FF:Broken Dreams&... Note Page 104 3/9 - Page 22

Part 24

At around 2 PM, Jai and Bani reached the house. Bani had already fallen asleep during the journey. As soon as the car entered the portico, Jai got down and led Bani inside the house. Masi and Dadi were waiting eagerly for them. But, it was Jigyasa who saw them first. At first, she frowned. Then she heard Jai telling Bani, 'Tum thoda so jao… baad mein baat karte hain. Teek hai?' She saw Bani nodding her head. Jai waved at Masi and Dadi in the living room and led Bani upstairs. Jigyasa was confused. 'What is happening?'

***

As soon as they entered their room, Jai turned on the A.C and made Bani lie comfortably on the bed. He covered her with the comforter and sat beside her for few minutes till she fell asleep. After he made sure that she was asleep, he gently caressed her face once, and then left the room quietly to the study.

After few phone calls, he found himself very hungry. He went to the living room and found Masi and Dadi busy watching afternoon daily soaps on television. He shook his head and let out a deep breath. He seated himself beside the two ladies. He watched Masi and Dadi amusedly. The three were soon joined by Jigyasa.

After sometime, Jai said impatiently, "Dadi, aap din is tarah ke program dekhkar kaatthe hai?" and shook his head in disbelief.

Dadi frowned, "Kyun, kya problem hai, is program mein…"

Jai said sarcastically, "Koi problem nahin hai… lekin, mujhe bhook lagi hai… aap logon ne lunch ki ya nahin…?"

Dadi said, "Dus minute aur. Yeh program jab khatam ho jaayega, tab jaake lunch karte hai… thodi der chup-chap bait"

Jai twitched his lips and took a magazine lying on the table and started reading it. But, his stomach had some other intension – it growled. It dropped the magazine on the table and said, "Bus, aur nahin… main ja raha hoon…" and he started walking towards the dining room.

He found Tony setting up the table for lunch. He sat impatiently in his seat for the three ladies to arrive. Jigyasa was the first to arrive.

"Thank lord, koi toh aaya…" Jai exclaimed.

Jigyasa was surprised. Firstly, seeing Jai at home. Secondly, his conversation with Masi and Dadi. Thirdly, his behavior towards Bani. She wondered what had happened to him.

She asked him, "Bhaiya, aap itna impatient kyun hai? Waise aaj aap office nahin gaye…"

"Nahin… Bani aur mujhe hospital jaana tha. Isliye…" Jai was keen on his food arriving. He told himself that he should have had lunch with Bani itself.

Masi and Dadi arrived at the table discussing about the episode. They took their seat, still they did not stop discussing. After Tony started serving roti's, their conversation stopped and they turned to Jai.

Masi asked, "Jai, Doctor ne kya kaha?"

Jai said, "Reports kal hi aayenge…" and busied himself in eating.

"Achcha…" Masi said and started eating.

"Arey, Bani kahaan hai?" Dadi asked.

Jai said, "Usne lunch kar li… so rahi hai…"

"Kahaan? Maine toh dekha nahin…" Dadi said.

"Usne bahaar lunch ki… use bahut bhook lag rahi thi toh bahaar hi kar li…"

Dadi and Masi did not take anything seriously, but Jigyasa frowned. Then, it was a silent lunch except that Masi was serving Jai from time to time making him eat properly.

Jigyasa told in her mind, 'Jo kaam biwi ko karna hai, woh masi kar rahi hai…' and she shook her head.

At that time, Jai's mobile rang. He looked at the number in the display. He pressed the 'answer' button and spoke, "Haan, Aditya…"

After listening to the other person speaking, Jai said, "Haan… aa raha hoon…" and ended the call.

He quickly finished the lunch. He washed his hands and came back to the dining room.

"Masi… Dadi… Bani par thoda nazar rakhiye… aur do ghante baad use jaga dijiye… woh bahut sothi hai…"

Dadi said, "Arey… sona kya buri baat hai?"

"Dadi, sona buri baat nahin hai… lekin zyada sona achchi baat nahin hai." Jai replied and continued his previous, "Aur haan, woh jaagte hi khane ke liye kuch dijiye…"

"Tu kahaan ja raha hai?" Masi asked.

"Office, Masi. Aditya ko meri zaroorat hai…" He just buttoned his shirt properly and said, "Chaltha hoon…" and he left without waiting for anyone.

