Posted:
Veer track is related to the time when JB divorce was going through...any way I just felt like writing something different for that particular period.
The Divorce
Tarun Sablok grabbed Jai by his collar, "You stupid fool… why did you sign those divorce papers…didn't you get my message?"
Jai forcefully removed Tarun hands and straightened his tie. His eyes burnt dark with anger. "What the hell are you talking about? What message?"
Tarun sighed and flopped down on his desk and rested his head on the desk and saida quietly, "The one…telling you not to sign the damn papers."
Jai looked at his friend. He had never heard Tarun sound so defeated. "Now...why would you do that? Did Bani change her mind?"
Tarun looked up, his eyes quiet emotional, "No she did not. But I discovered the reason behind the divorce."
Jai's heart thundered, his composure fissured and he sat down on an empty chair. "I thought she wanted the money."
"Yes…but not for herself…for you. She was trying to save you from being thrown out on the street by your own sister and nephew. Jigyasa had also threatened Bani with taking away your child Jai…if she backed out of the divorce."
With Tarun's last words, Jai composure completely shattered. His eyes clouded with moisture and he slumped back. Tarun sat up and gave a pitiful look at Jai. The silence in the room felt ominous. The shrill ring of the phone on Tarun's desk broke the silence. Tarun grabbed the phone and barked, "Yes."
His PA, Maria, flinched at his sharp voice. "Sir, I just wanted to let you know I am leaving now."
"Sorry Maria. It's fine. I don't need you." Tarun put the phone back on the cradle.
"Where is she?" Jai finally asked.
"I don't know Jai. I went to the room Bani was renting. It was locked and found out from the landlord, she left yesterday…did not say where." Tarun pushed an envelope over, "This for you. It's papers from her, giving you back everything in alimony."
Jai pushed the envelope away angrily, "Dammit Tarun…I don't need that. I never cared about the money. I cared about trust Tarun…I thought I could trust her…to never hurt me. But she did…why couldn't she talk to me?"
Tarun gave a sarcastic laugh. "I don't believe this…you didn't hear me did you? Jigyasa who never can do anything wrong in your eyes, was apparently scheming behind your back to break your home up and take over your business. What was Bani supposed to do? Come running to you and say, Jigyasa di said this. Are you telling me you would have believed her without proof."
Jai ran both his hands through his hair, "Yes dammit…I would have. " Tarun gave a disbelieving look. And then he stood up and came up to Jai and laid his hand on Jai's shoulder, "I think you should find her Jai…if not for her sake…at least for your child. She can't survive out there without money Jai. She didn't take a penny from the money you gave her."
"Where do I start Tarun? I have no idea if she even has any friends in the city." Jai cried out.
"Why don't you start with Pushkar? I know you broke off your relations with him Jai. But may be Bani might have confided in him." Tarun walked Jai out to his car and watched him drive off.
XXXXX
Pushkar stood looking shocked at Jai Walia. He had never thought Jai Walia would knock on his door. His mother came looking who was at the door and seeing Jai, Sarla smiled, "Come in Jai. Don't just stand there. How are you?"
Pushkar stepped aside to let Jai come in and then followed him into the sitting area of his small flat. Sarla sat down beside Jai. "I am so glad you came Jai. I am sorry Pushkar hurt you so much and hope you will think of him as a child and forgive his mistake."
Jai looked at Pushkar, his eyes were blank, the hatred that Pushkar had seen before gone. "I am looking for Bani. Do you know where she is?" he asked dully.
Sarla looked at Pushkar and then at Jai, "Bani! Why would Pushkar know? She hasn't been in touch for months."
Pushkar's sense told him something was seriously wrong. Rano had told him about divorce Bani had filed, including the reason and Pushkar had declared vehemently that he did not believe Bani would do such a thing for money. He had tried to get in touch with her, but she had ignored his calls.
"I don't know where she is. She never answered any of my calls. Even Rano sounded worried when I talked to her yesterday, saying Bani wasn't returning her call."
Jai stood up abruptly and smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes, "I am sorry to have troubled Sarla. Will you please give me a call if she gets in touch with you?"
