FF:Broken Dreams&... Note Page 104 3/9 - Page 67

it's the end of the week-end???

Hi all, thanks for waiting patiently... just dozed off 😛
Well, wrote a big part, but found it very unrelated. So only posted it half. Will continue with another dose of flashback and then continue with the present... 😃

Here goes the next part:

Part 31

Jai entered the ward. Bani was sitting with pillow propped behind her. She looked tired after a long sleep, yet she looked fresh. Jai smiled. But Bani was looking elsewhere. Jai placed the bag on the table and sat on the stool beside the bed. The presence of his shadow caught her attention. She looked at Jai. Jai smiled at her. She blinked.

"Good morning…" Jai said with a smile.

Bani stretched her lips with a frown over her forehead. Jai held her hand between his. "Kaisi ho?" he asked.

Bani looked at him blinking. Her mother's words echoed in her mind. She really wondered whether he would leave her one day.

When Bani did not answer, Jai asked, "Bhook lagi hai?"

Bani did not answer.

Jai spoke, "Zaroor lag raha hai. Kal raat dinner bhi nahin kiya! Hai na?"

Bani just looked at him.

Jai went and opened the bag. He took out the hot pack and opened it. He opened the containers. "Wow, sandwiches!" Jai showed the box to her.

Bani looked at the box, then at him.

"Chalo… shuru karo…" Jai offered her the box.

Bani looked at the sandwiches. A swish of acid flowed in her stomach indicating hunger. She picked up a sandwich and bit it. Jai let out a breath of relief. Slowly, her speed of biting increased and she finished her sandwich. She looked at him. He offered the box in understanding. She took another sandwich and ate. Jai, by then opened the flask of hot water and poured into a glass and kept it near. He opened another flask and poured out a glass of tea and placed it on the table. Bani finished eating and looked at him.

"Aur logi?" Jai asked.

Bani shook her head.

"Arey… aise kaise? Aaj se teen sandwiches khaaogi…" Jai said. Bani looked at him curiously. Jai continued, "Ek tumhare liye… aur do humare bachchon ke liye…"

Jai looked at her to see whether she got the hint of what he was saying.

Bani slowly said, "Mere liye ek… aur bachche ke liye do…?!"

Jai was happy to hear her voice. "Aur nahin toh kya? Do bachche hai, toh donon ke liye ek-ek khaana padega na?" he said casually.

Bani frowned. Then, she asked, "Do?"

Jai smiled. He touched her cheek and said, "Haan… do…"

Bani blinked two times, then slowly smiled. "Do…" she said and closed her eyes. She opened her eyes to find Jai looking at her.

Jai immediately got up and sat on the bed beside her. He put his arms around her and hugged her. Bani came into his safe arms. He kissed on the top of her head and hugged her tighter.

"Pata hai jab doctor ne kaha toh mujhe kitna achcha laga… Ab dekho na, humare bachche saath-saath bade honge… Hai na?" Jai said.

Bani smiled.

"Ab khaogi?" he asked lifted her face by her chin.

Bani nodded her head with the same smile.

Jai smiled back and took the box and offered her. Bani took another sandwich and started to eat. Jai rubbed her back.

As she finished eating, she asked, "Aap nahin khaaye?"

"Tum khao. Main baad mein kha loonga. Ek aur dhabba pada hai." Jai said.

"Aap abhi khayiye…" Bani said.

"Main baad mein kha loonga. Tum pehle chai piyo." Jai took the glass of tea from the table and gave it to her.

"Aap pehle khayiye…" Bani repeated.

"Bani… main kha loonga…" Jai said.

Bani did not say anything, but just looked at him. She did not also get the tea from his hand.

Jai resigned. "Teek hai. Kha leta hoon." He went and got the other box containing upma and sat beside her.

"Mujhe paani chahiye…" Bani said.

Jai took the glass of water, he had poured and kept to her. As Bani sipped, Jai ate. He offered her one or two spoons in the middle, which she accepted. Then, Bani sipped her tea slowly.

Suddenly, she asked, "Main hospital mein kyun hoon?"

Jai stiffened. He asked carefully, "Tumhein kya ho gaya tha?"

"Mujhe?" Bani was surprised. "Mujhe kya hua? Main toh teek hoon. Kya hua mujhe?" she asked back.

