When I started writing this, it was only to show masi's love and concern for Bani. This was supposed to be a final one like When I Fall Asleep(Jai and Bani's death), Toota Taara(Ganga and Bani's death) and I thought I would do one to show how masi deals with a dying Bani...only here Bani does not die. Because I changed the ending when I wrote about Aditya. I hope you like it.
Now a big hug to all that have read the earlier two SS and left lovely comments. I hope you will let me know your view on this too. This one is for you Mamta and Cherry, who is snowed in today and wants to snuggle in read something. Oh I didn't have a title so if someone has a better suggestion let me know.
MaaBaap
maa mujhe apne aanchal mein chipa le
gale se laga le
ki aur mera koi nahi
phir na sataaunga kabhi paas bula le
gale se laga le
ki aur mera koi nahi
maa mujhe apne ...
bhool meri chhoti si bhool jaao maata
aaise koi apno se rooth nahi jaata
rooth gaya hu main tu mujhko mana le
gale se laga le
ki aur mera koi nahi
maa mujhe apne ...
god mein teri aaj tak main pala hoon
ungali pakad ke teri maan main chala hoon
tere bina mujhko ab kaun sambhaale
gale se laga le
ki aur mera koi nahi
maa mujhe apne ... (chota bhai)
Masi watched at Bani returned from work and sat down in the chair and fell asleep again. For the last few days she had noticed how Bani looks pale, tired and seems to be getting thinner. Masi asked her about it but Bani brushed it off as tiredness from work...telling her the long hours she had been forced to work made her feel tired all the time. Today she looked even paler and masi decided once she woke up to force her to go the doctor.
Dr Mehra listened patiently to masi as she told him about Bani's constant tiredness. Dr Mehra went outside with masi where Bani was waiting, sitting with her eyes closed.
"Bani," Dr Mehra said softly. Bani opened her eyes and looked at the doctor, "Ji."
"Why don't you come inside Bani, you don't look too good. It will only take few minutes to do the check up. We will get some blood test done to make sure you are not anaemic."
Bani gave a look to masi as she followed Dr Mehra into the office. She seethed as she realized masi had tricked her into visiting the doctor...masi's knee pain was probably a lie. Bani watched as the doctor wrote out some pills for her to take and asked her to go the lab right away and get the blood test done.
Masi made sure Bani got the test done and got the pills the doctor prescribed. Bani quibbled about how she had to waste her precious money on pills when there was nothing wrong with her. Masi just smiled and let it pass. She knew money was an issue with Bani, it was a daily struggle to maintain the small place they were renting, school fees for her daughter Ganga and other necessities. Since moving to Mumbai life had become a daily drudgery for Bani. The only job she could get was as a waitress and that too with low pay and long hours.
Dr Mehra phoned two days later and asked masi to bring Bani to see him as soon as possible just hinting Bani needed immediate attention and the rest he would tell them in person.
Rest of the day, masi was restless, watching the door waiting for Bani to come home. She felt kind of relief that her notion that something was wrong was proven right. All she wanted now was to find out what was wrong and make sure Bani got the medicine or the treatment necessary to get better. If money is going to be an issue, than she will find a way to get it. At the last resort there was her dead husband's family in Chandigarh she could always turn to.
As soon as Bani walked in, masi sat her down and told her Dr Mehra wanted to her as soon as possible. Masi said tomorrow morning, the first thing they were going to do was to go to see Dr Mehra. Bani protested about not being able to take time off but masi was adamant saying she will talk to the manager. Why would any manager want a sick employee working, especially in a restaurant?
At night Bani was restless, she couldn't sleep worrying about have to explain to the manager why she wasn't going to come in to work. The manager, Mr Patil wasn't a pleasant man to work for. For some reason she seems to annoy him the most as he is always watching her and does not spare her when telling her off in front of customers. She had not told masi the job she had was courtesy of Jai Walia, he had made it impossible for her to work elsewhere, making sure the owners fired her on his threats.
When she woke up in the morning Bani felt even more tired. She got ready and saw Ganga off to school before leaving for the doctor with masi.
Masi sat in the office of Dr Mehra shaking her head in disbelief as he quietly told them Bani had leukemia. When Dr Mehra stopped speaking, masi fervently shouted, "aisa nahi ho sakta? Kuch galat hoga. ..aap phir se test kijeye doctor…meri beti ko kuch nahi huwa."
Bani who had sat like stone silent got hold of masi, "Masi bandh hojaye. Mujhe kuch nahi hoga." She turned to the doctor, "Dr Mehra mei baad mei aapse milunge. Chalo masi."
Masi refused to get up, "Nahi. Mujhe pata hai tu saab kuch chupayegi. Doctor muujhe ilaaj ke baari mei saab kuch janana hai. Jab tak aap mujhse puri tarah nahi samjaye mei nahi jani wali." She turned to Bani and glared at her, "Baith jaa, mujhe paata hai, tu saab kuch chupayegi. Yeh teri jeene ka mamla hai." Dr Mehra watched the two women trying to battle silently…Concerned mother and a stubborn daughter.
