SS-Persistence Pays & Love Wins completed

SS- When Persistence Pays and Love wins.

Chapter 1

Bani was getting frustrated. She was standing at the same spot for the last hour. It was the last time that she would ever do Jai Walia a favour again. She shivered as the rain pelted down on her. She loved the rain, but today was not a good day to be wet and miserable. She cursed Jai as she started pacing, her feet dragging the soft sand and the water that was rapidly forming into a puddle around her. She looked at the now wilted flowers and soaked box of chocolates, and thought what a damn waste.

She could have so easily left, but Jai was her best friend and she knew this girl meant a lot to him. She sighed. That was the problem; all girls were ?special? to him. If it wasn?t their eyes, nose, throat or any other body part, then it was her hair, her clothes or lack of it, or her giggle. Did the man not have any sense, she wondered.

Yes he was a catch, at 24 he was the heir apparent to a dynasty of wealth and luxury. And he was a player. She wondered what had even brought them together as such good friends in the first place; they didn?t even like the same things for heaven?s sake!

She remembered the first day she met him. She was starting as the intern in the WGI finance dept and she was at the water bottle ready to fill her glass when some one rushing by pushed her and she found herself falling backward. She didn?t know what hurt most, the stinging sensation she felt in her head or the anger that was raging within her. Sitting unceremoniously and very wet on the floor, she ignored the hand that was offered and stood up to face the stupid imbecile. What she encountered however were brown eyes twinkling at her, smiling a goofy smile, and then a deep frown.

Jai Walia saw the opportunity to have a female in his hands this early in the morning. But what he encountered was a mousy looking teenager, with the most unfriendly look ever. Far from being impressed with his good looks and physique, she scowled at him.

?Can?t you see where you are going? Look at me I am wet all over? dammit.

Jai looked at the slip of a girl in front of him, scanning his eyes throughout the length of her body. Her white salwaar kameez clung to her thin frame.

?Actually don?t worry there is nothing there that would be of any interest to anyone you know?.

Bani felt her skin burn. He didn?t as much as flinch when he felt the hard slap across his face.

Just like that their days of mutual hatred started. He found every opportunity to embarrass her and she in turn did the same. An entire year went on like that, until the office workers could not take it any longer. The staff had come to love Bani as she was a dedicated and intelligent girl. She was always obliging and willing to do more than her share of the work. Soon management got to know about her efforts and proposed to the Chairman Mr Uday Walia, that Bani join the project team.

As Uday Walia listened to Adi interviewing her, her enthusiasm for her career, her job and the ideas she had, impressed him. She was a gem of a girl, and she would be the perfect assistant to Jai, his wayward son. This girl was so driven that she would have him whipped into shape in no time.

And so the unthinkable happened. Bani Dixit and Jai Walia started out as foes, but her no nonsense attitude and determination had the desired effect and soon they were the best of friends. She put up with his tantrums, while he succumbed to her demands. Working with her began to reap its benefits when the praise and compliments began to come through to them and he began to mend his ways, at least where work was concerned.

Strangely Jai realised, that Bani had became indispensible to him. From the presentations he delivered to the suits he wore to them she was there advising him and edging him along. Slowly their work relationship crept into their personal lives as well.

That is why she was standing here, holding a bunch of pathetic flowers and she hoped inedible chocolates.

Jai saw her lithe figure standing at the spot he told her too. Once again she was soaked to her skin. He smiled thinking of their first meeting.

When eventually he pulled up alongside her, he was mortified, he didn?t see the huge puddle of muddy water, and now she was covered head to toe in the muck. She thrust the flowers and chocolate at him and stormed off.

He felt bad. Turning to the woman in the car, he handed her the gifts and attempted to run after Bani. He was too late; she had caught the bus and was gone.

Roshini Chopra was getting annoyed. For the past 6 months she cajoled her friend Jigyasa to arrange a date with her gorgeous brother, and now instead of enjoying their beautiful surroundings and time together he was fretting over his obnoxious and ugly assistant.

Bani heard the phone ringing and ignored it. She stood in the hot shower crying about how insensitive Jai was. By the time she emerged she felt much better, but still angry enough to ignore her phone and messages that Jai was sending.

?Good let him stew? she cursed. He deserves it.

