PART I & II - PAGE 1
PART III (A) & (B) - PAGE 2
PART III (C) & (D) - PAGE 4
PART IV (A) & (B) - PAGE 6
PART IV (C) & (D) - PAGE 8
PART V (A) - PAGE 10
PART V (B) - PAGE 14
PART VI - PAGE 18
PART VII (A) - PAGE 23
PART VII (B) - PAGE 25
PART VII (C) - PAGE 28
PART VIII (A) - PAGE 31
PART VIII (B) - PAGE 35
PART VIII (C) - PAGE 40
PART VIII (D) - PAGE 44
PART IX - PAGE 49
PART X & EPILOGUE - PAGE 58
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Then Almitra spoke again and said, 'And what of Marriage, master?'
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
Story Outline : The story touches one year in the life of two strangers brought together by Marriage, arranged by their respective families and how they both fight with their respective pasts and whether they are able to bring love and togetherness into an unwanted relationship or not!
Part I (A)
Jai rubbed his bleary eyes again, as he tried to stay awake in his Office and complete the project review that he was working on. He had not slept properly for the last week or so, working on the merger deal that was going through. Now it had been successfully executed and he could leave Office on time for a change, before it was midnight.
In his early thirties, Jai headed the Walia Group, which was one of the largest and oldest Hotel Chains in India. Little was known of the Walia?s in person, except that they were old money people and a very close knit family.
Jai was a quiet sort of person, both in looks and nature. He always had slight stubble on his face, which kind of looked incongruous with his sophisticated self, but nevertheless gave him a very attractive demeanor. He wore reading glasses sometimes which his sister always said made him look like a very Sexy Santa Clause, whatever she meant by that! He had an overall broad and heavy built and when he changed in the locker room after his weekly game Tennis as his club, not many men could hide their envy at his athletic built.
Jai had been the first born to Uday and Krishna Walia, followed by his younger sister Karuna who was some 4 years his junior and then the youngest, Nachiket who was almost 7 years younger than Jai.
His sister, Karuna was married to Tarun Sablok, a top-notch Corporate Lawyer who worked for the Walia Group and was also the son of a close family friend. Karuna and Tarun had a 5 year old daughter, Anushka, whom Jai adored. Nachiket had completed his management degree from the US and had joined under Jai and was now handling some part of the business independently.
Jai?s maternal aunt had come visiting them from Chandigarh, it was one of her bi-annual jaunts which always started and ended on the topic of Jai?s marriage! This time it was slightly different, Massi had come up with a marriage proposal for Nachiket, much to Jai?s amusement and Karuna?s shock. Nachiket had been equally surprised and had told in no certain terms that he couldn?t even think of marriage till his elder brother had tied the knot. Massi had sulkingly replied that she had been bringing all sort of matches for the last 10 years now but Jai had been turning all of them unequivocally, not even bothering to look at the photographs or even hear out any detail.
Walia House, Mumbai
Karuna and Tarun had come over to Walia House along with their 5 year old daughter, Anu who was being piggybacked by Jai all around the house, much to her glee and joy.
?Massi, what are you saying? How can we think of Nachiket?s marriage, when Jai Bhaiyya is still single??
?Didi is right, Massi. And anyway, I haven?t even thought about marriage yet. Plus, I want to see my Brother happily married till my wife comes in and creates a rift in the house.?
Tarun and Karuna erupted into laughter as Jai joined them in the lawns, as Anu sprinted towards, Caesar, Jai?s 5 year old Golden Retriever. As Jai took a swig of the Sweet Coffee and made a face, keeping the Cup back, he remarked cheerfully, ?Who is getting married??
Massi looked at her favorite nephew and said affectionately, ?I have brought an alliance for marriage. Do you remember the Singhania family from Jaipur? I am talking about one of their grand-daughters. Mr. Singhania?s daughter Kiran?s eldest one. They live in Mount Abu.?
