Thank you for your kind encouragement! Part 2 and 3! ENJOY!
Part two:
Stranger you look so different
You just made it happen
Got me thinking 'bout you in my life
(elisa-stranger)
House and co. had sealed the apartment deal and there was no way to get out of it, unless a gruesome court battle or the departure of both tenants. Yet since neither wanted to waste their money or time, the two had reached a mutual deal. They would tough it out together for one year, and after the contract was up, would leave!
"Damn this contract" Jai swore openly to no one in particular, slamming his head on the table and groaning in irritation at his ill luck.
He was stuck living with a crazy woman from hell, a complete stranger in other words! It was impossible to spark a conversation with her, considering he didn't even know her name! She was trouble on his doostep!
His past two weeks had been a wreck, having on day one of their encounter to rush "crazy woman" to the hospital. The emergency doctor on duty had laughed upon hearing their predicament, all the while smiling pityingly at Jai!
Sighing, he pressed at his temples, and reached for his mobile, dialling a number only to find it, seconds later, busy.
Where was she?
*
Bani chewed hungrily on her cheese sandwich, leafing through various files that lay in front of her, yet found it difficult to concentrate remembering the past two weeks. Things weren't so good between her and her flat sharing stranger. The two had hardly exchanged a single word since their first encounter, the memory alone leaving Bani blushing beetroot. She felt such a fool for acting so idiotic.
He probably hated her.
Sighing Bani went back to the papers before her. She loved her job, yet at this moment she was wishing the new "Operation Smile" headquarters were not being rebuilt, she needed to get out of the house.
Operation smile was a global organization that worked in helping and correcting the facial deformities of children. It ran on volunteer medical staff that made trips around the world, to the poorer regions. They tried to bring a smile to the kids faces, and Bani's job was the finance of the whole thing. She wanted to see these children smile more than anything. Yet there was no way they were going to make it through 150 children this year, not with their current budget.
Oh god, she needed a miracle.
Looking back at the list of donators, and spied a familiar name in her local area.
Smiling contently, she picked up the phone and dialled Jai Walia's number.
Part 3:
You saved my heart
You don't even know me
You saved my dream
You heard me scream
Ooh.. my lost soul
was saved by a stranger
who saved my life
you save my life
(Life of a stranger-Canadian Bush Party)
"Hello, may I please speak to a Mr.Walia? This is Bani Dixit calling from Operation smile!" Bani purred sweetly into the receiver, hoping to be speaking to his secretary but surprised seconds later to hear his familiar husky voice.
"This is he. How may I help operation smile this time?"
"Well sir, you see…" she started unsure "we are running short of…of…do.." but before she could continue he interrupted
"Money?" he replied defiantly
"Wh..what…but…but???" she spluttered
She heard him laugh. It was a deep sexy rumble, one that sent spasms of joy tingling through her spine. Oh how she loved his voice.
"Miss.Dixit, I think you may be suffering from amnesia. We have spoken countless times, and usually when we do it's concerning money. So please do tell, how much does this charming association need? I am, as usual, more than willing to help!"
"Ehh…about 900 dollars" she mumbled embarrassed with herself
"Fine" he replied, before boldly adding "but only if you consider dining with me tonight."
His words hit her ears, like a wave of hot lava, and she tensed. Bani knew that this was going to happen; it was bound to. The two had been nursing a year long friendship over the telephone.
Jai and Bani had never seen nor met one another, yet due to the circumstances of her job she had been forced to speak to him. She still remembered their first conversation; it hadn't gone smoothly as after spending a good 30 minutes trying to convince the egocentric male that the foundation was not a hoax, he had replied rudely and hung up, only to call back 2 days later and apologize.
He had blamed his inappropriate behaviour due to a bad day, and had boldly continued to recount it to her. Bani had found herself helpless and drawn to his troublesome situation and had ended up easing his tension by simple nonsense banter. It was from then that their friendship had blossomed; the two finding themselves dialling the others phone number just to speak of their troubles, knowing that a stranger would not judge!
"Come on Baneee, I want to meet you." He stated truthfully, unsure whether she would believe him. "How many times have we spoken on the phone for endless hours, talking about god knows what?!" she heard him pause, before adding "Please let me see you. I need you tonight. I need a friend to speak to, a friend who will not judge me based on my wealth but as a human being!"
"Mr.Walia…I"." she murmured hesitating
"Please don't say no. I need you." his tone defiant yet subtly pleading
Bani sighed helplessly "Fine."
Why did he always get to her?
"Tonight at 8…Rajputs ok?"
"Yes."
"Oh and Bani? Drop the formality. It's Jai and only Jai"
She heard the phone click with a resounding echo, and he hung up.
Was it possible to be in love with a person whom she had never met...merely spoken to? Edited by sweetu144 - 17 years ago
Anupamaa
