Hume Tumse Hua Hai Pyaar Chapter 2
Bani wakes up to the morning sunrays peeping through her bedroom curtains that light up most of her room. Disgruntled, she rubs her eyes and yawns softly as she looks over to the alarm clock, resting on the nightstand, and reads the blaring red digits. It's only seven in the morning… She still has another hour before getting up. Knowing that she won't be able to fall asleep from the sunbeams, she lazily gets up from her bed and approaches her window. She raises her arms up, gripping onto the curtains, ready to draw them close, but something prevents her from doing so….
On the driveway she sees her Kiran Mausi's side profile, smiling and talking to another person, a man to be certain. The man dressed freshly in a black polo paired with rugged blue jeans, hanging nicely from his waist, hands over a plastic bag over to her aunt who thankfully accepts it from him. She watches Kiran kiss him affectionately on his head before she bids him goodbye, waving at him while he walks on back to the sidewalk. Curiously she keeps her eyes fixed on him, not understanding why she senses a familiarity in him; she is unable to see him clearly as his back is faced to her. Just as he arrives at his motorbike parked off to the side and sits himself down onto it, revealing himself to her, she sees why….
He is the same guy from the fair last night, that same one who managed to leave her completely breathless by just one look into his drowning eyes. Immediately Bani feels herself get strangely warm all around and turn pink in the face by his dashing appearance. No doubt he is attractively handsome; she would not be surprised to know if he has a usual band of women following him around.
Sighing softly to herself, she leans against the window frame, and watches him awestruck as he starts of his bike, kicking it out of place, and zooms down the neighborhood street. She listens as the motor grows fainter by each passing second…..
"Bani, sweetheart! Wake up baby, it's already seven o'clock. Get ready and then come have some breakfast," she hears her aunt call out for her attention. She snaps out of her innocent daze and hurriedly paces herself in getting fresh, the thoughts of him dancing around in her head. She yearns to know about him, ignoring the sensible side of her which warns her that he shouldn't matter to her so much. Learning a little about him wouldn't harm her, would it? Knowing where she can easily get this information from, Bani pulls her robe closed around her and makes her way downstairs….
********************************************************************************
Bani pecks her mausi's cheek after wishing her a, "Good Morning." Her aunt smiles back and softly nudges her over to the table, telling her to sit on down at the kitchen table while she finishes up breakfast. Bani nervously hesitates for awhile, fiddling with the tie of her robe as she bites down on her lower lip. She watches her aunt move around the kitchen, grabbing things here and there, completely focused on making Breakfast. She does not know how to approach her with the topic, but knows it'd be better to mention it now rather than later….
Bani: Kiran Mausi?
Kiran: Yes sweetheart… (cooing back at her)
Bani: ….Who was it that dropped by earlier this morning? …I saw you speak to someone.
Kiran: Oh… so I have a peeping Tom in my very own house.
Bani immediately blushes in embarrassment and hurriedly speaks to deny her.
Bani: Nahi to… I was just curious.
She listens to Kiran giggle at her abashed reply and turns around, facing her with two plates containing toast and scrambled eggs. She places one neatly before her niece while putting the other in front of herself. Kiran sits down after pouring orange juice for them both.
Kiran: Don't be embarrassed Bani beta, I was only teasing….
Bani, however, continues to remain blushed.
Kiran: The person you saw is a boy that I have known and seen grow for the past twenty four years, ever since I had moved here…. He isn't a boy anymore when I come to think of it… He has grown nicely into a young man. I'm still unable to believe he isn't the same little toddler who would never leave me alone for a second. His family was my first neighbor until they moved a few years later to another part of town. When we lived next to each other, he always used to swing by offering his help for anything. Be it with fixing around the house or even cooking along beside me. … I guess in a way you can say he has been somewhat of a son to me all these years.
Bani: (intrigued) He still comes to visit? (referring to him coming this morning)
Kiran: (nods her head) Yes, whenever he can. He makes sure of that. Either it is to come by and give me company or to attend to all of my needs…. He takes care of my errands for me most of the time…. Today he had gotten us eggs for breakfast since we have run out.
Bani stares down at her plate, eyeing the scrambled eggs…thinking of him even more.
