Farewell ... Part 15 pg. 30 Updated END - Page 19

'Arrey Bani, you are hardly eating anything', Jai said, looking up from his plate, sensing his ex-wife's eyes on him.

Bani quickly averted her gaze and stated picking the food on her plate. 'No no. I will eat now. I am just feeling tired. Nothing more'

'Or is there something that you want to say but you are unable to bring up the subject?' Jai asked her quizzically, 'You tell me whatever you feel like Bani, I am all ears. I am well aware of the fact that these past years have not been easier for either of us and for Krishnaa too. And as parents, we are at fault'

Bani gazed down intently at her plate and sighed 'Mr. Walia, lets finish Lunch first. We can talk later. Who knows when we will ever get a chance again to ...' the question died in her throat. She studiously kept her head down, fighting the tears that were threatening to spill through.

Jai looked at her thoughtfully and gauged her words, which sent ripple shocks through his entire being. He nodded his head and went back to the food, 'By the way Bani, you are a much better cook now'. That earned him a soft smile, which he guessed he saw playing along her lips.

Slipping into easy camaraderie, the two of them talked about a number of other things – his business, her work, politics in Mumbai, politics in Kolkata, weather in their respective cities, family members and what not. These three years and more had surely taught them wonderful things about beating around the bush.

By the time they finished lunch, it was already 3 o'clock. As Bani busied herself in the kitchen, stacking dishes and clearing bowls and stuff, Jai tiptoed back to the bedroom. Kishu was still sleeping peacefully, but did she usually sleep so long Jai thought? He sat down beside the sleeping child and lovingly removed the wisps of hair that was spread all over her forehead. Yes, Kishu resembles Bani a lot, Jai thought, that forehead, that stubborn chin, those lips, that cute snub nose …

'Babies change when they grow up, Mr. Walia and sometimes they go after both parents', Bani said softly, almost in a whisper. Jai was so engrossed in Kishu, that he had hardly heard her coming. He smiled back at Bani who now pottered around the room, doing one thing or the other, to make it presentable. A warm feeling enveloped Jai's chest as he saw Bani and Krishnaa in the same perspective, oh, what wouldn't he do to be here with them, to lead a simple life, to work in a 9 to 5 firm, get shouted upon, and what not. The price would be too great of course, his entire fame, name, wealth, status, family prestige and most of all the business – that business which made him feel worthwhile, the business which he had built from scrap with his toil, blood, sweat and effort. But still at the end of the day, does a business make up for the loss of ones loved ones, Jai mused. And Bani was hardly someone who would concur with him on these, since she had so vehemently safeguarded his business, property, status when she was still his wife.
………..

A few minutes later, Jai was woken up from his power snooze by Bani. Though it felt that he was asleep for only a few minutes, Jai saw on the contrary that the clock hands now read 3.50 p.m.

Bani said with an air of finality 'Mr. Walia I am sorry to wake you up, but we need to talk, before Kishu wakes up'.

Jai nodded his head in understanding and followed Bani into the living room.

Bani was standing in front of the balcony, her arms folded around her. Jai knew the significance of that sign – Bani was feeling vulnerable and alone and lost, but she was not going to accept it any cost. Jai went and stood beside her, his gaze fixated on her face.

Bani turned back to him and asked in a hushed tone 'Mr. Walia, what are you expecting from all this?'.

An arm's distance between the, seemed like the distance between several thousand million light years.

Jai whispered back 'I don't know Bani, I don't know. I only know that my life has fallen apart after you left me.'

'From what I gather Mr. Walia, situations forced us apart, and I was forced to leave', Bani replied.

Jai came closer to her and said 'I know Bani, it was not your fault. I wish I had acted more maturely during that phase. How a moment's weakness can destroy someone's life, please ask me someone. And Krishnaa … I wasn't even aware of her existence, till two days back. Why did all this happen to me? Every time I try to start life afresh, some blunders and hindrances come in my path, and everything gets destroyed. Do you understand how much this kills me? The harsh reality of life forcing me to stay away from the two people in the world, I love and cherish the most, do you think its easy? Tell me Bani'.

Bani tuned away from Jai again 'I have nothing to tell you Mr. Walia. Much as I would love to see things in a different perspective, I cant offer you anything. I can understand your pain, at least I am trying to, and I don't really blame you for everything. Things just happened cos they were just meant to happen. But I don't want either Kishu or me to be drawn into that quagmire again. I hate to see the man whom I love with my entire being feeling like this, but sorry I don't know how to help. You tell me.'

Jai circled her and came and stood in front of her 'Bani, much as I want you back in my life, I don't know how to say this? And then there's Kishu, our first-born. I wish there was some opening but I cant find any. Still Bani, if you think fit …'

Cutting off his words, bani said 'Mr. Walia, I don't want to be your Mistress under any condition.

Her statement was received with a thundering slap on her face by Jai.

'Mistress??', he thundered 'Do you think this is what I have been propositioning to you?'

Bani simply stood frozen at her place, shock written all over her face.

Jai continued distractedly 'I was thinking of asking you to consider the fact that we could get married again and start our lives anew'

'And leave your now-pregnant wife in the lurch, like it happened with me', Bani replied back sharply. 'Mr. Walia, I am not Pia though she is my sister unfortunately. I don't intend to practice what she had propagated, and I would tell the same thing to you too. She's your wife after all.'

With an angry expression on his face, Jai strode to where Bani was standing and held both her arms in a strong and firm grasp, "Wife, did you tell Wife? Do you have any inkling as to what relationship we share? Of course, how would you. You thought that while I share a perfect husband-wife relationship with Pia, I was asking you to stay connected with me. Do you know that the child that Pia is carrying is the result of IVF and that for once also I have not touched her, after you left?'

Bani freed herself from Jai's grasp and said 'What difference does any of it make now anyway? The water has rolled off to a different place. Immaterial of your personal relationship with your wife, she still remains your wife and the baby will still carry your genes. Its not the mistake of that child you see'

'Then what is Kishu's mistake that she will have to stay away from her Father forever?'. Jai bellowed.

Bani looked at Jai with teary eyes 'Nothing, that's why I don't want that other child to suffer too. If we try to rectify this situation things will get muddled up more. To give my daughter her rightful place in the world, much as she deserves it, I cant take away that right from an yet unborn child. And anyways, we were lost to everybody till date. It will be difficult but we should let life take its own course. We don't belong to each other Mr. Walia and it was never meant to be',

………..