Posted:
Hey guys,
Meena wanted to read this story; I had posted it on RPR, for 19th June, earlier this year!!! I didn't realize I didn't post it here, anyways!!! Here it goes!! Here you go Meena...hope you enjoy!!!!
THANK YOU for all your good wishes and lovely comments!!! Love you guys!!!!
BANI & JAI... ...
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PART-1
It was dark…pitch dark…a pair of intense eyes followed her…she ran…into the oblivion…but they followed, the same pair of eyes…steel grey eyes…sharp, intense…they were not threatening but there was something magnetic about them…she ran…not understanding what was happening…not recognizing those familiar yet unfamiliar steel grey eyes…she fell down…she looked up…the pair of eyes vanished…
Parineeta woke up drenched in cold sweat…the same dream, the same pair of eyes, the same she…it had been nearly a year she was getting these nightmares, since the day baba brought her to his house…a dream which haunted her every night, invading her sleep…yet she never felt disturbed by them…but the dreams took her somewhere, she felt a familiarity in them, it ruffled up her spirits but still left her with a knowingness as if it was the same thing which she was searching for…her soul… her inner self…she pushed the bed sheet…and got up…she adjusted the canvas on the wooden holder…she picked up the brush…
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Jai mechanically got dressed…buttoning up his coat…he didn't bother to tie the knot of the tie, in fact had stop wearing them since…he gave himself a glance in the mirror…he looked the same, but he knew better…his eyes sang an elegy of their own…his eyes fell on the photo frame adorning his bedside…maasi was adamant to take his and bani's photograph, it was during the initial stages of their matrimony, where he was raging against her and she just bore all his anger not for herself but for him…he smiled as he saw himself, he was fuming with irritation but had fixed a fake smile, bani was standing beside him, a bit shy, a bit timid…even though they were on the opposite allays but yet there seemed to have been an unsaid connection between them like the echoes of silence…probably 'Matches are made in Heaven' was true after all…if only would he have understood her true worth before, today she would have been standing in front of him, fixing his tie while he played with her long hair… …if only…picking up his office bag he made his way outside, carrying those thoughts safely in the steep corners of his slain heart… …
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"Parineeta beta…ki korcho tumi… (What are you doing)" Partho Mitra, called out as he walked into his daughter's room…getting no reply he shook his head and went inside only to find her immersed in her painting…she was still in her night clothes…
"Beta…" he called out…parineeta jerked out from her thoughts…
"Haan baba…kya hua…" she asked sounding clueless…
"Beta…tujhe kya hua…"
"Arre…baba kuch nahin…bas yeh…" parineeta got lost in the painting again…partho looked at it…it was a simple painting with just a pair of eyes staring back…but there was something in those plain eyes…as if they were narrating a story untold… …
"Painting poori kyun nahin ki…" he asked…
"Pata nahin baba…raat se koshish kar rahin hoon…bas aankhen ki ban payi hoon… chehra… anjaan hain…" parineeta said in a lost way…baba sighed…
"Chal beta…taiyaar hoja…ek zaroori baat karni hain…"
"Kya baat hain baba…"
"Tu fresh hoke toh aa…"
Parineeta kept her palette and brushes aside and went inside the bathroom...
Partho fondly saw parineeta as she left…she reminded him so much of his own daughter…it was almost four years that his daughter had died in a cruel plane crash…since then he was living alone, like an aimless wanderer, just existing…writing novels and short stories…until his daughter returned back to him again… …she had infused life into him again with her caring nature, love and affection…he wondered at the irony of fate…it was she who needed support and care but it was he who got it from her instead…that was the beauty of circumstances…the power they possessed to mould people and their thinking… it wasn't a plausible deniability to ignore the potency of change which was the only constant in this whole wide world… …
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Aditya silently nibbled his favorite aloo paratha…it didn't taste the same, the ingredients were intact but the affection was missing, bani's departure had been very difficult to cope with…the house all at once became dull and lightless…as if nobody lived here since ages…eerily silent and creepy…there was a time when he used to love coming back home only to be greeted by bani's friendly welcome and delicious supper, when he and his mother indulged in pulling jigyasa's leg or sometimes jai's…the house sounded lively by anu and rano's chatter…anu was gone living happily with rohit and her daughter, and rano…she had suddenly matured after her marriage to sahil, the bubbly girl had transformed into a responsible daughter-in-law carrying out her duties to perfection but the liveliness was buried somewhere…the only one person who was enjoying it was jigyasa…aditya gave a mean look towards jigyasa who certainly didn't see him, she was busy filing her nails and sipping her healthy carrot juice…
"Papa…ek aur paratha lenge…" rano asked…
"Nahin rano thanks, I am through…" aditya said gulping down a glass of water…
"Rano, jai kahaan hain, nashte ke liye nahin aaya…" aditya enquired checking a few files to be taken to the office…
"Mr. Walia toh subah hi nikal gaye…aap toh jaante hain…" rano gave him a knowing look…aditya sighed…
"Bye maa…" he said...daadi quietly nodded her head…
Sahil got up and pecked rano's cheek…
"Bye rano…" sahil smiled…rano smiled back…
"Bye sahil…take care…" she said…
Ranveer hastily went towards the entrance…when he heard raashi call him…
"Ranveer…woh aap apni file bhoolgaye the…" raashi said nervously handing him the file…
Ranveer took it…
"Thanks raashi…" he said brushing his lips across her cheek lightly, he walked away leaving behind a stunned raashi…rano smirked, it seems ranveer has accepted raashi…she silently prayed for her well-being…
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"Baba…dawai…" parineeta handed him a capsule...
"Beta…mujhe tumse ek baat karni thi…" partho said…
"Jee baba…" parineeta said serving him the breakfast…
"Beta, tum itni achi painter ho…itni khoobsurat paintings banayi hain…exhibit kyun nahin karti ho…"
"Baba…mujhe bas painting ka shauk hain…kabhi aise soch nahin…"
"Toh ab socho, kitna market hain pata hain…art ke liye and you are such a fine painter…"
"I don't know…baba…"
"Mujhe Mumbai jaana hain, editor ke saath meeting hain…main soch raha tha, organizers se baat karke tumhara exhibition karaaoon…meri kuch contacts hain…"
"Baba…aapko sach main lagta hain…" parineeta looked at him unsure…painting was just a passion for her, she mostly painted her thoughts, moods and expressions…but professional exhibitions were on a much larger scale…
"Beta, trust me…" parineeta smiled…
""Main aapko kabhi mana kar sakti hoon kya…jaisa aapko theek lage…"
"Yeh huina baat…just help me pack haan…mera poora karma bikhra pada hain…"
"Aap bhi na baba…ek cheez nahin sambhal sakta…main kar doongi…"
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PART-2
Aditya observed jai from a distance… from a distance he looked normal, the Jai Walia who was a year ago, the same…but as one neared him, the drought of unhappiness could be felt…he most efficiently maintained a cloak over the darker contours of his mind behind the words but he knew better…his crystallized inner workings had crumbled long ago…a few months back at least he had the hope to find bani…there was a driving force behind his survival that he would be successful in locating bani but from the last few months it seems as if he had lost the small flicker of hope fighting for life…the final nail in the coffin was when the search parties and agents he had sent returned back in vain…and one suggested that bani might have died…he had witnessed the worst of jai that day…jai had smashed the man's face blue-black and got him thrown out of the office…raging he had left his cabin and came back only in the wee hours of the morning… …sunken in alcohol… he was cast into a blind oblivion where he couldn't see anything, he was far removed from everybody…only he didn't show it… …he never was an expressive man…if only he had told bani about his true feelings, she wouldn't have misunderstood him and left just after anu's marriage… …
"Jai…" aditya called…jai looked up…
"Yes adi…" aditya sat down opposite him…
"Are you fine…?" jai turned his eyes back to his file…
"Do you think I will spend my entire life brooding for a woman who left me…? Just because I was drunk once doesn't mean I can't handle myself…of course I am fine…" jai said in his usual arrogant tone…
"I didn't say ban's name…" aditya said…jai stared at him…
"You meant it…" jai said pretending to read the file, flipping the pages…
"Probably we should get it published in a newspaper…an ad or something…"
"I am not a desperate virile male…I got over roshni and pia, bani is no big deal…" jai hissed…
"But you never loved roshni and pia unlike bani…"
"Love is an emotional prejudice…nothing else…"
"Really…"
"Yes…very much…"
"Tell me truthfully jai…don't you still feel that bani will come back…keep your hand on your heart and tell me…"
"I really don't think so adi…even if she comes back I give a damn…I am over her…it's been a year damn it…get lost adi before I lose it…" jai banged the file on the desk…
Aditya got up and walked away…jai slumped back into his chair…
"Agar aap kissise sacha pyaar karte hain toh usse jaane dijiye, agar woh wapaas aaya toh woh aapka…agar nahin toh woh aapka kabhi tha hi nahin…" bani had consoled him saying these words…he knew he truly loved her and she would come back someday… he did believe that…somewhere deep down… …
Aditya cursed himself…there was no need to remind jai of bani again and again…probably he was trying to forget her…but every time he thought of them he couldn't help but feel helpless…they both were always meant to be…he decided he wouldn't broach bani's topic before jai again…and upset him more… …
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"Haan pia…bolo…" rano said in a flat tone…
"Woh rano, Bangalore is so nice, I am so having fun…the house is so big and all mine, no mummyji and bhabhi to interfere…I am enjoying…" pia said excitedly…rano shook her head…it has been a few months, jai was considerate enough to give pushkar back his job and had got him transferred to Bangalore branch because he couldn't bear to see pia hovering in walia mansion taking herself to be a queen, specially bani di's place…
"Good for you pia…" rano said fiddling with the pleats of the curtains…
"What rano, you are not happy for me…" pia sulked…
"Pia if you have forgotten for the past one year we have no clue about bani di…" rano stated icily…
"What can we do rano? We searched Mt. Abu, di was not there…you can't expect me to sit and go into depression for her, if she wanted to come she would have…" pia said…
"It has been 11 months pia…pata nahin kahaan hogi, kis haal main hogi…zinda hogi ya mar gayi hogi…aur tum…chi pia…you know what you don't deserve anybody's love…you just don't …" rano angrily disconnected the phone…and threw it away…her shoulders shaking…tears slipped down her face…
Raashi entered her room to find rano crying helplessly…raashi hurried towards her enveloping her in a warm hug…
"Di…raashi…pata nahin kahaan hain…" rano cried…
"Ssshh…rano…maami bilkul theek hongi…bhagwaan pe bharosa rakho…ache logon ke saath acha hi hota hain…"
"Par di hi kyun…humesha unke saath hi kyun…" rano complained like a child…
"Kyunki woh bohot achi hain…chalo rano…she will be fine trust me…"
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"Sir, you have an appointment with Mr. Partho Mitra…" reena, jai's secretary informed him over the phone…
"Send him in…" he said…reena promptly did the same…she looked at the aged man standing in front of him and smiled…
"Please go in sir, to your right…"
"Thank you…" partho said…the sponsors had readily agreed to exhibit parineeta's paintings when he showed them a few of her portraits…they were natural and had depth…he just needed a nice gallery for the exhibition…
"Good morning Mr. Walia…" partho greeted him…jai simple nodded his head…
"I am so glad you could take out time from your busy schedule…"
"It's okay Mr. Mitra…can we come straight to the point…"
"Actually…my daughter…I mean my daughter is a very good painter, I intend to display her paintings, I wanted a gallery, I have lodged in your hotel only and my friend suggested probably we can organize it in there…"
"Sir, we usually don't organize such events, you can talk to outside galleries who organize such exhibitions…"
"Actually all are booked, so please if you can help me out…" somehow jai couldn't bring himself to refuse the old man sitting in front of him with pleading eyes…
"Well, okay, I will inform reena, she will help you out…"
"Oh!!! Thank you so much Mr. Walia…that's really nice of you…"
"It's okay Mr. Mitra, until and unless you don't intend to pay the bills…" jai said dryly…partho chuckled…
"No, no…nothing of that sorts…and sir, please I personally invite you for the exhibition… please bring along your family as well…"
"I…I don't think so I can make it…"
"Please sir…I insist, it would be a pleasure to have you…"
"I will try…"
"Thank you so much once again…bye…"
"Bye…Mr. Mitra…"
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Parineeta stood at the airport…feeling uneasy…the lingering perfume of the past, the smell of flowers in bloom and the elusive memory of a big house…filled her thoughts…she felt as if she came here earlier…as if she belonged here…yes the doctor had said she might feel an occult sensation if she sees things or happens to be in a place where she had been before …Mumbai…seemed so known…in her heart of hearts she knew something was going to change…
"Beta…" partho waved for her…spotting partho she smile and pushed her luggage trolley…with a bubbling excitement to embark upon a new journey… …
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PART-3
"Jai bhaiyya…I think we should all go…it has been ages since we all went somewhere…" jigyasa said…
"You all go jigyasa…I have work…" jai said dismissively…
"No jai bhiyya, please you have to come I don't know…"
"Fine…tum niklo main aata hoon…" jai gave in at last… …
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"Thank you…" parineeta said sweetly…as people appreciated her work… …
"Beta…I am so proud of you…they all love your work…" partho patted her head…
"All thanks to you…" parineeta hugged him sideways…
