Well... I am back with the flashback... I decided to write the Flashback in parts. Coming is Flashback 1... i will put sub headings in that for convenience... Hope that doesnt create any confusion... 😳 i will post each sub part in the flashback 1 in this page for reading convenience... Hope you dont mind it... 😃
Here comes the first flashback. Tropa... For u... 😉
Previous parts:
Part 1 - Page 1; Part 2 - Page 3; Part 3 - Page 6; Part 4 - Page 9; Part 5 - Page 12;
Flashback 1
1.1 Bani's Early Life
Nishikant Dixit was a kind-hearted and honest person, who wants to lead life peacefully like a normal person. He had suffered a lot during his childhood. He was presently working as a General Manager in a Textile Company in Nagpur when the Textile Market was blooming in those days. He more or less earned to live as upper middle class. His major weakness was he believed in others' words a lot. He had a pretty late marriage. His wife Kiran Dixit is a little opposite of him. Kiran, though an honest and capable housewife, cannot hold her tongue and anger. She is a perfect example of "Anger is the root cause to all miseries" and "Words once spilt cannot be taken back".
Pia Dixit was born after two years of their marriage. They were a perfect family. Pia was the apple of their eyes. Pia, being the first child was more attached to her parents. She never got 'No' as an answer for anything. She always had the attention of both her parents. That doesn't mean she was spoilt. She was made to understand in a proper way of what was limit.
When Pia was one year old, some of his colleagues urged him to start business with his vast experience. Subjecting to their instigation, he started his own company with their help. Kiran was totally against this. It took nearly one year to arrange the site, raw materials, labor, machinery, loan, employees, etc. A few months after one year, the company started running. Earlier days, it took time to get orders. His colleagues expected the company to click well as soon as it entered the market. But, Nishikant knew very well that making profits in any business, but it seemed that his colleagues did not understand his language. Kiran advised and requested Nishikant to get away from business and that business was not his cup of tea. But Nishikant did not pay heed to her words.
After two years of the company into the market, when the company had started to make little profits, the colleagues urged Nishikant to give their shares back. Nishikant made them understand a lot. But they refused to understand. Meanwhile, Kiran was pregnant with Bani. Nishikant in order to keep her tension-free sent her to her native for delivery. As the pressures from his partners increased, he did not have any other choice other than to give their shares. He promised to give their shares but as installments. The partners agreed after a lot of persuasion and knowing about Nishikant.
Bani was born when Nishikant was more or less drowned in debt. It was at that time, when Kiran started to blame him for their present situations. That did not imply that she did not help her husband at that state. She ran the family efficiently with the available money. As the time went, the interests increased and Nishikant did not have enough funds for the production and this eventually led to the stop of the production. The labors were furious. Nishikant patiently dealt with each and everyone. But he started to vent out his frustrations on his family. The relationships started to strain and frustrations and irritations started to creep in. At last the company became bankrupt and the bank took over the company and sold the assets.
One of his well-wishers knowing about his capability and talent appointed him as the Adviser in his company. Later Nishikant started doing consultancy to various other companies for his living and to clear loans and debts.
Bani was born when Nishikant was drowned in debt. Her mother was busy with helping her father in solving his parents that she did note get enough attention of the new-born from her mother. When she was born, the relatives volunteered to look after her. After Kiran returned to her husband's place, Bani was mostly looked after by the neighbors who took pity on Kiran and helped her new-born baby. Nishikant, who was extremely busy, came home only at nights. He did not have enough time for his daughter. Bani started to grow in the neighbourhood as their child.
Even after Bani became four-years old, she failed to get the care and affection a daughter was supposed to get from her parents. Every time, she approached her mother with enthusiasm to show something, she would get a glare from her for disturbing; if she pressed, she would get a tight slap. Bani rarely would see her father. She would try to stay awake to see her father some nights, but her mother would firmly ask her to sleep. If she stayed adamant, her mother would hit her and Bani would go to sleep crying beside her sister, Pia. There were numerous nights, the incident was repeated. Bani started to live in the shadows of her five year elder sister, Pia.
