Hi all... Sorry for not updating... Renu ka asar pad raha hai...😆 I am becoming pathetic in managing time...
The part is small, I know... will update soon... 😃
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; Part 15A - Page 125; Part 15B - Page 129; Part 16 - Page 134;
Part 17A
When Jai stopped the car in the portico and got out of the car, he noticed Bani still sitting inside the car and staring at nothing. Jai opened the door and called her. Bani turned to him. He found her eyes welled with tears. Jai stared into her eyes what went wrong.
"Bani…!?" Jai called her and asked her at the same time.
The tears which had welled in her eye cavity started to flow like falls. Jai panicked. "Bani… kya hua?" He bent to her and asked.
Bani started to sob.
"Kya hua Bani?" Jai asked again.
"Hum yahaan kyun aaye hai?" Bani asked as she wiped her tears.
"Kyun?" Jai was stunned.
"Mujhe… mujhe yahaan nahin rehna…. Yahaan mujhe koi… koi bhi pasand nahin karta…" She rubbed her eyes as she wiped her tears.
Jai did not know what to say. "Aise… aise kyun keh rahe ho, Bani…?" Bani just shook her head as 'no'. "Dekho Bani… Bani mujhe dekho…" He made her look at him. "Dekho Bani… Masi hai… Dadi hai… Aditya hai… Jigyasa hai… Dekho sab yahaan pe hai… Tum sabko jaante ho na…" Bani just sobbed without saying anything. "Sab tumhein pasand karte hai… hai na?" He asked her patiently.
"Nahin… mujhe… mujhe yahaan nahin rehna… mujhe Aligarh chod dijiye… please…" She started to plead and beg.
Jai did not know what to do. He could not tolerate Bani begging for something. He felt helpless. He mustered some courage and said, "Maine kaha na… main tumhein le jaaonga… Tumhari tabiyat teek hone do, main tumhein le jaaonga. Maine kaha tha na?"
Bani looked at him. Then said in a soft voice, "Nahin… aap mujhe nahin le jaayenge… mujhe pata hai… aap jhoot bol rahe hai… aap mujhe kyun le jaayenge… Aapko toh main pasand hi nahin hoon… Aap mujhe kyun le jaayenge…" she let out her worst fear.
Jai looked at her patiently. He knew she had asked a valid question. He took a deep breath and said, "Kyunki tum chahti ho… Isliye…"
Bani looked at him for the longest time. Then she said, "Aap sach mein mujhe le jaayenge…?"
"Haan…" He said looking into her eyes.
Bani looked at him as if trying to believe his words. Jai smiled and tried to cheer her. "Chalein?" He asked offering his hand to her. Bani looked at the forwarded hand. She then surprised him by grasping his arms. She in fact grasped his arms tightly and got out of the car. She held on to his arms and tried to stand steadily. Jai gave her time to compose herself. Only when she looked at him did he take his first step towards the house. Bani held his arms tightly as she took her hesitantly. Jai suddenly surprised her by releasing her hands from his hands and hugged her sideways as he used to do before. Bani, though was shocked at his sudden action, later felt warmth pass through her when he hugged her sideways. Jai too felt the warmth spread into him. They both reached the entrance of the house.
Everyone was sitting in the living room waiting for her and Jai to arrive. When they noticed them entering, they walked towards the entrance and welcomed her. Somewhere deep inside Bani…. She did not like the welcome. She snuggled close to Jai as she entered. She half hid behind Jai. Jai noticed her nervousness and felt it too. Hr hugged her tightly and tried to calm her. When Masi and Dadi reached them, Bani completely hid herself behind Jai. Jai had no other choice but to go forward and stand before the two elderly ladies.
"Masi… Dadi…" Jai smiled at them.
"Itne der kyun kara diya tum logon ne?" Dadi asked.
"Bas aise hi der ho gaya." Jai said. He walked in along with Bani trailing behind.
Masi and Dadi smiled at Bani. Bani hid her face behind Jai. Masi and Dadi looked at Jai questioningly. Jai gave a lopsided smile. Then, he turned to Bani. "Bani… peeche kyun chup rahe ho? Dekho na Masi aur Dadi tumse kuch poochna chahte hai…"
Jigyasa smirked. "Bani, masi mushkil sawaal those na pooch rahi hai. Jawaab do."
"Main… main teek hoon…" Bani said faintly without looking at anybody.
Jai did not know what to do to cheer her. He turned to Masi and silently gestured for leave her alone for some time. Masi faintly smiled and nodded.
"Bani, kamre mein chalein?" Jai asked Bani. Bani looked at him. He continued. "Thoda aaraam kar lo…"
Bani nodded. Jai smiled and guided her to climb the step towards their room.
Everyone noticed their retreating back.
"Ek jawaab deti toh kya kum ho jaata?" Jigyasa fumed in anger.
"Jigyasa, is baat par gussa kyun kar rahi ho? Chod do… Shukr hai ki wapas mil gayi… Warna…" Aditya was stopped in the middle.
"Toh kya hota… Jai bhaiya khush toh rehte na…" Jigyasa let out her thoughts.
"Shayad tumne notice nahin ki, Jigyasa. Jai, Bani ke bina khush nahin rahega. Aur ek baat mat bhoolna. Bani pregnant hai." Aditya made her understand.
"Isi baat ke liye jhel rahi hoon." Jigyasa muttered and left to her room.
***
Bani entered the room little hesitantly. She looked around. She found her childhood photograph on the night stand. She frowned at it. It was not missed by Jai. He went to her and made her sit on the bed. She looked at the picture and then him again and again.
Jai smiled at her, "Kya hua?"
Bani swallowed and nodded her head as 'No'.
Jai sat beside her and placed his arms around her brought her close to him. Bani lost balance at his sudden action and her head fell on his chest out of balance. She tried to balance herself without touching him and it hurt him. He realized, to much level, her self-esteem had fallen. He hugged her by his side and he dragged her near him. She had no choice but to place her head on his chest. He in stead hugged her even more tightly.
With his other hand, he touched her face. "Ayinda se aise chodke mat jaana. Mujhse saha nahi jaata. Mujhe bas tumhare paas rehna. Aur kuch nahin." He said in his mind as he brought her face closer to his chest.
Bani went stiff as he hugged more, but he did not loosen his grip on her.
"Mujhe sona hai…" she said abruptly.
Jai looked at her. "Thoda khake so jao. Tumne poora pet nahin khaya na… Khake so jao." He said as if he was speaking with a child.
Bani tried to feel whether she was hungry or not… Yes… she was little hungry… She nodded her head to Jai. Jai asked Tony to bring breakfast for Bani. Tony brought breakfast exactly 10 minutes later.
Jai made her finish the whole breakfast that Tony brought and made her take her medicines.
Bani had a good sleep with Jai patting her head till she went to deep sleep.
That evening, she was made to have dinner along with everyone. She looked at everybody's faces as she sat at the dining table. She barely spoke since she came back. Everyone around the table was trying to engage her in one or other conversation, but she responded to them in monosyllables.
Jai stayed with her the whole day. He barely gave her time to think unwantedly. But that did not stop her from asking when she would go to Aligarh… Jai tried his level best not to let her go to her thoughts. He tried to make her understand through his company that she was not alone. But alas! It's not a one day job…!
***
Thanks for reading 😳
Anupamaa
Udne Ki Aasha