"Maam…yeh painting adhoori kyun hain…" a spectator asked curiously…parineeta looked at the portrait, only a pair of eyes stood still…
"I don't know, probably someday I will be able to finish it…but I think I had some very deep connection with the person…" parineeta said lost…
Rano carefully examined the paintings, they were are all colorful and vibrant, while some were only pencil sketches…a shaded sketch caught her attention… …a mother carrying an infant to her bosom…it looked simple yet a whale of emotions were expressed through it…a mother's unconditional love towards her child…she couldn't help but reminisce bani…it was natural for a mother to love and protect her child but for a sister to take a mother's place, only a selfless person like her sister had the power to do that…a few lines written below the picture startled her…
"Woh aasha hain…woh abhilasha…woh apnepan ki paribhasha…woh dukh leti sukh deti hain…woh aasoon bhi pee lete…"
Bani used to sing these lines when they were small, it was their mother's song, and how didn't the painter know these lines…rano hurried through the crowd…
"Do you who the painter is …? Rano enquired somebody…the person pointed out in a direction…rano glanced to see a petite lady clad in a cream salwar kameez with her back facing her…her heart-beat raised… she went near her in slow steps… …
Before she could call her…sahil came in…
"Rano, where were you…come…" sahil dragged her in other direction…
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A light breeze blew…Jai entered the jam-packed hallway, he felt something mysterious… he walked inside only to be greeted partho…
"I am so glad Mr. Walia you came…" partho shook hands with him…
"Thanks for inviting me…" jai gave a tight smile…feeling uneasy and apprehensive… something was going to happen, he could sense it…
"I must say Mr. Mitra, your daughter is very talented…" jigyasa chipped in…
"Thank you so much…why don't you meet her…"
"Of course…my pleasure…" jigyasa said, quite eager to meet the talented artist… almost all the walia members assembled there…
"Parineeta…" partho called out…
"Jee baba…" parineeta turned and made her way towards partho…jai stood rooted to his spot…a squeezing palpitation arising in his heart…shocked were the all others, rano almost seemed to pass out…
"Bani…" an inaudible whisper left his lips…
"Mr. Walia…my daughter Parineeta Mitra…beta he is Jai Walia…the owner of this hotel…must say a very kind man…and his family…" partho did the introduction…
Jai didn't flinch, he kept staring at parineeta…somehow parineeta couldn't tear her eyes away from him, she found herself drowning in those hypnotizing eyes…
"Hello Mr. Walia…" parineeta said…jai looked even more shocked, was she pretending not to know or is she a look-alike of bani…
"Hello…" he whispered…
Rano looked hurt and confused when her own sister didn't recognize her…but it didn't seem she was pretending…there was no hint of recognition in parineeta's eyes…was she bani or someone else…rano feel unconscious in sahil's arms…
"Rano…" shail patted her face…
"Adi, I think rano is not well…sahil take her home, we are coming…" jai said…
"I am sorry Mr. Mitra, she is not well…I have to go…" jai fumbled…
"It's okay Mr. Walia…please…"
"Please take care of her…" parineeta said…she kept on standing there long after they were gone…'Rano…' 'Mr. Walia…' she whispered to herself…
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"Di…aisa kyun kar rahin hain…why didn't she recognize me…" rano wailed…
"Beta…control yourself…" aditya pacified her…
"Papa, woh di hi hain, meri di…" rano said again and again…
"Shut up rano, she just looks like bani...then why she didn't recognize us…" jigyasa snapped…
"Jigyasa…ranveer just take her away before I scream…" aditya yelled…
"Mom chaliye…" ranveer told seeing her father so serious…jigyasa got up and left in a huff…
"Yes, rano, then why didn't bani recognize us? "aditya asked…
"She…she might be angry…" rano justified…
"Bani aisi nahin hain…hum sab jaante hain…"
"But she is di...I know…" rano repeated…
"Okay, raat bohot hogayi hain, you sleep…hum kal subah baat karte hain…"
"Sahil take care of her…" aditya instructed…
He could hear rano mumbling again and again that parineeta was bani again and again as sahil put her to sleep…
Aditya stopped before the study…he knew jai must be inside…he pushed the door…
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Parineeta sat by the open French window, the sparkling neon lights outlining the city of dreams, their reflections floating over the hushed ripples of Arabian Sea…she twisted and turned her fingers…
"Jai Walia…" she replayed the name for the umpteenth time in her head…strangely her heart fluttered every time she recalled his handsome face…she felt like she knew him since ages…so closely…that it astounded her that he was a mere acquaintance and she couldn't get him out of her mind…
Bani slapped her head…probably she was taking everything literally, since that day she was in a constant search to identify herself, over-stressing herself with every little thing…she should just let it be…let destiny take its own course…
She went to bed but not before thinking of Jai Walia again…he seemed to have captured her imagination… …
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Complexion like the yellow of wheat, same crystal brown eyes, long hair, the same innocence, the same beauty and grace, yes, she was the same bani, his bani…but then there was an unfathomable emptiness in her eyes… as if she was searching for something which she herself didn't know… just a never-ending search…
"Jai…" he heard aditya call him…
"She is bani…"
"But jai, then…why…"
"I know she is bani…" jai said confidently and strode off…aditya tried to contemplate… … this was like a jigsaw puzzle…
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PART-4
Partho was surprised to receive a call from Jai Walia; in the morning itself to meet him at his residence…that too alone…the driver stopped the car in front of a huge mansion…he was lead inside…
"Good morning Mr. Mitra…" jai greeted him…partho looked surprised, two days ago when he had met him he seemed to be lost and disinterested and today his face was glowing with happiness…
"Morning…" partho mumbled…
"I am sorry, I had to call you up in the morning, but it is something very important, about your daughter…"
"My daughter…" partho looked alarmed…
"Is she your daughter?" jai directly asked him…partho looked muddled and angry…
"What do you mean Mr. Walia…of course she is my daughter, and who are you to question me…"
"Well, I think she is Bani Jai Walia…my wife…" he showed him a picture of bani and his…partho kept staring at the photograph…
"Err…" partho couldn't get his voice…
"You may hesitate to trust me…meet rano, bani's sister…" jai indicated rano to come…
"Uncle, please tell she is my sister, why is she behaving like this…" partho looked at rano's distraught face…she seem to have been crying… …his eyes swept across jai and other family members looking at him anxiously…
"She has a memory loss…" partho said…
"Memory loss…" rano shrieked…
"I am a writer by profession, nearly a year ago I had come to pune to attend my friend's daughter's wedding, I had a meeting with my publisher in Mumbai the other day, after the wedding I was driving towards Mumbai when I found parineeta's body lying on the road, she had had a bad accident, I took her to the nearest hospital, she was unconscious for days, the doctor said due to severe injury on her head and excessive blood loss, she had slipped into coma, and she may never come back to consciousness, I couldn't find out anything about her…so I took her to Kolkata with me, because she reminded so much of my dead daughter…I got her treated and in a month she gained conscious but had lost her previous memory…so I gave her my daughter's name and she lived with me…she had terrible nightmares and dreams but her memory didn't come back, the doctor said it might or might not…" partho ended his narration…
There was a momentary silence which was broken by rano's outburst…
"Di forgot me…"
Raashi handled her taking rano to her room…
"I am so glad Mr. Mitra, you saved bani…she is…she is my life…" jai held partho's hands in his…partho gave him a weak smile…
"I searched for her everywhere but…" jai couldn't continue…
"But, what will you do now…" partho asked…
"I don't know…but thanks…just don't let her go back to Kolkata…we will work it out…she might just remember her past meeting all of us…" jai said sounding hopeful…
"I will help you son…for my daughter's happiness…"
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"I can't believe you jai bhaiyya…you want bani back… she left you…" jigyasa screamed…
"Jigyasa, she is my wife if you forgotten…and I love her…" jai said calmly…
"Don't be silly…leaving roshni you want bani…"
"Jigyasa, it is because of you and roshni only she left me…just keep out of it…I love bani and she is my wife, this is the ultimate truth, whether you like it or not, that's not my problem…" jai declared and left… …
Jai entered his room and took out his best black Armani suit…and got dressed quickly…
"Tum karne kya waale ho…" aditya asked amused at seeing jai so relaxed…he was expecting him to gulp down a few shots learning bani's memory loss…but he seems to be invigorated… jai threw the comb and faced aditya with a mysterious smile…
"My dear best friend…when bani can fall in love with Jai then why not…Parineeta…" jai said with a twinkle in his lively eyes…before aditya could comprehend jai left whistling…
Rano smiled listening to jai…jai looked at her, she seemed to have aged in just a day; with dark circles around her eyes…he hugged her lightly…
"Everything will be fine…I promise…" jai said stroking her hair…
"Can I call you jiju…" rano asked hesitantly…jai threw back his head and laughed…
"Of course you can saali sahiba…" he said leaving…
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"Baba, aap kahaan jaa rahen hain, humlog siddhivinayak jaane waale the na…" bani whined…
"I am sorry beta, publisher ka phone aaya, I have to go…" partho said…
"Fine…but please return for lunch…dawai bhi toh leni hain…" bani reminded him…
Partho left…bani was about to close the door when she heard a faint knock…she opened it to see the man who robbed her sleep standing right in front of her…his tall muscular built, broadened shoulders over-powered her…
"Hai!!" jai said with his dashing smile extending the bunch of fresh white lilies towards her…bani reluctantly took it…feeling a bit self-conscious…
"Thank you…they are lovely…" bani said caressing the petals…
"Just like you…" jai whispered to himself…
"aapne kuch kahaa…" bani asked promptly…hearing his mutter something…
"Nahin…can I come in…"
"Oh!! Of course I am so sorry…"
"They are my favorite flowers…how did you know?" bani said as she proceeded to put them in the crystal vase over the centre table…she poured some water in it…
"Mine too…" jai said literally ogling at her…it has been a long year of wait for him…
"Thank you once again…" bani said facing him…
"Well actually yesterday I didn't get a chance I think your paintings were wonderful…Congratulations, the exhibition has been a success and it's a success for our hotel too…probably we should take up more such events…" jai said extending his hand…bani gingerly shook his hand…she felt a weird sensation pass through her entire being…she felt as if she knew the jolting touch…she had experienced the same bliss before…she soon came out of her trance…
"How is Rano…I hope she is well now…"
"She is fine…you seem to be going somewhere…"
"I wanted to go to the ganesh temple…I was going to ask the manger if I could get a car…"
"I can take you…"
"No, Mr. Walia, you are a busy man…please don't bother, in fact you have already helped us a lot…"
"Common Ba…parineetaji no trouble, I would love to…I think I should show you around Mumbai, it's a nice place, never been since a long time…"
"First parineeta would be fine…and second are you sure…I don't want to trouble you unnecessarily…" bani said…typical bani thought jai…
"Parineeta…I said na no problem…"
"Thanks…can you just give me a minute, I will just come, we can leave…"
"Sure…"
Bani went inside…jai looked around the room…a corner was full of canvases, paints and brushes…a canvas stood fixed to the stand…rano had informed him that bani had a penchant for drawing and painting since childhood, she had learnt also, but after their parents death she got so busy with them that she had to leave painting…he looked at the canvas…just a pair of gorgeous eyes were painted across, he neared it…he felt as if he was gazing into his own eyes…after a split-second he realized they were his eyes only…
"Mr. Walia…" bani called out…
"Whose is this painting…" he asked…looking at her intently…bani took a while to answer…
"It may seem strange but I don't know…they haunt me every night…probably I have a very strong bond with the beholder of these eyes…" bani said dreamily…somewhere jai felt a satisfaction that he was still alive in her subconscious… …
"Shall we go…" jai asked…
"Sure…"
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PART-5
Jai came inside the house in a jovial mood…
"Someone seems to be too happy…" aditya commented…
"Well, of course…" jai said very well guessing his friend's teasing tone…
"Pyaar hi pyaar hain mausam main…" aditya copied a filmy style by moving his hands in the air…
"You are so filmy adi…" jai shook his head…
"Jiju…" rano barged in from the kitchen in full speed…
"Easy rano…" jai said fearing she would crash into him…
"How is di…" rano exclaimed…
"She is beautiful…as always…" jai winked…
"Jiju…I so miss her…" rano slumped…
"Don't worry, she will be back in this house soon…"
"Acha jai…a surprise…maasi aayin hain…"
"Adi you are telling me now…where is she…"
"Maa ke saath…"
XXXXX
Jai sat with his head resting in maasi's lap…maasi was gently stroking his hair…
"Akhirkar bhagwaan ne meri sun li..." maasi said…
"Maine toh umeed hi chod di thi…ki bani kabhi wapas aayegi…I had almost lost her…" jai said…
"Hmm…aaj itne dino baad tere chehre pe muskaan dekhi…bas tum dono hamesha saath raho…"
"Maasi…aap rahengi na…I need you…"
"Haan beta…I am here…"
XXXXX
"You see to be too happy…beta…" partho said as he ate his food…bani fiddled with her spoon…
"Baba, nothing...I am just happy…" bani shrugged, partho noted the change in bani's behavior, there was a glow on her face…
"How was the temple…?"
"It's beautiful baba…" bani said reminiscing her trip to the auspicious temple…
"I think we need to stay for one more day, I have to submit the final draft of my book…"
"Okay baba…"
They got busy with their dinner…
"Baba…" bani spoke up…
"Hmm…"
"Umm…woh actually…Mr. Walia came this morning…"
"Kyun…"
"Just to congratulate me…and said he liked my paintings…"
"Oh!!!"
