FF: Incomplete Life .... Chapter 16-20

Chapter 16:

He felt good. He felt better than good in fact---he felt great. And he hadn't felt like this in a long, long time. He observes the festivity of the holiday before him with a small smile playing on his lips. He watches his son giggle in joy as he smears his family members one by one in mischief. And in return, each smothers him in color as well, covering him head to toe with all the colors of the rainbow. Jai chuckles fondly at the sight and feels his chest swell with pride while looking on at his son, who was beginning to appear more and more beautiful to him by each passing day. How is it that he could have ignored the most precious thing that he has in his life? How could he have neglected his duties toward his son as his father? He had been so consumed in his own self-pity that he has distanced all of his loved ones away from him these past couple of years. This isn't the person he used to be or ever wanted to be. Perhaps it is time for him to get a grip on his life and bring things back on track. He cannot make things how they used to be, but at least he can set them right.

"Kya baath hai, Jai? Tum baut khush lagare ho…," Aditya, his longtime friend, questions him with a thump on his back and a raise of his brow. Jai throws him a grin once turning to him.

"You know what Adi…. I think I am….," he answers with all honesty. He was beginning to feel content with himself. Here he is, amongst all of his loved ones, and actually enjoying himself and partaking in the celebratory atmosphere. It all feels right.

"Cheers to that!" Aditya exclaims with a wide smile while handing over a glass of bhang, which Jai accepts and holds in his hand.

Looking back to the view before him, Jai finds the cause for his momentary happiness in the form of his wife, who runs after her younger sister with the motive of catching her. She reaches her in fast strides and covers her face with yellow powder, making Rano groan and make faces. Bani throws back her head and giggles to her heart's content before wrapping her arms around a peeved Rano in effort of making peace. His features soften as he gazes at her with a certain tenderness in his eyes. His mind drifts away to old memories in which he remembers many Holis where he had partaken in the holiday with full spirits. Bani had always been his main target as she proved to be a fun challenge….but that had been before.

"Kahan kogaye ho tum, Jai?"

Jai is knocked out of his brief walk down memory lane and looks over to his inquisitive friend, who observes his sudden distant behavior despite being so near. He simply shakes his head.

"Kahin nahin…," he brushes off before returning his gaze in front of him as Aditya continues to recount a story to him which he held no interest in. His eyes search for his wife once again and find her now playing with their son.

Yash tugs on her hand, dragging her with him for her to follow. Bani keeps close on his tail in order to keep up with him. The wind in the air breezes by gently, carrying the dust of color with it. Bani lifts her arm in order to shield her eyes from the dust, stopping briefly in her tracks. It begins to breeze again and it wafts around her, her saree flailing along in the direction of the wind. As Bani attempts to keep her dress in control, Jai straightens from his leaning posture on the tree behind him and his throat runs dry as his eyes fall onto the sight of her exposed slim stomach tantalizing him with its seemed soft, silky texture. Burning heat fuses into him as he finds he cannot take his eyes away. He feels blood rush through his veins as his ears fill with the drumming of his chest. It isn't until his wife makes herself decent again, covering her midriff, and resuming in following after their son that he knocks himself out of it. But even then he cannot stop his eyes from lingering on after her….

"Kya yaar, I did not give you the drink so you can simply just hold it. Get in the mood, man," Aditya prods while sipping on his own glass. Jai, startled, turns to face Aditya, hot-faced, and dumbly nods before consuming the drink in one go to ease his unexpected jumpy nerves….

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Bani had been explaining to Yash that he played enough and it was now time to go inside when she felt a sudden warmth from behind her and turned only to crash into her husband, who steadies her by gripping onto her arms. She holds in her breath as she grows self-conscious of their close proximity and by his hovering face, only inches from hers. Her heart strums fast by the handsome appearance he makes as the sun's rays settle on him. She can see that his once harsh, rigid features have now visibly softened and the corners of his mouth no longer stiff, but relaxed into a small smile. She continues to gaze at him, awestruck by this difference in him, until she sees him grin boyishly and her son screech, "Papa! Play! Yash no wanna go inshide!"

Her husband looks away from her and settles his attention on their son. He fondly ruffles his hair while looking down at him.

"Then come, let's play…. We will have Mama play with us too," he slurs over his words, attracting his wife's immediate attention to him.  "Mama shay go inshide….," Yash pouts while giving a lingering look to his mother, who begins to frown. Bani's close inspection of her husband is cut short when Jai places a hand on the small of her back, his warm fingers pressing into her bare skin. She looks up into his dark, gray eyes that shine brightly at her.

"Come on, Bani…. Holi isn't over yet…. Besides, this is Yash's real first Holi," Jai finds himself arguing in the defense of his son.  Judging by the haze that has taken over him, Bani concludes that her husband isn't quite himself.  

"Nahi… bus… If Yash plays any longer, he will catch a cold from all the water… Aap bhi andaar aaiye… Baut maaza hogaya ….," she smoothly tells him whilst freeing herself from his tight hold. It is now Jai's turn to frown at her.

"Kya yaar, … why have you become into a spoiled sport? Holi hai--let's have some fun" he declares while bringing her into his side once more, his arm back around her. Even though it is nice to see this lightheartedness in her husband after so long, she knows if she doesn't get him to lie down soon he will surely succumb to his intoxication that is steadily settling in him.

"Jai… you are drunk," she calmly explains to him while moving his arm up to her shoulder and gripping onto his torso as he leans heavily into her side.

"What nonsense… I am not drunk….," he stubbornly refutes as he dazedly looks around him at all the various colors.

Not wanting their son to see his father in this way, Bani informs Yash that he may play for a little longer but she will return to get him. Delighted by his mother's permission, Yash runs off in the other direction leaving both of his parents behind.

"Now where has he run off to?" Jai mumbles his question while looking on in the direction Yash had sprinted in.

"Forget about him… We are going inside…," Bani breezily tells him while leading him to the garden doors. Jai swings his head in her direction. "We are? How come?"

"Jai, you can barely stand on your own…. How much bhang did you have to drink?"

"I dunno… I lost count after the fourth or fifth….," he casually quips while resting his arm on Bani's shoulders as his support.

"Who told you to drink so many?" she asks him in surprise, never having seen her husband get this sloshed in some time.

"Are we really going inside? It isn't even over yet….," Jai states, ignoring her question, while looking over his shoulder at the festival behind him.

"It is over for you…."

"Who are you, my mother?"

"I might as well be," she remarks under her breath before taking Jai inside. She lies him down on their bed and covers him with the duvet. After mild protests, her husband began to settle down and close his eyes. She releases a relieved sigh as she watches him snooze. A small smile tugs on her lips and she reaches out to brush away the strand of hair resting against his forehead. She chuckles to herself from his completely different, yet amusing behavior and finding him just about adorable right now. However, that is short-lived when she realizes that she will now have to get the bed sheets washed that have now been smeared by his colored clothing….

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Jai woke up an hour or so later to find his wife vigorously drying their son's hair with a towel in her hands after having changed Yash into a fresh, clean set of clothes. He groggily rose, sitting up on his bed and ran his fingers through his hair only to see colored powder descend from his head. Confused by this, he peers down at himself and notices that he is covered head to toe in color and had fallen asleep unchanged.

