Thanks all: the reason I have updated this fast was i had this already prepared and was a bit hesitant to post it. just for your great comments. here is the surprise. the next update will be in a day or 2. enjoy, and as usual any comments/ criticsm will be welcome.
Next part - more surprises for JW. 😉
Mt Abu: the same day.
Bani stood at the train station nervous as hell. Accompanying her was Ganga. Veer and Massi. It was amazing how Veer had taken to Bani over the years. The love that he craved from his mum, was replaced by his massi Bani. He was 18. he felt bad for his Bani massi, and what she had gone through by the hands of his own mother. Instinct told him that his Bani massi had suffered a lot and promised to be her strength and support. Surprisingly discovering that it was exactly what Bani wanted too. She never once brought up the sordid past, neither did she treat him differently. Whatever was good for Ganga was good for him too.
The young couple in the train, looked at the beautiful scenery rushing past them. Their hearts where full of apprehension. For the millionth time they asked each other if this was real. The young lady however was adamant that this was the right thing to do. After all she had not spent the good past 5 years honing in on her journalistic experience to let this go. It was far too important, and it was time that they found some foundation and meaning to their lives. She scowled at the man next to her and held his hand firmly.
We are doing this, she stated flatly. Except it OK, she warned.
The train took an eternity to finally come to a complete stop. Bani and Massi held on tightly to each other. What if all this was one terrible mistake she wondered. I will be shattered again.
When the couple alighted from the train, the smoke and steam from the train blocked their vision completely. The hustle and pushing around them fazed them. London was so different and organised. Here everything was so chaotic and the weather was so hot. When the steam and smoke finally cleared, they spotted her.
The girls eyes took in the woman and her heart soared. She was so gorgeous. Her nervous smile enigmatic. Whereas the young man could only look on in total wonder. Here she was finally. The woman that had invaded his dreams for the last 12 years.
The shock of seeing them made Bani weak at her knees. She could hear Massi stifled sobs and fought hard to stop her tears too. She looked first at the young man and her heart tore. He looked so much like the man that she had loved all her life. The same hair the same height, but her soft eyes. Caring eyes. The young lady on the other hand looked feisty and in command. She too had the height of her father, the quite confidence and command he demanded but it was her smile that gave it away. Her face broke into the deepest dimples ever. Bani's dimples.
Krishna and Arthava approached their mother with caution, but when she opened her arms to them, they had run into her with such force that she was nearly knocked down. Massi, Ganga and Veer stood aside looking at the scene unfolding before them. Massi never thought that she would live to see this day ever, but here it was. Her Bani with her complete family. For a fleeting second she wished Jai was here to complete this union, but it was a subject that she would never bring up again. Bani had made that completely clear to them all.
Krishna spotted them first and she nudged Arthava. She recognised Veer the moment she saw him. He still had that unruly hair that never settled down. She remembered how she would gel his hair when she played hair dresser to him. He was so handsome. He had the dark chocolate brown eyes of their father, but undoubtedly the extremely good looks from his mom Pia. She was not shocked to see him with her mom. after all he had saved her little sisters life. Her investigations had revealed everything to her. Every sordid, unhappy moment of her mom's and dad's life. She smiled and Veer knew that he was accepted. Atharva too looked at Veer. He wanted to be angry with him. He was after all his father's mistake. But what fault was his. He was a product of a very unfortunate liaison. How could he hate his childhood friend. The brothers stood. Weighing up each other. When they embraced it was as though they had found their better halves.
Atharva spotted the little girl peeking at them curiously. Hiding behind Massi, she ducked and dived when she saw him look at her. He smiled.
Ganga he called out.
Her small face peeped again, moving aside massi revealed the little lady to Arthava and Krishna. They gasped. She looked the image of their mom. She was petite, calm and had the friendliest features ever. Her eyes crinkled as she smiled, and like Krishna she too had the most endearing dimples. When Krishna and Arthava approached, she went shyly to them and made a small namaste.
Needless to say, she had won their hearts completely.
Massi did not want to stop hugging and kissing her grandchildren. They were so grown up. Like Veer they too were almost 18.
Bani stood back looking at her suddenly large family, and smiled. The pain and suffering that she endured was now insignificant. She had got her just rewards. She had gotten her life back.
It was time for her to move on too.
😉
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