"Well, he wanted to show me around Mumbai…can I go with him tomorrow…"
Partho laughed…
"Kya hua…why are you laughing…"
"Parineeta…you are too cute…tum toh aise pooch rahin ho jaise you are a teenager and want to go out on a date with your boyfriend…" bani looked visibly embarrassed hearing partho…
"Baba…" she scolded flushed…
"Of course you can go…enjoy…"
XXXXX
Jai first took bani to the two famous museums…bani fell in love with the place and admired the antique collection of artifacts and paintings… then they straight headed to the Gateway of India…
Bani glanced at the imposing Taj Hotel…
"It seems as if nothing happened…it still looks the same…" bani said…remembering the horrific terrorist attack…
"Hmmm…it feels terrible to even think that it could have happened in one of my hotels also…"
"Humanity has lost all the meaning in the struggle for prominence…it's sad but true…"
Jai kept on staring her…no matter what bani's essential soul and goodness would always remain intact…
"My stomach is grumbling…can we have lunch…" jai asked…
"Of course…" bani smiled…
Jai only kept on listening to bani as she spoke at length about various things…it didn't seem like she was not his bani, that she has forgotten him…it seemed as if they were still the same bani and jai … …and the distance of one year was never there… …
XXXXX
In the day's last light the glowing Arabian Sea below looked like a pool of molten gold...jai and bani kept their eyes fixed on the magenta sky, looking at the setting sun…the mob of birds flying back home…almost the whole of Mumbai city was visible from the never-ending stretch of juhoo beach…a silent, quaint place, where nothing could be heard except the echoes of silence… …
"It so scenic…I will paint it for sure…" bani said capturing the nature's miracle unfolding in front of her…
"I would love to see it…" jai looked at her…there was a moment's silence… their eyes shared a brief conversation…bani averted her gaze and looked at the horizon…after a while…
"Can I say something…" bani mustered up courage…
"Yes, of course…"
"Promise you won't laugh…"
"Promise…"
"I feel as if I know you since ages…" bani turned back to meet his eyes…jai's smile vanished, it got replaced by an immeasurable pain and longing…he spoke after a considerable pause… …
"Maybe… you just know me…" jai smiled playfully…bani realized that there was something beyond what he meant… it was getting cold…bani rubbed her shoulders… …
"Shall we leave…?"
Jai nodded his head…
XXXXX
The ride back to the hotel was silent…with only the voice of the RJ coming from the radio…bani kept her eyes fixed to the moving surroundings… jai concentrated on his driving… …
"Har kisiko kissina kissi ka interaaz hota hain, ek khaas insaan ki jo aap se beinteeha pyaar kare…yeh gaana un sabhi listeners' ke liye jo kisika intezaar kar rahen hain…"
Soona soona lamha lamha
Meri rahein tanha tanha
Aakar mujhe tum tham lo
Manzil teri dekhe rasta
Mud ke zara ab dekh lo
Aisa milan phir ho na ho
Sab kuch mera tum hi to ho
Bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
O bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
Soona soona lamha lamha
Meri rahein tanha tanha
Bichhde bhi ham jo kabhi raston main
To sang sang rahungi sada
Kadmon ki aawaaz sun ke chalungi
Tumhe dhoond loongi sada
Bhooli mohabbat ki yeh khushbuye hain
Hawaon main phaili hui
Chhu kar mujhe aaj mahsoon kar lo
Vo yadein meri unchhui
Aisa milan phir ho na ho
Sab kuch mera tum hi to ho
Bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
O bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
Soona soona lamha lamha
Meri rahein tanha tanha
Aaa.. Aaa…
Vadon ke dhagon main hum tum bandhe hain
Zara dor tum tham lo
Bahon main aise pighal jane do mujhko
Aise mera naam lo
Main vo shama hoon jo roshan tumhe karke
Khud to pighal jaungi
Subah ka sooraj tumhare liye hai
Main hoon raat dhal jaungi
Aisa milan phir ho na ho
Sab kuch mera tum hi to ho
Bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
O bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
Soona soona lamha lamha
Meri rahein tanha tanha
Mud ke zara ab dekh lo
Aisa milan phir ho na ho
Sab kuch mera tum hi to ho
Bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
O bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
Soona soona lamha lamha
Meri rahein tanha tanha
Jai and bani stiffened for a moment…as the song floated in … …they didn't dare to look at each other as the melodious symphony enthralled their senses and emotions… ..
The car came to a halt…bani came out…
"Thank you Mr. Walia…I never had such a great time…I have something for you…" bani opened her handbag and brought out a small gift wrapped box towards him…
"Gift!!!!"
"Please accept it…" jai took it…
"Can I open it…?"
"Of course…"
Jai ripped off the wrapping paper…to reveal a midnight blue satin tie neatly placed in a box… he felt over-whelmed for a second…
"I thought you would look nicer with a tie…I hope you like it…" bani added…
"I love it thank you…but there is a problem…" jai said grinning…
"What…"
"I always mess up with the knot …"
Bani laughed…"Learn it…then…"
"I don't need to dear…" he said to himself…
"Why this gift…" he asked…
"I will be leaving to Kolkata tomorrow…a farewell gift…" she gave him a sad smile…jai's face paled…
"Goodnight Mr. Walia…"
Jai came forward…her heart levitated…he leaned forward and kissed her cheek…
"Goodnight parineeta and thanks for the gift…" before bani could come to her senses the car was speeding away at a distance…
XXXXX
PART-6
Jai paced to and fro…almost making a burrow in the floor of his study…he clenched and unclenched his fists… partho had informed him that bani was adamant to go back since they had no other work here…How to stop bani??? Jai brainstormed… …
Aditya barged in suddenly…
"Jai…we are launching our new hotel na, there is a meeting with the interior designer, just select some themes…it would be easier tomorrow… "aditya said holding a think file…
Jai looked at aditya for a second…
"ADI…you are a genius…" jai paced up to him and hugged him tight…and ran off to his room…
Aditya stood in the study clueless…
"Genius…that I am…" adi shrugged and went off… …
XXXXX
"No way Mr. Walia…" bani said…
"Common on parineeta…you are too good, too much of modesty is not good…" jai said eyeing partho to support him…partho got the cue…
"Beta, I think you should take this up…" partho said…jai had offered her to do all the paintings to be used for his upcoming hotel; the theme was 'Indian Heritage'.
"But baba…I have never done something like this before…I don't know…" bani said fearing that he would let them down…
"If you are worrying about the commission, then I assure you no hassles…" jai joked…
"Mr. Walia…it's not about money…it's just I feel I will let down you people…"
"Nahin beta…I will always be proud of you…give your best…"
"So…" jai asked eagerly…
"Okay…" bani conceded…
"Great…" jai exclaimed… …
"But beta…I need to go back…" partho said…
"Par kyun baba…I have to stay alone…" bani said…
"Beta I have my work…I will call you regularly…I promise…"
"Baba…fine I will quickly finish my work and will come flying back to home…" bani said hugging him sideways…
"Yes beta…" partho looked at jai…
"Mr. Walia please do take care of her…"
"Don't worry…"
XXXXX
Bani stood in front of the canvas…the moon was shimmering in the sky…it seemed more bright today unlike other days…she picked up the brush…sunset…she started with the sky… …
Soon she got immersed in the painting… …
XXXXX
Jai stood by the window watching the same shimmering moon…he felt his heart beat after a long long time… … he mused at the irony of life…there was a time when he had loathed bani so much that he had tortured the hell out of her and today he just loved her more… …so much so that he could go to any length to make her happy… …the beautiful eyes in which he had filled with burning tears he wanted to see happiness shining in them today… …
Probably the year which he spent without bani was his punishment for making her go through so much without any fault of her… …it was like an acid test which he had to endure to reach his love… …and finally at last he had reached her… …the woman who changed him into a considerate man with her patience, care and perseverance… her memory loss did come a s a shock to him initially but later he realized it didn't make any difference, she was still the same bani and he was still the same jai who fell in love with each other unknowingly… …
XXXXX
"Mr. Walia, I am working on it…but it will take time…oil paintings do take time…" bani said as she examined the interiors which were finalized, so that she could get an idea of what should be painting…
"I can understand…no hurry…it will take a month or two to finish the hotel interiors…" jai said sipping his coffee…
"Can I ask you something…" bani lifted her head…
"Hmmm…"
"Why are you so keen on me doing the paintings…if I know you well you can get one of the best paintings by renowned artists…"
"I don't know maybe it's you and not the paintings…"
"What…"
"I like you…to be honest…" jai gazed into her muddled eyes…
"It has been only four days since we met…"
"Does it make a difference…?"
"But still, we hardly know each other…"
"Yet there is a pull…" jai said not averting his constant gaze… bani kept quiet…
"I really want to know you Parineeta…" jai said… …bani simply pushed the file and left hurriedly without turning back… …
XXXXX
Jai tried the phone for the millionth time… god, women can be so stubborn at times… bani's mobile was switched off…he had also called the hotel and asked for extension to bani's room but bani was not picking up…he wanted to go to her room, but that would be too out of place and awkward…he wondered if he rushed into things but he just couldn't contain himself from asking… it has been a week and there was no sign of her… … suddenly he heard a knock on his cabin door…
"Come in…" he said roughly…he was so busy punching the redial button that he hardly noticed bani standing in front of him…
"Trying to call me…" bani asked…jai looked up at once…
"Where the hell have you been…" he almost screamed…getting up…
"Cool it Mr. Walia…I was only doing your work…" bani smiled…and showed him the canvas…jai just kept staring at it…it was mind-blowing…she had captured all the shades of the setting sky and the glorious sun perfectly…and the crashing waves of the Arabian Sea were intact…even the slight foam on their brim could be made out… …he could almost envisage the moment when they stood near each other that evening… …
"It's awesome …" jai said…
"Thank you… I am glad you like it…"
"You are superb…" he said admiringly… …bani blushed… …
"All yours…" bani kept it aside…
"But I have been trying to contact you…why the heck didn't you pick up…" he was back to his angry mode…
"Err…umm…" bani fumbled…after hearing jai's proposal she had lost her peace of mind… she had been thinking of him day and night reasonless…she thought avoiding him would help but it was in vain…it only got worse…
"I am sorry for that day…I shouldn't have said all those things…" jai apologized…
"No…I mean I appreciate your honesty…but…" bani bit her lower lip…
"But!!"
"You need to know something about me first…"
"What…"
"I…I am suffering from a memory loss…" bani blurted…jai pretended to be shocked…
"I don't remember anything from my past, who I was, what was my name, if at all I had a family…I don't know anything…I think you don't deserve someone like me…"
"It doesn't matter…"
"Of course it does, what if I remember everything one fine day and maybe I am not the person you like…I don't know…you may not like my past…" bani argued…
"Look…whatever your past is…I am not interested…I like you that's all it matters…"
"But still…"
"You know somebody told me…whenever you are confused just close your eyes and ask your heart, you will get the answer…" they were bani's words…jai came near her…
"Just close your eyes…" bani closed her eyes…a few minutes later…
"What does it say…?"