As everyone listened on with great interest, except Jai, she continued nostalgically, ?I happened to meet the girl at a Wedding in Jaipur last month and I just couldn?t get her out of my mind. As it happened, the family was on the lookout for a suitable groom and I just mentioned our family to them. Obviously, they are much below your social status, but then, what need do we have for money, the girl should be good, isn?t it??
Karuna readily agreed and said, ?You are right Massi. The girl should make a good wife and take care of my brother. The last thing we want is a social butterfly as the daughter-in-law of this house.?
Jai gave a piercing look at his sister who immediately flushed and avoided his gaze.
Nachiket made some noises and said hesitatingly, ?I don?t want to get married so soon?and besides, how can I even think of marriage when Bhaiyya is still single??
Jai smiled at his brother and said, ?How does my not being married affect you in any way? Go and see the girl at least. You have settled down well in your business and this is the right time to get married.?
Nachiket and Karuna exchanged glances but kept quiet, though Massi did not deem the same necessary and retorted to Jai, ?You are talking about the right time, when you have decided to waste the remaining years of your life being single??
Jai stiffened himself a bit and said, ?Don?t bring that topic again, Massi. Please. We have gone through this umpteen times.?
As Caesar came bounding upto Jai, he put a leash onto the Dog?s collar and took him out for his daily walk near the beach, which was just a stone throw away from their Bungalow.
As soon as Jai had disappeared out of view, the four of them begun talking in hurried tones.
?I just hope I find a good place to hide. You know Bhaiyya?s temper; he will rip us apart if he comes to know that we masterminded the whole thing.? Nachiket said nervously.
?Massi, you have to handle him once we reach Mount Abu.? Karuna exclaimed, anxious yet excited.
?Guys, are you really sure of what you are doing? I don?t think Jai is going to like this at all.? Said the ever cautious Tarun, who had known Jai for a long time and knew his reactions to pranks and unexpected surprises.
Massi took another Ladoo and smiling with benevolence said, ?Don?t worry. Just get Jai to Mount Abu once, I will handle everything there.?
Part I (B) ? Dixit House, Mount Abu, Rajasthan
The alarm clock rang shrilly once again, as Bani kept her hand on the contraption and pulled the pillow over her head, hoping to catch a few winks.
?Di?Di?.Wake up?Papa is looking for you. Di?get up, for god sake.? As Bani mumbled something sleepily, Raashi pulled the duvet from Bani and shaked her up in good measure, as Rano came hopping in and laughed at the scene which she was used to seeing everyday! ?Give up Raashi. Di is hopeless. Till Ma comes and pours cold water over her, our Kumbhkaran is not going to wake up.?
?Who called me Kumbhkaran?? Bani woke up groggily, her long hair falling untidily all over her face, shoulders and going all the way to her waist. Raashi and Rano giggled as they saw Bani half conscious with a comical expression on her face as she sleepily made her way to the Bathroom. Raashi and Rano had already bathed and changed for the day.
As Bani lazily brushed her teeth, she could hear the sound of bells chiming and then suddenly, her eyes widened and with break-neck speed, she finished her morning ablutions and almost stumbled into the ?Pooja Room?, just in time for the morning prayers, presided over by her Father.
Raashi and Rano chuckled as their Mother gave a sneering look at Bani, who smiled back sheepishly while their Brother, Aparajit tried to look indifferent to his sister?s antics, though he had an urge to grin. His wife, Pallavi looked at Bani as if to reprimand her silently, but a wink from Bani had her trying hard to suppress her own smiles. Bani closed her eyes and folded her hands reverentially trying to look extremely devotional and pious, as her Father finished the Pooja and gave the Aarti ki Thaali to his wife to be touched by everyone. As Nishikant looked up at his eldest daughter, the second of his four children, Bani quickly darted her eyes away from him as she took the blessing and squealed to her Mother to put a small tikka on her forehead.