Bani:… What's his name?----Just so I know whenever I do meet him. (quickly adding)
Kiran: (smiles understandingly) Jai Walia…. He is a nice man. … I am sure you will fancy him as well if you ever do get the chance to meet him…. Perhaps you have seen his younger brother and sister around… Saahil and Anu Walia…. Saahil attends the university right by your art school. And Anu has an interest into art just like you… She will occasionally drop by the school and look at the exhibits there.
She ponders over these two names, questioning herself whether she knows them or not. So far she hasn't had the pleasure to meet them personally. But from now one she will keep a look out for Anu if she ever does come across her.
Kiran: She is a few years younger than you, but she is great company. A true diamond that girl… You will become friends easily with her, I know that.
Bani simply smiles as a response, nodding her head, and resumes back to eating her toast and eggs.......
*******************************************************************************************************************
Jai hurriedly fastens the buttons to his white dress shirt as he wanders around his bedroom, gathering his things to take along. He fumbles through his wardrobe, trying to find a suitable tie to wear and exasperatedly picks one at random as he does not find the one in particular he was searching for. Just as he pulls it around his neck, he hears his bedroom door swing open revealing his two siblings who stand by the doorway.
Before he can even open his mouth to ask them what they want, they immediately begin in hassling him with bombarding questions. Jai looks back and forth from one to the other, trying to keep up with their fast paced moving mouths, not able to follow their words. He agitatedly growls and yells at both, silencing them instantly.
Jai: One at a time you two! I only have one set of ears!
Saahil takes advantage of the hesitant silence that he and his sister create, easily cutting off Anu from speaking.
Saahil: Bhaiya, Arjun wants to know if I can go on over to his place right after my last class.
Jai: Why does he need you there?
Saahil: Well he's having a party tonight and he says he needs help in setting things up. So I might not be back until twelve.
Jai: (grims) I don't know kid. You should be focusing on your studies instead. I don't think going out to parties is what you should really be doing.
Saahil: (groans) Come on Bhai, having fun once in awhile won't hurt. Besides, I'm doing well in all my classes. You had even said so…
Jai continues to look unsure about the topic. Anu shakes her head at her brother, mouthing to him to not allow it. Saahil nudges his sister hard, glaring at her.
Anu: Bhaiya, (speaking up) you know as well as I do that he won't be back until later than twelve, oversleep the next morning, and will fall back in his studies again.
Saahil: Why do you always burst in on my fun Anu? Why can't you for once support your brother?
Anu: I won't support my brother if he's going to go out, get drunk, fool with girls, and come back only to neglect his studies all over again.
Saahil: You are such a pest-----
Again the two quarrel, rambling over their differences until Jai cannot take it any longer and pushes them apart.
Jai: Quit it you two. You are driving me insane. Firstly Saahil, do not call your sister a pest. And be back by eleven or I will make sure you never see sunlight ever again.
Saahil: (smiles, relieved) Thanks Bhaiya!
He hugs his brother before fleeing off excitedly and only after punching his sister on her arm.
Anu: Bhaiya! (whining to him)
Jai: Saahil! (warning)
Saahil merely chuckles and quickly vanishes from the room. Jai sighs and then looks over to his sister who still stands before him, looking at him with innocent eyes.
Jai: Aab tumhe kya chaaye? (trans: Now what do you want?)
Anu: Bhaiya… I was wondering if I could go to the movies downtown after school and----
Jai: Absolutely not. (cutting her off)
Anu: Bhaiya…You haven't even let me finished saying what I wanted to say.
Jai: You don't need to because I already have made my decision.
Anu: Bhaiya, please. (pleading)
Jai: Anu, you know very well that I don't want you going off anywhere by yourself.
Anu: But Trishna and Radhika will be with me. Their parents are absolutely fine with them going.
Jai: Well you are my responsibility, not theirs. And I won't allow it.
Anu: Jai Bhaiya, this isn't fair…(tears glistening in her eyes) Why don't you let me doing anything? I am not a child anymore. I am a young woman… I can take care of myself now.
Jai: You are still a child. (shutting her down) A girl like you shouldn't be going off anywhere alone in that area--- in fact, neither should your friends.
