Bani stood waiting from them to disperse, she did not want them to feel she was prying, instead she heard uncleji calling out to her, come Bani, lets sit in the study and Tony get us some tea and things to nibble, Bani and I are going to have a long chat……
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As Mr Walia settled in the study, Bani looked around, the study once again reflected good taste and contained several books on art of various forms, including theatre, cinema, dance forms etc, the study also had framed photographs of various scenes of theatre & cinema….
Come Bani make yourself comfortable, uncleji called out….
Bani sat on the chair opposite him at the desk, a servant walked in putting down tea and various looking snacks…..as he left pouring their tea, uncle gave a half smile, I think you must be wondering where I have landed, why have I landed here and what am I supposed to do here….
Bani smiled well you seemed to read people well, she replied candidly….
It comes with age and experience ….Bani let me tell you something about myself…..
Bani sipped the tea and waited, yes she has been waiting to hear about him all these years….
Bani, as you must have guessed I am an art enthusiastic, an art lover and a collector….I can also paint and draw a bit but nothing exceptional, being a son of a rich man I had the money to indulge but soon discovered my talents were not exceptional so instead I turned into a collector or what you call a dealer….I must say I had eye for a good piece, I soon made this into my profession, I hobnobbed with the rich and famous, mixed around in the elite society. I am also known for my discretion while making deals as you must be knowing many people do not like to flaunt and believe in making discreet purchases away from the prying eyes of tax collectors and other authorities…..
I travelled across the world and during one such trip I met my wife Krishna….
Bani looked at his face, her mother's name was Kiran, Kiran Dixit…not Krishna, so as she guessed….
Krishna was a stage artist, odissi dancer and a beauty. She had the ability to charm an eight to eighty year old and I was young. After a short & intense courtship we got married, my family was not happy as Krishna belonged to an ordinary family and they did not want an actress as a Bahu. I was earning enough and Krishna would only boost my career, she was a good hostess and what more did I want. She and I got married in the temple with few friends as invitees.
Our married life began smoothly. She was busy with her career and I executed some big deals. Money was flowing, through my contacts I introduced Krishna to some film people. She soon appeared for a screen test and was selected.
Uncleji paused, taking a sip of tea he thought for a while….Krishna was very talented but then some things are not meant for you even if you have talent and in those days films were made in different ways, people were not very organized, Krishna was having problems in adjusting, theatre was much more disciplined with proper rehearsals and so was dance, she was upset, in the meantime it was also discovered she had become pregnant, we had a talk, I convinced her to keep the baby and give it a shot after delivery.
She agreed and stayed back home, her pregnancy was difficult, doctors advised bed rest, Krishna became miserable, she wanted me to stay at home to give her company, I was also thrilled on the prospect of becoming a father, gave her company as much as I could.
Bani you should realize in those days there was no mobile phones and phone calls were at a premium. My business did take some toll but then fatherhood had its joys. Once our son was born I went back to do my business in full force, set up an art gallery too while Krishna now free from her confinement started looking for work. In our country a married woman and a mother have slim chances of getting main roles, she was no longer given the lead roles in theatre, she once again tried films but then it did not suit her temperament. She became unhappy, I asked her to take up dancing instead but as a classical dancer you need hours of practice and shows are few, with a small baby time was limited.
My business was growing I could not spare the amount of time she wanted from me. One day I realized Krishna had become sick. The doctor said acute depression, she was unable to take care of herself and our son too. My business was growing and desperately needed someone to control my household. Several nurses and maids came and went Krishna liked no one. The sickness was becoming bad to worse, I had to admit her in the hospital briefly. My life became miserable, saddled with a small child, wife hospitalized, business being affected….my family too had some changes, my parents passed away brothers were fighting amongst themselves over property and they also looked at my approach with suspicion. Krishna's family did whatever they could do but then everybody had their own life to lead, own family to take care, when Krishna came home a young nurse accompanied her, her name was Kiran.
Bani sat up.
Kiran soon set my house in order, she hired Tony. Though Kiran looked young, she was almost 30, around the same age as Krishna. Krishna seemed to be very fond of her. I too started feeling relaxed. Things at home were being taken care and what more a man can want. I soon realized that alongwith Krishna our son was also being looked after by Kiran. He seemed to be very fond of her. Kiran was always up for me when I returned at night, specially after late night engagement…Mr Uday Walia paused….
Bani curled her fists…..
Once I returned home, she updated me about my family and as the days went by I too also informed Kiran about my work, my day and my meetings. She heard them with great interest. Infact even in front of Krishna on days when I happened to return in time, we chatted. Krishna listened. She too was coming around and taking interest, we decided to celebrate the birthday of our son and it was Kiran who played a big role in organizing everything.
After the celebration, I realized things were changing, I did not know why but I found Kiran a bit stiff in my presence, she avoided me incase Krishna was around and one day after I returned late, she opened the door alright but was on her way back to her room, I stopped her….
What is wrong with you I asked….
She replied nothing….I am fine…
I feel you are avoiding me…
Well no, nothing like it, it is just that….
Come sit I have got something to tell you, I have just come after executing the biggest art deal in think of this decade in the history of this country….she smiled and congratulated me, I poured her a drink and started narrating how it went, the excitement and the pleasure of sharing your success….just then Krishna screamed….yes yes of course I see a cozy love nest building up at my expense, Kiran scurried to her room and I had the worst show down of my life with Krishna.
