ma had just brought a batch of home made biscuits out of the oven.
"Hey choti ma,"he said,reaching to pick one.
She immediately reached over with a ladle and smacked his hand,"Don't touch that!"
"I'm hungry!"he said with a pitiful look on his face.
"Look around you,sooooo much food.Only eat later,"she said glaring at him,"Out!"
He made to go,and when she turned around he snatched one off the platter and dashed out of the kitchen when she raised the ladle to swat him again.
The guests had started to arrive and were gradually filling the parlor.Kiran watched from upstairs with a little trepidation.These were people she had not seen in a long,long time and yet,they were all here for here.
"Mama,how do I look?"Bani asked from behind her.
She turned to see her daughter in a simple white off shoulder gown which was calf length with gold embroidery in diamond shaped designs.
"Breathtaking,"hermother said with a soft smile.
"Stunning,"Tarun said from behind them,"And Mama,you look amazing."
Kiran was in a simple black sari with gold works.Her hair was pulled up in a slick bun,allowing her striking features show.
"Thank you,"she smiled pleasantly.
"You know,they are all waiting to see you,"Bani said.
"I know.But what if they turn out to not be the same people I knew back when we were teenagers."
"Hey,people don't change so much over the years,"Tarun said,"You'd be surprised."
She took his hand and squeezed it.Kamna came up the stairs.
"What are you doing here?Your friends are waiting for you and you are hiding?"
"Nahin ma..."
"Chor do.Chalo meri saat,"she took her hand and pulled her downstairs.
She was greeted with surprise,comments about how good she looked and she didn't look like she had grown up kids.They oohhed and aahhed at her kids and complimented them on how well they had taken care of their mother.She really began to relax when she realized that as Tarun said,people never really changed.They were only an improvement of who they were as young men and women.She had had a wonderful time that night,reminiscing about the past and telling what little she would allow of her personal life in America with Carlos.One female friend had actually cried when she had told her of Carlos' death.It had made her sad,but now,she was content.
It was a few minutes to eleven and most of the guests had left and she was seeing off the last of them.She turned to leave when she noticed someone off to the side in the drive way a huge bouquet of flowers covering his face.
"Kaun hai?"she called softly.
He was walking closer and closer,not a word from him.He was well dressed so she wasn't afraid that he might be a sicko or something.
"Kaun hai?"she asked more authority creeping into her voice.
He stopped a few feet away from her and lowered the flowers so that she saw his eyes.And he just stared at her.
Those eyes,she thought,looking at him more closely.Lines formed at the sides so she knew he was smiling.She obviously knew this person and he knew her well.But who....
"Kamal hai,"he said,"Even after all this time it still takes you a while to recognize me."
That voice,it was...no...it couldn't be.She stepped forward and pushed the flower out of the way,and gasped,her hand flying to cover her mouth in shock.
"Hello Kiran,"he smiled.
"Nishikant!"and then she instinctively raised her foot,grabbed her shoe off her foot and started to chase him,"What do you think you're doing trying to scare me to death."
"Now Kiran,"he said,sidestepping her,"You don't get to chase me around anymore.I brought you flowers after all these years and this is how you greet me?"
"I would greet you better if you came like other guests and not like a thief in the night!"she retorted,swatting his arm with her other arm,then adding after giving him a once over,"An expensively dressed one at that."
"Mama?"
She turned to see Tarun and Bani standing at the top of the stairs,regarding her with a mixture of amusement and surprise.
"Ah,I finally get to meet the children I have heard so much about,"he said,leaving her to put her slipper back on and follow him behind,"I'm Nishikant Dixit."
"I'm Tarun and this is my older sister Bani.Well,technically older sister,"he said.
"Hey,you don't need to confuse him with all that nonsense right now.Come in Uncle,you missed the party."
"Bani?"Kiran said in surprise.
"What?Any friend of yours is a friend of ours,"she said,taking Nishikant by the hand and pulling him inside.
They had seen the display of affection between their mother and this man and no way were they letting him go easy.
"Careful Kiran,I just might switch camps.She's a lot nicer."
They went into the house and Bani rustled up a plate of food and forcefully fed him while they chatted.After a while,she and Tarun tactfully excused themselves and left them to talk.
They walked out into the garden."You look beautiful."
She lowered her eyes,"Thank you.You're not looking too bad yourself."
"Thanks.I put a lot of work into my appearance tonight so..."
She laughed at him,"You still haven't changed."
"Never."
"How have you been Nishi?"
He inhaled deeply,"I have been good.I have had a good life so far."
"Nishikant,"she said,taking his hand in hers and forcing him to look at her,"How are you?"
He looked at her for a full five seconds,"I think you know Kiran."
"Nishikant,"she said his name with so much sadness.
True,she had never bothered to find out how he was after she left him brokenhearted.On hindsight she knew he had loved her dearly.But she couldn't help it,she had loved Carlos and that was a non-negotiable fact.
"No need to feel sad Kiran.I tried to move on...got married,had a family of my own...I have a wonderful daughter."
"Really?"
"Yes.Rano."
"Lovely name."
"She's a lovely girl."
"And your wife?"