Roshini Chopra made no bones about the fact that she did not approve of the relationship between Bani and Jai. Although they had been going steady now for the past 4 months, Jai still sought Bani?s opinions about every single detail of his life. She remembered the time when Bani was ill; Jai had ignored her for an entire week, while he fussed and fretted over Bani. She wondered if there was anything more than just a platonic relationship between them. When she questioned Jai about it, he was enraged. But Roshini was no push over. She bided her time and when Jai was away on a business trip she seized the opportunity.

Chapter 2

Bani wondered why Roshini had offered to have coffee with her. Her woman?s intuition warned her about how Roshini felt about her; still she decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.

As usual, Roshini was dressed to kill. Her tight designer jeans and frilly top and that mane of swinging hair caught the desired attention of the men around. As always Bani felt hopelessly under dressed and insignificant.

Roshini took in the sight at Bani?s appearance and wondered why she ever thought that this pale; chit off a girl was giving her such sleepless nights. I mean there was no way that Jai would ever think of Bani as a sex symbol let alone a threat to her. But there was something, and she was going to nip it in the bud.

?Hi, Bani?

?Roshini?

?How is the office without Jai, hectic I suppose?? she went on.

?No, not really, actually I am getting far too much done without him pestering me the whole day?, she retorted.

Roshini had found the perfect opening.

?That?s just it, Bani, she cooed. I keep telling Jai that he should not rely on you so much. After all you are human too; surely you have your own things to do. I mean office work is one thing but troubling you on week-ends and holidays is just the pits, isn?t it??

?Surely YOUR Boyfriend gets jealous, doesn?t he??

If Roshini thought that her words were lost on Bani she was wrong, but none the less Roshini had a mission and she was succeeding in it.

?Look Bani, I am not going to beat around the bush. Jai and I are serious about each other. Actually we are quite intimate and ready to take the next step. There is so much I want to share with him and get to know him but cannot because of his workload, and of course you and your family?s responsibility, that there is just no time. I mean surely you have other people to rely on instead of calling him all the time, don?t you?

Bani sat dumbfounded. She was not making any sense of what Roshini was telling her. Jai feeling responsible for her and her family? Her calling him all the time? What was this woman talking about?

?Look Roshini, I don?t know what or who gave you the idea that Jai is responsible for me or my family. And I am not the one that calls him all the time, it is quite the opposite. ?

?Oh come on Bani. Who are you trying to bluff? See I know that Jai is rich and powerful. What?s more he comes from an affluent family and he is on top of it all a handsome sexy man. Any girl would be mad not to think of him as the perfect catch. I am a woman too, I know what love is??..

?Stop it right there Roshini? How dare you imply that Jai and I are more than just friends and colleagues? And as far as seeing him as a catch, then you don?t know me at all Miss Chopra?, she shot back.

She stood up to go, but Roshini held her back.

?Touched a nerve didn?t I Bani. You think I am stupid. You run to please him in every way so that he can rely on you totally. Call upon you for every detail. Take care of you when you are supposedly ?ill?. What are you a baby? There is nowhere that we can go to without him offering you first, or calling to check on you. Nothing we can buy when he won?t get something for you too. I mean Bani how am I supposed to feel? I am going to be his wife and he shares more with you than me? He pities you Bani. You have no friends, not even a boyfriend. You dress shabbily and don?t take care of your appearance, why will you anyway when Jai is there for you? Don?t you see how helpless you are, or certainly trying to be. He is a wonderful person Bani but you are abusing his generosity aren?t you?? she flared.

The accusations were piercing her heart. So is that what Jai thought of her. Pitiful, friendless, clingy and unattractive.

She ignored the onlookers as she ran on crying from the coffee shop. She was having an anxiety attack. She was shaking, not thinking to go back to work she grabbed the first available taxi and went home.

Even the comfort of a warm bath and her sisters concerns did not console her. Roshini?s hateful words taunted her. How could she accuse her of having feelings for Jai other than friendship? And what about him. She said that they were intimate, surely then he had discussed her with his love? She remembered how he teased her about her boyish looks, her unkempt cropped back hair. His teasing her about her choice of clothes. It all made sense now, and it made her angry. She trusted Jai and what had he done? Broken her trust to his girlfriend who clearly despised her.

