FF:Broken Dreams&... Note Page 104 3/9 - Page 49

hey abhi

Hi all, I dint vanish away as you people thought... its just taking a little more time to write the scenes for the flashback...
There is a major demand for writing a present part... but... cannot do now... as this time, i am not going to postpone the flashback... but i can assure you that... i am not going to deal with baby in a harsh way... afterall, it is the oasis in the desert... so you can be relieved of that worry... 😆

I see that i got the least number of comments for the part i posted after a month long gap... why is that??? i was little disappointed...

Before you read this part, let me tell you something, i tried my level best to make it continuous. but somewhere i felt it was not... then i edited and added few lines.. atlast decided to post... i know this part will not be much interesting... but its needed part... in the point of view of many characters... please let me know whether it makes any sense or not...

Here goes the next part:

Ghost from the Past

"Kya hua?" Jai asked Bani who was gritting her teeth and rolling the end of her duppatta, while entering the necessary details into his mobile.

"Sab teek ho jaayega na?" she asked for assurance; nervousness and tension evident in her voice.

Jai looked at her from his mobile. "Bani, pareshaan honewali koi baat nahin. Waise bhi, maine faisla kar liya ki shaadi toh zaroor hogi."

Bani looked at him.

He continued, "Itni aasaani se tumhein chodnewala nahin hoon."

Bani blinked.

"Relax. Teek hai…" He said touching her cheek.

Bani looked at his hand touching her cheek in awe and then looked at him.

Jai withdrew his hand and looked at his watch. "Ye Aditya kahaan reh gaya…" he said.

"Woh kisise phone pe baat kar rahe hai…" Bani said.

"Chalo…" Jai said and led Bani downstairs from the study.

As they walked downstairs, Bani said, "Ek baat kahoon…"

"Bolo…" Jai said.

"Agar maa kuch kahe toh tum gussa mat ho jaana…" Bani said.

Jai stopped for a second and looked at her. Bani too stopped. Jai said, "Dekho Bani, sabka ek had hota hai. Jaan lo…"

Bani did not say anything, but just looked at his face deciphering the meaning of what he said. Jai started walking down the stairs. Bani followed him.

Again Bani said, "Aur haan…"

"Bolo…" Jai said.

"Ghar mein kisiko mat batana ki Pushkar yahaan aaya tha." Bani said.

"Kyun?" Jai was surprised.

What would she say now? "Bas, mat batana…" she said.

"Teek hai. Aur kuch…" Jai asked.

"Ab ke liye bas…" Bani said.

Aditya was still on call. On seeing Jai, he ended the call and turned to Jai. "Yeh lo Jai, tickets. Maine hotel phone kar diya. Woh airport se pick up kar lenge. Aur car bhi arrange kar di maine."

"Tum bhi na Aditya… yeh sab karne ki kya zaroorat hai? Main jaake kar leta." Jai said as he placed the tickets in his coat pocket. "Return tickets?"

"Envelope mein rakke masi se de diya." Aditya said.

"Okay." Jai said and walked towards Masi.

"Chalein Masi?" Jai said.

"Haan beta." Masi said and got up. Masi turned to Dadi and Jigyasa and said, "Chalte hain…"

"All the best, Masi. Pakki karke aana…" Jigyasa said.

Masi smiled. She looked at Bani, who was standing at the stairs in deep thoughts. She went to her, "Kya soch rahi ho, Bani?" she asked.

Bani looked at her for a second and then hugged her. After a second, she said, "Darr lag raha hai, Masi…"

"Pagli…" Masi said and released from the hug. She touched her hair and said, "Sab teek ho jaayega. Achcha socho… achcha hoga. Teek hai? Hum nikhalte hai. Mmm…"

Bani nodded her head. She walked behind Jigyasa and Dadi to send off Jai, Masi and Aditya, who was dropping them at the airport. Bani silently prayed in her mind.

When the car left the gate, she went and collected her bag.

"Arey, tu kahaan ja rahi hai?" Jigyasa asked as she entered the house.

"Didi, main nikhalti hoon." Bani said.

"Itni jaldi kyun? Aur thodi der rukh jao…" Dadi said.

"Nahin Dadi. Mujhe jaana hai…" Bani said.

"Shaam tak chali jaana…" Jigyasa said.

"Nahin didi, main chalti hoon…" Bani repeated.

