sorry for the long wait. got caught up with school. don't have time to reply to comments since i need to study. exams are coming up.😭 but i hope u all enjoy this part. please ignore mistakes because i didn't proof read nor do i have any idea what i wrote.😆
Chapter 29
Suddenly the lights become dim and all the guests look around, startled with the change in lights. Only a spotlight is shown in the center of the dance floor. Lakshmi appears on the stage and announces with a delightful smile on her lips to take off their masks and check inside of it for a number. "You will each find a number on your masks.... only one other person shares this number of yours...I will reveal the winning number and then it will be up to you to find your partner.... The couple will then share a dance together--- and even if you don't want to dance, I swear I will make you", she says with a forced controlling tone, which earns her plenty of light laughter from her guests. She smiles radiantly and then reaches into a small bucket containing folded pieces of paper. She withdraws a small paper and says into the microphone, "Okay...here it goes.....the number is", she says with suspense as she slowly opens up the folded paper. "The number is.....36!". Everyone removes their masks to check their numbers excitedly.
Bani watches, alone, at the scene. She smiles approvingly. What a lovely little game Lakshmi has come up with.....she thinks to herself absently. She wraps her arms together against her chest and continues to look at the game unfold in front of her eyes.
A couple of minutes go by with Lakshmi waiting at the stage eagerly for the winning couple, but then becomes slightly worried. "Doesn't anybody have number 36?", she asks. She watches as some of the guests shake their heads in a negative.....
*********************************
Tarun laughs at all of this. "What a stuuuupid little game...", he says. Jai nods his head in agreement. "For the first time in my life I actually agree with you, my friend", Jai says in a nonchalant tone. Tarun turns to look at Jai and smile, but his attention is caught in what is in Jai's hands.
Tarun: Hey, Jai....you gots one of those damned masks....
Jai also looks down in his hands, slightly taken aback. He had forgotten about it and wasn't aware that he was still holding onto it...
Jai: Oh.... I do, don't I? ....Well it's not even mine, I just picked it up from----
Tarun takes it from out of Jai's hands and peers down at the number written inside. "Wells what do you know! You've gots the winning number, yaar!", Tarun says in an amused voice.
Jai: (stunned) What? No-no I don't....
Tarun: Yessss you do! Looks wright(right) here....thirtyyyyy----siiixxx....(he points to the number in the mask)
Jai: Okay then....
Tarun: Whats you mean okays then? Aren't you goings to tell that you haves it?
Jai: No. (shortly)
Tarun: Oh yes you ares. You're nots goings to make my Luckys looks like a fools on stage in front of everyones.
Jai: (raises an eyebrow, clearly amused) Lucky?
Tarun raises Jai's mask high up in the air and shouts in a booming voice, "Jai's gots it! Jai's gots it!".
Everyone turns to look back at Tarun and Jai at the bar. Jai throws Tarun a murderous look. "I'm going to kill you with my two bare hands, Sablok!", he mutters between his gritted teeth. But Tarun continues to wave the mask in the air in a clearly excited mood.
"Oh Jai! That's wonderful!....anyone else have the number thirty-six?!", Lakshmi questions.
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Bani feels a tap on her shoulder and turns to her side to see a friendly woman standing beside her. She asks kindly, "What's your number?". Bani, shocked, looks down in her hands and realizes that she's been holding a mask all this time. It is a nicely decorated with red roses and glitter. She remembers Lakshmi giving it to at the beginning of the party. Bani had only worn it for a little time to satisfy Lakshmi, but immediately took it off after a few minutes, making an excuse of it being too tight.
Bani looks up and stammers, "I-I don't know...I haven't checked...". The woman smiles, "Arre, phir dheklo...shayad tum ho woh winner...". (trans: Arre then look, perhaps you are the winner.)
Bani: Nahi....main nahi kilne…(trans: No… I don't want to play.)
The woman surprises Bani by taking the mask out of her hands and peering in it's inside.
"Jai's gots it! Jai's gots it!", someone's voice booms. Bani looks up and sees Tarun waving a mask proudly in the air and her husband looking aggravated. Before Bani has any time to react by this, she hears the woman shout on top of her lungs, "She has it too!". The woman raises Bani's hand along with the mask. Bani's heart stops beating in a second and she feels heat surface in her body immediately. She pulls her hand out of the woman's grasp and shakes her head, pleadingly.
