This is for my friends who threatened to make me kheema, threatened me with belans, chappals, guns and Karate kicks and with threats of making me a Bhoot. Also to my friend 'K' who sends me PMs and sets me straight.
Luv,-- SR
Link to the parts 1 through 18
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kasamh-se/546789/candle-in-the-wind-note-pg160-new-thread Part 19
The Rock
By Ruby Khalsa
Time has the power to heal all wounds,
But the power of forgiveness is beyond time;
Moving the rock that is in your heart,
The spirit of light will raise you up.
The answers are found already in your heart,
And you have the power to move that rock;
The dejection clearly showed in his drooped shoulders as he stood on the surround deck outside the patio doors. He stared at his dark shadow cast on the bi-level wooden deck splintered in two by the moonlight. He didnt turn when another shadow came and joined him.
Jai, kya baat hai? Adis voice sounded disjointed to his ears.Jai didnt turn and stayed facing the garden. His hands gripped the redwood deck posts, his knuckles showing whitely.
Adity, why do you always indulge Jigyasa and give in to her tantrums? If he meant to throw off Adi with his question, he succeeded. A silence ensued until Jai turned abruptly to look at Adi. He could see Adi was struggling for a response.
You think I am a weak man because I am always around her? the question was posed back to him cynically. I wondered what makes you take the abuse she sends your way Jais toneless answer didnt surprise him.
Jai, I am not a masochist, if thats what you you are thinking! Adi responded with dignity. You dont know the real circumstances of my marriage to Jigyasa, she was really young and we made some mistakes earlier on - I should have known better, I was older, I blame myself for not being able to control what I felt for her.
Jai stared at him expressionlessly. You got her pregnant? Jai suspected it for a while.Adi's laugh was brittle. Yes, I dont ever regret Ranveer coming into this world and the fact that I had to marry Jigyasa, but she was too young, a teenager, only 4-5 years older than you, we got married and we had two more children before she was 21. I felt that I never let her grow up. Suddenly Adi looked older and different than his normal self.Jai, I love your sister very much, with all her faults and all her shenanigans. We have three kids together, for their sake, for my own sanity, I want to be around her! Trust me Jai, it takes a strong man to accept that you love some one and to stand by them.
Adi turned to go.Jai, what your dad did to your mom was..." Adi paused to search for the right words. Wrong He finished the sentence not finding a good enough adjective.
Lets call a spade, a spade! Adity, what he committed was infidelity, a betrayal of his wedding vows. What he told us, over and over again were lies, all those days when we waited for him to show up on our birthdays and school events", Jai uttered the words without passion and anger. His face was devoid of emotions and feelings. My mother waited, day after day, night after night for him to show up, to share a dinner, take a stroll in the garden" He combed his fingers through his raven hair that glistened darkly under the lights.
Jai, listen to me, this is not the occasion to remember all those things, you have a beautiful fiancee waiting for you, she is in love with you, make her happy Adi came to stand close to Jai and placed a hand on his shoulder. I am not so sure about that anymore! he muttered, his voice barely audible. He told him about the accident and Banis reaction to it. Adis sigh made Jai flinch sharply. He laughed without humor. I guess she is not as forgiving as you are, my friend he removed Adis hand from his shoulder. I guess I am not as lucky as my sister is! He turned on his heel and went inside.
Unbeknownst to them, two teenagers who came out to call Jai inside were privy to the conversation that transpired. The unveiling of the two very different truths affected each of them similarly. The shock and trauma made both of them standstill in the shadows as the older men left the deck. Both swallowed hard and as the tears threatened to spill over, they went their separate ways, not wanting to share the unbearable pain in their hearts with each other.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
The dark circles around her eyes reflected the bruises in her heart. Her mind was reasoning over and over again that it was not his fault. A war raged in her mind; who was she? The daughter of a woman whose death occurred in the hands of a man she loved or the betrothed of a man whose hands were bloodied unknowingly by a sick woman? Her sense of fairness told her to forgive him and accept him but she didnt know whether it was her decision alone or a collective decision by her siblings.
Di? Bani looked up guiltily when Rano came in to the room.Rano, I was just going to come downstairs! She made a frail attempt to smile, but her lips were frozen stiff.