Jai thought for an answer. "Kal shaam ko jab main tumhein dekhne study aaya tha, tum behosh thi. Isliye… hospital le aaya…"

"Oh!" That was the only response he got from her.

What more could he ask her? He did not ask her anything further.

***

Pushkar was getting ready for his work. When he came to their room to collect the things, Pia followed him.

"Pushkar, mujhse itne naaraaz kyun ho?" Pia asked. "Aise kya kar diya maine?"

Pushkar thought for a second, then calmed himself. He turned back to Pia and looked at her. "Tum apni behen ko kab se jaanti ho?"

"Yeh kaisa sawaal hai?"

"Jawaab do."

"Woh meri behen hai, Pushkar…"

"Lekin jaanti kitna ho?" Pushkar reframed the question.

"Matlab? Tum kehna kya chahte ho?"

"Tumhein pata hai, Bani college ke liye Mumbai kyun gayi?" Pushkar asked.

"Use wahaan admission mili thi." Pia replied.

"Nahin, usne sirf Mumbai mein try kiya tha." Pushkar corrected her.

Pia was surprised.

"Pata hai kyun?" Pushkar asked.

Pia did not answer.

"Kyunki, woh ghar se door rehna chahti thi." Pushkar gave the answer.

Pia was shocked. "Kya?"

"Haan. Aur jaanti ho kyun?" Pushkar asked further.

Pia did not have an answer.

"Kyunki use lagta tha ki tumhare papa ke paas uske liye koi waqt nahin hai aur… tumhare maa ke gusse se door rehna chahti thi." Pushkar answered his own question. "Ab batao Pia, tum apni behen ko kitna jaanti ho?"

Pia tried to digest the answers. After sometime, she asked, "Tum… tum yeh sab kaise jaante ho?"

"Kyunki Bani mujhse sab kuch batati thi. Mujhse poochkar faisla leti thi. Sab kuch mujhse poocha, sirf shaadi ke maamle mein mujhse pooche bina faisla le li…"

Pia looked at Pushkar in shock.

Pushkar sighed. He continued, "Ab chupake kya faida?" Pia looked at Pushkar curiously. Pushkar said, "Main Bani ke shaadi mein gaya tha."

Shock was a small word to describe Pia's state. "Kya?!" she asked slowly.

Pushkar did not falter. "Haan. Main use akela nahin chod sakta tha."

Pia looked at Pushkar surprised.

Pushkar spoke,"Woh meri choti behen jaisi hai. Mujhe uska akelapan dekha nahin gaya. Main usse milne Mumbai jaaya karta tha. Bas, usko khush dekhna chahta tha. Shayad… uske kismet mein khushi likhi hi nahin…" Pushkar spoke lost in his thoughts. "Main un logon se mila. Mujhe achche lage. Phir bhi shaadi ka faisla, Bani ka tha. Kyunki woh bahut pyar karti thi un logon se…"

Pia's feet could not carry her anymore. She settled on the bed and listened to Pushkar as he spoke.

Pushkar continued. "Pata nahin usko uske hisse ki khushiyaan kyun nahin milti…!" Pushkar shook his head.

"Shaadi ke itne dinon ke baad jab khushi usko choone ki koshish karti hai… phir bhi kuch na kuch ho jaata hai…" Pushkar spoke little frustrated.

Pia could not understand anything. After sometime, she asked, "Tum kya keh rahe ho, meri kuch samaj mein nahin aa raha hai…"

Pushkar looked at Pia. Some or other way, some or other time, it would come out; it would be better if he told himself.

Pushkar started speaking. "Shaadi ke baad Jai Sir aur Bani ke beech kuch bhi teek nahin tha…"

Pia's eyes widened. Pushkar spoke, "Wajah… ab tak pata nahin chala…"

Pia listened carefully.

Pushkar said, "Bani utni akeli ho gayi jitna woh shaadi ke pehle bhi nahin thi…"

"Humse kyun nahin batayi?" Pia asked.

Pushkar smiled sadly. "Kya karti tum?" he asked.

"Hum baat karte…" Pia said.

"Achcha?! Kisse? Tumhari maa se ya Jai Sir se ya Jai Sir ke family se?" Pushkar said.

Pia did not have an answer.

