A big thank you to all of the readers who posted comments. Lets see how you like this update. Suimi thoda intezaar karna pada lekin I don't want to do chota updates. Enjoy! Oh by the way thanks for the stars, got nowhere to put them now, better leave them up in the sky for the time being.
Second Chance Pt 2 Beautiful days seem long ago.
I can't seem to breathe. Feels like it
hasn't been that long since you walked away from me.
Now I can try to act real strong,
but you and I both know that I still think of you that
way you should know.
(That) Beautiful lights, the star filled nights; they dont' mean a thing.
Cause you are my star so it don't seem right
without you here with me.
Now I can try to act real strong ,but you and
I both know it's hard for me to say you were my soul.
(You are on my brain – Justin Timberlake)
She fumed at his cockiness, the nerve of him to smooch her. For two years she had not let a man near her and he just walks into her home and behaves as if it's his right to do and say as he pleased. Her fingers itched to pick up the pot and throw at his retreating back. He told her he was leaving and next Saturday he would pick up the boys in the morning as he had promised them they could help him finish his job in the garden. Not waiting for her reply he had breezed past her, tugging her hair out of the clip.
Two hours later, Dhir and Neel fast alseep, she lay curled up on the sofa, trying to forget his kiss, his touch and his scent. Betrayal screamed her heart at him, she had let Raj's down. Her Raj who had always been a perfect gentleman..her Raj who had wanted the same things as her. Marriage, children and quiet family life. And they had all that until destiny decided to play her part and turn her world upside down.
Bani crept into her bed much later than usual, still restless. When sleep evenutally came her dreams fluctuated between Raj and Jai Walia. She was woken up by Neel snuggling in beside her in the morning. Wrappin his chubby arms around her, Neel plastered a kiss as he said, "Good morning mom."
Bani wrapped her arms around him, "What are you doing, up this early?" She missed the boys in her bed sometimes, for a year after Raj's death, the boys used to sleep with her seeking comfort and assurance from her. And then slowly they had started to sleep in their own bed. But Neel would still occasionaly sneak in at night.
Neel giggled, "It's almost 8 mom." Bani turned her head and looked at her clock, it's was eight and she had overslept. She snuggled up to Neel, a few extra minutes in bed would not hurt.
Bani's week went by fast. Work, home and taking boys to their activities kept her pretty busy and she was glad as she did not have time to delve on the Jai Walia and his kiss. But Friday night Jai called to remind her he was picking the boys of up next day and told her she was free to join them if she wanted. Bani politely declined, telling him she had chores around the house to take care of. Dhir and Neel were up early on Saturday waiting impatiently for Jai. Bani made sure they dressed in some of their old clothes which if they got dirty it wouldn't matter. She felt a little upset, she wouldn't get to spend time with the boys as usual. Sometimes on Saturday she would plan little surprises for them, a trip to a planetrium, library or to the beach. She enjoyed getting away from the home and give them her undivided attention.
On dot Jai rang the doorbell. Dhir rushed to the door and opened it. Jai stood, his lean muscled body clad in faded jeans and t-shirt, sunglasses dangled from his hand. His black hair slightly mussed from the breeze blowing through the open window of his jeep. He swept an appreciative eyes over Bani, dressed as she usually did on Saturday, in sleeveless cotton salwaar ready to tackle the cleaning and dusting of her home. He wondered if the woman realized how hot she looked with her curves outlined by the fitted salwaar and the creamy skin of her neck and arms exposed to his eyes. His hands itched to undo her hair clip so that those curls would tumble over her pretty face. Why the hell did she have to scrunch that sexy hair at the back. He gave her hot look making her cheeks flame pink and leaned towards her sniffing, "You smell different, lavendar I think...hmmm nice. And I know you find me an interesting specie but do you mind not ogling at me openly."
Bani stepped back and glared at him, "Stop poking your nose in my face. And I wasn't ogling at you. You are the one that can't keep your eyes roving over me." Jai stepped closer to her, "You know you make my blood run wild. If the boys were not here, I'd show you how exactly you make me feel."