Di, if you love him, marry him, dont punish yourself and him for something he didnt do Rano smiled wanly. Bani didnt question how she knew about her mothers death.
The sisters hugged each other; no words were spoken for a long time. When they separated finally, Bani asked, What about Pia? Bani touched her engagement ring and moved it around her finger nervously, needing to feel the security of the ring around her finger badly.What about her? I will tell her, when she stops flirting with all the men downstairs. Rano laughed half-angrily and brushed it aside.
+++++++++
He towered over the group of men standing by the bar, the jacket he wore stretched snugly around his massive shoulders as he toyed with the glass in his hand, the hair at the nape of his neck curled slightly, indicating he needed a haircut. His eyes stared vacantly at the amber liquid in his glass, the sought after Blue Label whiskey, he supposed.
A prick of sensation made him turn slowly in the direction of the stairs. He saw her standing on the curved staircase, behind the intricately patterned balustrade made with cast iron, gilded in copper and dark green shades. The message conveyed between them was simple and straightforward, it was a message of apology, acceptance and forgiveness.He crossed the hall to where a grand piano was sitting elegantly. The dark wood gleamed and shone under the schoenbek chandelier. He reached behind the Piano and retrieved a violin case that was hung on the wall.He placed the case on the Piano and opened the case carefully. The violin in the case was crafted by a famous Italian luthier family. A Name that was easily recognizable in the musical circles, Stradivari. It costed an arm and leg but it was something he treasured deeply, right along with his dual engine Cessna and his Bugatti bike.
He was sure he had enough money to last a few generations, but he hoped that he would pass on his Stradivari violin to his offspring one day.Every time he looked at the violin, he was awed by it's perfection, the minute details that went into its construction, the maple neck, the rosewood backs, the chinrest, the bows, the strings that were made with catgut, unconsciously he caressed the strings, his fingers smoothing over them sensuously.
Something in that caress made Bani's legs turn into jelly, she clutched at the banister for support.He stood in an open stance, his trousers stretching across his taut thigh muscles. The highly polished ebony Botticelli shoes shone as he put one step forward then the other trying to balance the violin and the bow before he settled his violin.
He held the violin with the left side of the jaw resting on the chinrest of the violin, and supported it by the left shoulder. Unfortunately, this was harder for him because he was a lefthander, a southpaw. His teacher on the other hand, was a righthander, belonging to an older generation who insisted he learn the violin with this right hand. He supposed that he was ambidextrous because he picked it up quite well.
As the silence fell in the room, he looked up into the dark liquid eyes that seemed to have forgotten how to blink. A slow, sensuous smile spread on his face as he read the intense desire written plainly on her face.He picked a Mendelssohn violin concerto, in e-minor flat, one of his favorites. The piece started with a youthful melody thats upbeat but ended with a continuous and uninterrupted crescendo with an intense energy.
Bani walked in a daze and reached him, to where he was standing, and sat on the sitting stool near the grand piano. Her gazelle like neck stretched to look at him, his eyes were closed as the music reached its zenith, the rhythm culminating in a climax that left the audience entranced and craving for more. The performance was moving and memorable.
When he opened his eyes, they landed on her upturned face, a sizzling passion lit in their depths, searing her in an inferno that blazed like a bonfire on a wintry night.He placed the guitar and the bow in its case and carried it with him in one hand while he tucked her hand into his. He wasnt sure what he said to Maasi, but he hoped it was something sensible.
Adi looked at them with a smile on his face, he hoped that his brother-in-law holds on to this fairy creature with his firm hands and doesnt let her slip away.Adi sat on the piano stool and started playing a light-hearted piece by Mozart, an angelic, otherworldly and divine inspiration that was more to his liking than the dark music preferred by Jai and Ranveer.
As he finished with his rendering, he spotted Ranveer and invited him to join him on the stool. If Adi noticed the redness in Ranveers eyes, he didnt talk about it.Ranveer chose a Beethovens piece and rendered it utterly beautiful. The soulfulness of the rhapsody contained angst, fear, human struggle and was triumphant in suffering and humanity. When the performance was over, Adi placed a hand on Ranveer and squeezed it. Unconsciously, the boy turned his palm and squeezed it back. The bonding they shared as a father and son was the first in a long time.