Anu: (huffs) I never see you restricting Saahil like this. He is at liberty to do anything he wants. I am the only one you keep locked up in a cage with no rights.
Jai, hurt by her accusation, touches her cheek in a comforting manner.
Jai: That is not true Princess … I have never treated you two differently from each other… I am just more protective and concerned for you. You are a fragile girl Anu… I don't want you getting hurt.
Anu: I can be fine on my own if you would just let me prove it to you----
Jai: You don't need to prove anything to me… I trust you. However, you are still too young. Sixteen is nothing Anu. You still have a lot to learn about the world….
Anu: But… I don't understand how me going somewhere on my own is harmful.
Jai: Anu, I don't want to argue over this any longer. I am tired of talking about this matter over and over. You are too young and that's that. …. If you want to go you may but only if you take Saahil along with you.
Seeing tears dwelling in her soft brown eyes tears his heart and he takes her into his arms, lovingly stroking her hair as he does so.
Jai: I love you so much Anu…. I hope you know this?
Anu after a moment nods her head in agreement but continues to tear up. He hushes her soothingly by rubbing his hand up and down her back.
Jai: It is not that I don't hold faith in you or simply because you are a girl…. It is because you are so dear to me that I am afraid all of the time over your safety. I know I don't need to worry so much over Saahil because he is a tough and independent, someone who can handle whatever comes his way. And he has always been like that… You on the other hand are so gentle and innocent that I constantly have to fret over keeping you safe. …Perhaps you may never be able to understand my worries until you have someone to take care of yourself…
Still unable to understand her brother's reasoning, Anu selflessly pushes aside her desires and rights, not wanting to cause further distress to her brother who already works so hard to give her and her brother the life they have. If by listening to him and decreasing a little of his tension will help him feel better then she will do so happily. Anu hugs her brother back while wiping away her tears.
Anu: I am sorry Bhaiya… forgive me. I was acting selfish. I wasn't being considerate of your feelings. …. I understand.
Jai smiles in relief and satisfaction. He strokes her hair one last time before kissing her on the forehead. Hearing a honk from outside makes Anu realize that Saahl is waiting for her outside. He is usually her ride in the mornings. Giving her elder brother a feeble smile she pecks him on the cheek softly before wishing him a good day at work and promising that she will take Saahil with her to the movies.
After watching his sister leave, Jai resumes back in knotting his tie and throws his black coat over himself as he trots out of his room, ready to leave for work…..
**********************************************************************************
Bani walks serenely along the sidewalks through the neighborhoods, appreciating the view of beauty presiding around her. She politely refused a ride from Rano and her boyfriend, Ranveer Deb, who insisted that she join them. Instead she chose to walk home, something that she found she really enjoyed. It was a great excuse to glamour at the beautiful aspects of nature thriving around in the beautiful town.
After completing her studies in her university and successfully majoring in art, Bani decided that she wanted to escape from the busy life of Mumbai and take a long break at somewhere peaceful and calm, where she would find inner peace and self satisfaction. She also wanted to find that inspiration that would give that noticeable spark in her artwork that she is looking for. At first her father was reluctant in allowing this desire of hers, but in the end he did not have the heart to refuse her any longer. In excitement she pondered over the various places she could go to but she found that only one place seemed to come to mind…. Mount Abu. She had visited there only once or twice before and that too for short periods of time. She only remembered that the town was absolutely beautiful, exciting, and relaxing. It had a homey feel to it, something that Bani felt she needed in her life… that presence of warmth.
Deciding that that was where she wanted to go, she immediately made plans to visit. Her father agreed easily to it only because his late wife's sister resided there and he knew she would take care of his angel like her own daughter. Bani packed her bags and left the bustling city of Mumbai, fleeing to the calm lifestyle in Mount Abu. Initially when she had come here she planned to stay for about a year, but she discovered more and more by each passing day how quickly attached she was becoming to the place. After the first week of settling in she took notice of an art school nearby and applied for morning classes just for the fun of it. It would give her something meaningful to do in her spare time.
