I try to make it continuous... but i think there will be umpteen flashbacks... so kindly bear with me... š
Credits: All the sketches I mention is based on some or painting made by my classmate(s), then the avtaar and funny posts and poems I have seen/read... I have literally no relation with drawing... Me and drawing/sketches are like east and west... š š
Part 1 - Page 1; Part 2 - Page 3; Part 3 - Page 6; Part 4 - Page 9; Part 5 - Page 12;
Flashback 1: (1.1-1.3) - Page 16; 1.4 - Page 23; 1.5 - Page 26; 1.6 - Page 30; 1.7 - Page 33; 1.8 - Page 35; 1.9 - Page 38; 1.10 - Page 41; 1.11 - Page 45;
Part 6 - Page 48; Part 7 - Page 53; Part 8 - Page 58;
Flashback 2 - Page 62;
Part 9 - Page 65; Part 10 - Page 68;
Flashback 3 A - Page 73; 3B - Page 76; 3C - Page 79; 3D - Page 81; 3E - Page 86; 3F - Page 89;
Part 11 - Page 94; Part 12 - Page 97;
Flashback 4 - Page 97
Part 13 - Page 103;
Journey into Bani's thoughts: 1 - Page 107; 2 - Page 111; 3 - Page 114; 4 - Page 118
Part 14 - Page 120; Part 15A - Page 125; Part 15B - Page 129; Part 16 - Page 134; Part 17A - Page 138; Part 17B - Page 140; Part 17C - Page 144; Part 18A - Page 147;
Part 1
Bani was sitting in the corner of balcony of their room on a mat, as usual with a drawing book in her lap, pencil in her right hand, and left hand balancing the drawing book in the lap and clutching an eraser, eyes very keenly concentrated on the sketch she was making and ears sharpened to hear and respond if anybody called her. After so many days and may be months, she was making a sketch with a feel and touch of happiness. Ever since she started to sketch this in the morning, she was constantly disturbed. Seems everybody was busy with their afternoon nap. She finished the final touches of the sketch and brought it in front of her face and had a look on it. A smile appeared on the corner of her lips. The sketch portrayed hind view of two lovers arms in arms watching sunset on the beach at dawn. Bani was always interested in Pencil-sketching and she was very good in that. As usual, this too was a pencil sketch. She liked the way the woman had placed her left hand on her lover's waist and placed her head against his shoulders and the way the man held his beloved in his arms his hands placed on her arms, carelessly yet strong. She was satisfied with the outcome. She wrote the date in the bottom right corner outside the outline of the sketch. She then placed it very carefully in the personal folder near her. She neatly clipped it and placed a sheet of transparent sheet over it for protection. She would hate herself if by any chance if the sketch got folded or torn.
She looked at the colored sketch she made in the morning. It was not exactly a sketch, but collage of colors. After so many days, she had touched the colors. She had taken it today only from the suitcase, since her marriage. She had lost interest in coloring ever since her marriage raised a big question mark in her life. After much persuasion by Pushkar, she agreed to continue her sketching from the second month of her marriage and give the design to him for his designing work. But today, she felt to the urge to use colors.
She got and went into the room. She saw the time on the clock. It said 3 P.M. She still had more time. She opened her cup-board and placed the folder in lower shelf. While she was placing, her eyes fell on her diary. She took it out and locked the cupboard. She caressed the cover for sometime. She doesn't write regularly in the diary ā Sometimes every week, sometimes monthly once, sometimes even daily. She writes in her diary only if something happens or she feels something which she is not able to confine in her mind and she badly needs a confidante. Sometimes she writes, when she is happy and sometimes, when she is extremely helpless and unhappy, sometimes when she has a problem, while sometimes when she needs help with solving. Even, the way she writes in her diary tells her mood. She considers her diary as her best friend. Right now, she felt to write something. She opened the cupboard again and took a pen from the drawer below the last shelf. She sat down near the cup-board itself to write in the diary. She turned the pages to reach the next free page and put the date on that page. She penned down the thoughts in that page.
