Bani's Story.........New ff
Introduction.
5 years have passed since Bani found out the horrible truth about her sister and the love of her life.She left Walia manssion not knowing she was pregnant with twins.
She now lives in a small town in America with her son Krishna and Daughter Vidhi and her roommate Anna.
The children visit Jai every summer.
Jonnathan Lockhart surveyed his seven new students moving across the practice feild. He grinned as he watched an especially entertaining female named Bani Dixit. In the four years since jon had started the polo school he'd seen his share of eager groupies but he had never seen anything like Bani Dixit.She was neither a groupie nor a horse lover nor a rider by any stretch of imagination. From what he could determine from their brief conversation earlier was that she was a housewife, though he had noticed that she didnt wear a ring. But she looked like a happy home maker and mother.
He looked across the feild and caught sight of Bani and suspected he would be wasting his time trying to teach her polo.She belonged on a horse as much as he belonged in a garden party.
" Listen horse, i'm paying 100 dollars for this lesson,u got that? 100 bucks , that would pay for a facial, so you can atleast pretend i know what i'm doing."
Bani aimed carefully and swung the mallet completely missing the target.The mallet slipped from her grasp and landed halfway across the feild missing jon by inches.
Bani sighed as one of the trainers handed her another mallet.The July sun was shining brightly reminding Bani of her life in india.The life she had given up years ago.Well atleast she had the twins, thinking of the traumatic circumstances in which she had left Walia mansion.It hadnt been easy to leave Mr. Walia and her sisters,even Pia.No matter what she had done she was still her sister.But that was all in the past now.She had a new life now. It may not be perfect but it wasnt so bad either.Besides the kids still had their father.Even if it was only during the summer vacations.
Krishna and Vidhi had only been in Mumbai for 1 week and she already missed them terribly.And trying to stay buzy with polo was also not working.She decided to go back to the stable.
"Now all I need to do is figure out how to get off this thing."
Jon walked into the stables to be confronted with the sight of bani lecturing the horse.
"Just swing your right leg over the horse and hold on to the saddle while you get off."
"That sounds risky"
Jon saw the doubt in her eyes "Are you afraid of horses?"
"Ofcourse not.i am not afraid of anything.I killed a spider yeaterday.it was big and black and hairy"Bani supressed an invoulantary shrudder. "Ok so maybe it wasnt hairy but there was atime i wouldnt have entered the same room with a spider."
Even more embarresed than she was before Bani decided to just jump of the horse.But slipped having to grab the horses mane to keep from falling.Jon rushed to her side "are you alright Ms.Dixit?"
"Hes on my foot.! the dumb son of a ----- horse is on my foot."
JOn reacted quickly moving the horse away from Bani who was screaming "my foot is fractured its probarbly shattered into a million peices ........the stupid horse did it on purpose............look at him he is laughing at me"
Jon tried hard to keep a straight face "ill have him shot immediately"
Bani gave him an angry stare which would even frighten her demonic kids. "Its not funny Mr.lockhart ill never walk again."
"Ms.Dixit please calm down"
Just when he thought things couldnt get worse this woman was hurt. She would probarbly want to sue, with all that bad publicity his school would be history.
He scooped her into his arms and turned towards the barn.Banis mouth popped open in surprise but she realised she had no choice.She could obviously not walk.
Jon seated Bani on a comfortable sofa "We have to get the boot off.I have to examine your foot."
Bani looked at him angrily."Ok fine perhaps after that i can have my teeth pulled out for fun.forget it i am leaving."
Jon sighed "I am sorry but u wont be able to drive with that foot and u need to see a doctor. why dont i take u to the hospital?."
PART 2
After two hours Jon turned into Banis driveway. She lived in a fairly large
brick colonial on the outskirts of the town. As he drove, Jon looked at the garden that was in dire need of a makeover.
"help!!!!!!"
The sound seemed to be coming from behind the rose bushes at the edge of the garden. Jon immediately stopped the car and got out to see what was going on. A stunningly beautiful blond was running after a shabby looking middle aged man with a rolling pin in hand .
"Help me………..this mad woman is gonna kill me with that…………….."screamed the man.