"Good, you are awake. The shower is free so you can use it. The water isn't so warm though….with everyone showering and all….," he hears Bani explain breezily and looks in her way, noting that she is freshly clean herself, now draped in an emerald green saree.

"… What happened?" he inquires, feeling just about dazed and confused at this point.

"I'm guessing you were quite in the festive mood…. which is why you drank so much of the bhang… I brought you inside and made you lie down so it could run its course …."

He rubs at his eyes as he tries to attempt to get rid of the drowsiness in them. He groans. "How many did I drink?"

"I don't know… you tell me…."

"Papa, you no sleepy?" Yash questions after approaching him at the bed once his mother stops drying his hair by setting the towel aside.  

"No, beta… I'm awake now…," Jai mumbles his reply, still feeling the slight effect of the haze that had overcome him.

"Papa, you take me park?" Yash asks sweetly while staring at his father with his big eyes. Despite his state, Jai cannot help but smile softly at his son's request.

"Kiddo, for the past hour or two you have been running around like a monkey and you're telling me you still have energy to go to the park?"

"Yash, some other day, sweetie…. Papa still has to take a shower and change… Then we all have to eat… ," Bani carefully explains to the three-year-old.

Jai aims an impish grin in Yash's direction. "I'll take you on Sunday… How's that sound?" Yash immediately smiles in pleasure and just when Jai is about to tousle his son's hair fondly, his wife smacks his hand away.

"Oww."

"Don't even think about it… I just spent the last hour literally wrestling with him to take a bath and get cleaned…"

Yash giggles while Bani resumes back to clearing away her son's dirty clothes with Jai glowering at her for her smack. She walks back over to his bedside and whisks away the duvet, alarming Jai with the gush of cold air that attacks him.

"Now get up and take a shower…. I'm going to have to get these cleaned now by Tony….," Bani unmindfully says while shooing him off the bed so she can gather the bed sheets as well. Grouchily, Jai does as he is told and gathers his towel before heading into the bathroom. As he steps into the shower cubicle and soaks under the mildly warm water, his mind drifts back to the day's events.

Unnerved by what he was experiencing when he had seen his wife's exposed state, he had downed as many drinks as he could to get rid of the feeling. He grew uncomfortable of his wavering thoughts and wished he had never thought of them in the first place. He felt embarrassed and ashamed of himself in thinking of her in that manner. She may be a woman now and his wife, but she will remain the young girl he always knew before his eyes.

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"Good of you to finally join us, Jai. We have been waiting the past fifteen minutes for you. Ma refused to start lunch without you, saying that you are home so we all should eat together," Aditya pokes once a clean Jai appears at the table and takes his seat at the head chair.

"I was preoccupied…," Jai gives the lame excuse, turning his attention onto his plate which his mother fills with piles of food. She gives him an affectionate glance while running her hand softly down his thick hair. Jai meets her gaze, finding her sudden show of affection somewhat strange, yet enjoying this brief motherly love that he now realizes he has missed.

"Yes, preoccupied snoozing I hear….," Aditya sniggers. Krishna throws her son-in-law an admonishing look. "Aditya, now don't you bother my son in this manner… Poor boy hardly gets enough sleep in him anyway… with how they keep him so busy at the hospital," she rattles.

Anu giggles while saying, "Nani, I'd hardly call Mamaji a boy…." The rest at the table chuckle in unison over this; the mention of such a masculine and virile man as Jai referred to as a mere boy quite hilarious.

"Arre Anu Puttar, for a mother her children will always remain as little children…no matter how old they get," Dadi pitches in informatively.

"And even when their children have children themselves….," Jigyasa adds before aiming her mother an exasperated look at this.

"Yes, even when they have children as well," Krishna confirms while reaching out to her daughter and tapping her on her head.

"…. Ma, where is Bani …. and Yash?" Jai asks, wanting to sound casual, once noticing that there is no sign of either his wife or son around. Also taking into consideration that his mother is serving everyone when normally it is Bani who does.  

"Bani and Rano wanted to call their parents to wish them Holi… and Yash at the moment is speaking to his grandparents," his mother informs him while resuming in serving everybody.

"Kya yaar, tum aapni patni ki pallu chor… aur araam se kaao… As it is, your wife has been eating my head for giving you so much bhang to drink in the first place!" Aditya jokes, cracking his usual commentary at every opportune moment, especially on his friend---knowing that it will anyways be ignored. The rest of the family members stifle their giggles, always remaining cautious whenever Aditya decides to poke fun of Jai, not knowing how he will take it.

They are all in for a surprise when they see Jai wear a soft grin on his lips, his one dimple showing, and reply in his normal monotone voice, "I'll let go of mine when you let go of yours…."

There is a brief moment of absolute silence before they all howl with laughter whilst Aditya blushes red from his friend's blatant remark of being a henpecked husband. Jai's grin grows and remains thereon through the remainder of lunch as he listens in on his family's normal banter full of jokes, pranks, and laughter.

As Bani approached the dining room with her son and sister by her side, she slowed in her steps on seeing the sight before her…. her family causing their normal ruckus but this time her husband partaking in it as well….a small smile playing on his lips and his usual stiff features appearing relaxed and calm…. Such is the sight a polar opposite to how her husband normally is---cold and unresponsive. She blinks dumbly at this for a few seconds before her attention is averted to her son who dashes into the room toward the head of the table, jumping into his father's lap. Startled just for a temporary moment, Jai's smile broadens as he stares down at his son and offers him his plate of food. Bani, who is close to tears on witnessing the bridge between her husband and son finally becoming breeched, feels her sister nudge her and lead her over to the table to join everyone else. She sits down in her chair beside her husband's and watches the two with a look of endearment across her face. As she gazes at the two, Jai meets her eye and sees her give him a watery smile….

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"Mommy, I wanna do it! I wanna do it!" Yash exclaims urgently while reaching for the tray in his mother's hands. Bani raises the tray higher, trying to avoid her son's eager hands.

"Yash, not now honey. Once we go upstairs, I'll give it to you then, okay?"

Yash drops his hands back to his sides and pouts at his mother before letting out a resigned sigh. "Fine," he agrees rather grumpily, putting a slight smile onto Bani's face, who understands her son's impatience. Having woken up far earlier than he normally does, Yash accompanied his mother in preparing breakfast. However, it is no ordinary breakfast---one specifically made for his father as a surprise for his 34^th birthday.  It had been Yash's idea from the start, inspired by one of his friends from the park, who recounted the birthday breakfast she prepared for her mother along with her father. He was adamant in carrying out the idea which Bani implemented with all her efforts in order for her son to do something nice for his father.

Once getting to the top of the stairs and walking down the spacious hall leading down to the bedrooms, Bani heaves a sigh herself as she ponders over the past few days. Her husband was strangely distant from her since Holi---speaking to her in monosyllables and rarely looking at her. She wouldn't have been so hurt if it wasn't completely random and out of the blue. She could not understand his behavior for the life of her. She was thankful, however, that this sudden alternation in his demeanor did not apply to Yash. In fact, it seemed to her that both father and son were appearing to become closer by each passing day. Nowadays Yash would only eat by Jai's hands when he would make it on time for dinner from the hospital. Jai even took Yash out to the park himself on Sunday just as he promised and later treated him out. Jai certainly was growing a soft spot for their son---his earlier indifference thawing considerably.

