Candle In The Wind
(Parts 1 through 3)
Legally Copyrighted: The story and the name are copyrighted, only I have the right to change the names of the characters, story, places etc and publish it. Plagiarism of any kind, in parts or in its entirety is strictly not permitted.
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=1
This part is dedicated to Bhavna(brkataria) and Bina(BTKR), Nancy and TINK. Thank you for all your lovely comments, you make me feel special.
Maya Angelou
American Poet, Author and Actress
Traveling through casual space
Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns
To a destination where all signs tell us
It is possible and imperative that we learn
A brave and startling truth
And when we come to it
To the day of peacemaking
When we release our fingers
From fists of hostility
And allow the pure air to cool our palms
When we come to it
We, this people, on this minuscule and kithless globe
Who reach daily for the bomb, the blade and the dagger
Yet who petition in the dark for tokens of peace
We, this people on this mote of matter
In whose mouths abide cankerous words
Which challenge our very existence
Yet out of those same mouths
Come songs of such exquisite sweetness
That the heart falters in its labor
And the body is quieted into awe
We, this people, on this small and drifting planet
Whose hands can strike with such abandon
That in a twinkling, life is sapped from the living
Yet those same hands can touch with such healing, irresistible tenderness
That the haughty neck is happy to bow
And the proud back is glad to bend
Out of such chaos, of such contradiction
We learn that we are neither devils nor divines
When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth
Have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
Without crippling fear
When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.
+++++++++++++++++++
Ranveer was restless, a powerful desire made him want to go after Rano, but he forcibly contained it. When he went back to the office, he saw his whole staff was abuzz with gossip, they were talking about their boss finally cracking under a beautiful girl's spell.
He bristled angrily as Adi came with a grin into his office.
'Ranveer, where did you go? We were all looking for you for the noon meeting.' Adi asked him innocently.
Ranveer swore under his breath, he forgot about the meeting with his lawyer about the take over deal.
'Dekho, Ranveer, Jai is in Bangalore, I think he needs your help there, I have booked the tickets for the early morning flight at 6:00am. And I hear this Rano Dixit from the management consulting company will also be there in Bangalore ' may be you can discuss the M&A stuff with her, two birds with one stone' Adi crossed his fingers behind his back and smiled innocently at Ranveer.
Ranveer looked suspiciously at his father, his search into Adi's face did not yield any results.
'I don't know where she is staying', Ranveer rubbed the back of his neck.
'Don't worry, Ranveer, I already called her office and found out she is staying at Jai's hotel in Bangalore.' Adi grinned widely.
'I know what you are thinking, Papa, and it won't work' Ranveer was stern.
Adi tried to look serious. 'I am thinking that it would be a perfect opportunity to talk about the acquisition. What do you think I was thinking?'
'She has a boyfriend' Ranveer looked morose.
'Who has?'
'Rano Dixit! And stop it, I know what you are doing!' Ranveer threw a bitter look at his father.
'And is this my son who is giving up at the first chance he gets with a girl and that too without a fight?' Adi pulled a chair to sit down.
'You think I should pursue her even if she has a boy friend?' Ranveer looked doubtful and a bit embarrassed talking about a girl with his father.
'I never thought my son would back out at a mere threat of a boyfriend. Akhir, he is not a fiancee or a husband' Adi instigated him with a smile.
'So who else thinks that I should go to Bangalore?' Ranveer eyed a dozen or so employees standing outside and looking at the father and son eagerly.
'Well, most people are betting that you would go, except for the watchman who claims that Ms. Dixit looked really upset with you when she left.' Adi relished telling his son about the office gossip.
'How much is the bet?' Ranveer asked drily.
'The bet is 100 rupees but the odds are three to one.' Adi laughed heartily as Ranveer's eyebrow went up to his hairline.
'Well, tell the people who bet that I wouldn't go that I said sorry, and Dad, ask for one more ticket, for Pushkar, I am not working in Bangalore, he can do what Mama-ji wants!' Ranveer gave a lopsided smile and left his father standing with his mouth open.
+++++++++++++++++++++
He gathered her close to him and kissed her forehead before trying to join her in blessed sleep.
But he woke up too soon, as if his body was alerting him to the new sensation of a warm human being in his arms. The smooth cheek so close to him on the pillow, it made him want to touch her and intercept the wayward tendrils and put them aside. He held back with difficulty. He knew there would be recriminations when she woke up. He watched her until the morning rays seeped into the room and quietly got up, took a shower and left to sit by his daughter's side.