On arriving home she sees that her aunt is nowhere to be seen. She walks further in the house and stops by the mirror in the front hall which has a post-it right in the middle. She recognizes Kiran's handwriting right away….
A friend of mine is in the hospital. Going to check up on her and see how she's doing. Will be back in a couple of hours.
Bani takes the post with her as she walks on up the stairs to her room, placing her notepad and utensils onto her writing table. She decides that she will take a short nap before getting dressed again to go to lunch with Rano at her father's hotel that she recommends has a cute restaurant worth dining at….
***********************************************************************************
Jai finds himself wrapped in the normal hectic scheduling of the hotel that he has gotten used to as being manager for the last three years. It's certainly odd for him to be managing a hotel considering his age, but his father had been good friends with the owner of the hotel, Mr. Obreoi, who has a strong liking towards Jai. Of course he didn't favor him right away. Jai had to work intensively for the high promotion ever since joining the hotel at the young age of seventeen. At twenty-four Mr. Obreoi awarded him generously with the position, telling him that he is the most deserving of it with the hard work he puts into his job. He had told him proudly that he had never seen anyone so dedicated like him before. That had been the most accomplished day of Jai's life and he treated his small family out to a fancy dinner to celebrate.
**********************************************************************************
As he leans back into his chair and tugs on his tie, loosening it from the tight hold around his neck, he inwardly groans as he hears his office door open. He had been hoping for at least one moment of peace. Perhaps that was too much to ask.
"Sir, there's a lady who demands to meet you. She has a complaint against the kitchen's food and wants to meet you directly regarding it," his employee informs him. Jai sighs, strongly detesting these snooty types of people who would find any opportunity to whine or complain. Bored, he replies in a tiring tone, "Send her on in Pushkar." Seconds later a figure comes gliding in, taking Jai's notice right away. Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse….he moans.
He watches with ruthless eyes as Roshini Chopra makes her presence clear to him, wearing a fitting casual dress with small straps that end just over her knees, even though this is the season for layers, and matching high heels that usually give her the boost of confidence she always has.
"Yes Ms. Chopra… You have another complaint I presume," Jai tauntingly questions her, succeeding in making her feel slightly embarrassed of herself. This would only be your fourth one this week….he agitatedly adds on.
Roshini makes herself comfortable in one of the seats across from him and consciously displays her features to him. Jai, however, is clearly uninterested as well as unaffected.
Roshini: I am sorry Jai… It seems that is all I ever do these days, isn't it?
Of course because that is the only excuse you can use to come and irritate the hell out of me....he bitterly answers to himself.
Roshini Chopra, three years his junior, has been after him since he was sixteen. She never spared him a moment of peace as she always made sure to be by his side, making sure that he took notice to her. Anu, his sister, much to his "delight" informed him that at the age of fifteen she had created a fan group called United Jai Walia Lovers that still goes on and meets every Wednesday. When he had asked how she knew this, she replied with a grin, "A few of my friends happen to be in it." He had been utterly horrified. And as Roshini wasn't enough for him to put up with, Pia Chopra [her younger sister] and Meera Khandelwal soon became an active annoyance in his life as well…..
Jai: Please, let's keep this strictly formal. (referring to her addressing him by his first name.)
Roshini: Oh, of course.
Jai: So tell me. What do you find dissatisfying with the hotel's service? I was sure that last time we had settled the problem.
Roshini: Oh yes, it was. You solved it very efficiently and nicely. No wonder you have been made manager. Mr. Obreoi was right to appoint you the job. No one else would have been able to meet your qualities. (dreamily remarks)
Jai: Thank you for your compliments Ms. Chopra, but we are now getting off topic. Would you care to explain to me about your concerns of the hotel?
Roshini: (blinks dumbly at first) … Oh yes. Well I had decided to come to the hotel's restaurant for lunch today. I ordered a dish and as I ate into it I found hair in my meal. Now Jai---I mean, Mr. Walia, I don't really think what your hotel needs is a bad name from your kitchen staff's inability to service your customers to the outmost perfection.
Jai: No, certainly it does not.
Roshini: Now I won't file a case or go to extreme measures here, I just wished to consult to you about this.
Jai: And I thank you for doing so. I guarantee you that I will check in on this.