Her eyes blazed into his dark ones and her nerves jangled wanting nothing more than to jam her fists into his chest. God he had some nerves to turn her perfect small world upside down. She cursed herself for letting the boys go with him. She should have stomped on his ego last week when he told her he was going to pick the boys up today. Jai winked at Dhir and Neel, "Ready for doing a bit of man work guys?"
The boys nodded their head happily and both of hugged Bani and said, "Bye mom, will be good." Jai got hold of their hands and smirked at Bani, "Don't fret, I will take good care of them and return them back by six. If you get lonely you know where to find us." Bani watched them until they disappeared around the corner of the hallway. She closed the door and released a slow breath as she contemplated on whether to tackle the bedrooms or the kitchen first. Over the next few hours, she scrubbed, washed and polished the surfaces of the rooms, kitchen and bathroom until they gleamed. The laundry washed, dried, folded and put neatly away.
She only stopped when Rano dropped in for a visit. The two sisters sat down with mugs of hot tea to catch up and gossip. "Where are the boys?" Rano asked. Bani gave her annoying look, "Don't tell me you don't know. They are at your in-laws."
"But I spoke to Ranveer couple of hours ago and he never said anything."
"Ranveer's mama, Jai Walia took them over to his house. Apparently last week, when he had them mucking about in the garden, he promised they could help him with planting or whatever he is wants to do in the garden."
Rano laughed, "Oh that's why Ranveer said he was joining the boys for a real work. It's Jai mama's hobby, landscaping garden. Ranveer if mama ever gets to do all that he wants, there'll be no space to walk in the garden."
"Is he always so arrogant and high handed?" Bani asked.
"No. Why do you think so? I think he is actually sexy, I mean how many guys his age look him. When I first saw him I was surprised he was still single. I mean he must have loads of women crazy for him. Actually he is quite a family man. I mean Ranveer says he's been like a second dad to him and his siblings. And he will do anything for his sister. He was engaged at one time but he broke of them engagement quite close to the wedding date. No one knows why he broke of the engagement, especially since he and the girl had been childhood friends."
Bani drew her brows together, "I am not going to change my mind about him. He gets under my skin, literally, I feel my nerves run into tight coil when I see him. I can't wait for your wedding to be over, than I won't have to see him ever again."
Rano studied her sister, her sister who was always so calm and confident. Yes, Raj's death had been a set back, but after initial breakdown, she had pulled through and slowly had put her life back together. Even Ranveer loved Bani for her strength and practicality...as he said, she's got her feet firmly planted on the earth, no liivng in the land of dreams. And Bani was still attractive, Rano was sure guys probably tried to show interest in her but knowing Bani she probably made sure they knew she was not available for anything, not even casual friendship. Wished her sister would let her wall down a bit and give life a second chance, give someone to come into her life again...she was too young to go drift through life single.
"Di, don't you find yourself liking a guy? Don't you want to have even someone as a friend? You are shouldn't cocoon yourself up in yourself and the boys."
Bani gave her a sharp look, "Rano do you think a guy just wants to be friends with you. I can tell they want more than friendship by just the way they look at you. You might think I am too protective of the boys and me, but they are all I have and I don't want to do anything to make them unhappy."
Hugging Bani, Rano said, "I know you will never do naything to hurt the boys but you should give people a chance to prove they can be a good friend and as for Mr Walia you will see him even after I am married since he is part of Ranveer's family."
Bani set about making evening dinner after Rano left. By the time she finished, spicy aroma had filled her home. All she had to do was wait for the Dhir and Neel to come home and they can sit down to the meal.
Bani glanced at the clock, it was half past six. They were late and there had been no call and she didn't know whether she should call. May be by seven if they hadn't come she could call. When the door bell rang ten minutes later, she rushed and opened it. Her eyes lit up in surprise, the two of them looked clean with not a dirt speck on their skin. In their hands, each was holding a red earthenware pot with a small plant. Dhir was the first one to shove the pot in her hand, "Look mom we planted some flowers for you. Uncle Jai said we could bring this home for you...its a lily. And Neel planted some daisies, yellow ones." Bani took both pots from them and let her eyes wander to Jai's amused ones. "Thanks."
