i’ve been writing since the afternoon and i’m very tired sooo haven’t re-read to proofread. please excuse any mistakes, will edit later when i read it. anywaysss, here’s an OS after a week of me not posting anything? also i don’t think the last thing i wrote counts because it was super short so here’s something long and proper after forever. this is dedicated to poorva, i hope you enjoy sweetheart 🤗
Bani was tied down by Chandrakala’s ropes, she couldn’t move and was in immense pain due to the arrows that harmed her previously. Her back was deeply injured and it didn’t help that she was now on her back, tied down. It was burning her and she couldn’t think straight. She wasn’t worried though, she didn’t care about what would happen to her. Bani couldn’t care less, especially after the betrayal from Jay, she didn’t think it mattered if she lived or not. However, she was worried about Veer. She was worried for the husband she just did a tandav for. Bani knew he was okay because of the sign from Shivji but still, she had to see him one last time, she had to make sure with her own eyes that he was okay. Chandrakala was about to slice Bani in half in order to prolong the torture and make her really suffer but before she could, Veer stopped her and she froze at the sight of her son.
Veer pushed Chandrakala and with his Cheel powers, flung her away from them. He wanted to buy time so he could free Bani before facing his mother again. Veer bent down and with his heavy heart, cut the ropes that tied Bani down with the same sword Chandrakala held previously. He was upset to see her in that condition. He couldn’t help but blame himself for the state Bani was in and with that, came a flush of anger towards his mother. How could she do that to Bani? To the only reason of him being alive? Bani on the other hand was relieved to see Veer alive and well. She was grateful to see him there. But that thought quickly went away with the next thought that replaced her relief, Veer would have to fight his mother. He was going to have to choose between his wife and his mother.
Veer held out his hand to support Bani and she took it, holding on to him tightly as she got up from where she was lying down. She was in extreme pain but didn’t show it to him, she didn’t want him worrying about her at that moment as they had a big task at hand. Chandrakala flew towards them and Veer gave Bani a nod, insinuating that they’d work together to end her. Veer took his Cheel form and fought with her while Bani turned into her Naagin form and started to attack her as a snake. But before Bani could properly help Veer with Chandrakala, she noticed the hooded men come back, this time pointing their arrows at Veer. She quickly turned around and took the arrows meant for Veer, they kept at it wanting to destroy her but she didn’t give up. She had to make sure Veer didn’t get hurt. Bani was taking arrows darted at her and she kept taking them out as they came in to her. Veer was balancing off the ledge with his mother, he was one step away from pushing her off and having her plummet to her death.
He was having a hard time fighting her off alone and Bani was starting to deteriorate quickly as the arrows were laced with magic that gave a slow burn. After what felt like forever, Veer tricked his mother by turning into a Cheel and then picking her up before throwing her off the ledge. When Chandrakala died, the hooded men disappeared and Bani fell to her knees, unable to take out the arrows and now had at least six or seven on her. A slow storm built in Veer, after all, he had just killed his mother. The woman that he cried for, the one he longed for, he killed her. Before he went too deep into his thoughts, his immediate reaction was to look for Bani and the minute he turned around, he wished he hadn’t. Veer couldn’t stand to look at the sight in front of him. His wife was wincing in pain, she had arrows on her and he noticed her hands trembling as she failed to take the arrows out. The storm that was for his mother was now for his wife, he had to take care of her, he had to make sure she was going to be okay because he couldn’t lose her. Veer could live without his mother, he had learnt to, but Veer couldn’t live without Bani, he wouldn’t be able to learn that, not in this life, nor in the next.
Veer quickly ran towards Bani and slowly took out the arrows as he healed those areas with his powers. Bani stared at him and didn’t say a word. She would be in pain when he took out the arrows but then felt butterflies the next as he touched her to heal the wound. It was a weird push and pull she felt and didn’t know how to react. She couldn’t really think straight either, her mind was on overdrive and started to shut down with the pain. Once Veer took out the last arrow, he held both her arms and helped her get up.
“Let’s go home, gharwali.”
Bani didn’t say anything. Instead, she stepped closer and put her arms around him, hugging him (willingly) for the first time since they got married. Veer was taken aback, he could feel the weight in her shoulders start to release itself slowly. This was the moment he had been waiting for since they met. The minute he hugged her, it felt as if everything he had been through till then was absolutely worth it. He’d go through it all again if it meant he’d get Bani in his arms.