Jigyasa wondered what was wrong with her. Everytime, she came on weekends, she used to leave in the evening. Now, she was adamant to leave before lunch. She looked at Dadi.

Dadi said, "Arey, mere saath thoda baatein-vaatein karo. Phir shaam ko chali jaana…"

"Nahin dadi… kal aati hoon na…" Bani said.

Dadi and Jigyasa looked at each other.

Jigyasa said, "Anu ke aane tak toh intezaar karo…"

"Please didi, main kal aati hoon na…" Bani said. "Pakka kal aaoongi…"

"Bani…" Jigyasa held her face. "Kya baat hai? Sab teek hai na?" she asked.

"Haan…" Bani was breathing little rapidly. "Haan, didi…"

Jigyasa looked at her for few seconds, then said, "Teek hai, Bani… lekin kal zaroor aana, okay?"

Bani nodded her head and smiled slightly at Jigyasa and Dadi and left at once.

"Isko kya ho gaya?" Jigyasa wondered aloud.

"Shayad ghabra rahi hai…" Dadi said still looking at the door through which Bani had left before few seconds.

Jigyasa sighed. "Chaliye, lunch karte hai…" she said and led Dadi to the dining table.

***

Bani roamed around the city sitting from one bus to the other. At last, she ended up in the beach. As she walked down the road towards the sea, she could see Shankar bhaiya's dhaba. A crowd around her would be good, she decided and walked to the dhaba.

"Hello bhaiya…" she said and she kept her bag on the bench.

Shankar raised his head to look who it was, then broke into a smile, "Arey Bani… kaise ho? Bahut din ho gayi… aayi nahin…" he spoke as he wiped his hand in his towel and came to her.

Bani sat on the bench. "Teek hoon bhaiya…" she said.

"Batao, kya khayegi?" Shankar asked.

Bani sighed and thought. "Ek samosa chat aur ek chai… haan, pehle ek nimbu paani de dijiye…" she said.

Shankar frowned for a second, then asked, "Tu khana khayi ki nahin?"

"Nahin bhaiya… waqt kaise guzra pata hi nahin chala…" Bani said.

"Tub hi na. Ek minute rukho, main dekhta hoon ki khana hai ki nahin…" Shankar turned.

"Nahin bhaiya, mujhe khana khane ka mann nahin hai. Mujhe bas ab nimbu paani de dijiye…" Bani said.

"Kitni baar kaha hai tumhein ki khana waqt pe khaya karo…" Savitha came scolding her.

"Bhabhi please… Shuru mat ho jaana…" Bani nearly pleaded.

Savitha came to Shankar and took a lemon from the box and said, "Tum chat bana dena. Tab tak main nimbu paani bana deti hoon." She took the knife and cut the lemon.

Bani, meanwhile fetched a glass of water from the pot. Nimbu paani arrived a minute later.

"Yeh le…" Savitha said while giving the 'nimbu paani'.

"Thank you, Bhabhi." Bani said and got the glass from her hand.

Savitha sat beside her. "Kya baat hai, Bani?" Bani raised her head from the glass. Savitha asked, "Bahut dinon se tumhein dekha nahin… humein bhool gayi kya?"

Bani touched Savitha's hand, "Kaisi baat kar rahi ho, Bhabhi?"

"Toh phir kya? Do mahine ho gaye, tumhein yahaan aakar… humein toh bhool hi gayi hogi na?"

"Bhabhi please… waise bhi main… bahut tensed hoon…" Bani said and gulped nimbu paani to relieve her tension.

"Tension kis baat ki?" Savitha asked.

"Woh…" Bani started, but before Bani could speak further, Shankar arrived with a plate of samosa chat with 'malai' on the top.

"Yeh le... tumhara chat…" Shankar said.

"Thank you, bhaiya…" Bani said as she got the plate.

"Ab tu bata… kya tension?" Savitha said.

"Bhabhi… woh…" Bani did not know where to begin. She sighed.

"Kya baat hai, Bani?" Shankar asked.

They both waited for her answer.

"Bhabhi… bahut saalon ke baad main phir un logon se mili…" Bani said.

"Kin logon se?" Shankar asked.

"Woh log humare ghar ke peechewali ghar mein rehte the. Bahut achche log hai. Aur hum Delhi shift ho gaye… uske baad mili hi nahin… Abhi mili do mahine pehle… bahut achcha laga…" Bani said.

"Ismein tensionwali baat kya hai?" Savitha said.