Pia would try her level best to guard her and her sister from her mother's temper by staying away from her. But, how long would she baby-sit her sister; after all she was elder to her. She had her own priorities at that age – studies and friends. As a result, Bani felt more lonelier as she grew. But those conditions did not stop her from topping her school exams. That was the only time she would get compliments from her parents.
As the days went, the tension and frustration grew more in the house. She became a silent observer of the tense conversation of her parents. She gradually got accustomed to it. She never uttered a word in front of them. They mistook her silence as her developing maturity rather than her complexity.
When Nishikant started doing consultancy, he shifted his family from one place to another. Poor Bani, before she adapted to one place, she was taken to the next. At last, when Bani was about to be ten years, Nishikant settled in doing consultancy in and around the state of Uttar Pradesh, he planned to shift his family to some safe place. After a long thought, he decided to shift the family to Aligarh.
And for Bani, the life in Aligarh became the golden days of her life, where she came across the family in true sense.
1.2 A New Member and a New Life
Note: There may be repetition of scenes in this part. Kindly bear with that.
Bani came along with her family to Aligarh when she was about to become ten. When she entered the house, she looked around the pattern of the house. As usual, there were two rooms apart from a small living room, kitchen, bathroom and toilet. And as usual, one of the two bedrooms was going to be used as Pooja room, when meant all the things were going to be arranged in the other room. She went to both the rooms and noticed which had comparatively many shelves. She guessed that was going to be their bedroom. And as usual, she and Pia were going to share the bed. She thought, at least from this house, she should not kick Pia in sleep. She noticed that the things were not set yet. She saw Pia spreading a sheet of newspaper on one of the shelves. She stood there and watched what she was doing. After spreading the paper, she brought her books and things from the cardboard box and started to arrange in that shelf. It seemed Bani lost count of time as she was watching Pia doing the work.
Suddenly, she felt someone nudging her shoulders. It was her mother. "Raaste mein khadi mat raho. Dekho saamaan le aa rahe hai, naa?" she said in hurry.
Bani looked behind her mother and went and stood in one of the corners of the room. Unfortunately, they were bringing the cupboard to that corner. Again she felt a nudge from her mother, "Abhi toh maine kaha ki raaste mein khadi mat raho. Kitni baar kehna padega." Kiran repeated sternly in hurry. "Agar madad nahin kar sakti toh, use rokho bhi mat" She said and started to instruct the workers to keep the cupboard in position. Bani frowned and moved away and stood near the window.
Nishikant, who was just entering the room carrying two boxes said, "Kiran, us bechari ko kyun daant rahi ho? Bachchi hi toh hai." He sided Bani and kept the things down and looked at Bani standing near the window.
Kiran moved her eyes from the cupboard to her husband, then to Bani. She showed Bani frowning to her husband and said, "Dekhiye kaise ghoor rahi hai? Ye bachchi nahin hai ab. Dus saal honewali hai. Kuch kaam-vaam seekhna hai ki nahin. Apni didi ko dekhkar kuch seekhti toh kam ho jaayegi kya?" she glared at Bani.
"Mama, Bani chotti toh hai. Rehne dijiye na. Hamesha aap use kuch na kuch kehte rehte ho." Pia said.
Kiran glared at her husband and daughter and left the place to continue her work.
Nishikant shook his head and left the place to look his work.
Bani just looked at them leaving. Tears had already started to glisten in her eyes. She left the room and went backyard. She noticed a washing stone over there near the wall, where there was a tap too. She went to the tap and opened it. Water was coming, she thought. She looked at the stone for sometime and then sat on it. She heard coming from the other side of the wall. She grew curious. She looked at the door. She decided no one would come to backyard that soon. She tip-toed to the house and closed the backdoor a little tightly and came near the stone. She stood on the stone and supported herself on the wall and looked at the other side.
There was another house at the other side. She heard some ladies' voice coming from their door. She looked at all the sides and climbed on the wall and sat on it. After some time, a lady came on the other house. Bani looked at her. The lady stopped on her steps for a second seeing her. Bani got scared a little. She saw that the lady was carrying a bucket… well, a bucket of clothes. So she was going to wash, Bani thought. Bani settled herself comfortably on the wall. She noticed the lady moving to a stone similar to that she was sitting just before in her backyard. The lady started doing her work. Bani was clearly observing what she was doing.