"I… …are you sure…?" bani asked…jai chuckled… …
"You will have no regrets…I promise…"
"Promises are hard to keep…" bani said cheekily…
"I only do promises which I can keep…"
"Let's see…" Bani smiled… …
XXXXX
PART-7
dum dar dum dar jasn jasn dum 2
sun mere humdum
hamesha ishq mein hi jeena ]
[Aye
Hairathe Ashiqui
Jaga mat
Pairon se zameen
zameen laga mat]2
Aye
Hairathe Ashiqui 3
[dum dar dum dar jasn jasn dum 2
sun mere humdum
hamesha ishq mein hi jeena ]
Kyon urdu farshi bolte hooooOooo 2
Dus kehte ho do taulte ho
Jhoton ke shanshaaa Bolo na
Kabhi Jhaako meri Ankhen 2
Sunaaye ek Dastaan
Jo hooton se kholona
[Aye
Hairathe Ashiqui
Jaga mat
Pairon se zameen
zameen laga mat]2
Aye
Hairathe Ashiqui 2
[dum dar dum dar jasn jasn dum 2
sun mere humdum
hamesha ishq mein hi jeena ]
Jasn jasn mein naam
Hamesha Ishq Mein hi jeena
Dum dar dum Jasn jasn
Sun mere Humdum
Hamesha Ishq Mein hi jeena
{Movie: Guru A.R.Rahman}
"Order Mr. Walia…" bani said impatiently… …he was reading the menu card for the past fifteen minutes…
"I am confused…" jai said…
"You are such a kid…"
"Okay…" jai called the waiter and placed the order…
"Paneer Mr. Walia…you are allergic to it…" bani said sipping the water, jai froze, he didn't tell this to parineeta…it means bani still remembers past things…those lost memories just need to be triggered… …
Jai changed the order…the waiter went off…bani placed her chin on her hand and listened to the music being played on the piano… jai looked at her, she was normal… …jai leaned back in his chair…and gazed at her longingly…he observed her eyes which shone with happiness, her lips curved into a small smile…her slender fingers drumming the tune played by the distant piano… …she looked divine in that embellished sea blue colored sari… …with her hair let loose… …
"You look amazing tonight…" jai said still watching her closely… bani blushed…but didn't turn to face him…
"You're welcome…" jai said…bani faced him…
"When did I thank you…" bani asked…
"The blush on your cheeks says it all dear…" jai said grinning… …bani blushed further… …
"You are impossible…" she threw him a look and returned back to listening the soulful music…
"I didn't realize you find the pianist more handsome than me…" jai said…hating the fact that she was more interested in the music which sounded like a lullaby to him…
"Mr. Walia…" bani let out a small laugh…
"What…since we have come you are only watching that bald foreigner…" jai pretended to sulk…
"You are really impossible…"
Before they could banter any further the food arrived… …
XXXXX
"No…" bani pushed jai away…
"I don't want to go…" jai whined…loitering before her room…
"Mr. Walia…Bye…" bani said opening the door…
"Can I stay…please…I promise to behave…"
"Mr. Walia…good night…"
"You are such a bore…"
"Yes, I am a bore so go now…" bani entered the room only to be followed by jai…
"Mr. Walia…go...it's already so late…" bani lead him to the door…
"I hate you…" jai whispered…
"Thanks…now sayonara…" bani was about to close the door when jai held it…
"Mr. Walia…"
He looked at her intensely…bani stood still leaving the door…a ratcheting tension flamed between them… …jai breathed down nearing her…bani's throat parched…she felt claustrophobic by such close proximity… …he leaned forward and closed her slightly parted lips with his… …bani sighed…as she felt his lips over hers, cajoling her to respond… she couldn't help but do the same… jai held her face as he deepened the kiss…while bani grabbed his coat into a tensed fist…after eons…jai left her…to breathe…
"Sweet dreams…" he whispered against her slightly swollen lips and went off…leaving bani in a dreamy daze…
XXXXX
Bani leaned against the wall…still reeling under the magical effect…her fingers traced her lips…she was surprised at how easily she responded without any awkwardness… she felt a tingle… she closed her eyes…she could see the outline of two silhouettes standing in an intimate fashion…the moon hung low in the sky… …she couldn't make out the faces…the darkness of the night concealed their identity… she sensed something vaguely familiar…she opened her eyes feeling agitated… …jai's touch seemed to evoke unnamed sensations within her…which weren't new… …fed up of these directionless thoughts she decided to take a shower to calm her berserk nerves…
The warm, pelting water…soothed her mind and body…since over a month she was having this wonderful feeling…even though she didn't know jai much but still it felt right…he made her happy…her heart skipped a beat whenever he looked at her…her emotions hurled whenever he touched her… …it seemed to be right…too right as if they were destined to be together…but…there was something, something related to her past which was connecting her with jai… as if they had met before, known each other before, loved each other before…but then why wouldn't jai tell her if he knew her before…she stopped the shower…probably it was just a figment of her imagination… …she securely wrapped herself in the turkey towel and came out…
She stood before the mirror wiping her wet hair… …when she spotted jai eyeing her with naughty playfulness sitting on the bed…she stood unmoved shocked…jai reached her in slow steps…he snaked her one arm around her waist and the other around her neck, holding her tightly and kissed her cheek… …bani let out a scream…in a split-second he was gone… bani broke into a bashful smile…god he was driving her nuts… …
XXXXX
Jai tossed and turned in his bed…sleep eluding his eyes… …he had just talked to partho about bani's medical condition…her brain was unable to recollect the things stored in her unconscious memory, but if she met people of her past, or saw things which have great imprint on her mind then probably she can recollect things…but there was a flip-side too…too much of pressure and strain on her brain can cause serious mental problem and she may have permanent amnesia which may remain so till death… …the unfortunate thing was there was no concrete cure for such an ailment… …
Frustrated jai sat up…may be bringing her to Walia Mansion might help…suddenly bani's image floated in front of him, he saw her sitting at a distance laughing mirthlessly… …his thoughts went back to the kiss they shared… it was not his fault, she was looking so ravishing that he could just control himself… …it felt nice, to have tasted the sweetness of her lips…his heart revived the night when he had first kissed her…the night when he realized he loved his wife…but was stupid enough to ruin it later… …
XXXXX
Bani looked outside to witness the gloomy evening weather…it was raining hard…the rains in Mumbai were really bad…but she loved rains and the freshness they brought with them…she re-touched the painting…it was of a married woman…wearing a deep red sari…with jewels…looking gorgeous…but the most interesting thing were her eyes…they were so many emotions prisoned in her soulful eyes…love, hurt, pain, anguish, yearning…as if they reflected her soul… …she could see a visage of herself in the woman who was staring back at her…Was she married??? Was the first thought which came to her…then why nobody searched for her…or they couldn't trace her down…for the first time she felt frustrated about her memory loss…then suddenly she realized that this was her last painting and probably she would leave for Kolkata shortly… …the thought upset her even further… she was almost on the verge of crying…she was so pre-occupied by her thoughts that she couldn't even hear the incessant knock on the door…realizing it suddenly she composed herself before opening the door…
"Hi…" jai greeted her cheerfully…
Bani just plunked herself over him, wrapping her hands around his neck and burying her face in his broad chest… …seeking shelter and protection…the warmth of his secure hands rubbing he back consoled her disturbed emotions… …
XXXXX
PART-8
"What happened…?" jai enquired seeing bani so distraught and lost…her vacant eyes unmoving… … bani simply nodded her head in negative…
"Tell me…you don't seem to be okay…" jai urged her…
"It's nothing, I…I was just missing baba…" bani said not meeting his eyes…jai didn't buy that but decided to leave the matter…
"Okay now cheer up…we are going somewhere…" jai said sounding excited…
"Where…?"
"Surprise…now get ready fast…"
Bani went inside the bathroom to get changed…jai's eyes fell on the portrait of the woman…she was beautiful…he could see the pain held in her eyes…was bani trying to remember things??? That's why probably she was upset…before he could ponder further he heard the click of the door… …
XXXXX
Jai looked at bani, she was looking out…he was expecting her to bombard him with questions about where they were going; instead she hadn't spoken a word…jai took a turn…
Bani noticed the huge iron gates being opened…her mind went numb…she watched the well-maintained flower beds and lawn with wide eyes…
"Come…" jai said opening the door of her side…bani came out in a trance…as she viewed the huge house…
"Where are we…" bani asked trying to locate the familiar feel…
"My house…" jai said carefully examining her expressions…they were unsettled as if her mind was racking to figure out something…
"Come…" jai lead her in…
Bani felt eerily odd as she set her right foot inside… …the walia members sat eagerly trying to contain their bubbling excitement…
Dadi and maasi had tears in their eyes as they saw jai and bani walking in… …
"Yeh hain dadi, aur yeh hain meri maasi…aur maasi yeh hain Parineeta Mitra…" jai introduced…
Seeing dadi and maasi…bani bent down and took their blessings…
"Jeeti raho beti…"
Jai introduced everybody to her one by one…
"Hi rano…" bani smiled at her…rano was too over-whelmed to talk…jai indicated her not to get carried away… …
"I must say Mr. Walia… you have a beautiful house…" bani said looking around peculiarly… everything was fiercely known…a fear erupted inside her…
"Sir, shall I serve the dinner…" tony asked promptly…jai nodded…Tony glanced at bani…she was still the same…he quickly made his way inside the kitchen…
XXXXX
Jai had pre-warned everybody to behave normally explaining about bani's condition so that bani doesn't feel uncomfortable, they were heeding his request… thank god jigyasa was not there…or else she would have left no stone unturned to mock her… …jai saw bani, she was lost in her own world… talking slowly to aditya who was cracking some jokes…it seems bringing bani into the house was working…
Tony came are served them the dinner…
"Thank you Tony…" bani said as he filled her plate…everybody was stunned for a moment…suddenly bani realized that she had taken his name when she didn't even know it…bani looked at jai…bewildered…
"You must have heard me when I called him…" jai tried to cover it up…
"Haan of course…tony give me one more roti…" aditya tried to ease out the situation…
Bani still looked unconvinced and played with her spoon…soon she was drawn into a conversation with everybody… …
XXXXX
Tony was cleaning up when he crashed with bani and spilled the curry over her sari…
"I am sorry maam…I…" Tony begged for pardon…bani looked at the stain caused on her sari…
"It's okay Tony…actually it's my fault, I just came to get some water…" bani smiled…
"Oh beta…your dress is spoiled…" dadi said…
"It's okay dadi…"
"Nahin beta…go and change…rano…get ba…parineeta a dress…"
"Come…" rano took her upstairs…
With every step bani felt she felt a heavy weight on her chest…she saw images of people walking up and down the same stairs…rano lead her to a room…
"You just wait… I will get something for you…" rano said as she went out…
Rano reached jai's room…and took a white sari with pink border and came out…
"Here…I think this will be nice…" rano handed her the sari and curiously watched her…bani caressed the soft material…her mind haywire…
"You change and come…I will wait outside…" rano went out…
XXXXX
Bani felt creepy as she descended the steps…the blouse was a perfect fit as if it was made only for her…the fragrance of the sari was so acquainted… …
Jai's eyes remained glued to her as came near him…it was the same sari...how could he ever forget… suddenly he remembered it was June 19th today, the same day…his heart raced…
"I…want to go back Mr. Walia…" she whispered standing next to him…
"I think I should drop parineeta and come…" jai said…
"Thank you for the lovely dinner…I had a wonderful time…" bani said…
"Let's go…" jai said getting the car keys…
"Namaste dadi…namaste massi…" bani greeted before leaving…
Rano wept as she saw bani going away… …
XXXXX
Jai stole glances of bani as he tried to concentrate on the road… it was raining hard and the vision was not clear… …
"Parineeta…what happened…?" he was repeating the same question again and again but she didn't answer it even once…
"I am asking you something…" jai lost his cool…and roughly stopped the car before the hotel…
Bani simply got down and sprinted towards the hotel caring least about the showering rain…
"Parineeta…" jai ran behind her…but he missed the elevator…jai had no choice but to wait for another one as the room was on the tenth floor…
Jai scooted out of the elevator to see bani struggling to open the door…her wet body was panting… had he pushed her too much…
"Just listen…" jai tried to grab her attention…
"I…Do I know you…do you know something about my past…" bani yelled…jai was astounded…
"I…" jai couldn't get words…
"I felt as if I had been to your house…everything was so similar…are you hiding anything…why do I feel as if I have known you since ages do you know me…" bani cried out in frustration clutching her head which was spinning… …
Before jai could react bani collapsed…
XXXXX
Jai tugged her properly…he pulled out a chair and slumped into it…silently praying that nothing happens to her…he didn't realize when he fell into an uncomfortable slumber…
Bani shook violently jerking her head she got up…Bani…a voice echoed in the back of her mind… …her breath quickened… she came out of the bed and grabbed the paint brush, setting the canvas of the pair of eyes…she started painting, her hand moving vigorously… …all the past memoirs returned back …her small house in Mt. Abu…her mother…her father…her sisters, pia and rano…her father's death…they moving to Mumbai…standing in front of the gates of Walia Mansion…meeting Jai Walia and other family members…jai and pia's engagement…pia running away from the mandap with pushkar…she taking pia's place and marrying jai…jai trying to destroy them…the slow start of their friendship, their love…she feeling jealous of Roshni on Anu's engagement…their consummation that night…jai regretting it and calling it a mistake…rano and shail's fiasco…anu, ranveer and rano's marriage…how she left walia mansion…how she met with an accident on the stormy night when she was trying to cross the road… …after that getting up in the hospital meeting baba…she remembered everything precisely … …she stepped back to see the canvas...it was jai's picture…the eyes which haunted her…it was of the person whom she loved with all her mind, body and soul…probably he was the first one whom she loved more than her sisters… …but he had hurt her…demeaning her love… she sobbed…hardly realizing that someone else was also in the room observing her quietly… …
"Bani…" jai called with clustered emotions… …bani looked at him…
"You again cheated me…" she cried out…jai came near her…
"No bani…no…when you left I had searched for you madly… but I couldn't find you…after so many months I was shocked to see you in front of me…and you didn't recognize me…I talked to Mr. Mitra and he told me about your condition… "
"You could have told me…"
"I thought it will hamper you more…I didn't want to lose you…" tears spilled out of his eyes…
"I…I hate you…why did you do all this…you never loved me…" jai cupped her face…
"I always loved you…but I was just an idiot to let you go…I realized it when I had to return to an empty house where you weren't waiting for me anymore…but it was too late…"
Closed words held so much to say but her voice went mute…bani cried…jai hugged her tightly…
"I love you…more than my life…Bani Walia…" he dug his face in her damp hair...