An hour later masi and Bani made their way out of office, both of them quiet not saying much. Masi's head was just reeling from the seriousness of leukemia…the treatment, the time and the cost…the figure Dr Mehra quoted just spun around in her head…how is she going to get such a large sum?
At home masi was still in her daze until she saw Bani step out of the room, changed into her uniform, "kahan jaa rahi ho Bani?" she asked, even though she knew.
"Job pe. Ghar pe baithe kya karugi?"
"Bani, tujhe aarma ki zaroorat hai. Kyun na thode din chooti maang le."
Bani shook her head, "nahi masi. Ghar mei baith kaar mera dum ghontanga. Abh toh davayaan ki liy paise ki bhi zaroorat hai. Nahi masi mujhe rookiyan maat."
Masi could not help but come to her and hug her, tears welling up she said pleadingly, "Paise ki chinta maat kaar. Mei bandobast karlungi. Tu chood yeh jid. Beta mera maan le. Jab tu theek hojayegi tab mei nahi rookungi tujhe."
Bani slid out of the embrace and without looking at masi walked out of the house. It was only when she was away from the street did she let tears roll down her cheeks, but she quickly wiped them so as not to attract attention. Her heart was still hammering inside just as bad as it was in the doctor's office. It was not what she had expected when she had walked into Dr Mehra's office. She had expected to walk out with may be prescription for few pills.
She would not have been scared of dying if she had been alone, but beside masi, there was her daughter. How could she expect masi to take care of Ganga…she was only five. Masi was at an age when she should be taken care of not the other way around, where masi did more than her fair share of looking after her and Ganga. She shook her head, her life was not supposed to end like this. She wanted to live to see Ganga grow up, go to college, get a degree and stand on her two feet. She wanted more than anything happiness for her daughter…happiness that had not been written in her life.
For a fleeting moment his face flashed in her mind…the face of Ganga's father, her husband. Five years later, he still had hatred for her…he was still bitter about what he thought was the truth….she had betrayed him by straying to a younger man. Today Daksh was not in her life because she had severed ties with him on that very same day, telling him to go away as far as possible if he wanted to be alive.
Mr Patil smirked as Bani walked in. "So Ms Dixit two hours late again. What excuse do you have this time? We are busy, go get to work. I will talk with you later."
Bani went to the back to put her purse away and then returned back quickly and took over her job. Lunchtime usually meant nonstop work for few hours, especially since the restaurant was in a commercial area. She did not have time to delve on her problem as the steady stream of diners kept her busy. During her short break she took a short walk just to get away from being inside.
The small temple in the side street caught her eyes and she walked towards it. She stood looking at the deity of Ganesha partially visible from where she stood. Once going to mandir had been religious obsession with her...on days of fasting..keeping vrats...birthdays...anniversaries would have seen her inside with pooja thali, bowing and praying for the happiness of her loved ones. But with the death of her children five years ago and subsequent loss of the ones she loved...visits to mandir were infrequent...on anniversary of the death of her children and on Ganga's birthday she would go and kneel in front of the murti and pray. Now she stared at the murti, torn for the first time to pray for her wellbeing or to ask why not put her out of her misery...why not let her end come quick. A quick death would be welcome than the suffering she would put masi and Ganga through for months as she slowly died.
She turned around and walked back to the restaurant.
Six months later...
Masi sat on the bed beside Bani, she was running a fever and coughing. Her body was shaking under the blankets masi had piled on. The pills masi had forced her to take on were not having any effect. Masi put her head in her head and wept quietly. All these months she had been trying to get money together for Bani's treatment and she did not even have quarter of the amount required. Masi had started taking small orders for food neighbours and people in the surrounding area to earn money. Bani was finding it increasingly hard to work the enough hours to make ends meet.
Masi looked at Ganga sleeping innocently on the other bed. The five year old was not aware of Bani's illness, even though Ganga would show concern when Bani laid in bed too sick to get up. But their was one thing both masi and Bani wanted...they both wanted to see Ganga's happy face.
Dr Mehra visited Bani at home as she was still down with fever. He looked at masi and indicated her would talk to her outside. Dr Mehra gave Bani and injection which should hopefully bring the fever down.
Outside Dr Mehra looked sadly at masi, "Dekheye Bani ki halaat zyaada kharaab hai. Usko hospital mei hona cahiye. Aap bol dijiye toh mei usse lijayoon."
"Aap toh jante hai Dr Mehra, ke bina paise hospital mei illaj nahi milta. Toh phir..." Masi said wiping her tears. Dr Mehra patted masi's hand, "Koi baat nahi. Meini bhi khosish ke hai board se...lekin maana kar diya."
Dr Mehra left a crying masi a few minutes later.
The injection had some effect and Bani's fever died but she was still in poor condition. Masi slept beside her restlessly, unable to sleep. Bani should not be going through this..there was money that rightfully belonged to her. But Bani would not listen to masi when she suggested Bani go to Jai and ask for her rights. Why not masi asked her? He threw you out of the house...you can file for divorce and get money for you and Ganga. At the mention Bani raged, how could masi want her to go begging for money. How could she face Jai Walia and tell him after five years, he had a daughter. She did not want the hatred he had for her bestowed upon her daughter. She did not want the shame on her daughter...for people to point fingers and say she was the product of divorced parents and that too her father was one of the richest man in Mumbai. Leave things as they are she said to masi...let destiny take its course.
