Hi all, hope you still remember this story.......😉 . Sorry about the delay.
Hello papa, he said.
Uday smiled at him, hello beta.
Jai walked up to him and bent down to take his blessings. Uday felt emotional, Jai had stopped doing that after his mother died, infact he mostly avoided him after that. He felt choked up and hugged him. Jai felt his eyes get misty.
Uday then turned to leave and on his way out said, It's good to have you home beta.
He entered his room and saw Krishna waiting for him. He smiled at her, a big burden seemed to have lifted off of him, his Jai had come back. He sat down with her and she leaned her head on his shoulder, both savoring the moment.
CHAPTER 4B
Jai leaned against the wall watching Krishna hovering over Anu and talking to all the guests beaming. He looked around and saw all decorations. He could see the effort and planning that went into everything. She really did go all out for Anu's baby shower. Anu sat at a chair decorated with golden shimmering silk that offered a glowing backdrop to her in the rosy pink saree she was wearing. She looked thrilled at the prospect of so many gifts and people coming to see her. A table lay in front of her overflowing with sweets and savories. He noticed Aman suddenly appear and grab a ladoo and bite into it. He chuckled seeing the pure delight on his face. He then saw Aman look around and then grab another one and run off.
A while later he saw Bani come holding a tray of refreshments. She was wearing a pale green sari. She had no jewelry on except small earrings. He watched her as she went up to Anu and then to his dad and Kiran. He noticed the comfort she had with both of them. He missed that closeness. Suddenly Bani turned towards him and gave him a small smile. He was jerked out of his thoughts as he saw her walking towards him. She offered him the tray with drinks on it, and he picked a juice up, smiling gently at her. She then walked away. He stared after her. He wanted to know more about her, he wondered what she was doing at his house, with her son and sister. Where was her husband he wondered? He had initially thought that they had come for the baby shower. But they seemed too comfortable here, had they been here longer? Before he could dwell on it anymore, he was involved in conversation with the other guests.
He moved to the balcony and heaved a sign of relief. He was tired of all the false praising and the questions about his marriage. He was a catch it seemed, not just for being Uday Walia's son, but for making a big name for himself with the flourishing of Ambika industries. He just wanted to get away, he had come to see Anu, not to have people try and make his marriage plans with their daughters.
He heard distant voices moving towards him. A few seconds later he realized it was Mrs Chopra. He watched them speaking in hushed tones, and he realized they were gossiping about someone. He gritted his teeth slightly, he remembered his mother never liking her. He always thought her a conniving woman, if his father didn't have to do business with them, he was sure they would never have been invited. He started to move to the corner hoping he could slip outside when they weren't looking. He was about to walk past them when he heard 'bani'. He stood still for a moment unsure of what he heard. He leaned in a little closer to try to hear what they were saying.
I can't belive they are letting this widow be present here for such a happy occasion. I mean she is bad luck. I just hope nothing happens to Anu or the baby. Did you see her saree, such bright colors and all decked up. You know she is Shardha Shukla's daughter-in-law. I can only imagine what a characterless girl she must have been to be thrown out of there with her son and sister. Now, she has caught on to the Walia's, enjoying their comforts, who knows what she has planned.
Jai only caught the last part of their conversation, and felt anger build up inside him. He was about to intervene when he heard Krishna's voice. Lohita di, yeh aap kaisi batein kar rahi hain. Bani bahut hi sansakri aur achi ladki hai. We are very happy to have her here.
Mrs Chopra looked slightly rattled on having being caught but slowly controlled herself. Krishanji I was just thinking abut you and Uday bhaiya. Moreover, she is a widow. I mean how can you trust her so blindly. Do you know why she was kicked out?
No, and I don't want to know. Bani is a blessing for this house. Unka business profit Bani ke anne ke bad char guna aur bad gaya hai, aur Anu ka pregnancy ka news bhi hamein us ke aane ke badh hi mila. She looks after us like her own parents. Please Mrs Chopra, I don't want to hear anything bad about her. This type of talk is really beneath you, shows of low character. Aisi baatein aapko shoba nehi......
Mrs Chopra sneered when she heard that, who are you to talk about low character? Badi aye, muje samjane. You are right to be singing her praises; compared to you she must be good. Khud khi behen ke parivar ko kha gayi, uske marne se pehle, jab ki who bimar thi. Besharam aur.....
