***Part 5B***
Bani stood beside Jai, her arm wrapped in Jai's arm, a smile adorned on her face as she answered the curious questions thrown to her by press.
"How long have you known Mr. Walia ?" one of the press reporters asked
"It has been almost two years" Bani answered smirking at Jai's shocked look.
"Aap Mr. Walia se peheli baar kahan aur Kaise mili ?" Asked a woman who Bani noticed had been eying suspiciously at her. Bani looked at her intently; she was a well known reporter, known for uncovering the politicians and the famous business men, providing the people with the best masala gossips. Everyone knew and feared reporter Snidha.
"I met him at a Hospital near Mr. Abu, when Jai not only admitted my brother in the hospital but he also rescued him from the thugs" Bani answered, it was the truth but the only difference was that it was Ranveer not Jai who had saved Sagar from those goons and had made sure he was given the best medical care. She would never forget that day, it had all been her fault, She was so adamant on chasing Tarun and putting him behind the bars that she forgott to give a thought on Sagar's safety. She later realized that her decision of going to Mumbai leaving Sagar in Mt. Abu had been a careless one; she was so stupid and so full of confidence to believe that no one would dare harm her brother. She would never repay Ranveer for what he had done for Sagar during those days, and where was she at that time when Sagar was suffering from pain and when he needed her? She was hunting down a criminal in Mumbai not knowing what was happening to her brother. She learned about the accident two days after the incident when a weeping Janvi had informed her about it over the phone. She had wasted no time in arriving at the hospital to find Sagar again hooked up in those damn machines, it had pained her so much to see him in that condition, to see him in the same place he had been just few months ago. If it had not been for Ranveer's effort on giving her the support she had needed at that time then she knew she would have lost herself because no matter how strong or will headed she believed and portrayed herself to be she knew she was a coward, a pathetic coward, an emotional fool when it came to seeing her loved ones in pain.
"Bani !... Bani ?.... Are you okay?" Jai asked breaking Bani from her thoughts, his eyes filled with concern seeing her sudden sullen face and her eyes filled with tears.
"Sorry… that incident still holds an effect on me, I am okay now" She answered to the questioning gazes of the reporters instantly composing herself back to the arrogant self.
"Are you sure you are okay? We don't have to do this now if you are not okay. I can arrange the press conference for some other day, I am sure the press will understand this" Jai informed unconsciously wrapping his arm around her shoulder in his worry, trying to sooth out her tense muscles.
"I am fine Jai, don't worry yourself about such a little thing and I think it will be better if we finish this press conference today itself" Bani assured him smilingly and then kissed him on his jaw a spot very close to his lips, of course the later was done only for press who wasted no time in clicking the pictures and awed by the love and concern they seemed to have for each other.
"Mr. Walia, why did you choose to keep Mrs. Walia in secret?" asked another reporter
"It was actually my decision to stay away from being the news, I did not feel comfortable with the idea of me being portrayed as yet another one week girlfriend of Jai Walia" Bani answered convincingly, she was enjoying this, all the attention she was getting, the obvious discomfort of men around her and not to forget the fact that she was playing one of her favorite hobby "Acting" convincing people with her act.
"How old are you Mrs. Walia?" asked the same suspicious woman but now she still seemed like she didn't believe their… well okay Bani's lies.
"Oh my! Never ask a woman her age! surely you would know that MISS since you happen to be a woman after all" Bani answered in mortification, forging a shock look upon being asked her age and then smiled seeing reporter Snidha trying to answer back.
"21, I am 21 years old" Bani answered not wanting to leave any of their questions unanswered not when the question held no harm to her.
"21 Mrs. Walia, almost 12 years younger then Mr. Walia. Isn't that a big age difference and why did you choose to marry Jai when you could have found any younger man with wealth and good looks considering you could easily get one to marry you with your beauty which you have used on Mr. Walia. I am sure there are many young men wealthier then Mr. Walia to offer you…" reporter Snidha asked pleased to get an opportunity to make this arrogant girl speechless but the woman didn't know who she was dealing with.
"Is that what you all think I have married Jai for his money? Well let me inform you all Bani Devry does not need men to give her money, she has more then enough money to provide herself a life of a princess" Bani answered heatedly before the reporter could complete her foolish assumption, staring at the woman with anger filled eyes. "The nerve of this woman! She will pay… pay for asking me such a disgraceful question… how dare she question me like that!"
Bani glanced at Jai who was raging in anger ready to drag the woman out by her hair. Bani held Jai's arm firmly stopping him from doing anything, smiled at him in assurance that she will handle this herself.