But what she painfully realised that perhaps she did secretly fall in love with Jai. Up until the time Roshini mentioned it she did not acknowledge it, but there it was said, and to her horror she realised that she suffered her first unrequited love.

Jai wondered why Bani had not called him the whole time he was away. He worried that she was sick, or something had happened to her family, but Adi uncle informed him that she was at work, and she was very busy but seemed ok. He found that strange, it was the first time in 2 years that he had not spoken to her for 2 full days. He missed her. She was always so chirpy and energetic, so her behaviour was absolutely out of place.

When Jai got back to the office, he immediately noticed that there was something different about Bani. She hardly acknowledged his presence. Apart from business details she didn?t even enquire about his trip. This pattern went on for days, Bani merely greeting him, and getting straight into her work. She declined his invitations for lunch and coffee breaks, and left un-noticed after work. No one else saw the difference because it was only with him that she had changed. She hadn?t even teased him about Roshini. Something was certainly up.

Chapter 3

Jai brought up the subject of Bani as he lay in bed with Roshini. Again seizing the opportunity to create a rift between them, Roshini subtly suggested to Jai that perhaps Bani had found a boyfriend and was showing him more attention than she did for him. Jai found it unbelievable. Surely Bani would have told him.

Suddenly he needed to get away.

On the drive home, the thoughts of Bani with a man angered him. God she was not like that, he reasoned. To hell with it, he was going to see her and talk this behaviour of hers out with her.

Bani wanted to slap the person buzzing incessantly at her door. Grabbing her robe she opened the door with such force that Jai came tumbling onto her. She lay pinned under him, and he was looking at her in such rage that she shivered. Dragging her up with him, he sat her down on the sofa and glared at her.

Bani was scared she had never seen Jai in such a rage before. His eyes were blood shot, and he was breathing heavily. She tried to get up but he just pushed her back again.

?What the hell is wrong with you Bani??

?What Jai?

?Don?t mess with me. I though you and I were friends, best buddies you know. , and yet as soon as a man enters your life you give me the cold shoulder? How could you Bani? I tell you everything, everything dammit.

?What are you talking about Jai? ?

?So you pretend? Come on Roshini told me everything; it hurt me that you were ignoring me all these days. You didn?t want to even share a meal with me; you ignored my calls, for a guy Bani??

?When did Roshini tell you this Jai??

?Does it matter; it?s the truth isn?t it??

?When did she tell you Jai?? Bani needed to know because she knew that whatever his answer was she was going to base hers on that as well.

?Tonight, she was upset, we made love but my thoughts were of you, and your attitude, any woman would be upset Bani.?

She regretted asking, the moment he told her. So it was just as she said, they were intimate. She stifled the cry that was trying to escape from her heart.

?I am so sorry Jai, I should have told you earlier, but well you know how busy we were at the office and?.?

?And what Bani?? Jai wasn?t sure he wanted to hear that Roshini was actually right. Strangely he also did not want to to accept that Bani was ?involved? with someone else either. He turned to leave without hearing her out.

?And you are innocent Jai? Did you tell me that you are getting married? That you are engaged, and that you find me and my family as your concerns? Oh and the worst bit, that I am so unattractive and pathetic that I cannot find a boyfriend hmm? She screamed back after him.

This time it was his turn to be dumbfounded.

?Oh don?t look so shocked Jai, your fianc?/I>took the honours of advising me where my place in your relationship with her is. I am hindering her getting closer to you, because I am the one that calls you all the time to pester you. I am the one that YOU come running to instead of her. Why did you not say so, Jai? As much as we are friends I know my place Jai. I will never ever jeopardise your relationships, I think you know me better than that?? She answered back.

Needless to say, nothing more was said. Jai left and Bani knew that things would never be the same again.

The next few weeks were torturous for them. Bani kept up the charade of the mysterious boyfriend by sending flowers and gifts to herself, and made a great show of being excited whenever Jai was around. Roshini became a regular visitor at WGI. Bani took days off her leave, by preparing phantom meals for her ?boyfriend ?and arranging getaways. She also went out with Jai for the occasional coffee and lunch but she would dominate the conversation about her ?boyfriend?, after which she would lock herself up and cry and Jai would walk away disgusted. 😭

Aditya Bali showed no surprise when he saw the letter of resignation on his desk. Things between Jai and Bani had simmered to a cold war. The friendly banter was replaced by cordial acknowledgements, and eventually the breakdown in communication. What he could not understand was why Jai and Bani were not able to fix what had happened. Many a time he would catch Jai gazing at Bani thought-out the presentations but as soon as she looked in his direction he would look away. He knew that Jai was deeply upset about their fight but was unable to do anything about it.

