Hi guys, sorry about the wait once again... here goes.
Part 17
Rano's room... Rano is sitting on the bed lost in thought and does not realize that Sahil has walked in. He quietly comes and sits near her on the bed and puts his hand on hers. She is startled. Rano, "Sahil? Tum yahan - gets up quickly and walks away - tumhe yahan nahin aana chahiye tha". Sahil follows her and turns her by the shoulders and stares into her lowered eyes. Sahil, "Rano, tum kaho na kaho, meinay tumhari aankhon mein par liya hai." Rano is unable to look up still and says, "kya?". Sahil, "yehi, ke tum bhi mujhse utna hi pyar karti ho, jitna ke mein tumse". Rano looks up at him and releases herself and walks away trying so hard to keep the tears away, but somewhere she knew they would not hide for long. Rano, "aisa kuch nahin hai Sahil... mein.. mein yahan, sirf di ke kehnay par maasiji ke liye yahan wapas ayi hoon." Sahil comes and stands in front of her and lifts her face so that she has to look up at him and he can see her eyes have moistened and are at the brinks. Sahil, "Rano, zara meri aankhon mein dekh kar kehdo ke tum nahin karti". Rano looks at him and she knows that this was all he had to say. She breaks down in his arms and he consoles her. Sahil, "Rano, Dad ne Bani Maami se baat bhi karli hai, aur unho ne bhi haan kardi hai". Hearing this, Rano pulls away surprised and gives a look indicating it clearly. Sahil cups her face in his hands and nods. She hugs him...
Bani is sitting in the drawing room making a list of what has to be done for the wedding when Adi walks in with the shagun ki tray. Seeing it, Bani immediately stands up. Bani, "ye kis liye uncle?". Adi smiles sweetly. Adi, "ye shagun hai humari taraf se". He hands it over and she takes it with unconcealed content on her face. Jigs meanwhile has just passed the room and stops infront of the door. Adi to Bani, "ajse, Rano tumhare paas humari amanat hai Bani... mere Sahil ki." Bani smiles at the thought of her baby sister coming down in a dulhan's outfits... Jigs comes in and breaks her sweet thoughts. Jigs starts yelling. Jigs, "Aditiya! ye tum kya kar rahe ho. Mere bete ki shaadi tum iski behen, is larki behen ke saath karne ja rahe ho, jiski wajase...". Adi puts up his hand as if saying, "Stop it!". and surprisingly, Jigs does. Adi, "Sahil aur mein faisla kar chuke hai Jigyasa, aur ye faisla koi nahin badal sakta... tum bhi nahin". Saying so, he leaves a half raged Jigs fuming. She was furious, but perhaps not as much as she should be and it was this fact, that was paining her the most...
"hello Mr.Walia, congratulations on the new contract.", "Best wishes for the new project Mr.Walia" and such were the type of comments Jai Walia was receiving as he stood in the centre of one of the circles in a business party organized in honour of him achieving a new contract. He heard half of them and slowly even these were fading as his eyes searched the floor for a sign of Bani. Ever since she had come home, they had spoken very few words to each other, however Jai felt fear strike him whenever she went beyond his eyes. Jai is thinking, "Bani kahan chali gayi... abhi toh yahin teeh." As he is thinking, more congratulations are flooding in and finally he manages to excuse himself. Walking around the floor he could feel a sense of desperateness slowly overcome him... finally, there she was. Standing on a side, away from everyone. She looked in deep thought and slowly started walking towards her but the media reached her before him. Lights, cameras...
Bani had been thinking, "yahan kitnay loge hai... phir bhi, aisa kyun lagta hai ke mein bilkul akeli hoon.. Mr.Walia kahan chale gaye?..". reporter, "Mrs.Walia, aapke pati ko itna bara contract mila hai aaj. Kaisa lag raha hai aapko?" other reporters shout out questions.