Against his better judgement Jon tried to grab the rolling pin from the woman who kept yelling "don't get involed mister this is between him and me……….."
But jon was determined to rescue the helpless looking man and wouldn't stop pulling the rolling pin away from her.suddenly the pin flew from their hands and into the sky. They all looked up to see it hit a tree branch and fall back down only to land with a thud on Jonnathan Lockhart's handsome head.
Bani was sitting in the car waiting for Jon to come back and drive till the door when she heard the voice of her roommate Ana sreaming at their gardener. Despite her pain Bani smiled wondering what Ed had done this time. True ,the garden had become something of an embarrassment thanks to Ed spending more time at the local bar than working here but….
"……….he's dead…..you killed him Ana…….i'm calling the cops……"
On hearing this Bani got out of the car and limped across the lawn to see what was going on.
Nothing could have prepared her for the scene that greeted her.jon was lying unconscious on the grass while Ed was bent over him trying to determine whether or not he was dead while Ana was standing by looking worried.
'What on earth happened?" asked bani trying to limp as fast as she could towards them.
Ed ran towards her "Miss Ana killed the man……..i tell you she has lost it….they will throw her in jail forever for this.''
"I'm calling an ambulance" said Bani reaching for her cell.
"No you cant……..they'll tell the cops, I cant go to prison. They don't even have
aroma therapy there. Lets call Dr. Burns from next door." Said Ana.
"But Ana ………"
"Bani please just call him, if Dr. Burns says we'll take him to the hospital"
Jon was aware of two female voices arguing when he regained consciousness. That and the pain in his head, what had happened …………….
"Don't try to get up.." said a new male voice. It was an elderly gentleman with thick glasses. "I am Dr. Burns from next door. You were unconscious
for a bit but I think you will make it. Just take it easy for a couple of days and take the medicines I'm leaving with Bani."
"Don't I need to go to the hospital?"
"Oh no,you can trust me.I know I am retired but Havent killed a single animal in my 35 years of practice. Though there wasn't much I could do about the bird flu towards the end……………"
"What……………did you say animals.? Is he a vet?..........Ms. Dixit please tell me you haven't let me be treated by a Vet…….." saying this Jon colapsed on the floor.
Bani rushed to his side. "What happened to him now…….Dr. Burns……" she asked worried.
'this has never happened before" said the good doctor. "Oh my God………It seems I have given this man the wrong drug…………."
"WHAT" screamed Ana and Bani in unision.
"Is he going to die? I cant go to jail.you have got to save him Dr. Burns " said Ana tearfully.
"I doubt he'll die. He may be sleepy for a couple of days though.I remember when Hemal patels hamster was ill and i………………"
"OK doctor thank you very much………bye bye………." Bani and Ana pushed him out of the door.
Bani gave a nervous look to the man lying on the floor. "What are we going to do with him………"
Ana was even more agitated "we will have to keep him here till hes better.What if he goes out and sues us."
"Lets drag him to the downstairs guest room. I guess he stays for now. But Mr. Walia is getting the kids back on Friday. We have to get him out of here before then."
Part 3
The next morning Bani was sipping coffee as she looked out of her kitchen window. Ed, the gardener, seemed to have learned a lesson from yesterdays incident ,as he was now digging in the area where Bani wanted to plant the vegetable garden. She wondered if it was a mistake informing Jon 's office that he had suffered a "minor" accident and would be staying here until he recovered. Ana had advised against it saying her tarot cards showed that it would be a sure fire way to doom, which was now making bani anxious as Jon hadn't woken up since collapsing yesterday.
Dr. Burns had just said "oh well That's what a double dose of buffalo sleeping pills will do to you…………..I remember when Hafsa Farooqi's cow was suffering from insomnia………….''
And he had gone into another one of his stories. That hadn't helped. Besides, she thought, Ana's predictions could be pretty accurate. When bani had first come from <ST1:COUNTRY-REGIoN>India</ST1:COUNTRY-REGIoN> and rented the house from her, Ana had predicted that Bani would have twins. But then she had also predicted that one of them would be Chinese……….
"I only hope Jon doesn't decide to sue me''
"Ms.Dixit…………?"
Bani tuned around to see Jon standing in the doorway. Thankfully he didn't look angry .So maybe he wont sue, thought bani.
