The story revolves around Jai and Bani. all characters from KS but in different roles.
Pia eldest married to Pushkar 33
Bani not yet married 28
Rano- seeing Ranveer 23
Jai Walia not yet married 34– best friend of Bani
Pushkar – younger brother of JW 33
Ranveer – same is 25
Jigyasa, Adi, Massi and all else same.
Tarun Sablok – Jai's friend and confidant
Daksh- Bani's boyfriend-
Other Characters to follow:
Chapter one.
"I am so stupid! Stupid, stupid stupid " Bani Dixit cried. Throwing the used tissue amongst the pile that was gathering at her feet. Jai Walia handed another. He sat across from her, anger rising in him.
I trusted him completely. I am the biggest fool ever, she sniffed. I am a real fool.
He is the fool Bani not you.
Then why am I here sobbing my heart out like this. Bani didn't expect him to answer. Contacting Jai at an ungodly hour, sobbing out her tale of woe, hadn't been her most brilliant move, but she needed to talk to someone and he was the first person who' popped into her mind.
Jai was the type of friend that she had felt comfortable with. They had been close ever since they'd worked together on his Yearbook in high school. He was the editor and 4 years her senior but she had the skill and art of drawing. Bani had always considered their relationship special. This was further cemented when Pia married Pushkar and Ranveer and Rano started dating.
"at least crying is better that getting drunk, which is what I did when I found out that Roshini was two-timing me", Jai admitted with a twist to his mouth.
" I take it you haven't seen her since"
"sure I did. I wouldn't want her to think I was jealous."
Despite everything Bani laughed. You're still dating her? even after you learned she was seeing someone behind your back?"
Jai gave her a nonchalant shrug, as though it did not matter. But Bani knew better. He was devastated when he found out. He might have fooled everyone else but Bani knew him too well to fall for his charade.
" I may have taken her out a few times Bani, but it was over the moment she betrayed me".
"its over between me and Daksh too", Bani murmured. Just saying the words produced a painful tightening in her chest. She was truly in love with Daksh. They even talked about getting married and raising a family together. Bani wanted children so badly. She had Pia's twins to spoil and adore but she felt this maternal instinct to have her own consume her .
You're sure this baby is his?" Jai asked, reaching for her hand and squeezing gently. "the woman could be stirring up trouble."
"he didn't bother to deny it". In the beginning, Bani had hoped for that herself. She'd searched Daksh's face, waiting, praying it was all some sick joke. His hard eyes brightened defensively, then gradually the regret, the doubt had showed. It had been a mistake he told her. a one- night fling that meant nothing.
This isn't the first time," she admitted. "I am so stupid Jai I should have known better".
"don't be hard on yourself, Jai said, bending forward to brush a wisp of dark brown hair from her temple.
"there were plenty of signs that Roshini was playing me for a fool, too, but I was so taken with her….
"bust line. You always were a breast man".
"that's probably the reason I never dated you", he countered, grinning.
Bani smiled. The joke was an old one between them. When they were first assigned to work together, Jai had been a popular football player and a genius to boot, while she had been a non-descript bookworm. They clashed many times. One day after a particularly big fight, she shouted that if she had bigger breasts he might listen to her.
Jai was speechless, then he'd started to laugh. The laughter had broken the ice between them and they had been friends ever since.
"I hear that there is help in the form of surgery he teased, levelling his gaze at her breast.
"oh honestly'. Her breasts were not that small, but the banter between them helped her to focus on something else, rather than the pain she was going through.
Jai looked broodily. " I wonder if there is any one faithful anymore."
"I'm the last person you should be asking that too", she replied.
"you know Bani, I never liked Daksh. From the first I sensed there was something about him. I wished I said something sooner, but I saw how happy you were and held back. I am so sorry, knowing the truth now.
'don't be silly Jai". I am beginning to think that commitment meant nothing today."
Sighing he looked at her again. "are you going to be able to sleep now?"
Bani nodded. Although both knew differently.
'liar", he whispered.
Bani smiled and got up. He slipped his arms around her as if to absorb her pain. It felt good to be held. Jai's comfort was like slipping into a hot bath after being stranded in the Indian monsoons.
"you are going to get through this".
"I know, she whispered. But she hadn't been before she had confided in Jai. How fortunate she was to have him as her friend. "we both will she added.
She closed the door behind him. On reflection she could have called Pia or Rano, but she did not want to burden them. Jai was a safe choice and she was not disappointed.
She would pick up the pieces of her life, and start again, a little less trusting and a whole lot more weary.
For no particular reason, the image of Bani Dixit's tear streaked face drifted into Jai's mind two months later. He'd been sitting at his desk looking over some figures when he remembered her lonely plight. It was as if their conversation had taken place a few days ago. He had called her during the holidays and she sounded good. Downright cheerful in fact. In a hell of a lot better spirits than he had been lately.
She hadn't made any attempt to fool him. Daksh had hurt her badly. It was plain to Jai that Daksh had tried, to get back to her. but Daksh did not really know the true Bani Dixit. The woman was stubborn enough to impress a mule. Once she made up her mind on something, that was it.
It irritated Jai that Bani was not married. He had fully expected her to have a dozen kids by this time in her life. She always loved children. Most men, Jai realised had passed Bani over with little more than a glance. That irritated him even more.
The problem, if he could even call it that, was that she was plain and studious. She was not un appealing but she just didn't find it necessary to be hip and modern. She did not stop traffic and she was no beauty queen. To be honest he too did not find her that attractive, but he did not look at her in that light. She was a friend, just that.
What few realised, what few took time to see, was Bani's warm heart and generous spirit. He had never known a more giving woman. What she said about being shy was true, even though he laughed it off. Yet she had spunk and spirit. Enough to stand up to him, which was no easy thing.
Jai rolled back his chair and headed down the hallway with rare determination.
"Rohan", he said, striding purposefully into the doorway of the office. "have you got a minute?".
"sure. What's up?"
Jai had never played the role of matchmaker, and he wasn't exactly sure where to start. "there's someone I want you to meet".
'Oh" Rohan did not look very excited.
"a friend of mine" Jai explained.
"widowed, or divorced?"
"single"
Rohan's brows arched towards the ceiling.
"you mean a left-over girl".
Jai wasn't comfortable thinking of Bani as a left-over girl, but this wasn't the time to argue the point. "we went to high school together"
"High school? exactly how old is she"?
"twenty eight. I was her senior – by 4 years.
"she is not married?', what is wrong with her", Rohan asked his voice suspicious. "what's the matter with her?"
"Nothing, she is one of the nicest people your are ever likely to meet".
"no. thanks Jai"
"you haven't heard anything about her", Jai protested.
"I have heard enough.
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
O Humnava Tum Dena Saath Mera
Anupamaa
Cricket