"I love you too…don't ever leave me…"
"Never…" jai retreated to look at her…jai leaned forward…softly taking her lips in a sensuous kiss… leaving her…he put his hand inside his pocket to reveal her mangalsutra which she had left, he was carrying it since he met bani again…he unclasped it and wound it around her neck… re-promising her the blissful life which lay ahead …
Mangalyam tantuna nena mamajeeva hetunaam
Kante bhadraani shubake tam jeevan shatadaamshakam…
{This mantra is usually chanted when the groom ties the mangalsutra to the bride…I just got inspired by ekta mayi here…she has a PhD in over-dramatics…HeHe!!!}
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Their bodies were awash in ecstasy… …her head thrown back…she was breathless…he was lying next to her…hugging her to himself… …
The moon had traveled across the sky and angled across the water in a rolling ribbon of light…When she glanced up at him, he wasn't looking at the moon anymore. His eyes were on her face…A long piece of her hair, floating in the breeze, brushed his cheek…He took it between his fingers and very deliberately tucked it behind her ear, his fingers sliding along the sensitive skin at the curve of her neck… He leaned towards her… her toes tingled…In the bright moonlight; she could see his eyes dilate as he gazed into hers…He didn't move away, just leaned, a breath between them… …
"I missed you badly…" his whispered into her hair, inhaling its tantalizing scent…
"I can't say the same…" she grinned…he chuckled…
His hand started roaming under the sheet covering her… …bani's eyelids dropped… …
"Stop that..." she whimpered weakly… …He gave her a wicked smile…
"Stop what?" he said…
"This?" he traced a line of kisses along her chin…
"Or this?" he threw away the sheet…coming over her…bani raised her hand to reach him…
At last two smoldering hearts reached their hearth… …Bani & Jai… …forever and always… …
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P.S. PR Raaz has been skipped
God bless
Dhani
PART-1
It was dark…pitch dark…a pair of intense eyes followed her…she ran…into the oblivion…but they followed, the same pair of eyes…steel grey eyes…sharp, intense…they were not threatening but there was something magnetic about them…she ran…not understanding what was happening…not recognizing those familiar yet unfamiliar steel grey eyes…she fell down…she looked up…the pair of eyes vanished…
Parineeta woke up drenched in cold sweat…the same dream, the same pair of eyes, the same she…it had been nearly a year she was getting these nightmares, since the day baba brought her to his house…a dream which haunted her every night, invading her sleep…yet she never felt disturbed by them…but the dreams took her somewhere, she felt a familiarity in them, it ruffled up her spirits but still left her with a knowingness as if it was the same thing which she was searching for…her soul… her inner self…she pushed the bed sheet…and got up…she adjusted the canvas on the wooden holder…she picked up the brush…
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Jai mechanically got dressed…buttoning up his coat…he didn't bother to tie the knot of the tie, in fact had stop wearing them since…he gave himself a glance in the mirror…he looked the same, but he knew better…his eyes sang an elegy of their own…his eyes fell on the photo frame adorning his bedside…maasi was adamant to take his and bani's photograph, it was during the initial stages of their matrimony, where he was raging against her and she just bore all his anger not for herself but for him…he smiled as he saw himself, he was fuming with irritation but had fixed a fake smile, bani was standing beside him, a bit shy, a bit timid…even though they were on the opposite allays but yet there seemed to have been an unsaid connection between them like the echoes of silence…probably 'Matches are made in Heaven' was true after all…if only would he have understood her true worth before, today she would have been standing in front of him, fixing his tie while he played with her long hair… …if only…picking up his office bag he made his way outside, carrying those thoughts safely in the steep corners of his slain heart… …
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"Parineeta beta…ki korcho tumi… (What are you doing)" Partho Mitra, called out as he walked into his daughter's room…getting no reply he shook his head and went inside only to find her immersed in her painting…she was still in her night clothes…
"Beta…" he called out…parineeta jerked out from her thoughts…
"Haan baba…kya hua…" she asked sounding clueless…
"Beta…tujhe kya hua…"
"Arre…baba kuch nahin…bas yeh…" parineeta got lost in the painting again…partho looked at it…it was a simple painting with just a pair of eyes staring back…but there was something in those plain eyes…as if they were narrating a story untold… …
"Painting poori kyun nahin ki…" he asked…
"Pata nahin baba…raat se koshish kar rahin hoon…bas aankhen ki ban payi hoon… chehra… anjaan hain…" parineeta said in a lost way…baba sighed…
"Chal beta…taiyaar hoja…ek zaroori baat karni hain…"
"Kya baat hain baba…"
"Tu fresh hoke toh aa…"
Parineeta kept her palette and brushes aside and went inside the bathroom...
Partho fondly saw parineeta as she left…she reminded him so much of his own daughter…it was almost four years that his daughter had died in a cruel plane crash…since then he was living alone, like an aimless wanderer, just existing…writing novels and short stories…until his daughter returned back to him again… …she had infused life into him again with her caring nature, love and affection…he wondered at the irony of fate…it was she who needed support and care but it was he who got it from her instead…that was the beauty of circumstances…the power they possessed to mould people and their thinking… it wasn't a plausible deniability to ignore the potency of change which was the only constant in this whole wide world… …
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Aditya silently nibbled his favorite aloo paratha…it didn't taste the same, the ingredients were intact but the affection was missing, bani's departure had been very difficult to cope with…the house all at once became dull and lightless…as if nobody lived here since ages…eerily silent and creepy…there was a time when he used to love coming back home only to be greeted by bani's friendly welcome and delicious supper, when he and his mother indulged in pulling jigyasa's leg or sometimes jai's…the house sounded lively by anu and rano's chatter…anu was gone living happily with rohit and her daughter, and rano…she had suddenly matured after her marriage to sahil, the bubbly girl had transformed into a responsible daughter-in-law carrying out her duties to perfection but the liveliness was buried somewhere…the only one person who was enjoying it was jigyasa…aditya gave a mean look towards jigyasa who certainly didn't see him, she was busy filing her nails and sipping her healthy carrot juice…
"Papa…ek aur paratha lenge…" rano asked…
"Nahin rano thanks, I am through…" aditya said gulping down a glass of water…
"Rano, jai kahaan hain, nashte ke liye nahin aaya…" aditya enquired checking a few files to be taken to the office…
"Mr. Walia toh subah hi nikal gaye…aap toh jaante hain…" rano gave him a knowing look…aditya sighed…
"Bye maa…" he said...daadi quietly nodded her head…
Sahil got up and pecked rano's cheek…
"Bye rano…" sahil smiled…rano smiled back…
"Bye sahil…take care…" she said…
Ranveer hastily went towards the entrance…when he heard raashi call him…
"Ranveer…woh aap apni file bhoolgaye the…" raashi said nervously handing him the file…
Ranveer took it…
"Thanks raashi…" he said brushing his lips across her cheek lightly, he walked away leaving behind a stunned raashi…rano smirked, it seems ranveer has accepted raashi…she silently prayed for her well-being…
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"Baba…dawai…" parineeta handed him a capsule...
"Beta…mujhe tumse ek baat karni thi…" partho said…
"Jee baba…" parineeta said serving him the breakfast…
"Beta, tum itni achi painter ho…itni khoobsurat paintings banayi hain…exhibit kyun nahin karti ho…"
"Baba…mujhe bas painting ka shauk hain…kabhi aise soch nahin…"
"Toh ab socho, kitna market hain pata hain…art ke liye and you are such a fine painter…"
"I don't know…baba…"
"Mujhe Mumbai jaana hain, editor ke saath meeting hain…main soch raha tha, organizers se baat karke tumhara exhibition karaaoon…meri kuch contacts hain…"
"Baba…aapko sach main lagta hain…" parineeta looked at him unsure…painting was just a passion for her, she mostly painted her thoughts, moods and expressions…but professional exhibitions were on a much larger scale…
"Beta, trust me…" parineeta smiled…
""Main aapko kabhi mana kar sakti hoon kya…jaisa aapko theek lage…"
"Yeh huina baat…just help me pack haan…mera poora karma bikhra pada hain…"
"Aap bhi na baba…ek cheez nahin sambhal sakta…main kar doongi…"
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PART-2
Aditya observed jai from a distance… from a distance he looked normal, the Jai Walia who was a year ago, the same…but as one neared him, the drought of unhappiness could be felt…he most efficiently maintained a cloak over the darker contours of his mind behind the words but he knew better…his crystallized inner workings had crumbled long ago…a few months back at least he had the hope to find bani…there was a driving force behind his survival that he would be successful in locating bani but from the last few months it seems as if he had lost the small flicker of hope fighting for life…the final nail in the coffin was when the search parties and agents he had sent returned back in vain…and one suggested that bani might have died…he had witnessed the worst of jai that day…jai had smashed the man's face blue-black and got him thrown out of the office…raging he had left his cabin and came back only in the wee hours of the morning… …sunken in alcohol… he was cast into a blind oblivion where he couldn't see anything, he was far removed from everybody…only he didn't show it… …he never was an expressive man…if only he had told bani about his true feelings, she wouldn't have misunderstood him and left just after anu's marriage… …
"Jai…" aditya called…jai looked up…
"Yes adi…" aditya sat down opposite him…
"Are you fine…?" jai turned his eyes back to his file…
"Do you think I will spend my entire life brooding for a woman who left me…? Just because I was drunk once doesn't mean I can't handle myself…of course I am fine…" jai said in his usual arrogant tone…
"I didn't say ban's name…" aditya said…jai stared at him…
"You meant it…" jai said pretending to read the file, flipping the pages…
"Probably we should get it published in a newspaper…an ad or something…"
"I am not a desperate virile male…I got over roshni and pia, bani is no big deal…" jai hissed…
"But you never loved roshni and pia unlike bani…"
"Love is an emotional prejudice…nothing else…"
"Really…"
"Yes…very much…"
"Tell me truthfully jai…don't you still feel that bani will come back…keep your hand on your heart and tell me…"
"I really don't think so adi…even if she comes back I give a damn…I am over her…it's been a year damn it…get lost adi before I lose it…" jai banged the file on the desk…
Aditya got up and walked away…jai slumped back into his chair…
"Agar aap kissise sacha pyaar karte hain toh usse jaane dijiye, agar woh wapaas aaya toh woh aapka…agar nahin toh woh aapka kabhi tha hi nahin…" bani had consoled him saying these words…he knew he truly loved her and she would come back someday… he did believe that…somewhere deep down… …
Aditya cursed himself…there was no need to remind jai of bani again and again…probably he was trying to forget her…but every time he thought of them he couldn't help but feel helpless…they both were always meant to be…he decided he wouldn't broach bani's topic before jai again…and upset him more… …
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"Haan pia…bolo…" rano said in a flat tone…
"Woh rano, Bangalore is so nice, I am so having fun…the house is so big and all mine, no mummyji and bhabhi to interfere…I am enjoying…" pia said excitedly…rano shook her head…it has been a few months, jai was considerate enough to give pushkar back his job and had got him transferred to Bangalore branch because he couldn't bear to see pia hovering in walia mansion taking herself to be a queen, specially bani di's place…
"Good for you pia…" rano said fiddling with the pleats of the curtains…
"What rano, you are not happy for me…" pia sulked…
"Pia if you have forgotten for the past one year we have no clue about bani di…" rano stated icily…
"What can we do rano? We searched Mt. Abu, di was not there…you can't expect me to sit and go into depression for her, if she wanted to come she would have…" pia said…
"It has been 11 months pia…pata nahin kahaan hogi, kis haal main hogi…zinda hogi ya mar gayi hogi…aur tum…chi pia…you know what you don't deserve anybody's love…you just don't …" rano angrily disconnected the phone…and threw it away…her shoulders shaking…tears slipped down her face…
Raashi entered her room to find rano crying helplessly…raashi hurried towards her enveloping her in a warm hug…
"Di…raashi…pata nahin kahaan hain…" rano cried…
"Ssshh…rano…maami bilkul theek hongi…bhagwaan pe bharosa rakho…ache logon ke saath acha hi hota hain…"
"Par di hi kyun…humesha unke saath hi kyun…" rano complained like a child…
"Kyunki woh bohot achi hain…chalo rano…she will be fine trust me…"
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"Sir, you have an appointment with Mr. Partho Mitra…" reena, jai's secretary informed him over the phone…
"Send him in…" he said…reena promptly did the same…she looked at the aged man standing in front of him and smiled…
"Please go in sir, to your right…"
"Thank you…" partho said…the sponsors had readily agreed to exhibit parineeta's paintings when he showed them a few of her portraits…they were natural and had depth…he just needed a nice gallery for the exhibition…
"Good morning Mr. Walia…" partho greeted him…jai simple nodded his head…
"I am so glad you could take out time from your busy schedule…"
"It's okay Mr. Mitra…can we come straight to the point…"
"Actually…my daughter…I mean my daughter is a very good painter, I intend to display her paintings, I wanted a gallery, I have lodged in your hotel only and my friend suggested probably we can organize it in there…"
"Sir, we usually don't organize such events, you can talk to outside galleries who organize such exhibitions…"
"Actually all are booked, so please if you can help me out…" somehow jai couldn't bring himself to refuse the old man sitting in front of him with pleading eyes…
"Well, okay, I will inform reena, she will help you out…"
"Oh!!! Thank you so much Mr. Walia…that's really nice of you…"
"It's okay Mr. Mitra, until and unless you don't intend to pay the bills…" jai said dryly…partho chuckled…
"No, no…nothing of that sorts…and sir, please I personally invite you for the exhibition… please bring along your family as well…"
"I…I don't think so I can make it…"
"Please sir…I insist, it would be a pleasure to have you…"
"I will try…"
"Thank you so much once again…bye…"
"Bye…Mr. Mitra…"
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Parineeta stood at the airport…feeling uneasy…the lingering perfume of the past, the smell of flowers in bloom and the elusive memory of a big house…filled her thoughts…she felt as if she came here earlier…as if she belonged here…yes the doctor had said she might feel an occult sensation if she sees things or happens to be in a place where she had been before …Mumbai…seemed so known…in her heart of hearts she knew something was going to change…
