I was going to post this story for New Year but had to make an emergency trip to England...came back last night...
I hope you like it, leave comments please.
Long Way Home
I remember the days
of just keeping time
of hanging around in sleepy towns, forever
Back roads empty for miles
well you cant have a dream
and cut it to fit
but when I saw you, I knew
we go together, like a wink and a smile
Leave your old jallopy
by the railroad track
we'll get a hip, double dip, tip toppy, 2 seat pontiac
So you can rev her up
don't go slow
It's only green lights and alright
let's go together with a wink and a smile
Give me a wink and a smile
We go together like a wink and a smile
Now my heart is music
such a simple song
singing again, the notes never end
this is where I belong
Just the sound of your voice
the light in your eyes
Your so far away from yesterday
Together, with a wink and a smile
We go together, like a wink and a smile.
Delhi airport looked like a mayhem…there were millions of people crammed around the check in counters, luggage piled around their feet, some tumbling over as someone tried to push past. Outside the glass was fog swirled thick, blocking out the not only the sun but the lights, the runaways, the idle planes and people working on the grounds.
A petite girl, her shiny black hair falling in mass of curls around her shoulders, her almond shaped eyes glittered with annoyance and her voice, high pitched due to her frustration was screaming at the poor clerk behind the counter, who was now flustered and close to crying. "Please mam…" she tried in her best voice, "there is nothing we can do…no plane will leave the runaway until the fog clears."
"And when will that be?" screamed the girl, curling her fists resting on the counter. The clerk shrugged her shoulders, "Don't know mam…the weather people don't know how long this fog is going to last."
"Well can you tell me where I can charter a private plane? I need to get home today, it's New Year's Eve and I promised my dad would be home to be with my family. I think my American Express should cover the cost."
The clerk gave an exasperated look, "Mam…don't you understand? Nothing will fly out of this airport until the fog clears…no private or public planes. Now please could you move away and let me help someone else."
Bani shook her head in disbelief, "You can't do anything for me, what help are you going to be to anyone else." She moved away, pulling her designed bag with her. She pulled her cell phone out and scrolled through the stored number and called her father. The call went to the voicemail, "Hi papa….it's Bani. I am stuck at Delhi airport. The fog here has grounded the planes and I have no idea when I will get out of here. I love you papa…I hope to see you soon."
She felt a tap on her shoulder and looked at the six-foot man towering over her. His rimmed glasses had slipped down his nose and the tweed jacket and oxford shirt underneath over neat trousers made him stand out among the seas of golf and t-shirt and jeans clad guys. He smiled at her and extended his hand and said in deep, pleasant voice, "Jai Walia. I too want to get to Mumbai. Looks like we are in a same boat."
Bani gave a disdainful look. Ignored his hand and said in a haughty voice. "Hardly in a same boat. I have been stuck in Delhi for two weeks, due to incompetence by one of the senior executive in my company. My father took ill and I was so looking forward to be with him tonight. And this damn fog has to ruin my plan."
Jai Walia cleared his throat. " I see he said quietly. Look I was going down to the railway station and see if there are trains running."
For an instance she gave him a blank look and then a flash of light in her eyes as what he said registered. She stared at him doubtfully, "You think the trains would run in this weather?" Her eyes rested on his glasses perched on his nose and her fingers itched to push them up. For a moment her eyes stilled, he had gorgeous deep dark brown eyes.
As if sensing her gaze on his slipped glasses, Jai pushed back his glasses and said thoughtfully, "Well electric trains do run on tracks…they don't fly in air…so I don't see why not."
Bani gave a stiff smile, "Thank you. Let's go before some other people get the same idea." With some pushing and shoving and cursing under her breath she followed him out the terminal. Lines of taxis waited for passengers.
Jai walked up to one and told him they wanted to go to the New Delhi Railway station. The driver gave a toothy smile and said, "Sure sahib, lekin yeh dhuwan, thodi dere lagegi."
Jai shrugged, "Aap le chalo hume." He helped the taxi driver load his small bag and Bani's suitcase into the trunk and then held door open for Bani to get in.
Bani wrinkled her nose at the smell of tobacco and other strange smell inside the cab. "Don't these people know how to take care of their cars. How can people bear the smells? I feel like puking."