Uday Walia did not want to hear anything about Bani?s resignation, there were only certain people that he valued and Bani Dixit was one of them. But he also recognised a stubborn determined person when he saw one. He decided to meet her. He agreed to transfer her but not loose her entirely. So Bani Dixit packed her bags and left for London, her sisters followed suit. 😭 End afor now.

Well like I said please comment.

Chapter 4

4 years later:

Jai Walia walked into the auditorium, accompanied by his dad and Adi Uncle. It was the first time that THE WGI had invited all their staff from around the world to celebrate their companies 50 years anniversary. He admired his dad for never forgetting the people that had brought success to his company and paid them handsomely for it. Over the years he had learnt that people more than anything else formed the basis of a good and successful business.

Bani studied Jai Walia as he stood tall and proud next to his dad. He had changed to be the epitome of a successful and very chic example of what men in power looked like. However this time he had a firm jaw and every movement he made, screamed of determination and discipline. The years of separation did not stifle the butterflies she still felt when she saw him. Apart from the casual gossip and more formal company bulletins, they had discreetly kept their distance. When he succeeded in any deal, she rejoiced for him always writing him a congratulatory e-mail and later deleting it without sending it!

She was still wrapped in his thoughts when from the corner of her eye, she spotted Roshini. So the rumours were true they were still an item. Surprisingly the pain was still there, and she decided to leave before anyone recognised her.

Jai Walia stepped into the foyer to escape from the crowded room. Once the speeches were over, and the partying and socialising started he made his escape. After answering many questions and turning down various offers of dances, he needed to get fresh air. Besides the one person he so eagerly wanted to see, didn?t bother to pitch up! Lighting up his cigarette he walked out to the huge French doors. It was a crisp night. He heard a soft thud and turned to see what it was.

The young woman it seemed dropped her purse. Jai was drawn to her. Her black sheer sari and deep cut back, exposed creamy flesh. From what he could see her hands were adorned with silver and black bangles almost up to her elbow. As she stood long ebony black hair fell around her waist, hiding the sight he was admiring, he could tell she wore higher heels as he glimpsed slender feet fitted into sexy strap sandals. She was about to leave when he noticed that she had not picked up her cell phone.

?Excuse me miss? he called out.

Bani froze. She could recognise the voice even if she were standing in the most crowded market place. Her heart beat faster. And a thin film of perspiration moistened her brow. When she turned he was already bent picking up her phone.

Even before he got up, a familiar stirring arose in his chest. When he looked up Jai, nearly stumbled. If it had not been for her twinkling brown eyes, and deep dimples, he would have never known that the stunning beauty standing before him was Bani Dixit. Bani Dixit the child/woman that had turned his life around and had left him in constant turmoil for the past 4 years!

He was so shocked at her complete metamorphosis that he did not realise that he was gaping at her with an open mouth. Gone were the tomboyish looks, and lanky frame. She had filled out into a stunning sexy, beauty. But what fascinated him most was her thick luscious hair. She never liked long hair. She thought it too much of a burden. And yet. Instinctively he bent forward and clasped a few strands in his hand, letting the silky strands caress his opened palm.

The moment of shared recognition passed as Bani heard a familiar shrilly voice.

?Jai darling there you are, what are you ding here?

Then she noticed the stunning beauty standing by, and possessively linked her arms to him.

Before Roshini could drag him away. Jai pulled her back.

?Say hello to Bani Roshini.? Jai rasped.

Roshni was aghast. No this could never be Bani. Bani was a mousy tomboy that had no dress sense and elegance. The woman standing here was anything but that. Surely Jai was mistaken.

?Hello Roshini, Bani greeted, extending a perfectly manicured hand to the stunned woman.

Chapter 5

Bani did not know how to cope during the time that Jai, Roshini, Uday and Adi uncle stayed in London.

