~Banjaara Coffee House ~ 5

Originally posted by: Neetz

Congratulations Lashy 🤗Oy kiske liye dear.. 😆...but, anyway thankssessess 🤗

PART 58- THE LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY

Whoa! This is longer than I thought. Apologies dear. Just ignore if you wish to. I wouldn't mind at all.

My expressions -> 😕

Lashy, I so love this update. Well, when have I not loved any of them? 😳 This one was so subtle and realistic. In the present times where movies and tv series have spoiled us so much what with them being as further away from reality as one can possible imagine, NJAPA comes as a relief you know. I marvel at your skills at keeping it all so close to reality and still managing to set our hearts racing. I have read stories where the scenes are so unrealistic that it leaves me with a bad taste even though I absolutely love love stories. A typical girl, eh? 😆

No no... then you're like me.. and as you grow older you might start detaching from unrealistic stories and appreciating REAL love more..

Coming to the chapter

Jo and Jalal have come up with a sign language of sorts to interact with each other. It helped her to convey what she wanted to and others to understand her better. I see she is recovering slowly and not in mere 2 days like in movies. She still has difficulty in speaking and her eyesight is not clear at all times either. It will take time for her to gain normalcy but she eventually will. This was perfect the way you kept this close to reality.

If she had a mere metabolic or a chemically-induced coma (where brain tissue hasn't been directly harmed), she should've been up in two days and normal.. if she had a coma because of an INJURY to a head muscle, then this is how one's life tends to get altered..

As he updates her on the interesting developments' one by one, I was just as curious to know what they are and surprised when I got to know them. Meera and Renu have become thick pals hmm.. 😲My brows literally shot up in surprise there. This wasn't something I expected but it's great obviously. Seems like Renu is now comfortable with Jo and her group and has genuinely accepted them as her friends too. Yeah?

Yes... 😆 as I mentioned to Kalgi too... what can make one open his/her eyes drastically? A life altering incident... and what could have been more life-altering for Renu/Meera/Abdul at this stage than what they went through outside PRC's door that evening

Crazy or whatever... one thing's for sure though... our gang's been my source of strength through everything!'- Loved how Jalal always acknowledges the support of their friends. These are people who have stood by each other in all times-good or bad. Always wanted to say this but missed so saying it now. I salute their friendship. I just heard somewhere very recently that out of all our relations on Earth, we get to choose our own friends. One can't thrust this bond on the other.

She wanted to apologize to Maan, Abdul and Payal for having doubted them. So like Jo this is. She readily accepts her mistake when she's wrong though I remember she was a little hesitant and had a mini world war 3 going on inside her when she had to apologize to Jalal for having suspected him.😉

I did a mini-dance when you brought this up 😆..this is how we tend to be na... egoistic with the ones we like/care for/attracted to the most! That's why she herself was questioning her sanity 'I don't even have an issue apologizing to autowaalas, but can't get the face to say a sorry to Jalal!'

I admire this trait in her. Not everybody has the courage to own up to their mistakes even if circumstances made them do those mistakes and they weren't actually at fault but she had it in her. Kudos to her.👏

Our numerous serial heroines definitely don't have the courage to own up their mistakes 🤣 that's for sure... they're always mahaan! Yes, our Jodha here is different... she knows when she's gone wrong and does make amends... very principled that way... 😊

Best of all the interesting developments was And one more interesting development... your brothers call me by name... your parents address me as beta! Quite a twist, ain't it?' Now this was something. No wonder Jo was so relieved and so was I. Had the situation been different, she would've jumped out of joy. This was something for which she had fought numerous battles against her own loved ones. She finally had all the people she dearly loved with her. No easy feat this was. This news overwhelmed her and gave her much happiness too. Simply great.

😭 Bichaari.. and she can't even celebrate properly

It took her boyfriend's unforgiving stares for her to stop crying for any sort of mental stress was risky for her.