Roshini smiles as a reply, pleased in being able to pull her small scheme off, yet again. Jai stands up from his seat and implies with a small gesture of his hand presenting the door for her to leave.
Jai: I hope our staff won't disappoint you any longer.
Roshini: That is why you are here… To make sure your customers and I are satisfied.
Jai: Of course…
He leads her to the door and like a gentleman opens the door for her. Just as she moves to leave, he remarks….
Jai: And also Ms. Chopra, I would like to recommend that you visit other hotels and restaurants around as well. There are places than just the Star Hotel if you haven't quite noticed….
Deeply embarrassed to the core, Roshini blushes bright red just as Jai shuts his office door closed …..
********************************************************************************
Bani fumes silently as she continues to wait for Rano to join her at the restaurant for the last thirty minutes. She had already put off the waiter two times now, pleading for some more time. She tried calling numerous times but she won't pick up or take any of her calls.
********************************************************************************
Jai walks around the hotel, doing an inspection by checking on his staff on seeing whether they are performing their duties. He stands by the elevator doors patiently waiting for it to come up so he can go on back downstairs, but as they finally open he is struck heavily by a strange surprise…
*********************************************************************************
Giving up on any last hope of her friend showing up, Bani gets up from the restaurant, apologizing to her waiter for wasting his time on her way out and walks on over to the elevator. She steps in and watches as the doors close on her and takes her up to the main floor. Feeling her shoe pinching her foot painfully, she places a hand against the door of the elevator to temporarily adjust the problem. She removes her shoe, wiggles her toes around for awhile, and as she slips her foot back into it, the elevator comes to a stop and the doors open, her balancing support abandoning her….
She gasps when she trips forward and her eyes widen as she falls straight onto a man who had stood in front, outside of the elevator. She pushes both herself and him onto the floor, ending up on top of the stranger… She feels his hands go to her waist, steadying her and hears him groan from the forceful impact of their fall. Raising her head up, Bani meets a pair of familiar electrifying gray pair of eyes that makes her heart race instantly. She blushes hotly under his gaze….
Jai looks up after regaining himself and finds his eyes connected with a soft honey color of warm brown eyes staring at him with a mix of shock and humiliation. His breath is immediately taken away as he realizes who she is…
Bani manages to stutter, "I—I'm so sorry… Are you alright?" Jai continues to look at her, transfixed. It takes him awhile to register her words…
Bani: Jai, are you okay? (soothingly, worried)
Jai snaps out of it and stares at her long and hard. He notes that her appearance is very different compared to the first time he had laid his eyes on her. Then she had worn a lovely salwaar kameez that gave her a noticeable spark… Now she looks breathtakingly beautiful dressed in a simple pair of jeans, outlining her long slender legs, paired with a cute baby pink tee-shirt that fits her well. It's a great transformation from the traditional look to the modern….that too over a day.
Jai: (answering her automatically) Yes, I'm fine… Are you?
She nods in agreement and apologizes once again as they begin to stand up on their feet. Jai gives her a helping hand in which she accepts and he hoists her up… they feel a jolt by their contact and immediately let go afterwards, avoiding each other's gaze for a moment…
Jai: (rubbing the back of his neck) It's alright… You don't have to be sorry…
And as if it hit him like lightening, he suddenly remembered something and his gaze on her changes that into a sort of wonder…
Jai: How do you know my name?
Bani becomes frozen on the spot and her cheeks become into another shade of dark red. She's speechless and doesn't know how to answer him. She curses herself for letting his name slip from her mouth… What will he be thinking of her now? That she's some kind of stalker?
Bani: (stammers) I---I---I…
"Bani," they both hear someone scream across the other half of the restaurant. Bani turns around on being acknowledged and breathes a sigh of relief for this distraction. However she immediately frowns at the girl who waves her hands at her, standing near the entranceway. Forgetting Jai and caught up in her own anger, Bani storms off in the other direction. Jai stands behind, seeming highly amused as he sees her run up to her friend and angrily hit her.
As Bani grabs onto Rano's arm, dragging her out of the hotel, Jai watches until she disappears from sight. A soft smile twitches on his lips as he says, "Bani…."
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق