Hi all.... I am back with another part...
Before that... there is only one question in everyone's mind, actually two 1. bani's behavior when Jai is intimate... its because of fear, lack of trust, doubt and insecurity.... 2. Jai's behaviour of avoiding bani in the past... well there is one flashback of one year which is still not done to fill the gap...
Here goes the next part:
Part 27B
By the time Jai reached the office, he was having a wide smile in his lips. He felt he saw an entirely different Bani since the before night. And he felt right… He remembered Bani's face… he remembered her smile – glowing, loving, shy, awkward, embarrassed, uncomfortable. He smiled to himself. He felt right… he was going to take effort to maintain it, he told himself. The hope, he had had given its seedling. Now he had to grow it into a plant, then a tree.
***
Bani completed her sketch in the morning when Anu had gone for her nap and bath. She wanted to color it as Jai liked, but the sketch would lose its feel, if colored, so she decided against it. She left it on Jai's study table. When she arrived for lunch, Masi and Dadi had made their special dishes. Anu enjoyed her home lunch after many months. Later, she sat with Bani and complained about all her teachers. Bani heard everything without much commenting.
Jigyasa was curious about Bani. Though she exactly didn't hate Bani, lately she had developed dislike towards her. Bani, at times felt uncomfortable in Jigyasa's scrutiny. Anu wanted to go for shopping with Bani. Bani refused saying later. Anu completely cheered Bani's mood. Bani was feeling very light.
***
Jai went and collected Bani's reports during lunch. The reports weren't scary, except what the doctor told the previous day. He let out a relieved breath. He called Bani and told her that he had collected the report. He added that there was nothing to worry and they could speak the remaining in the evening.
***
Towards evening, Anu's pestering for her sandwich became more. Bani, at last landed up in the kitchen. Few seconds, she felt as if she had landed on an unknown territory. She looked around. She remembered, just few nights before, she had had a cosy late night dinner with Jai. She smiled at the very thought. She could feel he cared about her. She shook out her thoughts and searched for the ingredients. She gathered all the ingredients and placed on the kitchen counter. By the time she prepared the center filling, Anu had already come to the kitchen. As Bani prepared the sandwich, Anu polished it. She even lost the count of the number of sandwiches she had. She called off only when she was sure there was no space in her stomach. Meanwhile, Dadi and Masi had one sandwich each just for Bani's sake and for tasting. They found it very simple and tasty. After Anu finished her so-called share, she took two for Jigyasa. Jigyasa did not want to accept that she in fact liked it. She went to the kitchen to place the plate. She was surprised to find Bani cleaning the kitchen counter. She placed the plate in the sink little louder than necessary to get Bani's attention. And she was successful too.
"Achchi sandwich hai." Jigyasa said.
Bani smiled in reply.
"Saaf kar rahi ho? Saara kaam ho gaya?" Jigyasa asked.
"Ji, ho gaya." Bani said.
"Bhaiya aur Aditya ke liye bana diya?" Bani looked at her questioningly. Jigyasa said, "I am sure unko pasand aayega."
Bani smiled and said, "Ji, jab aayenge, tab banaoongi. Garma garam khaana hai na…"
"At last, Bhaiya ko apne biwi ke haaton se banaya hua khaane ko mil raha hai." Jigyasa said smiling sweetly. Bani's smile vanished. She waited for Jigyasa to continue. Jigyasa continued. "Aise kya dekh rahi ho? Sach hi toh bata raha hoon?" Bani did not know what to say. "I am happy… mujhe khushi ho rahi hai ki tum unke biwi banne ki koshish kar rahi ho…" and left the kitchen and a stunned Bani behind.
She mechanically finished all the work and went to her room. She pulled a chair and sat in the balcony watching the sky.
She did not know how long she was sitting there. She was brought to the present by the car entering the house premises. She thought for a second. Then she got up and went to the kitchen. She started the gas, buttered the bread and started preparing the sandwich. Within 15 minutes, she had prepared enough slices, then she turned off the gas. She asked Tony to serve them with their tea. She cleaned and went back to the room. She did not notice Jai already present in the room.
"Bani…" Jai smiled at her. Bani stared at him for a second, then gave a forced smile. Jai was taken aback. 'Back to square one!' he thought in his mind. He came near her and held her shoulders. "Kya baat hai? Kya soch rahi ho?" Jai asked. Bani looked at him for a second, then shook her head. Jai sighed and went to the side table. "Tumhari reports…" He took it and gave it to her. Bani waited for him to speak further. Jai said, "Koi complication nahin hai."
Bani let out a breath of relief and got the reports from his hand. "Aapne saare reports kahaan pe rakha hai?" Jai went to his closet and collected the reports from the drawer and gave it to her. Bani looked at his hand and gave the reports in her hand to him. "Aap hi rakh lijiye, saare reports ke saath." Jai got it from her hand and kept it along with the previous reports and prescription.
When he turned back after closing the cupboard, he did not find her in the room. He frowned and looked around. He found the door to the balcony open. He walked to the balcony. He found her sitting in chair placing her face on her hand above the railing. He was now sure there was something not right. He placed his hand on her head.
She looked at him for a second, then frowned as if thinking something, then said, "Aapka snack rakkha hai, wahaan pe. Aapne khaaya nahin?"
Jai caressed her hair. "Andar chalo. Tumse kuch baat karni hai." Bani frowned. "Chalo…" Jai said again.
Bani got up and followed him into the room not sure of herself. She saw Jai sitting on the bed. She looked at him for a second, then went to the table and fetched his snack and tea. She sat beside him giving the tray to him.
Jai took a bite of sandwich. It tasted different; yet good. He looked at her. She was sitting with her head bent down looking at her joined hands. "Dus din ke baad humein check up ke liye jaana hai." He spoke all of a sudden. Bani looked at him. "Doctor ne kaha hai."