Pushkar nodded, "Yes of course. If there is anything we can do, please let me know."
For the first time after many months, Jai looked at Pushkar with feelings.
XXXXX
Masi took one look at Jai's face and knew something was wrong She didn't say anything but watched him go to his study. Masi ordered Tony to make some tea and bring it to the study. Waiting for a few minutes, masi walked up to the study and opened the door and went inside. She walked softly to the sofa where Jai sat staring out the window. Masi sat down and put her hand on his face, "What's wrong munna?" she asked with concern.
Jai sighed and then laughed, "Everything masi...Bani..."
Masi cut him off, "Don't say that woman's name. I don't want to hear it. How could she hurt you so much? After what you did for her and her sisters."
Jai laughed a little hysterically, 'You don't understand masi...she did nothing. All she tried in her naive way was to save me and my child masi."
"What do you mean?" masi asked angrily. "If she cared an ounce for you, she would have never asked you for divorce."
Jai gave a sober look at his masi. He knew at the moment it would be hard to persuade his masi to think differently. A knock sounded on the door and Jigyasa walked in with a tea tray. Her heavily made up face had a smile plastered on it. "There you are bhaiya...Tony said you were back. I am so glad everything is settled now. Now we can relax."
"Yes Jigyasa I will relax, once you and Ranveer vacate my house. I know everything...Tarun told me. I want you to get out my house by the end of the night. I will talk with Tarun to do up papers to split Walia properties and the money father originally left between us. I won't give you nothing more. Ranveer will no longer be an employee of Walia Group. Adi is welcome to stay with me if he wants."
Jigyasa set the tray down with a band on the coffee table. Her eyes widened and her face coloured red with anger, "What do you mean Bhaiya? What did Tarun say? It's all lies spread by Bani. How can you believe them?"
"How can you threatened to kill my child Jigyasa?" Jai roared. Masi looked shocked.
Jigyasa's face paled. "Why would I kill your child bhaiya? You know I could never hurt you." she said with fake tears running down her cheeks as she tried to protect herself.
"Stop crying...I know its a game you are playing. It will not work now. I know you hated Bani...but not to this extent. How could do this to me? How could you hurt me so much? After what I have done for you and Adi."
Jigyasa dropped on her knees and held Jai's hand. "Please bhaiya...believe me. I would never do anything to hurt you. It's just some story Tarun and Bani has cooked up to break us up."
Jai pulled his hand from her grip, "You got something right...but it's not to split us up...you did everything to split me and Bani up. Now just get out my sight. I don't want to call Tony to throw you out of the house."
Jigyasa stood up, her face hard and her eyes glinting with hatred. "Fine I will leave. But you will never be happy. She is gone...I am glad she is gone. All she wanted was your money and I proved that right."
Jai did not say anything but lifted his hand and slapped Jigyasa across the face. Masi gave a small scream and Jigyasa ran out of the study.
XXXXXX
In the dark of the night, Jai sat in a chair in the balcony off his bedroom. Sleep failed to come to him. He had retired to his room without dinner and had just sat in the dark, thinking of everything that had led up to this day. His cell phone rang in his room and he looked at it and ignored it. It stopped and two minutes later, it rang again. He got up slowly and answered it.
A strange female voice asked tentatively, "Mr Walia?"
"Yes speaking." he answered.
"Mr Walia, this is St Joseph's nursing home. There is a lady brought into our hospital for emergency, Mrs Walia. The doctor asked me to let you know."
Jai almost dropped the phone, "Mrs Walia? Is she ok?" he asked breathlessly.
"Yes, she is fine. Just collapsed due to low blood pressure. The baby is fine too. If you would like to visit them, they are in a private room 101."
"Thank you." Jai whispered. He sat for few minutes not believing the call. Then he grabbed his car keys and ran out of his room and out of the house. Within twenty minutes he was rushing out of his car and striding towards the hospital. A nurse at the reception directed him to the room. Jai waited a minute outside the door, his heart beating fast as he decided whether he should go in.