"Momma, now I hold it?" Yash questions with enlarged, probing eyes. Casting him a ginger smile, she leans down to his height and carefully extends the tray to him. Yash, realizing the important task he has been given, holds onto the try for dear life. Looking up at his mother, he gives her a toothy smile before she ushers him into their bedroom, where the "birthday boy" will most presumably be sleeping.

True to the assumption, both Yash and Bani find Jai sleeping peacefully to himself on his stomach, sprawled onto the king sized bed with its covers thrown off. Bani places a finger to her lip, gesturing to Yash to stay quiet as they slowly inch close to his bedside. In a soft whisper, she counts down from three, preparing to awaken her slumbering husband who has his face buried deep within his pillow. 

"Happy Biwthday to you, …. Happy Biwthday to you, … Happy Biwthday Papa, … Happy Biwthday to you!" Yash leads the chorus of the song with his mother joining in. Bewildered, Jai snaps out of his sleep once hearing the singing and drowsily looks up from his pillow, his gray eyes landing on his wife and son, staring at them in puzzlement.

"Bani…..Yash?" Jai mumbles groggily while lifting his head up from the pillow and trying to make sense of what is happening so early in the morning. He glances over at his clock and stares at the blaring, red digits reading 7:13 AM.

"Happy Biwthday Papa…," Yash says rather shyly while extending the tray containing his father's breakfast. Jai eyes the tray of food---French toast, pancakes dripping with maple syrup, and scrambled eggs along with a tall glass of milk to the side. He remains stumped in his place as he hears his son's words and gapes at both Bani and Yash with bafflement.  

"Birthday?..." he finally stumbles a response as his initial surprise passes. It then hits him. It is his birthday. He has turned thirty-four today. He had completely forgotten.

"Yesh Papa, your birthday," Yash stresses while pointing at him, causing the tray to tip over and almost fall until Bani quickly takes a hold of it.

"Look at what your son has made for you…," Bani draws Jai's frazzled attention once again onto the food which she presents to him, placing it onto his lap.

"You… you did all this for me?" Jai breathes in further surprise, finding it hard to believe as till date no one has done anything for him as special as this.

"Uh-huh…," Yash confirms, nodding his head hurriedly. He stares searchingly at his father, who he had recently begun to idolize, seeing him reveling in his own shock and not responding in the way he had imagined.

"Papa… you no like it?" Yash hesitantly asks, crestfallen by the possibility of his father disliking what he had done for him. Snapping out of his dazed thoughts, Jai meets his son's wondering gaze and immediately easies his worries. "No, I love it, Kiddo… Thank you… I just can't believe you and your mother have done all this for me…," he replies, instantly feeling guilt surface on the thought of how his wife and son have gone out of their way to please him whereas he hasn't done a single thing to deserve it.

Yash giggles bashfully and smiles ear to ear, pleased to know that he has made his father happy. Jai grins at the adorable sight Yash makes and pats to the empty space beside him on the bed. "Come here…"

Yash eagerly climbs onto the mattress and settles down beside his father, who gathers him in a tight embrace and rubs fondly at his head with his knuckles, giving him a noogie.  He then startles both himself and Yash by planting a sound kiss on his head.

"This is by far the best birthday gift anyone has ever given me…," Jai admits to his son, who blushes in glee. Glancing to his right, where his wife stands by the bedside smiling at the two, Jai smiles meaningfully at her while saying graciously, "Thanks Bani…." Bani simply beams at him. He gestures to the available space on his other side, making his wife blush yet comply by sitting down next to him.

The next twenty or so minutes are spent with all three lavishing over the warm, well-cooked breakfast with Yash insisting on feeding both his parents and sharing small banters here and there led by the toddler. At the end of finishing the meal, Jai found himself grinning ear to ear and unable to get rid of the plastered smile on his face. He hadn't felt like this in a long time…. this feeling of warmth, content, and joy. And it all felt good.

Yash, after presenting his small, clumsily wrapped gift to his father, rushed out of the room within moments claiming that his favorite cartoon would be airing on the television in some time. Jai let him go willingly, at peace with the small, but precious time he had spent with him. He now stares down at the small box in his hand containing his gift.

"Aren't you going to open it?" his wife inquires after noticing him staring and not opening it. Urged by her words, Jai carefully tears open the wrapping and unravels his present. He observes the silver, stylish watch with an enlarged picture of the Disney character, Goofy (his son's favorite he has learned), in the center. Jai's lips crack into a wide smile and he chuckles to himself.

"The boy has good taste…," Jai states good-humoredly.

"He wanted to pick the absolute best for his Papa….And since Goofy is his favorite, he wanted you to have him too," Bani informs him, explaining the reasoning behind their son's gift to him.

Normally Jai would rather be caught dead than be seen wearing something so childish, but the thought and love his son put into choosing this gift for him touches his heart. Without another delaying moment, Jai straps the watch onto his wrist and admires it with his chest swelling with pride for his son.

"It looks good," Bani chips in while admiring the watch on him as well. Jai meets her gaze and together they laugh. Jai admires the watch for another minute before turning his attention onto his wife, who begins in clearing away the tray in silence. He hesitates for a few moments, his eyes following her every move, before carrying on with what he has wanted to say for some time now….

"Bani…."

"Hmm?"

 "…. I never did apologize to you for missing Yash's birthday… for missing out on nearly his whole life… and for missing out on everything in our family…," he finds himself saying with clarity to his wife. He sees her still in her actions and absorb in his words. A pausing moment later, she gives him a gentle smile.

"I do not hold any complaints against you, Jai… And whatever complaints I did have, you have made up for them... For now, let bygones be bygones… I am just happy that my son has his father…."

He returns the smile, appreciating her ungrudging character, something he has always liked about her. He begins to feel light; the guilt that previously consumed him easing down. She resumes in gathering the utensils and cleaning up any remaining mess caused by Yash. Gathering the tray in her hands, she gets ready to leave but is held back once more as she hears her husband call for her.

"Bani…"

"Ji?" She asks whilst turning around to look at him from her standing position.

"Thank you…," he says once more with gratitude for what she has done for him---creating a very memorable birthday for him to look back on. She gives a delicate smile while replying, "Happy Birthday Jai…"

As she leaves, her figure disappearing behind the door, his eyes follow on, looking after her longingly….

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Jai carried onto work in a cheerful mood that didn't go unnoticed by those around him. Coworkers, patients, and staff members all were equally taken aback by the strange, yet pleasant difference in Dr. Walia's usual gloomy mood. They were even witnessing him smiling for a change. Whatever magic that was working on him, they all hoped that it would last….

As Jai labored his day through work, his wife labored hers through cooking. Since it was her son's birthday, Krishna Walia wanted to make it special as she always does each year, that too, by cooking his favorite dishes. Taking into consideration of her son's previous distant behavior due to his first wife's death, no matter what Krishna did for his past birthdays didn't appease him. But this year she felt it would be different as she has seen some small, yet significant changes in him. At last he is slowly emerging from the cocoon he had wrapped himself in.