Bani: Nahi...please....main-main nahi…(trans: No… please.. Not me….)
"Arre, jao nah, yaar. You must be insane to want to lose such a lovely opportunity to dance with that good-looking hunk", the woman says. Bani looks over once again in Jai's direction and finds him equally surprised as herself, yet strangely satisfied. Her eyes lock with his, which causes her cheek to flush and look away quickly.
"Bani! Oh how great! Jai and Bani are our winning couple for the night!", Lakshmi exclaims with delight into the microphone. "Everyone please give them an around of applause and welcome them onto the dance floor". Bani, completely horrified, tries backing away, but is stopped by the woman who urges her to go on to the dance floor along with the others who clap her on.
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Jai instantly cheers up on seeing Bani's mask being held in the air and the woman next to her announce loudly that Bani also shares his number. His earlier frustration towards Tarun disappears and instead he is filled with strange delight. He makes his way across the crowd of people smoothly and walks towards his panic-stricken wife. Bani's face flushes as he smiles broadly when he comes before her and gently takes her hand in his. Jai leans in closer to her ear and murmurs in a husky deep voice, "May I have this dance?", which tingles her ear and forms goose bumps on her skin. The smell of his cologne intoxicates her and almost causes her to faint. Unknowingly she nods her head shortly and she feels herself being led by him towards the dance floor, where the spotlight shines in the center. Everyone in the hall clap loudly and cheer them on. Lakshmi, excited, rushes to find an appropriate song for them.....
She inhales and holds her breath as they step into the bright light and attention of the party and as her husband turns around facing her, their eyes meeting. His gray stormy eyes penetrate into her own and she feels her knees becoming weak. She watches as his eyes lower, taking her all in, and then smile approvingly at her. Her heart flutters as his hand wraps around her waist, pulling her close into him, his other hand taking hers, and then leading her into a slow rhythmic dance.
-FEMALE-
Hey yea hey, haan aa
-MALE-
Saanson ko saanson mein dhalne do zara
-FEMALE-
Hm hm, mm hm hm, la la la la la la Not able to take her husband's gazing, she shyly lowers her eyes down to his chest….
-MALE-
Saanson ko saanson mein dhalne do zara
Dheemi si dhadkan ko badhne do zara
Lamhon ki guzaarish hai yeh, paas aa jaaye
Hum hum tum, tum hum tum
-FEMALE-
Aankhon mein humko utarne do zara
Baahon mein humko pighalne do zara
Lamhon ki guzaarish hai yeh, paas jaaye
Hum hum tum, tum hum tumTaking her by complete surprise, Jai twirls her and pulls her smoothly back into his arms…..
-MALE-
Saanson ko saanson mein dhalne do zara
Salvatein kahin, karvatein kahin
Phael jaaye kaajal bhi tera
-FEMALE-
Nazron mein ho guzarta hua
Khwaabon ko koi qaafila
-MALE-
Jimson ko roohon ko jalne do zara
Sharm-o-haya ko machalne do zara
-FEMALE-
Haan lamhon ki guzaarish hai yeh, paas aa jaaye
Hum
-MALE-
Hum tum, tum
-FEMALE-
Hum tumShe continues to follow his lead, and slowly her discomfort, that they are the center of attention, fades away…. By now other couples join them on the dance floor and sway along with the romantic song….
-MALE-
Saanson ko saanson mein dhalne do zara
-FEMALE-
Chhoo lo badan magar is tarah
Jaise sureela saaz ho
-MALE-
Andhere chhupe teri zulf mein
Kholo ke raat aazaad hoBani shivers and closes her eyes as Jai's fingers make contact with her cheek, gently pushing aside a piece of her hair that had fallen loose and tucking it behind her ear…..
