Jai did not want to sound cruel, but he knew that Bani would never come to him had she known that he knew the truth. Like always she would leave, disappear from his life amidst more lies and deceit. No he could never allow that to happen again. So in order to bring her back he would have to resort to his old aggressive ways.
Bani was asleep when the telephone rang. The noise shocked her awake, as she jumped out of bed she looked at the clock, it was three thirty in the morning.
"Who on earth would call at three thirty in the morning" she wondered. Then it struck her, something must have happened to Ganga she panicked besides only Meera had her number.
"Hallo "she spoke in a whisper hoping to avoid waking Massi up.
"Hallo is this Bani?" Demanded a male voice.
Her face flamed. She held the receiver away, staring at it.
"Hallo, hallo "the voice shouted.
"I am here Mr. Walia do you realize the time?".
"I do now. I didn't when I first called" he lied. "Sorry".
"Mr. Walia can this wait for the morning?"………….
"Ganga is with me," he said totally ignoring what she had said.
"Ganga?" She repeated as if she had never heard the name before.
"Yes Ganga. For God's sake stop playing games Bani. This is too important for that. "Why the hell didn't you tell me I had a daughter? All these years and you never let me know. And don't tell me you didn't know how to get in touch with me either." The furious tirade crashed down the line.
"I didn't tell you because I didn't think you would be interested".
"Didn't think that I would be interested in my own child? For God's sake Bani to have a child, abandon her to strangers, and then callously forget all about her, without even telling her father? You just don care do you?"
Something exploded in Bani's head." I didn't care? You bloody hypocrite! She screamed. "It was you who threw me out of the house. You abadoned me, left me pregnant and believed all the lies you were fed about me. As far as you were concerned I never existed she cried."
"I will come and see you later Mr. Walia".
She put the phone back and stood up. Feeling her legs giving way she sat down on the cold floor, contemplating her dreaded meeting with Mr. the great Walia.
Even now facing up to Jai's anger, she felt apart. Remote. She had to admit his anger was justified, considering how they had lost their 2 children and how important kids were to him.
Now it was time to deal with all the unfinished business of her life. Jay, Meera, Ganga. Especially Ganga.
WM was never Bani's favorite place. But it seemed she kept returning to it over and again. Before she had time to escape Mr. Walia himself was at the door.
Everything looked blurred, distorted, the only reality the sick galloping of her pulses. She should never have come. There had been no need to put her through this agony.
Jai stood a lone figure on the top step. She felt a strange sense of deja-vu.
His heart tore seeing her looking like a scared rabbit. She was pale, thinner too he noticed, too thin.
In her nervous state she dropped the small purse that she carried. Bending down, she turned to Jai, just in time to see the look of dismay on his face.
He could not help it, he wanted more than anything in the world to take her in his arms and never let her go. Well Bani, together after all these years. He looked at her with smoldering eyes. He bent and kissed her on both cheeks.
"I hope you don't mind"' he said softly,
" after all we were much more than mere employee and boss weren't we?"
Anger tightened her chest and rose like bile, into her throat. Damn him. Damn him to hell.
Aware that Meera, Adi uncle and Rano joined them she drew away from him.
"Come in Bani."
Shivering she pulled the wool shawl more tightly about her.
"You are cold, "Jai exclaimed.
"What am I thinking of keeping you out here? Come on inside everyone."
Bani looked at Rano for the first time. She was confused, where before Rano had looked at her helplessly today she looked positively terrified. She had been crying Bani noted. She wanted to hug her so badly. Sensing her sisters need Rano ran to her and clutched her in a grip so strong Bani could feel her ribs break. Not being able to witness the scene he was responsible for he strode towards his study, closely followed by Adi.
Turning to Meera Bani had guessed that this was it. Meera came forward and clutched her hand.
"Ganga and Jai need the truth Bani. From you. Yes he knows things, but you will have to do this. Too many people have suffered because of both you stubborn people "she scolded, tears forming in her eyes. .
"They will not understand Meera, Rano please pleaded," Bani.
"No Banidi. Stand up for yourself. If not for you think of Ganga".
"Yes Meera agreed, remember I am in your corner".
"Thank you, thank you both".
Bani was getting suspicious about the way Jai was behaving. She could read him too well. Something was not matching. His demeanor changed from anger, to fear, to pity. What did he want? Now he knew the truth. Was he concerned that she would come between him and Meera? No. he had made that very clear didn't he?
With trepidation she walked towards the study.
When Jai entered the study, his resolve broke." There is no way I am going to be harsh on her Adi. Did you see how frail she is.?"" My God what have I done to her Adi, how despicable could I get?" He cried.
"Look Jai, whatever you do I know that you will handle it well. Please be rational. Vent if you must, but remember we are dealing with a very sick girl".
"What if I loose her Adi?".
"You won't Jai. Remember there is a miracle up there waiting to happen. I leave you now my friend. Good luck."
Jai jumped to his feet as soon as she entered. To hell with it he thought. I will touch her!
Jai had taken both her hands in his.
"Let me look at you Bani, let me see the damage that I have done".
"Mr. Walia pleases. What is all this. Why are you acting this way? "
"What do you want Mr Walia? "
"Look at you Bani. Why the hell didn't I know about your being ill?"