Soft deep laughter rumbled in the chest of her companion. "Please don't throw up in the car…it will be impossible to travel then. As it is, it will take us a little longer to get to the railway station."
Bani glared at him and pulled out a handkerchief from her Gucci bag and held it to her nose.
Jai gazed at her with interest. She looked intelligent, her clothes were definitely not off the rack at some local shop and her nail perfectly manicured and painted soft pink. He felt pity for her. Unlike him she did have a family to go home to. His family consisted of an estranged sister, his younger brother Nachiket, who had got the wanderlust was making his way around the world and then his masi. It was because of his masi he was going home. She wasn't keeping well and at the moment was bedridden due to flu.
His work as president of nuclear energy institute kept him busy. When he had taken over the job a year ago, he had missed Mumbai like crazy, but eventually he had got used to Delhi weather and the city. His last visit had been an overnight stay in Mumbai for the eighteenth birthday party for his niece…he loved Anu dearly and there was no way he would have missed her birthday.
The taxi came to a halt in front of the railway station. Jai paid the driver and picked up his and Bani's bags and followed her into the station. It was chaos in the station too. Trains were delayed and like the airport, people stood around jam-packed along with their luggage. Jai gave a wry grin, "I guess we might be out of luck here too." He stood patiently in line while Bani stood fidgeting with the clasp of her bag.
Half an hour later Jai returned. "We are out of luck here too. They are overbooked and the trains are delayed…for how long they don't know." Bani tugged at her suitcase, "Let's go. I think I will check into the hotel near the airport and wait till the flights resume." Jai just nodded and followed her outside. The same taxi driver was waiting for them and hailed them as they came out. "Sahib…mujhe pata tha…kuch nahin honawala yahaan. Aap logo ko kahaan jana hai?" he asked.
"Mumbai. Lagta hai…wait karne parega. Hume airport lei chalo." Jai answered.
"Ek raasta hai sahib. Mere dost ka dhaba hai highway pe. Wahaan se apko Mumbai jaanewali truck mei ride mil sakti hai." The cab driver made the suggestion in a friendly manner. Bani's face registered horror. She shook her head and almost screamed. "No way…I would rather get to Mumbai a day late, than travel in a truck."
Jai smiled, irritating her more. Why did he just smile…did he not feel anything else…was he not frustrated with the fog…with the delay…with running around the damn fog in a taxi.
"Miss…sorry you didn't tell me your name. But I have no desire to force you to travel in a truck. The good man was only being kind and trying to help."
"My name is Bani…Bani Dixit." She said frostily.
He opened the door for her to get in. "Please sit down. He will take you to a hotel."
Once again Bani remained aloof, staring out of the window while Jai made light conversation with the driver. Suddenly Bani tapped the Jai, "Tell him to take us to the dhabba. I have changed my mind."
His glasses had slipped down his nose as he peered through them, "Are you sure?" Bani nodded.
The driver changed his direction and drove slowly through the swirling fog. Within fifteen minutes he pulled alongside parked trucks in front of a dhabba, lit by multitude of kerosene lamps.
"Why don't you wait here, while I go with driver and find out if we can hitch a ride?" Jai told her. Bani nodded, she didn't want to really step out and attract attention from all the men huddled around the tables, eating and drinking. The smell of food cooking permeated her nostrils and her stomach complained. She realized she hadn't eaten anything since last night, except for grabbing a cup of black coffee in the morning.
Through the haze she watched as boys rushed about with plates of steaming food and her mouth watered. Ten minutes had gone by before she saw Jai and the driver return. An urge to giggle overcame her as she realized how ridiculous he looked in his tweed jacket alongside the kurta and pyjama clad driver.
Jai opened the door with his familiar smile. "We are in luck, there is one truck which can help us out. Are you sure you want to travel in the truck?" he asked her, his eyes displayed some form amusement.
Bani nodded, "Yes…I want to get to Mumbai by midnight." She then gave him a wishful gaze, "Do you think it's safe to eat something here? I haven't eaten anything at all today?"
His black hair fell over his forehead as he nodded. Sensing her uneasiness to step outside, he assured her, "I think it should be safe as long as you stick to hot cooked food and tea. Do you want to sit outside or shall I get you plate?"