She would have to be in the company of Jai almost all the time as he needed to catch up with everything about the London business. She approached her work with more vigour and left no room for his sarcastic jibes.

Jai on the other hand, was finding it extremely difficult not to notice Bani Dixit?s transformation. The woman was plain breathtaking. But he was still angry at her. Their last meeting ended up with accusations and counter accusations and a lot of hurtful remarks. But she was so wrong about most of the things she accused him off. He was going to make it a point to have to talk to her about those things and a hell of a lot more, he decided. A woman like Bani Dixit did not walk in and out of his life without making an impression, and Jai acknowledged that no woman had ever made an impression on him, like she did!

Bani buried herself in work for the next 2 days. She only wished that it had helped, but the nagging thought that Jai was around made her nervous all the time. They still played cat and mouse with each other she realised. He had made no attempt to discuss anything but work, though she knew that they were both affected by their meeting after all the years.

She closed the biggest deal for WGI, hired a new secretary to assist her and managed a full board meeting. They were thrilled with her, and she was miserable.

?Mr Walia on line two for your Miss Dixit,? her new secretary called to her.

?Mr Wal?.oh? her spirits lifted and she tensed.

?Yes I?ll take it. Thank you, she pasted a smile for her own peace of mind. ?Jai??

?We need to talk Bani, meet me in half an hour at the front desk will you/?

She was annoyed, no hello, nothing just a command in that distant infuriating tone he had used since he arrived. He was being a pig and she really wanted to decline his stupid invitation/command.

He was too stubborn, too bull-headed, he would never back down. She knew him too well. And what was left for them to talk about anyway. The entire time they were together he never once asked about her and now out of the blue he demands to see her. Deciding that she will definitely not see him she left hurriedly. She needed to get away. It would be too painful to see him, pretending that she felt nothing for him.

Bani escaped to the one person she knew she could trust Rano.

Less than half an hour after Bani had rushed from her office, Jai stormed in. he?d had it. He had given her 10 minutes and she had run. They were going to have this out, and have it out now.

He breezed past the new secretary with a curt nod and pushed open Bani?s door.

?Excuse me Sir, excuse me?

Jai whirled on the helpless woman. ?Where the hell is she??

?Miss Dixit is not in the office, ?she said primly.

?I?m afraid you?ll have to ??

?If not here, where is she,? he hissed.

?She didn?t say Mr Walia..?

He scowled at her empty desk, then back at the secretary. ?She doesn?t leave her work like this.?

Twenty four hours after leaving her office Bani stood on a corner of a tree lined street in one of the most affluent suburbs in London. Her baby sister Rano had done well. Being one of the most sought after albeit youngest corporate lawyers made it possible for her to step up in life. Bani was so proud of her. This new apartment was one of the first things that she bought for the sisters and although they all had their own places to live, her thoughtful gesture touched them.

After meeting her sister and poring her heart out, she left the apartment with more questions than answers. Served her right to ask a Lawyer for help she muttered. Oh why did Rano have to be so ?reasonable?.

But Rano knew her Di too well. All those years ago when her Bani di cried herself to sleep, it was Rano that would lie awake listening until her sisters sobs ceased. Then she watched as Bani would pale on seeing Jai with Roshini. She understood that her sister was hurting. But she never understood Jai Walia?s attitude to Bani and her so called boyfriend. It was only when she herself had experienced her first unrequited love, did she understand what these 2 were going through.

On the way home, Bani realised that she had to face Jai whether she liked it or not, and made her way back to Walia Towers. Pressing her hands to her stomach she knocked at his door. There wasn?t a sound from inside. Surely he hadn?t gone to bed, it was barely 10. A door opened-not his but directly across his suite. It was Roshini. Bani froze. After one quick glance at Bani, the friendliness washed out of her face.

?He?s not here?, she said. Her champagne voice had gone flat.

Roshini looked at Bani in contempt. This was the one that had snatched Jai from her, and had put him in a miserable mood for the past 4 years.

?Oh. Bani?s hand dropped to her sides. ?Do you know where he is??

?Out?, Roshini struggled not to notice that there was misery in Bani?s eyes too.

?I see, Bani willed her shoulders not to wilt. ?I?ll wait.

