The Ultimate Price
Rating : Nothing specific as such. But there maybe a few strong words or dialogues in various parts of the FF.
In my universe, the ONS has happened as you will note from the storyline. But Saahil's death and his son's birth are also all-inclusive to this story. Have used the incidents as per my wish. This is supposed to be a somewhat dark story, so members opposed to the idea may please read at their own discretion. No hate PMs will be entertained.
No infringement intended. The characters, as of now, belong to Balaji Telefilms and have been used by me without permission. But one day, Jai and Bani will be mine. But only for pleasure, no profits intended.
Note : Responses are welcome from all my dear friends and members. Even if it's to say HI!
Part I : Page 1, Part II : Page 5, Parts III & IV : Page 9, Parts V & VI : Page 13, Part VII : Page 20, Part VIII : Page 25, Parts IX, X and Epilogue : Page 28.
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Part I
My life closed twice before its close;
It yet remains to see
If Immortality unveil
A third event to me,
So huge, so hopeless to conceive,
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell
Emily Dickinson
She sat all alone in her bedroom, staring vacantly out at the sky through the window. The palm trees situated just across the window were swaying their heads frivolously from side to side, groaning under the weight of the heavy leaves. Curtains flowing helter-skelter along the window pane escalated the disturbance in her mind. But she couldn't concentrate properly to think about the issue at hand.
Dressed in a cotton salwar, crushed due to negligence and long term usage, her stone white face was expressionless. Only her eyes betrayed her internal feelings – they reflected her fear, loneliness and heart break. She huddled herself into a tight ball, her hands encircling her legs and pulling them closer. Her entire countenance reflected her unkempt status, the jaw line more prominent and haggard and an all-consuming shiver attacking her from time to time.
Rano had been here half an hour ago, trying to get her Di talk, scream, and cry – express whatever emotion was bottled within her. But Bani refused to budge, she carried on her daily activities like an automaton, hardly registering anything, completely oblivious to anything and anybody else.
Only one scene and a few words reverberating through her head.
Mr. Walia bending down to kiss Pia's forehead and screaming at Anupam Kapadia, all the while tears rolling down his cheeks
'You pulled the trigger and killed my baby. Why did you do it? Pia is pregnant with my baby, not yours'.
She saw herself standing there, in front of those people who were trying to fix the parentage of Pia's child, she noted Pia's head on Mr. Walia's lap, who was now perplexed to see her there! She felt tears clouding her eyes but internally she felt empty, as if nothing mattered anymore. The expensive dress and the jewelleries that she was wearing suddenly seemed like a burden to her and she felt like taking them off. Maybe after she reached home.
Home? But where was her home? That place that she had thought it to be so, for the past so many months?
She remembered not wanting to return to Walia Mansion at all.
But she had. To collect a few of her dresses and a few belongings. She had never mattered to the man she had loved, he had always been Pia's.
And this remarriage thing was a sham. She felt a sting at the corner of her eyes.
She remembered returning to Walia Mansion. Everybody had assembled in the Hall and she felt like an exhibit. But she did not care any more. She wanted to get out of there.
She had gone to her room. Her? Her room? No, it had never been hers, she realized. Gingerly opening the door, she went inside and stumbled to the washroom. Mr. Walia's private space, she thought. A few of her belongings were located on the shelves. After a hurried bath, trying to wash away every feeling regarding the man away from her body and soul, she had taken her belongings down and retreated from the bathroom. Mr. Walia's private space, she recalled and shivered.
She had placed all her valuable jewelleries and the engagement ring inside the locker box of the almirah and then packed a few dresses and necessities into a bag and proceeded downwards. Only to be stopped by Maasi. She vaguely remembered Maasi saying something about that she shouldn't leave the WM because it wasn't her fault and that she would punish Munna for doing all these to her. She remembered vaguely Mr. Walia returning while Maasi was trying to coax her not to leave, Maasi behaving vehemently with Mr. Walia, performing his last rites and throwing him out. She had not known whether Maasi was doing right or not, but she wanted her to stop. She remembered the door closing on Mr. Walia's surprised and shell-shocked face but she wasn't watching either. She just felt a pain in the place where her heart was. Is the heart located here? She found herself thinking.
She never knew how Maasi managed to cajole her but very soon, she was back to Mr. Walia's room, staring at the petal-strewn bed. After the remarriage, it was supposed to hold witness o their first wedding night. She remembered her picking up a few rose petals, crushing them and then allowing them to fall freely from her hand down onto the bed.
Rano had come in and had tried to make her cry by telling her repeatedly that she had been cheated by the two most important and loved person of her worthless life. She wanted to believe Rano, but her heart refused to do so. She wanted to die but she could not somehow.
Maybe I have never been strong enough, she thought.
It has been five days now, she had not even left the room, nor walked into the sunlight. She didn't want anything, she just wanted to sit there forever, staring at the night sky all night, and snatching sleep during daytime. She hated light.
………..
Jai Walia entered his house confidently. He had come to meet his wife and have a few words with her. He had heard that she was not responding to anyone or anything at all. But he had to meet her, speak to her and make her understand things. The truth could no longer be avoided. He knew he would have to bear the sharp barbs of others, but he was ready to give them back if they even ventured to cross paths with him.
Maasi was offering evening prayers to the Shri Ganeshji when Jai entered. Maasi had not seen him initially, but as he placed his step on the staircase, Maasi noticed him. The sadness that clouded her heart was replaced instantly by a blind rage and she shouted at him. A surprised Jai turned back towards her.
'Didn't I tell you no to return back to this house again? Or has your brain lost the power to process anymore, just like your character? You are dead for all of us here and we don't want you back amongst us. Why have you come back?' Maasi yelled.
Jai's face hardened and his eyes blackened imperceptibly at Maasi's tirade. He was in a very angry mood and anger radiated from his persona in all directions. Maasi took a step backwards.
Jai retorted back 'Please will you shut up for once. The last time I checked this is MY house and all of you residing over here are actually dependent on me. Yes, even for the daily morsel that passes through your mouth.'
Menacingly, he walked towards the centre of the Hall and looked at everybody with pure hatred in his eyes,
'And I have come back to stay over here. If any of you have any problems with that, you are free to leave and I will not hold any of you back. In fact, I think that will be a welcome relief.'
The slaps that his words delivered was clearly visible on everybody's face. Slowly they left the Hall, with their heads hanging down. Only Maasi and Jigyaasa were left.
Jigyaasa started moving towards Jai 'Bhai, that's what I was trying …'
Her words were cut off in mid air as Jai lifted his hand and stopped her
'Stop it Jigyaasa. Tell me one thing, when have I treated you and your kids badly? You have always hurt me and I have always overlooked your actions, simply because you are my sister.
But enough's enough. I think you should also go with Ranveer and others. I need complete silence and peace in this house for my wife.'
A red-faced Jigyaasa hurried away towards her room.
Jai now turned towards Maasi and said 'I want you to leave too.'
Looking at Maasi's surprised face, he continued
'Yes, you heard me correctly. There's nothing for you here. I have always respected you as my Mother but the bond has broken this time. I don't need any of you here. I can manage on my own.'
And as Maasi turned away from him, Jai Walia concluded
'Please don't return until and unless you are specifically requested to do so.'
Throwing a foreboding look towards Maasi, he clicked his heels and climbed the staircase. Bani needed to be efficiently handled now.
Rano will have to wait for time being.
………
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