"Where are you from Mrs. Walia?" asked one of the reporter trying to change the atmosphere, not wanting to see Jai Walia's rage.
"I was born in Ireland but I grew up in London" Bani answered, glad about the change of topic and soon everyone was asking question about her life in London, about her family and about her decision to settle in India but that did not mean she would forget about the earlier question not before making the reporter regret it.
"Oh ! I am so sorry" Vidya apologized as she dashed into the man while running after Sameer.
"Its okay beta" Aparajeet replied recognizing the woman being the one who had done Bani's kanyadan along with the other man who he hadn't had the opportunity to have a closer look.
"Sameer come here" Vidya ordered when she saw him hiding behind the pillar.
"How are you related to Bani… I mean Mrs. Walia, I saw you were with her all along?" Aparajeet asked wanting to know about everything and everyone related to Bani.
"I am married to her brother" Vidya answered and then added "do you see the man standing beside Ranveer, that's my husband Sagar and this is our son Sameer" holding Sameer by his hand.
"so she did give him the name I wanted to give our son" Aparajeet instantly thought upon hearing the name, not shocked to discover that she had loved him enough to remember one of his desire and overwhelmed to see his reflection on his son… His SON!
"aap?" Vidya questioned him, scolding herself for answering the man's question, and for giving out information about her family without even knowing his name. "Never answer a question asked by a stranger" wasn't it one of the rules from Bani's self defense class.
"Aparajeet Dev" He introduced himself, wondering if he had done the right by introducing himself… did she know who he was. The shocked look on her face answered his question.
"You? You are Aparajeet Dev?" Vidya asked in disbelief she looked at him intently, the man seemed to be in his late 30's, she was more shocked when she looked at his face closely… the realization stunned her… she could see the resemblance… there was no mistake he was the father! Now she understood why Bani seemed to love him so much… the dream she had been talking about… the broken family she wanted to rebuild. Oh yes now she understood everything, she understood Bani's every emotion… her pain, hurt, anger, love and most importantly her hope…..
"What are you doing here? Came to see how your family is?" Vidya asked, not wanting to believe the love in his eyes held for his family. She hated this person as she remembered hearing all the horrors Bani and Sagar had to go through for so many years because this man chose to abandon his love, his family… his responsibilities.
"Please leave… leave before Bani faces the pain again, please let her finally make new dreams" Vidya requested Aparajeet, she would even beg this man if it would make Bani forget the past.
Aparajeet looked at the woman proud to know that Bani had someone who cared for her so deeply. He was happy to learn that his children were being cared by this lovely woman.
"Vidya, come I will introduce you to my family" Ranveer said as he dragged Vidya from Aparajeet interrupting their conversation. He just hoped Bani didn't see Vidya talking with Aparajeet, fearing what would happen to Vidya if Bani did see them. He glanced around just to make sure and to his relief found Bani conversing with few ladies.
"Were you not warned to not converse with strangers?" Ranveer question Vidya as they walked towards the table.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to" Vidya answered
"Now put on that wonderful smile before anyone gets suspicious about your tensed behavior" Ranveer whispered as they sat down.
"Ranveer, where is Sagar?" Vidya asked, alarmed to not find Sagar anywhere.
"He is back in his room, didn't want to miss his show" Ranveer informed her.
"Ranveer!" Vidya gasped in shock as she saw Aparajeet hugging Sameer, her face went pale when she saw Bani walking towards Aparajeet.
"Vidya, NO" Ranveer said, trying to hold Vidya back but he was too late she was already running towards Bani
"I see you have met Sameer" Bani said staring at Aparajeet trying her best to keep control of the building anger. She saw him staring at Sameer with so much love and warmth, something she had longed to see in his eyes for her. She saw his fingers running through Sameer's hair, a habit Bani realized which she inherited from him, His eyes caressing her face, trying to find answers to the questions that were going through his mind.
"How does it feel to meet your OWN blood" Bani bellowed as she drew Sameer out from Aparajeet's embrace and into hers, pleased to see the hurt look in his eyes upon hearing it.
"Di, please" Vidya whispered as she walked up to them, she didn't want this to happen today, not now when they were surrounded by so many guests and news reporters.
"Vidya, go get Sagar, and take Sameer with you" Bani ordered in her stern voice, still staring at Aparajeet as Vidya walked away with Sameer. It was difficult to tell what she was feeling, her face showed no emotion, her eyes held no hatred. She was so calm and composed as it meeting Aparajeet was an everyday thing.
"Why?" He asked, ending the silence between them. It was the only word that came out from his mouth.