Forcing a smile she said "How do you feel this morning? Can I get you a cup of coffee……….Idli..? Paratha………..? Anything……..?
"Well you can start by explaining why I was lying in a bathtub full of water fully clothed……..?
This was when Bani noticed that the man was completely wet and was infact dripping water on the spotless marble floor. The spotless marble floor that she had finished cleaning 10 minutes ago.
"What do you think you are doing? When you know your clothes are wet why do you walk around my house getting water on everything? Is that how you repay our hospitality? I take you in when you are injured………….get the nearest doctor to your aid……….nurse you back to health………….even try to wake you up by placing you in the bath tub…………..and this is what you do…? Why,why,why, why would you do that jon ,why……………….."
Good bani offence is the best defence, good thinking, she mentally congratulated herself.
Jon was looking at her with a look of utter amazement. Was this woman for real? She had looked normal enough yesterday,if a little short tempered but amazingly beautiful……..Whoa where had that come from this woman may be a lunatic judging by her behavior so far he reminded himself.
"I beg your pardon……………… after your crazy friend hit me with a rolling pin and you had a vet treat me and to top it off tried to drown me in your bath tub I should be apologizing to you. " he said sarcastically.
"Well would you have preferred if I had left you lying in the garden? And about drowning in the bath tub….. I used my best aroma therapy oils and bath salts and bubble bath………how ungrateful can you be?
"Bubble bath……bubble bath……? What am I a sixteen year old girl?"
"that is soooooooooo offensive. To girls and sixteen year olds and to BUBBLE BATH"
" Offensive? Its offensive to me.If the people at the stable come to know about this I will not hear the end of it."
"What people are you talking about? the horses? Considering no human being would like to talk to a person who is so ungrateful and biased"
"noone likes to talk to ME? Well let me inform you that I am a superhero in the horse racing world."
"wow.. but you know for a superhero you are not so much in the strength department.A petite little woman could knock you unconscious''
"oh but I think that was probably because I lost my strength after carrying a woman weighing a TON into the doctors office."
"haaaaaaa that is soooooooooooo not true I just have to lose a couple of pounds to reach my ideal weight.''
"ya a couple of hundred"
"hey would you guys keep it down……..I'm trying to work, I have a deadline to meet" Ana walked in wearing a long butterfly print kaftan which could only be described as ridiculous……..Ana worked as a love adviser / psychic at the local news paper.
"Bani u could help me u know."
Bani turned towards jon " this is not over."
Jon " no it isn't"
As Bani was leaving the room with Ana, Ed came in running looking terrified
"A BODY………….THERE IS A DEAD BODY IN THE GARDEN………WE ARE GOING TO JAIL."
Part 4
Bani, Ana and Jon hurriedly followed Ed to the area behind the house where he had been digging. Bani had been a bit skeptical at first thinking that Ed must have been having another on of his drunken hallucinations but there was indeed a dead body buried in her back yard.
"oh my God…………."said Ana. "The one time that it really matters my psychic power fails me. I had no idea there was a grave on our property."
Jon moved towards the grave " Its not a proper grave. this looks more like someone was trying to hide this body. See he or she is wearing a gold chain."
This caught bani's interest "what kind of person is buried with jewellery?" she joined jon near the grave to get a better look. Suddenly she started screaming "No no it cant be true………it cant be ……..not her………It cant be Pia. " and collapsed right there, Jon barely managing to catch her and prevent her from falling in the grave.
Half an hour later bani and ana's house and grounds were filled with police officers. This was a very quiet and peaceful town and a dead body being found was big news. Many of the towns citizens were also there trying to catch a glimpse of the grave but were stopped at the gate by the police along with the local journalists and the news channel.
Bani was sitting on the couch eating chocholate chip cookie dough with Ana at her side. Though Bani hadn't spoken to her sister in 5 years ana knew that this had to be a big shock for Bani, to find her sisters body buried in her backyard wearing her late mothers chain………..Ana could only imagine……to hell with the calories. Comfort food was the answer.
"Can I get you some of that cheesecake sweety ?" she asked bani.
Before Bani could answer Jon walked in with the police chief.