Though, this time, she has given the task of cooking her son's favorite meals to no other than his wife. Through her insistence, Krishna confided Bani in the kitchen with instructions equivalent to the height of the tallest mountains. Bani, lacking completely in the skill of culinary art, found herself in a real pickle. Her partner in crime, Tony, had been banned from the kitchen and Krishna remained with her throughout the day, not leaving her for even a second, making it impossible to place a call to the nearest restaurant. Having no choice but to oblige to her mother-in-law's commands, Bani set to work with her pallu folded into her pleaded skirt and fair arms covered in flour. She chanted any prayer that came to her mind, pleading to the Gods to miraculously turn the meals into delectable masterpieces to avoid facing disappointment from her mother-in-law.

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"Dr. Walia… your next patient, sir," the nurse informs him on entering his exclusive office. Jai looks up from his computer and nods at her. "Send her on in," he says after claiming the clipboard containing the patient's charts from the nurse. He returns his gaze onto the monitor screen, furiously typing down the details of his previous patient's diagnosis and prescription into the system. Once completing this, he turns his attention onto the clipboard of his next patient. Hearing his door open once more, he knows his patient has come.

"Alright, Miss Randheria, what seems to be the problem?" he immediately asks, the regular question he poses to each and every one of his patients.

"Well for one, Dr. House, I am very much offended by you addressing me in such way after what we shared…," he hears a distinctly familiar female voice remark dramatically. Looking up from the chart, Jai stares at the young woman standing at his doorway, placing a hand to her hip, and looking every bit the same as she did the last time she had been in his office two years ago—requesting inanely for stickers and lollipops. Overcoming his startle on seeing her again, that too after so long, Jai surprisingly finds himself welcoming her reappearance in his life and grinning by her words.

"No offense meant, Mandira," he says after reading her first name off her charts. "And how have you been as of late?"

"Ooooh, please, none of that Mandira nonsense. I feel like a real oldie when anyone calls me that. It's just Mandy. And I've been doing just fine, thank you! And I can say the same for you! You've actually cracked a smile, that too, within moments of my entry! I remember it being such a hard task to even make you say a single nice thing to me! And here you are, smiling at me!" she digs at him, making his smile grow.

"I see that you haven't changed a bit…," he observes by her still very much intact carefree attitude.

"Why? Are you disappointed, Doc? Did you expect for me to come in here like a prim and proper lady?"

He chuckles. "No, you are fine just the way you are. You've got spunk in you. I like that."

"Doctor, are you flirting with me?" She feigns a gasp and a blush. "Before this goes any further, I must tell you that I am engaged to be married. But then again, that doesn't necessarily mean I am taken," she adds with a suggestive wink.

Jai grins broadly at her. "And what unfortunate soul has been tricked into being married to you?"

"A doctor, actually! Imagine that! I've decided to marry one of you walking-talking zombies after all!  Well you would have been my original candidate, but since my spunky charm did not work on you back then, I had to proceed onto other eligible men in the meantime."

Jai laughingly replies, "Well I am glad. Perhaps some of his effect can rub off on you and you will not be so chatty. It will save your husband-to-be a migraine."

"I severely doubt that, Doc. He will be prescribing aspirin for himself well into our sixties…," she ends with a laugh of her own which Jai shares in on.

"Well enough of me. What about you? I think it would be more appropriate of me to start calling you Dr. McDreamy with this new found attitude you've got…. The past couple of years have done well for you," she adds with a sincere smile. Jai simply gives an enigmatic smile, refusing to indulge details of his own life to a stranger, even if she is friendly.

"It's a woman, isn't it?" she presses on for some juicy details from the doctor, whom has changed drastically from what she had known him to be—both physically and mentally.

"And what makes you say that?" he asks, slightly puzzled by this.

"Someone very special in your life has brought this change in you. I can see it clearly. And there is no way that you can deny it because I won't believe a single thing you will say!"

Jai considers this reasoning for behind his altering personality, which she has just brought to his notice, and thinks on the impact Bani has recently had on his life. He will not deny that she has had a significant role in changing his perspective on the way of his life around.

"Believe whatever you want but you will have to cut your rambling short while I have to carry on with your checkup…," he tells her before reaching for one of the tongue depressors. At the end of their appointment, after prescribing medication for her cold, Jai takes a hold of the sticker and lollipop jar and offers it to her.

"You can choose whichever you want… You may even take two if you'd like… Think of it as my personal congratulations for your impending wedding….," he says with a polite grin.

"Ah, a dream come true! This would have worked well with me back then… but seeing that I am two years older and on the threshold of becoming a married woman, I'm going to have to decline…"

"Really? I had thought that your love for stickers and lollipops would never change…" Jai states with sheer surprise of her refusal.

"Well maybe not the lollipops," she replies with a pleased giggle before reaching for one with child-like delight. Jai sees her off with a lasting smile, her visit furthering his already good mood. Looking down at his new Goofy watch, he notes that he should head on home if he wants to make it to dinner on time.

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Jai made it home two hours after dinner time despite his best efforts to arrive earlier. Due to his irregular work hours, his family had stopped holding party functions for him never knowing when he had the free time to come and actually attend them. Now they made do with wishing him happy birthday and giving him gifts, which they do early morning when they get the chance.

Jai is taken aback on seeing his mother still awake, loitering by the front hall, most likely waiting for him. He meets her gaze and sees a spark in her eyes as a smile crosses her lips. She approaches him.

"Tum aagaya beta? … How was work?" she inquires while taking his briefcase and white coat from him. Jai rubs on his shoulder, hoping to ease his tensed muscles after a long day at work.

"Ma, what are you doing up? You are normally asleep at this time… And where is Bani?" he briskly asks, neglecting to answer his mother's question. He looks around to catch any sight of his wife who is the one that waits on him despite his continuous refusal, saying that she has university in the mornings and needs all the sleep she can get.

"I couldn't go to sleep without seeing you one last time on your birthday…. Now come with me, I have something for you," she urges while taking a hold of his arm and leading him further inside the mansion. She takes him to the dining room where he sees a whole meal laid out for him at his seat and his wife standing idly by, giving him a meek smile.

"Look, Bahu has made all of your favorites herself… just for you," Krishna exclaims with a wide smile. Jai seeks his wife's eyes on hearing this and sees a blush creep into her cheeks as she averts her gaze elsewhere.

"Now come and sit down. She has been cooking since afternoon preparing all this only for you and even has made your favorite sweet dish…." Krishna adds while patting on her son's chair. Jai remains standing where he is, gazing at the food before him with a mixed mind. He casts another look in his wife's direction.

"Arre beta, what are you waiting for? Come…," she beckons to him. Jai takes the needed steps forward and seats himself down at his rightful chair, his eyes examining the meals closely. He turns to look at Bani, standing some feet away from him.

"You've prepared this?" he questions, seeking confirmation. He watches as Bani bites down on her lower lip before nodding her head slowly. His brows rise from this and he stares back at the food with dreaded anticipation.

"What are you asking her for? I have told you already, na… Now eat up and tell Bahu how you like it. She has been waiting…," Krishna encourages and watches her son attentively reach for the spoon beside him and scoop up the food slowly. Bani looks on nervously as he places the spoon into his mouth and chews softly. A silence unfolds that only adds to Bani's current distress.