?Suit yourself?, Roshini said. What did she care if the woman was obviously in love. This was the woman who?d hurt her. Jai Walia might have been fiercely angry over the past 4 years, but beneath the short temper had been raw, seeping hurt. And she had put it there ? Bani Dixit. What did it matter if she was suffering too.

?Look Roshini I?d like?..they both turned at the whine of the elevator. The doors opened and deep voices rose in some robust Punjabi folk?s song just above the head of the two men. They were both a little drunk, and the way their arms were draped around each other it was impossible to say who was supporting whom. Bani noticed the blood first. It was smeared on Jai?s whit shirt, obviously from the cut over his lip and eye.

?My God,? she cried out.

The sound of her voice had Jai?s head whipping up like a wolf. His grin faded to a surly stare and his friend Tarun stumbled to a halt.

?What do you want?? the words were thickened with liquor and not at all welcoming.

?What happened to you?? she was already rushing towards them.

?Was there an accident??

?Hey pretty lady, we had a hell of a party, you should have been there, right pal.?

Jai responded by giving him a sluggish punch in his stomach.

Tarun made a very bad show off trying to show off by telling Bani that he and Jai had gotten into a fight. Between his hiccups and laughs she could not tell what the reason for the fight was. Bidding an appalling adieu he stepped back into the lift, leaving Bani to deal with a very cold Jai. Needless to say Roshini too had made a disappearance.

?You?ve been fighting with strangers?? She asked as soon as she seated him down on the sofa.

?So ?he said, ?Would you rather I fought with you?? He thought it a damn shame, a damn shame that the sight of her was sobering him up so quickly. God he missed her. When did she turn into such a delectable beauty? He ached not so much from his wounds but form the love he felt for her.

?Sit down?, she demanded. She strode off into the bathroom muttering to herself. When she came back she saw that he was up again and staring out of the window.

?Are you sick?? she asked feigning her worry.

?No? he muttered back, ignoring her once again

?Then drunk?? She asked again. ?Sit down I will clean your face?.

?I don?t need nursing, but he sat because it felt better.

?Why did you fight Jai??

He scowled at her? it felt good?.

?I can?t imagine what Massi would say if she knew?.

Jai frowned at her, with a warning that if she told there will be hell to pay.

Nudging her aside, he stood and staggering only a little disappeared into the bedroom. A moment later she heard the shower running.

Jai stood in the shower, not knowing what to think or do. There she was Bani Dixit, the waif like girl that roused such confusion in him as a young man, and now the woman that she had become. Jai knew that Bani was special but seeing her 2 days ago astounded him. She was so God damned sexy. He thought he could be aloof. He thought that he could carry on the silent war and feel nothing, but she had floored him. And despite her best efforts he recognised the love she had for him in her eyes.

For as long as he would live he would never forget the vision of her in the foyer that night. He had gone back to his suite , once again disgusted with Roshini for breaking them apart. And he wanted with all his heart to tell her how he longed for her, how he missed her so badly that he ached. And all that without seeing the woman she had become!

He would lay awake at night, thinking up things to tell her, and when he could bear it no longer demanded a meeting, and what had she done, run. Just like she did 4 years ago.

Bani thought about Jai and sighed. She wanted to come to him tonight to ask for forgiveness. She missed being his friend. So what, he will never know how much she loved him. But why was he so angry at her? Seeing Roshini with him was painful yes. Thinking of Roshini she wondered why she wasn?t here nursing his wounds!

Chapter 6

Bani thought longer about Roshini's strange behaviour and started throwing things. She was mad. Mad at her for coming tonight and mad that she cared. This was not the way she had planned on seeing him. She was supposed to come to him. Tell him how sorry she was for the whole fiasco and start as friends again.

And he was supposed to be kind and understanding telling her that it was ok!

Instead he was drunk and she was in a bad mood. Glancing around for more things to throw she spied a paper back and hurled it across the room. He caught it before it hit him.

"What are you doing?"

"Throwing things,

"Wait a minute, you leave me, and go away without a word, not a single damn word Bani and you come to throw things at me?

"That's right."

'Why did you leave me Bani?

She tossed her hair back. "I did not leave you Jai, I left India."

He arched an eyebrow, questioningly to her. He knew she was lying.