"Beta…" partho waved for her…spotting partho she smile and pushed her luggage trolley…with a bubbling excitement to embark upon a new journey… …
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PART-3
"Jai bhaiyya…I think we should all go…it has been ages since we all went somewhere…" jigyasa said…
"You all go jigyasa…I have work…" jai said dismissively…
"No jai bhiyya, please you have to come I don't know…"
"Fine…tum niklo main aata hoon…" jai gave in at last… …
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"Thank you…" parineeta said sweetly…as people appreciated her work… …
"Beta…I am so proud of you…they all love your work…" partho patted her head…
"All thanks to you…" parineeta hugged him sideways…
"Maam…yeh painting adhoori kyun hain…" a spectator asked curiously…parineeta looked at the portrait, only a pair of eyes stood still…
"I don't know, probably someday I will be able to finish it…but I think I had some very deep connection with the person…" parineeta said lost…
Rano carefully examined the paintings, they were are all colorful and vibrant, while some were only pencil sketches…a shaded sketch caught her attention… …a mother carrying an infant to her bosom…it looked simple yet a whale of emotions were expressed through it…a mother's unconditional love towards her child…she couldn't help but reminisce bani…it was natural for a mother to love and protect her child but for a sister to take a mother's place, only a selfless person like her sister had the power to do that…a few lines written below the picture startled her…
"Woh aasha hain…woh abhilasha…woh apnepan ki paribhasha…woh dukh leti sukh deti hain…woh aasoon bhi pee lete…"
Bani used to sing these lines when they were small, it was their mother's song, and how didn't the painter know these lines…rano hurried through the crowd…
"Do you who the painter is …? Rano enquired somebody…the person pointed out in a direction…rano glanced to see a petite lady clad in a cream salwar kameez with her back facing her…her heart-beat raised… she went near her in slow steps… …
Before she could call her…sahil came in…
"Rano, where were you…come…" sahil dragged her in other direction…
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A light breeze blew…Jai entered the jam-packed hallway, he felt something mysterious… he walked inside only to be greeted partho…
"I am so glad Mr. Walia you came…" partho shook hands with him…
"Thanks for inviting me…" jai gave a tight smile…feeling uneasy and apprehensive… something was going to happen, he could sense it…
"I must say Mr. Mitra, your daughter is very talented…" jigyasa chipped in…
"Thank you so much…why don't you meet her…"
"Of course…my pleasure…" jigyasa said, quite eager to meet the talented artist… almost all the walia members assembled there…
"Parineeta…" partho called out…
"Jee baba…" parineeta turned and made her way towards partho…jai stood rooted to his spot…a squeezing palpitation arising in his heart…shocked were the all others, rano almost seemed to pass out…
"Bani…" an inaudible whisper left his lips…
"Mr. Walia…my daughter Parineeta Mitra…beta he is Jai Walia…the owner of this hotel…must say a very kind man…and his family…" partho did the introduction…
Jai didn't flinch, he kept staring at parineeta…somehow parineeta couldn't tear her eyes away from him, she found herself drowning in those hypnotizing eyes…
"Hello Mr. Walia…" parineeta said…jai looked even more shocked, was she pretending not to know or is she a look-alike of bani…
"Hello…" he whispered…
Rano looked hurt and confused when her own sister didn't recognize her…but it didn't seem she was pretending…there was no hint of recognition in parineeta's eyes…was she bani or someone else…rano feel unconscious in sahil's arms…
"Rano…" shail patted her face…
"Adi, I think rano is not well…sahil take her home, we are coming…" jai said…
"I am sorry Mr. Mitra, she is not well…I have to go…" jai fumbled…
"It's okay Mr. Walia…please…"
"Please take care of her…" parineeta said…she kept on standing there long after they were gone…'Rano…' 'Mr. Walia…' she whispered to herself…
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"Di…aisa kyun kar rahin hain…why didn't she recognize me…" rano wailed…
"Beta…control yourself…" aditya pacified her…
"Papa, woh di hi hain, meri di…" rano said again and again…
"Shut up rano, she just looks like bani...then why she didn't recognize us…" jigyasa snapped…
"Jigyasa…ranveer just take her away before I scream…" aditya yelled…
"Mom chaliye…" ranveer told seeing her father so serious…jigyasa got up and left in a huff…
"Yes, rano, then why didn't bani recognize us? "aditya asked…
"She…she might be angry…" rano justified…
"Bani aisi nahin hain…hum sab jaante hain…"
"But she is di...I know…" rano repeated…
"Okay, raat bohot hogayi hain, you sleep…hum kal subah baat karte hain…"
"Sahil take care of her…" aditya instructed…
He could hear rano mumbling again and again that parineeta was bani again and again as sahil put her to sleep…
Aditya stopped before the study…he knew jai must be inside…he pushed the door…
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Parineeta sat by the open French window, the sparkling neon lights outlining the city of dreams, their reflections floating over the hushed ripples of Arabian Sea…she twisted and turned her fingers…
"Jai Walia…" she replayed the name for the umpteenth time in her head…strangely her heart fluttered every time she recalled his handsome face…she felt like she knew him since ages…so closely…that it astounded her that he was a mere acquaintance and she couldn't get him out of her mind…
Bani slapped her head…probably she was taking everything literally, since that day she was in a constant search to identify herself, over-stressing herself with every little thing…she should just let it be…let destiny take its own course…
She went to bed but not before thinking of Jai Walia again…he seemed to have captured her imagination… …
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Complexion like the yellow of wheat, same crystal brown eyes, long hair, the same innocence, the same beauty and grace, yes, she was the same bani, his bani…but then there was an unfathomable emptiness in her eyes… as if she was searching for something which she herself didn't know… just a never-ending search…
"Jai…" he heard aditya call him…
"She is bani…"
"But jai, then…why…"
"I know she is bani…" jai said confidently and strode off…aditya tried to contemplate… … this was like a jigsaw puzzle…
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PART-4
Partho was surprised to receive a call from Jai Walia; in the morning itself to meet him at his residence…that too alone…the driver stopped the car in front of a huge mansion…he was lead inside…
"Good morning Mr. Mitra…" jai greeted him…partho looked surprised, two days ago when he had met him he seemed to be lost and disinterested and today his face was glowing with happiness…
"Morning…" partho mumbled…
"I am sorry, I had to call you up in the morning, but it is something very important, about your daughter…"
"My daughter…" partho looked alarmed…
"Is she your daughter?" jai directly asked him…partho looked muddled and angry…
"What do you mean Mr. Walia…of course she is my daughter, and who are you to question me…"
"Well, I think she is Bani Jai Walia…my wife…" he showed him a picture of bani and his…partho kept staring at the photograph…
"Err…" partho couldn't get his voice…
"You may hesitate to trust me…meet rano, bani's sister…" jai indicated rano to come…
"Uncle, please tell she is my sister, why is she behaving like this…" partho looked at rano's distraught face…she seem to have been crying… …his eyes swept across jai and other family members looking at him anxiously…
"She has a memory loss…" partho said…
"Memory loss…" rano shrieked…
"I am a writer by profession, nearly a year ago I had come to pune to attend my friend's daughter's wedding, I had a meeting with my publisher in Mumbai the other day, after the wedding I was driving towards Mumbai when I found parineeta's body lying on the road, she had had a bad accident, I took her to the nearest hospital, she was unconscious for days, the doctor said due to severe injury on her head and excessive blood loss, she had slipped into coma, and she may never come back to consciousness, I couldn't find out anything about her…so I took her to Kolkata with me, because she reminded so much of my dead daughter…I got her treated and in a month she gained conscious but had lost her previous memory…so I gave her my daughter's name and she lived with me…she had terrible nightmares and dreams but her memory didn't come back, the doctor said it might or might not…" partho ended his narration…
There was a momentary silence which was broken by rano's outburst…
"Di forgot me…"
Raashi handled her taking rano to her room…
"I am so glad Mr. Mitra, you saved bani…she is…she is my life…" jai held partho's hands in his…partho gave him a weak smile…
"I searched for her everywhere but…" jai couldn't continue…
"But, what will you do now…" partho asked…
"I don't know…but thanks…just don't let her go back to Kolkata…we will work it out…she might just remember her past meeting all of us…" jai said sounding hopeful…
"I will help you son…for my daughter's happiness…"
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"I can't believe you jai bhaiyya…you want bani back… she left you…" jigyasa screamed…
"Jigyasa, she is my wife if you forgotten…and I love her…" jai said calmly…
"Don't be silly…leaving roshni you want bani…"
"Jigyasa, it is because of you and roshni only she left me…just keep out of it…I love bani and she is my wife, this is the ultimate truth, whether you like it or not, that's not my problem…" jai declared and left… …
Jai entered his room and took out his best black Armani suit…and got dressed quickly…
"Tum karne kya waale ho…" aditya asked amused at seeing jai so relaxed…he was expecting him to gulp down a few shots learning bani's memory loss…but he seems to be invigorated… jai threw the comb and faced aditya with a mysterious smile…
"My dear best friend…when bani can fall in love with Jai then why not…Parineeta…" jai said with a twinkle in his lively eyes…before aditya could comprehend jai left whistling…
Rano smiled listening to jai…jai looked at her, she seemed to have aged in just a day; with dark circles around her eyes…he hugged her lightly…
"Everything will be fine…I promise…" jai said stroking her hair…
"Can I call you jiju…" rano asked hesitantly…jai threw back his head and laughed…
"Of course you can saali sahiba…" he said leaving…
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"Baba, aap kahaan jaa rahen hain, humlog siddhivinayak jaane waale the na…" bani whined…
"I am sorry beta, publisher ka phone aaya, I have to go…" partho said…
"Fine…but please return for lunch…dawai bhi toh leni hain…" bani reminded him…
Partho left…bani was about to close the door when she heard a faint knock…she opened it to see the man who robbed her sleep standing right in front of her…his tall muscular built, broadened shoulders over-powered her…
"Hai!!" jai said with his dashing smile extending the bunch of fresh white lilies towards her…bani reluctantly took it…feeling a bit self-conscious…
"Thank you…they are lovely…" bani said caressing the petals…
"Just like you…" jai whispered to himself…
"aapne kuch kahaa…" bani asked promptly…hearing his mutter something…
"Nahin…can I come in…"
"Oh!! Of course I am so sorry…"
"They are my favorite flowers…how did you know?" bani said as she proceeded to put them in the crystal vase over the centre table…she poured some water in it…
"Mine too…" jai said literally ogling at her…it has been a long year of wait for him…
"Thank you once again…" bani said facing him…
"Well actually yesterday I didn't get a chance I think your paintings were wonderful…Congratulations, the exhibition has been a success and it's a success for our hotel too…probably we should take up more such events…" jai said extending his hand…bani gingerly shook his hand…she felt a weird sensation pass through her entire being…she felt as if she knew the jolting touch…she had experienced the same bliss before…she soon came out of her trance…
"How is Rano…I hope she is well now…"
"She is fine…you seem to be going somewhere…"
"I wanted to go to the ganesh temple…I was going to ask the manger if I could get a car…"
"I can take you…"
"No, Mr. Walia, you are a busy man…please don't bother, in fact you have already helped us a lot…"
"Common Ba…parineetaji no trouble, I would love to…I think I should show you around Mumbai, it's a nice place, never been since a long time…"
"First parineeta would be fine…and second are you sure…I don't want to trouble you unnecessarily…" bani said…typical bani thought jai…
"Parineeta…I said na no problem…"
"Thanks…can you just give me a minute, I will just come, we can leave…"
"Sure…"
Bani went inside…jai looked around the room…a corner was full of canvases, paints and brushes…a canvas stood fixed to the stand…rano had informed him that bani had a penchant for drawing and painting since childhood, she had learnt also, but after their parents death she got so busy with them that she had to leave painting…he looked at the canvas…just a pair of gorgeous eyes were painted across, he neared it…he felt as if he was gazing into his own eyes…after a split-second he realized they were his eyes only…
"Mr. Walia…" bani called out…
"Whose is this painting…" he asked…looking at her intently…bani took a while to answer…
"It may seem strange but I don't know…they haunt me every night…probably I have a very strong bond with the beholder of these eyes…" bani said dreamily…somewhere jai felt a satisfaction that he was still alive in her subconscious… …
"Shall we go…" jai asked…
"Sure…"
XXXXX
PART-5
Jai came inside the house in a jovial mood…
"Someone seems to be too happy…" aditya commented…
"Well, of course…" jai said very well guessing his friend's teasing tone…
"Pyaar hi pyaar hain mausam main…" aditya copied a filmy style by moving his hands in the air…
"You are so filmy adi…" jai shook his head…
"Jiju…" rano barged in from the kitchen in full speed…
"Easy rano…" jai said fearing she would crash into him…
"How is di…" rano exclaimed…
"She is beautiful…as always…" jai winked…
"Jiju…I so miss her…" rano slumped…
"Don't worry, she will be back in this house soon…"
"Acha jai…a surprise…maasi aayin hain…"
"Adi you are telling me now…where is she…"
"Maa ke saath…"
XXXXX
Jai sat with his head resting in maasi's lap…maasi was gently stroking his hair…
"Akhirkar bhagwaan ne meri sun li..." maasi said…
"Maine toh umeed hi chod di thi…ki bani kabhi wapas aayegi…I had almost lost her…" jai said…
"Hmm…aaj itne dino baad tere chehre pe muskaan dekhi…bas tum dono hamesha saath raho…"
"Maasi…aap rahengi na…I need you…"
"Haan beta…I am here…"
XXXXX
"You see to be too happy…beta…" partho said as he ate his food…bani fiddled with her spoon…
"Baba, nothing...I am just happy…" bani shrugged, partho noted the change in bani's behavior, there was a glow on her face…
"How was the temple…?"
"It's beautiful baba…" bani said reminiscing her trip to the auspicious temple…
"I think we need to stay for one more day, I have to submit the final draft of my book…"
"Okay baba…"
They got busy with their dinner…
"Baba…" bani spoke up…
"Hmm…"
"Umm…woh actually…Mr. Walia came this morning…"
"Kyun…"
"Just to congratulate me…and said he liked my paintings…"
"Oh!!!"
