Hi all... Sorry for disappointing you guys... fell asleep while typing at three in the morning. Went for outing... pretty unplanned one... came only at eight... 😃
Previous parts:
Part 1 - Page 1; Part 2 - Page 3; Part 3 - Page 6; Part 4 - Page 9; Part 5 - Page 12;
Flashback 1: (1.1-1.3) - 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;
Here goes the first part of the next part ---
Part 15A
Rano was getting restless as each second passed. After the time passed seven-thirty, she doubted whether Bani's family would arrive or now. She turned and looked at Ranveer. He agreed to stay with her till Bani's family arrived. But, there is no sign of them arriving.
"Agar woh nahin aayenge toh, main didi ko apne saath leke chali jaoongi…" she told Ranveer all of a sudden.
Ranveer was surprised. "Rano, peak hour hai. Late toh hogi na. Be patient."
"Phir bhi…" Rano thought about Bani's condition. "Mujhe toh bharosa nahin hai…" she said sadly. "Pata hai, maine kabhi didi ko aise nahin dekha… She always used to have smile in her face…" She remembered the moment she saw Bani at the railway station. "Aaj jis halat mein maine unhein dekha… mujhe aisa laga ki she did not recognize me…"
Ranveer sat beside her and let her place her head over his shoulders.
Rano continued. "She always used to cheer me up when I used to go upset… I mean… she was not like that with all… but with me… to me… she was different…" She sighed. "Achanak ek din college aana chod diya. Sirf exams ke liye aa rahi thi… Itni jaldi shadi karne ki kya zaroorat thi?"
Ranveer patiently listened, where as Rano went on speaking about her and Bani. "Jab bhi main apni ghar se depressed aati thi, she used to help me. She would make me speak, then refresh my mood. Woh apna kaam khud karti hai… aur sab ko sikhati bhi hai…" Rano went back to her memories. "Sab ke saath bolti toh nahin hai, lekin jinse bhi bolti hai, bahut achchi bolti thi… Aisi nahin thi woh…" Then suddenly she said, "Pata hai, doctor ne kaha ki woh shayad pregnant hai. Tests karwaa rahe hai… Mujhe kuh samaj men nahin aa raha hai…"
Ranveer got alert when he heard Bani might be pregnant.
Before they both could think further, a nurse came with few men and asked, "Bani naam ke patient ke saath aap hi hai na?"
Rano nodded her head and said, "Haan sister. Kya baat hai? Woh teek hai na?"
The nurse said, "Ye keh rahe the ki yeh log unke gharwale hai. Isliye leke aaya hoon. Aap sambhaal legi na?"
Rano was looking at the persons with sharpened eyes, when Ranveer said, "Ji… Thanks sister."
The nurse left the place.
Rano tried to figure out who they might be. There were three men nearly of same age and a relatively young person. Who were these people? And how were they related to Bani? And where is her husband? Or… one among these people is her husband? Her head spinned…
***
Jai prayed all the way to the hospital for Bani being safe. As soon as the car reached the hospital, he and Pushkar went to the reception to know about Bani's whereabouts.
"Bani… Bani Walia…" he asked the lady at the reception.
She looked at him once and checked the records. Then raised her head and said, "Sorry, Bani Walia naam ke koi patient nahin."
Jai was shocked.
Then the lady said, "Lekin, Bani naam ki ek patient hai. ICU mein." She said looking at the records.
Jai stood there rooted to the spot. 'Bani… Just Bani….'
Aditya and Aparajit joined them meanwhile. Aditya nudged Jai. Pushkar handled the situation. "Kya aap bata sakti hai ki ICU kahaan hai?" He asked politely.
The lady gave the direction. She also sent a nurse with them when the nurse was heading in that direction. The nurse brought them to a lady and a man, who were supposed to be responsible for Bani.
Jai noticed the lady looking at all the four men.