Ok.. for some reason, I got a bit dreamy-eyed here! 😉 gusse-waalaa Jalal!

As she asked him about the creep, his expressions lost all the warmth which was obvious. So, the stalker is a handicap now. Strapped to the wheelchair- just what Jalal wanted and me too i.e. rendering him out-of-action permanently. 😈Jalal vows to fight the lawsuit mercilessly' and he will win for sure. The realist' in him knew he will have to revisit that murky world again and again till this chapter is over. Jo wants the creep to be in a mental asylum. Man, she must've a heart of gold to even think this. That creep caused her so much pain and to those she loves but she still wants him to be treated. Jalal gave a good reply for RC deserves to rot in hell.

Maybe because she was the only one who heard his sorry tales and flashbacks! 😕 But yeah, one -she's not as vindictive as Jalal is... two) she is a kind woman and generally women tend to have more capability to be empathetic ... 😊 No that doesn't mean she wanted him set free.. just sent to an asylum cos prisons can be such mean places and deffo the worst places for a paraplegic to be rotting in😕

But I am little confused about these evidences and witnesses. Didn't he cover all his tracks? Sim cards weren't in his name and neither was the ID his. Only the Meerut address is there. Also, the people standing below thought Jalal is saving him and it was an accident. Explain this to me please.

You missed the biggest eye-witnesses - Renu, Abdul, Meera - they were there at the scene of the crime. They saw Jalal going in hale-hearty (which they would testify to) and when he was found, he was found with a stab wound to the back of his shoulder which he couldn't have ever done by himself. Jodha was already unconscious by then - leaving the only other person in the vicinity capable of doing such a crime PRC

The other eye-witnesses (people) can help testify that Jalal's intentions were to save PRC from the fall and not push him down the terrace...

Plus, Maan would testify his innocence - and bring proofs to do the same. His parents would too. Like how he never visited those sim shops. The group photgraph that was sent to Jodha, Maan was in it too - proving he couldn't have sent it... etc etc... the shopkeepers would be asked to identify Maan Vs PRCS and they would be able to identify PRCS as the guy who visited their shops.. etc

Payal would confess that she used to speak about Ja-Jo casually to PRCS - thus he got all inside info! Plus, the Meerut sim card is the biggest clue that leads to this guy anyway... no one else could have gotten hold of an old Meerut sim card registered to the granddad...PRCS did since the grandad was his own father too...

The guy at the hotel who mixed the drugs in Jodha's drink. He could be called to identify PRCS. While the prof might have masked his face whatever..he can still identify height/build etc na.

Thus, there are many loose ends if you start digging up...

This girl is truly amazing. She may not be able to see him but she can sense the rising anger and hatred in Jalal's voice so she distracts him by asking him about his shoulder. She must have been concerned too. He moves her shoulder to show her that he's improved a lot. She was glad for she could sense that her man was going to be emotionally and physically fine. How beautiful it is that she musters all her will and strength to tug at his sleeves again and again.😳

So cute na.. 😳

He helps her hold his hand as she wanted and asks him to read. He laughs saying that he has spoilt her. He wants to kiss her but she's asleep already and she still had her fingers tightly wrapped around his wrist. Like she didn't want to let go of him even in sleep- This line brought out a strong sense of belonging as per me. And I was again awed by the love that they have.

He wished her Happy New Year 2015. I see the kiss didn't materialize on this new year either. Last time that family disturbed them in the dingy room and now Jodha fell asleep. You're hell bent on tadpofying my Jalal. Lashy 😡 But they have many new years ahead of them to celebrate together and nobody will dare disturb my JoJa then.

