Chapter 7 Weekend Spl
Bus aap yuhiā¦..Bani / Bani, her mother was callingā¦.abhi me rakhti hu baad me phone karungi she had kept down the phoneā¦that was the last time they spoke on the subjectā¦.that night the accident happenedā¦
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The house suddenly seemed to be very quiet, Jai sat with his head in his hands why did Bani keep quiet all these years, did her husband find out and hence abandoned her, was her pregnancy detected earlier or in Shimla, she wants her daughter back no doubt as she could have made use of his name, filed a paternity suit, why has Bani not taken that path? Does that mean Aditya is wrong? What is Jeeya exact age? Jai ran his fingers through his hairā¦should he clarify these from Bani when she calls? What is preventing her from calling? Has she realized that he might come to know?
Jai sat down recollecting his conversations with Bani in the office, suddenly he recollected Bani saying all important papers regarding Jeeya was in her bagā¦.Jai got up and ran upto Jeeya's room, opened her cupboard, went through her things, there was no paper, did Bani lie to him, then he saw her bag, took it out and opened it, nothing insideā¦he was about to close it when his eyes fell on the zip partition, he opened it, there was a file, it held a paper, Jeeya Dixit's birth certificate issued from the Shimla Municipal Officeā¦
Name : Jeeya Dixit
Mother's Name: Bani Dixit
Father's Name: Jai Walia
Date of Birth mentioned matched his calculation with a week +/-ā¦.which is not unusualā¦.
Jai closed his eyes, the image of Jeeya playing, smiling, running about played before his eyes, my daughter, my daughter, he muttered..
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Jai watched Jeeya hearing stories from Masi, as Bani had told him, she was a physically active child but if you can have her attention, she will sit still to hear youā¦
Jai approached her, Jeeya will you like to go for ride with me? He asked by extending his hand,
Jeeya looked up, her eyes glittered, she clutched his hand with both her handsā¦chaliye uncle, she saidā¦
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Jai took her to the Gymkhana Club, met some known faces, as they exchanged pleasantries', Jeeya held on to his hand, some of his friends patted her, pinched her cheeks, who is this child, so cuteā¦
She is, isn't she Jai smiledā¦
Jai took Jeeya to the tennis courts, some children were learning tennis, Jai asked Jeeya whether she wants to learn, Jeeya looked excited, Jai spoke to the coach regarding timings etc.
They sat next to the pool while Jeeya had her hot chocolate, Jai sipped his whiskey watched Jeeya over the rim of his glass trying to see similarity between them. When 10 days back Jeeya had come, he and his family members were happy to have a child amongst them, that too a small girl in a family full of male members, his sister Jigyasa who takes everything with a pinch of salt took Jeeya for shopping, got her new clothes, toys, a new haircut, Aditya ensured he got his parting kiss from Jeeya before he left for office much to the dislike of his sonsā¦even the boys have started making Jeeya their playing partnerā¦
Hello Jai Walia, after a long timeā¦
Jai looked up to the man hovering over him, frowned, the face was known but just could not place himā¦
I knew you would not recognize me Jai, after all you have grown too big for us, how will youā¦
Sahilā¦.
The man beamed, yes Jai its meā¦
What have you done to yourself Sahil, you have blown up too much for any man to recognize
Keya kare Jai, many of us were not born with a golden spoon like you..
Jai smiled, only he knows how he saved his business but no use of explaining thatā¦.
Have a seat Sahil, lets catch upā¦.
Sahil sat down informed his that all these years he had been posted in the USA working in the software industry, over 3 months back he has been once again posted to Mumbai to set up a branch of his officeā¦mauka miltehi wapis chala aya Jai, after all home is home, nothing can replace itā¦
As they pickup stories about each other's life, Jeeya who was playing with some kids alongside of the pool, came and stood next to Jai, whispered something in his ear, Jai looked towards the pool to find a young couple necking in the water at the other edge of the pool
Dekha keya kar rahe hai yeh log jaisa picture me karte hai, Jeeya whispered fiercely in his earsā¦
Jai's eyes twinkled, he picked up the ice decanter, gave it to Jeeya and instructed herā¦.
As Jeeya ran to complete her job, he held his breath to see the outcomeā¦
Your daughter Jai, Sahil askedā¦
Yes, Jai clapped as Jeeya emptied the decanter over the couple, Jai signaled her, she came running back, Jai took her in his arms and hugged herā¦
Obviously the couple was mad, what are you teaching your daughter Sir, the boy shoutedā¦.