Jai opened the door and stepped into the dim room. He saw her on the bed, her eyes closed, a drip attached to his arm. With soft steps he crossed the floor to the side of the bed and looked down at her pale face. And then he gently laid his hand across her slightly bulging stomach.
Immediately Bani's eyes fluttered open and she stared at Jai's face. Her hand moved to rest on top of his. Jai turned his head, his eyes lined with pain, "Why Bani? Why did you do all this?" he asked softly.
She smiled, her soft voice answered back, "For you Jai. For the baby."
With a soft cry he dropped in next to her and wrapped his arms around her. "You knew I didn't care about the money Bani...all that mattered was you Bani. I love you Bani. How could you break my trust in you?" he cried out.
Bani laid her hand caressed his hair. "I never wanted to hurt you Jai...I never wanted to come between you and Jigyasa. If my going away meant your business was safe and the family was together, I was happy to do it."
When he looked up, tears were running down his face, "But we are not together. I threw Jigyasa and Ranveer out. Tarun told me everything. I don't want anything Bani...if I can't I have you and our child...than I don't want anything."
Bani closed her eyes in anguish...she had failed...she had failed to keep brother and sister together. She understood how important it was to have your brothers and sisters around you. Jai laid his wet cheek on her face. "You are going to come home Bani...I am going to take you home. If anyone has any problems with it...then they can also leave."
Bani shifted her face slightly, tears burning her eyes. Her lips brushed his and she sighed, "I love you Jai...I have always loved you. I want to come home. I want you to be there when our baby is born. I want you to be the first one to hold her. But promise, you will not do anything to Jigyasadi and Ranveer."
Jai looked incredulously at his wife, after all that his sister had done to hurt her, she was still worried about her. He gave her a resigned look, "Fine. But that doesn't mean I will allow them back in my house. I will still see Tarun and so what I should have done a long time ago...split everything my father left in my name...given her share a long time ago."
She gave a small smile and then pushed herself to sit up. "Can we go? I don't want to lie here in the hospital. I feel fine." Jai pushed her down, "You are not going anywhere, until I have seen a doctor." He walked up to the door and then turned and glared at her, "Don't you dare disappear on me again Bani Walia. You have no idea what I went through today when I didn't know where you were."
Bani just gave him a tender smile and waved him off.
An hour later, Jai led Bani through the quiet house up to his bedroom. He ordered Bani to lie down, but Bani sat and gave him a sheepish smile. "Could I go to the kitchen and get something to eat. I am hungry."
Jai shook his head, "No...get in that bed. I will go down and get something for both of us to eat. I didn't have dinner either." Bani gave him a guilty look. She knew why he had missed dinner. She got under the duvet and then gave him a smile, "Happy? Now can you go and get us some food...she put her hand on her stomach...baby and I are very hungry.
Jai went quietly downstairs and found Tony in the kitchen making up some sandwiches.
"What are you doing Tony?" Jai asked.
Tony smiled at Jai, "Just making up a tray for you sir. I heard you and maam coming in...and thought you might be feeling peckish."
Jai gave laughed softly, "Thanks Tony. We are rather hungry." Tony placed two glasses of milk on the tray and handed it to Jai. "There you are sir. Enjoy it."
In the bedroom Jai set the tray on the bed and handed the plate of sandwiches. "Did you make all this?" she asked looking at sandwiches.
Jai shook his head, "No Tony beat me to it. Thought we might be hungry." Picking one up, he held it to her mouth, "Now eat up...before I eat them all."
XXXXX
An hour later, lying with arms around her, Jai asked, "Did you sign the divorce papers?"
He felt Bani shake her head negatively and her soft voice whispering, "Yes. Tarun made me...he said he couldn't make out the property papers in your name if I didn't sign them. He said I wouldn't be entitled to alimony, unless the divorce was final."
Jai pressed his lips on her shoulder, "Does it mean we are now living in an illegal relationship?" Bani hit him on his arm, "Mr Walia...a piece of paper does not wipe out the vows we took in the presense of fire." She felt his muffled laughter on her shoulder and then he turned her around and kissed her tenderly and then said seriously, "I am glad. I thought I would have to go through another wedding to make love to you again."