Krishna would look at her occasionally to see what she was doing; but Bani's eyes would be fixed on her hands and clothes. She would smile to herself and continue with her. From time to time, some one would ask her something from inside her house. When she would answered, she always found Bani's eyes towards the direction of the house. Krishna would smile in her mind.
Suddenly, she heard a voice, "BANI!!!! Kahaan gayi yeh ladki?" from the girl's side.
Krishna raised her head and looked at the girl. She looked at the transition of the girl's expression from curiosity to shock and then to fear. She looked at the frightened girl jumping down carefully and heard her steps towards her house. The frown which appeared in Krishna's face after hearing the voice did not leave her face. After some time, she shook her head and carried on with her work.
***
Bani who ran inside was stopped by Kiran's glare in the midway, "kahaan thi itni der?" she asked keeping her hands on her hips.
Bani kept herself stuck to the wall and swallowed, "Yahin thi… Peeche…"
"Batake toh jaa sakti thi. Ayinda se bina bataye kabhi mat jao. Samjhi? Nayi jagah hai. Kahin kho jaaonge toh?"
"Ji…" Bani said softly.
Kiran left the place. Pia came near her and touched her shoulders. "Batakar jaa sakti thi naa?" She asked softly.
Bani looked at her, "Kahaan gayi. Bas peeche hi toh khadi thi. Waise bhi main yahaan pe sabko disturb hi toh kar rahi thi." She said and walked towards the bedroom.
Pia watched her going into the room. She shook her head and went to the kitchen to help her mother to unpack the things. After sometime, she went into the bedroom. She saw Bani arranging the things in the lower shelf. She was trying her level best to arrange it neatly. She was stuffing nearly all her things into the shelf – from her storybooks to school books, from her drawing book to extra notebooks, from her pencil box to color box. But there were more place left. Pia thought, she would use that place for keeping her present year books and notebooks.
The whole day went in unpacking and arranging the things. Bani stayed away from her mother as far as possible. She did not want to face unnecessary scolding.
At dinner, Nishikant was discussing with Kiran and Pia regarding their school. He informed them that he would be taking them both to the nearby school the next day for admission.
Due to tiredness, they all went to early bed.
***
The next day, Bani got ready soon in order avoid her mother's wrath. She went before time for plaiting her hair. After breakfast, they both left with their father, where as Kiran stayed at home.
Pia was immediately given the admission after little persuasion and request from Nishikant as she was going to appear for the board exams the following year. Pia was asked to join the classes the next day onwards. Bani's admission came pending. Though the administration was impressed with her earlier records, they said that they would inform them after two days.
They returned home a little after lunch time.
They planned to go to shopping that evening to purchase uniform for Pia. Bani refused to come and that she was tired and sleepy. Nishikant thought it was due to the admission that she was little upset. So he left her with her own decision. But he warned her to be safe at home and that to lock the door properly until they returned. They left at four in the evening.
After they went, Bani went to the shelf and took her drawing book to color. After a little thought, she placed it back and took an extra notebook. She took her pencil from the box and sharpened it. She wrote her name in the front page very neatly and legibly. Taking the notebook and her pencil box, she went backyard and sat on the steps. She placed the notebook in her lap and drew the first curve. The curve did not come out well. So she erased it and tried to draw it better. Though her drawing never came that clear, it was legible as a drawing of a ten-year old kid. She started going deep into the drawing after sometime. In fact, this was the first time, she was drawing, normally, she does coloring to the drawing in her book.
She had half completed her drawing when she heard voices on the other side of the wall. She placed the notebook on the steps and ran to climb on the washing stone. She saw the same lady whom she saw washing the clothes the day before. The lady had come to fetch the dried clothes. She looked at Bani at smiled at her. Bani hesitantly smiled and watched the lady fetching the clothes.
Just when she was about to start speaking to the lady, she heard the door bell ring in her house. She jumped down and ran to the house collecting her things on the way.
Krishna looked at the girl running again. She smiled to herself.