"Well, he wanted to show me around Mumbai…can I go with him tomorrow…"
Partho laughed…
"Kya hua…why are you laughing…"
"Parineeta…you are too cute…tum toh aise pooch rahin ho jaise you are a teenager and want to go out on a date with your boyfriend…" bani looked visibly embarrassed hearing partho…
"Baba…" she scolded flushed…
"Of course you can go…enjoy…"
XXXXX
Jai first took bani to the two famous museums…bani fell in love with the place and admired the antique collection of artifacts and paintings… then they straight headed to the Gateway of India…
Bani glanced at the imposing Taj Hotel…
"It seems as if nothing happened…it still looks the same…" bani said…remembering the horrific terrorist attack…
"Hmmm…it feels terrible to even think that it could have happened in one of my hotels also…"
"Humanity has lost all the meaning in the struggle for prominence…it's sad but true…"
Jai kept on staring her…no matter what bani's essential soul and goodness would always remain intact…
"My stomach is grumbling…can we have lunch…" jai asked…
"Of course…" bani smiled…
Jai only kept on listening to bani as she spoke at length about various things…it didn't seem like she was not his bani, that she has forgotten him…it seemed as if they were still the same bani and jai … …and the distance of one year was never there… …
XXXXX
In the day's last light the glowing Arabian Sea below looked like a pool of molten gold...jai and bani kept their eyes fixed on the magenta sky, looking at the setting sun…the mob of birds flying back home…almost the whole of Mumbai city was visible from the never-ending stretch of juhoo beach…a silent, quaint place, where nothing could be heard except the echoes of silence… …
"It so scenic…I will paint it for sure…" bani said capturing the nature's miracle unfolding in front of her…
"I would love to see it…" jai looked at her…there was a moment's silence… their eyes shared a brief conversation…bani averted her gaze and looked at the horizon…after a while…
"Can I say something…" bani mustered up courage…
"Yes, of course…"
"Promise you won't laugh…"
"Promise…"
"I feel as if I know you since ages…" bani turned back to meet his eyes…jai's smile vanished, it got replaced by an immeasurable pain and longing…he spoke after a considerable pause… …
"Maybe… you just know me…" jai smiled playfully…bani realized that there was something beyond what he meant… it was getting cold…bani rubbed her shoulders… …
"Shall we leave…?"
Jai nodded his head…
XXXXX
The ride back to the hotel was silent…with only the voice of the RJ coming from the radio…bani kept her eyes fixed to the moving surroundings… jai concentrated on his driving… …
"Har kisiko kissina kissi ka interaaz hota hain, ek khaas insaan ki jo aap se beinteeha pyaar kare…yeh gaana un sabhi listeners' ke liye jo kisika intezaar kar rahen hain…"
Soona soona lamha lamha
Meri rahein tanha tanha
Aakar mujhe tum tham lo
Manzil teri dekhe rasta
Mud ke zara ab dekh lo
Aisa milan phir ho na ho
Sab kuch mera tum hi to ho
Bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
O bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
Soona soona lamha lamha
Meri rahein tanha tanha
Bichhde bhi ham jo kabhi raston main
To sang sang rahungi sada
Kadmon ki aawaaz sun ke chalungi
Tumhe dhoond loongi sada
Bhooli mohabbat ki yeh khushbuye hain
Hawaon main phaili hui
Chhu kar mujhe aaj mahsoon kar lo
Vo yadein meri unchhui
Aisa milan phir ho na ho
Sab kuch mera tum hi to ho
Bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
O bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
Soona soona lamha lamha
Meri rahein tanha tanha
Aaa.. Aaa…
Vadon ke dhagon main hum tum bandhe hain
Zara dor tum tham lo
Bahon main aise pighal jane do mujhko
Aise mera naam lo
Main vo shama hoon jo roshan tumhe karke
Khud to pighal jaungi
Subah ka sooraj tumhare liye hai
Main hoon raat dhal jaungi
Aisa milan phir ho na ho
Sab kuch mera tum hi to ho
Bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
O bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
Soona soona lamha lamha
Meri rahein tanha tanha
Mud ke zara ab dekh lo
Aisa milan phir ho na ho
Sab kuch mera tum hi to ho
Bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
O bepanah pyaar hai aaja
Tera intezaar hai aaja
Soona soona lamha lamha
Meri rahein tanha tanha
Jai and bani stiffened for a moment…as the song floated in … …they didn't dare to look at each other as the melodious symphony enthralled their senses and emotions… ..
The car came to a halt…bani came out…
"Thank you Mr. Walia…I never had such a great time…I have something for you…" bani opened her handbag and brought out a small gift wrapped box towards him…
"Gift!!!!"
"Please accept it…" jai took it…
"Can I open it…?"
"Of course…"
Jai ripped off the wrapping paper…to reveal a midnight blue satin tie neatly placed in a box… he felt over-whelmed for a second…
"I thought you would look nicer with a tie…I hope you like it…" bani added…
"I love it thank you…but there is a problem…" jai said grinning…
"What…"
"I always mess up with the knot …"
Bani laughed…"Learn it…then…"
"I don't need to dear…" he said to himself…
"Why this gift…" he asked…
"I will be leaving to Kolkata tomorrow…a farewell gift…" she gave him a sad smile…jai's face paled…
"Goodnight Mr. Walia…"
Jai came forward…her heart levitated…he leaned forward and kissed her cheek…
"Goodnight parineeta and thanks for the gift…" before bani could come to her senses the car was speeding away at a distance…
XXXXX
PART-6
Jai paced to and fro…almost making a burrow in the floor of his study…he clenched and unclenched his fists… partho had informed him that bani was adamant to go back since they had no other work here…How to stop bani??? Jai brainstormed… …
Aditya barged in suddenly…
"Jai…we are launching our new hotel na, there is a meeting with the interior designer, just select some themes…it would be easier tomorrow… "aditya said holding a think file…
Jai looked at aditya for a second…
"ADI…you are a genius…" jai paced up to him and hugged him tight…and ran off to his room…
Aditya stood in the study clueless…
"Genius…that I am…" adi shrugged and went off… …
XXXXX
"No way Mr. Walia…" bani said…
"Common on parineeta…you are too good, too much of modesty is not good…" jai said eyeing partho to support him…partho got the cue…
"Beta, I think you should take this up…" partho said…jai had offered her to do all the paintings to be used for his upcoming hotel; the theme was 'Indian Heritage'.
"But baba…I have never done something like this before…I don't know…" bani said fearing that he would let them down…
"If you are worrying about the commission, then I assure you no hassles…" jai joked…
"Mr. Walia…it's not about money…it's just I feel I will let down you people…"
"Nahin beta…I will always be proud of you…give your best…"
"So…" jai asked eagerly…
"Okay…" bani conceded…
"Great…" jai exclaimed… …
"But beta…I need to go back…" partho said…
"Par kyun baba…I have to stay alone…" bani said…
"Beta I have my work…I will call you regularly…I promise…"
"Baba…fine I will quickly finish my work and will come flying back to home…" bani said hugging him sideways…
"Yes beta…" partho looked at jai…
"Mr. Walia please do take care of her…"
"Don't worry…"
XXXXX
Bani stood in front of the canvas…the moon was shimmering in the sky…it seemed more bright today unlike other days…she picked up the brush…sunset…she started with the sky… …
Soon she got immersed in the painting… …
XXXXX
Jai stood by the window watching the same shimmering moon…he felt his heart beat after a long long time… … he mused at the irony of life…there was a time when he had loathed bani so much that he had tortured the hell out of her and today he just loved her more… …so much so that he could go to any length to make her happy… …the beautiful eyes in which he had filled with burning tears he wanted to see happiness shining in them today… …
Probably the year which he spent without bani was his punishment for making her go through so much without any fault of her… …it was like an acid test which he had to endure to reach his love… …and finally at last he had reached her… …the woman who changed him into a considerate man with her patience, care and perseverance… her memory loss did come a s a shock to him initially but later he realized it didn't make any difference, she was still the same bani and he was still the same jai who fell in love with each other unknowingly… …
XXXXX
"Mr. Walia, I am working on it…but it will take time…oil paintings do take time…" bani said as she examined the interiors which were finalized, so that she could get an idea of what should be painting…
"I can understand…no hurry…it will take a month or two to finish the hotel interiors…" jai said sipping his coffee…
"Can I ask you something…" bani lifted her head…
"Hmmm…"
"Why are you so keen on me doing the paintings…if I know you well you can get one of the best paintings by renowned artists…"
"I don't know maybe it's you and not the paintings…"
"What…"
"I like you…to be honest…" jai gazed into her muddled eyes…
"It has been only four days since we met…"
"Does it make a difference…?"
"But still, we hardly know each other…"
"Yet there is a pull…" jai said not averting his constant gaze… bani kept quiet…
"I really want to know you Parineeta…" jai said… …bani simply pushed the file and left hurriedly without turning back… …
XXXXX
Jai tried the phone for the millionth time… god, women can be so stubborn at times… bani's mobile was switched off…he had also called the hotel and asked for extension to bani's room but bani was not picking up…he wanted to go to her room, but that would be too out of place and awkward…he wondered if he rushed into things but he just couldn't contain himself from asking… it has been a week and there was no sign of her… … suddenly he heard a knock on his cabin door…
"Come in…" he said roughly…he was so busy punching the redial button that he hardly noticed bani standing in front of him…
"Trying to call me…" bani asked…jai looked up at once…
"Where the hell have you been…" he almost screamed…getting up…
"Cool it Mr. Walia…I was only doing your work…" bani smiled…and showed him the canvas…jai just kept staring at it…it was mind-blowing…she had captured all the shades of the setting sky and the glorious sun perfectly…and the crashing waves of the Arabian Sea were intact…even the slight foam on their brim could be made out… …he could almost envisage the moment when they stood near each other that evening… …
"It's awesome …" jai said…
"Thank you… I am glad you like it…"
"You are superb…" he said admiringly… …bani blushed… …
"All yours…" bani kept it aside…
"But I have been trying to contact you…why the heck didn't you pick up…" he was back to his angry mode…
"Err…umm…" bani fumbled…after hearing jai's proposal she had lost her peace of mind… she had been thinking of him day and night reasonless…she thought avoiding him would help but it was in vain…it only got worse…
"I am sorry for that day…I shouldn't have said all those things…" jai apologized…
"No…I mean I appreciate your honesty…but…" bani bit her lower lip…
"But!!"
"You need to know something about me first…"
"What…"
"I…I am suffering from a memory loss…" bani blurted…jai pretended to be shocked…
"I don't remember anything from my past, who I was, what was my name, if at all I had a family…I don't know anything…I think you don't deserve someone like me…"
"It doesn't matter…"
"Of course it does, what if I remember everything one fine day and maybe I am not the person you like…I don't know…you may not like my past…" bani argued…
"Look…whatever your past is…I am not interested…I like you that's all it matters…"
"But still…"
"You know somebody told me…whenever you are confused just close your eyes and ask your heart, you will get the answer…" they were bani's words…jai came near her…
"Just close your eyes…" bani closed her eyes…a few minutes later…
"What does it say…?"