"Woh… tarasal…" she hesitated for a second. "Tarasal, us aunty ke beta mujhse shaadi ke liye poocha…" Shankar and Savitha looked at each other in shock. Bani said hurrily, "Maine toh haan kar di…" This was even more shock to them. Bani further said, "Maa, papa se milne woh aur Masi gaye hai… pata nahi kya hoga…"

Savitha recovered from shock and said, "Shaadi ki baat hai. Khushi-khushi kaho na? Aise utra hua chehre ko lekar kyun keh rah ho? Hmm?"

"Pata nahin wahaan kya hoga…" Bani said.

"Tumhein pasand hai na?" Savitha said.

"Haan, Bhabhi… mujhe woh log bahut pasand hai…" Bani said with a smile.

"Dekha ji… Apne honewale sasural ke baare mein kehte waqt Bani ka chehra kaise khil gaya…" Savitha teased Bani.

Bani shook her head with a smile.

"Dekh hi toh raha hoon…" Shankar said in an equally teasing way.

"Bhaiya…" Bani said with a shy smile.

"Sab teek hoga…" Savitha said. "Itna chahti ho toh zaroor hogi yeh shaadi…"

"I hope sab teek ho jaaye…" Bani said.

"Sab teek ho jaayega. Fikar mat karna…" Savitha said. "Waise… humein shaadi mein bulaogi na?"

"Of course, Bhabhi… zaroor bulaoongi…" Bani said.

"Ladke ka naam kya hai?" Shankar asked.

"Jai…" Bani said.

"Achcha naam hai." Shankar smiled. "Hamesha khush raho…" Shankar blessed. "Aur yeh chat khao. Tanda ho raha hai… Aur malai daaloon?"

"Nahin. Kaafi hai." Bani said and ate a spoonful of chat.

"Shaadi ke baad humein bhool toh nahin jaaogi na?" Savitha asked.

"Kabhi nahin… Aur waise bhi, main aapko itni jaldi chodnewali nahin hoon… mujhe khana bana kaun sikhayega… aap hi toh hai, jisse main pooch sakti hoon…" Bani said.

Savitha was pleased. "Zaroor… zaroor sikhaoongi…"

Bani smiled.

Savitha suddenly said, "Ek baat batao… do mahine kyun nahin aayi? Bahut yaad aayi tumhari…"

"Weekend mein unke ghar chali jaati hoon. Aur Anu hai na… mujhe jaane hi nahin deti…" Bani said.

"Mmm… lagta hai sasuralwalon ko tumhein bahut pasand hai…" Shankar said giving her a cup of tea.

Bani giggled.

***

Bani called Pushkar when she reached her hostel.

"Hello, Bani… what a surprise! Kya baat hai…" Pushkar said teasingly.

"Mera mazaak uda rahe ho?" Bani said.

"Arey baba… yun hi pooch raha tha… Batao kya baat hai?" Pushkar asked.

"Jai aur Masi, maa, papa se milne nikle hai…" Bani said.

"Kya?!" Pushkar was shocked and surprised.

"Haan… mujhe bahut darr lag raha hai…" Bani said.

Pushkar let out a breath. "Sab teek ho jaayega Bani…" he said.

"I hope…" Bani said. After a second, she asked, "Tum jaaoge?"

"Marwana hai kya mujhe… waise bhi Pia ko is sab ke baare mein kuch bhi pata nahin… I can't believe tumhari maa ne kuch nahin kaha Pia se?!" Pushkar said.

"Really?" Bani was surprised.

"Haan…" Pushkar said.

"Teek hai… main rakhti hoon…" Bani said.

"Zyada mat sochna… Sab teek ho jayega…" Pushkar said.

"Mmm…" Bani said.

"Bye…" Pushkar said.

"Bye…" Bani said ending the call.

***

Jai and Masi left for Bani's house to meet her parents after finishing breakfast. Masi was in merry mood to meet Bani's parents. But Jai, on the other hand, did not have any hopes. May be, time would have brought change in a person, but it always could not be expected. He just hoped all to go well, at least for the sake of Masi. He let out a deep breath.

"Aur kitne der lagegi?" Jai asked the driver.

"Bas, dus minute aur, Sir." The driver said.

"Bhagawan ke kripa se sab teek ho jaaye… aur kya chahiye…" Masi said.

"Haan Masi…" Jai seconded.

