The analogy of a candle in the wind comes to mind when you think of Jai and Banis love; Fragile, sensitive to the surroundings, selflessly immolating self to give light to others. When you place a candle in the wind, the candlelight might not survive unless there is protection against the wind. Will the candle of their love be protected against time, blowing gusts of wind, rain and the elements?
Is their romance going to be a tale of Catherine and Heathcliff in Brontes Wuthering heights? Will their all-encompassing love for one another, and unresolved passion eventually destroy them both or can it be sheltered and preserved in spite of pressures and circumstances they face?
Without further adohere is the first chapter!!
Year 1987
Jai didnt want to go with Udai Walia on the horse buying expedition, he missed Heera, his first thoroughbred chestnut, and he didnt want to replace it.
Jai still remembered the day he went with his grandfather Rajat Walia to buy Heera. He was seven years old, and so excited that he couldnt eat his breakfast and for the first time argued with his mother about not taking Jigyasa who wanted to tag along with him.
He loved his Dadaji, his grandfather, who doted on him and treated him like a friend instead of a grandkid. While his dad was more like a stiff upper-lipped English gentleman, who dressed immaculately and frowned on loud talk and uncouth manners, his Dadaji was like a great teddy bear, with a loud booming voice and a great sense of humor. He laughed easily, loved easily and lived without a worry in his life. He was over six feet tall, a big man with a big appetite and equally big heart. He laughingly told Jai once that his son Udai was probably switched during the birth my mistake. Jai lost the only male influence in his life at the age of eleven when Dadu died in a car accident. His non-existent relationship with his father deteriorated when his dad didnt show up for his own fathers funeral because of a state dinner in Delhi.
He remembered fondly of how Dadaji put him on a pony as he discussed with the stable owner, the kind of horse to buy for Jai. Jai listened as the trainer talked about the height of the horse, the breed of the horse, the type of activity Jai would be doing on it, whether the colors of the horse meant anything. The trainer told Jai he should start with hunt seat first and then move on to English equitation. He said that since Jai was probably going to be tall like his grandfather, he suggested that they buy a horse that was at least 15 hands tall (The horses are measured by hands and a hand was four inches), probably a thoroughbred with a little bit of spirit.
Jai fell in love with the chestnut colt grazing on the green grass outside the barn, the horse had long legs and stared back with limpid brown eyes when they approached him. The boy and the horse took to each other instantly.
It was Heera who helped him get over his grandfathers death, the long rides calming Jai as he tried to gather his bearings.
That was seven years ago, now he was eighteen, old enough to choose his own horse without his overbearing dad looking over his shoulder. He had his own trust fund left by his grand father, he didnt need his father to hold his hand at this late age. He hated Udai Walia with all his guts when he found out about the many mistresses he had and how he made his mother suffer with his innumerous adulterous affairs. He hated it when Udai Walia made him go to the boarding school in Bangalore. He wanted to be there for his mother in her need and tried to get expelled from the school many times, acting out in the school and getting into trouble. Finally his mother made him promise that he will stay at the school to finish his board exams with tears and blackmail.
He saw his mom wasting away for the last five years, he wanted her to leave his dad and move far away but his mother refused to do it. He promised himself that he would never marry and put any woman in a similar situation.
Jai came back to earth as the horse in front of him whinnied and moved restlessly. He was about 16 hands tall, dark as ebony, his coat gleaming in the sunlight. He wasnt the prettiest horse in the stables, may be even not the most elegant, but it looked fast and dangerous. Jai looked up into the Arabian Stallions eyes, that was a mistake, Jai knew better than that, he was told many times by the trainer not to stare into any new horses eyes until the horse accepted him completely. The horse whinnied again, raising the front legs high as if he wanted to squash Jai. Udai Walia didnt like the horse one bit, it scared him. He was asking the trainer about a tamer looking mare inside the barn when Jai interrupted harshly.
I like this one, if I dont get this, I dont want to get anything It was a statement, not a request.
Udai Walia assessed his son critically, the boy was turning into a disobedient and rebellious teenager who spelt trouble. Physically Jai looked so much like Rajat Walia, his old man, tall, well built with dark eyes and arresting good looks. Jais temperament was dark, brooding and closed while his fathers was completely the opposite. Udai saw how the society ladies glanced at the boy secretively. The craggy features, the shapely eyebrows, the aquiline nose and the thin upper lip curved
Sensually over a full lower lip, the haughty demeanor belied the true age of Jai. The boy looked more mature than eighteen. He was going to be an eye candy for the women in a few years.
Udai needed to pacify Jai before he told him about Nachiketh and Bernali. Bernali was giving him a hard time to leave Krishna and marry her. He had no intention of marrying her but he wanted to accept the responsibility of his illegitimate child. He didnt know how Jai would react to this news, so before he broke out the news, he wanted to get into the good books of his eldest son. He knew he could handle Jigyasa but he didnt know how to handle his son, who right now seemed harsh, remote and completely like a stranger.
Udai turned his attention to the stable owner one more time.
Mr. Singhania, what do you think? Do you think Jai can handle this horse? Udai Walia sounded doubtful.