If his wife was a sleeping beauty, his daughter looked like a divine angel. His attention faltered as he heard Bani getting up and going into the bathroom. Reya stirred into a wakeful state as she heard the knock on the door, he went to open the door, Rohan was standing outside, still in his pajamas, his hair in tousled mass, his glasses crooked on his nose. He had a toothless grin on his face.
'Uncle Jai, is Reya awake?' A quick, careless hug to Jai, and then 'A Good morning' flung at him as an afterthought, He didn't wait for Jai to answer him before rushing through the door to Reya's bedroom. He was heard jumping on to the bed trying to wake up Reya as Jai shook his head in mock disbelief. The boy was a bundle of energy. He reminded him vaguely of his nephew Sahil at that age.
He ordered pancakes and waffles for the kids and joined them in the room as they got themselves caught up in a boisterous pillow fight. He wanted so badly to join them, he felt his intense yearning was felt by the children.
'Whack!' A soft pillow hit him on the side of his face, and one more on his head'he lifted a throw pillow from the loveseat he was sitting and pursued his attacker. The room was pretty soon filled with shrieks of delight and mock horror as a friendly fight ensued between the three.
He looked up as he felt the intense stare. He saw Bani turning away and a mask fell over her face, but not before he observed a flood of emotions washing over her face - the pain, embarrassment, shock and something akin to love. He deliberately wiped the expressions off of his face and grinned at her. He was going to play this game with patience and pursue the future delicately.
The kids stopped the fight when the room service knocked on the door with the breakfast. He ignored Bani and went into the bathroom to take a shower. The bathroom greeted him with the smell of lilac soap and jasmine shampoo. He breathed in the telltale of feminine whispers of talc and the fragrance of a mild perfume of lillies. His body stiffened against his thoughts suspended as the desire of the last six years of abstinence hit him in waves.
The cold shower he took helped him a wee bit as he hurried through it and went outside. Silence greeted him in the room and a fright like he never knew before overtook him. She left him again with his daughter. He reeled with the pain and sorrow, and he rushed to the door to find her and bring her back.
He stopped as he saw her coming back in to the room with a tray of coffee and a bowl of fruit.
He felt dizzy and sagged with relief. He saw compassion in her face and his face turned a mottled red. He didn't want her compassion, she was the reason for his downfall and he wouldn't let her do this to him again.
'We need to talk!' Bani said slowly but succinctly.
'I guess that's six years overdue' His veiled sarcasm wasn't missed.
She ignored it and looked at him directly.
'What happened last night was a mistake,' Bani muttered under her breath.
'Was it? It looked like you enjoyed it' His reply was sardonic.
'Yes, I guess all your expertise didn't go to waste' she was bitter.
'I am glad it came to use, it sourly needed practice' he turned away in desperation as his body turned to stone again.
'Are you going to talk to me about Rano and Rohan?' he changed the subject.
An awkward silence spread in the room.
'What are you hiding from me? It looked like Rohan and Reya are about the same age, that tells me that she was pregnant about the same time as you were. Whose baby is Rohan?' A barrage of statements and questions were fired at her. 'Why does he look so familiar, I mean, it's more than Rano's resemblance'he looks like my father and Sahil', his eyes widened with shock. His sharp eyes caught the uncertainty and hesitancy in hers.
'Bani!' He whispered. 'Please tell me the truth! Why do I feel that he is part of my blood, almost like Reya? Why would Jigyasa tell me you had an abortion! I was marrying you for God's sake!' Jai looked defeated.
'I was not the one who was supposed to get that abortion.' Bani couldn't meet his eyes. Her words could barely be heard.
'They were Rano's papers' Jai stated heavily. 'But she didn't go through it'
She nodded without looking up.
'So why did she lie?' Jai was still confused.
'She didn't even know that I was pregnant' Bani looked confused too.
'Jigyasa didn't really say your name, she just was waving that receipt in my face and jumping like a mad woman' Jai grew thoughtful.
She raised her face to meet his eyes and she looked miserable.
'She was mad because someone she knew made Rano pregnant!' Jai stated slowly.
'And the only reason, she would care so much is, if it's someone who is close to her.' The silence stretched in the room until the tension could be cut with a knife.