What am I teaching? What have your parents taught you son, don't you see children are playing around, if you want to get cozy there are rooms available for hireā¦.Jeeya clapped and laughed as the she saw the couple leaving the water, so did other childrenā¦.
Jai you have not changed a bit I must sayā¦.you are teaching your daughter the same tricks you didā¦
I am not his daughter a firm voice answered backā¦
The words hit Jai hard, he put down Jeeya, instructed her to finish her drink before she went to play with the children againā¦
She is Bani's daughter Sahilā¦Jai answered himā¦
Bani's daughter, our Bani, Bani Dixit of Mt Abuā¦
The very same, Jai repliedā¦.
Where is she, Sahil looked around excitedlyā¦.
Jai watched Jeeya returning to join her newly acquired friendsā¦
She is not here Sahil, and briefly explained the situationā¦
Baniā¦Sahil sighed, he had seen the girl born in front of his eyes, still remembered peeping into the cot where Bani slept as a baby while his and her mother caught with the local gossips in the afternoon, on returning from school, he used to enter Bani's house first as his mother used to be there helping Bani's mom with her new kidā¦he used to tease Bani a bit before being pulled away by his mother to their houseā¦.
Bani's daughterā¦.I can't believe that after all these years I am getting to hear of Baniā¦
Tell me Sahil what had happened, your parents were in Mt Abu when Bani might have been forced to marryā¦
Forced to marry? I never heard so, why should Bani be forced to marry, her father always wanted her to be self sufficient before she settled down, I can't give dowry as I do not have money, chacha toh hamesha yeh hi kehte the, jiske jawab me mera pitaji used to say, he will take up the responsibility of Bani's marriage, after all she was like his daughterā¦.I was supposed to pay for her marriage, my papa had always told me thatā¦
Bani did not get married, or it is him who assumed that Bani got married, actually if he can recollect their conversation, Bani never once said that she had a husbandā¦she had only mentioned things were not going the way she wanted them to go, so another point that it is he who is Jeeya's fatherā¦.
Jai was excited, I would like to meet Bani's family, your parents stay in Mt Abu can't they arrange for my meeting with Bani's parents, I mean I would like to try and reconcileā¦
Jai Jai, one minute, my parents no longer stay in Mt Abuā¦
Oh I thought you belong to Mt Abu as the house was you stayed ā¦
Yes Jai, we sold it, Jai you see my marriage with Roma did not work, Roma was unhappy and lonely and I could not give her time, busy with my new careerā¦one fine day Roma came back, after about 6 months our marriage in the meantimeā¦.things changed in Mt Abu too, after about 2, 2 months of my marriage to Roma, my parents noticed there was a tension in the Dixit household, exactly what was wrong my parents did not know which was unusual as we were like extended family, anyway one fine day Bani left leaving a note that she is going off with the man whom she wants to marryā¦we did not have a clue who that man was and to our surprise not even Roma, her best friendā¦initially we thought maybe one of my friends who had come for the wedding, but no and you were out of question as that time you were not in the country itselfā¦Bani's parents waited for her to call, they could not even advertise in the papers as it will bring unwanted attention to their family, they had two other childrenā¦ek saal baad chachaji sold the Mt Abu house and returned back to Ahmedabad, his original home town, after they left, my marriage was also over, my parents no longer wanted to stay in Mt Abu so we too sold our house and my parents now stay with me and my American wifeā¦
Jai heard Sahil in silence, he wanted to hug Bani badly, the girl had the courage to go through all the difficulties in life just to save their love child, she even ensured that he is not dragged into any sort of allegation as he was sure many people had seen them together chatting during the weddingā¦
Sahil, Iā¦.
Uncle I want to go to the toilet, Jeeya came running
O.K. Sahil, we will take your leaveā¦.
Sahil shook Jai's hand, patted Jeeya's headā¦beta mai tumhara mama hu, apne uncle ke saath mere ghar ana, udhar tumhe nana, nani milegaā¦
As Jai held Jeeya's hand and went towards the toilet, Sahil watched them, he had heard Jai & Bani were seen several times together during his wedding but does that meanā¦.noā¦noā¦all said and done Jai is a responsible person and Bani too, during weddings these friendly flirtations happen but after that nothing lekin keya ho giya tha, his parents till now fail to understand that a girl who grew up before them could suddenly leave like thatā¦that too with a man who they never got to seeā¦Sahil stared till Jai & Jeeya faded out of his sightā¦anyone who sees them together will think they are father and daughterā¦he thoughtā¦
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(Next update will on 12.2 night or 13.2 morning depending on my return š )