Finally masi slept after making her mind up, she would go the house where she had vowed she would not go before. She would beg on behalf of her daughter...beg her son to save Bani...at least she would die without guilt, knowing that she did try and let her daughter die because of pride.
Walia house...
Tony opened the door and let masi in. Masi smiled warmly at Tony and asked him to tell his master she wanted to see him. Masi stood and looked at the familiar walls and floor. It was still the same...nothing had changed...the same rich opulent dcor and furniture.
Tony came back few minutes later and said Jai would see her. As masi followed Tony she could feel eyes of the residents on her. A quick glance showed Jigyasa, Aditya, Raashi and children.
Masi watched Jai's back as he stood near the window in his study. Tony shut the door behind him as he left. Only when the door clicked did Jai turned around. Masi flinched at the coldness in his eyes. He walked towards her and stopped few feet away. "What brings you to me masi? I still remember your words about not wanting to see my face ever." he mocked in a hard voice.
Controlling the shudder masi felt, she looked him straight in the eyes. "Sometimes we have to eat our words and come knocking at the one door where we have no right to. I am standing here because kismat yehi chaati hai."
A long silent pause followed. Masi took couple of steps and then knelt in front of him as he watched her in unmasked anger. She held her pallu out and locked eyes with him.
"Today this mother has come begging to you for help to save her child Jai. Bani is dying and the only way to save her is to ask you for money...5 lakh is needed to get her admitted into hospital. Bani is suffering from leukemia. More than six months have gone by since she was diagnosed. She does not have the money or will ever be able to raise that kind of money." Masi paused and took a deep breath. "I asked her to come to you to for help but she refused. Even now she loves you but will not come and ask you for help. She has your child Jai...a daughter...a daughter who has a right to support from you. But Bani too is stubborn like you...will not fight to get her daughter the rights she deserves."
As masi stood up and folded her hands, Jai hand shot out, "Enough masi...I have heard enough. How dare you come and tell me about rights...Bani lost the rights to anything of mine the day she broke her trust with me...the day she lied to me. As for the child...I will not accept that I have a child just on your say so. Please just leave quietly. I do not want to cause you any more embarrassment by having you thrown out. I don't give money to anybody that comes begging to me anymore. Charity finished that day five years ago when I truly opened my eyes and saw the truth."
Masi looked at him sadly and said softly, "You did not open your eyes that day Jai, you closed your eyes that day to the truth standing in front of you...you closed your eyes to the truth staring at you but you chose to ignore the truth and believe the lie." Masi turned and walked out quickl. She ignored Adiya's call to her and left the house.
Aditya walked into Jai's study. Ignoring the black look Jai gave him, "Why did masi come here Jai?" he asked.
'Why do you think Adi? For money...told me Bani is dying and needs money for hospital treatment."
"And what did you say? Are you going to help?"
Jai slammed his fist down on the table, "Adi stop interfering. I promised myself, I would never have anything to do with them again. Bani can die, what do I care. She never cared for me."
Aditya shook his head as he walked out. There was so much he wanted to say to Jai but could not. The hatred had a tight hold on Jai and no one could loosen that hold.
Bani lay sleeping on the hospital bed. She had been admitted a month ago. Aditya had ran out of the Walia house and found masi waiting to get taxi. He had taken a ride in a taxi with masi and come with her to see Bani. Bani had been lying fast asleep with Ganga sitting next to her holding her hand. Aditya couldn't hold himself back and had knelt down and cried seeing the young woman whom he had always seen as a daughter in such a state. A few calls and he had Bani admitted into the hospital. Bani had protested but Aditya had not listened. He told her for once he was being a father to her that he should have been five years ago.
A course of chemotherapy had been started by the doctors and Bani had been kept in the hospital because of her low health..she needed to be monitored in between treatments. Aditya visited her daily and also popped in to see masi and Ganga were alright. Masi never had enough words to thank Adi, where would her daughter be without this gentle soul. Ganga too had taken a liking to Adi and was happy to see him. She readily went off with her Adi uncle for ice cream treats or to go the park.
Six months later Bani came home, she still had to go for further treatments but did not have to stay in hospital afterwards. Her leukemia was in remission and doctors had strong hopes she would fully recover. Aditya had brought a small apartment for Bani, masi and Ganga to move into. Bani had not protested when Adi had told her about, she did not have the energy to argue with him any more.
Few weeks later Jai saw Aditya walking out with a suitcase and stopped him. "Where are you going Adi? As far as I know there is no business meetings that require travel."
Aditya looked him in the eyes and smiled, "Since you asked Jai, I will tell you. I am going to go and stay with my daughter for a while. I have realized too late what I have missed for the last five years. Don't worrry I will still come to the office. After such a long time I will get to eat food prepared by my daughter Bani." And so Aditya walked out of Walia mansion, not turning to look back at the owner who stood pale and shaken by the words he had just heard.
THE END
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Bindi