'She is only close to Ranveer and Sahil, and Sahil was in Mumbai with Anu and Ranveer was in the farm with Rano and you' Jai's eyes widened as the truth hit him hard.
'Rohan is Ranveer's baby!' He whispered through barely opened lips.
'I am going to kill him!' Jai shook with anger. His fists clenched tightly.
'You will do no such thing!' Rano stepped into the room silently.
'You are defending him?' Jai looked shocked. He twisted his head to look at her.
'Yes, I am defending him, and it wasn't his fault!' Rano's cheeks turned red.
'Are you telling me that you seduced him?' Jai flung the accusation at her.
'Mr. Walia!' Bani shouted at him in anger.
'Well, what is the truth then? That it was love at first sight and that they couldn't stop themselves from touching each other' Jai shouted back recklessly.
'The truth, Mr. Walia is that they were looking for Karan and I on the day of the floods and the day Karan died!' Pia leaned against the door.
'And of course, they took that opportunity to have unprotected sex because they couldn't keep their hands off of each other' The sarcasm dripped from Jai's voice in abundance. He looked at Rano's head hung in shame and did not relent.
'More or less! They were stuck in an abandoned warehouse without heat and one thing led to another' Pia had no qualms telling him exactly how it was.
Now it was Jai's turn to look ashamed and uncertain.
'Now, would you explain how my Bani di got pregnant?' Pia didn't spare him one inch.
'Pia', Bani shouted at her sister.
'Well, he has no right to talk to Rano like that!' Pia had no apology for Jai.
Jai looked from one sister to the other. He was glad that the three of them looked after each other in their hours of need.
'Does Ranveer know about Rohan?' Jai ran a hand through his hair.
'No!' The truth was out in the open, at least with one party.
'Jigyasa knew about Rohan and that she was going to be a grand mother!' It was a statement and not a question.
'You took the money for Rohan, not for you' this time the statement was aimed at Bani and he didn't really expect an answer back from her.
'I hate all women, how could they do this to each other?' Jai whispered torturously.
Pia laughed, her laughter held no joy and mirth.
'Easily, Mr. Walia - We do it in the pretext of love' She turned and left without a backward glance.
'I am sorry, Mr. Walia! Ranveer was not at fault, at least not in the beginning' Rano's pain reflected in her eyes that hid behind the rimless glasses. She followed Pia and left, closing the door behind.
He looked at Bani with anger and frustration!
'Pia is wrong, isn't it? You never loved me! if you had, you wouldn't have left me. You would have stayed back even if I made mistakes, you would have forgiven me, you would have trusted me enough to tell me the whole truth' He flicked the tear that threatened to fall from between his closed lids.
Bani looked aghast at him. How easily did he forget what he did to her and turn it against her? He forgot that he was the one who did not trust her. He was the one who wouldn't listen to her.
'You are such an insufferable pig' She stepped back from him to leave, but he stopped her by holding her wrist tight.
'Yes, I am a pig, and you made me like this!' he accused her as he brought her closer to him.
She kicked him in the shin as hard as she could.
It was pure luck that made the kick to glance at his pant leg instead of full contact with his leg.
'Oh, No! You don't!!' he put his hands behind her skull to shape her head and lean it back to kiss her hard on her mouth.
Her back was against the door as he braced her in his arms and between his rock hard body and the equally solid door.
His tongue ruthlessly sought hers in an open kiss that crumbled her defenses.
She answered his kisses with her own, his body imprinted into hers, her hands dug into his buttocks and pulled him closer into contact and they moaned as they lost track of time. The kiss went on and on until his thoughts contained only of Bani and nothing else.
+++++++
Ranveer stepped into the hotel a little tired but with a spring in his step.
He put the luggage down and turned to speak to the receptionist about his room. It took him a couple of minutes to sort out the checking in and he picked up his overnight bag to go to his room.
He stepped on the soccer ball and his leg went under as he tripped and fell sharply on his bottom.
He looked ignominious as he looked up to see a slightly chubby kid looking down at him with a twinkle in his eye and a hand to help him straighten up.
++++++++++
NEXT PARTS:
Part 40:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=5
Part 41:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=11
Part 42:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=17
Part 43:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=23
Part 44:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=30
Part 45:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=42
Part 46:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=47
Part 47:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=52
Part 48:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=57
Part 49A
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=61
Part 49B
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=65
Part 49C
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=71
Part 49D
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=78
Epilogue
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=85
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