"Would you think worse of me if I stayed in the car?" she asked, her eyes seeing past his face at the crowded table. He patted her hand, "I will bring you back a plate…I think the tables are too crowded for you to sit comfortably." She sighed with relief and let her head relax against the worn out seat.
Bani took tentative bite of the vegetable curry and rice. The spicy curry made her eyes tear a little, but she ate the food hungrily and drank the glass of hot, sweet tea. It was another ten minutes later before Jai came to collect her. He took their bags out of the trunk, tipped the driver handsomely and took her to the truck they would be travelling in. She attracted stares as they walked by the tables, her curvy figure clad in tight jeans and a fitting cashmere sweater.
The elderly Punjabi driver greeted her warmly and took the bags of Jai and went around the back to put them in. Jai helped her climb into the truck and then eased himself up behind her. Bani whispered to Jai, "Thank God, this one is clean and doesn't smell like puke." He peered amusingly through his glasses and whispered back, "I made sure to check first before I accepted the offer."
The driver got in and said a little prayer before roaring the engine into starting. He smiled indulgently at Bani, "Beti…ghabhrani koi baat nahi. Meine kitne saalo se yehi truck chalata hoon, kabhi accident nahi hui. Sahi salamaat pauncha doonga apne ghar." Bani returned his smile and said, "Thank you."
The truck drove with its head beams full on through the swirling mist. The road appeared deserted, until suddenly the black shape of other vehicle would loom in the white mist. After a while, the driver put on the radio and a Punjabi song belted out loudly. The driver looked apologetically and adjusted the volume.
Getting bored with looking at the wall of fog and not really understanding the conversation that the driver and Jai were engaged in Punjabi, Bani dozed off. Her head rested on Jai's tweed covered jacket.
After some time the driver commented to Jai that his wife was a very pretty girl and she must be keeping him very happy as Jai looked very content. Jai face coloured a little at the thought of the man thinking that they were husband and wife. He didn't correct the driver, but instead stared at Bani's face resting in sleep against his shoulder. His fluttered as he felt her soft breath on his chin. She was beautiful, her long black lashes fanned out on her creamy skin and her lips were curved slightly in a smile.
Jai felt an odd feeling go through him. He had never looked at a woman so closely. Most of the women he socialized with were work colleagues; most of them were married and he never had inclination to befriend any other females he might have met outside of work.
After two hours of driving, the fog thinned and soon they found sunshine flooding the cab. The driver laughed and said a little prayer, telling Jai he was always glad to be driving out of the fog in one piece. The radio crackled as the driver started losing signal to the station he was listening to and he fiddled until he found a station playing hindi song and then joined in the singing in his gravely voice.
Bani stirred and shaded her eyes against the bright light. She sat up straight and looked dazed. "Where are we? What happened to the fog?" she asked.
"We are couple of hundred kilometres south of Delhi and left the fog behind." He felt disappointed that she had woken up, he felt unfamiliar emptiness near him now.
"Thank god for it. Now have long do you think before we get to Mumbai?" she asked, running fingers through her tousled curls.
Jai asked the driver, who laughed jovially and said if the traffic is light they should be in Mumbai in another ten to twelve hours. Bani looked at the time on her watch, it was already past two, it would be close to or after midnight when they reached Mumbai. Jai pulled out a bottle of water from a bag and handed it to her. "I brought some water for us."
"Thanks. It is rather hot now in the truck now." She sipped water from the bottle and took a little in her hand and splattered it on her face. Bani tugged at Jai's tweed jacket and asked, "Aren't you hot in this?"
Jai shrugged, "Not really, I guess I am so used to wearing jackets, it doesn't bother me." Bani scrutinized his serene face, "What do you do exactly? Are you a professor at some college?"
His loud laughter caught her by surprise. Event he driver stared at Jai. "Professor...no…no. I run the nuclear institute. I studies physics at university and then postgraduate in Nuclear physics. I am afraid it's not a glamorous job…though I do oversee hospitality business which was originally started by my father in Mumbai, which now my brother-in-law runs."
Bani frowned, "I am afraid I wasn't any good at sciences at school. My father runs a chain of hotels and I help out. Only sometimes, I wish papa wasn't so lenient with his managers. Some of them take advantage of him."
Jai nodded his head, his glasses slipped off the bridge of his nose, unconsciously Bani lifted her hand and pushed them back. "Next time make sure the glasses have bridge support to stop your glasses from slipping."