Later the man broke the silence. "Hi, I am Ranveer, Assistant Commissioner of Police." Ranveer introduced himself. "Maine hi call kiya tha… Pushkar Shukla ke mobile pe…" Ranveer paused as if waiting to know who Pushkar was.
Pushkar came forward. "Main Pushkar Shukla hoon. Bani ke brother-in-law."
Rano was wondering 'Then who are the other people?'
Pushkar continued, "Aap Bani ko kaise jaante hai?"
Ranveer said, "Yeh meri honewali patni hai. Rano. Bani ki junior… college mein… isne bani ko railway station mein dekha aur yahaan laayi." Ranveer paused and said, "She is unconscious since then…"
Jai closed his eyes. 'Oh God…!'
Jai gathered some courage and asked, "Doctor ne kya nataya? Kya hua use?"
Ranveer threw a questioning look at him as if asking 'Who are you?'
Jai immediately got the message and opened his mouth to introduce himself. But Aparajit was quicker.
"Sorry… Yeh Jai Walia hai. Bani ka pati." Aparajit introduced Jai. "Main Aparajit Deb, Jai ka dost… Aur yeh, Aditya Jai ke brother-in-law."
Rano got the shock of life when she heard Jai Walia introduced as Bani's husband. 'Why did Bani did marry such an elderly person?' She wondered in her mind.
Ranveer said, "She is very weak. That's the main feedback. She's being injected intravenously."
Jai asked, "Where is she?"
Ranveer showed the direction of ICU. Jai started to walk towards the showed door when he heard Rano saying in a low voice, "Doctor ne kaha ki didi pregnant hai…" Jai stopped at his tracks. Before he could react, he got a tight slap on his cheek. But Jai was too occupied with mixed emotions to react.
Rano wanted to see his reaction – that was the main reason she revealed the news all of a sudden. But she did not expect Jai to be slapped by Aparajit.
Aparajit was already so disappointed with Jai. When he heard Rano saying Bani was pregnant, he became so angry at Jai using Bani so badly. So he did what came to his mind first – and slapped Jai. But he was surprised to see Jai not reacting to his action. He looked at Aditya and Pushkar. They were already shocked at the news, and even more shocked to see Aparajit slapping.
Jai was already in another world before he got slapped. When he heard that Bani was pregnant, he was shocked at first. Then, he got surprised – Bani was pregnant…! His… His Bani was pregnant… His joy knew no bounds. He was going to be father… He was more happy that he and Bani were going to have a baby… He could not wait to see Bani… He would take care of her… He won't repeat the mistake he did. He would always stay beside Bani. He smiled to himself and walked towards ICU. He looked at the sleeping figure lying on the bed. His smile vanished. There she was… lying on the bed wearing a hospital gown… looking tired and exhausted… sleeping… When he was about to open the door, he heard Rano saying, "Didi ko disturb mat kijiye. Doctors ne andar jaane ke liye permission nahin di…" Jai nodded his head and backed off. 'He could not wait to see Bani.'
After half an hour, the doctors came and declared that Bani's pressure and pulse rate had returned back to normal. They informed that she could be shifted to normal ward and can be treated. They told the gathered persons to keep Bani away from stress and tension.
Aditya called home and updated them with the happenings. Jai sat alone in a chair waiting the hospital authorities to shift Bani to normal ward so that he could see Bani. Pushkar went to Walia house to bring dinner for the men in the hospital. Ranveer took Rano with her so that she could refresh and have some food. He strictly refused her wish to stay beside Bani at night and made her understand that she was not needed there. Also he said that he would bring her to meet Bani in case Bani needed her.
After half an hour, Bani was shifted to the normal ward. Jai went and pulled the chair beside the bed and sat on it. He watched Bani's face for a long time. The face was so calm and sweet as she slept. He remembered all her sketches and her words in the diary. He caressed her face when he saw lines on her forehead as if she was thinking something seriously. The lines died and calm spread over her face. He kept his head near her face and slept off seeing her face.
***
Thanks for reading 😳
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