Fan Fiction - BLIND LOVE-Chapters 1 to 6

This FF is about none other than our very own favourite couple the great Jai Walia and our very own Bani Dixit and maybe one or 2 other KS characters. Have tried to keep it different from the on-going serial because we already have quite a few ff's being written on those lines.

BLIND LOVE

If love is blind then I am blind indeed
Because it's imperfections I can't see
If love is hope then I hope always
To be that memory that never fades
If love is heartbreak then I'm willing
For you I could make the world stop spinning ............. becoz I LOVE U

Epilogue

😎JAI WALIA was a millionaire with numerous girlfriends who were more of a status symbol to him than any real long time attachment. He was tall, handsome, well built and in fact every woman's dream come true ................. a true gift of god to womankind. Still young at thirty-five, he was a self made man who had an idea, actually many ideas and went with them and they all reaped benefits for him. He followed his instincts and somehow they never let him down. He owns electronic factories, restaurants, numerous real-estate properties, stocks and shares in all the companies and institutions that mattered .................... basically he had everything a man could ever wish and hope for............................ almost everything that he ever wanted ............. except someone who he could love and someone who truly loved him first and then this wealth. ............... that was his biggest loss and he felt that void all the time and hope that it would be filled some day. 💔

CHAPTER 1

Jai Walia came rolling up the drive of his vastly sprawled mansion with yet another new girlfriend in tow. She was from a prominent family that was considered "Old Money". Her name is Roshni Chopra. Her family had always been rich. It was part of their heritage. He pulls up and one of his helpers comes out to open the door for her majesty.

Inside the house, two maids were peeking out the window. One of them is Bani Dixit. She has only been working for Jai for a couple of months now. His butler Tony had hired her, so Jai has never actually met her or seen her. Jai is always in such a rush that he never pays attention to all the different helping hands that he has in his mansion. But Bani has paid attention to him .............. a lot of attention in fact. Since her very first day at the Walia Mansion, she has admired him from a distance. He was everything that she wanted in a man, she thought. It was nice that he was stinking rich but she knew that she would still love him even if he didn't have any money and was just like her. ❤️ She longed to get to know him better but knew that it would not be possible. She was his employee ........... one of his maids. He was her employer.

"The First Time I Saw You I Knew It Was True

That I'd Love You Forever And That's What I'll Do

You Don't Know What You Do To Me

You Don't Have A Clue

You Don't Know What It's Like To Be Me Looking At You"

She decided to keep her love for him a secret so her friend that was standing there with her would not laugh at her and ridicule her high aspirations. Bani's friend Saloni was the one who helped her get the job. Saloni and Bani used to be childhood friends. They grew up together in Mt. Abu and studied there until Saloni's parents died in a car accident and her uncle who was the only surviving relative she had left, got her to Mumbai to live with him at the Walia mansion where he himself worked as the Butler. So Saloni had to leave Mt. Abu and join her uncle at the mansion .

Bani on the other hand was an orphan whose parents had abandoned her when she was just a baby. They had left her on the temple steps one night and never looked back again. The temple priest had mercy on the baby and after trying his best to find out who the baby belonged to, he gave up and brought her up on his own. He tried to offer her the best his limited resources could provide ........ she was an extremely intelligent child and she kept herself up to date with whatever she could afford to get her hands on. But when the priest passed away she had no one to turn too. That is when Saloni offered her a helping hand and told her to come to Mumbai and join her at the Walia Mansion.

Bani and Saloni see Jai and his new girlfriend start to walk towards the door so they hurriedly walk away from the window and pretend that they are dusting when the two enter. Jai and Roshni are passing by Saloni in the hall way, as she is busy dusting ..... pretending acutally........... Jai's girlfriend starts sneezing and turns and sneers at Saloni "Do you mind! I've got allergies! Get that dusty thing away from me, now!" Saloni looks worried and says, "I am sorry, Ma'am, it won't happen again. I will just go dust somewhere else."

Roshni turns to Jai and asks, "Did you see me give her permission to talk to me?" She turns back to Saloni and waves her hand and says, " Shoo! Go away!" Saloni bows her head and walks away quietly. Roshni turns and shakes her head, she looks at Jai and says, "Good help is so hard to come by nowadays."

Jai didn't like the way Roshni acted and said, "She was only doing her job. She wasn't trying to attack you, Roshni!". Roshni just waves it off and says, " Why are we even talking about trivial such stuff?" She smiles at him, flicks her hair back from her forehead and says, "Forget it darling, just lets have dinner by the pool." She takes his hand and pulls him away.