"Thank you, I shall keep that in mind." Jai adjusted his glasses, making sure to push them firmly up on the bridge of the nose.
"Are you married?" Bani asked him, fixing her gaze on his left hand and seeing no sign of a ring.
Jai made a strange noise. He tugged at the collar of his shirt. He answered slowly, "I am not married."
"Why not? I mean you look old. Didn't your parents try and find a girl for you?" Bani probed, without any inhibition.
"You seem very curious about my status Bani. I am single by choice. My parents did find lots of girls for me…but I found them boring. What about you? Are you going to get married?"
"Yep, when I turn 25. I have plenty of boys proposing to me…but I didn't want to be marry young." Bani stretching her hands out. "I know what kind of engagement ring I want. An emerald cut diamond in white gold." Bani mused, twisting her left hand in the sunlight.
"What if the boy can't afford a diamond?" Jai teased her.
Bani arched her brow, "Well then I will have to buy my own engagement ring. I mean being an only child…I will have to find someone willing to active part in my father's business. One day it will be ours."
"You seemed to have everything planned out Ms Dixit. But life doesn't work that way. Things do not go according to our plans…the greater power to be may have destined something else for us." Jai told her, mirth lining his eyes.
She gave him an annoyed glare, "You are just like my father. Destiny is his favourite word…no one knows what's written in their destiny."
Before he could say anything else, the truck pulled in at the roadside dhabba. The driver told them he was going to stretch himself and grab some tea and they were welcome to join him.
Jai helped Bani down and both them walked towards the dhabba and took a seat. The sun was low in the sky, casting orangey glow on the land. It wasn't so busy at the dhabba, just a few cars and couple of trucks. Jai ordered tea for them, Bani declined food, as she wasn't feeling hungry.
They sat in silence, just observing everything around them accept each other. Jai was disturbed by Bani that much he knew. She intrigued him. She was like childlike at times and then so much the modern woman that her attire and confidence reflected. A desire to get to know her better had taken hold of him, but somehow his limited experience with women handicapped him.
Bani sipped her tea slowly. Her father was going to have good chuckle when she relates to him how she made her way to Mumbai. Just thinking of her father made her feel warm and fuzzy. She took a peek at Jai through the corner of her eyes. What would her father think of him, she thought. She knew the answer to the question, her father would like him a lot. To her father he would be just the nice, dependable kind of guy, with an excellent academic background and good working position…in another word Jai was perfect husband material as per her father.
They sat off again. And soon the sun sank over the distant horizon and the cab was filled with darkness. Bani found herself dozing off again.
Next she woke up, it was because of blaring horns and sound of vehicles. They had reached the suburbs and the noise of the big city traffic. Bani rubbed her eyes. "Are we in Mumbai?" she asked sleepily.
"Yes. Actually the driver was asking where do you want to be dropped off. I was wondering if we should get some nearby and take a taxi. Why make him drive through the traffic if it is out of his way."
"That's fine by me. I am just glad to back in Mumbai." Bani said as she ran her finger through her curls.
Jai asked the driver to pull over so they could get down. The driver refused to take money Jai offered, saying he was glad to help them out. He wished them both best for the New Year. Jai stopped a cab and both to them got in.
"Where to?" Jai asked Bani.
"Bandra, Carter Road." She replied. "What about you? Where do you live?' she asked.
"Don't worry about me. I will drop you off first. I have a house in Pali hill and an apartment near Nariman point."
Jai gave driver the address and then sat back. "Your family will be happy that you made it home. It's only 11.30…half an hour before midnight."
Bani gave a little laugh, "Hmm…I haven't called, thought would surprise them. I know papa won't go to sleep yet."
"Seeing the New Year in…actually my masi will be fast asleep. I told the butler to make sure to tell her I am coming tomorrow."
"Well then why don't you come and meet my family. I am sure there will be plenty of food leftover. You must be hungry. It was such long time since we lat ate." Bani directed the cab driver to apartment complex. The security guard opened the gate to let the cab in.
Jai got out and took Bani's bags out. "I will just walk you to the elevator." Jai offered.
"Aren't you coming in?" she asked, her eyes giving him an intense gaze.
Jai ran his hand through his hair, "Are you sure? I don't want to impose."