Yes... no one would dare! 😈

But what matters is Jo is improving. Though there have been good signs but I liked how you showed that it wasn't easy for Jalal either. He was disheartened too for it must've been painful to watch his Jo struggling to do even the basic tasks. Such a stark difference this is to the lively Jo we all knew. The words of the counsellor in blue are so apt. Very well described. Just as one takes time to adjust to their surroundings when they wake up, Jo has woken up from a deep sleep and it will take time for her to go back to what she was. Gain her confidence back. Jalal will have his sprightly Jo back. Liked this part in blue a lot.👏

🤗Thank you dear

Jodha-Vishal Bickering- Now this was very very cute. This brought back so many memories. Totally different emotions engulfed me here. Vishal teasing Jodha by showing Jalal her funny and funky picture much to her dismay. Jalal didn't try and interfere b/w the bro-sis for he knows they have been always like that and rather chose a diplomatic way out. How cute it was when Jo said she wanted Jalal to thrash me. God!! Adorable she is. I was actually imagining her sulking and demanding this of her man.😆

Yes... imagine... the guy is teasing her looks/mannerisms.. she must feel so ANGRY na... typical sibling stuff this is though! 😆

Vishal, the resident -jester, who was making sure that the grief didn't overpower his family. Also, Jalal addressed Jo as MY GIRL' in the presence of her parents. *faints* It felt great to see that Jo's family is now comfortable with Jalal and have come to considering him as one of their own from calling him manhoos ladka'. Her parents call him beta now after all. Her parents dragged Vishal out so that Jo could have that mental' peace. Whoa. This was amazing. Willingly leaving their daughter with Jalal for they know she finds peace when with him.😊

Yes... 😊 slowly but steadily getting there...

Jo told him the reason for not liking the photo which was her quarter-inch roots. Her disappointment regarding that and being sad about her 'abnormal' mannerisms was so touching. It was but natural. She was bound to feel so. Such a stark difference it was to the confident and bubbly Jo that she was. What I believe though is beauty lies in feeling beautiful and confident and not in appearances only. Jo is beautiful inside out and Jalal knows that na. She will go back to what she was. I like her new nickname too- ROCKSTAR. That she is. For sure. A little off topic- How I love long hair. Miss my own too. *sob*

Oh... he loved it and she loved it too 😭 but, it'll grow back... 😃 and why did you cut your own?

Valentine Gift

Where Jalal was able to pamper her with book-readings, flowers, a silk scarf, extra-large bouquets, etc Jodha couldn't do all that but she isn't the one to give up just like that and gave a beautiful and amazing gift to her man by calling out his name without stammering. JALAL. Gifts need not be materialistic all the time na for it's the feeling and thought behind the gift that matters the most. He must have been so happy na. Only a guy like him could understand the efforts she must have taken to surprise him so.

👏

He has seen and heard her taking his name easily and talking freely and now he has also seen her struggle to speak a word without stammering. A simple word required much effort from her side considering the condition she is in so to hear his name from her must have been delightful. Sure he must have heard her calling his name umpteen times in the past but this was undoubtedly special and the compliment he gave her Just like how you used to'. Wow.😊 She understood the awesomeness of this. Her efforts paid off for she could sense the amazement in his reactions. Sure this would have encouraged her as well and must have been a boost on the path of gaining her confidence back.👍🏼

You've described all this so well Neetzie! 😳

Ohh how much I wanted Jalal to know everything that had happened when they were apart and here she is updating him on everything like he did. More than anything I wanted him to know about Rishab scene and 200 Rs that helped her. That even though he wasn't physically there with her but he still was her guardian angel like she was to him. He knows about the pineapple halwa she made for him too. Yayyy..*dancing* So lovely that he said there will be a time when she will be able to make it again for him. Jalal is constantly encouraging her and what is even more amazing is that he is confident and has complete faith that beautiful times await them and they will have a future TOGETHER and assures her of the same. No doubt there. He is her pillar of strength whenever she feels dejected. He brings her back from that feeling and that he is there for here now and will always be.

Yes.. she will be there for him in future like how he's always been there for her...