After they are gone, Saloni walks up to Bani and asks, "Can you believe that arrogant bi***?" Bani tries to mimic her and says, "Did you see me give her permission to speak to me!" Saloni starts laughing and says, "That's pretty good! You sounded just like her! Come on, let's go where Miss Stuck-up can't find us. They both go to the back of the mansion and start cleaning there.

After Roshni leaves, Jai walks around the mansion until he finds Saloni. Bani is in another room with the door open when she hears Jai speaking to Saloni. He walks up to her and says, " Saloni, I am sorry that my guest treated you that way. I have spoken to her and she promised me that it would not happen again." He puts his hand on her shoulder and says, "I am truly sorry!"

Saloni smiles up at him and says, "Don't give it another thought, Mr. Walia. I've been around people like that before. I can handle it, Sir." He smiles at her and says as he is walking away, "You won't have to handle it. I won't allow it to happen again. Good-night, Saloni." 😛

Bani walks out of the other room in time to watch him walk away. She smiles and looks at Saloni . She smiles back and says, "He's such a nice man. Too bad you couldn't meet him under different circumstances. You're a beautiful woman, Bani. Much prettier than the women that I've seen him with. I can tell that you like him." Bani doesn't know what to say. Saloni smiles at her and says, "Don't worry, it will be our little secret." 😉

Saloni was right, Bani was a beautiful young woman. With her maid outfit on and her hair fixed in a bun, it was still easy to see her beauty. She had long black hair and big brown eyes to match. She once thought of going to modeling school but was never able to get enough money. When the priest who she looked upto as a father figure passed away, she had no place to go. It was then that Saloni had interceded to get her a job that would put a roof over her head. After all, Saloni lived there and needed a friend to talk to.

Bani was not too happy about working as a maid at the mansion, but since she had no other choice, she gave in. Once at the Walia Mansion though, she changed her mind .................. yes you guessed right ............. it was not the mansion, but the owner of the mansion, that made her see the rightness in the decision she had made .................. for bani he was like a dream come true .... Just the thought of seeing Jai Walia tomorrow, was enough to get Bani Dixit through today 😳 😳 😳

To see you is what my eyes long for

To touch you is what my body longs for

But to love you, my heart has done already for a long time .......

first in my dreams and now in reality ....................

Will continue only if you like it ............................... would love to read any feedback/comments/words of encouragement you would like to offer 😊

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This 2nd chapter is dedicated to Sangita Das, Bani's defence lawyer 😆 ............ no no .......... dedicated to her for her fabulous fanfic Fading Autumn which inspired me to get down and pen something on my own .......... even though what I write will not be anything close to her great writing ....... it still is in her honour because I believe that one should "Admonish your friends privately, but praise them openly" and that is what I am doing ............... so sangita this is for YOU:

The real satisfaction which praise can afford, is when what is repeated aloud agrees with the whispers of conscience, by showing us that we have not endeavored to deserve well in vain.

And a very big thank you to all those that read my ff and responded with words of encouragement, your feedback is most welcome and appreciated ............ i hope u continue to like what you read 😛

CHAPTER 2

The next day, Jai Walia waits at his personal helicopter pad for the helicopter to arrive. When it gets there, he climbs aboard and it lifts off. Just as it is crossing a wooded area, the engine on the helicopter stalls. The pilot turns to him and yells with fear in his voice, "We're going down, Sir! I can't keep it up much longer. Try to hold on to something real tight ........... i'm sorry to put you into this spot!" Jai grabs on to a side handle as the helicopter goes down..............

A few hours later, he awakens in a hospital. He is confused and reaches for the bandages that are over his eyes. A doctor grabs his hands and says, "You have been involved in a helicopter crash, Mr. Walia. fuel and glass went into your eyes. We had to operate to save them. I am afraid that these bandages will have to stay on for quite some time." Jai puts his hand over the bandages and starts to worry. He reaches out and blindly grabs the doctor's hand. He asks, " Will I be able to see again? Am I disfigured doctor, talk to me dammit?"

The doctor puts his hand on Jai's shoulder and answers, "No, you are not disfigured, Mr. Walia, god would not do such an injustice to you especially after all the pains he took to create you just the way you are. Your scars will heal; you won't be able to see them unless you look for them. But as far as your sight is concerned, we have done all that we can do. I'm afraid we will have to wait until your eyes heal to be able to tell if you will be able to see again or not. I am confident that you will regain full use of both eyes ............. but ............."But what" Jai shouted back. The doctor now afraid that Jai would leave his hands and go for his throat instead to strangle him was quick to add "There might be some complications, but I don't foresee them as long as you do as I say, and to begin with, you need to let go of my hands if you want me to continue to treat you in the future".

Jai is happy to hear what the doctor said and replies, "I will do whatever it takes, doctor. Just tell me what to do!" The doctor heaves a sigh of relief as Jai lets go of his hands, he does not want to take anymore chances so he sits at the foot of Jai's bed instead and starts giving his instructions; "You will have to remain in bed for at least one month, maybe two, without removing your bandages. It is important that the bandages remain in place so your eyes can heal without the chance of any infection. You will need to hire a nurse to take care of you during the day and to change your bandages. I will need to see you every two weeks so that I can monitor your recovery. If you follow my instructions, you will have an excellent chance at recovery."

Jai agrees to follow the doctor's instructions and finally asks, "How is my pilot doctor? Is he okay?" The doctor reluctantly places his hand on Jai's shoulder once again and says, "I'm sorry, Mr. Walia, he didn't make it. He was dead when the rescuers found you." Jai brings his hands to the bandages on his eyes and cries. He shakes his head and says, "He was my friend! I've known him since high school! It's all my fault, he warned me against taking the ride, but I insisted!" The doctor tries to console him and says, "It was no one's fault, Mr.Walia. God works in ways that we do not understand. It was his will."

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This part is for you Divya_123

CHAPTER 3

"The worst feeling in the world is giving someone all the love you have and knowing it will never be returned."

Bani has been worried sick about Jai Walia. She even goes to the hospital and checks on him on the quiet without disclosing her identity, she could not wait for him to get back home. She was happy to see the ambulance pull up at the driveway of the mansion ………. they were bringing him home …………….. bringing him to her. She has already been told of his condition and that he would be upstairs in his room only for a couple of months. Her job was to take care of the downstairs part of the mansion, so she was a little upset at the prospect of not being able to see him for that long. She pacified herself that as long as he was getting well, she would have to be happy with that.😕

"I wish dreams were like wishes and wishes came true cause in my dreams I'm always with u!!"

The ambulance medics bring him into the mansion and take him to his room that has been set up for his recovery. They get him settled in and leave. A professional nurse has already been hired to watch over him since the doctor was very insistent as he wanted to avoid any complications and the eye was a delicate area that could not be taken lightly.

For a few days, Bani does her job as usual and keeps looking up the stairs where Jai is. She sees the nurse come in every morning at 6.00 am and leave every night at nine o'clock after making him retire to bed. She thinks of him being by himself for the rest of the night and worries that he might hurt himself somehow……………….. she thought what if he wanted something, what if he rolled a little extra in bed and fell off ……………. what if he had to answer nature's call …………………. what if ………… what if ………………. so many what's & if's only added to her frustration.

"As part of You has grown In Me, together forever shall We be, never apart maybe…. In Distance but not In Heart" ❤️

Finally, one night, Bani sneaks up the stairs after she sees the nurse leave at nine o'clock. She just wants to look at him to make sure that he is okay. She grabs the door handle of his bedroom door and slowly turns it so it won't make any noise. She slowly pushes the door until it is open enough for her to just squeeze in and closes it behind her as silently as she possibly can. She tiptoes close to his bed so she can look at him to her hearts content. How she had missed him these past few days …………… it killed her to know that he was so near…….. yet so far and she had boundaries which she had to obey or else fear loosing her job ………… loosing him. She stands there looking at him and smiles. Even with the bandage on his eyes he was still handsome as ever, as lovable and huggable as ever she thought. But then the unthinkable happens ….. all of a sudden she sneezes. She immediately puts her hands over her mouth and her nose but it wasn't enough…………….. the harm had already been done ………….. what should she do now …………….. hide ………. but where …………..run for her life or ……………? 😵

Jai sits up with a start and asks in a commanding voice, "Who is it, who is in my room at this moment? Tell me at once! I heard you! If you don't speak, I will press the bell and call for my bodyguards!" Bani panics, she doesn't know what to do or what to say. She remembers what Saloni had said about her sounding like one of Jai's ex-girlfriends, so she tries to talk like her and says, "I am no one in particular, I am just a good friend of yours who wanted to see if you were all right. I am sorry if I bothered you. I will leave so you can get some rest now. Good night, Jai." 😳

She turns to walk away as quickly as she can. But he raises his voice and says, "Stop right there young lady, please, don't go. Come over here and talk to me for a while. It gets a little lonely in here after the nurse leaves every night and it is way too early for me to go to sleep. Since I do not have any other options I just lie down and wait for my sleep to overtake me. Couldn't you just stay for a little while since you took the trouble to come and check on me? I promise, I won't call my bodyguards. Come over here and sit in the chair next to the bed." She hesitated but decided that he wouldn't be able to see her and no one was around to see her so she walked over and sat down in the chair. Jai asked, "Are you still here?" Bani answers him, "Yes, I am still here. I guess I could keep you company for a little while. What would you like to talk about?" Jai smiles and says, "Anything you want. It doesn't matter. I just want your company, I want to hear a voice besides my own and not feel lonely for once."

Both Jai and Bani talk for a little while, they talk about his accident, how his life has changed ever since, his work, his likes ………………. and end up feeling really comfortable in each other's company. Jai loved her innocent and inquisitive questions, never did anyone ever have the guts to delve so much into his life, no one showed so much interest, they knew what was good for them and where to draw the line ………………. but she ………. she just could not stop and that brought a smile to his face. As seconds turned into minutes and minutes into hours, Jai notices a particular smell in the air. He turns his head towards where she is sitting and asks "That's a nice perfume you are wearing. What is it called in case I need to buy you some, one day?" Bani forgot that she had put some perfume earlier on in the day and told herself that hereafter she should never wear it around him when she was working, especially once he was alright and his life got back to normal. "It's called, "Angel" she answered "It isn't too expensive and I like the fragrance it has. You don't have to buy me any. I have enough stock of it to last me a lifetime" she replied innocently. He just laughed …………………

Bani looks at her watch and says, "I have to go now. It is very late and you need your rest too. I am really sorry that I bothered you. Please forgive me!". Jai knows it's late so he smiles and asks pleadingly, "Aren't you going to tell me your name stranger who walks in quietly but gets caught when she sneezes? Will you come back and see me tomorrow night? I sure could use the company!" Bani stands at the door and answers, "Who I am or knowing my name is not important. Think of me as a friendly ghost who visits you in the darkness of the night." Jai smiles and replies, "Then I will call you "Casper", the friendly ghost. Will that be all right?" Bani laughs and answers, "Casper was a male ghost surely u know that right …………… but I like the name. So just call me Casper from now on".

I will visit you if you promise me one thing." Bani said. Jai replies, "Anything, just name it. Would you like for me to buy you something?" She answers back, "Nooooooooooo, I don't want you to buy me anything. If you do, I will not accept it, don't mistake me to be like your other snooty girlfriends. All I want from you is a promise that you will not try and find out who I am. Please promise me that, or else Casper will not return." Jai smiles and says, "I am a man of my word, you surely know that don't you. I will not try to find out your identity if you promise me that I will see you and get to speak to you again tomorrow night. Have we got a deal?" Bani smiles and answers, "Yes master, we have a deal, Good night!" Jai waves his hand in her direction and says, "Good night, Casper!" Bani walks out the door and checks to see if anyone else is around and sneaks back downstairs towards her quarters.

"Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place, suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace,

suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste, because it all revolves around you………….. You Jai Walia……………………. Just You." ❤️

Bani shares a room with Saloni. She tries her best to be quiet so she won't disturb Saloni as she enters the room. But as soon as Bani reaches her bed, Saloni rolls over and asks, "So, did you have a nice visit?" Bani is surprised at her question and replies, "What are you talking about? I just went for a walk! I don't know what you are talking about!" Saloni sits up and with a sly grin and says, "Yeah! You went for a walk all right! Right up the stairs to Mr. Walia's room! What were you thinking Bani? Are you crazy or something?" Bani knew that the cat was out of the bag so she confessed and said with a sad puppy like expression on her face, "I just had to see if he was doing okay ………… I just had to, I could not take it any longer ……….. I … I … I !" 😲

Saloni walks over to Bani's bed and sits next to her and says, "Well, You might as well tell me about it. I'm awake now! Go ahead let's hear it, don't leave out any of the juicy details, make it worth my while ………..!" 😉

Bani gives her a questioning look and asks, "How did you know where I went? I thought that I was careful when I went up there." Saloni smiles and replies, "I knew that you would pull something like this so I followed you. I have been watching the way you kept looking up the stairs everyday ever since Mr. Walia has returned from the hospital! I knew that you wanted to see him……… see him badly…………… Honey, you're lucky that it was me and not my butler uncle who saw you! Go ahead and tell me about it now, before I change my mind and decide to cry wolf."

Bani starts explaining what happened between her and Jai. Saloni shakes her head in disbelief and asks her, "Well, what are you going to do about it now? You promised him that you would go back tomorrow. How long do you think this can go on? You're his maid for Christ sakes, Bani ………………… his maid ………………. he is your employer not a butler, gardener or chauffer!" Bani starts to cry. She is confused and so madly in love with Jai.

"Love is just a word till someone you meet gives it a meaning."

Saloni sees her heartache and feels sorry for her. She puts her hand on Bani's shoulder and says, "I'll tell you what, Sweetie. I guess I can be your lookout for tomorrow night. I know how you feel about him. As much as I do not agree with what you are doing, I just don't want to see you get into any trouble or get your heart broken." Bani hugs Saloni as she cries. 😭

Saloni continues, "You realize don't you, that sooner or later, you will have to tell him who you are. You can't be Casper the friendly ghost forever. Hopefully, he will get his sight back. What are you going to do then?" Bani lifts her head off Saloni's shoulder and replies, "I honestly don't know. He wasn't supposed to know that I was there. I only know that I want to spend time with him now because it makes him so happy and it make my world spin around…………. I don't know anything else besides that." Saloni pats her on the back and says, "You go ahead and get some sleep, Casper. It's almost morning and soon you will have to turn human again. So sleep and dream while you can and we will worry about everything else when the time comes."

"I know in reality we can't be together, so I just close my eyes and you're right here with me... in my dreams you're mine forever." ❤️

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CHAPTER 4

With yesterdays thoughts still fresh upon my mind
You may have noticed I am not the forgetting kind

Memories mix in thoughts even on the days anew
If I am found reminiscing, It meant I remembered you

I can gather new thoughts, Yet I enjoy looking back
You still play like a song, I always loved every track

I am comforted by thoughts, those to soothe my mind
Which got me to thinking, YOU Jai Walia are always on my mind

The next night Bani returns to Jai's room at nine o'clock. She taps on his door and waits for an answer. She hears his voice, "Casper, is that you?" She pushes the door open and answers, "Yes, Jai, it's me. How are you doing tonight?". He sits up in bed and replies with a big smile on is face, "I am doing a lot better now that you are here! I didn't think nine o'clock would ever get here! I started to wonder if I had dreamed about you coming into my life. I am happy to know that you are for real. Please come over and sit next to my bed." She smiles and walks over and sits in a chair next to him.

She looks up at him and says, "I will stay as long as you promise not to exert yourself or do anything foolish. You are supposed to be resting so you can get better. If I feel like I am keeping you from getting better, then I will leave. Your getting better is all I want to see. I miss seeing those light brown eyes of yours."

Jai replies, "Sooooo! You have been close enough to me to see what color eyes I have, have you?" Bani realises her blunder and tries to lighten up the situation and asks, "Are you fishing for clues to see if you can figure out who I am? Remember, you promised me last night that you wouldn't do that!"

Jai answers, "No, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to pry. I am glad that you are here. Please stop me if you think I am asking something that I shouldn't. "She looks at him and says, "My identity is not important. Your getting better is. That's all that matters to me!" Jai smiles in her direction and says, "It's nice to have someone who cares so much. I haven't had anyone around me that truly cares, since I moved from my parents in France."

Bani doesn't know much about his parents so she asks, "Forgive me for asking but why didn't your parents come to see you after your accident? Aren't they worried about you?" Jai smiles and answers, "I have wonderful parents. I love them both very much! They were going to come but I called them and told them that it was unnecessary. I have great care during the day and I have a friendly ghost who visits me at night, what more could I ask for. I would hate to see them take such a long trip and I won't even be able to see them. Besides, my mother would do nothing but cry if she saw me like this and I don't want to upset her and myself anymore than it is necessary. I fly out to see them often and as soon as I get my sight back, I will be going again. How about you? Do you still have parents?"

He wondered if he shouldn't have asked that question so he followed it with, "I'm not prying, am I?" Bani thought about it and didn't see any harm in his question so she answered, "Both my parents are dead." He heard the sadness in her voice as she spoke and said, "I am sorry to hear that. You must have loved them very much." She leans back in her chair and replies, "Well they never gave me a chance, they abandoned me when I was just a baby, but I do love the kind old temple priest who took me under his wings, and I still do even though he too is no more. You would have liked him." she said.

Jai feels like Bani wants to talk about him so he asks, "Has he been gone long?" She feels like he is really interested so she continues, "He was sick and was dying of cancer. I would sit next to his bed for hours at a time. I even slept in the room with him when he finally had to stay in the hospital. I was there the day he passed away. He was holding my hand and told me about how he had been sorry for not being able to give me a better life. The moment that he saw me on the temple steps, he knew that he wanted to take care of me." Bani gets misty-eyed and hesitates. Jai can hear her sadness and says, "You don't have to continue if you don't want to." She is happy to see his compassion and continues, "He sat there holding my hand and thanked me for giving him so many years of happiness that he thought that he would never have. He thought that he would always be alone but when he found me, his loneliness turned into love. After he died last year my life has never been the same. It was like part of me died with him."

Bani wipes a tear away as she sits and stares at Jai. He sits for a minute like he is reflecting on her story. He turns toward her and says, "I have never had that type of love. I hope that I will be as lucky as you were. Thank you for telling me about your life."

Jai wants to hold her but knows that it is to soon so he asks her, "Do you mind if I hold your hand?" Bani wanted to feel his touch since the day she first saw him. She was hesitant but she had to touch him………… just once she thought, who know if she would ever get another chance. She reaches up and grabs his hand and puts it in hers.

"Love is holding that special someone closely and realizing that is still isn't close enough."

Bani and Jai just sit there without saying a word, just holding hands. Finally it was time for Bani to leave. She pulls her hand away and says, "It's getting late. You need your rest. I've got to go." Jai smiles up at her and replies, "Thank you for coming again. I really enjoy your company Casper. Will you come back again? Please, say you will!"

Bani knows that every time she sneaks up the stairs that she might get caught but he wants to be with her and she wants to be with him and that's all that matters so she answers, "I would like that Jai. I'll try to." She turns to walk away and Jai says, "I will be waiting for you, Casper. Good night!" Bani leaves and makes her way back to her room.

Take love, multiply it by infinity and take it to the depths of forever……………
and you still will have only a glimpse of how I feel for you.

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CHAPTER 5

"Somewhere There's Someone Who Dreams Of Your Smile,
And Finds In Your Presence That Life Is Worth While,
So When You Are Lonely Remember It's True; Somebody Somewhere Is Thinking Of You"

Every night that Bani goes up the stairs, Jai is drawn more and more to her. He has never met a woman whose only interest was his well-being and not his money or his status. He knew that she was special and longed to hold her, to touch her, and to one day know what she looked like. He was beginning to fall in love with her. He decided that it didn't even matter what she looked like. It was her and her heart of gold that he loved. He just wanted to be with her.

Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, falling in love with you was beyond my control."

A month had passed since his fatal accident; Jai was waiting patiently all day so that he could ask Bani something. She finally arrived and he took her hand in his as she sat down. The most they did up to that point was to hold hands and that was enough for them for now, the warmth they felt was very reassuring to both of them. Jai smiled at Bani and said, "I want to ask you something and I want you to give it serious thought before you answer me, okay?"

Bani didn't know what to expect so she answers, "Okay, I promise. What do you want to ask me?"

Jai replies, "I have my doctor's appointment tomorrow. I know that my eyes are not healed yet but I feel that I am capable of moving around a little now. I was going to ask the doctor if I could go out for dinner one night. If he says that I can, would you like to go out with me? You can choose the place, we will go to a place where no one knows you or knows me, whatever makes you comfortable. Please, I want to take you out. We can't hide in my room forever! Besides, I need you to keep me from walking into a wall. Think about it before you answer, okay?"

Bani doesn't know what to do. On one hand, she would love to go out with him. On the other, someone might recognize her or him and tell him who she really is. She didn't know how to answer him. She just sat there and thought for a while. She imagined what it would actually feel like to be seen out in the public with him. She finally came up with an idea and said, "I will meet you at the restaurant only if your doctor gives you the permission. I will decide which one we can go to while you are at the doctor tomorrow. We can talk about it tomorrow night, okay?" He smiles at her and says, "That's good enough for me."

Bani comes to a realization and sits back in her chair in sadness. Jai senses that something is wrong and asks, "Is there anything wrong, Casper, you're awful quiet over there." She sits up and holds his hand and tries to explain, "I'm afraid that our time together is going to come to an end soon. I told you that when your bandages come off, I wouldn't come back to see you. It has to be that way. I don't want you to know who I am, but I am going to miss you like hell." She then starts to cry.