Jai bowed, "No thanks to you. We had a great time, didn't we boys. Hope you don't mind but I took them swimming in the pool. We you want I can teach them to swim, Neel is already paddling like a tadpole."
Neel pulled at Bani's hand, "Yeah mom, I want to go swimming again. It was fun."
Bani tousled his head, "Will see. Now run along and change your clothes." The boys ran off to their bedroom and Bani stood waiting for Jai to go. After a few seconds of silence, she dared to say, "Are you leaving?"
Jai folded his arms and leaned against doorframe and gave her devilish smile, "Well I was hoping you would invite me in? Do you want me to go away?" She gave a deep breath, "Come on in." Closing the door she asked, "We are going to have dinner, would you like to join us?"
'Dinner with you, I can't refuse can I? I might never get an offer again." Jai laughed as he followed her. He could tell she wasn't pleased...his evening might be an enjoyable one instead of the one he had contemplated earlier as he drove the boys home...going home to his study and maybe eating dinner alone if he felt like eating.
Bani took out an extra plate and set it on the table. Dhir and Neel took their seats and Bani waited for Jai to sit down before serving the food. The boys ate and told Bani all about their day with Jai. All Bani heard was Uncle Jai this...Uncle Jai that...the rest of the words did not register. They definitely had enjoyed themselves, which was obvious from the big grins on their faces and felt cheated...if they had been with her, they would have done something fun. She shifted her eyes from the Dhir to Jai and found him watching her with an unfathomable gaze. He flashed her a crooked smile before speaking, "You usually this quiet or is it my company that has made you dumb?" Gold specks flickered in his eyes as a look of indignation crossed her face. "Just because I sit and listen to them and not say much doesn't equate to being dumb. May be l like to just sit and listen to their voices. They are all I have and sometimes all I want is for them to be close to me, to see them, to hear them speak to know everything is ok, my life is still on track." The sadness in her voice as she finished did not go unnoticed by him.
Suddenly Jai realized he may be an unwelcome intruder in their life. As a single working mother, she looked forward to weekend, spending time with her children. Jai sat back and smiled apologetically, "I am sorry if I spoiled any plans you may have had. But I did enjoy myself with them. They are good kids."
Bani sat tensed, she watched him silently for several seconds and then letting her breath out slowly, "My life revolves around them at the moment. I didn't mean to make you feel guilty. I guess I was jealous they spent the day with you and didn't seem to miss me." There it was, she had blurted out what had been bugging her all day.
"Since we are confessing, I might as well say it. I envy you...envy your two kids. They love you so much. Believe me they might not say but I heard them talk plenty about you today. It just made me realize what I have missed out on."
Bani did not know what to say as she remembered Rano telling her at one time he had thought about marriage. If he had been married may be he would had couple of kids of his own...known what it was like to be a parent...a father would have loved them like she loved her boys. They both looked at each other and then burst out laughing.
Jai pushed back his chair and said rather loudly, "We just admitted our jealousy to each other...God I am jealous of your kids."
Dhir and Neel watched the two adults, not understanding much of their conversation. "Uncle Jai why did you laugh. I don't understand what mom and you were talking about."
Jai gave a light tap on Dhir's back, "It's difficult to explain. Let's just say it was a grown up talk."
After dinner, Jai helped her clean up. The boys had rushed off to watch TV leaving the two of them alone. They did not say anything much to each other, just an few words here and there. The tenseness had evaporated a long time back and she found the irritation replaced with simple pleasure of having a silent understanding between them.
Jai left soon afterwards. The boys ofcourse wanted to know when he would come to see them again. Jai had darted a quick look at Bani and told them it was up to their mom. At the door Jai held back from wanting to kiss her and instead just said a quiet goodnight and left. Bani closed the door and leaned back against it. The tingle of anticipation that had risen as she had remembered their last parting abated slowly.
Edited by divan - 17 years ago
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