They arrived at Bani's house within next 20 minutes. It was a government housing quarters.

"Yehi hai na?" Masi asked Jai looking at the door number.

"Haan Masi, yehi number Bani ne diya hai…Chaliye bell bajate hai…" Jai said and pressed the switch.

***

Kiran was fuming in the kitchen. She did not like her husband inviting Jai to their house. She still had the same bitterness towards Krishna. She still was not able to accept the fact that Bani loved Krishna more than Kiran. She was very happy when they had shifted from Aligarh. She thought, she would have some control over Bani. But, Bani had already become out of reach. She had also started to believe that Bani had forgotten them. But now, the same family was entering into their life again in the name of seeking relation. She heard the door bell ring. She heard her husband's footsteps towards the door.

Nishikant opened the door in a few seconds. He looked at the visitors to his house closely.

Jai came forward, "Hello Sir. Main Jai, Jai Walia. Us din aapse baat kiya tha phone pe…"

Nishikant smiled in recognition. "Haan, sorry beta. Bahut saal ho gaya na dekhke, yaad hi nahin hai… Andar aao." He said and looked at Masi.

Jai noticed his gaze and said, "Meri masi hai…"

"Oh. Namaste." Nishikant folded his hands before Masi.

"Namaste bhai saab." Masi too folded her hands.

"Andar aayiye…" Nishikant led them inside.

Jai and Masi came inside and looked around the house.

"Ghar chotta hi hai…" Nishikant said.

Masi looked at him. "Ghar toh ghar hota hai, bhai saab. Bada ya chota koi fark nahin padta…" she said.

"Teek keh rahe hai…" Nishikant said as he signaled them to sit.

Masi said, "Ab dekhiye na. Jai aur Aditya itna kama rahe hai, phir bhi ghar ki lakshmi ko dhoondte rahe hai…" as she sat on the sofa.

Nishikant understood the inner meaning and just smiled. After a second, he called Kiran. "Kiran… dekho kaun aaye hai…"

Kiran emerged from inside wiping her hand at the end of her sari.

Masi smiled politely at her. "Namaste."

Kiran looked at Jai once and folded her hands at Masi, "Namaste."

"Batayiye… kya lenge aap?" Nishikant asked.

"Nahin… iski koi zaroorat nahin hai. Hum breakfast karke aaye hai…" Jai said.

"Thoda paani chahiye…" Masi said.

Nishikant looked at Kiran. She went inside and came out with two glasses of water in a tray.

"Shukariya." Masi said and took a glass of water for herself.

For the next few minutes, an uncomfortable silence prevailed.

Then, Nishikant cleared his throat and said, "Bani ne aap sab ke baare mein kaha. Bahut achcha laga ki aap log itne saal hoke bhi use yaad rakha…"

Masi smiled, "Bani hai hi aisi. Hum sabko bahut pasand hai. Didi aur jijaji ki toh baat hi mat kijiye. Bahut bura laga yeh sochke ki woh log Bani se mile bagair chal base… Agar milte toh bahut khush hote…"

Nishikant smiled. Kiran was still waiting for the core subject to be touched.

Nishikant said, "Waise aap log toh Aligarh mein the. Mumbai kaise aana hua?"

Masi looked at Jai. Jai said, "Mera ek dost construction company ke malik hai. Usne woh hotelwala project mere haath mein saumpa. Loan bhi diya… maine kaam shuru kar diya… ab teek chal raha hai…" he briefed.

"Loan ka kya hua?" Kiran asked.

Jai looked at her and said, "Lagbag chuk gaya… do-teen mahine mein poora chuka doonga…" Now that she had opened her mouth, something was definitely going to come out, Jai thought.

"Itna achcha chal raha hai?" Kiran asked surprised.

"Haan, Kiranji. Jai aur Aditya itna mehnat jo karte hai…" Masi said proudly.

Kiran looked at Jai sharply.

"Bahut achcha lagta hai jab humara koi jaan-pehchaan wala mehnat karke upar aata hai. Bahut achcha beta…" Nishikant smiled.

Jai smiled wondering the difference between Bani's mother and father.

"Bani dubara aap logon se kaise mili?" Nishikant asked.

"Aditya ne kaha ki Bani ek exhibition ke liye humare hotel aayi thi aur wahin mulaqat huyi…" Masi answered. "Humein bahut achcha laga wapas usse milkar… rote huye jo gayi thi Aligarh se…" Masi said slowly remembering the past.

