Chapter 14
When Jai took her in his arms, she felt the slight tenderness at the pit of her stomach, but she ignored it. Tonight was not the night to feel anything but her husbands hands holding her possessively.
Allowing the fire of passion to envelope her, she raised her arms and wound them around his neck.
It was all the encouragement he needed to kiss her back completely
Rano found that it was her unfortunate task of showing Ranveer the rest of the house.
He found himself trying his best to catch up with her. "Are you always in a hurry?"
"I don't like to waste time"
My god the place was fabulous Ranveer thought. Pressed ceilings of the early Islamic architecture, interwoven with the intricate carvings of the Rajasthan temples, and the lavish furnishing of the early mogul empire, created a retrieve for a harmonious mixed culture.
Clearly her grandfather was an historian of note. It would have taken a keen eye and sensitivity to his visitors to blend the various faiths, creating an ambiance of relaxation and history, instead of religion, so that his quests were in harmony with the place and not insulted by any single religious belief.
In his short career as a professional architect he knew value when he saw it. True, there were many things to fix but it would be a challenge to bring it back to its former beauty, and it would be a fascinating job.
Rano showed him the next floor. This was the most glorious rooms, Rano explained. "My grandfather kept these for the royalties that visited him', she chuckled.
Ignoring her, Ranveer walked back to the marble fireplace.
"You ought to be shot!"
"I beg you pardon?"
"You ought to be shot for letting this place go like this". His heart broke when he saw the chip on the fireplace, obviously no one knew it was marble of the same quality as that of which the Taj Mahal was built. He ran his fingers seductively almost caressing the neglected but still beautiful stone with the tenderness of a man touching a woman.
Flustered she stared guiltily. "Well I didn't break it".
"Look I don't see"
"No you don't see. You girls haven't got a clue what you have here, do you?"
"Excuse me Mr. Architect; we've done everything we could to keep this roof from falling. If we neglected something it is because we had to concentrate on something else. You are hired here to renovate, not give lectures".
She stormed off again, this guy infuriated her.
Pushing another door open, "this is the last stop", she told him." Jijju wants to turn this into the main dining hall. It should have views of the, temples, mountains and the Nakki Lake".
She turned as she spoke and the sunlight caught her hair. As she was explaining Ranveer took in a deep breath. The sunlight glinted on her hair, making a halo around her head and shoulders.
When he didn't say anything she looked at him. "Is something wrong?"
'Your are very beautiful Rano?'
She took a step back there wasn't amusement in his eyes now. What was there was dangerous.
'If you have any other questions about the building'…….
'That was a compliment Rano'
'Yes that's' what Saahil said too and see where that landed us"
She didn't wait to see the utter dismay in his eyes.
Jai was astounded that he was kissing Bani. So many feelings bombarded them. He wanted only to fill himself with the taste of her. But there was more. She would let him take only the kiss but not all the emotion that went with it.
Love me Bani, his mind screamed. Everything he wanted was here, in the circle of his arms. Everything but her heart.
He wanted her so much, and she him and yet, there was this hesitation in both of them that could not be ignored.
He broke the kiss with all the effort he could muster. He ached to see how much of passion filled her eyes, and it tore him inside.
When she smiled at him, it was all he could bear.
"Bani"
"I love you MR Walia", her eyes were dark and brilliant, and she touched his cheek.
"I love you and nothing in my life has ever felt so right".
He was speechless. Part of him wanted to step back, smile kindly and tell her she was letting the moment run away with her. He wanted, waited all this time to hear her say that and yet now he was the one unsure of everything. He wanted her to be absolutely sure that this was what she wanted.
Happiness. Hope. Love as he recognised these feelings terror joined them. They had walked back to the house in a daze. He still held her hand firmly in his, when he reached her bedroom.
She looked up expectantly to him, instead of seeing the same eagerness in his eyes, she encountered confusion, hesitation.
"Don't you want to come in Mr Walia", she asked boldly.
"Yes-No". Holding her at arms length was the hardest thing he ever had to do
"Bani "…..
He wanted to stay, he realized. Not just tonight, and not because of the glorious body of hers. But rather the fact that he did made it all the more important to set things right.
"We need to talk, just talk"
"I thought we had".
If she continued to look at him like that he'd stop giving a damn about fairness.
Needing some distance he walked away." I want you to be married to me Bani before we become one".
"I don't understand we are married", she whispered her voice strained.
"No we are not. I am married to a compromise; I didn't know I was getting married to you until you unveiled your self. In my heart I was marrying Pia not you Bani'.
Bani could not believe what she was hearing. She didn't know what to think, what to say. Was this some cruel joke he was playing with her. One minute his threatening to make her his wife and now he claims that he was not really "married to her".
"Bani the problem is I do feel something for you"
"Not enough, though Mr Walia". Only enough to cut her hear in 2.
'Well I'm glad we sorted that out". Blindly she turned for the door, "good night"
"Bani", he laid a hand on her shoulder before she could turn the knob.
"Don't apologise she said praying her control would hold a few more minutes," it isn't necessary you explained it all perfectly".
"Damn it why won't you yell at me? Call me a few name I am sure I deserve it. He had preferred that to the quite desolation she saw in his eyes.
"Yell at you? She made herself turn and face him. "For being fair and honest?" Call you names, how I can call you names Mr Walia when I feel so terribly sorry for you".
His hand slipped away from her. She held her head up. Under the hurt, just under it was pride.
She left him alone with the uneasy feeling about his well laid out plans.
comment……..
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Anupamaa
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