"Nonsense…come. I told you papa would love to meet you." Bani paid the driver while Jai took his small bag out. Both of them walked in to brightly lit reception area of the complex.
XXXXX
Bani watched her father and Jai engaged in deep conversation. Midnight had come and gone…the wine glasses stood empty. Kiran noticed Bani staring at Jai and her husband. Her mother whispered in her ears, "He is rather handsome Bani. Where did you find him Bani?"
Bani rolled her eyes, "Maa…I told you we met at the airport…he too was trying to get to Mumbai."
"Well he seemed and your papa seem to get along like house on fire. Tell me is it that cold in Delhi? Is the AC on too high? That jacket…it must make him feel hot." Kiran rambled on.
"Maa…it's a tweed jacket and he says he wears it all the time. Don't you think he should be going? I only asked him in out of courtesy. Didn't think he would stay this long." Bani grumled to her mother, she really wanted him to leave so they could go to sleep…it was like two in the morning.
Kiran slapped Bani's arm lightly. "Why don't you go to sleep? Leave him to the care of your father. He had been bored all day as it is."
Bani shook her head. She wasn't going to go to bed yet. Before long Bani had nodded off to sleep. Kiran covered her with blanket and then said goodnight to Jai and Nishikant.
Jai looked at his watch and stood up, "I have overstayed…I am sorry. Thank you…I enjoyed my visit. Please tell Bani I had an enjoyable trip with her." He fished out his business card. "Please tell her if she is ever in Mumbai, to give me a call and you too sir."
Nishikant took the card and shook hand with Jai and walked him too the door.
XXXXX
Masi was sitting up in bed when Jai entered her room the next day. He had slept in late.
Masi smiled at him, "Happy New Year Jai. When did you arrive?"
Jai touched masi's feet and sat down on the bed. "Very late at night masi. I travelled by road, found a truck driver who was coming to Mumbai and got a ride."
"Why do you take risk travelling in truck? All those horrible accidents that happen when they don't drive properly." Masi complained.
"Masi…you worry too much. Tell me how do you feel." Jai asked diverting the talk.
"Much better now that I have seen you. How long are you planning to stay?"
"Few days…why don't you come and stay few days with me in Delhi masi. I have a house that is empty."
Masi smiled at him, "I will when you get married. I will then have company. What am going to do in a strange house all by myself while you are work Jai?" Jai kept quiet.
"Why are you not saying anything? Did I say something wrong? You know I would really like to see you married and with family Jai. I promised your mother I would take care of you…but now I am getting old and you are not a teenager either." Masi said softly, her hand caressing Jai's cheek.
"You didn't say anything wrong masi. But I haven't met anyone that I like." Jai said, but silently to himself, for once I met someone who captures my mind…but she is young.
XXXXX
Nishikant sat with his morning coffee in the balcony of his home. Bani came and joined him. "Good morning papa." She kissed her father on the cheek.
"Had a good sleep?" he asked. Bani nodded. "Yes I was tired. It's not very comfortable to travel in a truck."
Nishikant chuckled. "I was surprised you dared to do it. Must have been desparate to get home or was it the company you had that changed your mind."
Bani rolled her eyes, "Papa…I knew you two would get along well. He is annoying in ways papa. Very boring…wears that tweed jacket and works in a nuclear facility."
"Bani…he heads an organization that is responsible for the safety of nuclear facilities in this country. It is a responsible job." Nishikant said sternly.
"Still papa…he is nothing but someone I met by chance. If there had been no fog…I would have never met him."
"Well I am glad you met him. And I do like him. Seems very down to earth kind of fellow. I wouldn't mind him as my son-in-law." Nishikant teased.
Bani spluttered on the coffee she was drinking, "Really father!" she said in consternation, "I am not sure he is my type."
"Why because he doesn't seem the kind to wine and dine you?"
"Yes…life would be boring. He would be at work…and I be sitting at home bored." Bani said a bit seriously.
Nishikant smiled, "Still Bani…think it carefully. Here, he left his calling details," and he handed her the business card.
Bani took the card and went off to her bedroom to tuck it away in a drawer.
XXXXX
Three months later…Delhi airport.
Nishikant and Bani made her way to the gate. It had been short and successful trip, they had hired couple of new executives to take care of the expansion of their Delhi office.