Jai squeezes her hand and says, "Please, don't cry! I don't understand why you don't want me to know who you are! I don't care who you are. Are you hiding from the law? Are you in some type of trouble? Please please tell me! I can get you the best lawyers. If you are disfigured in some way, I don't care! I care a lot for you. I don't want to lose you Casper!"

"If it's wrong to love you, then my heart just won't let me be right."

Bani consoles herself with the thought that he cares for her and says, "Why are we worrying about something that hasn't even happened yet. We are still together now and that is all that matters." She laughs and continues, "And to answer some of your questions: no, I am not in any trouble with the law. I never have been and no, I am not disfigured, at least I wasn't the last time that I looked in the mirror. I hope that eases your mind a little bit. Please! Let's talk about something else, okay?" They finish the evening spending time together, she reads a book for him just like the other times and then she leaves once again.

The next day, Jai arrives at the doctor's office. The doctor examines his eyes and tells him, "Your eyes are progressing well Mr. Walia, but I think that the bandages need to stay on a while longer. I'm sorry." Saying that the doctor moves as far away from Jai's reach, just in case Jai decides to grab his hands in anger once again. Much to the doctor's surprise though, Jai smiles and says, "I agree with you doctor, the bandages need to stay on as long as it takes. I don't mind. How about another month, can I keep them on for another month or maybe another two months, doc.?"

Jai is happy to hear that the bandages have to stay on for a while longer. It will give him that much more time to spend with Casper. He knows that he will have a lifetime of sight but only a short time with her. He is willing to sacrifice his sight if that is what it will cost him to get to spend a few more weeks with her. The doctor is a little taken aback at Jai's attitude and answers, "Yes, I believe another month will do the trick. Completely healed is better than almost healed. You just keep on doing what you have been and I will see you in a month's time."

Jai gets up and asks the doctor, "I want to know if I can go out for dinner. I have someone special in my life now and I would like to take her out. Would that be all right, doctor?" The doctor thought about it and said, "As long as you don't make a habit of it, Mr. Walia. You still need to get plenty of rest and not strain yourself. But I suppose that one night out, won't hurt you. Have a good time and be good."

Jai thanked the doctor and said good-bye. On the way home in the limo, he just sits on the backseat without saying anything to his chauffeur. Jai normally talks to him so the chauffeur asks, "Is something bothering you, Sir? You're pretty quiet back there. Was your checkup okay?" Jai answers, "My checkup was fine, James. I have to keep the bandages on for another month." James assumes that Jai is upset about that and says, "I'm sorry to hear that, Sir." Jai shakes his head and explains, "I'm not upset about that. It is something else. How is it possible that I can be in love with someone that I have never even seen?" James is confused and asks, "What do you mean, sir?"

Jai laughs and says, "I know it sounds strange, James, but it's true. Since my accident, I have met this woman who I feel so very close to. We talk to each other every night, hold hands, she reads for me and I love being with her. The best thing about it is that she isn't interested in my money. She only cares about me. I don't know what she even looks like, but in my mind, I see a beautiful woman. I know that I want to be with her and I am really not worried about how she looks. She won't even tell me her name. I call her Casper, because she is like a ghost to me. She told me that she would only be around as long as I can't see her because she doesn't want me to know who she is. I just don't know what to do James! I don't want to lose her. I don't care who she is!" James is totally confused and says, "I hope things work out for you, Sir."

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind ~ William Shakespeare

Bani is at the mansion worried about her promise to Jai. During her lunch break, she talks in private, to Saloni. Saloni can see that she is worried about something so she asks, "You look a little down today, Sugar, what is going on?" Bani shakes her head and explains, "Last night, Jai asked me if I would go out to dinner with him. He begged me so much that I finally said yes. Now I don't know what to do! I don't want anyone to recognize me when I go out with him. The other thing is, I don't even have anything to wear. Tonight I am supposed to tell him where to take me and I wouldn't even know where to go in the first place besides Mac Donalds. I don't know what to do Saloni!"

Saloni starts laughing and says, "Girl, you must really love him to take so many chances like this. If you really want to go, I think that I can help you out. I will show you after work. As far as where to go is concerned, I would choose a fancy restaurant which probably I could never afford to eat in on my own. You know, the one where you can eat and dance all in one…………. just like in the movies. Folks like us can't afford it so you should go there and am sure no one will even recognize people like us there. That's for sure. I think I know one such restaurant, it is called "Au Jardin" or something like that, I saw the write-up in a magazine and that place was being praised like hell. Anyway, come on, for now we need to get back to the grindstone." So they both get up and go back to work.