Nishikant Dixit headed a traditional, middle-class but extremely close-knit and happy family along with his wife Kiran and their four children, the eldest Aparajit who was married to Pallavi and had a 3 year old son, Rohan. Nishikant?s second born was the 20 year old Bani followed by the 18 year old Raashi and the 17 year old Rano. Aparajit stayed in Delhi along with his family, as he worked with a Multinational Company there but visited his hometown in frequent intervals along with his wife and son. Nishikant and the rest of the family were settled in their home-town of Mount Abu since his early retirement a few years ago due to a severe heart stroke. They managed reasonably well since Nishikant worked independently on government related projects which fetched good money and Kiran was a school teacher in a local school. Bani was in the final year of her College and her exams were due in a few days, while the younger two were still studying.
Though as a Father, Nishikant had lavished affection on all his four children, it was without doubt, Bani who was the apple of his eyes. And even though there wasn?t a single day when Kiran was not at odds with her daughter, she prided herself immensely on her. Raashi and Rano completely idolized their elder sibling and while Aparajit was pretty strict with Bani, he nevertheless dotted on his kid sister. But it was Pallavi with whom Bani got along like a house on fire, even though they were quite apart in age.
Bani gulped her parantha, making a wry comment on the falling quality of her Mother?s cooking, much to Raashi and Pallavi?s amusement and before Kiran could make a comment back, she gave a warm peck on her Mother?s cheeks and touching her Father?s feet, rushed out, yelling that she will be late for College again.
It was difficult to describe Bani to anyone. How does one capture the beauty of a wild flower growing in the midst of a jungle in words? One has to see it to feel it and know it and understand it. Though Bani wasn?t blessed with her younger sister Raashi?s flawless peaches and cream complexion, her own wheatish tone glowed like gold against the Sun. Though she hadn?t inherited her Mother?s luminous black hair, which still confused people on her actual age, Bani?s own silky black hair, fell in wild abandon down to her waist, curling incorrigibly at the ends. Though Bani did not have Rano?s lithe built and tall frame, which always made her stand out, her own seductive curves did little to help the scores of admirers from her Neighborhood and the ones who loitered around the Girls College in which she studied. Though she did not have her brother Aparajit?s attractive green-brown eyes, passed on from her Mother?s side of the family, her own dark brown, deep-set eyes expressed a million emotions in them. And last but not, she had inherited at least one thing from her family, her Father?s keen wisdom and understanding, though all those who claim to know Bani could never believe it.
Bani could be extremely talkative with people whom she knew well and completely reticent and withdrawn with strangers. Her moods changed like the hues of the day and her temper could be as cool as ice and then flare up like a fire in the forest. She could be sweet, kind and loving and suddenly snub anyone whom came in her way with her sarcastic tongue and bitter coldness. Though she was very popular in her college and was known to have a large circle of friends, very few if any could claim to know her really as a person.
She indulged in Raashi and Rano like a Mother, but could slap them hard on their face without remorse if they even as much as touched something that belonged to her without permission. Bani adored her Mother, but not a day went, when the Mother-daughter duo were not at odds, fighting on everything from her choice in clothes to what was for Dinner. Though she completely venerated Aparajit, only Bani was known in the family, who could start or end a fight with him and win it every time. Everyone feared his temper, except Bani, who just couldn?t care less and almost always got away with her cheekiness, partly because Aparajit adored her too much to say anything much to her. Bani worshipped her Father like God, but was also the only person in the family who could defy him openly, without flickering an eye-lid. The only person who could actually rein in Bani a little bit was her sister-in-law, Pallavi who was the closest that came to a best friend for Bani and she almost, always fell in sync with whatever Pallavi told her to do.
Bani was like an undulating river, young, fierce and full of restless energy, running through its unknown course in a fierce abandon, pulling everything along with it in its course or just ignoring the rest and flowing on.
As Pallavi helped her Mother-in-law to clear the breakfast table, she could not hold back her surprise when told that there was a ?very good? alliance for Bani and that the boy and the family were expected in a day or two.
Pallavi looked up and exclaimed, ?Ma?but Bani is so young. And?have you talked to her on this?? Kiran smiled at her daughter-in-law and said, ?Girls are best married young, aren?t they? It?s easier for them to adjust.?