Mr. Walia, dont worry, I have seen Jai riding many times, he has been a regular visitor here for the last ten years, he is a great rider, he has won many trophies in various Equestrian events, I think Jugnu will be a perfect companion for him, he needs a spirited horse and a good breed. Jagjith Singhania looked at Jai and winked. Jai liked the horse's name, Jugnu, the eagle - the predator of the skies, soaring high in the air, faster than the wind!!
Jai curled his upper lip cynically as he caught the surprised look on his fathers face. His dad probably didnt even know what his son's age was or that he passed his twelfth grade this summer and he had applied to Stanford and was accepted. It was only his mom, Krishnas insistence that made him accept the admission because he didnt relish leaving his mother alone. This was his last summer in the Cottonwood stables. He had been a regular visitor here along with his mother and sister. He helped Mr. Singhania in the stables, cleaning and caring for the horses and taught the younger children how to ride. He briefly debated the idea of owning the horse before he went to the university in US, but he felt possessive about Jugnu, it was going to be his and his alone!!
He participated in the dressage events in the summer winning many trophies. (Dressage tests the horse's physical ability, suppleness, responsiveness, balance and obedience - where horse and rider should seem as one as they perform a series of complex movements. Dressage can be likened to gymnastics or dance on horseback. During a Dressage competition the horse is scored on its impulsion, regularity of paces and freedom of movement, responsiveness and willingness, balance and correct performance of the movements, whilst the rider is scored on their position and correctness and effectiveness of aids.
There are various levels of Dressage competition from Preliminary where the horse is required to perform walk, trot and canter, circles and turns to Grand Prix requiring more advanced and complex dressage movements from the horse and rider such as piaffe (trotting on the spot) and canter pirouttes where the horse turns on its hindquarters whilst in canter.)
Mr. Singhania was a friend of his grandfather and taught Jai how to ride personally. He bred horses and owned several race horses that were Arabian thoroughbreds. The famous Jockey Sunny D'Silva rode for Mr. Singhania and won many races.
Mr. Singhania had only one daughter. Kiran Singhania was a good friend of his mother. She had eloped with a Nishikant Dixit eight years ago, her father never forgave her for it. The gossip was she had three lovely girls, and that her husband was a middle class accountant who lived in Mt. Abu. He overheard his mother whispering to one of her friends of how Kiran contracted Hodgkins Lymphoma and would not survive beyond five more years.
Jai returned back to the conversation that Udai and Mr. Singhania were having about the price of the horse and the caretaking aspects when Jai was at school.
Jai figured it was time to tell his father about his admission into Stanford University.
As he opened his mouth to tell him, he heard a commotion from the pen where Jugnu was kept. He saw a little boy, with a riding habit, a close fitting cap sitting atop and trying to control the animal which was frothing at the mouth and trying to throw the boy off of his back.
He ran swiftly and leaped over the fence and grabbed the reins. As the horse stood tall on his hind legs, the boy clung to the mane with all his might, Jai quickly held the neck of the stallion and put his leg in the stirrup and launched himself behind the boy. As he controlled the horse with skill and strength, the little boy seemed equally in control; he remained calm as he caressed the animal with his smooth caresses and gentle talk.
As Jagjith Singhania and the stable hands approached them, the horse was calm again and Jai along with the boy dismounted the horse. The boy threw a distasteful look at Jai as if he was the reason behind Jugnu's resistance.
BD, I told you to ride any horse except this one, you disobeyed me deliberately A good jockey listens to the teacher, if you keep this up, I am going to tell your parents that I cant teach you anymore Sunny DSilva yelled at the boy in a harsh tone.
But Sunny Uncle, you know I am good, I have been taking care of Jugnu since last month. He lets me brush him and feed him BD spoke quietly and defensively. BD threw another angry look at Jai who was now holding Jugnu still.
Jai wanted to take the boy and paddle him on his backside, he couldnt have been more than seven or eight years, his smooth cheeks and curling lashes made him look more like a girl than a boy. He controlled himself barely, the pulse in his cheek twitched as he stared at the boy. The audacity of the boy amazed him, he was barely five feet tall mounting a horse that was completely out of his league and defending his actions.
Sunny spoke apologetically to Jagjith and the rest of the audience.
Sir, this wont happen again, BD is my friends child, and I was training BD to be a jockey like me. BDs mother and I are childhood friends and she left BD for the summer with my wife and I because of some health problems. Sir, I will make sure that BD wont come near the stallion again Sunny grabbed BDs hand and led the child away but not before Jai caught the look of belligerence in the kids eyes.
Please post you thoughts and reactions to this FF. I would love to see your comments,
Part 2: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=5
Part 3:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=10
Part 4:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=18
Part 5:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=23
Part 6:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=28
Part 7:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=34
PART 7B: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=39
Part 8:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=48
Part 9:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=54
Part 10: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=60
Part 11: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=63
Part 12: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=68
Part 13: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=80
Part 14:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=87
Part 15:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=96
Part 15B: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=100
Part 16:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=113
Part 17:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=126
Part 18: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=546789&T PN=140
Part 19:https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/585083/candle-in-the-wind-note-pg-151-07-09
Part 20:
Web Series
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
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Financial markets and global economy
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