***

Bani woke up around 3 PM. She looked around her and found the room empty. She stretched herself and sat in the bed for few minutes. Then, she refreshed herself and had a glass of water. She sat again on the bed to calm herself. She then made the bed and left the room.

She went downstairs and found Dadi and Masi having their tea.

She hesitantly went to them. Dadi was the first to see her. "Arey, Bani… ut gayi… aaja… aaja…" she called her.

Bani smiled slightly and went to then. Masi patted beside her indicating her to sit near her. Bani went and sat at the place pointed by Masi.

Masi asked her, "Achchi tarah soyi…" Bani nodded her head. Masi continued, by stroking her hair. "Achcha hua ki tum khud hi ut gayi… waise bhi hum donon aake tumhein jagaane wale the… Jai batake gaya hai…"

Bani looked at Masi and asked, "Kahaan gaye hai…?"

"Office… aur kahaan?" Dadi said.

"Oh!" Bani whispered.

Masi asked her, "Chal bata, kya khayegi?"

Bani smiled and said, "Kuch bhi, masi. Zyada bhook nahin lagi hai…"

"Teek hai, thoda sa kha lo… Jai ghar ghar aate hi humse poochega ki tum khayi ki nahin…" Saying, Masi walked towards kitchen.

After few minutes, she brought 'khichdi' for her. Bani had her 'khichdi' taking her own time hearing to Masi's and Dadi's chat. After finishing, she lied down on the couch keeping her head on Masi's lap. It felt so good…

***

When Jai entered the house, the scene he saw warmed his heart. Bani was sitting in the couch with knees drawn to her chest; her drawing pad being supported on her knees; and her eyes, hands and her brain keen into the drawing… Jai smiled and let out a deep sigh. That moment, he realized reclaiming Bani was not so difficult as he had thought earlier. He was brought out of the trance by Aditya's approaching footsteps. Aditya stopped beside Jai wondering what made Jai stop near the door itself. Aditya kept his hand on Jai's shoulder to gain his attention. Jai turned to look at Aditya and shook his head answering his unasked question. He started walking forward slowly followed by Aditya behind. He reached near Bani and looked at her without interrupting her work. But Bani stopped what she was doing when she realized that someone was standing in front of her. She raised her head and met Jai's face. She smiled back at the smiling face. Jai ordered a cup of tea to Tony and sat beside Bani putting his arms around her.

"Teek tarah soyi, kya?" He asked her while letting her place her head on his shoulder.

"Mmm…" Bani answered.

Jai kissed on the top of her forehead and rested his chin on her forehead. He asked slowly, "Kya kar rahi ho?"

Bani, instead of answering, just showed her sketch. Jai looked at the sketch. A tree – one side it was depicting winter, its branches without leaves and the other side depicting spring boring flowers and fruits… Jai looked at the sketch carefully and looked at Bani playing with her pencil leaning on his chest. He wanted to hang this sketch framed in the study.

Jai asked, "Color nahin kiya?"

Bani shook her head.

"Mujhe chahiye…" He said.

"Color karoongi toh bahut der lagegi…" She said.

"So…" Jai said.

"Bahut der lagegi…" Bani said.

"So…" Jai said.

After a few seconds of silence, she said, "Teek hai…"

"Kab milega?" Jai asked.

"Der lagegi…" Bani said.

"Kab milega?" Jai stressed.

"Sachchi mein bahut der lagegi…" Bani said.

"Mujhe woh sab nahin sunna…" Jai said firmly.

Bani looked at his face. Then after a thought, she said, "Kal…"

Aditya, who was silently observing their conversation, came to them, "Kya ho raha hai, bhai?"

Bani sat erect and looked at Aditya. "Jiju… kab aaye, aap?"

"Kamaal hai… main toh Jai ke peeche hi aa raha tha… dikhayi nahi diya, kya?" Aditya teased Bani, which made Bani to bite her tongue. "Kaise ho, Bani?"

"Ji, teek hoon…" Bani replied.

"Woh kya hai, Jai?" Aditya asked pointing at the paper in Jai's hand.

Jai looked at his hand, then at Bani and then gave the sketch to Aditya. Aditya's eyes widened in surprise. He looked at Bani and then Jai. "Wow… Bani… this is so beautiful…." He exclaimed. "Kabhi bataya nahin ki tum itni achchi drawing karti ho?" Aditya said.

Bani blushed, whereas Jai chuckled.