"I… …are you sure…?" bani asked…jai chuckled… …
"You will have no regrets…I promise…"
"Promises are hard to keep…" bani said cheekily…
"I only do promises which I can keep…"
"Let's see…" Bani smiled… …
XXXXX
PART-7
dum dar dum dar jasn jasn dum 2
sun mere humdum
hamesha ishq mein hi jeena ]
[Aye
Hairathe Ashiqui
Jaga mat
Pairon se zameen
zameen laga mat]2
Aye
Hairathe Ashiqui 3
[dum dar dum dar jasn jasn dum 2
sun mere humdum
hamesha ishq mein hi jeena ]
Kyon urdu farshi bolte hooooOooo 2
Dus kehte ho do taulte ho
Jhoton ke shanshaaa Bolo na
Kabhi Jhaako meri Ankhen 2
Sunaaye ek Dastaan
Jo hooton se kholona
[Aye
Hairathe Ashiqui
Jaga mat
Pairon se zameen
zameen laga mat]2
Aye
Hairathe Ashiqui 2
[dum dar dum dar jasn jasn dum 2
sun mere humdum
hamesha ishq mein hi jeena ]
Jasn jasn mein naam
Hamesha Ishq Mein hi jeena
Dum dar dum Jasn jasn
Sun mere Humdum
Hamesha Ishq Mein hi jeena
{Movie: Guru A.R.Rahman}
"Order Mr. Walia…" bani said impatiently… …he was reading the menu card for the past fifteen minutes…
"I am confused…" jai said…
"You are such a kid…"
"Okay…" jai called the waiter and placed the order…
"Paneer Mr. Walia…you are allergic to it…" bani said sipping the water, jai froze, he didn't tell this to parineeta…it means bani still remembers past things…those lost memories just need to be triggered… …
Jai changed the order…the waiter went off…bani placed her chin on her hand and listened to the music being played on the piano… jai looked at her, she was normal… …jai leaned back in his chair…and gazed at her longingly…he observed her eyes which shone with happiness, her lips curved into a small smile…her slender fingers drumming the tune played by the distant piano… …she looked divine in that embellished sea blue colored sari… …with her hair let loose… …
"You look amazing tonight…" jai said still watching her closely… bani blushed…but didn't turn to face him…
"You're welcome…" jai said…bani faced him…
"When did I thank you…" bani asked…
"The blush on your cheeks says it all dear…" jai said grinning… …bani blushed further… …
"You are impossible…" she threw him a look and returned back to listening the soulful music…
"I didn't realize you find the pianist more handsome than me…" jai said…hating the fact that she was more interested in the music which sounded like a lullaby to him…
"Mr. Walia…" bani let out a small laugh…
"What…since we have come you are only watching that bald foreigner…" jai pretended to sulk…
"You are really impossible…"
Before they could banter any further the food arrived… …
XXXXX
"No…" bani pushed jai away…
"I don't want to go…" jai whined…loitering before her room…
"Mr. Walia…Bye…" bani said opening the door…
"Can I stay…please…I promise to behave…"
"Mr. Walia…good night…"
"You are such a bore…"
"Yes, I am a bore so go now…" bani entered the room only to be followed by jai…
"Mr. Walia…go...it's already so late…" bani lead him to the door…
"I hate you…" jai whispered…
"Thanks…now sayonara…" bani was about to close the door when jai held it…
"Mr. Walia…"
He looked at her intensely…bani stood still leaving the door…a ratcheting tension flamed between them… …jai breathed down nearing her…bani's throat parched…she felt claustrophobic by such close proximity… …he leaned forward and closed her slightly parted lips with his… …bani sighed…as she felt his lips over hers, cajoling her to respond… she couldn't help but do the same… jai held her face as he deepened the kiss…while bani grabbed his coat into a tensed fist…after eons…jai left her…to breathe…
"Sweet dreams…" he whispered against her slightly swollen lips and went off…leaving bani in a dreamy daze…
XXXXX
Bani leaned against the wall…still reeling under the magical effect…her fingers traced her lips…she was surprised at how easily she responded without any awkwardness… she felt a tingle… she closed her eyes…she could see the outline of two silhouettes standing in an intimate fashion…the moon hung low in the sky… …she couldn't make out the faces…the darkness of the night concealed their identity… she sensed something vaguely familiar…she opened her eyes feeling agitated… …jai's touch seemed to evoke unnamed sensations within her…which weren't new… …fed up of these directionless thoughts she decided to take a shower to calm her berserk nerves…
The warm, pelting water…soothed her mind and body…since over a month she was having this wonderful feeling…even though she didn't know jai much but still it felt right…he made her happy…her heart skipped a beat whenever he looked at her…her emotions hurled whenever he touched her… …it seemed to be right…too right as if they were destined to be together…but…there was something, something related to her past which was connecting her with jai… as if they had met before, known each other before, loved each other before…but then why wouldn't jai tell her if he knew her before…she stopped the shower…probably it was just a figment of her imagination… …she securely wrapped herself in the turkey towel and came out…
She stood before the mirror wiping her wet hair… …when she spotted jai eyeing her with naughty playfulness sitting on the bed…she stood unmoved shocked…jai reached her in slow steps…he snaked her one arm around her waist and the other around her neck, holding her tightly and kissed her cheek… …bani let out a scream…in a split-second he was gone… bani broke into a bashful smile…god he was driving her nuts… …
XXXXX
Jai tossed and turned in his bed…sleep eluding his eyes… …he had just talked to partho about bani's medical condition…her brain was unable to recollect the things stored in her unconscious memory, but if she met people of her past, or saw things which have great imprint on her mind then probably she can recollect things…but there was a flip-side too…too much of pressure and strain on her brain can cause serious mental problem and she may have permanent amnesia which may remain so till death… …the unfortunate thing was there was no concrete cure for such an ailment… …
Frustrated jai sat up…may be bringing her to Walia Mansion might help…suddenly bani's image floated in front of him, he saw her sitting at a distance laughing mirthlessly… …his thoughts went back to the kiss they shared… it was not his fault, she was looking so ravishing that he could just control himself… …it felt nice, to have tasted the sweetness of her lips…his heart revived the night when he had first kissed her…the night when he realized he loved his wife…but was stupid enough to ruin it later… …
XXXXX
Bani looked outside to witness the gloomy evening weather…it was raining hard…the rains in Mumbai were really bad…but she loved rains and the freshness they brought with them…she re-touched the painting…it was of a married woman…wearing a deep red sari…with jewels…looking gorgeous…but the most interesting thing were her eyes…they were so many emotions prisoned in her soulful eyes…love, hurt, pain, anguish, yearning…as if they reflected her soul… …she could see a visage of herself in the woman who was staring back at her…Was she married??? Was the first thought which came to her…then why nobody searched for her…or they couldn't trace her down…for the first time she felt frustrated about her memory loss…then suddenly she realized that this was her last painting and probably she would leave for Kolkata shortly… …the thought upset her even further… she was almost on the verge of crying…she was so pre-occupied by her thoughts that she couldn't even hear the incessant knock on the door…realizing it suddenly she composed herself before opening the door…
"Hi…" jai greeted her cheerfully…
Bani just plunked herself over him, wrapping her hands around his neck and burying her face in his broad chest… …seeking shelter and protection…the warmth of his secure hands rubbing he back consoled her disturbed emotions… …
XXXXX
PART-8
"What happened…?" jai enquired seeing bani so distraught and lost…her vacant eyes unmoving… … bani simply nodded her head in negative…
"Tell me…you don't seem to be okay…" jai urged her…
"It's nothing, I…I was just missing baba…" bani said not meeting his eyes…jai didn't buy that but decided to leave the matter…
"Okay now cheer up…we are going somewhere…" jai said sounding excited…
"Where…?"
"Surprise…now get ready fast…"
Bani went inside the bathroom to get changed…jai's eyes fell on the portrait of the woman…she was beautiful…he could see the pain held in her eyes…was bani trying to remember things??? That's why probably she was upset…before he could ponder further he heard the click of the door… …
XXXXX
Jai looked at bani, she was looking out…he was expecting her to bombard him with questions about where they were going; instead she hadn't spoken a word…jai took a turn…
Bani noticed the huge iron gates being opened…her mind went numb…she watched the well-maintained flower beds and lawn with wide eyes…
"Come…" jai said opening the door of her side…bani came out in a trance…as she viewed the huge house…
"Where are we…" bani asked trying to locate the familiar feel…
"My house…" jai said carefully examining her expressions…they were unsettled as if her mind was racking to figure out something…
"Come…" jai lead her in…
Bani felt eerily odd as she set her right foot inside… …the walia members sat eagerly trying to contain their bubbling excitement…
Dadi and maasi had tears in their eyes as they saw jai and bani walking in… …
"Yeh hain dadi, aur yeh hain meri maasi…aur maasi yeh hain Parineeta Mitra…" jai introduced…
Seeing dadi and maasi…bani bent down and took their blessings…
"Jeeti raho beti…"
Jai introduced everybody to her one by one…
"Hi rano…" bani smiled at her…rano was too over-whelmed to talk…jai indicated her not to get carried away… …
"I must say Mr. Walia… you have a beautiful house…" bani said looking around peculiarly… everything was fiercely known…a fear erupted inside her…
"Sir, shall I serve the dinner…" tony asked promptly…jai nodded…Tony glanced at bani…she was still the same…he quickly made his way inside the kitchen…
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Jai had pre-warned everybody to behave normally explaining about bani's condition so that bani doesn't feel uncomfortable, they were heeding his request… thank god jigyasa was not there…or else she would have left no stone unturned to mock her… …jai saw bani, she was lost in her own world… talking slowly to aditya who was cracking some jokes…it seems bringing bani into the house was working…
Tony came are served them the dinner…
"Thank you Tony…" bani said as he filled her plate…everybody was stunned for a moment…suddenly bani realized that she had taken his name when she didn't even know it…bani looked at jai…bewildered…
"You must have heard me when I called him…" jai tried to cover it up…
"Haan of course…tony give me one more roti…" aditya tried to ease out the situation…
Bani still looked unconvinced and played with her spoon…soon she was drawn into a conversation with everybody… …
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Tony was cleaning up when he crashed with bani and spilled the curry over her sari…
"I am sorry maam…I…" Tony begged for pardon…bani looked at the stain caused on her sari…
"It's okay Tony…actually it's my fault, I just came to get some water…" bani smiled…
"Oh beta…your dress is spoiled…" dadi said…
"It's okay dadi…"
"Nahin beta…go and change…rano…get ba…parineeta a dress…"
"Come…" rano took her upstairs…
With every step bani felt she felt a heavy weight on her chest…she saw images of people walking up and down the same stairs…rano lead her to a room…
"You just wait… I will get something for you…" rano said as she went out…
Rano reached jai's room…and took a white sari with pink border and came out…
"Here…I think this will be nice…" rano handed her the sari and curiously watched her…bani caressed the soft material…her mind haywire…
"You change and come…I will wait outside…" rano went out…
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Bani felt creepy as she descended the steps…the blouse was a perfect fit as if it was made only for her…the fragrance of the sari was so acquainted… …
Jai's eyes remained glued to her as came near him…it was the same sari...how could he ever forget… suddenly he remembered it was June 19th today, the same day…his heart raced…
"I…want to go back Mr. Walia…" she whispered standing next to him…
"I think I should drop parineeta and come…" jai said…
"Thank you for the lovely dinner…I had a wonderful time…" bani said…
"Let's go…" jai said getting the car keys…
"Namaste dadi…namaste massi…" bani greeted before leaving…
Rano wept as she saw bani going away… …
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Jai stole glances of bani as he tried to concentrate on the road… it was raining hard and the vision was not clear… …
"Parineeta…what happened…?" he was repeating the same question again and again but she didn't answer it even once…
"I am asking you something…" jai lost his cool…and roughly stopped the car before the hotel…
Bani simply got down and sprinted towards the hotel caring least about the showering rain…
"Parineeta…" jai ran behind her…but he missed the elevator…jai had no choice but to wait for another one as the room was on the tenth floor…
Jai scooted out of the elevator to see bani struggling to open the door…her wet body was panting… had he pushed her too much…
"Just listen…" jai tried to grab her attention…
"I…Do I know you…do you know something about my past…" bani yelled…jai was astounded…
"I…" jai couldn't get words…
"I felt as if I had been to your house…everything was so similar…are you hiding anything…why do I feel as if I have known you since ages do you know me…" bani cried out in frustration clutching her head which was spinning… …
Before jai could react bani collapsed…
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Jai tugged her properly…he pulled out a chair and slumped into it…silently praying that nothing happens to her…he didn't realize when he fell into an uncomfortable slumber…
Bani shook violently jerking her head she got up…Bani…a voice echoed in the back of her mind… …her breath quickened… she came out of the bed and grabbed the paint brush, setting the canvas of the pair of eyes…she started painting, her hand moving vigorously… …all the past memoirs returned back …her small house in Mt. Abu…her mother…her father…her sisters, pia and rano…her father's death…they moving to Mumbai…standing in front of the gates of Walia Mansion…meeting Jai Walia and other family members…jai and pia's engagement…pia running away from the mandap with pushkar…she taking pia's place and marrying jai…jai trying to destroy them…the slow start of their friendship, their love…she feeling jealous of Roshni on Anu's engagement…their consummation that night…jai regretting it and calling it a mistake…rano and shail's fiasco…anu, ranveer and rano's marriage…how she left walia mansion…how she met with an accident on the stormy night when she was trying to cross the road… …after that getting up in the hospital meeting baba…she remembered everything precisely … …she stepped back to see the canvas...it was jai's picture…the eyes which haunted her…it was of the person whom she loved with all her mind, body and soul…probably he was the first one whom she loved more than her sisters… …but he had hurt her…demeaning her love… she sobbed…hardly realizing that someone else was also in the room observing her quietly… …
"Bani…" jai called with clustered emotions… …bani looked at him…
"You again cheated me…" she cried out…jai came near her…
"No bani…no…when you left I had searched for you madly… but I couldn't find you…after so many months I was shocked to see you in front of me…and you didn't recognize me…I talked to Mr. Mitra and he told me about your condition… "
"You could have told me…"
"I thought it will hamper you more…I didn't want to lose you…" tears spilled out of his eyes…
"I…I hate you…why did you do all this…you never loved me…" jai cupped her face…
"I always loved you…but I was just an idiot to let you go…I realized it when I had to return to an empty house where you weren't waiting for me anymore…but it was too late…"
Closed words held so much to say but her voice went mute…bani cried…jai hugged her tightly…
"I love you…more than my life…Bani Walia…" he dug his face in her damp hair...
"I love you too…don't ever leave me…"
"Never…" jai retreated to look at her…jai leaned forward…softly taking her lips in a sensuous kiss… leaving her…he put his hand inside his pocket to reveal her mangalsutra which she had left, he was carrying it since he met bani again…he unclasped it and wound it around her neck… re-promising her the blissful life which lay ahead …
Mangalyam tantuna nena mamajeeva hetunaam
Kante bhadraani shubake tam jeevan shatadaamshakam…
{This mantra is usually chanted when the groom ties the mangalsutra to the bride…I just got inspired by ekta mayi here…she has a PhD in over-dramatics…HeHe!!!}
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Their bodies were awash in ecstasy… …her head thrown back…she was breathless…he was lying next to her…hugging her to himself… …
The moon had traveled across the sky and angled across the water in a rolling ribbon of light…When she glanced up at him, he wasn't looking at the moon anymore. His eyes were on her face…A long piece of her hair, floating in the breeze, brushed his cheek…He took it between his fingers and very deliberately tucked it behind her ear, his fingers sliding along the sensitive skin at the curve of her neck… He leaned towards her… her toes tingled…In the bright moonlight; she could see his eyes dilate as he gazed into hers…He didn't move away, just leaned, a breath between them… …
"I missed you badly…" his whispered into her hair, inhaling its tantalizing scent…
"I can't say the same…" she grinned…he chuckled…
His hand started roaming under the sheet covering her… …bani's eyelids dropped… …
"Stop that..." she whimpered weakly… …He gave her a wicked smile…
"Stop what?" he said…
"This?" he traced a line of kisses along her chin…
"Or this?" he threw away the sheet…coming over her…bani raised her hand to reach him…
At last two smoldering hearts reached their hearth… …Bani & Jai… …forever and always… …
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P.S. PR Raaz has been skipped
God bless
Dhani
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Jodha Akbar