THE END The Divorce
The Divorce
Tarun Sablok grabbed Jai by his collar, "You stupid fool… why did you sign those divorce papers…didn't you get my message?"
Jai forcefully removed Tarun hands and straightened his tie. His eyes burnt dark with anger. "What the hell are you talking about? What message?"
Tarun sighed and flopped down on his desk and rested his head on the desk and saida quietly, "The one…telling you not to sign the damn papers."
Jai looked at his friend. He had never heard Tarun sound so defeated. "Now...why would you do that? Did Bani change her mind?"
Tarun looked up, his eyes quiet emotional, "No she did not. But I discovered the reason behind the divorce."
Jai's heart thundered, his composure fissured and he sat down on an empty chair. "I thought she wanted the money."
"Yes…but not for herself…for you. She was trying to save you from being thrown out on the street by your own sister and nephew. Jigyasa had also threatened Bani with taking away your child Jai…if she backed out of the divorce."
With Tarun's last words, Jai composure completely shattered. His eyes clouded with moisture and he slumped back. Tarun sat up and gave a pitiful look at Jai. The silence in the room felt ominous. The shrill ring of the phone on Tarun's desk broke the silence. Tarun grabbed the phone and barked, "Yes."
His PA, Maria, flinched at his sharp voice. "Sir, I just wanted to let you know I am leaving now."
"Sorry Maria. It's fine. I don't need you." Tarun put the phone back on the cradle.
"Where is she?" Jai finally asked.
"I don't know Jai. I went to the room Bani was renting. It was locked and found out from the landlord, she left yesterday…did not say where." Tarun pushed an envelope over, "This for you. It's papers from her, giving you back everything in alimony."
Jai pushed the envelope away angrily, "Dammit Tarun…I don't need that. I never cared about the money. I cared about trust Tarun…I thought I could trust her…to never hurt me. But she did…why couldn't she talk to me?"
Tarun gave a sarcastic laugh. "I don't believe this…you didn't hear me did you? Jigyasa who never can do anything wrong in your eyes, was apparently scheming behind your back to break your home up and take over your business. What was Bani supposed to do? Come running to you and say, Jigyasa di said this. Are you telling me you would have believed her without proof."
Jai ran both his hands through his hair, "Yes dammit…I would have. " Tarun gave a disbelieving look. And then he stood up and came up to Jai and laid his hand on Jai's shoulder, "I think you should find her Jai…if not for her sake…at least for your child. She can't survive out there without money Jai. She didn't take a penny from the money you gave her."
"Where do I start Tarun? I have no idea if she even has any friends in the city." Jai cried out.
"Why don't you start with Pushkar? I know you broke off your relations with him Jai. But may be Bani might have confided in him." Tarun walked Jai out to his car and watched him drive off.
XXXXX
Pushkar stood looking shocked at Jai Walia. He had never thought Jai Walia would knock on his door. His mother came looking who was at the door and seeing Jai, Sarla smiled, "Come in Jai. Don't just stand there. How are you?"
Pushkar stepped aside to let Jai come in and then followed him into the sitting area of his small flat. Sarla sat down beside Jai. "I am so glad you came Jai. I am sorry Pushkar hurt you so much and hope you will think of him as a child and forgive his mistake."
Jai looked at Pushkar, his eyes were blank, the hatred that Pushkar had seen before gone. "I am looking for Bani. Do you know where she is?" he asked dully.
Sarla looked at Pushkar and then at Jai, "Bani! Why would Pushkar know? She hasn't been in touch for months."
Pushkar's sense told him something was seriously wrong. Rano had told him about divorce Bani had filed, including the reason and Pushkar had declared vehemently that he did not believe Bani would do such a thing for money. He had tried to get in touch with her, but she had ignored his calls.
"I don't know where she is. She never answered any of my calls. Even Rano sounded worried when I talked to her yesterday, saying Bani wasn't returning her call."
Jai stood up abruptly and smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes, "I am sorry to have troubled Sarla. Will you please give me a call if she gets in touch with you?"