"Why!" Bani laughed, her laughter filled with anger and mockery as she continued "Is that all you have to say or rather ask me 'Why.' It should be us asking you that, why? Why you left? Why you never came? Why? Why? Why? Too many of them" Bani whispered as tears floated down her cheeks but did nothing to stop them. It was a good thing they moved from the pillar and were now standing in one of the rooms, away from the prying eyes of guests and reporters.
"She waited you know, waited every day, every night for 17 years, for you to come back to her but you never came" Bani murmured, her bright green eyes accusing him for his abandonment.
"Why? Why did you left her? Why did you never came back, not even to see your children…. to see us!" Bani asked in desperation, her green eyes pleading him to answer the questions that troubled her since childhood, since She and Sagar were told by there mother that James was not their, that a certain Aparajeet Dev was their Father.
"Why Pa? Why when you loved her so much?"
She was hurt, greatly hurt when she saw him flinch upon being called 'Pa' by her. She knew it would never come true; her dream will always remain a dream. He would never accept Sagar and her as his children in from of the world, in front of his family. She hated him, she hated herself fro dreaming and most of all she hated her mother fro giving her this dream, this hope! It was all because of mother, because of her constant talk about how much Jeet loved her, loved them, that he would come and take them with him into his world. His world which was only filled with love and protection, the world which didn't have James in it, the world where James would not torture them, where they would not have to endure the taunts, the hurtful words and accusations of James, the world where she and Sagar would be loved by their father. A world where she would have a loving father, a world where she would be her father's 'Angel', his 'Princess', his 'Daughter'.
Would that ever happen? Would he ever take Sagar and her to that world, make their dream a realty? She knew she should have never believed her mother, after all whatever she had told them were her own dreams, dreams which she wanted her children to dream….
She saw him still standing there staring at her his eyes accessing her, she saw the longing in his eyes, immense love filled in those dark eyes. She was so familiar with that longing now, that love, hadn't she seen the same longing and love in her mother's eyes for as long as she could remember but it was never for her and Sagar always for him, and she knew it was the same for him too, it was not for her, or Sagar it was all for her, his Banee, her mother. It hurt to see those loved filled eyes looking at her but not seeing her, no he was seeing his Bearnairdin, his love. All her life, she was told that her father loved her mother very much but she had hoped that he would not be like James, loving only her mother, seeing no one except her. She had hoped that he would be different, he would love his children too…..
"Didn't mother say he would love us very much, didn't she say he would be a loving father, she said he would love Sagar and me?" her mind screamed at her.
"Di" Vidya called out breaking Bani from her thoughts and bringing Aparajeet back from his past, who seemed to suddenly realize his souroundings, realized it was not the green fierce eyes of his love he was staring into, realizing that this green eyes filled with hurt and anger were of his daughter…. his Daughter. It was all too much to control, too many emotions to feel anything, to even say anything.
"I have to get out of hear, I can't handle this" he muttered to himself.
"Sagar, come here, meet Aparajeet Deb" Bani said as she urged Sagar to come forward.
AD stared at the man who was now standing before him, Sagar's green eyes looking up at him with such innocence; a shy smile crept upon his lips as he stared at AD. Realizing it had been Sagar at the mandap doing the kanyadan, it had been his own son who he had cursed and hated few hours ago for taking away his right as a father from him. He assessed both his children stranding in front of him. They both had the same green eyes he had once fallen in love with, bright red hair of their mother, the same milky skin just like their mother, everything… everything in them reminded him of her… the one he wanted to forget… the one he couldn't forget.
It was all too much… he couldn't take it anymore … too many shocks in just one day, he had to get out before he did and said something he might regret his whole life… he didn't want to repeat the same mistake again…
"Mr. Deb, this is Sagar, my twin brother and your…...." she stopped abruptly when she saw AD dart out from the room and out of their sight before she could even finish. She stood in the room shock, and fuming staring at the space where AD has been standing few seconds ago. She had expected such action from him but it still hurt to see him just leave without even meeting his son and she wasn't going to let him leave just like that. She ran after him as he excited out of the hotel and walked towards the parking lot, wasting no time in thinking about the consequences and turning dead ears at Vidya's cry.
Vidya stood there beside Sagar observing everything, hurt to see the pain in Bani's eyes, shocked to see the man walk out and Bani running after him. Why can't the man understand they needed him, his children needed him now, his son needed him the most now, a son who doesn't remember himself, a son who was oblivious to everything happening around him, His daughter needs him, his support, his guidance, his blessings to start a new life with her husband, to start a new family, to make new dreams, to forget her bitter past which hunted her every day….. every night…..
***Angel***
Cricket