Pallavi rolled her eyes and decided to not comment on the archaic thoughts, as Kiran continued, now a little annoyed. ?And what is the need to ask Bani? Did your Father ask you before we came with Aparajit?s proposal??
Pallavi tried to stifle a grin as she remembered the two full year of courtship she had enjoyed with her then boyfriend who had later become her husband, before they both planned out the entire thing and presented the whole case as a suitable one for an arranged marriage through one of their common family friends.
?Pallavi, beta, you know how Bani?s temperament is. Please speak to her when she is back from College and tell her to behave properly when the guests come tomorrow evening?, finished Kiran as Pallavi was left gaping open-mouthed. Making Bani understand and comply to something was not a job to be envied and as again, it had fallen on her shoulders.
PART II (A)
?I-AM-NOT-GETTING-MARRIED?, declared the cool, determined and irreverent voice of Bani, as she snatched a half-eaten apple from Rano?s hands and begin to make her way upstairs.
Kiran shouted in frustration and anger, ?So, what do you want to do? Burden your parents and brother for the rest of your life?? Now such a statement would have normally elicited tears or hurt from a young girl, but Bani gave a shrug of her shoulder before retorting insolently, ?You should have thought this out before giving birth to me. 20 years too late.?
Rano sniggered and immediately assumed a woeful expression as Kiran glowered down at her before continuing, ?I have had enough of your impertinence. You are getting dressed nicely for a change, behave like a girl and come and meet the boy and his family tomorrow.?
Bani reached the top of the stairs and said squarely, ?Firstly, I am not going to be paraded like a circus clown in front of a bunch of strangers. Secondly, I have an important lecture tomorrow which will take place in the evening that I won?t miss. Thirdly, please do be good hosts to the ?boy? and his family and shove them off before I reach back home.?
Kiran exploded in fury and was about to follow her daughter upstairs, when Pallavi kept a hand on her shoulder and told her to calm down, following Bani to her room.
?Bhabhi. No. Please. No.? Pallavi begin laughing as Bani arranged her books on the table and replied back, ?I haven?t even said anything to you.?
Bani smiled and hugging her sister-in-law warmly said, ?But I know that my Mother has sent you as an emissary since she knows I will never turn you down.?
?Then don?t turn me down Bani. Agree to Ma?s wishes? and this is what Papa and your Bhaiyaa also want. And besides the time is also right, you are about to complete your graduation. You can continue your education afterwards.?
Pallavi looked at Bani who stared back, stooped her shoulders and almost fell on her bed, saying tiredly, ?Bhabhi, what is the point in all this? When you know very well that I don?t want to get married. Its not about now or some other time?I just don?t want to be married.?
As Pallavi kept looking at Bani, she said in a somewhat broken voice, ?You of all the people should know why I can?t get married.?
Pallavi went and sat near Bani on her bed and taking her face in her hand, said quietly, ?We can?t live with our pasts, Bani. We have to move on. That is the way of life and that is the way we have to live our lives.?
Bani stared out from the window, which overlooked the scenic hills of Mount Abu as Pallavi continued, now in a light-hearted voice, ?Besides, I have heard that the prospective groom is some Mr. Money-bags, known to your Mother?s side of the family, even though he is a good decade older than you.?
Bani immediately looked back at Pallavi and widening her eyes exclaimed, ?What? You people are marrying me off to some old, cranky, toothless crony? Oh God. I knew I was adopted by this family.?
Pallavi laughed cheerfully at Bani?s statement and said, ?He is 33, not 83 Bani!? As Bani continued to sulk, Pallavi added teasingly, ?And anyway, don?t you know older men make very indulgent husbands. He will treat you like a Queen.?
Bani rolled her eyes and giggling inspite of herself said, ?Ya sure. Once he conks off after his arthritis gives him away, I will inherit all his money and then I can live like a Queen all by myself.?
Pallavi gave a mock slap on her face and said, ?Don?t speak like that about your would be husband. Show him some respect if not love.?
Bani got up and made way to the Washroom to freshen up before adding spiritedly, ?I assure you Bhabhi, I will neither show him any respect, nor give him any love?and that is, if I ever become his wife in the first place.?