"Sir…" a familiar voice hailed Nishikant. Jai stood before them, in his familiar tweed jacket and clutching his laptop bag.
"Jai…how are you? Such a pleasant surprise." Nishikant shook hands with Jai.
Jai raised his brow and looked at Bani, who was staring at him strangely.
"Hi Bani." Jai spoke with hint of laughter in his eyes.
"Hi Jai." Bani said slowly.
Nishikant asked, "Going to Mumbai Jai?"
Jai nodded, "Yes…there is a conference which I am attending. Rishita!" Jai turned and called out.
A tall and graceful young woman, wearing a business suit came forward. "This is Rishita, my executive assistant. Rishita, this is Mr Dixit and his daughter Bani."
Rishita smiled and folded her hands in greeting to Nishikant. "Nice to meet you sir." And turning to Bani she extended her hand, "Hello Bani."
Bani shook her hand briefly and said an abrupt, "Hi." Bani wondered if Rishita was something more than Jai's employee.
"Papa I just need to go to the bathroom." Bani said, wanting to escape from there. Nishikant nodded, "I will just be here with Jai," he called after her.
Bani stood in the bathroom and took deep breath, of all the people they had to meet it had to be him. Her father had hinted about calling him up and meeting him while they were in Delhi, but Bani did not have the business card with his number. Now he also happened to be travelling on the same flight home and she was going to have to be sociable with him and his assistant.
When she returned back, her father was waiting for her. "Come on Bani, we have to board. Jai has already gone in."
Bani followed her father inside the plane. They were seated couple of rows back from Jai and Rishita. Bani felt good, now she had no reason to be chummy with Rishita.
During the flight, couple of times her father got up and went to talk to Jai, Bani pretended she was asleep.
They parted ways when the plane landed in Mumbai, with Nishikant inviting Jai to come over and visit them. Jai had looked straight into Bani's eyes and replying to Nishikant he would try and make time to see them. Bani was caught by the intensity of his eyes and her insides churned as if he had conveyed some hidden message to her.
It wasn't a surprise when two days later Jai turned up at her home, but he didn't come alone, there was an elderly lady with him who he introduce as his masi. In the sitting area, Bani sat quietly as Jai and her father discussed something and her mother and masi were busy talking about general things.
After a while masi caught Bani staring at her, she smiled and patted a seat beside her on the sofa, "Come here and sit with us Bani." Kiran gave her a look and Bani got up and sat next to masi. Soon masi was asking Bani questions about her work, the school she had gone to and about movies she had liked seeing. Jai gave a smile as he took a sly glance at masi and Bani., he knew masi would soon have Bani chatting.
Jai and masi stayed for dinner. Bani helped Kiran in the kitchen while masi sat and talked animatedly. Jai and masi left soon after dinner, Jai making an excuse of having to catch up with some work for tomorrow.
Masi seemed to have found a new friend in Kiran and so dropped in again couple of times. Bani found she discussed Jai a lot with her father and mother. She got to bits and pieces of his life from this. She wondered sometimes if he was living here whether he would become a regular visitor to her home.
It was a surprise when one evening she found Jai and masi at her home. Bani had stayed a little late at work and was looking forward to a quiet evening.
Bani was in her room freshening up when her father knocked on her door. She opened the door. Nishikant came in and patted her head. "Sit down, I want to talk to you."
Bani sat down on her bed and her father took a seat. "Masi has come with a proposal Bani, for marriage between you and Jai. Jai is willing and it is up to you."
"Do I have to give my answer now? I would like some time…I need to talk with Jai." Bani answered, she wanted to know if he loves her?
Holding her hand Nishikant patted it, "Of course you can think about it. And it is your decision to make, I will not force you."
When she came out, masi and Jai acted as if everything was normal. Bani couldn't relax, her stomach was in knots and her mind restless. She was quiet throughout dinner, Jai noticed but said nothing, even her mother, too excited by getting her daughter married off, failed to notice that Bani was not her usual talkative self.
Kiran shooed Bani out of the kitchen after dinner, saying she would clean up. Bani walked past her father and Jai and stood in the balcony, gazing out across the city. She wrapped her arms around her, feeling a little cold as the heat of the day was replaced by cooler night winds. She felt something wrapped around her shoulders and looked to see Jai's tweed jacket. Turning slowly she found his eyes focused on her. "Thanks…" she said trying break the silence between them. "We need to talk…I mean I have to ask you something?"