"I am very sorry for your loss Ms. Dixit but since this is a murder trail I have to question you now. Do you have any idea how your sisters body got here? Or how and when she died ? or who may have killed her?"
Ana looked at him in disbelief "Isnt it your Job to find out all that?"
"Well give me a break. This is my first murder trail. Take it from me this is what will make me a star. i will finally get all the respect and fame I deserve. i will be on Oprah. Well anyway, that's it for now. if you think of anything that might help, call me." With that he left lost in fantasies about being the next James bond.
Jon sat down next to bani and reached for the cookie dough only to have bani pull it out of his reach.
"Come on bani, I haven't eaten a thing in the last 24 hours………"
Bani looked at him seriously "Jon, why are you still here?"
"Well bani…………. Would you believe me if I said that I had fallen in love with you and couldn't leave you alone in your time of grief or need or cookie dough eating or whatever"
"No"
"Ok so my teenaged evil genius cousin is staying with me for the summer and keeps playing all these pranks on me. compared to dealing with him you are………….what can I say…….."
"Alright, so someone has to tell my ex-husband that his wife pia is dead, and since I don't speak to him any more and Ana cant speak to him without insulting him guess who has been elected to tell him……………." Said Bani smiling for the
first time since she found pia buried in her backyard.
Part 5
The police had just taken away Pias body .Since this was a small town, the body had to be sent to the city for an autopsy. Jon had just finished speaking to Jai Walia, Bani's ex- husband who was now married to Pia her sister. Mr. Walia who was apparently some hot shot business tycoon in <ST1:COUNTRY-REGIoN>India</ST1:COUNTRY-REGIoN> had taken the news surprisingly calmly and said he would try to get here by tomorrow.
Jon wondered why he was getting involved, all this had nothing to do with him, when it occurred to him that part of what he had told bani was true. For some reason he couldn't leave her alone to deal with all this, not when the only support she had was that of her delusional roommate Ana who had spent the last hour trying to convince him that their house was haunted by 2 ghosts and she often spoke to both of them.
The sound of excited voices coming from the house drew his attention. He walked in to find Ana with his cousin Tonya who was having her palm read. Oh no, what is she doing here. he thought.
"Your lines say that you will soon be married or that you will meet an untimely death by eating poisoned human flesh….." Ana was saying.
"Oh my God, you are really good at this. I am getting married next week. oh wow……..this is like soooooooooooooooo coooooooooooooool…………."
She noticed jon standing by the door and ran up to him.
"Did you hear that…….? You should get your palm read too. Ana is really very good."
Jon rolled his eyes "Yes I can see that. What are you doing here tonya?"
"My rotten brother blew up your kitchen trying to make some kind of a water bomb. I cant stay under the same roof with him, so I thought since you are staying here so could I…….."
"I don't think that's a good idea tonya bani is going through a……"
"ofcourse she can stay" said bani limping towards them. Bani didn't really think she needed another crazy person living with her but she figured if she filled all the rooms with guests she wouldn't have to ask jai to stay here.
Tonya looked at bani giving her the sweetest smile she had. "That is so nice of you………….Oh what happened to your foot."
Before bani could give her the exaggerated version Jon said "One of the horses stepped on it"
"One of Johnnys horses. thats worth a lawsuit."
"what?"
"Come on johnny, you are so rich will you really miss a couple of million?"
Jon just shook his head and left the room and Ana followed saying she really had a deadline to meet.
Tonya on the other hand sat down to chat. "So Bani, Ana's been telling me about your sisters body being found and all that. How long have you been divorced?"
Bani wondered how that was any of her business but said " about 5 years"
"FIVE YEARS!!!!!!!! You have got to be kidding. I have gone through 3 husbands in the last 5 years. What are you waiting for? A woman cant afford to wait around forever. You need to get your act together before gravity starts taking over."
Bani idly wondered why she continued to sit here and listen to this when she could leave.
"Hey" continued Tonya "I could help you find a husband. I'm really good at that sort of thing."
"Thanks for the offer tonya but I think I'd rather find my own husband. Infact I kinda like someone" she said thinking of Abhishek Bachan.
"Please tell me its not Jon."
"Jon?" asked bani regretting not having used him as an excuse to get out of this.