The whole evening, Bani spent on her first drawing.
***
The next day, after Pia went to school and when her mother was busy with arranging the kitchen and cooking, Bani went and sat in the backyard expecting the voice to come from the other side.
When the voice came, she as usual climbed on the wall and waited for the aunty. She as usual watched what she was doing. Krishna smiled at her from time to time. After finishing the work, she waved a 'bye' towards Bani and went inside. Bani smiled and waved her back.
After that incident, she spent her whole day in the drawing. She was so deeply engrossed in the drawing that she did not pay attention to what Pia was telling her about her day in the school. And she finished her first drawing.
That evening during dinner, Nishikant was worried that they did not get the reply from the school yet. Pia consoled him saying that Bani is so intelligent that they cannot ignore her.
***
Next day, Bani waited as usual for the aunty. But, this time, an improvement. She was sitting ready on the wall for that aunty. That day, when Krishna came, she made it a point to speak with that cute and curious girl. So, when she arrived, she came near the wall and started the conversation.
"Tumhara naam kya hai, beta?" Krishna asked affectionately.
Bani was surprised that the aunty was speaking and she smiled widely as she said her name, "Bani."
Krishna pinched her cheek and said, "Bada pyaara naam hai. Yahaan kya kar rahi ho?" she asked pointing at the wall.
She grinned innocently and said, "Aunty, Mujhe bahut achcha lagta hai!"
Krishna asked, "Kya achcha lagta hai?"
She giggled as she said, "Aise chadkar baitna!" she said carelessly.
Krishna asked, "Tumhari ma ko pata hai?"
She shook her head to negative. "Meri ma ko pasand nahin."
"Toh phir aise nahi baitthe. Agar gir jaati toh?" Krishna said affectionately.
"Nahin giroongi. Aunty, main thodi na khadi hoon. Main toh dhyaan se baiti hoon. Kaise giroongi?" Krishna looked at the girl unbelievingly. "Ab dekhiye naa, meri ma mujhe bahar hi nahin bej rahi hai. Kehti hai, is naye shehar mein kho jaoongi. Isliye yahaan baitkar apna time pass kar rahi thi" she said in a naughty tone.
"School nahin jaati, kya?" Krishna asked as she made preparations to wash the clothes.
"Ab nahin. Ab tak admission nahin liya. Papa try kar rahe hai. Ek hafta toh lagega." She said after calculating.
When Krishna started washing the clothes, Bani watched the way she was washing sitting on the wall. After sometime, she asked, "Aunty, aapka naam kya hai?"
Krishna smiled at her, "Krishna"
"Achcha naam hai." She complimented.
"Pata hai, mere ghar mein, main, meri maa, mere papa, aur meri didi rehte hai. Sab hamesha kuch na kuch kaam mein busy rehte hai." She sulked.
"Achcha???" Krishna said while listening and washing.
"Kya main aapki madad karoon?" she offered.
Krishna stood erect and frowned at her.
"Aap gussa mat ho. Maine socha ki roz aap akele hi yeh kaam karte hai… toh… toh maine socha ki thodi madad karoon. Agar aapko nahin chahiye toh, bata dijiye. Gussa mat hona." She said little seriously and at once took her guard.
Krishna smiled at her affectionately, "Aisi baat nahin hai. Tum chotte ho na. Jab badi hogi, tab yeh sab kaam karvaoongi. Teek hai?" she consoled her.
"Mere ghar mein bhi yehi kehte hai." She sulked again.
"Kya kehte hai?"
"Yehi ki main chotti hoon…." She pouted remembering her father's and Pia's words.
Krishna laughed a little and said, "Tum chotti hi toh ho."
Bani protested remembering what her mother said, "Nahin. Main dus saal ki honewali hoon. Main badi hoon."
Krishna didn't want to drag the topic, "Achcha baba, tum badi ho. Khush."
"Haan." Bani said with a bright smile.
Then as usual, she watched Krishna doing her work. While leaving, Krishna came to her and asked, "Humare ghar aaoge?"
Bani looked at her and blinked, "Maa nahin jaane degi."
Krishna said, "Poochkar toh dekho." And left inside.
