FF Before the storm ch40pg76.updtd 23rd aug

</p>

<p><FONT size=3>She stood in front of the man who studied her for longer than a moment. He nodded his head and looked at the girl. She looked very simple clad in cotton salwar khameez. She had a very cute round face a stubborn chin and long thick hair. Her eyes shone as she watched him look at her. there was warmth around her. She looked from the man to the lady. The woman smiled at her affectionately. The girl returned the smile with equal affection. The man who was in his fifties took leave from the elderly woman with a nod. The girl followed him and the woman stopped her at with a wave of her hand. She waited for the man to leave the room she stood and looked at the woman with butterflies in her stomach. </FONT>

<FONT size=3>Bani'' called the elderly lady taking her cold hand in her hold. Bani looked at her anxiously. The woman smiled again. 'Do not worry my dear but remember where you are going. I have done a grave mistake by telling you who you are it's against the book my dear do not fail me my child do not give yourself away. She should never know who you are. She should never know from you that she is your mother. Jigyasa Bali should never know. Remember my child she has a family a husband and children. Her past should never upset her future..'</FONT>

<FONT size=3>The girl nodded her head a tear fell off from her eyes. she blinked away and smiled at her shaking her head.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'I'll not upset her dai ma. She will never know I am her child. I am more than happy to step into that house as a home nurse for her mother. I'll do my duty dai ma I'll not let you down. Pray for me that I should never be weak before her..'</FONT>

<FONT size=3>The elderly lady touched her cheeks and nodded.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>============================================= </FONT>

<FONT size=3>Bani looked at the man who was seated behind the wheels. He was in his mid fifties. He was tall had pepper and salt hair. he seemed to her a good man. he had smiled at her helped her with her bag asked her if she needed anything to eat since the journey was too long. She had declined the offer politely. Once or twice she saw him look at her when his gaze fell on him he smiled at her warmly. Bani leaned back on the seat and close her eyes. She had never in her wildest dream thought dai ma would reveal a secret concerning her. The time had stood still when she learned she had a mother. Her mother, who gave birth to her. She did not care how she had reached under the care of her dai ma. She was happy to learn she had a mother her own mother her flesh and blood. She was not an orphan she had someone and that someone happens to be her mother. She did not mind keeping the promise, all she wanted to see was her mother how she looked? She was sure her mother was with full of warmth and love there was no chance her mother would be otherwise since she is her mother. A slow smile appeared on her lips. She opened her eyes and looked at the man in the driving seat. That was her mother's husband, Aditya Bali. Bani liked him immensely. She closed her eyes again dreaming about meeting her family.</FONT>

<FONT size=3> ====================== </FONT>

<FONT size=3>Aditya stopped the car before his porch and looked at the back seat. The girl at the back was deep in sleep. He cleared his throat and looked at her she snapped opened her eyes and looked at him. It took her a second to realize where she was an apologetic look spread over her face.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'We are home.' He said and Bani liked that very much. 'Home '' she muttered slowly and looked at him.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'Come on Bani.' he smiled.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>Bani opened the door fumbling a bit on the handle and looked shyly at him. Aditya smiled at her warmly. Bani took her things from the seat and followed him in. the house was big. Bani looked at the nook and corner of the place. Her heart beat rose as she heard a woman's voice. She looked up to find a middle aged woman walk hurriedly to Aditya Bali. She stood little away and looked at him. 'Laxmi' take Bani to Ma I'll be in a minute..'</FONT>

<FONT size=3>The woman nodded. Bani knew by the look she was not her mother. She looked about her to find a glimpse of people her people there was no one. Laxmi gave her a friendly look and took her to a room. She knocked on the door and turned the handle. Bani saw the spacious of the room. Her eyes fell on the bed. A woman was lying on the bed. She looked up as they entered the room. 'Who?, she asked squinting her eyes. Laxmi left Bani's side and walked to the bed side and handed her the glasses. The woman took the specs from her put it on and looked at the girl before her. 'come little closer girl..' said the woman in a tired voice. Bani took two steps closer. She saw the old woman scrutinize her. 'Came with Aditya?' she asked.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>Bani nodded.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'Speak up..'</FONT>

<FONT size=3>Bani cleared her throat and said, "yes..'</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'hmmmm'. What's your name?' she asked seriously wanting to dislike this girl too. But there was something about this girl. There was nothing to dislike about the girl standing in front of the woman.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'Bani''</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'Bani' hmm' did Aditya explain to you what to do?'</FONT>

<FONT size=3>Bani nodded again. When the woman gave her a look she said, "yes.. you.. er can tell me what '..' </FONT>