-FEMALE-
Aanchal ko seene se dhalne do zara
Shabnam ki boondein phisalne do zaraAs she opens her eyes she finds Jai's own boring into hers……
-MALE-
Lamhon ki guzaarish hai yeh, paas aa jaaye
Hum
-FEMALE-
Hum tum, tum
-MALE-
Hum tum
Saanson ko saanson mein dhalne do zara
-FEMALE-
Baahon mein humko pighalne do zara
-MALE-
Lamhon ki guzaarish hai yeh, paas aa jaaye
Hum
-FEMALE-
Hum tum, tum
-MALE-
Hum tumAs they keep their eyes on one another, Bani silently wishes that time could just stay still and that she can stay in his arms like this forever……
-FEMALE-
Hum hum tum, tum
-BOTH-
Hum tum
-FEMALE-
Hum hum
Tum ……………**********************************************************
Jai: Thank you for inviting us, Lakshmi… It was a really great party… and you've organized everything very well…
Jai comments Lakshmi sincerely as he stands before the front door, getting ready to leave, Bani standing obediently by his side….
Lakshmi: (being modest) Oh, it was nothing extraordinary like how you're making it seem….(pleased with his comment)… I'm so glad that you two came though. I enjoyed Bani's company a lot….Really Jai, you have a charming wife….
Bani smiles shyly as she sees Jai casting her a look and a small smile through the corner of her eye.
Bani: Lakshmi Didi, I enjoyed my time with you as well…. (sweetly)
Lakshmi takes Bani's hand and gives it a friendly squeeze.
Lakshmi: Keep in touch, will you?
Bani: Of course.
Jai: Lakshmi, where is Tarun? I don't see him anywhere… (puzzled, wanting to see him off before he leaves)
Lakshmi: Aur kahan hoga woh? Duffer kahin kamre mein sochuka hoga….hamesha yahin kaarta hai, jaab bhi zyaada peeteh hai….(disappointed and angry) (trans: Where else would he be? The idiot has probably fallen asleep in one of the rooms… he always does this when he drinks too much…)
Jai: Which is always…..(chuckling)
Lakshmi smiles a little too, confirming this fact. They hear the wind gusting and the rate of falling rain grow, alerting them.
Jai: Accha, toh phir hum chaalte Lakshmi… raat baut hochuka….Phir kabhie milenge….(trans: Alright, we shall be going Lakshmi…. It's has become late… We will meet some other time…)
Lakshmi: Hain, zaroor….Drive safely….
Lakshmi opens the door and assists them both while bidding them farewells…. Jai and Bani quickly go to their parked car, wanting to get in to protect themselves from getting wet any further….
Immediately Jai starts the car and pulls out of their parked position, then drives to their destination…home. Bani smiles cutely in his direction and speaks softly….grabbing his attention.
Bani: Ji…woh… thank you for bringing me… I had a lot of fun….
Jai: (grinning) I could see that by how much you and Lakshmi were talking… you two barely took breaths between your sentences…(chuckling a little) … Besides, tum bhulrahe ho ke Tarun tumhe bhi invite kiya tha…. (trans: Besides, you are forgetting that Tarun invited you also…)
Bani flushes on this, embarrassed that he had been watching her at the party. She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear and silently sits back in her seat…. They sit in a comfortable silence with light music playing in the car….. Fifteen minutes into the drive, however, a problem arises….
Jai: Sh*t… yeh aab hona tha…(trans: This had to happen now…)
Bani: (confused) Mr. Walia, ghaadi ko kya hua? (trans: Mr. Walia, what has happened to the car?)
Jai: Pata nahi, Bani… pata lagaana…main abhi engine ko check karanga… (trans: I don't know, Bani… I will have to find out… I will check out the engine right now…)
Bani: Paar Mr. Walia, bhaar baut baarish horaya…. (trans: But Mr. Walia, it's raining a lot outside…)
Jai: Maloom hai, Bani… but right now it's important to see what's wrong….
He pushes his door open and gets out from the car, abandoning his coat behind… his black dress shirt and trousers getting wet quickly…Jai rolls his sleeves halfway up his arms after raising the hood of the engine up…..