Nishikant's smile freezed on his face as he heard the last part of what Masi said. He vaguely remembered Bani crying when they shifted from Aligarh to Delhi. Kiran was so busy with packing that she did not give much notice to how Bani was.

"Ab bas, ek baar Bani humari ghar aa jaaye bahu bankar…" Masi sighed.

Nishikant went speechless, whereas Kiran frowned.

Nishikant asked slowly, "Aap log kyun chahte hai ki Jai aur Bani ki shaadi ho?"

Masi looked at Nishikant, "Kyunki humein pata hai, ki Jai ke liye Bani sahi hai. Aapas mein ladte jagadte zaroor hai, lekin sirf apne beech mein… doosron ke liye nahin… Waise bhi didi aur jijaji aai zinda hote toh woh aapse baat kar rahe honge…"

"Woh bhi chahti thi?" Kiran asked.

"Haan…" Masi said.

"Kyun?" Kiran asked.

"Pata nahin. Lekin itna zaroor pata hai ki didi aur jijaji jo bhi sochte hai door ke sochte hai… hamesha…" Masi said.

"Humne pehle hi keh diya tha ki humein yeh rishta mansoor nahin hai…?!" Kiran said.

"Tab kaha tha jab aap logon ne Jai ko dekha nahin… hum logon se mile nahin…" Masi said.

"Koi fark padta kya?" Kiran asked.

Masi smiled. "Is sawaal ka jawaab aapko dena hai…" She said looking at Kiran and then looked at Nishikant. "Kehte hai kisi ke baare mein jaanne ke liye ek pal ya ek mulaqat kaafi hota hai." Masi said.

"Buzurg logon ne teek kaha tha. Lekin aaj ke zamaane mein use manna mushkil hai." Nishikant said rather seriously thinking about his past. "Aksar log jaise dikhte nahin, waise hote nahin…"

"Maanti hoon, bhai saab… lekin saare log aise nahin hote na?" Masi said truthfully.

Nishikant sighed in agreement.

After sometime of silence, Kiran asked, "Aapne abhi tak yeh nahin bataya ki aapko Bani ka haath kyun chahiye…"

Masi smiled, "Pehle hi kaha tha, phir bhi… Humein yakeen hai ki Jai aur Bani ki jodi khoob sajegi… Humein Bani pehle se hi pasand hai…"

Jai watched Masi speaking confidently to Bani's parents. He remembered everyone having doubts in the alliance earlier, he wondered what made Masi speak so confidently!

After few minutes of silence, Nishikant said, "Mujhe galat mat samjhiye… lekin Bani bahut choti hai. Ab uske shaadi… Woh bhi Jai ke saath… Ab tak usne duniye hi dekhi kahaan…"

Jai spoke at last, "Aap teek keh rahe hai. Bani chotti hai. Lekin… ghar se bahar reh rahi hai… toh thoda bahut duniya dekhi hogi… Humare ghar aati hai har hafte… thoda bachpana zaroor hai, lekin bachchi nahin rahi…"

"Humare liye toh bachchi hi hai na?" Nishikant asked.

Jai smiled, "Main bhi apne masi ke liye bachcha hi hoon…"

Nishikant kept quiet.

Kiran asked, "Ek baat meri samaj mein nahin aa raha hai… Aap… aap logon ko yeh khayal aaya hi kaise?"

"Kyun?" Jai asked.

"Kabhi socha hai ki tum Bani ko khush rakh paoge ya nahin…" Kiran said.

Jai frowned. He looked at Nishikant who was staring at Kiran in utter disbelief. "Matlab?"

"Shaadi zindagi ka sabse pada khadam hai. Agar us khadam ko rakte huye galti ho gayi toh zindagi bhar pachthane ka mauka nahin milta." Kiran said.

Jai frowned, thinking the inner meaning of what Kiran said.

"Kiran, kehna kya chahti ho?" Nishikant asked.

"Dekhiye, aap chahe jo faisla le, main is shaadi ke liye kabhi raazi nahin hoongi." Kiran said.

Jai was not at all surprised, he was in fact expecting it. Masi was shocked. Nishikant was confused.

Masi looked at Jai sitting calmly. She then turned to Kiran, "Kyun, Kiranji?" Masi asked.

Kiran stayed silent.

"Aakhir kyun?" Nishikant asked.