"Well… how is it?" his mother asks, breaking the existing silence. Jai looks to his mother and lightly smiles. "It is good."

"It is good or really good?"

"It is really good," Jai answers, bringing a pleased smile onto his mother's face and a dumbfound look on Bani's.

"Accha? Then let me try some… I haven't tasted it yet since I thought of waiting for you to eat first…," Krishna begins to explain as she reaches out for Jai's plate. She is surprised, though, when Jai moves the plate out of his mother's way hastily.

"Eer… No, Ma… I am very hungry… I missed lunch as well… Let me eat and you go on to bed," he offers the reasoning behind his puzzling action.

"But…," Krishna starts in saying only to be cut off by her urging son. "Please, go on and rest," he insists. Krishna looks at him for a good moment before conceding to his words, though, still very puzzled by his strange behavior and reluctance to allow her a taste of the food.  

"Alright then… Goodnight beta…," she resignedly says before turning around to head toward the stairs. She stops in her tracks, however, when she hears her son call for her. "Mom…."

Looking behind her, Krishna fully turns around when she sees Jai rising from his chair and coming to her. She stares at him with question in her eyes and forms her mouth into a small "O" when she feels his lips press against her cheek.

"… W-what was that for?" She stammers, perplexed yet delightedly surprised by this displayed affection from him after some time. He grins at her as his eyes turn lucid warm.

"For dinner…"

"But I didn't---.."

"I know you didn't," he intervenes, "But it was your idea. I know it was. So thank you…. for always thinking of me," he finishes tenderly. The corners of Krishna's mouth rise into a content smile and she cups her son's cheek fondly.

"Happy Birthday, beta…. May God bless you with every happiness…," she speaks sincerely.  Jai smiles back at her and watches her proceed on over to the stairs and disappearing out of sight before returning to the table. His wife joins his side seconds after, her fingers twisting the end of her pallu.

"…How… How is the food really?" she anxiously asks, looking to him with troubled eyes. Jai stares her squarely and delays his answer by a few seconds. "It's horrible…," he answers with all honesty.  Her face falls by this, gravely disappointed by his response, and is taken aback when she hears him chuckle. She looks at him dazedly.

"Why are you laughing?"

"…. I am just surprised is all…. in awe, actually, by the fact that you have still managed to keep your non-existent cooking skills a secret till date…" he clarifies, continuing to bubble with laughter.

Bani's face quickly turns a shade of red by his laughter, feeling highly embarrassed by his remark even if it is true.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she sheepishly replies.

Jai begins to settle down and meets her eye with a smile playing on his lips. "Bani, I have known you for seven years now…. No one knows you better than I do…"

Bani further blushes by his intense eyes resting on her and his expressed words. She feels her heart leap and grows warm in her insides.

"And I know for a fact that you cannot cook to save your own life," he cheekily jokes, unconscious of what he said previously and the impact it has on his young wife, who continues to flush pink.

"I also know that for the past two years you have been ordering dinner with the aid from Tony…"

Bani's eyes widen from shock by this. "You knew?" she instantly responds in amazement of his knowledge.

"Of course I knew….I've known since ages that whenever Tony gets lazy, he orders out …. And for a girl who can't cook, it is a very predictable move…"

Bani becomes crestfallen as the failure to cook a wonderful birthday dinner settles inside her. Jai, noting the sudden paling of her pink face, grows confused by this sudden change in her.

"What happened?"

"…. I tried so hard to make it all turn out well…. I wanted you to love it all… But even with my best efforts, I couldn't even make a proper meal….," she mopes to herself, feeling dejected. Jai gingerly smiles at this, touched by her efforts to specially make him dinner.

"It's the thought that counts Bani…. That is all," he replies amicably. Hearing his words, Bani looks up and stares into his smiling face which puts a soft smile on hers.  

"What should I do with the food then?"

"Throw it away, I guess," he shrugs, indifferent to what happens to the atrocious cooking.

"But it will go to waste," she immediately retorts with disapproval.

"Trust me Bani, not even starving children will eat any of it," he pokes and laughs at the expression on his wife's face….

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After easing Bani's worries about dinner by stating he had eaten out before coming home, Jai went on to his Study to check last minute emails whereas Bani remained in the kitchen cleaning up the dishes. As she soaks the utensils and plates under warm, soapy water, she reflects over her husband's strangely good mood. She has arrived to the conclusion that she will never be able to understand Jai. For someone who was blatantly avoiding her these past few days and now suddenly joking and laughing with her, she doesn't know what to make of him. But what she does know is that she felt good with the way he teased her subtly, just like old times. Today she felt as if she were with her old Jai, who wouldn't ever leave a chance to rag on her. Is this a sign of him finally coming around? It's certainly a start….

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Right when Jai logs off his email account, Bani knocks on the door softly announcing her presence to him. He looks up from the monitor and at her, standing shyly by the door holding onto a briefcase. He immediately recognizes it as not being his as it is sleek and black with a red bow on it. In contrast, his is old, brown, and tattered.

"I'm not disturbing you, am I?" she asks politely while standing hesitantly in her place. He shakes his head at her after rising from his chair.

"No, I was just about to come up to the room. What are you doing here?"

She gives him a shy smile as she turns a familiar shade of pink. She mumbles her next words.

"I came to give you your birthday gift…"

"My birthday gift?" he asks in disbelief. Bani delicately nods her head and takes a couple steps forward.

"I thought that breakfast was---…"

"That was from both Yash and me… but this one is just from me," she bashfully admits, turning pinker by each word she says. Confounded, Jai watches her hand over the briefcase with an anticipating smile. He takes it from her hand after a long moment and runs his fingers across the sleekness of its cover. He glances back at her.

"Thank you, Bani… but you didn't have to…"

"I wanted to," she informs with a tender smile, which he slowly returns. Another lulling silence creeps in between them the second time that night, but one more comfortable and settling than the first.

"Well… goodnight then," she finally says. "Goodnight," he nods.

Giving him a fleeting look, she exits from the study, leaving Jai alone to himself. He examines the new briefcase some more and props it open, admiring the sturdy texture to it. He glances over to his old briefcase that he has had for the past few years and associated with many memories. It had been gifted to him by Ananya in the initial year of his marriage to her. "To make you seem more professional," she had told him with a cheeky smile while presenting it to him.

Conflicted with various emotions rushing at him, Jai's fingers halt around the new briefcase for a pausing moment. He battles with his thoughts for a temporary instant before concluding to a decision. Reaching for his old briefcase, he clicks it open. Gathering his papers and files in a neatly fashion, he places them into his new black briefcase, organizing them to his liking. Closing it shut, he places it upright onto the table before shutting off the computer and flicking off the lights….