“I thought I was going to lose you. Markat ne kahaan that she took care of you, I didn’t know what she meant by that and was so scared ki kahin kuch hua tou nahi tujhe. I’m so glad you’re okay,” Bani said.
Veer didn’t say a word and neither did Bani after this. They held each other in the embrace and stood there for a few minutes, both desperately needing the hug, the warmth that the other gave. This was the moment that filled Veer and his soul, the one moment that calmed every storm inside him. The only thing that mattered at that moment was his wife and he would’ve stayed in the embrace longer but he heard Bani wincing in pain as the heat of the arrows started to take over. She wasn’t able to handle the pain any longer and Veer noticed. He broke the hug and carried her in his arms before spreading his wings and flying back home.
Veer turned back into his normal form once they reached the entrance of the house and walked in to find the entire Cheel family chilling in the hall. They saw the state Bani was in and didn’t know how to react. As Cheels, they were happy but as family, they were worried for Veer knowing how much he cared for Bani and how he couldn’t let anything happen to her. They wondered who had the courage to do this to their bhabhi. Veer carried Bani up the stairs and into their room before putting her on the bed. Bani closed her eyes as her back hit the bed as it gave her the little relief her body needed. Veer wanted to let her rest and so he went to open up the blanket and cover her with it. As he went to cover Bani, he noticed her feet bruised and bloody. He didn’t realize that other than the arrows, Chandrakala would have tried hurting Bani in several other places and in different ways. He couldn’t help but feel a rage of anger for Chandrakala but also pained for everything his wife had to go through.
“Bani, how did this happen?” Veer asked.
Bani noticed him looking at her feet before he asked and wasn’t sure how to explain what happened. She tried dodging the question, “I was walking in the cave and I guess that’s how.”
“Markat?”
“No, tandav,” she sighed.
“What?” He asked confused.
“I was stuck there in the cave, before she came in and everything happened. I didn’t know what was happening and she told me that she was going to hurt you. I was worried for you. I thought something was going to happen to you and so I did a tandav for you and stopped when I was sure you were okay.”
Veer was touched. This was the first time Bani did something for him and he couldn’t really process his feelings properly either because he was worried for the wound that could be infected by now. He went to the bathroom to take the first aid kit and as he sat down to tend to her wounds, Bani retreated back.
“Sweetheart, please let me treat this. I don’t want you to get an infection.”
“Veer, achi nahi lagti.”
“Kya? Pati tumhari first aid karne mein kya problem hai Bani?”
“Nahi Veer, wou baat nahi hai.”
“Tou phir kya baat hai gharwali?”
“Wou, agar pati patni ki per chooti tou achi nahi lagti na. It’s not right.”
He rolled his eyes and smiled a little. He never knew Bani would take something like that seriously. Veer didn’t bother arguing with her, instead held her feet down with his hand so she couldn’t move around and started to clean up the wound. He would blow on it as he disinfected the area, trying to make it a little bearable for her. Bani looked at him while he was doing it. She was unaffected by the pain and didn’t feel a thing but Veer did. He was wincing, afraid that he was hurting her. He was in more pain than Bani. Once he finished putting the medicine around, he took the medical cloth and closed the area with it, tying it around her feet.
Veer got up and went to put the box back in the bathroom and when he came out, he strictly instructed Bani, “You’re not moving from here, if you need anything call me and I’ll help you. I don’t want you walking until your feet gets better, samajh gayi?”
“Okay patidev, if you say so,” she smiled at him.
Veer covered her with the blanket and then Bani held his arm before asking, “Are you okay?”
He froze and didn’t respond for a second, not quite knowing himself how he was.
“We’ll talk later, get some rest sweetheart,” Veer caressed her forehead as he said and his smile turned into a frown almost immediately. Bani’s forehead was burning. He checked her cheeks and neck as well to make sure and realized she caught a fever. Bani’s arched her eyebrows confused but then checked and she understood that the arrows were laced with magic that cause the fever.
“Veer, the arrows were laced with magic. It was burning up my body earlier and I realized then. It takes time to come into full effect and that’s why I’m burning. I don’t feel it though so it’s probably just a fever. Don’t worry, main theek hoon,” she tried reassuring her worried husband.
“Tujhe pata tha? Sweetheart you should have told me. Theek hoon ka kya matlab hai?” Veer started panicking and went to take a small towel from the cupboard. He went to the bathroom and wet the cloth before putting it on Bani’s forehead, hoping to calm the fever slightly.
“Veer, main theek hoon. Sachi,” she said.