After nearly 10 months of my marriage, I felt my husband's love for me. I am saying so not because he made love to me or slept with me for the first time, last night. (You know very well I don't believe in only physical love. As you know, physical love without any emotions is useless.) But because I felt love and affection bubbling in his words and the way he called my nameā¦ I am happy that I reside somewhere in his mind. Earlier, I was puzzled of why did he married me. In spite of the fact that he was my best childhood friend (Well, you know, I always consider him as my first ever boy-friendā¦ I mean boy as friend), I fail to understand the reason. He could very have refused him, if he wanted it. It was me, who did not have any choice. Now I realize, somewhere behind his 'Yes' lies his love and affection. I thought I lost my friend. But noā¦ He is somewhere alive in him. I still don't know whether I love him or whether my mind has accepted him as my husband and love. But Iā¦. I don't knowā¦ How could I love him? We shared very fine relation. In spite of huge age difference of 15 years, he was my friend. But is he now? I don't know. He doesn't even look at me properly. He doesn't cross me. He avoids me to the core. I still don't understand what went wrong. How did I hurt him?
Last night, is it a dream? I don't know whether to write 'Better be not!' or 'Better it be!' I want my friend back. But how do I talk to him? Will he talk to me today? I don't know. But I will keep my hopes positive today.
She placed her sign at the end of it and closed itā¦
She hoped Jai would acknowledge her if she went to receive him, when he comes back from office.
She remembered the first week of their marriage. She will wait in the living room for him to return back mainly because of the persuasion from Masi. But he would not even turn his head to acknowledge her. He would call Tony and asked to bring his things to the study and leave to the study. Ever since their marriage, he had literally stopped entering their room, which was his room previously. Bani realized this very late. When she realized, she had stopped coming into the room when he was inside. She turned her way in order not to collide him in any of her ways. But today, she will wait for him. She hoped he would call her name affectionately just as he called her name last night.
She looked at the time. There is plenty of time still before he comes back home.
She went down and helped Tony in making tea. She had stopped having tea in the evenings since her marriage. Right now, she didn't feel to have too. She served tea to Masi and Dadi, who were there at present in the home. Then she joined the chatting with Masi and Dadi. After that, she went to kitchen and helped Tony to make dinner.
Tony noticed her enthusiasm, but wondered what was the reason. After the first week of their marriage, she had literally stopped coming to the kitchen. He always noticed, after having lunch (which sometimes, she skips!) she goes back to the room and never come down by herself. She comes down, only id Dadi or Masi calls her. Today, noticing her showing interest in cooking, he felt something special.
When Jai's car entered the gates, Bani ran from the kitchen to living room panting while smiling. Jai entered the house after two minutes. He noticed Bani standing in the living room. When Bani walked towards him, Jai called Tony aloud, "TONY!!!!"
Bani stopped in her tracks. The smile vanished from her face in a nanosecond.
Tony came rushing to Jai and collected his things. Jai left the place. Bani stood there rooted to the spot. Tony looked at her sympathetically. After sometime, he saw her turn and look at Jai. Jai had entered his/their room. Bani sat in the living room alone.
Tony before passing by her, on his way to Study, stopped before her, "Kitchen ka kaam thodi baaki hai." He said as if he was asking a question.
Bani looked at him and smiled sarcastically, "Aaj tak aap hi toh karte aaye hai. Aapko pata hi hoga aage kya karna hai?" she said silently.
"Yes, Ma'am" Tony left the place.
Bani sat there till Jai left their room. When she saw Jai going towards the study, she climbed the stairs and entered the room and settled herself in her usual place ā The Balconyā¦ with her sketch book, pencil and eraserā¦
The sketch in this part is based on Saby dii's avtaar... Sorry dii for using without permission... I know you wont mind it becoz I love you š¤ š
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