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Chapter 17:

The next few weeks went by well with everyone noticing a significant change in Jai. His normal behavior of remaining bitter and aloof was slowly becoming surfaced by signs of his old self. Rather than ignoring the family's usual banter over meals, he partook in intervals, adding his thoughts or inputs on whatever was being discussed. He started quipping back witty responses to Aditya's lighthearted joking which usually he wouldn't take lightly or reply to at all. He even tries to his best efforts to arrive for dinner on time with the family and feed Yash whenever his son insists. But most importantly, this change was being brought out by Yash, who was building a niche for himself in his father's heart. On his day offs, Jai will either take Yash out to the park or for a ride treating him out to ice cream accompanied by Bani. Sometimes he'd even take him out on long drives at night. And after dinner, together both son and father will resort to the study where Jai will check up on last minute things and Yash will color while waiting on his father. Later, Jai would carry Yash to the bedroom where he would snuggle up next to both of his parents and fall into a restful sleep.

This slowly, occurring change in Jai's personality is pleasing everyone, especially his wife. She now looks forward to any one of Jai's light teasing when he is in the mood. They leave her smiling throughout the rest of the day….

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Just like any other day, Jai sits in his study going over his schedule for the next day and reading his emails when Aditya waltz in through the door, unannounced.

"Hey yaar, you busy?"

"No, shoot," Jai replies, used to these kind of unannounced visits from his long-time friend, who he had become estranged from since the happenings of Ananya's death until recently.

"We've got a little invite from our relatives in Agra….," he informs while placing down a bold red colored card down in front of Jai. Curiously Jai picks it up and looks at the gold, intricate designs on the borderline.

"What invite? And what relatives?" Jai asks, gravely puzzled as this is the first he is hearing any of this. He begins in opening the card as Aditya further fills him in.

"It is an invitation to your father's cousin's maternal aunt's husband's granddaughter's wedding…."

Jai throws Aditya a look from this and sees him smile broadly. "I'm not making this up…," he explains, catching onto his friend's incredulous expression.

"When is it?" Jai diffidently asks while glancing over at the details of the event.

"In five days. So we will be leaving the day after tomorrow and stay there with them till the wedding."

"Five days? Isn't that a bit short notice?"

"Well, we've had it for some quite time… It's only now that I'm telling you… And it's a rather controversial wedding. The girl is rumored to be pregnant with the groom's child. So her parents are quickly marrying her off before anyone catches on…"

"Well that is pointless considering that you have managed to find out…," Jai dryly points out. Aditya simply shrugs. Jai places the card down.

"I'm assuming Ma has sent you here to tell me?"

"Bingo," Aditya replies with a knowing smile. Jai releases an exasperated sigh. He leans into his chair, resting his back against the rigid structure, and rubs at his lower jaw. He feels the roughness of his skin under his fingers and makes a mental note to shave in the morning.

"Well my answer shouldn't be a surprise …. I won't be going. I can't afford to take so much time off from the hospital right now with the recession reducing our hospital's staff…," Jai calmly explains the strain on the hospital during this difficult time. Aditya nods his head understandingly.

"I figured as much, dost. Just thought I should let you know. We'll be leaving the morning after tomorrow," he says with a smile and places a hand on his shoulder.

"When you say we…..," Jai trails off purposely, avoiding to ask if it is indeed everyone who is going. Aditya grins slyly at him.

"Don't you worry, your precious wife and son aren't going off anywhere without you…. In fact, Bani told Ma herself that she doesn't feel right going away knowing you will be here by yourself. And since Bani is not going, neither is Yash."

"Going where?" Yash questions innocently, looking up from his coloring at his uncle and father. He usually remains quiet during any one of the chats his father and uncle share in the study, but on hearing his name, his interest overruled his hush.

"No where sport. You're staying right here with your Mama and Papa. Everyone else though will be going away for a few days. But don't you worry, we'll be right back," Aditya assures him whilst tousling his black hair. Yash smiles goofily at him. "Okay."

"Now what do you have there, kiddo?" his uncle asks with query. Yash raises his paper, presenting his drawing proudly.

"Wow, this is real good… Why don't you show it to your Papa too?"

Yash rises from his spot and runs to his father, eagerly showing the drawing to him as well. Jai catches onto him and takes the drawing in his hand. He smiles on seeing the whole family drawn in stick figures in various different forms and colors. He is, though, able to distinguish them from each other and figure out who is who. His attention is arrested by the figures scribbled off to the edge of the sheet; a little boy in the middle of a woman with long hair and a tall man, holding each of their hands with a wide smile. Jai points them out to Yash.

"Wanna tell me who they are supposed to be?" he prods for an answer, fully aware of who they are but still wanting to hear it from his son's mouth.

Yash stares at him with a look, as if expecting him to know this. "You, Mama, and me," he states rather simply. Jai's smile broadens. A warm feeling unfolds within him, seeping into each and every nook of his body. He hands the picture back to his son and runs his hand fondly along his hair.

"Why don't you go and show Mama this? I'm sure she'll love it too," he suggests, wanting his wife to see this surmountable feat. Yash willingly obliges to this with a boyish grin. "Okay," he says before rushing out of the study to show his mother his creation.

"You've got yourself one hell of a kid, Jai…," Aditya comments with Yash's departure from the room. Jai basks in these words before agreeing to them.

"I know that now…"

Aditya digs one hand into his pant pocket before sitting onto the edge of the work desk. He meets Jai's eyes.

"Jai, this past month you've been very…. different," he begins in saying with uncertainty in his voice.

"Different?" Jai echoes, unsure of where this turn in their conversation is leading.

"Yes different… you're becoming more into the person you used to be… and less than who you became after…"

"After Ananya's death…" Jai completes for him. Aditya nods his head.

"I'm not complaining Jai… In fact, I love that you're finally coming around… Everyone is. You have no idea how much our family has been waiting to see you get a grip on your life again. I just want to know… why so sudden? What's made you finally want to change after three years?" Aditya poses this question, a question that has been lingering in his and everyone else's minds. Jai is silent for a long while and Aditya is about to apologize for being nosy until he hears him speak carefully.

"On Ananya's death anniversary three months back… I went on a long drive after work. I left early that night and didn't want to go home yet. I didn't want to see anyone, I just wanted to be by myself …  And while I was just driving around, I got to thinking… about Ananya… Each one of her death anniversaries has been hard for me… I keep on remembering how she died on that operation table… how there was so much blood… her skin pale white… her body limb… her hands cold… But most importantly, I remember how she isn't here anymore… And that's when it really hit me, Aditya. She isn't here and she never will be. These past three years I've been hanging onto memories with her, trying to live off of them… when what I really should have been living for was my family… My family who I purposely distanced myself from… Adi, I've estranged myself from my mother, my sister, my nieces and nephews, you, Dadi, but most importantly the two people who should be my top priority… my wife and son. I've been selfish, only thinking of myself when I should have thought of Bani and Yash… But instead I made myself die along with Ananya… Ananya… I can barely remember her anymore… I hate to admit it, but it's the truth…. And now when I think of her, I don't regret her not being here with me… I don't feel any longing anymore… I've finally accepted after all this time that she's gone and she's never coming back. She's a closed chapter in my life… and now it's time for me to start another… with my family…"

A blanket of silence falls within the room, bundling Jai and Aditya in it.

"So that's what I'm doing… I'm living for my family, Aditya…and for myself" he finishes, breaking the lasting impact of his previous words. Jai is jerked out of his reverie when he feels a sudden grip on his shoulder.