Jai gave a nod, "Ask…"
"Why do you want to marry me?" Bani blurted out.
His gaze was serious, yet his eyes warm and shining, "Because I am in love with you. I can't think of anyone else I would rather spend my life with."
Bani closed her eyes, she had not expected him to say this…she was sure he would tell her that he was getting on in age and that he thought she would make him a good wife. Her head reeled and her heart pulsated as the truth sank in. She felt his hand on her cheek, she opened her eyes and found he was looking at her with concern. "Are you ok?" he asked.
"Yes." Bani nodded, "Just a little surprised."
"Surprised…someone like me could fall in love with you?" His voice was light and humour lined his eyes.
"Yes…we are so different…I mean if I marry you…this tweed jacket has to go." Bani giggled as she pulled the jacket closer around her.
"Done!" he said quickly. "It's your now."
"And I get to come stay in Mumbai whenever I want…and I want stay home and be a mousy little housewife." She rattled off thoughts that came to her mind.
"Does it mean it's a yes then?"
Bani titled her head slightly, "Well you haven't actually got down on your knees yet…so how can I say yes."
Jai knelt down on his knees and held her hand and his face looked solemn, "Bani, will you marry me? I know you don't want to get married till you are twenty-five, but I can't wait till then." he said softly.
"Yes." Bani said softly.
Jai stood up and stated, "I will take you to a jeweller to pick a ring. I don't any clue about buying stuff like that." Bani tiptoed on her feet and kissed him on the cheek. The kiss surprised him because blush warmed his skin. "Shall we go in tell my father then?" she asked, stifling laughter rising up inside her.
XXXXX
Delhi…Six months later…
Bani was dressed in an old pair of jeans and t-shirt and busy painting the walls of the new house they had just purchased. Four months had flown by since she married Jai. The first month had seen her flying frequently between Mumbai and Delhi, trying to adjust living away from the city she grew up in and the friends she had left behind.
Jai had been very patient. He had taken her to Switzerland for their honeymoon and had discovered that Bani loved to cram in whole bunch activities in a day. She was restless if they were not out sightseeing or hiking the green valleys of the Switzerland. His tweed jacket had become her favourite cover when the night turned cold in the hills.
A month ago they had purchased a rambling old house in suburbs of Delhi and it was now Bani's pet project to remodel it completely. When Jai returned home at night, it was invariably to the smell of paint mixed in with the dinner that was cooking. He would find Bani's face splattered with drops of paint. Couple of times, she had dabbed his jacket with paint as she would hug him tightly, forgetting she had paint brush in her hand.
Jai gave his laptop bag to the butler and walked up the stairs with a large bouquet of roses he had picked up for Bani. He walked towards one of the room where he knew she would be. He found Bani sitting in a cane chair with her feet up. Paint cans and brushes lay idly around her. Her eyes sparkled and she smiled at him. "What do you think? I just finished it half and hour ago."
Jai looked at the pale yellow walls. "Looks nice." He said and handed her the roses. Bani inhaled the fragrance from the roses and then asked him quizzically, "What are this for? It's not my birthday today."
Jai squatted beside her chair and took her palm and pressed a kiss, "Does it have to be an occasion? Why can't I bring you flowers?"
Bani leaned over and kissed him on his lips, "Thank you…they are beautiful." Jai pulled out an envelope and handed it to her, "This came over from the doctor." Bani gasped and ripped open the envelope, she scanned the letter and then with shock looked at Jai accusingly, "You know I am pregnant…don't you." Jai nodded and laughed, "Dr Misra called me, saying he had called you several times but you were not answering the phone. Congratulations Mrs Walia. Are you happy?" he asked, his eyes were moist and a little bit apprehensive.
Bani grinned back at him, "Yes…what about you?"
Jai stood up and picked her up in his arms. "I am very happy. Do you think we could eat a little early today since you are done with painting this room? And then we can call your parents and masi and share the good news."
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Bani gazed up at him, "Of course. Don't know about you but I am starving." Jai's body shook with laughter. Everyday he had to wait patiently for Bani to stop painting and come and have dinner…even his hints that he was starving had little effect on Bani putting the paintbrush away.
THE END
Tum Se Tum Tak
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
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