FF-The Reluctant Bride-Updt Ch.22 & Epilogue-11/19

I have been a reader on the forum for over a year.. I have been wanting to write for a while and here it is.

Hopefully you guys enjoy it..

My sincere thanks to Tintiny without whose encouragement I would not have written and posted this FF..

Reluctant Bride

Chapter 1

Jai looked out of the window of his study nursing the drink in his hand. He felt so lonely even with the party in full swing downstairs that was being given in lieu of a successful completion of a project by his company which in turn led in bringing his company to the attention of others who now wanted to work with him.

Jai thought, why did everyone think of Jai as the successful business tycoon who could get what ever he wanted? Why did no one see or feel his loneliness? He had built a wall around himself so that nothing could affect him when he was busy building his business. He knew that he needed to succeed so that he could take care of his family. With the passing away of his father Uday Walia, Jai all of a sudden became responsible for his sister Jigyasa, her husband Aditya, their children, Ranveer and Anu and Masi who had played a big role in his life when he was growing up since the death of Jai?s mother Krishna when he was merely 2 years old. Though Jigyasa was older by about 7 years than Jai, she was always treated like a princess and therefore behaved like one too. Why could he not find that special someone that could understand him and the loneliness that he felt? He shrugged, thinking that here he was a 35 year old man who was feeling sorry for himself. Why did he not want his Bilo Masi to find him someone that he could marry, love and spend his life with? Deep down, he still believed that he would find that someone special and fall in love and live a happy and a fulfilled life.

He knew that Masi worried about him?.she was very fond of him and loved him like a son?he was glad that Billo Masi had moved to Mumbai after her daughter got married and moved away to Delhi?

Just then his butler, Toni knocked on the door, breaking his train of thought.

Come in?.. replied Jai to the knock.

There is someone here to see you, Sir? said Tony, handing Jai the letter that he was carrying.

Jai took the letter from Tony asking him who was it.

Tony replied that there were three young girls here that insisted on seeing him. They, he said had come from Mt.Abu.

Jai opened the letter and saw that it was letter from one of his old high school teachers, Mr. Nishikant Dixit. His face broke in to a smile, happy having received a letter from one of the favorite people from his past. As he read the letter his smile turned into a frown?towards the end the letter read?

Jai, if you are reading this letter, it means that I am no more. I need you to do something for me. I am sending my daughters to you so that you can help them. They are now all alone in this world with no one to turn to. With the passing away of my wife, Kiran about 7 years ago, I have tried to take care of these girls in the best way that I could. Though I never heard any complaints from any of them, I know that I have never been able to give them everything that they deserved. Bani, my oldest daughter is very sensible and you will find a very self-sufficient and a mature person in her. She has been taking care of her siblings, Pia and Rano who are 4 and 5 years younger than her since she was 14 years. I had told her to come and see you, if something happened to me since I know that though she is quite capable of taking care of her sisters, a helping hand would make it easier for her. I am giving you the custody of my girls and would like for you to help Bani with raising them. I hope that I am not burdening you with my responsibilities.

Take care and know that I have followed your success through all your life and am extremely proud of you.

Jai had tears in his eyes and could not believe that his Nishi Sir is no more, the one person that he knew that he could turn to whenever he was in need of support emotionally or physically. Turning around, keeping his drink on the table, Jai followed Toni to the main living area where the girls were waiting for him.

Masi had taken 2 year old Jai with her to Chandigarh when his mother passed away and Jai?s father, Uday Walia could not take care of him because his business had just taken off and Uday was extremely busy? Jigyasa had insisted on staying with her father as she did not want to leave the familiar surroundings and so had stayed behind. Once Jai was old enough, Uday Walia had sent his son away to a boarding school in Mt. Abu.

That is where he had met Nishikant Dixit who was a teacher in the school. Prof. Dixit had seen the loneliness in Jai and had taken genuine interest in him, his problems and they had become fond of each other?Though once Jai finished his high school he had moved back to Mumbai for further studies and then gone to the US for his MBA.. ..Eventually losing touch with Prof. Dixit?He now wished that he had kept up with Nishi Sir.. it was too late now thought Jai..

Though Jai hoped that he could help fulfill Nishi Sir?s last wish??

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Please do leave your comments