He smiled sadly...too sadly,and she knew before he said it,"She died Kiran."
Tears rolled down here eyes and she squeezed his hand in understanding.
"Look how fate dealt with us Kiran,"he said sadly.
"I'm sorry Nishikant,"she said.
He just reached up and wiped her tears,You will not cry tonight Kiran.It's a day to be happy.I get to see an old friend after an eighteen year hiatus."
She smiled and shook her head,"Pagal."
They had talked well into the night and it was almost one in the morning before she insisted on his going home,and he teased her that Bani would have let him stay till dawn.She saw him off and went into the house.She shut the door behind her and leaned against it,yawned and stretched before making her way upstairs to her room.
Bani was in Tarun's room.He was sprawled on the floor while she lay on the bed.
"Almost one in the morning,"Bani said.
"That must have been some reunion."
"I think there is still something there,"Bani said.
"Now Di,you can't go around trying to cause any kind of trouble if you're thinking what I think you're thinking."
"I am thinking what you think I'm thinking silly,but of course I intend to get all my facts straight first.With any luck he'll be available."
"I can't beleive you,"Tarun said,adjusting his pillow so that he was better positioned to fall asleep.
"Well,I think we have to try."
"Yeah,try."
************************************************************ ********************************
Turns out they didn't need to do much.Nishikant became a frequent visitor in their home and they finally met his daughter Rano.Beautiful and shy,but they wouldn't let her be until she loosened up and became more relaxed.She was a lot of fun and blended with the family.
"What was your mother like?"Bani asked one day when the three of them were seated outside in the garden.
"She was an angel.The very best there was.I am glad I had all the time I did with her."
"I understand that,having to lose a parent,"Bani said.
"My mother was happy Bani.She loved my father a lot,but he...he loved your mother."
Tarun and Bani went still at that,"I never knew your mother,but I knew she had to be something out of this world for my father to love her that much.He told her before they got married you know."
They were uncomfortable now.
"She got his friendship,"she said with sad eyes,"But she never got his love.Not the kind of love that is passionate."
"I'm sorry Rano,"Tarun said,unable to look at her.
"No,don't be,"she said quickly,"For the first time in a really long time i have seem my father happy.And I want him to stay that way."
They looked hard at her,"Rano..."
"Yes,"she replied to Tarun's unasked question,"I want my father to get what he has always desired.His first love."
That conversation had taken them by surprise and they were both happy to have agreed on the same issue.But doing anything about it right now was impossible as they had to return to the states in a few days to start their freshman year.Fate however seemed to be working to their advantage as both their parents seemed to be getting closer and closer without their help.
In time they had to leave and were seen off to the airport by the whole family-their grandparents,Choti ma,Nishikant and Rano.
"You take care now,"Kiran said,hugging them.
They took their grandparents blessings and hugged Nishikant and Rano,and went through to the departure lounge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Krishna Walia wanted to some shopping and had gone to the departmental store.She had the most uncomfortable feeling she was being watched but she never saw anyone.She had turned to the clothing section and had just picked up a sari she thought would look nice on Jigyasa and was admiring it when she heard her name.
"Krishna Walia!"
She turned towards the voice and saw a gruff looking man in a dark trench coat,glaring at her.Before she could speak a word he pulled out a gun and aimed at her.
"This is for your son ruining my life!"
She went pale as people screamed,ran and ducked behind clothing racks.The man was going to pull the trigger when someone shouted a name,she saw him jerk to the side,squeeze off a shot and collapse to the floor in a pile of flesh.
Looking down,she saw that there was a bullet hole in her sari and going white as a sheet,she began to fall when she was caught by someone.She only knew she didn't hit the ground.
"Do you think she's okay?"
"She'll be fine Kiran,she just fainted from the shock of it,"Nishikant said,adjusting the woman's head on his coat so she was comfortable,then he recognized her,"Mrs.Walia?"
"Who?"Kiran asked in surprise,"You know her?"
"Who doesn't,"he said,as the wail of a sirens could be heard in the distance,"You just saved the life of the most powerful woman in Mumbai."
"I did?"
"What's going on here?"a police officer asked coming up to where they were standing.
"I think she needs an ambulance.That man tried to kill her,"he indicated the man that still lay knocked out on the floor but was now restrained by ropes and was being watched by the attendants.
"Take him into custody,"the officer said to his constables,"And how long before the ambulance gets here?"
Just then the siren of the ambulance came to a halting front of the store,blaring loudly as the paramedics rushed in.
They loaded her on to a stretcher and within minutes were off to the hospital.
"Ma'am,you're going to have to come with us to the station to make a statement."
"Of course,"she said.
"We'll follow in our car,"Nishikant said to the officer.
As they walked out,people began to applaud.She grabbed Nishikant's hand and he smiled down at her reassuringly.He hadn't even seen what happened,only the end result as he had been in another section of the store at the time,and only ran towards where he had left her when he heard the shot.
This had turned out to be quite a day after all.
************************************************************ *********************
WILL STOP HERE FOR NOW.I'M SURE THERE WILL BE GUESSES AS TO HOW JB WILL MEET NOW.WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THEORIES AND COMMENTS.CIAO!!!