Bani let out a "Oh!"
Jai continued slowly. "Unhone kaha tha ki tum bahut weak ho." He paused to check her expression. Fear was gripping her; it was evident from her face. Jai continued. "Unhone yeh bhi kaha ki tum teek tarah se kha nahin rahi ho." He waited for her reaction. She swallowed. Jai continued. "Tum underweight bhi ho. Woh thoda improvement dekhna chahti hai, is dus din ke baad." Bani bent her head down. "Main bhi yehi chahta hoon. Woh isliye nahin ki bachche kamzor hoga. Isliye ki main bachche ki maa ko kuch hote huye dekha nahin sakta. Maine pehle bhi kaha hai, ab bhi keh raha hoon. Mujhe maa ke bina bachcha nahin chahiye." He took another bite of sandwich. Bani looked at him as if waiting for him to continue. Jai said, "Main yeh sab tumse kehna nahin chahta tha. Lekin, tumhari halat tumse chupa bhi nahin sakta. Woh isliye ki agar tumhein pata nahin hai toh teek kaise hogi?" He finished off the sandwich and took the cup of tea. He went to his cupboard and opened it to take out a casual.
Bani stopped him. "Aap chai pijiye. Main leke deti hoon." Jai nodded and moved away. Bani took a night pant and T-shirt and gave him. Jai, by then had finished his tea. He kept the cup on the tray and moved to the bathroom to change. Bani's voice stopped him. "Kya aap mere saath khush hai?"
Jai was shocked. He turned and looked at her. She was waiting for an answer. He said, "Main tumse jhoot nahin boloonga." Then, he asked, "Agar yehi sawaal main tumse poochon toh?" Bani did not have an answer. Jai came near her and spoke softly. "Dekho Bani. Hum kisi ke saath bhi khush reh sakte hain. Lekin jo sukoon mujhe tumhare saath hone se milta hai, woh kisi aur se mujhe kabhi nahin milega." Saying, he entered the bathroom.
Bani did not completely understand what Jai meant. But what she understood was – she could keep him happy… she could make him happy… And above all, he could be happy with her… That's what mattered to her.
Jai came out of the bathroom and looked at her in thoughts. He took a deep breath shaking his head. He went to her and hit her head gently. When Bani looked at him, he said, "Zyada sochna mat. Dimaag kharab ho jaayega."
It took few seconds for her to register. When she understood, she gave out an embarrassed smile.
Jai smiled and said, "Main ab jaa raha hoon. Dinner ke waqt neeche miltha hoon. Teek hai?" Bani nodded her head. Then he left the room.
Bani stood at the same place for dew seconds with the same smile on her face. She narrowed her eyes, then she went and fetched her mobile. She dialed and waited for the other person to attend the call.
"Bani…!"
"Pushkar… Kaise ho?" Bani asked still with the same smile on her face.
Pushkar smiled in surprise. "Hmmm… That sounds nice. Alright. Main teek hoon. Tum kaise ho?"
"Main teek hoon. Ghar pe sab kaise hai?" Bani said genuinely.
"I can sense that." Pushkar said. "Yahaan pe sab teek hai. Lekin summer is burning. I think record temperature honewala hai." Bani giggled. "So, ghar pe sab kaise hai?"
"Sab teek hai. Anu aayi hai." Bani said.
"Kab se tumhari aisi aawaaz sunne ke liye taras raha tha. Anyways… kya kaam hai?" Pushkar said.
"Kaam ke liye hi phone kiya." Bani reminded him.
Pushkar kicked his brain mentally that he forgot to speak with Jai regarding this. He said, "Ek kaam karo. Main tumhein… mmm… dus minute ke baad call karta hoon. Ab mujhe kahin kaana hai. Sorry."
Bani was little disappointed. She twitched her lips and said, "Okay, bye…!"
"Bye…!" Pushkar ended the call.
***
Jai came to the study and sat on his chair behind the table. He opened his laptop and switched it on. As it loaded, his eyes fell on a sheet of paper. He took it and looked at it. He smiled looking at it. 'It seems he need to find a separate place to hang all these.' He thought in his mind. Looking at the paper, he decided to laminate it before framing it. Now, he had two sketches to frame. He would have to do it the next day, he told himself. His mobile rang.
"Jai Walia."
"Hello, Sir. This is Pushkar. Kaise hai, aap?"
"Pushkar… main teek hoon. Tum kaise ho? Ghar pe sab kaise hai?"
"Sab teek hai yahaan. Bani kaisi hai. Khush dikh rahi thi."
Jai just smiled.
Pushkar continued. "Actually, I called you to speak about something. Are you free?"
"Haan… bolo, Pushkar. Kya baat hai?" Jai asked.
"Abhi abhi maine Bani se baat kiya. She wants to resume her work. Isliye phone kiya maine." Pushkar said.
Jai looked at the sketch lying on his table and spoke, "Pushkar, is baat mein tum Bani ko uski marzi pe chod do. Let her do it. Its her passion. Karne se, uska mann aur dimaag halka rahega."
Pushkar kept quiet for few seconds. "Thank you, Sir. I am happy that Bani is happy. She deserves her share of happiness."
Jai said, "That's true."
"Okay, Sir. Main Bani ko phone karke use kaam allot kar deta hoon."
"Okay." Jai said.
"Okay, Sir. Have a nice evening."
"Bye, Pushkar."
"Bye, Sir." Pushkar ended the call.
Jai smiled. He took a deep breath. He secured the sketch along with the other. Then, he started his work.
***
Pushkar immediately looked into his orders and assignments and called Bani to allot her work.
Bani was relieved. Pushkar too was, as his partner was back.
Thanks for reading 😳
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