"That is none of your business Mr. Walia. We are here for Ganga remember".
God she had riled him. She had remembered with sudden clarity, that Jai always came closer to the truth when he was angry.
"You must think it is very rude to make comments about your appearance. It is just that the Bani I knew"……
"No longer exists, "she said firmly. "You cannot turn the clock back Mr. Walia."
"Have I changed that much Bani that you cannot look at me", he whispered.
She was forced to look at him then. "You haven't changed a bit in looks Mr. Walia' she told him coldly. "As for you yourself, I cannot say much. We are strangers". She looked at her hands." In fact we always were strangers. I never knew the real you."
"What utter nonsense Bani. We were ARE Married for God's sake".
"Hardly Mr Waliai, we had a seasonal married life. This season you love and cherish me and the next you throw me out of your life".
"Do you need to be so crude about it Bani?" He yelled.
"Not, at all Mr Waliai. But I object to you suggesting that our married life was a grand love affair."
He ignored that. "I still find it amazing that you would talk of us as strangers. I am trying to right the wrong that I have done Bani"
.
"6 years ago we parted forever Mr Walia"
.
"Not forever. You are here now in my home". He gave her that dazzling, intimate smile that still made her heart turn over. Dam him damn him, that he should have the power to do that to her.
She glared at him. "Did you ever let me explain things to you Mr Walia? No. did you ever even talk to me that day. No did you even want to listen to anything Mr Walia. No.
You knew absolutely everything that was told to you. I knew nothing about who you became that day Mr Walia."
"Except that I loved no love you Bani".
"Did you Mr. Walia, did you really?"
"I have never forgotten you darling. When I heard that Ganga was my daughter I was bowled over. It was as though Krishna had come back from the past."..
"Mr. Walia please you are married and I am dying" she stated flatly.
"I am NOT married Bani and you are NOT dying."
"Almost dying Mr. Walia, who cares?"
" I care dammit", he cried out. It was taking him all his not resolve to kiss her pain away.
"Not married? Is this another one of your sick jokes?"
"Meera is not my legal wife you are. We have an arrangement Bani, one that she understands quite well. I hated parting from you the way we had Bani. But I was filled with so much of grief and heartache. We had just lost our kids and I get to see a picture of you marrying Daksh. How did you think I felt?" He asked.
She shook her head at him and licked her dry lips. "I don't believe one word of this. You are making it all up to appear the hero in Ganja's eyes".
"No I am not. And if I am not a hero, you are certainly no heroine. You are giving up your daughter to strangers."
" Meera is no stranger she is your wife, dammit".
"For God's sake Bani." He put his head in his hands and stared down at his feet. She could hear him breathing. "I was a bloody swine to abandon you like that."
She had meant to keep so calm, to remain cool but the suddenness of his admission the words she had wanted to hear for so long, undid her. She began to cry. The tears trickling down her face.
He came swiftly to kneel by her." Don't cry darling, I can't bear to see you so unhappy." His arms were around her and she was sobbing against him, her face pressed to his chest.
After a minute or so she pulled away from him, embarrassed and annoyed at herself.
"She looked up at him. I have been dreading this you know."
"I can see why. All that anger bottled up all these years. God what a bas***d I was. My mind was so full of the lies. I couldn't think of anything else".
"I am sorry Mr. Walia I am sounding boring and irritating"..
His hand tightened on hers. "I don't find you boring at all. In fact, you still drive me crazy, even if you are this sick."
She laughed at this, and then the laughter died when she saw his expression. God in heaven, he really did find her attractive.
Once again it was time to bring Mr. Walia to reality.
"Ganga will be safe with you and Meera, Mr. Walia."
"Ganga will be safe and loved by YOU and ME Bani. She thinks that you are ashamed of her".
"Of course I am not ashamed of her Mr. Walia. I am doing what is best for he"r.
"And what is that Bani?"
"Mr. Walia I am dy"…………he cut her off again
"I was a fool to let you go sweetheart. A damned fool. It is only now that I realize what I lost". He bent his head and kissed her.
His eyes gleamed." It is still there isn't it Bani, that old feeling between us? "He took her elbows and drew her closer, so that their bodies touched.
"Please Mr. Walia let me go."
Their eyes met. Bani drew a long breath and released it in a sigh. "We shall always have Ganga Mr Walia."
"I know that's one thing nobody can take away from us Bani. Our love created a beautiful person," Jai smiled his siren smile at her.
"Yes ",she murmurs.
His bronze face glowed with sudden excitement.
"It might have not worked then, but it could be very different now my darling."
Bani's eyes widened. As he came towards her, she took a step back.
"You look so wonderful in this room, in this house Bani. You suit this house perfectly."
She stared at him in silent amazement. Before she could say anymore he captured her mouth and she felt herself drowning.
As he held her close to his heart, he looked up and said a silent thank you. He had won this war and captured his prized possession. For now he had to attend to Bani's treatment and to get to know his darling daughter better. He had to beg Massi's forgiveness and settle the score with Jigyasa.
He would use Debs investigations to systematically destroy the people that wronged him and Bani.
He had a lifetime to get to know his darling daughter.
But the best of all he knew that he will have all eternity to love Bani.
The end.
Edited by lenmed - 17 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