Krishna had seen me talking with some of my female clients even at times flirting with them. It was harmless and she knew I was interested in doing business only. I failed to understand why she reacted the way she did. Next day I called Kiran from the Art Gallery to apologise, she said she did not mind as it was part of Krishna's illness….but isn't she recovering, I asked….
Yes she is but you should realise it is also part of the process, one good day and another bad day. Kiran said.
In the house when we stayed we avoided each other or spoke with each on safe topics, like what medicines are required to be purchased, stationery of the kid etc…..
Then one day I fell sick, it was the virus infection going around in the city, I returned with high fever. After about 2 days I woke up one night to see Kiran sitting at the chair, as I sat up she got up, do I need something she asked...water I said…..
She got me water, I thanked her and said what would I have done without her help, she smiled 'nobody is indispensible Mr Walia she replied…Maybe due to sickness I had become very sentimental, I caught her hand and replied Kiran I left home for a woman and it pains me to see the woman suffering and my dream home shattering. Kiran with her immense maturity explained everything to me, she explained how it was being difficult for Krishna once a beauty and sought after actress feeling not wanted, it is not something I did not know but the way she explained gave a different meaning all together. Suddenly we realized dawn was breaking, I held her hand to convey my gratefulness when Krishna came inside my room, due to my illness she was sleeping with our son, seeing me in that position she screamed, mere hi bedroom me you have the guts to do these things, I tried to explain her that it was only appreciation but Krishna did not want to listen, she gets paid well enough and it is her job, needless to say Kiran served her notice and left in the evening. I was sorry to let her go but then she explained there is no point in instigating a sick person, it will only worsen the situation. I saw her point.
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I gained a friend that night. She knew my family and my weaknesses. She knew my vulnerability. Kiran went back working in the hospital, we met regularly, more than she needed me I needed her as Krishna was swinging between recovery and sickness, after Kiran left it was Tony who took over the household more or less with an old nurse helping at times when Krishna became sick. Krishna now had problems if she caught me speaking to any women, of any age group. I had to stop entertaining people at home, instead chose to travel a lot, I dedicated my life to my work, concentrated on building up my house, not home mind you as the mistress of the house had now little interest, she lived in her own imaginary world, when well went out looking for acting jobs but who would take her, even if they took her it was for side roles or at times when the actress doing it fell sick, same story with cinema, at times she got a show for her dancing but many a times failed to keep commitment as again she fell sick, I was forced to send our son to boarding school at a very tender age, the home atmosphere was not conducive for a small child. Krishna hated my this step but it was the best option I had. It also gave me another reason to go out of town frequently to be with him during weekends…
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A few years passed in this manner, to celebrate the 6th birthday of our son, I suddenly made a plan to go to Disneyland, Krishna was much better and I saw the opportunity to make mother and son bond and Disneyland was a safe place for family bonding. We flew out within 2 days of making the plan and to be very frank it was one of the best holidays I was having. One afternoon when Krishna was resting, I realized that in a hurry I had failed to inform Kiran about our sudden holiday. I immediately made a call at her hospital to be told that she had taken a day off as she was not well. I thought of making a call at the working girls hostel she stayed but then realized the phone was in the reception and if she was not well she had to come down the stairs and knowing Kiran she must be really not well as otherwise she was very regular and dedicated person. I thought of calling her later at a convenient time obviously when Krishna was busy elsewhere. Somehow it did not happen and I did not get another opportunity, we were back after 15 days via Europe and took another 2 to 3 days to settle down, Tony in the meantime had told me that Kiran had called me up during my absence asking about my whereabouts. I thought it is natural after all it never happened before I was absent for this long without any information to her, though she seldom made calls at home because of Krishna it was natural of her to be concerned and she knew Tony was a discreet sort of person.
After two days, after we settled down from our trip, I made a call to her hospital only to be told Kiran has resigned. I was amazed she was doing very well, well I do know she got several offers but somehow she loved this place and why was this sudden decision for Kiran was a very level headed matured woman. I waited for some days for her to contact as I knew Kiran would contact me once she settled down in her new place but then she did not….Uncle paused …..he drank water and fiddled with a paperweight for sometime….
Bani waited patiently for him to continue….after a month or two I used my clout to trace Kiran. My contacts made some discreet enquiries to inform me that Kiran was not in Mumbai for sure, of course she left the hostel too but then I had thought she had taken up residence near to her new place of work. I failed to understand her this move. From my knowing Kiran I knew she would do nothing under impulse so I was a bit upset. India is a big country with high population, where will I search for her and she might go abroad even, specially in the gulf region, it was opening up with immense opportunities, then I thought Kiran definitely wants to remain hidden otherwise she would have contacted. I had found out there was no major problem with the administration of the hospital, infact they were upset to lose her, she was slated to be the head matron as the existing one was about to retire. After a lot of thought I decided to keep abandon my search after all Kiran was not a kid or insane, she would contact me when she deems it fit.
Uncleji took a deep breath, she contacted me after few years, I mean she did not contact me but the authorities of the hospital did, through a phone call first made during her last stages and then a letter requesting me to look after her daughter in her absence…..By the time I flew down to pay her a visit it was very late, I only got the letter……
Fan Fictions