After work, they go back to their room and Saloni opens her closet and pulls a big box out. She opens it and pulls out a beautiful midnight blue evening gown. She holds it up to show Bani and says, "My uncle tony bought this for me when I first came to Mumbai, it was my twenty-first birthday, but that was a few pounds ago when I was your size. I'm afraid that this dress and me will never go out with each other now. I had promised it that I would take it to a nice place, one day. But now I would like for you to have it because it will never see the light of day with me. Please take it."

Bani accepts the dress hesitantly and hugs her. She gets misty-eyed and says, "It's beautiful! I don't know what to say!" Saloni smiles and says, "What are friends for, honey? Besides, I want to keep my promise to the dress. By the way, I also have a cute necklace that I can let you use. It ain't much but it's all I got. Don't worry we'll get you all fixed up nice and pretty!" Bani hugs Saloni again and says, "I don't know what I would do without you."

Later that night Bani goes to meet Jai at the usual time. When she walks into his room, he is sitting with a big grin on his face. She walks over to his bed and sits down in the chair next to it. She giggles a little and asks, "What is that big grin for. You look like the cat who ate the canary?" Jai responds, "First, I want to let you know that the doctor told me that I have to keep the bandages on for another month. We can now be together for another month! Isn't that great?" She didn't know how to answer his question. She was happy that they would be together for another month but was concerned about his willingness to go without his sight just so that he could be with her.

Bani takes Jai's hand in hers and says, "I am happy that we will be together for another month but if I could trade that for you being better, I would. Your eyesight is a lot more important than me being with you. I don't feel right that you are acting happy because you can't see. If I am keeping you from progressing the way that you should, I could never forgive myself!"

Jai squeezes Bani's hand and says, "I will get my sight back. The doctor said that I was making great progress. It was he who told me to keep the bandages on for another month. Instead of being upset about it, I am happy because I have you by my side. Is there any wrong in that? I am happy that I won't lose you for now atleast. Please don't be upset."

Your grace and beauty has befallen me,
as I embrace a love unspoken.
I cannot bear to think how you feel of me,
for I fear my heart will be broken.

You deserve all that you desire,
whatever it may be.
My knees they start to weaken,
as my love for you flows free.

Bani puts her other hand on top of his and replies, "I'm not upset. I just want to see you get better, that's all. As long as you do what the doctor says, then I won't fuss at you, okay?" Jai smiles and tells her, "The doctor also said that I could take you out for dinner. Where do you want to go? I can have the chauffeur pick you up from wherever you want. How are we going to work this arrangement out?"

Bani tells him that she would like to go to Mac Donalds with him because she is sure that the kind of people that he moved about with would never visit a place like that. Jai could not stop himself from laughing out loud at her innocence, he loved her childishness and the way her mind worked. He teased her that even though he is absolutely crazy about Mac Donalds, he would rather take her to a special place just this once and promised to order take-out for her from Mac Donalds which they could enjoy sitting in the room itself during one of the other nights that she visited him.

Bani feels embarrassed to hear him say that, and then she remembers what Saloni had told her, so she blurts out, how about we go to Au Jardin then, I'm sure you have not been there, it's one of the best restaurants in this part of town, I read the review in a magazine and they were praising it like hell".

Jai heaves a sigh of relief and says "Au Jardin ahh", does not ring a bell, you are right, we should go and try it out and since I have never been there before, I doubt anybody I know will be there too, so your secret will be safe". Bani says fine, she will meet him there the following night at sharp seven o'clock. She takes his leave with pleasant thoughts of what her first date might turn out to be like tomorrow.

When I look into your eyes, my heart it starts to melt.
You cannot even begin to imagine, just how good it felt.

These feelings I have for you right now, will always remain true.
No matter what I try to do, my soul cries out for you.

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Originally posted by: saksena

it was nice but did not like the maid part, bani could have been better off as an emplojee in jai's office.
Please continue

sorry to have disappointed u, but the reason why bani is a maid in my ff is becoz the story requires her to be so .......... i guess when it progresses u would understand ......... or not ............... but that was the only way i cud justify keeping her around in his mansion with easy access to him when the time is right ................ sorry once again .............. 😭

also i wanted to write something different .................. i love bani's character too, so pls do not take any offence.

sangita dear, bani's defence lawyer .............. am glad u did not serve me with a notice for what i turned ur client into 😆 .............. thank u