"It took you three years to realize this… so be it… I'm just glad you've finally realized it," his friend remarks. Jai casts him a look and gives a wry smile.

"I graduated from one of the best universities with honors….got into the most prestigious of medical schools… became a doctor at a high-qualified hospital…. And you'd think I'd have the intelligence to handle my personal life properly…."

"Don't beat yourself up too much. Nobody's perfect… and your family doesn't expect you to be either," Aditya reasons with him.

"But I want to be… I want to be who I was before… who I really am… I want to be a good son again… I want to be a brother to my sister….I want to be an uncle… a friend… I want to be the best father to Yash so he won't grow up to resent me like I did with my own father…," he expresses with all honesty.

"And Bani? Where does she stand in all this?" Aditay softly inquires. Jai's brows knead together in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Won't you try your best to be a husband to her?"

"Of course," he promptly answers. "I've given her a lot of leeway in our marriage to do what she pleases," he justifies. However, Aditya shakes his head at him.

"I mean the husband she deserves to have, Jai. The marriage she should have. Will you not give that to her?" he persists.

"… I'm not following, Aditya."

"I'm saying, will you truly accept her as your wife mind, body, and soul?"

"If you're suggesting that I…. that we--….," his words fade and his face blanches.

"What I'm suggesting is that you make a real marriage out of the compromised relationship you two share… To shed all inhibitions and accept one another whole heartedly," Aditya firmly states.

"I don't know Aditya…," Jai resigns with a shake of his own head. "I don't know if I can… I can try to be her friend again… I can try to become her companion… but I don't know if I can be her husband in a true sense… She's Bani, Aditya…," he stresses.

"She's your wife, Jai. You've got to stop seeing her for who she was and start looking at her for who she is now. She's very different from who she once was. The Bani you remember was just a young girl… The Bani you have failed to know is a woman… A very beautiful, intelligent, and strong woman who deserves the love of her husband…. She married you expecting nothing in return… She became this house's mistress ….this family's daughter-in-law… and your son's mother…  But till date she has never fully become into your wife…. because you haven't let her. You say that you have learned to let go of Ananya… but by refusing to let Bani take the place in your life as your true companion, as your life partner, you haven't… not completely at least."

"I'm not refusing…," Jai interjects.

"Then what is it that you're doing?"

"Look, I'm not saying that what you're saying is wrong… But if you're proposing that I go and have a physical relationship with Bani then I will tell you right now, I won't … I will not force myself on her just so she can have all her rights as a wife…," he retorts with flushed cheeks as discomfort arises in him on the subject being discussed.

"No one's telling you to do anything of that sort, Jai… But what makes you think that she does not want to share that level of intimacy with you? Or any kind of intimacy in fact… I see the way she looks at you… It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what she feels for you… Jai, she is a woman… It is very natural for her to want to feel loved… and she wants that love from you. Don't you think she's been patient enough?"

"What do you mean, what she feels for me? You don't know anything, Aditya… You're basing this all off assumptions… Bani doesn't expect anything from me just like I don't expect anything from her… I was her brother-in-law for God's sake…. She wouldn't…. She wouldn't think of me in that way….," he ends uneasily.

"And aren't you just now basing that conclusion off assumptions yourself? Besides, Jai, you know yourself very well that you haven't been her brother-in-law for a long time now," Aditya jibes. Jai finds himself tongue-tied.

"Think on what I said, Jai… I'm sure you'll find an answer for yourself… On the brighter note, it's good to have you back, dost," Aditya says with a gentle smile before leaving the study, leaving Jai to his thoughts…..

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jai entered the bedroom to see the lights still on and his wife awake unlike their son who snoozes on the bed. He closes the door behind him, drawing her attention to him. She gives him a smile.

"Did you see this?" she asks him from across the room. Jai begins in loosening his tie and seats himself onto the edge of the bed to remove his shoes. "See what?"

"Our son's drawing," she explains with clear pride running deep through her voice. Jai slips off one shoe.

"Yeah, he showed it to me and Aditya in the study. I told him to give it to you."

Bani's smile grows as she turns back to the drawing which she proceeds to hang neatly near the other various pictures Yash has drawn during his free time. "He's included you in it….," she adds conversationally.

"Hmmm… I saw…," he replies diffidently, his mind wrapped around something else at the moment… something pertaining to his conversation earlier with Aditya.

"He adores you, you know…," she continues, turning to him. Jai remains quiet, unresponsive. She approaches him and takes his tie, watch, and handkerchief from him which he hands to her. When she turns around to place them away, Jai speaks to her dazedly.

"Aditya says that there's a wedding in Agra…"

"Hmm… Everyone will be leaving the day after tomorrow…. It'll be for a couple of days…," she answers.

"You're not going?"

She stills in her actions and turns back to see his eyes on her. She fidgets to herself and tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Err… I didn't feel it was right that you should be left on your own…so I told Mummyji that I would stay behind with you…"

"I would be fine…You shouldn't stay back on my account."

"But I wouldn't be… ," she murmurs. A silence stretches between them in which Bani flushes under his direct gaze and averts her eyes elsewhere. Jai takes a hold of his shoes and places them aside, standing erect to his fullest height. He slowly turns to look at her….

"Bani… you don't… you don't expect anything from me, do you?"

Bani glances up at him, taken aback by his words. She gives him a dumbfound look.

"What do you mean?" she slowly asks in return. She stares at him unblinkingly as he takes steps forward to her. He halts a foot away from her.

"What I mean is… do you expect anything from me… as a husband…," he trails off, his unwavering gaze remaining on her. Seconds pass on before Bani regains her voice in order to give him an answer.

"… No… not at all," she responds softly, her doe-like eyes staring up at him. Jai feels a sudden relief wash over him. Aditya was wrong.

"Why are you asking me this?" Bani inquires. Jai simply shakes his head and puts on a small smile. "No reason, just forget it…," he brushes it off before grabbing his nightwear and heading toward the bathroom. Bani takes her place on the bed and becomes puzzled by the unexpected question put by her husband. What made him ask her that? And should she have lied to him? No matter how much she wants, she cannot put across her innermost feelings and dreams to her husband. She cannot expect him to give her what she truly wants….his love.

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"Di, I don't feel right going without you," Rano whines to her sister, who helps her in packing last minute things for the wedding for which the family is headed to that very morning. Bani flashes her sister a look.

"Rano, for someone who is quite independent and reaching twenty-one, you sure do act like a baby sometimes," she chides. She yelps when her sister sends a flying pillow in her way.

"Di, that's not funny! Here I am feeling miserable that I'll be there all alone and you're just making me feel worse about it…," Rano mopes. Bani giggles at her childish tantrum.

"Who said that you are going to be alone? Mummyji, Dadi, Aditya Jiju, Jigyasa Didi, Ranveer, Saahil, and Anu will all be there… Who else do you need?"

"I need you… I won't be comfortable being there without my sister… They are your in-laws, Bani Di," she stresses. Bani gives a cross look on hearing this, placing a hand to one of her hips.

"Rano, how could you even say that… They are just like family to you too… Just because I'm not there won't change the fact… I shouldn't have to be the factor you depend on in order to share a relationship with them…"

Rano has the decency to seem ashamed by her words and instantly regrets them. "Sorry, that's not what I really meant… or how I wanted it to sound…," she says guiltily.