"Mujhse pooch rahe hai, 'kyun'? Aapko pata nahin?" Kiran asked.

"Agar pata hota toh nahin poochta…" Nishikant said.

"Teek hai. Main batati hoon." Kiran said and looked at Jai and Masi. "Yeh log… inhi logon ke wajah se aaj humari beti humare paas nahin hai."

Jai let out a gulp of air shaking his head. Masi could not comprehend what Kiran was saying. She looked at Jai.

Nishikant was confused, "Kya? Kya kehna chahti ho? Tumhein ho kya gaya hai?"

"Mujhe kuch nahin hua. Balki aapko hi kuch bhi nazar nahin aa raha hai." Kiran said.

Nishikant clicked his tongue in irritation.

Masi asked slowly, "Aapko aisa kyun lag raha hai?"

Kiran narrowed her brows. "Kyunki, aisa hi hai." She turned to Nishikant. "Aapko yaad hai, Bani jab choti thi, tab woh kabhi bhi ghar se baahar nahin jaati thi. Kabhi bhi… school jaati hai, bas ghar wapas aati hai. Lekin… lekin jabse in logon se mili, tab se toh woh ghar pe kabhi dikhti nahin…"

"Tumhein ho kya gaya hai, Kiran? Aisa kuch nahin hai…" Nishikant said.

"Aisa hi hai. Aapko toh tab dikhega, jab aap dekhte na? Aap ghar pe rahe hi kab?" Kiran said.

Nishikant was not able to catch the head and tail of the conversation.

"Jab in logon ke saath sangat hua, tabhi humne Bani ko kho diya… Woh toh humari beti hi nahin rahi. Jab dekho Krishna aunty yeh… Krishna aunty woh… Pata hai mujhe kaise lagta tha, jaise ki hum uska koi nahin aur yeh log uska sab kuch hai… Ab bhi dekhiye, Bani humare saath nahin hai. Use humare fikar hi nahin hai. Paal-poskar bada humne kiya, lekin apnapan toh inke liye hi dikhati hai na? In logon ne hi bhadkaya hoga humri beti ko humari hi khilaaf. Hum soch rahe hai ki humari beti choti hai. Lekin dekhiye… dekhiye na, humse pooche bina… poochna chod dijiye… humse bataye bina in logon ko apni manzoori de di… Itne paraye ho gaye hum? Mumbai jaake padna chahti thi. Khudko bahut samjhake main maani… yeh sochkar ki… chalo… ghar se bahar rehkar maa-baap ka matlab samaj mein aayega. Lekin nahin… use tab bhi humari yaad nahin aayi. Aur upar se yeh log phir mil gaye. Aur toh aur in logon ko yaad rahi… toh samjhiye… humari beti toh rahi nahin… Ab inke ghar ke bahu banne ka mauka mila toh chodegi kya…" Kiran poured out her mind with tears in her eyes.

Nishikant choked with emotion. "Kiran, aise khayal tumhare dimaag mein aayi kaise? Aur… aur woh bhi… humari beti ke baare mein…?"

"Haan, humari beti… yaad hai woh kab paida huyi thi… yaad hai na, uske paida hone ke baad kya-kya hua tha, humare saath? Shayad aap bhool gaye… lekin main nahin. Kuch cheezein aisi hoti hai, jise bhoolna bahut mushkil hota hai…" Kiran said wiping her tears.

Masi looked at crying Kiran and helpless Nishikant. Jai remembered all those words that had come out of Kiran's mouth, years back.

Nishikant said, "Woh bura waqt tha humara, Kiran. Bura waqt hamesha tal jaata hai." His voice began to break.

"Lekin hamesha nishaani chod deti hai…" Kiran said. "Mere liye Bani woh nishaani hai. Sirf mujhe pata hai, mujhe kya-kya sunna pada us waqt…" she started to cry again. "Kaise maine apne donon betiyon ko sabse bachakar rakha…" She wiped her tears. "Ab jab bura waqt tal hi gaya… toh main kyun Bani ki shaadi isse karwaoongi… Bani ko isse achche ladke milenge…"

The words pierced through Jai's ego. He looked furious at Kiran. "Kya matlab?"

"Teek keh rahi hoon… char paise kama liye, iska yeh matlab nahin ki tum Bani ki laayak ban gaye…" Kiran said.

"Kiran… apne zubaan…" Nishikant started to say, but Kiran interrupted.