Dadi insisted that Anu play some light Hindi and Punjabi music, much to the amusement of the partygoers, and disgust of Jigyasa.
++++++++++++++++++
Jai and Bani stopped in to the master bedroom - they both didnt know the rules of making-up and the awkwardness stretched uncomfortably.
Mr. Walia
Bani
They both talked simultaneously.
My flight is in two hours, I have to pack my clothes still, God, I wish Tony was here, I dont know where anything is. He looked slightly lost. He took out the red cap from his back pocket and put it on his head. He leaned the violin case against the large armoire and brought out a suitcase to pack his clothing. He scratched his head to figure out what needed for the next six days.
I can help you pack! She offered shyly. He looked relieved that she could help, he accepted with alacrity. He sat on the bed and removed his shoulders and then lied down on bed facing down. He cradled his chin in his hands and looked at her smilingly.
OK, go ahead, make my day! He winked at her while she blushed.The duvet on the bed was made with mocha colored silk with dark brown motifs. There were two masculine bed pillows in the same shades and two throw pillows. At the foot was a foot chest that contained more pillows. The bed room was sparsely furnished. The walls were the same color of the duvet with black and white portraits by famous artistes. There was spotlighting on the portraits, softly illuminating them with a glow.
She asked him what he wanted packed, making a quick list of things, she packed couple of business suits, sweaters, a few shirts and dress trousers, a pair of brown shoes, a pair of black shoes, sneakers and bathroom slippers. She packed the socks next, rolling them neatly and placing them in the spaces in between.
He went into the bathroom and grabbed his personal grooming equipment like razor, comb, cologne, toothpaste and brush, stuffed them into a vanity bag and handed it to her. He went back to the bed, and lied down in his previous position. When she was about to close the bag, he got up and walked to the chest of drawers next to his bed. He opened it and brought a handful of underclothes and gave them to her to put it inside the bag, she could see him grinning ear to ear when she gingerly touched them and dropped them into the suitcase as if they scalded her.
You have to get used to touching them, you know? his droll tone deliberately making her feel uncomfortable.In fact, I dont mind packing your underclothes, I wonder what kind you wear? he needled her again.She threw the towel she was holding at him. He removed the towel from his face and pulled her into his arms.
I love it when you are so shy, it gives me a high
Jai whispered in her ear.
You are talking as if I am a drug Bani tried to push him away unsuccessfully.
You are, a very intoxicating one at that, you get into my blood He leaned forward to place a delicate kiss on the corner of her mouth.
Mr. Walia, you need to check in two hours before your international flight, you need to leave, otherwise you will be late Bani pushed at him again.
Bani, you are acting like you are already my wife Jai sulked.I am not! If I am, I would be kissing you, not pushing you away Bani was embarrassed after she blurted it out.
I will be gone for six days, I need you to remind me that you are going to be my wife he pulled her on to him and angled her so that he could ravish her mouth. His mouth tasted of the smooth whiskey he had earlier in the night, He revisited her mouth again and again to draw the very essence of her.
You remind me of the spring tiger lily, vibrant and exquisite
I do? Her voice descended to a whisper.
Yes, you do, I wish I had more time to show you how much I will miss you He whispered unsteadily. His hands rested on her small waist and pulled her until she felt his shudders.
I have to go! he gently put her aside as his alarm on the cell phone beeped.
Behave your self, would you? the soft command was cloaked with immense affection.
Part 20:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=21
Part 21A:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=27
Part 21B:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=27
Part 22:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=33
Part 23:https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=38
Part 24A:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=4 4
Part 24B and 24 C:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=49
Part 25:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=56
Part 26:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=63
Part 27:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=67
Part 28:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=73
Part 29:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=77
Part 30A:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=81
Part 30B:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=85
Part 31:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=90
Part 32:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=95
Part 33:
https://www.india-forums.com/edit_post.asp?PID=10813777&T PN=99
Part 34:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=104
Part 35:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=110
Part 36:
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=115
Part 37A
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=120
Part 37B
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=126
Part 37C
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=134
Part 37D
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=139
Part 38
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=585083&T PN=144
Part 39
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=669844&T PN=1