"Jai, hum is sketch ko frame karke study pe lagayenge…" Aditya spoke out Jai's mind.

"That is exactly what I was thinking… Par… Bani color karne ke baad…" Jai said.

Bani was shocked at the sudden development.

Aditya asked her, "Tum kya keh rahi ho, Bani?"

Bani was speechless. Yet, she managed to say, "Aapki marzi…"

By then, Tony had brought tea for Aditya and Jai.

Bani asked, "Main jaaon?"

Aditya frowned, "Kyun? Thodi der baito na…"

Bani hesitated. "Nahin… main…"

"Tum ek kaam karo…" Jai interrupted her. Bani looked at Jai. Jai continued, "Tum jaake color karo. Mujhe kal tak chahiye. Samjhi…"

Bani nodded and left the place with her sketch and her things.

After she had entered the room, Aditya asked, "Kyun, Jai? Rehne dete na… Hum ki raaz ki baat thodi na karnewale hai…"

Jai shook his head. "Nahin, Aditya. I don't want to push her. Warna woh darr jayegi. Aur is waqt… aur is haalat mein main use daraana nahin chahta…"

Aditya narrowed his eyes. "Kya baat hai, Jai?"

Jai maintained silence for a minute. Then said, "Tum teek kehte the Aditya – Bani bilkul waisi hi hai, jaise pehle thi. Main hi woh baat accept hi nahin kar paaya. Aur sab kuch biker diya… uski saja bhugat raha hoon…"

Aditya just listened to what Jai was speaking. He did not even make an attempt to interrupt him.

"Pata hai, Aditya. Aaj tak maine Bani ko kuch bhi nahin diya…sivay ye… ye Walia ka naam jo woh kabhi istemal nahin karti hai… aur ye bachcha… jise chodne ke liye bhi woh tayyar hai… sirf ek baat sochkar ki agar bachcha uske jaise ho gaya toh…"

Aditya looked at Jai opening his mind and thoughts after a long time.

"Woh ladki… jo sirf humse baat karne ke liye, humare ghar aati thi… woh ladki aaj humare saath hote hue bhi… uske paas humse baat karne ke liye kuch bhi nahin… kuch bhi nahin…" Jai paused for a moment. The he continued, "Aditya, woh apne aap ko itna tadpa rahi hai ki… ki use kabhi kabh ye samaj mein nahin aata hai ki kyun aise kar rahi hai… kis liye kar rahi hai… Har waqt apne aap ko saja de rahi hai ki woh khud ko sambhal hi nahin pa rahi hai… Maine use samajne mein bahut der kar di…" He wiped his face.

Aditya looked at him and said, "Thank Lord ki itni bhi der nahin huyi ki uski jeene ki wajah hi chali gayi…" Jai looked at Aditya. "Teek keh raha hoon, Jai." Aditya said confidently. "Woh bahut choti hai… uske saamne uski poori zindagi padi hai…" Aditya pointed out.

Jai took a deep breath and said, "Haan. Tum teek keh rahe ho…" He remembered the sketch… Yes… it was indeed true…

***

Jai felt relieved after speaking out to Aditya. He opened the door to find Bani busy arranging the colors. A sudden need passed through him looking at Bani. It shook his entire self. He sat on the bed and looked at Bani.

After few seconds, he called her. "Bani…" Bani looked at him as she stopped the work she was doing. "Idhar aao…" Jai called her softly. Bani looked at his face. She placed the things in her hand on the ground and stood up. She went and stood in front of him.

Jai held her hand for some second and caressed her palms. Bani did not stop him. Jai raised his head to look at her. Bani did not have any question to ask. Jai slowly made her sit on his lap. He put her arms around his neck and held her by her waist. Bani searched his face to find something. "I love you, Bani…" Jai whispered and looked at her face for reaction. He noticed her lips stretching for a fraction of second. He moved his head forward so that his lips sought hers for a brief second. Jai did not press, but touched her lips with his. Jai closed his eyes and savoured the moment. He then moved his lips away from hers and kept his forehead against hers, his eyes closed. When he opened his eyes after sometime, he noticed her eyes closed and her lips parted. He looked at her face as if watching for the first time and bent his head to take her lips in his for a kiss… A need… kindled inside him… He took her lips in a sweet, yet lusty kiss. Bani's eyes trickled with tears as if she felt his lust… After he released her from his kiss, she immediate sought refuge in his arms and shoulders and let herself lose in his secure embrace…