Birthday Gift

Jo wants him to complete his MBA. For both of them. This made me really sad you know. MBA was Jo's dream. What did she not do for this. Her family too. Her brothers took out all their savings so that she could fulfil her dreams. She was working so hard to achieve that goal of hers. Jalal too sacrificed the last few months of his college life for her dream that too willingly. How difficult it must be to accept that her dream may never come true. He lost his chances of winning the Outstanding Student Award so that she could continue with her studies. But that stalker mercilessly destroyed it all. All her hard work, her sacrifices, the fights she had to put up for it, her man's sacrifices all went down the drain because of this vile and devious man who didn't give a damn.

You're the only one who actually managed to point out EVERYTHING and EVERYONE's efforts that went into Jo's dream - but you're 100% right! 😭

But as they say not everything is lost yet. She wants him to do it for BOTH of them and he will do it for THEIR sake so that she can have that sense-of-achievement'. I so love these two. Such a sensible thing Jo had asked for. She knew he deserved that and also she would be able to live with him all his accomplishments that she has missed out on.

Yes.. she was being pragmatic about it! 👏

Maybe sometime in the future, she will able to accomplish her dream when her condition is stable and side effects of her medical problem will not be so pronounced. It's not possible now na. But I know she will and she has her man as her biggest support by her side always.

👍🏼

She asked for a Chocolate fudge cake for her birthday. This is Jalal's favourite flavour and not hers but he is quick to understand that this way she wants to celebrate his missed' birthday along with her own. Awww😳

YESH! ⭐️

Birthday Party

The raucous group is back with their tease-a-thons. I so missed them. We did have a chotu sa glimpse in Jalal's office though but this was definitely awesome for the entire group was here. Even the authorities couldn't stop them from having so much fun and making this birthday special for Jodha. Jalal didn't leave a single stone unturned for this. He made sure that all the people his girl loved were there with her and for her on her special day. All their friends and her family too. Teeny-weeny question, Where was Jalal's mother? Couldn't she be here too?

I didn't add her here... because I think Jalal wanted to keep this more 'personal' to Jodha since she is still concious of herself in public. Plus, as a writer if I had brought ammi here, it would make the Singh-Muhammed angle more formal instead of a wild party...

and there is more of Singh-Muhammeds to come in future chapters 😳

Jalal's stares and reminders about her family being there too didn't deter them one bit. Janaab gets his daily dose of around this time na...' Poora-ka-poora legal romance, with aashirwaad, sasural ka sawaal hai, mujhe marvaoge..OMG all of this had me laughing hard. My master... Worry not about disappointing them. You have completed Mission Impossible successfully. You have impressed your in-laws 100%. There is absolutely NOTHING more you can do to impress them! Any further!'

😆

So true. There's nothing else he can do and rather he need not do. The Singhs have seen for themselves how much Jalal means for their laadli' and that he really loves and cares for her. He didn't leave her alone in the most trying times. Became their torch-bearer. I doubt they would need any more proof regarding the purity of their relation and the place they have in each other's lives, their hearts.

😳 Nope they don't!

'For shaadi ke baad, I have a totally ISPECHIAL stock' 🤣

Abdul is amazing man. So are the rest of their friends. But his words make me laugh harder always.

Loved em too! ⭐️

Cake

This deserves a special mention here. Two-in-one mega Blackforest & Chocolate Fudge cake. I loved the symbolism here. This showed that they are together in anything and everything they do. They're meant to be TOGETHER FOREVER. They are two halves of a whole. One is incomplete without the other. Soul mates in every sense. Each other's sunshine they are.As a whole, they have the power to cross all the hurdles they'll have to face in their lives which they will for life is no walk in the park. It is a bed of roses with the thorns intact. They will cross them like they have till now together. They are strong individuals but together they paint a beautiful picture indeed.😳

It is a bed of roses with the thorns intact. Poetry indeed Neetzie!