Pushkar nodded, "Yes of course. If there is anything we can do, please let me know."
For the first time after many months, Jai looked at Pushkar with feelings.
XXXXX
Masi took one look at Jai's face and knew something was wrong She didn't say anything but watched him go to his study. Masi ordered Tony to make some tea and bring it to the study. Waiting for a few minutes, masi walked up to the study and opened the door and went inside. She walked softly to the sofa where Jai sat staring out the window. Masi sat down and put her hand on his face, "What's wrong munna?" she asked with concern.
Jai sighed and then laughed, "Everything masi...Bani..."
Masi cut him off, "Don't say that woman's name. I don't want to hear it. How could she hurt you so much? After what you did for her and her sisters."
Jai laughed a little hysterically, 'You don't understand masi...she did nothing. All she tried in her naive way was to save me and my child masi."
"What do you mean?" masi asked angrily. "If she cared an ounce for you, she would have never asked you for divorce."
Jai gave a sober look at his masi. He knew at the moment it would be hard to persuade his masi to think differently. A knock sounded on the door and Jigyasa walked in with a tea tray. Her heavily made up face had a smile plastered on it. "There you are bhaiya...Tony said you were back. I am so glad everything is settled now. Now we can relax."
"Yes Jigyasa I will relax, once you and Ranveer vacate my house. I know everything...Tarun told me. I want you to get out my house by the end of the night. I will talk with Tarun to do up papers to split Walia properties and the money father originally left between us. I won't give you nothing more. Ranveer will no longer be an employee of Walia Group. Adi is welcome to stay with me if he wants."
Jigyasa set the tray down with a band on the coffee table. Her eyes widened and her face coloured red with anger, "What do you mean Bhaiya? What did Tarun say? It's all lies spread by Bani. How can you believe them?"
"How can you threatened to kill my child Jigyasa?" Jai roared. Masi looked shocked.
Jigyasa's face paled. "Why would I kill your child bhaiya? You know I could never hurt you." she said with fake tears running down her cheeks as she tried to protect herself.
"Stop crying...I know its a game you are playing. It will not work now. I know you hated Bani...but not to this extent. How could do this to me? How could you hurt me so much? After what I have done for you and Adi."
Jigyasa dropped on her knees and held Jai's hand. "Please bhaiya...believe me. I would never do anything to hurt you. It's just some story Tarun and Bani has cooked up to break us up."
Jai pulled his hand from her grip, "You got something right...but it's not to split us up...you did everything to split me and Bani up. Now just get out my sight. I don't want to call Tony to throw you out of the house."
Jigyasa stood up, her face hard and her eyes glinting with hatred. "Fine I will leave. But you will never be happy. She is gone...I am glad she is gone. All she wanted was your money and I proved that right."
Jai did not say anything but lifted his hand and slapped Jigyasa across the face. Masi gave a small scream and Jigyasa ran out of the study.
XXXXXX
In the dark of the night, Jai sat in a chair in the balcony off his bedroom. Sleep failed to come to him. He had retired to his room without dinner and had just sat in the dark, thinking of everything that had led up to this day. His cell phone rang in his room and he looked at it and ignored it. It stopped and two minutes later, it rang again. He got up slowly and answered it.
A strange female voice asked tentatively, "Mr Walia?"
"Yes speaking." he answered.
"Mr Walia, this is St Joseph's nursing home. There is a lady brought into our hospital for emergency, Mrs Walia. The doctor asked me to let you know."
Jai almost dropped the phone, "Mrs Walia? Is she ok?" he asked breathlessly.
"Yes, she is fine. Just collapsed due to low blood pressure. The baby is fine too. If you would like to visit them, they are in a private room 101."
"Thank you." Jai whispered. He sat for few minutes not believing the call. Then he grabbed his car keys and ran out of his room and out of the house. Within twenty minutes he was rushing out of his car and striding towards the hospital. A nurse at the reception directed him to the room. Jai waited a minute outside the door, his heart beating fast as he decided whether he should go in.
Jai opened the door and stepped into the dim room. He saw her on the bed, her eyes closed, a drip attached to his arm. With soft steps he crossed the floor to the side of the bed and looked down at her pale face. And then he gently laid his hand across her slightly bulging stomach.