“Bani, I’m not listening to you until the fever goes away.”
He changed the cloth several times and kept putting it back but the fever wouldn’t go away. She wasn’t getting better and Veer panicked more as time went. He called the house help to bring a chair and put it in the bathroom. Once it was there, Veer carried Bani and helped her to get seated. He didn’t want her to have to stand because of her feet.
“Veer, what are you doing? I’m okay.”
“Please, just let me take care of you?”
She sighed and gave up, “Okay, fine.”
Veer picked up a small balti and said, “Sweetheart, I don’t want you to have to stand up alone and shower so I’ll use this and slowly try to cool down the fever okay? The water will be cold but just bare with me, please?”
“Veer,” Bani started but got cut off by Veer.
“Please argue mat karo gharwali, you said you’d let me take care of you?”
“I’m not arguing with you, bas yeh kehna tha ki thandi paani nahi use karti fever ke liye, you have to use warm kyunki thandi paani system ko shock karta hai.”
“Oh, sorry sweetheart, pata nahi tha. I’ll use warm water.”
Veer took the balti and then he slowly, with his hand, took the water and poured it on her arms. Then, when he was about to wipe it dry, Bani stopped him and urged him to just keep going if not it wouldn’t help. He poured the water on her shoulders and neck, before taking a cloth and dabbing it on her face. Bani couldn’t help but admire him throughout the process. She was in awe of the worry and gentleness that he took care of her with. He told her to pick up her hair and then proceeded to pour water on her back.
“Sweetheart, your clothes are now all wet. I’ll get you a change of clothes so you can change and while you do that, I’ll go and get some medicines quickly before the pharmacy closes, okay?”
Bani nodded. She didn’t want to worry him but she was feeling weak now. The medicines were much needed as she didn’t have the energy to move or say anything at this point. Veer went out to take some clothes and tried to give her the easiest thing to wear so she could slip into it quickly but everything seemed like it would be a hassle for her to wear alone.
“Bani, all of your clothes seem a little hard to get into, do you have anything that’s easy to wear so you can put it on easily?” Veer said from the cupboard and then peeped into the bathroom to see what she had to say. He walked in on her trembling in the chair, she held on to it tightly so she wouldn’t lose balance but couldn’t pretend like she was okay any longer. Veer rushed to her and rubbed her cheeks with his thumb to calm her down and had the other hand on her arm, holding her up.
“I’m here, you’ll be okay. I promise.”
He called Tapish through the intercom and asked him to get medicines for Bani instead and stayed with her, not wanting to leave her alone in this state.
“Veer, will you please help me get out of the sari?” She whispered. The wet clothes were making her shiver and did not help the situation.
He nodded, “Anything you need. Lekin, what do you want to wear? Let me get that then.”
“I don’t have anything that’s easy to get into. Can I borrow one of your shirts please?”
Veer went out and grabbed a shirt of his and went back to the bathroom. He placed the shirt on the marble slab next to the sink. Bani removed the drape of her sari and Veer started to untie the dori behind. She tried to take out the sari but gave up a few minutes in. Veer motioned that it was okay and he’d handle it. He took a towel to make sure she was not still wet and then started to remove the sari. He went around her a few times as he took it out from the petticoat and once he was done, he let the sari fall to the ground. Bani was started to feel rather exposed now as she was barely wearing anything and covered up with her arms. He noticed she was feeling uncomfortable and told her that he’d close her eyes and help her with the top. The petticoat wasn’t wet, it was just the top now that had gotten somewhat damp. He closed his eyes and unzipped it before helping her take it off. Then, Veer went to take the shirt and again, closed his eyes before sliding it on her. Bani removed the petticoat once she had the shirt on and then tapped his hand, telling him that he could open his eyes.
This was one of the most intimate moments they had spent since they got married. Veer was content to know that Bani trusted him at least now. She wasn’t fighting him off. Bani on the other hand, wanted Veer to be close. She didn’t mind any of this, she wanted her husband by her side. After everything that happened, she needed Veer more than anything and anyone. Veer picked her up from the chair and carried her to the bed. He noticed Bani feeling a little uncomfortable with how short the shirt was so covered her with the blanket immediately. Tapish then knocked on the door and Veer went to take the medicines from him. Not only were there medicines but Tapish had also sent soup for the two of them. Veer thanked him and brought the tray to the bed.
“Bani, have some soup so I can give you medicines and then you can aaram se sleep.”
“I’m not hungry,” Bani whined.