Jalal has gifted her an Iphone I see. Another thing that struck me was Jodha's parents aren't even objecting to the expensive gifts he is getting for her.😲 Getting bouquets and scarves is one thing but an expensive phone is a different thing altogether na. They have accepted him as one of their own but so much so that they are okay with the gifts too? So, in a way they have given their nod to Jalal-Jo's relationship in the true sense. Right? Where is the ring then? Jaldi lao usko. It so deserves to be with its rightful owner.😉

I phone he got her for her birthday... birthday pe tho ek special gift ka haq bantaa hi hai.. had he been getting her special gifts every now and again, they might be embarassed... but at this stage, itnaa tho they'll have to accept (not only is the guy helping them out with Jodha - he is also managing the court/lawyers etc - so they really are so obliged to him, they'd be embarrassed to ever say NO to him again😆)

also, if you remember he wasn't able to buy her anything for the past year..so poora revenge nikaal raha hai.. and it is because he respects the SInghs' sentiments that he hasn't fished out that diamond ring yet 😉

Jo holding his hand with her family sitting just a few tables away. Ayyooo.. Jo indulging in PDA. Throwing surprises at me one after another, aren't you? Not that I am complaining one bit. 😉

JO held his hand only AFTER her family went to the car to keep the gifts 😉 but also, I've noticed even in traditional families - once they give their nod, the guy becomes like the 'king' the 'jamai' and the ladki waale can't say much! At least in my house this is how it is... 😆

Jalal is observant as ever. His only interest lies in whether his girl enjoyed or not and he obviously noticed that she didn't interact with their friends much. She had been silent throughout. She tells him the reason which was nothing but the truth and that is nobody can understand her words clearly. How disturbing it must be to have people staring at her facial expressions and her lips trying to understand what she was saying and having to repeat when they didn't. Must be pulling her down no.😔

Yes! 😭

No one c...can understand m...me ... clearly yet! None essxcept you...and m...mamma!' I would just write a quote here for my thoughts on the understanding that Jo and Jalal have. I think this says it all.

"There's nothing more intimate in life than simply being understood.

And understanding someone else."

😭

Bade Bhaiyya overhears Jo's confession and finally it hits him that time has passed and things have changed. For the better I believe. Liked this line she was more of Jalal's Jo than she was his Choti' now.' It was time to allow his sister to be with the man she has chosen for herself. To let her be with the one she loves so much and who in turn loves her just as much if not more. He understood that she relates to Jalal more than anyone else now. Jalal has been Jo's rock. I understand him a bit now. It is obviously difficult for parents and here Bade Bhaiyya ,who considers Jo his daughter, to give their laadli's hand to another man with complete confidence and trust that he will love her and care for her like they did till now. Isn't it every parent's dream to marry their daughter off to a good and able guy? It just becomes a problem when they try to impose their own choices believing that no one else can take better decisions than them when it comes to choosing the guy their daughters should marry, least of all the girl herself. It is a norm especially in India na. They maybe right at times but in this case her family was so wrong. It's simply about acceptance I think. Acceptance that every individual has a right to choose the person they want to spend their life with, acceptance that it's not necessary that they maybe right at all times and acceptance that one has to change with the changing times. ( I am not referring to the values here but these age old tradition of arranged marriages and thinking that only arranged marriages work).Don't you think?

What wise and pithy words.. I've seen both happening.. arranged marriages fail and love marriages succeed better than ever! I think the parents must take time to understand the guy/his family before dissing him off completely like the Singhs did!

Does this mean we can expect an official engagement or announcement of the same in the next part? Or maybe a convo b/w Bade Bhaiyya and Jo-Jalal, or with his parents about this? It's hard to believe that this is the same big brother who along with Kranti Bhaiyya wanted to beat Jalal with cricket bats and Jo had to beg him to not do that. He has come a long way too. From saying that it's because of decent boys like Jalal that families can send their girls out totally unaware of the said decent' guy's thoughts about his sister then to wanting to kill him to offering him good advice when Jalal broke down to finally accepting him as a permanent in Jo's life. To welcome him with open arms maybe.