"Yeah, all the women are crazy about him. Its disgusting the way they keep throwing themselves at him."
Bani thought about it.tonya herself had given her a way to get out of her unwanted matchmaking. What man would want to go against the towns richest and most successful man, not to mention his looks, and he would never have to know. besides he owed her for almost breaking her foot. And a few little white lies never hurt anyone.
"I must tell you the truth tonya. I'm no better than the rest of them. I cant help myself .I cant stop myself from liking Jon"
Part 6
The night passes with bani eating her cookie dough in front of the tv watching reruns of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Watching them made her remember all the fun times she had spent with her sisters in Mt. Abu. But strangely she hardly felt any sense of loss. It was like it was a stranger whose body had been found in her backyard. Instead her thoughts wandered to Jon.
His good looks, his sensitivity……… "Don't even think about it" she told herself and went to sleep.
The next morning Bani woke early and got dressed in a sparkling white saree which made her look like she had stepped out straight from an ad of tide.
Ana was coming out of her room as bani reached the stairs.
"My my whats with the Snow white outfit? Should I be on the lookout for 7 little people?''
"ha ha very funny but as you would remember that yesterday I found out that my sister died and its quite shocking that after watching so many hindi movies and soaps you don't know that when someone dies you have to wear only white ……..and even if I do say so myself white make me look like an angel"
"of death?" enquired jon who was sitting on the couch with a box of chocolate doughnuts and juice.
"ya and I am here to take your soul…………..and your doughnuts" said bani trying to grab a doughnut with sprinkles only to have jon move it out of her reach.
"I don't think u should have this"
"ahan and why is that?"
"cuz they say ' 2 minutes of taste forever on the waist' besides u are not getting any younger infact I think those are dark circles under your eyes."
"well I think that u should know that these dark circles are a result of me crying all night"
"crying watching friends? I thought friends was suppose to be funny………..oh u must still be mouning the end of the series"
"I was not watching friends"
jon gives her a 'yeah right ' look.
"ok fine I was but y were u spying on me?
" will u believe me if I say that I am so crazy about u that I am stalking u?"
"oh no not another stalker."
"don't tell me you have stalkers"
"I will if u give me a doughnut"
"didn't I tell u 2 minutes of taste forever on the waist' these are not for you maybe you should try fruit and cereal."
"oh just shut up, I don't need that kind of talk in my house……….u know its is good manners to share"
jon laughs a little " look whose talking miss I –wont- share-my-cookie-dough"
"oh so u are trying to get revenge?"
';u may say so"
"well u are not good at it" saying this BAni tries to grab the doughnut box while jon catches the other side and pulls the doughnut box in a tug of war.
As they are fighting one of the two doughnuts falls on Banis saree .
"aaaaaaa ……………u moron u spoiled my manish malhotra saree."
"Manish Malhotra wears sarees? "he was beginning to enjoy this.
"I will pretend I didn't hear that "
Jon trying to control his laughter "seems like I get the last doughnut as u have to go and change"
Jon is about to raise the last donut to his mouth when bani jumps up on the couch and grabs Jon's hand with one hand and pulling his hair with another.
"That is mine Lockhart, I wont let you have it."
Jon tries to free himself and in the confusion the doughnut falls from his hand. Bani and Jon look at the precious doughnut falling to the floor in slow motion, but just as it is about to hit the ground a strong masculine hand catches it and takes an appreciative bite.
Part 7
Bani and Jon looked towards the now lost doughnut in shocked silence. Bani would have lost her balance if Jon hadn't held her. She knew she would have to face jai sometime soon but hadnt expected him to get here this early. When she finally managed to get herself to speak she said,
"Mr. Walia, aap yahaan kya kar rahein hain?"
"And hello to u too bani. Kaisi ho?"
"I think aap mujhse ye poochne ka haq 5 saal pehl kho chuke hain."
Jai looked at Bani. She looked good in a chocolate stained white saree. Healthy and happy, and in the arms of some strange man.
''And who are you?" jai asked the man who was a little too good looking for jai's liking and a little too close to his wife for his comfort. It was strange that even after all these years he still thought of Bani as his wife.
"I'm Jonathan Lockhart. I'm the one who spoke to you on the phone yesterday. So where are bani's kids? I'm looking forward to meeting them."