"Waise bhi… ab tumhara reaction aisa hai. Tab batati toh, tum kya kehti? Yehi na – Tumne khud shaadi ki thi, humare mana karne ke bawajood… Hai na?" Pushkar said.

Tears fell down Pia's cheeks.

"Pata hai, hum insaanon ke problem kya hai? Agar koi help ke aata hai toh hum pehle apni tareef karte hai, phir us insaan pe galtiyaan nikhaalte hai. Phir madad ke baare mein sochte hai. Tab tak toh us insaan ka mann badal hi gaya hoga…" Pushkar explained.

Pia sobbed a little. She said slowly, "Woh meri behen hai, Pushkar…"

"Toh tumhein uski koi bhi dukh dikha kyun nahin, Pia?" Pushkar asked.

"Usne kabhi kuch nahin batayi…" Pia said.

"Kya batati?" Pushkar asked. "Ki woh dukhi hai? Do you really think, Bani tumhare paas aakar ye kahegi? You must kidding."

Pia did not speak anything.

Pushkar spoke, "Tum sab log apni apni zindagi mein itne busy ho gaye ki… aap log use bhool hi gaye… sach toh yehi hai."

"Aisa mat kaho, Pushkar…" Pia said.

"Sach yehi hai, Pia." Pushkar said. "Aur main yeh baat humari shaadi ke baad hi samaj gaya. Aur jitna ho sake, maine uska saath diya. Main uske saath har waqt nahin de sakta. Meri bhi ek family hai, responsibilities hai. I cannot give it a backseat. Phir bhi, maine Bani ko waqt diya. But she is a smart girl, usse zyada talented. Jaanti ho, woh sketching karti hai?"

"Sketching?" Pia said.

Pushkar chuckled. "See, I told you. Aap logon ke paas waqt hi nahin tha, uske liye…"

Pia sniffled.

"Tumhari jaankaari ke liye bata doon, woh mere saath kaam kar rahi hai." Pushkar said.

It was too much for Pia to absorb.

"Haan, usne mujhse kaam maangi. Maine uske talent ko use kiya. Aur woh kamaane lagi… apne college ke dinon se hi…" Pushkar said.

"Tumne yeh sab mujhe pehle bataya kyun nahin?" Pia asked.

"Batane ka haq mere nahin hai, Bani ka hai. Agar woh batana nahin chahti toh main kaise batata?" Pushkar said. He changed his tone. "Ab laga ki sab teek hai, ab phir se kuch ho raha hai…" Pushkar sighed.

Both stayed silent for some time.

Pia asked slowly, "Ab kya karna hai?"

Pushkar looked at her. "Pehle pata karo, ki uski kya baat huyi tumhare maa, papa se." he said.

Pia looked at Pushkar.

***

Nishikant walked towards the ringing phone. He lifted the receiver. "Hello…"

"Papa…"

"Pia? Kaise ho, beta?" Nishikant looked at the time. "Kaam pe nahin gayi?"

Pia hesitated. "Papa… aap se ek baat poochni thi…"

"Haan, poocho." Nishikant said.

"Bani ne kal phone ki kya?" Pia asked.

Nishikant stopped breathing for a second. "Bani…?"

"Haan, papa… kal… usne phone ki thi kya?" Pia asked carefully.

"Nahin toh…" Nishikant said. "Lekin tum kyun pooch rahi ho? Sab teek hai na?"

"Sab teek hai, papa…" Pia said hurrily. "Ek baar maa se poochkar batayiye na…"

Nishikant thought for a second. Then called, "Kiran…"

Kiran came out of the kitchen wiping her hands. "Kya hua?"

Nishikant asked directly, "Bani ne kal phone ki kya?"

Kiran frowned. "Haan… toh…"

Nishikant was surprised. "Bani ne phone ki thi?"

Pia asked over the phone, "Kya baat huyi papa?"

"Lekin, tum aise kyun pooch rahi ho? Sab teek hai na?" he asked again.

"Papa…" Pia hesitated. "Tarassal… Bani pregnant hai…" Pia spoke what came first to her mind.

Nishikant's face slowly cleared. "Bani… pregnant hai?" he repeated. Kiran was confused.

"Haan papa… socha ki woh khud aap logon se kahegi… toh… aap logon ko achcha lagega…" Pia said.

Nishikant looked at Kiran. "Tumhein pata tha ki Bani pregnant hai?" he asked.