“Sweetheart please?”
“Only if you have your soup as well. It’ll get cold,” she bargained.
“I’ll have it immediately after you have yours,” he said as he fed her the soup. Bani didn’t argue and took a few spoons but wanted to make sure he ate as well and so then told him she would have hers herself so he could have his. Veer sighed at his stubborn wife and agreed. He took his soup and downed in in one go. He didn’t bother to even use a spoon, simply pressed his lips on the bowl and drank it. Veer wanted to feed her the soup so she wouldn’t have to move and strain herself any more. He sat next to her again and Bani laughed at the ordeal, she said he was crazy and when he responded that he was crazy for her, she just smiled and had the soup without arguing any more. Once she had finished, Veer gave her a glass of water with the medicines and she had them but not before making a face because she didn’t like taking medicines. Veer was amused to see this side of Bani as he had only previously seen the hatred she held in her for him.
“Chalo, go to sleep now sweetheart. You need to rest, hopefully you’ll feel better then tomorrow,” he said as he tucked her in to bed.
“Gharwali, are you okay if I slept next to you? Just so I can check up on you throughout the night. I can put up the parda if you want.”
Bani didn’t say anything, instead she stretched out her arm and gestured him to come and sleep next to her. She had no complaints as she wanted him to sleep next to her. After everything, she couldn’t sleep on an empty bed. She needed Veer and she needed to know she wasn’t alone tonight. Veer went to his side of the bed, he lied down and found Bani putting the blanket on him. He smiled at this and then turned the lights off. “Good night sweetheart, sleep well.”
“Good night Veer,” she replied.
Bani fell asleep in a matter of minutes. She was extremely exhausted and the pain she had to deal with didn’t help either. Veer on the other hand stayed up for some time to make sure she was okay and was lost in his own thoughts. He was interrupted some time later by Bani mumbling in her sleep.
“Veer, are you okay? I’m here, I won’t leave you. ”
He looked over to see her sound asleep and realized she was unconsciously saying all of this but still responded to his gharwali.
“I’m okay sweetheart. I know you’re here.”
“Hmmm, good. I’m sorry for always being mean to you. I don’t mean it, you know right?”
“Haan pata hai, you love me a lot.”
“Who?”
“Me.”
“Maybe,” she said before drifting off again to sleep. Veer chuckled and tried getting some sleep. But the night didn’t go as smoothly as thought out. At around 4am, Bani found herself in the cave again, this time Markat was attacking Veer and instead of Veer throwing her off the ledge, she threw Veer. The minute Veer was thrown off the ledge, Bani jerked up and screamed for Veer. He wasn’t in a very deep sleep, knowing he had to check up on Bani so when she called out for him, he immediately woke up and saw her panting.
“Sweetheart, I’m here. You’re okay, I’m here,” he said calming her down.
She cupped her hands on his face making sure he was okay, “Are you okay? Tu theek hai na? Veer are you okay?”
Veer calmed Bani down as she kept asking and was starting to tear up in the fear, he quickly engulfed her in a hug and rubbed her back trying to give her some relief. He understood that she had a bad dream and connected the dots when she was mumbling the dream to him. She kept saying, “Markat killed you.” He would constantly deny it and say he was right there with her. Eventually, Bani snapped out of the trance and backed up realizing he was okay.
“I’m sorry, I had a bad dream that she killed you.”
“Sweetheart, it’s okay. I’m here, nothing happened. I won’t leave you, kabhi bhi,” he said comforting her and then helped her lie down back as he wanted her to get some rest. “I’m here, get some sleep, I’ll be here when you wake up.”
She nodded as he caressed her forehead slowly, trying to put her to sleep. Then, he went back to his side of the bed. Bani couldn’t get sleep. Everything was disturbing her. She was scared she was going to lose Veer. She knew Markat was dead but, what if she wasn’t? She rolled over to his side of the bed and rested her head on his chest as he put his arms around her.
“I can’t sleep now, I’m scared I’m going to lose you,” she said honestly.
“Gharwali, I promise I’ll always be here. No one can take me away from you, pakka.”
She changed the topic wanting to ask him the one question she had been waiting to get the answer to since they got back, “Are you okay? I know today was not what you would’ve ever dreamed would happen. I’m sorry that you had to lose your mom again and this time, because of me.”
“Bani, today wasn’t your fault. She was a bad person and she wanted to kill you for your powers. I lived without my mother all these years and I will continue to. I can’t live without you.”