Bani silently waits for him, patiently….but a few minutes go by and she gets restless by being left alone in the car….she also comes out to see what the problem is…. She sees Jai's back turned towards her and his cell phone pressed against his ear…. Bored, Bani turns her attention else where and hugs herself….she focuses on the rain drops falling down from the dark sky and loses herself in them…. Willingly allowing herself to get wet…. Bani has always had a habit ever since childhood… and that is to play around in the rain… Flashes of her and her sisters dancing in the rain sweep through her mind, bringing a fond smile to her lips…
************************************************************
Jai swears under his breath as he sees that he has no signal… How in the world is he supposed to call for another driver now? He tries moving in various different places, hoping that would help….but to his frustration, his cell's batteries die out….He curses himself for not charging his phone….. Turning around he drops his phone back into his pocket and closes the car's hood…. He walks back over to his side of the car, but as he looks into it through the glass window, he sees his wife gone…. Startled he glances up over the roof, searching around, then locates her not so far away… twirling around in the rain, wearing a beautiful smile on her face…. He is mesmerized by her soaked saree clinging around her like another layer of skin….presenting her curvy body to his eyes….Jai unashamedly watches her silently….he slowly walks toward her, drawn by her innocent beauty….
Bani unknowingly slightly trips over a root on the ground, causing her to lose her balance, however, Jai is fast in gathering her into his arms….wrapping one around her waist…holding her safely against his torso…..Bani slowly opens her eyes and they wander up to meet his own….Her heart races on the sight of him…. How incredibly handsome he looks with his damp hair…drops falling from the tips of his hair…and his dress shirt stuck against his torso, outlining his well built body and muscular arms….. He amusingly lightly smiles at her….
Jai: Yeh tum kya khar rahi ho, Bani? Tum ghaadi mein kyon nahi ho? (trans: What is this that you are doing, Bani? Why are you not in the car?)
Heat fuses into her by their close proximity and his killer smile…..she blushes and looks down….
Bani: (cheekily) woh….actually….(glancing back up at him) mujhe baarish baut pasand hai…..(shyly) (trans: I like the rain a lot.)
Jai: Hmm…woh to main dhekchuka hoon….(trans: Hmm… that I have already seen.)
Bani blushes more and lowers her gaze once again. Suddenly she feels his hands caress her arms….moving them in an up and down motion….wanting to give her some warmth….
Jai: You are shivering….(seeing her slight chattering teeth and goose bumps on her arms, concern in his voice…)
She realizes that he is right and she enjoys the affection he showers on her….They hear a crackle in the sky followed by a loud booming of thunder, which frightens Bani, causing her to press herself against Jai and hug him tightly……Jai, who was a little shaken from the unexpected thunder himself, is further surprised by his wife clinging close to him….It takes him a good few seconds to react by pulling his arms around her….protecting her…keeping her in the embrace…..his hands roam around her back as he secretly enjoys the feel of her against him…. satisfied with her being in his arms….he buries his face into her wet hair….
As moments pass by and Jai realizes that Bani is still shivering, he gently pulls her away from his chest and stares lovingly at her…. He takes her cold hands into his own….rubbing them together a little and then kissing them sweetly….his lips linger down to her wrists and he restrains himself from going any further….Bani looks at him, breathless….
Jai: (talking over the crackling) There's a house nearby… we'll go there for some help… come….
Jai clasps his hand with hers and leads her quickly over in the direction of the house, with it's dim lights still on….wanting to save them from hypothermia…. As they reach the porch of the small, shady looking house, they waste a few moments on regaining their breath and stare hesitantly at the wooden front door before them…. Bani, feeling out of place and a little fearful, nears close to Jai, who knocks hard on the door…..then waits for a reply. He casts Bani a sideway look and gives her a reassuring smile…still keeping her hand in his….
They hear approaching footsteps and then slowly the creaking of the opening door….a sketchy looking man with sharp eyes and a stubble appears before them…wearing a blue shirt and saggy jeans which seem loose on his thin body….
"Yes?", he questions them, clearly looking intrigued on seeing them. Jai is the one who speaks…..
Jai: I am sorry to disturb you so late at night, sir, but we are in need of some help… The thing is that our car has broken down…and my cell phone's battery has died out…. If it is alright with you, would you mind letting us borrow your phone?
The man's eyes shift from Jai and over to Bani, who is nerved by his lingering gaze on her, then looks back over to Jai…..