Exactly.. and the canteen incident brought a smile to my face 😆

On a side note. You know Lashy, I have always wondered especially from the last chapter whether a guy like Jalal really exists. I have read many many love stories and seen movies but none of them made me think about love and the connect our Jo and Jalal have ever before. Then I realized that Jo and Jalal are soulmates and not an ordinary couple.They are selfless in their love for each other and do things for the other not because they have to but because they want to.There is no compulsion. Something that I have seen a lot. I know you told me not to look for Jalal but find my Jalal in the right guy and I so agree with you. But I admit that this certainly has raised my expectations. I know I will understand it all when I come to that point in my life but as much as it maybe wrong but I am sitting here in anticipation of meeting my Jalal. Getting lost here I know. Not to worry. I am not going to let this take over my life. So much left to do before I even think of this but my mind wandering in that direction. Can't help it.😉😆

👏 Well said! Neetz and always remember the underlined...

Forgot to mention- I liked how you distorted the words Jo spoke. This showed how difficult it was for her to speak coherently at the moment. I found myself reading those words in that same manner. This touch of reality telling us about her condition was nice.👏

Yes... even when I re-read it, I tend to read it with a stammer now... makes us empathize with her more..

Ooppss.. I should stop now. Rambled on for so long now. Sorry if I have missed out on something. Thanks for this lovely story sweetums and this was a superb update. Love you so much. 🤗

Love you loads and totally worth the wait this review was! 🤗

Originally posted by: Super Kool

The long road to recovery...indeed...it's not just long but has numerous hurdles...but...when you have people who are there to help you to get to your feet every time you fall...it gives you the motivation and strength to fight harder...to get to you feet faster...

Yes!

Jodha is a fighter...I bow down to the spirit of this lady...how shattering it must be to realise that the golden future one worked for is now just a distant dream...?? How difficult it must be for some one to come to terms with the fact that all those hours of hard work were outweighed by few hours of an unfortunate incident...??? However, we don't call our leading lady a fighter just for the sake of it...she held the bull by its horn...okay, fate...you want to test me...fine...I will start from the scratch...every day... I will try and try harder...I am a fair person...I do owe you something, for you have given me some one like jalal...

Wow! You've written about her inner-spirit so well dear... such a pithy angle to the whole scenario.. 👏

'I do owe you something, for you have given me some one like jalal...' this is poetry!

Jalal...Jalal, has given the word commitment a new meaning...he is the one who has made the difference in jodha's life...it's his confidence that has kept jodha and her family going..her anchor who didn't let her drift into oblivion...

Ok go on... I shall let myself slip in dreamworld..

every time the girl feels dejected, his strong arms are there to embrace her... give her a safe place where she doesn't have to run away from her insecurities...a place where she can rest and gather her strength to face the challenges of the new day...

Still in dreamworld...

no words are enough to describe the beauty of this relationship...jalal and jodha are beautiful individuals...but...together they are magic...pure magic...

Still there!

There were many moments that were heart warming...the name Rockstar, jodha's gift to jalal, jodha's birthday party...❤️

Yeah... small gestures for one another in the gruelling everyday routine that these two face... day in day out!❤️

The friends of this couple are gems...they should be cherished...loved Abdul's naughty comments...☺️

Hee hee... 😆

Bade bhaiyya- my throat choked and my eyes misted...I can't define my feelings...want to share my thoughts but cant find the right words...it just held my heart...it was painful but in a good way...

🤗 You have a sibling too.. maybe that's why you resonated with him here...

Lashy, I am glad that I am a part of this journey...feel privileged that you decided to give us this story to love and cherish...and...I have enjoyed every single word of it...you rock...lub you...

WOW! Thanks so much dear... this means so much to me.. love you loadseses..

And pssst.. a secret... I wait (and search ) for your comments after every chapter...

🤗

Originally posted by: dharmimum

Hey Lashy, no need to mention about your writing skills and how you potrayed the love and emotions. Wonderful update dear and sorry for the late comments as I was busy.