Bani couldn’t believe what he heard. How could someone love her that much? She asked again, “Are you okay?”
“You know when she first left, I blamed myself. I always thought I did something wrong. I couldn’t understand it. I cried every night. I missed her so much, I just wanted my mother back. When you brought her back, it felt as if my world was complete. I had my family, I had you, and I had maa. Lekin Bani, jab mujhe pata chala ki uski sachayi kya hai tou I couldn’t look at her the same. I didn’t have trouble killing her because suddenly, she was not my mother but instead the woman who wanted to kill my wife. She was the person who wanted to take away my life from me. I don’t quite have the answer to your question but as long as I have you by my side, I’ll be okay.”
“I know how hard it can be living without a mother. I don’t have the words to comfort you but all I can say is you have a whole family that loves you immensely. No matter what I feel about them, they have your back, no matter what, I’ve seen that.”
“What about you?”
“I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me now,” she said trying to pass it off as a joke but both knew that she was being serious.
“Are you okay after finding out about Jay?” He asked.
“It’s not a big deal, theek hoon.”
“Bani, it is a big deal. You loved Jay since satyug. It’s huge.”
Bani didn’t say anything, she listened to Veer’s breathing pattern and focused in on that.
“Gharwali, why are you always so guarded?”
Bani whispers, almost not wanting to give out her secret, “I’ve had to be. I never had people to call my own and so I had to put up a wall if not I’d always be kicked down. It’s not easy surviving in this world when your own family at home constantly taunts you and insults you.”
“I know my family isn’t too fond of you but I promise that as much as they have my back and as much as they love me, they will adore you as much eventually. You’ll never feel like you need to have your guard up around them, just give it some time. And in regards to me, I hope you know you can trust me with anything sweetheart. I will always be here for you, no judgements.”
“How do you love me so much?”
“How can someone not? Technically everyone falls for you though, wou Jay aur phir Shakura so I think that answers the question. Sab meri hi biwi ke peeche hai, uff kya karoon? Itna pyaari gharwali milli ab chahaane wale tou bahut hogi na?”
Bani laughed and then spoke up about Jay, “I’m okay about Jay. Obviously when I found out it hurt, it stung and I felt betrayed lekin itna sab kuch hua uske baad ki it feels like a lifetime ago.”
“But you loved him, didn’t you?”
She took a second to gather her thoughts. Bani wanted to confess every single feeling she had for Veer and tell him that she loved him, not Jay. But she wasn’t sure how to say it, especially after everything she had told Veer the past few week and with how she behaved with him. Bani realized at that moment in the cave when she thought she was about to die that if she loved anyone, it was Veer. She wanted to see him one more time, she wanted to hear him call her sweetheart or gharwali one last time, she wanted to know that he was okay, she wanted to tell him that she loved him and that in another life, she promised to finally be his. However, now that she had the chance, she wanted Veer to know that it wasn’t Jay, but it was him.
“Veer, Naageshwari aur Hriday ka dil ka rishta shayad tha lekin I didn’t know Jay. I met him the same day I met you and then suddenly we remembered satyug and I believed that iss baar bhi hum dono ka dil ka rishta hai. Aur haan, shayad aisa ho aur hum dono ke beech mein dil ka rishta hai lekin Veer, agar usse dil ka rishta hai tou tumse rooh ka rishta hai. Sirf kalyug ka nahi, satyug se. I felt something as Naageshwari but I couldn’t act upon it because of my obligations and at the time, my feelings towards Hriday. Lekin iss baar mujhe wou ghalti nahi karni phir se, kuch hai hum dono ke beech mein. It feels right when I’m with you, I feel like I’m home.”
“I promise to always be here for you. I will protect you till my very last breath. I will be here in front of you as a dhaal, no matter what. Kuch bhi ho jaye, aaj ke baad, no one will be able to hurt you.”
“I know, I trust you.”
Veer looked at her and kissed her forehead. Bani closed her eyes and stayed there in his arms, calm and at peace. Bani had never felt like this before, she never knew what it meant to go to sleep and feel safe. He had her engulfed in his arms and for the first night in forever, slept like a baby. Veer was happy and content. He knew that Bani was now his. She had accepted him and she felt what he felt. They slept in each others arms for the first time of many nights together and truly were in peace that night. The next day was awaiting them and it was going to be a good day. It was a day that would be filled with good, a day filled with Bani’s blossoming love, and a day filled with Veer’s sanki wala love.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Book Talk