"No, I do not mind at all…. Come in….", the man moves himself off to the side, opening the door further open, giving them a passage way of entering in…. Jai thanks him and glances back over at Bani who had slid behind Jai, hiding herself from the man's view…. He catches her discomfort and leads her inside with him…. Bani feels her heart sink on hearing the front door close behind her…she stays close by her husband's side, amusing him a lot…
"The kitchen is down the hall and to your right…", the stranger's raspy voice booms in the empty house…..Jai nods his head and walks on over there, taking Bani with him, who gladly accompanies him….after noticing the continuous stares she would receive by the owner of the house, who was sneaky in only checking her out whenever Jai's back was turned….She shudders to herself…. and feels his focused gaze following her…..
Jai locates the telephone and immediately calls his driver, telling him where they are, and to pick them up…. And also informs him that his car needs to be taken to a mechanic….Setting the phone back down Jai turns around and sees Bani suddenly looking relieved…
Bani: (hastily, hopeful) Ab hum chale? (trans: Can we go now?)
Jai: Hain chalo…paar phele hum uss aadmi ko thank karliye….Kahan gaya? (trans: Yes, let's go… but let's first thank that man…Where did he go?)
Bani: (upset) Kahin yahan wahan hoga …hume kya? Chaliye na, Mr. Walia….(trans: He is somewhere around here….but what does it matter to us? Come on, Mr. Walia…)
Jai: (puzzled by her attitude) Paar Bani-- we should at least thank him----
Bani: (frightened) Mr. Walia, please, aap saamajade kyon nahi… uss aadmi----(trans: Mr. Walia, please, why don't you understand….that man----)
"Have you called anyone, yet?", they hear his unexpected voice speak right behind them. Both Jai and Bani turn around and stare at him standing in the doorway of the kitchen….once again Bani clings to Jai's side….frightened for her safety….
Jai: Yes, we have… my driver will be here in about fifteen minutes to get us…. Thank you for your help….
"No problem at all…. I am glad that I could help out…", he replies. Bani shuffles her feet while looking down as she can sense him staring at her…."If you would like, you two may remain here and wait for your driver…. It's raining a lot outside and I presume it must be cold in your car….". Absolutely terrified, Bani hastily grips onto Jai's arm….. Realization strikes Jai as he sees the man's eyes occasionally wandering over to his wife….he now understands Bani's want to immediately leave….
Jai attempts to politely smile even though inside he is seething and about to tear this guy to limbs…. He possessively takes a hold around Bani's waist and pulls her to his side….
Jai: Thank you for the offer, but we don't mind waiting in our car….besides, it will be easier to see when the driver arrives….. We will be leaving now… Thank you once again….
"I will walk you to the door…", the man speaks, trying to be courteous, but Jai brushes him aside.
Jai: It's alright…. We know our way… Come on, Bani….
Jai quickly led Bani out of the kitchen and out of the house, wanting that man a thousand miles away from his wife….boiling inside with anger on how he had looked at her…like she were a piece of meat…. If they hadn't happened in the circumstance that they were, he wouldn't had hesitated at all in beating the man till he cried for mercy…. Bani sensed Jai's anger and silently walked besides him, well actually power walking, since her husband was so anxious in getting her away from the man…..
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Jai covers a snoozing Bani affectionately with his dry coat…wanting to keep her warm….as she sleeps peacefully on his chest…. The driver had arrived in twenty minutes as they waited in Jai's broken vehicle….shifting them into the new car while another driver stayed behind with the one in need of repair…ordering for a mechanic… Bani was so tired and could no longer keep her eyes open….Jai allowed her to get comfortable against him…..
He runs his fingers through her hair….as he loses himself in his own thoughts…. Replaying the past events of the evening in his head…. And questioning himself regarding what he feels for Bani….Jai Walia was not going to deny it anymore…. No longer will he lie to himself about her beauty not having any affect on him… He's obviously attracted to Bani….a lot…. But what are these other emotions that he experiences when with her? Why is there anxiety in him whenever he sees her? Why does he find himself smiling when she smiles? Why does he feel like his heart has been ripped out of his chest and been kicked when he sees tears in her eyes? And most of all, where does this jealousy come from when another man eyes his wife? The possessiveness? ….
Jai's eyes fall down on Bani's angelic face….her cheeks slightly rosy…..seeming lovelier than usual….A disturbing thought crosses his mind…..
Could it be that I possibly have fallen in-----
Lightening crashes in the sky, followed by the booming sound of it's aftermath….as Jai remains stunned on his own train of thought….
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