"Nahin toh… usne batayi kahaan?" Kiran said.

"Woh kya baat huyi?" Nishikant asked carefully.

"Aise sawaal kar rahe hai, jaise ki main criminal hoon…" Kiran said.

Nishikant closed his eyes. "Tumne kya bataya usse?" he asked again.

"Bas itna… ki usne shaadi kyun ki?" Kiran said.

Nishikant frowned, "Tumne use bolne ka mauka di ki nahin?"

"Haan… kiya tha na… un logon ki tareef…" Kiran said sarcastically.

Nishikant closed his eyes and swallowed. He spoke over the phone, "Bani ne nahin bataya beta… lagta hai, donon ke beech behes huyi…" he sighed.

Pia looked at Pushkar.

Sensing the silence, Nishikant asked again. "Sab teek hai na, beta?" this time with concern in his voice.

"Woh papa…" Pia fumbled.

Pushkar took over the phone from Pia. "Papa…" he spoke over the phone.

"Pushkar…" Nishikant was by now sure that something had happened. "Sab teek hai na, beta?"

Pushkar spoke. "Tarassal baat ye hai papa ki Bani ki tabiyat teek nahin hai… aur woh hospital mein hai…"

"Hospital?" Nishikant whispered. "Ghabraane ki koi baat nahin hai na?"

Kiran came near him.

"Jai Sir ne kaha ki ghabraane ki koi baat nahin hai." Pushkar answered immediately.

Nishikant was not satisfied. "Tum sach bol rahe ho na?" he asked.

"Haan papa… Jai Sir ne khud kaha." Pushkar said knowing very well that something might be serious.

"Mujhe toh kuch teek nahin lag raha hai." Nishikant said. "Pregnancy ke waqt hospital mein admit hai?"

Kiran frowned.

Pushkar managed. "Papa, humein toh itna hi pata hai…"

Nishikant sighed.

Pushkar further said, "Agar humein kuch bhi pata chalta hai toh hum aapko bata denge."

"Teek hai, beta…" Nishikant said,

"Teek hai, papa. Mujhe kaam ke liye nikhalna hai." Pushkar brought an end to the conversation.

"Teek hai, beta." Nishikant ended the call.

"Kya hua?" Kiran asked immediately.

Nishikant threw a look at her. "Tumhein kya fark padta hai?" he asked.

"Arey, aap aise kyun pooch rahe hai. Mujhe uski chinta ho rahi hai." Kiran said.

"Chinta? Chinta kis baat ka?" Nishikant asked sarcastically.

"Haan chinta hai mujhe… chinta door ho rahi thi jab usne bataya ki woh wahaan pe khush hai. Lekin ab wapas aa gayi… mujhe un logon par koi bharosa nahin…"

"Aisa tum soch rahe ho, Kiran." Nishikant said patiently.

"Jo bhi ho, woh log Bani ka khayal nahin rakh sakte. Bas bigaadke rakhte hai…" Kiran lamented.

Nishikant shook his head and went inside.

"Arey, aap meri baat sun kyun nahin rahe hai?" Kiran followed him.

***

Jai's mobile rang. He released Bani from his hug and fished out the mobile from his trouser pocket.

He attended the call. "Hello…"

"Hello Sir…" Pushkar spoke.

Jai sat erect. "Hi… main tumhein phone karne hi wala tha."

"Kya baat hai?" Pushkar asked.

"Bani ko hosh aa gaya." Jai said.

"Is it?" Pushkar was happy.

"Haan. Baat karo usse." Jai said and gave the phone to Bani.

Bani gave him a questioning look.

"Pushkar…" Jai said.

Bani got the mobile from him and spoke, "Hello…"

"Hello… Bani… itna shock kyun deti ho mujhe? Kya kar rahi ho?" Pushkar said jokingly.

Bani chuckled.

"Apna dhyaan rakkha karo, Bani…" Pushkar said.

"Teek hai…" Bani said.

"Ab tabiyat kaisi hai?" Pushkar asked.

"Teek hai." Bani said.

"Apna khayal rakkho. Main tumhein baad mein phone karta hoon." Pushkar said.

"Teek hai. Have a nice day." Bani said.

"Bye…" Pushkar ended the call.

Bani gave the phone back to Jai. Jai got it from her.