Immediately Bani's eyes fluttered open and she stared at Jai's face. Her hand moved to rest on top of his. Jai turned his head, his eyes lined with pain, "Why Bani? Why did you do all this?" he asked softly.
She smiled, her soft voice answered back, "For you Jai. For the baby."
With a soft cry he dropped in next to her and wrapped his arms around her. "You knew I didn't care about the money Bani...all that mattered was you Bani. I love you Bani. How could you break my trust in you?" he cried out.
Bani laid her hand caressed his hair. "I never wanted to hurt you Jai...I never wanted to come between you and Jigyasa. If my going away meant your business was safe and the family was together, I was happy to do it."
When he looked up, tears were running down his face, "But we are not together. I threw Jigyasa and Ranveer out. Tarun told me everything. I don't want anything Bani...if I can't I have you and our child...than I don't want anything."
Bani closed her eyes in anguish...she had failed...she had failed to keep brother and sister together. She understood how important it was to have your brothers and sisters around you. Jai laid his wet cheek on her face. "You are going to come home Bani...I am going to take you home. If anyone has any problems with it...then they can also leave."
Bani shifted her face slightly, tears burning her eyes. Her lips brushed his and she sighed, "I love you Jai...I have always loved you. I want to come home. I want you to be there when our baby is born. I want you to be the first one to hold her. But promise, you will not do anything to Jigyasadi and Ranveer."
Jai looked incredulously at his wife, after all that his sister had done to hurt her, she was still worried about her. He gave her a resigned look, "Fine. But that doesn't mean I will allow them back in my house. I will still see Tarun and so what I should have done a long time ago...split everything my father left in my name...given her share a long time ago."
She gave a small smile and then pushed herself to sit up. "Can we go? I don't want to lie here in the hospital. I feel fine." Jai pushed her down, "You are not going anywhere, until I have seen a doctor." He walked up to the door and then turned and glared at her, "Don't you dare disappear on me again Bani Walia. You have no idea what I went through today when I didn't know where you were."
Bani just gave him a tender smile and waved him off.
An hour later, Jai led Bani through the quiet house up to his bedroom. He ordered Bani to lie down, but Bani sat and gave him a sheepish smile. "Could I go to the kitchen and get something to eat. I am hungry."
Jai shook his head, "No...get in that bed. I will go down and get something for both of us to eat. I didn't have dinner either." Bani gave him a guilty look. She knew why he had missed dinner. She got under the duvet and then gave him a smile, "Happy? Now can you go and get us some food...she put her hand on her stomach...baby and I are very hungry.
Jai went quietly downstairs and found Tony in the kitchen making up some sandwiches.
"What are you doing Tony?" Jai asked.
Tony smiled at Jai, "Just making up a tray for you sir. I heard you and maam coming in...and thought you might be feeling peckish."
Jai gave laughed softly, "Thanks Tony. We are rather hungry." Tony placed two glasses of milk on the tray and handed it to Jai. "There you are sir. Enjoy it."
In the bedroom Jai set the tray on the bed and handed the plate of sandwiches. "Did you make all this?" she asked looking at sandwiches.
Jai shook his head, "No Tony beat me to it. Thought we might be hungry." Picking one up, he held it to her mouth, "Now eat up...before I eat them all."
XXXXX
An hour later, lying with arms around her, Jai asked, "Did you sign the divorce papers?"
He felt Bani shake her head negatively and her soft voice whispering, "Yes. Tarun made me...he said he couldn't make out the property papers in your name if I didn't sign them. He said I wouldn't be entitled to alimony, unless the divorce was final."
Jai pressed his lips on her shoulder, "Does it mean we are now living in an illegal relationship?" Bani hit him on his arm, "Mr Walia...a piece of paper does not wipe out the vows we took in the presense of fire." She felt his muffled laughter on her shoulder and then he turned her around and kissed her tenderly and then said seriously, "I am glad. I thought I would have to go through another wedding to make love to you again."
THE END The Divorce
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