"Aaj main aapki ek nahin sunoongi. Aap kuch bhi kahe, main is shaadi ke liye, 'haan' nahin kahoongi…" Kiran said and looked at Jai.

Jai, for a second, was amused, "Achcha?" his lips curled. He stood on his feet. "Aisi kya kami hai mujhmein?"

"Jai…" Masi tried to calm him down.

"Masi please…" Jai said, he turned to Kiran, "Batayiye… kya kami hai mujhmein?"

"Kami ko baat chodo… itne saal shaadi kyun nahin ki?" Kiran asked.

Jai smiled. "Ab kya bataoon? Char paise kamane ke liye, waqt toh lagta hai na? Waise bhi tab Bani ka haath kis muh se maangta… na mere paas kaam tha, na paisa… aap Bani ka haath aise thodi na dete… aur Bani bhi choti thi…"

Masi was clueless of what Jai was speaking, "Jai, kya bol rahe ho?"

"Ab aayi na, asli baat bahar… Maa toh chal basi, lekin bte ne ab tak peecha nahin choda… Ek baat bhool gaye… Bani ab bhi choti hai… tumse bahut choti… Main nahin chahti ki duniya ke saamne meri beti ka mazaak ho…" Kiran said.

Jai glared at Kiran for sometime, then turned to Masi, "Masi… Bani ne teek hi kaha, yeh log maanenge nahin…" Jai sighed. "Ab ho gayi tasalli? Chalein?"

"Lekin, beta…" Masi did not know what to say.

"Masi, Bani se shaadi karne ke liye, mujhe sirf aur sirf uski 'haan' chahiye…" Jai said.

Masi did not like the tone of his voice. But after the scene that happened few minutes ago, she could not blame Jai. She looked at Nishikant staring at Jai.

Jai turned to Kiran, "Agar Bani aur meri shaadi huyi, waise… zaroor hogi… Lekin aap ek baat yaad rakhiye… Bani jaisi bhi ho… woh aap logon ke bulaye bina is ghar mein kabhi nahin aayegi.." Jai said in a tone of finality. "Yahaan, jo kuch bhi hua, woh Bani ko kabhi pata nahin chalega… Hum kuch nahin kahenge… sirf itna kahenge ki aap log nahin maane… Agar main Bani ko teek tarah se jaanta hoon, toh mujhe use kehne ki zaroorat nahin hai, apne aap samaj jaayegi… Jahaan tak meri maa ki sawaal hai… aapko yaad zaroor hoga, us din meri maa ne kya kaha tha…"

Kiran glared at Jai. She was not able to remember clearly what Krishna said. But Jai remembered the words exactly - Main Bhagwan se dua karti hoon ki Bani aapki baath kabhi nahin maane aur kabhi nahin sune…

He turned to Masi, "Chalein, Masi?"

Masi nodded her head. She folded her hands towards Nishikant and Kiran. She turned and walked towards the door. Jai gave a last look at Kiran and looked at Nishikant. But, Nishikant was still reeling into Jai's words. Jai nodded his head and followed Masi.

After a long silence, Nishikant spoke, "Itne saal… itni saari baatein… pehle kyun nahin batayi…"

"Aap sunne ke liye tayyar hi kab the?" Kiran said.

"Lekin… mehmanon ke saamne… kyun?" Nishikant asked. When he did not get an answer, he got up and wore his chappals to go for a walk. He dreaded what would Bani think when she would come to know about this…

Thanks for reading 😳

mee

hi,

great part. got to run. will be back with a long comment.

whoa...super part Abhi....I loved this Jai/Kiran samna....at least Nishikant learnt the truth now to of how Kiran hates the family....still harbouring so much bad feelings about Jai and Krishna....

haila...i hate that kiran 🤬how dare her...abhi...i wanna scream as loud as i can....how dare her...aapne hai beti ki zindagi khud barbad ki or abh dosh jai ko deh rahe hai...ediot, stupid, etc....seriously...she such a witch....

abhilasha... that part was amazing!!!!!!! the dialogues were fabulous.. i felt each emotion through the words.. i really felt to a point that i was in that room watching this conversation.. cant wait to see what happens next!

Hi

I have no words for Kiran. Se is so egoistic. She doesn't think that Bani being distanced from her own parents is because of Kiran's behaviour but blames Walais. All Walials did was to shower love & attention on a girl who was deprived of it at her own home.