"Chalo. Ab tablets le lo…" Jai said and took the prescription placed on the box an took the particular tablets and gave it to her with hot water.

Bani gulped the tablets with water.

"Ab tum thodi der let jao. Main zara phone karke aata hoon. Mmm…" Jai said.

Bani nodded her head and helped her lie down. He then covered her with the bedsheet. Bani looked at him. Jai kissed her forehead and stroked her hair once.

"Main abhi aaya. Mmm…" Jai said.

Bani nodded. Jai walked out of the room.

Jai sat on the chair in the corridor and dialed Pushkar's number.

Pushkar attended the call. "Hello Sir, aap hi ke call ka intezaar kar raha tha."

"Kya baat hai, Pushkar?" Jai asked.

"Bani ne ghar phone ki hai. Sirf uski maa se baat huyi, uske papa se nahin. Lagta hai donon ke beech kuch behes huyi hai. Usse zyada kuch pata nahin." Pushkar said.

Jai sighed. "Lekin, mere samaj mein yeh nahin aa raha hai, ki Bani ne phone kyun ki…" He paused. "Khair… thank you, Pushkar."

"Aap se ek baat poochni thi." Pushkar said.

"Haan…" Jai said.

"Bani ko kya hua?" Pushkar said.

Jai sighed. "Miscarriage honewala tha…"

Pushkar caught his breath. "Oh my god…"

Jai continued, "Bhagwan ka shukra hai ki aisa kuch nahin hua… Ab woh teek hai. Do din observation mein rakkhe hai. Bed rest recommend ki hai." Jai said.

Pushkar said, "Achcha, main rakhta hoon. Bani ka khayal rakhiye…"

"Sure. Bye…" Jai ended the call.

Jai leaned behind and thought. Now, he could not ask any further questions in this matter to Bani. Moreover, he did not want to take any chances.

After sometime, he called Aditya, who was leaving for work and spoke about the meetings scheduled for the day. Later, he called Masi and explained the stable condition of Bani and told that they could come and see her.

He went inside after making all the calls. When he came inside, he found Bani wide awake lying on the bed. He came and sat beside her.

"Soyi nahin?" he asked.

Bani looked at him and shook her head.

"Neend nahin aa rahi?" he asked.

Bani did not say anything.

Now Jai was finding difficult to guess her mood and thoughts.

He just said, "Tum thodi der ke liye so jao."

Bani looked at him. "Aap kahin ja rahe hai?" she asked.

"Nahin toh…" Jai said. "Tum so jao. Main yahin par baita hoon."

She did not want to be alone, also she did not want to take any chances. So, she placed her head on his lap and put her arms over his thigh. Jai was taken aback by her action. He looked at her as she went to sleep. As he combed her hair with his fingers, he realized that Bani was feeling insecure.

Thanks for reading 😳

u make us wait so long dear...

omg.. can i please strangle kiran with m own bare hands.. agghhh that woman.. wat kind of mother is hse.. anywayz as usual great part yaaar.. continue sooon.

wat has her family done to bani0 she is a nervous wreck

Pushkar confronted Pia & told her how wrong she with her sister. He is right . If he could figure out Bani's problem right after being par of family why couldn't Pia?

Jai is really being patient. He is the one for bani's situation but then he is he only one who can get her out of it. He should shower so much love that bani shoul be confident of her posiion in his life.

Like the way bani showed her insecurity by holding on to it rather than going in a shell. Good that Jai understood how insecure she felt.

Bani's mom is insensitive b**tch. After all this she doesn't accept hurting Bani but curses Jai & his family for Bani's condition.

Pushkar confronted Pia & told her how wrong she with her sister. He is right . If he could figure out Bani's problem right after being par of family why couldn't Pia?

Jai is really being patient. He is the one for bani's situation but then he is he only one who can get her out of it. He should shower so much love that bani shoul be confident of her posiion in his life.

Like the way bani showed her insecurity by holding on to it rather than going in a shell. Good that Jai understood how insecure she felt.

Bani's mom is insensitive b**ch. After all this she doesn't accept hurting Bani but curses Jai & his family for Bani's condition.

I liked it...kind of things coming to head...like Pushkar said...you guys had no time for her...you don't know your own sister...and Nishikant not trusting Kiran....

Hi

hey abhi