"I needed a change Jai. And besides my boyfriend moved here too". God how she hated lying to him. They were supposed to be starting fresh, not going backwards.

He shoved his hands into his pockets. "You left me to go with another man, then after all these years you come to throw things at me?"

"Jai I…"

"You hurt me", he blurted out. The words burned on his tongue as he said it.

"Do you think that I care about getting a punch on my face, when you have twisted my heart until I couldn't think anymore? What the hell are you made of Bani? What you did to me insides leaves me helpless and I hate it Bani."

Bani was confused. What in God's name was he talking about. How could she have hurt him? He had Roshini for crying out loud.

"Jai look I don't know what you are getting at?"

"I am trying to tell you that I am in love with you Bani, and I have been for a long time."

Bani was shocked. He loved her. Her? She looked at him with large saucer eyes, tears already started to form.

"I want to know why you left Bani, and please this time the truth. I know from some very reliable source that there is NO BOYFRIEND so stop that bullshit right now ok."

Bani took a seat across from him. "Well I left for some very personal reasons Jai."

'You were in, love with me, weren't you, he asked, his eyes never leaving her face.

Her eyes flashed to his. "How did you know that I loved you?"

"I know we loved each other Bani. You were my friend remember. He pressed his lips together. " my best friend."

She got up not able to see the pain in his eyes. "I was too young Jai, and stupid. I was not your type. When Roshini told me that you and her were intimate and were soon to marry, I knew that I won't be able to be around you without being hurt all the time."

"So the boyfriend was a fake, to make me jealous?" he frowned at her, but the humour was back.

"I don't know how it all went so wrong Jai… I never wished for you to be hurt. Besides Roshini was your girlfriend.

He got up to pour himself a glass of water. "Roshini means nothing to me Bani, she never did. Yes we were intimate Bani but that was sex, not love". He saw her flinch and he cursed himself for being so callous. But if he had any chance with her it was going to be with his past firmly buried behind him.

"And there has never been any one else after you left Bani, I swear".

"Then why did you wait 4 years Jai and why now? "

Fighting guilt he set his glass down. "I said a lot of things Bani, and so did you. I thought I'd gotten past most of it until 2 months ago when I met Pia and well, seeing my state she told me all about the imaginary boyfriend."

Bani remembered to thank Pia for her unwanted intervention.

"What about Roshini, Jai why is she here with you?"

"She is not with me Bani, she is working for WGI. Despite her misguided demeanour she is a very good events specialist Bani. There is nothing between us any longer."

"I thought you hated me Jai."

:It was easier to try and hate you than to admit that you did not love me Bani."

"Why dint you say anything to me Jai, all this time wasted."

"Er well there was these things abut a "boyfriend" he chuckled.

"You are never going to let me forget won't you?" she smiled through her tears.

"Of course I will, unless he suddenly does materialise and then I will murder him, and you", he laughed.

"I let pride cost me a friend Bani, and the love of my life"

"I lost a friend too, Jai I never felt so lonely in my life".

He walked across to her and took her hands, "we can fix this Bani. You are not alone now".

"Look at me Bani", he demanded, lifting her trembling lip." I am her now Bani and I m not going back without you, do you hear. From now on, no running ok", he smoothed the tears that fell on her soft cheeks.

"I have come back for you Bani, really come back".

"Will you come with me? He stared into her eyes, trying to see inside.

"Yes, she let out a shaky breath. "All the answers are yes."

Jai s heart was beating, this gorgeous woman was his. He lifted her fingers and brought it up to his lips.

"Once long ago you told me that there is a family in every one of us Bani, I want that family with you. I want to belong, to you and only you".

"You have my heart Bani and as for a s long it beats it will always be yours. My life is yours"

He gazed into her eyes once more and to her surprise found his moist. "Will you belong to me Bani Dixit?"

She curled her fingers in his and smiled.

"I always did Jai Walia"

"Your happiness is important to me Bani."

"I know that", her eyes glistened when she looked at him."I am so glad we cleared the air Jai, and I want to do something for you, something to make up for all this mess."

"Oh really Miss Dixit, what can you do for me?, he teased circling her waist and crushing her against him.

She reached up and kissed him with all the passion she had saved for him, and this time her heart soared with Glory.

The end

Hope you all enjoyed it as much as I wrote it.

Take care.😆

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