PART II (B)
Nachiket hid behind Massi, as Karuna bit her finger nails and Tarun appeared to be engrossed in a newspaper that he was holding, upside down. Only Anu appeared to hop around excitedly, pointing her plump fingers at the hill looming right in front of their Bungalow?s huge glass window in Mount Abu.
?I cannot believe that you people could be so juvenile.? Jai?s voice was still and steady, but his eyes were boring into the four people standing in front of him and they knew that the calmer and quieter Jai looked, the fiercer his explosion was to be.
Karuna gulped a bit and garnering courage said, ?Bhaiyaa, we saw her photo. She is perfect. We?We had no other option but to get to you to see her in this manner.? Karuna immediately put her head down, not able to meet her brother?s eyes. Nachiket peeped from behind Massi?s shoulder and said in a low, strangulated voice, ?Sorry Bhai?but we just thought it was high time you got married.? Massi looked a bit worried but kept quiet, while Tarun pretended as if he was non-existent.
Jai shrugged his head in disbelief, trying hard to suppress his anger and turning his back to them, declared in a polite but unyielding voice, ?Please tell those people that we have cancelled our visit and apologize to them from my end.?
As the four of them looked up startled and shocked, Jai begin to leave the room, before Massi?s voice called out, ?But we have already given our word to them and if we do not go, it will be a great loss of face to us?to me especially. Jai, beta, I am sorry for what we did, without your permission. But now the least we can do is just go and see them once?you can refuse later on.?
Jai turned to face Massi and biting his lips to avoid saying anything unpleasant, he gave one last glare at the quartet and then said in an irritated yet resigned manner, ?Alright. Fine. We will go.? A huge grin lit up on Nachiket and Karuna?s face and Tarun almost dropped the paper from his hand, Jai continued in a serious tone, ?But this is a No already. I am not getting married. Final.? Jai walked out of the room, as Karuna and Nachiket did a hi-five and hugged Massi joined by a grinning Tarun.
Bani sat morosely in her class as her wizened old teacher droned on in a sleepy voice till the lecture came to an end at 5 Pm. Bani glanced at her watch, her Mother had begged her, warned her, cajoled her, threatened her and simply ordered her to be back home by 5:30 Pm as the ?Boy? and his family were expected around 6 Pm. There had been a flurry of activity in the Dixit Household since morning and Kiran was in a spectacular mood, especially after Pallavi had told her that Bani had agreed to be ?paraded like a circus clown?. The house was dusted, cleaned, swept and shined and the normally cluttered household was in tip-top condition. Though Kiran couldn?t make Bani agree to miss out her College, Raashi and Rano had happily agreed to skip College and set about helping Kiran and Pallavi for the evening.
The Dixit House was quite large in size, though quaintly old-fashioned and slightly crumbling from outside. They had a huge lawn, which was almost, always unkempt and a rusting old iron swing which hung around in the garden, on which Bani had spent almost all her childhood swinging to and forth, lost in her solitary thoughts. Though the house was modestly furnished, it showed a lot of character and warmth, with innumerous family photographs, several medals won by Aparajit, sketches done by Raashi, some hand-made cushions made by Kiran, framed clippings of poems and articles published in newspapers written by Rano, awards won by Nishikant and some photographs of homes that had been decorated by Pallavi, who was a trained Interior Decorator. There was nothing by Bani on display, much to her amusement and Kiran?s constant disappointment and frustration. Not because Bani was unworthy of doing anything special, but simply because she did not care enough to show the world what she was truly worth of.
Bani had been a brilliant student all through her academic years, but had completely disillusioned her Parents, when she opted for the Humanities Stream instead of Science, burying her parent?s hope of seeing a Doctor in the family after an Engineer. Bani had been trained in Indian classical singing and had a golden voice but had simply put her foot down when she got an opportunity to sing for National Television. Later she had explained her bewildered parents that singing was a hobby for her and she had no wish to commercialize it.
