Happy Independence Day!
Part 14
'Dad where are you?" Jai heard his daughter almost screaming in the cell phone.
"Chill Krishy…just about to pack up and head home," Jai replied calmly.
"Chill…did you pay attention to time…It's almost seven! You do remember…it's the big night…the DINNER!"
Jai laughed, Krishna sounded just like how his mother used to when she berated him for things that upset her. "Yes honey I know. As long as you guys are ready when I get home…we shall not be late." Jai answered soothingly.
"But dad…I need help…I was planning to wear a sari." He heard Krishna wail now.
"Whoa Krishy…sari. I don't know how to put one of those on. It's not department. Anyway why do you want to wear a sari…its just a casual…get to know evening I had planned…you don't have to impress anyone honey. Bani…she wouldn't care what you wore…just put on your fav jeans instead."
"No! I wear jeans all the time. I want to wear a sari…lots of women wear saris you know!"
"Yes…but they know how to tie one of them on…I am clueless…unless you want to take it with you and than you can ask Bani to show you…" Jai answered back, slightly exasperated.
"Oh…fine. Bye!" He heard the click as Krishna cut off the call. Phew! He blew a deep breath out. Jai couldn't understand why Krishna wanted to wear sari to impress Bani, it wasn't as if Bani was conservative…she would have a heck of a time being single mom with her brood of six kids. He just hoped tonight would go off smoothly. It wasn't as if he wasn't nervous…hell who wouldn't be at the prospect of having to care for twelve kids…most men would run off to the artic than face the challenge…but he loved Bani…and he had liked her daughter Ganga and if the others were as half decent as Ganga than it should not be too bad.
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Jai pulled his Jeep into the usual parking spot reserved for management. The Orchids was a five star restaurant and owned by his best friend Shankar Mahdev. There had been no problem asking for a private room to be reserved for him, but a few eyebrows had been raised when he had said he was going to be entertaining twelve kids for the night. In fact Shankar had joked that he would drop in and check out if he really was entertaining kids or few nubile maids.
Atharva , Krishna, Tanav, Jiya, Anandi and Amar got out of the jeep and waited at the side. Jai smiled as he looked at their serious faces. "Hey…smile guys, don't look so glum. I am sure Bani and her kids are just as nervous. Remember its just a fun night to meet them."
"yeah…be buddy buddy with kids you have never seen in your life!" Tanav pulled a face as he finished speaking.
"Well…I am dying to meet Bani. I mean I am going to meet a real artist…someone who has had her work shown at the gallery. I hope she give me some tips. Or even better she invites me to her studio for lesson." Anandi couldn't keep her bubbling excitement hidden any longer. Ever since she learned of Bani's passion for painting and that in fact she had a successful run at the gallery in Delhi…Bani had become Anandi's idol.
Jai put his arms around Anandi's shoulder, "I am sure you will Anandi…but tonight no badgering her about giving painting classes. We both just want a chance to meet each other's kids."
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As the large wooden doors leading into the private room opened, Bani and the kids stopped and turned and looked towards the door. Jai walked towards her, a grin spreading across his face, his children trooped after him. A pin drop silence fell as Jai stopped a few feet away from Bani. The kids eyed each other warily, each of them staring at the other, trying to gauze some form of opinion. Suddenly the silence was broken by an eruption of sharp croaking sound. Jeevan opened his hands and Freddie took a leap falling on the floor and than leaping off and landing on Anandi's foot.
Anandi stared horrified at the slimy green blob staring up at her. She let out a scream, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…." The frog leapt up again landing on Atharva's feet who immediately kicked his leg, sending the frog flying and landing on top of Krishan's head. It croaked loudly again. "OH…oh…get the thing off my head daddddddddddddd…." Krishna wailed and brushed roughly on the top of the head. Freddie decided to evacuate and jumped off again.
"Get that damn frog someone…" Tanav hollered. A pandemonium broke as Arjun, Vikash, Amar, Anandi and Yash set off after the leaping Freddie. Bani glared in the direction of Jeevan, who stood with a humongous grin plastered on his face and hi fiving giggling Jiya's hand.
"I knew…it would be fun! Freddie knows how to have fun…hehehe…" pointing at Krishna whose face had turned red, "he jumped on top of your head…too funny. Girls hate frogs…but me love frogs…and Ji too. He is our bestest of friend."
Jai dropped his head back and laughed out loud, "Your friend indeed knows how to have fun young man. So…what is your name?" Jai asked, stepping up to Jeevan.
"I am called Jeevan…and this my twin sis…Jiya. We are Bani's little babies…well that is what she calls us…don't you mom?" Jeevan gave Bani a sheepish grin.
Jai arched his brow as he gazed at Bani. "Hmmm…I think your mom is not very happy with her little baby at the moment."
Jeevan peeked a look at Bani's face, "I know…she will pretend to be mad when we get home…" and than leaning close to Jai he whispered animatedly, "But she doesn't stay mad for long."
Jai tousled Jeevan's head and straightened up and winked at Bani. "I guess the ice is broken. I wasn't sure how the kids would react but I must say Freddie certainly knew had a plan."
Bani shook her head impatiently, "Please…don't encourage him Mr Walia…God knows where the frog has disappeared. Good thing we are not out there in public…I don't the restaurant manager would have approved of screaming and upset diners."
"Dad…" Krishna tugged at Jai's arm. "How about making some introduction!" she hissed as Jai turned and looked at her.
TBC…
Cricket