"Who are you again? And why are you here at 7 in the morning." Jai asked.
I cant believe this thought bani. If I didn't know better I would think he was jealous. But no, that wasn't possible. Mr. Walia was in love with pia. She had seen that herself on several occasions. And whatever his reason, she didn't like it that jai was being rude to her guest. But before she could say anything Jon spoke up.
"Oh I stayed over." Jon could sense that there were some unresolved issues between these two, and normally he chose to stay out of such situations. But with this guys attitude he couldn't resist. It was obvious what banis ex-husband was thinking, why not have a bit of fun at his expense, he thought.
"bani and I are very close friends. Arent we sweety?' he said putting his arm around bani.
And this was the moment when Tonya walked in. By the look on her face it was obvious she had heard the last part of the conversation.
"whats going on here?" she asked bani. "bani bani bani, haven't I warned you? Jon is not for you. He's hazardous to women."
She glared at Jon " And you should be ashamed of yourself taking advantage of her. If you keep this up you'll ruin everything. I'm never going to find a husband for her."
This caught Jia's attention." you are looking for a husband?" he asked surprised.
"well shes a single mother with 2 kids to support. she's barely making ends meet.of course shes looking for a husband." Said Tonya.
"But…….." stammered jai shocked.
"Well you couldn't expect me to spend all my life pining for you and mourning the collapse of our marriage now, could you Mr. Walia?"
Jon looked at Bani, "You call your ex-husband Mr. Walia?"
Bani just shrugged. Jai was still reeling from the shock of it all. In the last 5 years he had pictured his reunion with bani countless times. But never in his wildest dreams had he ever imagined that it would be like this. Pia dead, bani with this guy, her friends trying to find men for her to marry. Even bani seemed to have changed a great deal. The old Bani would never have spoken the way she was speaking to people now. Some how he had imagined that they would just get back together and walk into the sunset like one happy family. He was beginning to realize that may be easier said than done.
Jai realized Tonya was still talking, " So how about we have my wedding here and all of my fianc Blecit's single friends will be here and you can choose whoever you want."
"I'm not sure Tonya. Its too soon, I cant plan a wedding in one week"
"Sure you can, they told me you are the best event planner in town."
The sound of police vehicles pulling up in the driveway interrupted the conversation. The police chief entered the house with two officers following him.
"Ms. Dixit, can I have a word with you alone? Its about your sister."
"That's alright Chief, this is jai Walia , the victims husband."
"Ok then, well as you know we had to send the body to the city for an autopsy. The local coroner took it himself.
"OK …….So…………"
"Well you know how we have a lot of pranksters in town……..to cut a long story short…….we kinda lost the body."
Part 8
"LOST THE BODY???? What do you mean you lost it?" asked bani aghast.
The chief looked uncomfortable now." You know Ms. Dixit, this is a small town , we don't have many skilled personnel and the ones that we do have are grossly overworked."
"what does this have to do with it?" asked jai.
"Well they stopped at the multiplex on the way, you know Casino Royale is playing. They thought they'd catch the last show. Anyway we figure that's when the ambulance was stolen."
"You figure?" asked bani expressionless. She didn't know whether to laugh or to cry.
"Yes. But theres no need to worry. We found the ambulance abandoned at a bar 40 miles away. Its only a matter of time before we find the body." He looked at them smiling reassuringly. "Now theres the matter of the murder itself. I need to question you now if that's convinient."
"We're willing to help your investigation anyway we can" said Jai.
"Alright Mr. Walia, how long has your wife been missing?"
"She wasn't exactly missing. She left about 4 years ago leaving this letter" jai handed a letter to the chief.
Dear Mr. Walia,
When I first met you I had never imagined that we would reach a point where I would be writing a letter like this. But here we are .I realize that our actions in Dubai have hurt not only Bani Di but also everyone who is dear to us. I have been selfish in wanting you for myself when you have always belonged with my sister. Not able to live with my guilt anymore I am leaving walia mansion forever, leaving behind memories of all the mistakes that I have made and the people we have both hurt. I hope to be able to make a new beginning in a new place and maybe finally find inner peace and serenity.