Bani is overwhelmed suddenly and manages to smile. Bani, "apne pati ki kamyabi se kaun patni khush nahin hogi. Mr.Walia bahut hi samajhdaar businessman aur insaan hai, aur ye baat unhon ne baar baar sabit kiya hai." Another reporter, "Mrs.Walia, har couple ki kwasish hoti hai ke woh apne pariwaar ko poora kare. Aur ise poora karta hai unka bacha. Aap ka is baat ka kya kehna hai... I mean, aap nahin chahti ke aapka pariwaar jaldi hi poora ho?.." He is cut off as Jai has pushed through the crowd and reached Bani's side much to Bani's relief. Jai looks at her and she can tell he has heard the question. A cute akwardness prevails around them... the alap from "Mann Ki Lagan" (Paap, singer: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan) plays in the back... Jai is the first to turn away. Jai to media, "excuse me please..." A reporter in the back shouts out another question interupting Jai, not really being able to hear him properly. Reporter, "Mrs.Walia, suna hai ke aapki behen ki shaadi hone wali hai.." but he too is interupted by the MC. MC, "Ladies and Gentlemen, aap sabka is khushi ki mehfil mein shaamil hone ka bahut bahut shukriya. I would once more like to congratulate Mr. and Mrs.Walia on their latest contract and our best wishes are with them. - Jai mouthes a thank you at the clapping audience - now I would like to first invite Mr. and Mrs. Jai Walia to the dance floor and would request you all to join in." Jn'B are kind of taken by surprise, but unable to refuse, or perhaps unwanting to... Jai steps forward and the crowd disperses to the side as Jai extends his hand to his peach-dressed beautiful wife. Bani remembers the day of Anu's engagement, when Jai had asked her to dance... but that time Roshni had separted them half way... Bani's heart is not racing, but it feels like its melting with Jai's cute smile inviting her to come into his arms...as she put her hand in his, accepting the invitation, both could only faintly hear the claps from the audience...
"agar tum mil jao, zamana chod denge hum (x2), tumhe pa kar zamaane bhar se rishtaa tor denge hum. agar tum mil jao..." (movie: Zeher, link:http://www.musicindiaonline.com/l/17/s/movie_name.7767/ , song number 1)
....plays as Jai holds Bani close and looks down at her as they move to the rhythm... Bani is shy and looks into Jai's chest. They both are acutely aware of the cameras filming their performance, or the eyes envying the heavenly love bonding the two unknowingly...
Slowly the others join them.. Bani and Jai go back and stand at the side as Jai talks to the MC and some of his associates with Bani right next to him, accompanied by wives gossiping as an uninterested Bani looks on dumbly, smiling sometimes, as if she is unable to comprehend. As the chat is on, Bani looks over at Jai, who is consumed with talk of business by his peers.. unknown to her though, Jai has also been catching glances at her. All of a sudden, a voice interupts both conversations. The ladies pause as they look over to the men and see Ms.Roshni Chopra coming along standing across from Jai Walia. Bani is hurt, very hurt. She looks at Roshni irritated. Bani thinking, "Roshniji? lekin ye yahan..?" As if reading her thoughts, Roshni says aloud, "Jai, tumhari zindagi ke itnay khushi ke din mein mein tumhare saath nahin hongi toh kaise chalega?" Jai looks at her feircly and she smiles noticing Bani too looking at her. Roshni, "...mera matlab hai, ek dost ki haiseeyat se... Toh Jai, tumhari is kamyaabi ki khushi mein, may I?" She extends her hand in ask for a dance. Jai looks down, and has a disgusted, angry look on his face. Bani looks extremely innocent and impatient. The other men for some reason encourage Jai and ultimately he accepts leaving a helpless Bani standing on a side looking after them.. heart-broken. Bani thinking, "toh kya hua agar Mr.Walia Roshniji se dance kar rahe hai? Woh toh mujhse nahin pyar karte... par, mein unhe kisi aur aurat ke saath..." She looks away with moist eyes.
Jai and Roshni are dancing. The song "ek ajnabee" from lucky is playing once again as Jai helplessly looks around for a long gone Bani..
The familiar wind is dancing and being silly playing with Bani's hair as she stands by the window with her head resting on the window pane. The only sound is that of the wind and the steady beat of Bani's heart.. Even the closing of the door does not dare disturb the tranquility of the moment. Jai walks slowly, but steadily towards his destiny. They are in their room, and oblivious to the existence of the world outside. Jai comes slowly towards Bani and she stands up straight as he stands before her. Bani looks at him innocently. Bani, "Mr.Walia?". Jai looks at her face, so innocent and pure... Bani feels as though he can see through her and lowers her eyes and looks away. Bani, "Mr.Walia, aap kab aaye? Aap toh Roshniji ke saath aane walay teh na?" Jai doesn't respond for an endless minute. Slowly, he turns her face by the chin and makes her look into his eyes... Bani loses her senses... but somehow something comes back to her as she realizes what is happening. She moves away but Jai catches her arm. With little struggle, she releases her arm and goes further away. Jai turns and faces her and slowly walks towards her saying, "Bani... mujhe tumse kuch kehna hai." Bani looks half dazed, half surprised as she moves closer to the wall behind her as Jai comes closer... She is struggling with her senses when her back hits the wall...
sorry, thats the end of this part..
cheers,
dc
Jodha Akbar
Anupamaa