She was stopped midway by a stinging slap on her cheek. She looked ahead to see Jai standing in front of her, his face distorted with anger. The entire hall questioned and everyone's attention turned to Jai.
She opened her mouth to say something, but Jai spoke, his voice rumbling with anger, You will think very carefully before saying anything more. He held Krishna who had tears in her eyes and a shocked expression on her face. She is my mother and you are standing in her house, if you should speak one more word against her, I will strangle you. Now apologize to her.
Mrs Chopra shivered under his gaze. She looked towards Kiran and mumbled a soft sorry. Kiran looked at her unblinking, still reeling from what happened.
Now get out, before I have you thrown out. She immediately turned and left.
He looked towards Kiran, his face now tender. Are you okay? he gently asked her. She nodded and looked at him tears brewing in her eyes. She gently kept her hand on his head and turned to walk away. He caught his father's eyes, and he saw pride in them. He turned to the crowd which was still looking at him, and he gestured to the band to start paying again. Please continue, he said raising a glass to all of the guests. The nuisance has left, you can all resume your enjoyment. The guests smiled awkwardly and then slowly continued. Jai turned to see Bani walking out. He signed and walked back out onto the balcony.
Bani stood on the lawn, tears falling uncontrollably from her eyes. She had heard what Mrs Chopra had said. She felt miserable when she heard her demeaning Krishna aunty and she was about to stop them, when Jai had intervened instead. Mr Walia and Krishna aunty had given them so much love, even though they were not part of their family. Maybe she should move out, she couldn't bear if the Walia name was tarnished because of her. But, at the same time her heart was bound to these people. Aman had gotten really attached to them. She signed heavily, which helped calm her little. Yes, she would speak to them, they would understand. She would look for an apartment and leave immediately.
She looked down at her saree, she didn't want to wear colors when she first got here. She was always wearing white, but Krishna had insisted time and again that it was no way to live. She believed that just because Bani was a widow, didn't mean she had to hide herself in shadow of white. She was young, had a life and son, so much to look forward to. It was in her love and care that Bani learned to live a little free. She wore light colors, somehow she couldn't wear the darker shades, that at one time she loved. She hated the sight of red, and pink on her. Pushkar had told her she looked beautiful in them. She thought back to Pushkar. She missed him terribly.
She and Pushkar went to the same school and had gone on to become the best of friends. Amarnath Dixit was one of the richest men at that time. The Shukla's had on occasion done business with him, and were pleased that their son and Bani were friends. When Bani entered her teens, her father made some bad friends. In their company, he neglected his work, and partied with them all day, squandering most of his wealth. He became physically and verbally abusive towards his wife, as the realities of his mistakes and failures dawned on him. Kiran Dixit started working, and a woman once having her own maids had to now clean and cook in other people's house, to look after her family. His constant belittling and abuse was too much for Kiran to handle, and two days before Bani turned 16, she committed suicide. It was at this time, that Bani took the role of a mother. She quit school and started working at the same time, to provide not only for her sisters but her father as well.
Though the Shukla's completely turned away from her family, they couldn't stop Pushkar from remaining friends with her. Pushkar tried to convince her to stay back and that he would help get his parents to help her financially. But Bani couldn't bring herself to agree to that. She started working as a waitress, at a small restaurant, and a year later when the cook suddenly quit because he got a more lucrative job, she found herself with her first cooking job. Tough it was just supposed to be temporarily till they found a replacement, it turned out to be full time, when the patrons loved her cooking, and the manager decided to keep her on as a chef. With the money she made she was able to help Pia and Rano to continue their studies. When she turned 18, her father passed away because of liver failure, leaving her and her sisters orphans.
She felt a hand slip into hers which brought her out of her thoughts. She blinked and saw Rano standing next to her. Didi are you okay, Rano asked?
Yes, Bani replied. Just missing Pia, she said. Rano frowned. Why would you be doing that didi? Has she not done enough damage, she hissed angrily, pulling her hand out of Bani's. Bani looked at Rano, she is still our sister. No, she's not Rano replied defiantly. Rano, you should forgive her. Rano looked at Bani angrily, Never, and she turned to walk away. Rano, Bani called out to her. But Rano didn't reply and just kept on walking.
BD
Edited by bdev - 16 years ago
Anupamaa
