FF:Broken Dreams&... Note Page 104 3/9 - Page 39

Flashback 6

Questions and Answers

Bani had left early that evening. Jai did not come across her much as he was busy with his work. Jai wondered whether to inform everyone about his proposal or not. Later, he decided, he would wait for her reply. There was a strange unanswered question in his mind – If his parents had not decided to get him married to Bani, what would he have done? Whom would he have married? Would he have married or not? Jai hid himself in the study. Aditya barged into his hiding.

"Jai…" Aditya called him.

"Haan, Aditya." Jai pretended to be busy. When Aditya did not say anything, Jai looked at him.

"Baat ki Bani se?" Aditya asked.

Jai took a deep breath and nodded his head.

"Aisi kya baat huyi tum donon ke beech mein ki aaj Bani ki baatein kam ho gayi?" Aditya asked.

Jai was in a dilemma. At last he said, "Main usse shaadi ki baat ki."

"Kya?" Aditya was shocked. Jai nodded. "Paagal ho gaye kya? Aaj bahut saalon ke baad mile ho, aur tumne…?"

"Kyun nahin Aditya?" Jai asked.

"Kyun nahin ka kya matlab? Jai, usne college bhi khatam nahin ki, for God's sake." Aditya said.

Jai looked at him intently. "Aditya, Bani ke umr mein Jigyasa maa ban chuki thi."

"Tum kisko kiske saath compare kar rahe ho?" Aditya exclaimed.

"Sach hi toh bol raha hoon." Jai said.

"What's wrong with you Jai?" Aditya sounded shocked. "Woh sab chodo… Kya wajah bataya?" He asked.

"Kuch nahin…" Jai said.

Aditya frowned. "Usne kya jawaab di?"

"Ab tak jawaab nahin di… Maine sochke batane ko keh diya…" Jai said.

Aditya kept quiet for sometime. Then asked slowly, "Jai… tumhein pata hai na ki tum kya kar rahe ho?"

"Pata hai, Aditya."

"Mujhe aisa nahin lag raha hai. Ek baat batao. Agar Bani ne 'Na' keh di, toh kya karne ka irada hai?" Aditya asked.

Jai did not answer.

"Mujhe tumse yeh ummeed nahin thi, Jai." Aditya said and left the room.

A little later, Jai spoke to himself, "Mujhe khud pata nahin ki main kya kar raha hoon aur kya karnewala hoon. Sirf itna maloom hai ki Bani ko 'Haan' kehna hi padega."

***

Bani's thoughts did not end. She turned again in her sleepless state in her bed. She still did not understand why he wanted to marry her.

A shocked, but more surprised Bani asked Jai after sometime, "Kyun?"

Jai just gazed at her and said, "Kyunki main tumse shaadi karna chahta hoon." After a long silence, he said, "Sochke batao." Bani nodded her head.

Bani wondered what to decide. She never longed for a fairy tale romance. Deep in her mind, she knew they were not for her. She had stopped believing in fairy tales. Bani sighed. She did not know why Jai proposed her. But, what did she want? She had waited for a long time to meet them. Now that she had met them, she was happy beyond words. She never thought love was essential in a marriage. There was always a chance that they fall in love after marriage. There was always an immeasurable affection for Jai in her mind. There was no doubt in that. She did not have the courage to ask him whether he loved her. More than that, she felt a strange tension or strain in the air from the way interacted. She was not able to point out correctly. She felt some sternness in him which was not there in him seven years back. She lied awake for a long time wondering what to decide.

***

The whole week, Bani was busy. It was the middle of the semester and she had mid-semester evaluation. So, Jai's proposal had taken a backseat for the time-being.

***

Next Sunday, she came to Walia house as usual. She was little uncomfortable with the feeling that Jai might be around. But her eyes did not fail to roam around the house now and then in search of him. Aditya had not disclosed his conversation with Jai to anyone. His eyes found Bani's eyes roaming here and there. When he got a chance, he took her alone to the garden.

"Kya baat hai, jiju?" Bani asked.