If you can, forgive me for ……….everything.
Pia.
Everyone was listening in silence as the chief read the letter. As soon as he had finished reading bani spoke up,
" That doesn't sound like Pia. Peace and forgiveness and guilt………….its just not her scene. Are you sure she wrote that? Is it her hand writing?" she asked Jai.
"Its type written" said the chief " So theres no way to prove whether it was infact Mrs. Walia who wrote this. Now what was this mistake in Dubai and you belonging with her sister?" he asked turning towards Jai.
In short Jai explained what happened in Dubai all those years ago and the events that had followed.
Hearing this Tonya completely freaked out. "You cheated on her? With her own sister? What were you thinking? Any man in his right mind would jump for joy if he had bani for his wife. Look at her she's beautiful and smart and in excellent health except the yucky color of her foot that the horse broke. I have 3 men who are willing to marry her sight unseen."
The chief felt he had to speak up in jais defence " From what I've heard it sounds like they were on a break"
"What?" burst out bani
"The man does have a point" Jai put in.
"You expect to be absolved of all guilt because of a technicality? Who do you think we are Ross and Rachel?" Bani was beginning to get angry now.
"You really have to stop watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Bani" said Jon smiling at her.
Bani picked up a Vase and would have hit Jon with it if the chief hadn't interrupted.
"So that means Both Ms.Dixit and Mr. Walia had reason to kill Pia."
"So what I'm a suspect now, you're planning to arrest me?" asked bani even more angry.
"No, but I'll have to ask all of you not to leave town. I have to be going now but I'll let you know once we find the body." and saying that he took his leave.
Bani turned to jai "I cant believe you bought that letter, when have you known Pia to ever feel guilty or make a sacrifice. What would she want with inner peace? She dreamed of being a supermodel not the Dalai lama. That had to have been a cover-up for something, how could you not have known?''
Part 9
Bani turned her car into her driveway, returning from Jon's place. She had been spending most of her time there. Though she hadn't intended to agree to plan Tonya's wedding at first, she realized that she needed the distraction, besides she was no Jai Walia financially. She couldn't afford to turn away work which would pay thousands. After much debate it was decided the wedding would not be held at bani's house like the bride wanted, but at Jons. Besides she felt she had to get away from jai for a while. She didn't want to risk her feelings for him coming back.
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Jon who was sitting in the passenger seat.
"Talk about what?"
"Your unfaithful ex-husband, your back-stabbing sister, ………………."
"Its not as bad as it sounded." She didn't know why she felt the need to defend jai. Jon wasn't saying anything that she herself hadn't thought a million times before. She decided it was best to change the subject.
"You didn't have to come with me, you know."
"And left you alone to face my bratty cousin? No way……… you have to watch out for him, Cant say what he'll do next."
"He's not that bad." defended Bani.
Bani had met the legendary bratty cousin, Luke, 2 days ago when she had first gone to Jon's place to start planning the wedding and the two of them had found that they had a lot in common. From similar taste in music to dislike for horses. And they were good friends now.
She had spoken to the police chief again yesterday and found out that they had no leads, she was still their top suspect, until they found the body there was no way of proving that Bani had been here when Pia died and that seemed all that was keeping the cops from arresting her. Bani had decided to start looking for clues herself, with the help of her new genius friend Luke.
They had hacked into the airlines computer and found out that Pia had flown into town 3 years ago. If so why hadn't she contacted bani? She had so many questions………
As Bani and Jon entered the house they saw Tonya and Ana deep in discussion. They saw bani enter the room and rushed to her.
"what happened?'' asked bani.
"We've been thinking" said Tonya.
"Always a dangerous thing….." put in Jon.
Tonya ignored him. "Anyway, you know how you've been stressed out since your selfish sister went and got murdered?"
Ana jumped in " We've decided you need to take your mind off this. So………….look what we brought for you?"
They pushed her towards the sitting room. There on the couch was a young boy of about 16. Dressed in a suit and carrying a bouquet of red roses he looked as if he was on his way to the prom.
"Ethan, say hi to bani." Said Ana pushing a dazed bani further into the room.
Ethan came forward and handed bani the roses. He took bani's hand and kissed it gallantly. " It is so nice to finally meet you bani. Tonya and ana have been telling me about you all day and after meeting you I am even more sure that you and I will make a terrific couple."