Though all of the Dixit children were blessed with good looks, Bani was especially beautiful to look at, despite lacking a ?fair? complexion like the rest of her siblings. Her expressive eyes, feminine figure and long, dark hair did more than compensate for anything she lacked in. And somehow her flawless duskiness lent her a very sensual appeal. Kiran knew it very well, since she had always been the most worried about Bani during her growing up years, warding off all the unwanted male attention lavished on her and insisting on personally dropping and picking up Bani from school much to her embarrassment and exasperation. Later there had been a huge row at home, as Kiran had put her foot down when Bani had taken up admission in a Co-educational college and had insisted that if Bani were to have an University Education, it would have to be in a Girl?s College. Bani had to agree to her Mother in the end, though she had given hell to Kiran over this.
Bani concerned Kiran the most out of all her children. As a keen and interested Mother, she knew that it was the docile looking Raashi who was the bold, extrovert kinds who wouldn?t battle an eyelid before riding off on bikes along with any of her boyfriends, or the studious Rano who was tough enough to knock any boy out cold if he as much as winked at her or Aparajit, who was cool, cautious and level-headed enough to deal with any situation.
It was Bani, behind all her ?I-don?t-give-a-damn? attitude that always made Kiran the most protective and possessive about her eldest daughter. Kiran had a Mother?s sixth sense and knew that Bani was the most vulnerable, tender and sensitive of all the children and that her stubbornness always hid those qualities of her and made her appear to be indifferent and cold, which were probably the last things Bani really was. And there was something distressed in Bani?s life that Kiran did not know but just instinctually felt. Bani was one of those characters who just could not be tethered to anything in life and if let fly free, was sure to come crashing down to die. That was perhaps the reason that Kiran was so adamant on Bani getting married as soon as possible, hoping that she would find a husband who would not only ground her, but do it so with love and care, bending and molding her daughter, not breaking her into pieces.
Bani sat alone in her classroom as the last of her classmates filtered out till she was the only one left in the darkened room. It had begun to rain outside; the weather in Mount Abu was extremely erratic. It was close to 6:30 Pm now but Bani was sure that the guest wouldn?t have yet made their entry, after all weren?t they the groom?s side of the family, how could they ever come on time.
Of all the girls in India, why had that man (she refused to address a 33 year old as a boy, much to Kiran?s irritation and Raashi?s incessant giggles) come all the way from Bombay to Mount Abu to see her? Must be surely some three-time divorced, chain-smoking, stained teeth, womanizing drunkard who probably worked as a bartender at a restaurant and called himself the owner of a Hotel Chain, mused Bani irritated at her Mother?s emotional blackmailing tactics.
?I have only promised to be home, not said what time I will be back. Good. Let those losers sit their and suffer my Mother?s cooking. I will go back in leisure. By that time, they should know what they are upto and leave for good.?
Bani thought unreservedly to herself as she made her way out of College, drenching in the rain which made her shiver yet tingle her senses with bliss. She loved the rains, especially, getting wet in it and today she was determined to enjoy it to the fullest.
To be continued in Part III...
Cheers,
MT
PS: Yet another FF, on popular demand🤔😆 Nope. Actually, had written something a while earlier and just decided to complete it. Plus I realize that writing FF is something quite addictive which you just can't get rid of, only hope that it will fade away some day!😕
The story of this FF is as unoriginal as it can get and has been heavily 'inspired' by an old movie that I just happened to watch again after a very long time and thought of incorporating it in the half-written FF that I had with me! Hence, please bear with me if some of the characters and the general story line appears to be extremely old-fashioned!
I had wanted to write an average looking, middle-class, middle-aged Jai Walia for this story, but realized that while he can be middle-aged, he has to be absolutely Hot, Happening and Really Rich. There can just be no other Jai Walia, not for me, at least😉 There is little I can experiment with Bani and her looks, so I try and give her character a bit of a twist!
Please let me know if you found the story interesting till now, so I will go ahead and write it! Have posted a long part and have another longer part already written, will have it posted by evening or so!😊
Tum Se Tum Tak