Bani nodded her head emptily, her mind was already cooking a plan.
***
That afternoon, when her mother was having her usual half an hour nap, she climbed the wall again and this time, she jumped the other side carefully.
Then she walked towards the back door of that house and after a brief second knocked it.
1.3 Jai's Family
Uday Walia belonged to Meerut. His family ran a 'dhaaba' for their living. Uday's mother hailed from Punjab. She was very well-versed in cooking and she coordinated all the activities in the 'dhaaba'. Due to family circumstances, Uday could not pursue further studies after high school and joined his family in helping to run the dhaaba. When he reached marital age, the parents started to look for a suitable alliance. They found what they were looking for in Krishna – she was more educated than Uday, yet his parents felt the girl would be apt for their family. And she was.
After marriage, Krishna became very affectionate, loving, caring and responsible daughter-in-law to the family. Krishna too lent her hands in the dhaaba as and when required, helping them in cooking and pointing out ways to expand the business. They started a sweet shop and converted the 'dhaaba' to hotel as per Krishna's ideas. After the death of Krishna's parents, the family insisted on Krishna's younger sister, Shobhana to live with them. When Uday's mother passed away, Krishna took over the responsibilities of the family very beautifully. She was very flexible when dealing with people. She was a perfect homemaker. They proceeded to search proper alliance for Shobhana; but she declined saying they would not marry. Everybody was shocked at her decision; Krishna was disappointed beyond belief; yet Shobhana did not change her decision. Jai was two-year old at that time and Jigyasa, one-year old.
When Jai was 10 years, they opened a new boarding hotel as the crowd of tourists started to increase. Meanwhile, Uday's father passed away. Jai, at times helped his father, mother and his masi in looking after the guests. They were very careful with the people who came to stay at the hotel. They did not want to fall into any precarious and unwanted situations and have regrets about the bookings. Jai's best mode of transport was his cycle. Being brought up lovingly by Krishna and showered with care by Uday, Jai started to understand the limits of any relationship and circumstances. Jai made sure whatever decision he made, was of to the benefit of his family. So, when he expressed his desire to do Hotel Management course, his parents gave consent to his wish immediately. Though they did not make any big profits in their business, they were happy with what they had.
Jigyasa fell in love with Aditya, who worked in Uday's hotel as an accountant. Aditya hesitated in developing a relationship, thinking it would not be fair as she was his employer's daughter and he owed his boss, Uday a lot. When Krishna found out Jigyasa had feelings for Aditya, she informed her husband and directly dealt by talking with Aditya's widow mother. At first, Aditya's mother did not approve whole-heartedly, but later seeing the whole family's consent, she agreed. They were married when Jigyasa completed eighteen-years of age. Jigyasa gave birth to Anu after one year.
In the meantime, Jai completed his course and joined his father in his hotel business. Jai wanted to buy a motor-cycle for him, but whenever he planned to get, some or other expenses arrived. So Jai decided he would buy when he earns certain profit in the business.
After Anu was born, Aditya and his mother moved in with Uday's family and they lived as joint family. Jigyasa shared a 'khatti-meeti' relation with her mother-in-law but that never meant she was not caring or irresponsible in any way. Her mother-in-law was a totally different personality, very jovial, but caring.
After more than 5 years, a new family occupied the house behind their house. Krishna came across the little girl the evening they moved into the house. She was little taken aback by the girl's constant observation of her. She waited for the girl to start the conversation. But she did not. Whenever she would hear a lady's voice (Krishna guessed it must be her mother.) from inside the house, she would jump and run inside. When Krishna realized that there was no way, the girl was going to start the conversation; Krishna made an effort to talk to her. The girl immediately responded as if she had been waiting for Krishna to talk to her.
From the girl's voice, talks, her mannerism and her response, Krishna felt sorry for the girl for some unknown reason. She invited the girl to visit her and went back into her house. In the afternoon, Krishna heard a knock at the back door, which was very odd. Please point out the mistakes and bloopers... Tell me if any scenes are occuring or blocking the continuity... It will be useful to correct... Thanks for reading 😳
Edited by abhilashasharma - 17 years ago