Ana looked at bani expectantly "You do like him don't you? He is the captain of the baseball team. Isnt he yummy?"
"Yummy? Are you serious? What is he……Ice cream? He looks like he is 16." Said bani appalled.
" Excuse me he is 18. And not to mention rich. He is the sole heir to a toilet paper fortune. And besides you should be glad he is so young. Atleast he wont die on you. One of my husbands did and let me tell you planning a funeral is no fun." Said Tonya not caring that poor Ethan was listening to all this.
"She's right. Besides white is so not your color, bani." Said Jon who had been standing in the doorway listening to all this.
Bani decided to ignore him for now. She turned to Ethan and smiled sweetly
" Look I'm sure you are a very nice person and though it breaks my heart I will have to pass up this opportunity. Maybe if you were 10 years older or if I was 10 years younger."
Ethan looked dejected "Not again……..now where will I find another date for the dance at such short notice?" He looked at bani " If you ever change your mind or run out of toilet paper, give me a call." saying that he left.
Bani turned around to go to her room only to be confronted by jai walia standing right in front of her.
Part 10
Bani turned around only to be confronted by jai walia standing right in front of her.
"Cradle robbing Bani? " he said with a smirk. "That kid must be young enough to be your….."
" Do not say son….. Don't you dare say son, and besides Mr. walia its nothing you haven't done ………twice………" she said as she started to walk away.
Jai was taken aback, he had only been teasing bani, he had never expected her to react this way. He realized that she was under a lot of stress but the bani he knew wouldn't talk like this to anyone.
"What is wrong with you Bani? Har kisi ko kat khane ke liye daud rahi ho…"
By now bani was starting to feel guilty. Jai was not responsible for her problems, alright maybe he was partly responsible but that didn't mean she should talk to him like that.
"I'm sorry Mr. walia, I should'nt talk to you like that. Its not your fault and I'm not Pia afterall." She said and continued towards the stairs. It was a low blow but for some reason she couldn't resist.
Bani went up to her room and was walking towards the closet when she saw the writing on the mirror.
"For those who want the truth revealed,
open locked doors and secrets unsealed.
For if the book is not unwrapped
Your lives forever will be trapped"
"ANA………TONYA…… come up here right now." Bani screamed.
They all came rushing up. " Alright which one of you thought it was funny to ruin my Burgundy kiss lipstick?"
"We didn't do it bani, we were out all day trying to find you a husband" Said tonya wounded.
I'm doing it again, thought Bani. Its not her fault. "I'm sorry tonya but someone had to have written this."
"Maybe it's a clue" said Ana excited.
"From whom?" asked jai.
"Well it could be from Melinda."
Jai looked at her as if she had lost it "I'm afraid to ask but who is that."
Ana gave him a what-planet-do-u-live-on look." Duh……shes the spirit who lives here………."
"Not again ………" said bani under her breath.
"Come on people, think about it. Melinda may be the only one who saw the person who buried Pia if not killed her. I think this deserves some investigation."
"Sure, if Melinda existed that would have been perfect" said jai.
"Ofcourse she exists………..she was the last of the witches who lived here."
Jai rolled his eyes and left saying he had to call his office.
Tonya, who was more open minded about these things moved towards the mirror.
"So what do you think this means? Open locked doors………………. Do you have any locked doors"
"It could be a metaphor………." Said bani getting drawn into the discussion. " Now that I think of it the attic door is always locked.I wonder whats in there"
"It could mean the attic………Lets break the lock." Said tonya.
"Come on guys this is probably just a prank." reasoned bani.
"But what if its not. What if we can find something in the attic." pleaded Ana.
Against her better judgment Bani had agreed to go up to the attic and look for clues. Jai had gone with Jon to the stable saying he needed exercise. So it was up to the three girls to open the lock to the attic. After trying for an hour with credit cards and nail files, Bani decided it was time to call it quits and call a handyman to change the lock.
As they turned to go back downstairs, a soft creaking noise made them stop.
"What was that?" asked Tonya nervously.
They slowly turned around and saw the attic door swing open-by itself.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Indian Premier League