"Jai ko dhoond rahi ho?" Aditya asked.

Bani stumbled for a minute, then said, "Haan, dikhayi nahin de rahe hai toh…"

Aditya held Bani by her shoulders. He spoke slowly yet clearly, "Dekho Bani. Mujhe pata hai Jai ne shaadi ke liye tumse poocha hai. Main tumhare faisle mein dhakal nahin dhoonga. Lekin soch lena."

"Kyun jiju? Woh mujhe khush nahin rakhenge?" Bani asked.

Aditya shook his head, "Nahin beta. Woh baat nahin hai. Jai achcha ladka hai, ismein koi shak nahin nahin. Lekin tumhare baare mein baath kar raha hoon. Tumhari bhi kuch sapne honge… ummeedein hogi… hain na? Usko khayal mein rakhke faisla lena. Baad mein aisa na ho ki tumhein pachthana pade…" Bani looked at him little confused. Aditya said, "Tum samaj rahi ho na main kya keh raha hoon?" Bani did not say anything. Aditya touched her head as if blessing her and said, "Chalein andar…?"

Bani looked at him without saying anything. She always thought that she was happy away from her home. And she was sure that she was happier when she was with Walia family. Not even in her dreams did she expect Jai to propose marriage. But, that proposal showed her the other side. How long could she be with this family? Some or other day, she would have to leave. And she dreaded that day. What would she do after that? Her life would become deserted after that… The very thought brought shook her.

"Bani, kya hua?" Aditya's voice shook her from her thoughts. Bani looked at him. She remembered Jai saying "Sochke batao." She knew Jai and she could live to know him better. Affection was always there. She would grow to love him. And she could always be with them. What more did she want? Now, she knew what she wanted to reply.

"Jai hai kya?" Bani asked.

"Nahin… lunch ke liye aayega. Lekin baat kya hai?" Aditya said.

"Mujhe 'haan' kehna hai…" Bani said.

Aditya was completely taken aback. "Bani… jaldbaazi mein faisla lene ki zaroora---"

Aditya was interrupted by Bani, "Nahin jiju… mujhe hamesha aap logon ke saath rehna chahti hoon. Aise hi sahi…"

Bani's voice was filled with her longing. Aditya could not say anything before that. He smiled and said, "Khush raho…" Bani hugged him back. The moment was interrupted by the sound of the car entering the gate. Aditya said, "Lo aa gaya…" Bani smiled back. They both walked towards the house.

Jai looked at both of them coming from the garden. He did not ask anything, but took his file and walked inside without responding to them. Aditya signaled Bani to follow him. Bani nodded and followed Jai, who was walking into the study. After a few seconds, she knocked the door. Jai's "Come in" entered through the door.

She entered and saw him sitting in the couch. He looked at her questioningly. Bani took a deep breath and said, "Main… mujhe manzoor hai…"

Jai was stunned for a few seconds. He did not expect her to reply, that too positively so soon. After a few seconds, he nodded his head. "Tumhare maa, papa se main baath kar loonga." Bani observed a slight arrogance in his tone. Jai continued, "Lunch ke waqt gharwalon se bata denge…"

Bani nodded, then hesitantly said, "Main shaadi ab karna nahin chahti."

"Matlab?" Jai asked.

"Woh… main first degree complete karna chahti hoon." Bani said.

"Uske liye toh char mahine hai…!" Jai said.

"Lekin, main shaadi karke thodi na college ja sakti hoon…!" Bani asked him back.

Jai frowned, "Matlab? Are you ashamed of marrying me?" Jai asked curtly.

Bani frowned back. "Aisa hota toh main haan nahin kehti…" she replied back irritated.

Jai closed his eyes and told himself, he was over-reacting. He then said, "Sorry…"

"It's okay." Bani said not happily.

"Bani…" Jai sighed. "Maine sorry keh diya naa?" Bani's irritation immediately vanished away. She saw a glimpse of Jai, whom she knew. Before she could respond, he composed himself and said, "Chalo, lunch ke liye chalte hai…" He led Bani downstairs.