<FONT size=3>'You mean everything I have to explain to you.. you have to know what I need and if I dislike anything about your service you will be out in no time is that clear?' Bani sensed the commanding tone. She should have been a strong woman in her golden days'</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'What are you dreaming?'</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'Nothing madam' I'll ask Laxmiji about your''</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'No need'.' The lady ignored Laxmi's stare. 'I am not satisfied with her services''</FONT>

<FONT size=3>Laxmi bit her tongue, 'ingrate monster', muttered laxmi. Bani looked from Laxmi to the older woman. She knew by then the woman in front of her was hard to please. She would make her life miserable but she did not mind all those she was in the house of her mother her mother and this woman could be Aditya sir's mother or is the woman her grandmother? Bani wondered.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'hey girl.. I'll not tolerate this day dreaming of yours. If you have come to work here keep your ears and eyes open all the time..'</FONT>

<FONT size=3>Bani forced a feeble smile. She saw Laxmi give her a sympathetic smile. Bani assured her in a nod. She saw the woman look around the table her eyes fell on the glass jug. Bani moved swiftly poured her a glass of water and handed it to her., helped her in a sitting position. the woman studied her for a second and took the glass from her. 'keep in mind I drink only hot water' but its okay now..'</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'I'll get you warm water then..' said Bani.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'No need'next time make sure you get me what I want''</FONT>

<FONT size=3>Bani nodded. She did not know what to do next she looked at Laxmi, laxmi gave her an assuring glance. The lady handed the glass back and Bani helped her to lie down. She stood hesitantly for a moment and walked out of the room with Laxmi.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'She is a monster..' said Laxmi with displeasure. 'it's hard to please her she thinks highly of her grandchildren but the two of them hardly turn their head to look at her''</FONT>

<FONT size=3>Bani kept her silence. she was not very much aware of her siblings. Dai ma had mentioned Jigyasa has three children with Aditya Bali a boy and two girls. She was eager to see them all. Finally there were some people out there whom she can count as her own. Bani followed her to a corridor that led to a kitchen. Kitchen was huge but was in a mess. Though there were no dusts and dirt's all the utensils and vessels were scattered around the kitchen sink and on the counter top. She looked at Laxmi the woman shrugged her shoulders. 'how much will I work I manage as much I can.. madam says it's hard to get domestic help very occasionally she comes and help and there's one lady who comes and do the cooking and cleaning and I too help.. the old woman wants me at her disposal all the time..' she complained. Bani moved towards the kitchen sink. She tied her duppatta around her waist and started to clean she wanted to put all the things in order laxmi looked on grumbling. She went to make tea for Bani. as they were at their work Aditya knocked on the door and asked for tea. LAxmi grumbled even more. Bani did not like that she wiped her hand in a towel that was thrown aside and offered to make tea. Laxmi readily stepped aside.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </FONT>

<FONT size=3>Aditya put the phone down and took the paper from the table. He was in a hurry and he did not read the morning paper. He heard a slow foot step and looked up. The girl he had brought home a while ago stood before him with a cup of steaming tea. He took the tea from her hand and sipped and looked at her. 'You made tea?'</FONT>

<FONT size=3>She nodded.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'it's good..' he said and sipped the tea.</FONT>

<FONT size=3>A slow smile formed on her lips. She returned back to the kitchen and on the way she peeped into the room of the older woman. Saraswati Randheria was taking her afternoon nap. </FONT>

<FONT size=3>Bani returned to the kitchen cleaned the rest of the place. Made sure the place looked fine she took her tea and sat on the chair and looked about her. Laxmi was nowhere in sight. lAxmi later took a her to a small room telling her that would be her room as long as she stayed in the house. She has to be satisfied with the arrangements since she was taking the bigger room and Laxmi came to the house before her. Bani nodded her head and went to clean the small room she was offered. There was an old bed and worn out bed sheet that had adorned the bed. She threw the bedsheet on the floor dusted the windows and a small table and a chair and sat on the bed looking outside the window. The window over looked a small garden. There were more weeds than flowers. Bani felt awful. She loved gardening and she hated mess. May be in her free time she would do something about the small garden. She was lost in thoughts she heard a commotion around the corridor Bani opened the door her eyes froze on the figure that was approaching the room opposite her the woman looked hardly her age she wore a raw silk sari in maroon color her neck was adorned by a huge choker her forehead was adorned by a big tika earings dangled around her neck as she moved Bani couldn't remove her eyes from her face. The woman walked gracefully and stopped before the door. She stood there for a fraction of second and saw Bani. she tunred from the door and looked at her. Bani held her breath. She knew this was her mother she saw Laxmi tag along with her calling her madam and Jigyasa ji'</FONT>

<FONT size=3>'You are the new girl Adi brought?' she asked looking squarely at her. Bani did not respond. Jigyas's forehead formed in to a frown. Bani quickly nodded. She turned away from Bani and opened the door opposite her the door shut on Bani's face.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Love

Kamy</FONT>