"Look, I know that you want to stay back because you feel more comfortable with me and because I'm your sister…. But I want you to go because you will have fun, trust me."

"But are you sure about staying home on your own? Won't you need anyone?" Rano asks unsurely.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," she reassures her with a light smile. "And no offense, if I needed anyone, you'd be the last person I'd want. You are one of the laziest people I know, Rano," she pokes.

"Diii! How mean! That is so not true!"

 Bani bursts into a fit of laughter and continues to banter with her sister throughout the rest of the morning before seeing her and the rest of the family off….

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Bani, are you ready?" her husband asks immediately once she answers his call. She makes some final touch ups to her face by using the mirror as she presses her cell phone against her ear.

"I have been ready for some time now. Where are you?" she lies while applying a layer of lipstick to her lips, making them cherry red.

"I'm on my way home. How about Yash? Is Nandini there yet? You think we should take him along?"

Bani places the lipstick down onto the dresser after smacking her lips together. She reaches for the mascara.

"You were the one who said we should not bring him with us and that he would get bored. Why are you changing your mind now?"

"It doesn't feel right leaving him on his own. You sure Nandini will be able to look after him herself?" he questions, seeking guarantee from her.

"Well if we haven't been paying her for the past two years to do just that then I wonder what it is that we're paying her for," she chides, retaining the urge to smile at her husband's apprehension of leaving their son home alone. He's worrying even more than she usually does.

He carries on, ignoring her clear sarcasm. "Bani, let's take him along."

"And what do you expect he'll do there with a bunch of adults? Most of your friends do not even have children themselves nor the ones who do are bringing their kids. You are worrying too much. He'll be fine. You know perfectly well Nandini will take great care of him," she reassures him, gathering all her cosmetic supplies and placing them back into her makeup bag. She hears him let out an exasperated sigh.

"Alright then. I'll be home in a couple of minutes. Just come on outside. We're running late. Rohit's called up about twice now…"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Ah! It's my favorite person in the whole wide world!" Rohit exclaims with a broad smile as he opens the front door, revealing Jai and Bani standing out on the porch, both looking very appealing in their own individual attires yet complimenting one another at the same time… .Jai with his linen black shirt and white dress pants and Bani in her silk crimson saree wrapped snuggly around her slender figure. Surprising both husband and wife, Rohit takes Bani into a bear hug, nearly stifling her by his tight embrace and towering height. Bani yelps as he practically sweeps her off her feet. After her initial shock on his forwardness passes, Bani lets out a ginger laugh while returning the favor.

"Hello Rohit Bhaiya," she greets him with warmth. Jai looks on at his close friend and wife with a level of annoyance. "What are you planning to do, Rohit, kill her? Let go of her," he grunts. Rohit loosens his hold on his wife and instead slings an arm around her shoulders, flaunting a teasing smile in Jai's direction.

"Oh bug off. You're just jealous that Bhabhi actually enjoys my company over yours," he pokes. "Don't you Bhabhi? By the way, is that dish in your hands the delicious pasta of yours I asked for?" he questions eagerly. Bani smiles at his childish excitement and is about to answer in affirmative until her husband cuts in moodily, "What is she, your personal servant that you have her bring you food all the time? Why don't you ever annoy Alisha with your food cravings instead of my wife?"

"I don't annoy you, do I Bhabhi?" Rohit asks her with a puppy look. Bani gives a warning glance to her husband for his foul mood before directing a reassuring smile in Rohit's way. "Of course not, Bhaiya. In fact, I don't mind at all. At least I know someone will eat the food I send them unlike someone I know," Bani ends, casting a look to her husband, who ignores her dig at him.

"Well I don't know how Jai doesn't eat your irresistible cooking! I absolutely love it! No one can cook better than my Bhabhi," Rohit pitches in with a peachy smile. Jai rolls his eyes.

"Stop ganging up on me. I do eat when I get the time. Besides, how many times do I have to tell you that your precious Bhabhi doesn't cook any of it, it's all takeout," Jai remarks. Bani nudges him for putting her out like this in front of his friend. Rohit simply laughs.

"I don't care, it's better than nothing! You're lucky your wife at least makes an effort to feed you whereas mine simply recommends a place for me to eat on my own time! Now tell me, where is the love in that!"

Bani giggles at his joke while Jai grins amusedly. "You are too hard on Alisha Didi. She loves you and you know that. Speaking of which, is she inside? I will go see her now. I promised that I would help her set up for the party," she informs, drawing realization to Rohit on his lack of hospitality as he hasn't even invited his friends inside as of yet.

"Yes she is! Come on inside! I'll give you a small tour of the new house!" he chirps before enthusiastically showing off the grand place of his new residence, the reason for the afternoon's occasion; a house warming party. After being directed to the kitchen, Bani joins Alisha and the other women in setting up whereas Rohit and Jai proceed onto the back lawns where the rest of their friends were, chattering the other up and drinking their glasses of wine.

"You got yourself a great house, Rohit. But you think you'll be able to commute to the hospital easily? It's a long drive from here," Jai points out as he reaches out for a wine glass. Rohit, taking a glass for himself as well, simply shrugs.

"Alisha is in love with the place. It is nice and it's got one hell of a view of the sea. I don't mind really as long as she's happy with it," he replies casually before taking a sip.

"And this is why Alisha is the one who wears the pants in the relationship while the real man bows his head and takes all her orders… What a real joru ka ghulam, you are Rohit," Mahesh comments, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder once Jai and Rohit join him and the rest of the men. They all laugh, agreeing to this point, even Jai.

"You are one to talk. You come and speak to me when you are finally married yourself, Mahesh," Rohit retorts in good spirit. "Haina, Jai?" Rohit nudges, seeking confirmation from another married man. Jai simply grins, adding nothing to the topic.

"What are you nudging him for? He is not like you… You don't see him attached to his wife's pallu." The other men snigger on this.

"Waise, speaking about wives… where's yours Jai? I still haven't gotten the chance to meet her as of yet… I hear she's quite lovely," Viraj Saxena remarks with a wink. Jai's smile stiffens.

"Yes, when will we see her? Is she here?" another acquaintance inquires.

"She's in the kitchen with Alisha, setting up…," Jai mumbles as a response, not particularly liking the building attention centered on him and his wife.

"You will all meet the Mrs. in good time…. be patient, gentlemen," Rohit replies good-humoredly.

"We are just saying… it's been over two years now since Jai's marriage and we still haven't gotten the opportunity to meet his wife… He barely takes her out anywhere as it is…," Viraj points out, sounding more like a snub.

"Why's that, Walia? You like keeping your woman at home?" he continues, agitating Jai to no ends and rekindling old bitterness toward the co-worker, whom he had never gotten along with quite well.

"As a matter of fact, he does… He likes to keep her all to himself, you see. And why wouldn't he? She's a beautiful woman, right Jai?" Rohit steps in jokingly, placing a firm hand onto Jai's shoulder. He attempts to lighten the atmosphere and take control of the conversation, knowing very well it will turn out ugly, particularly with Jai's anger. He reprimands himself for inviting Viraj in the first place. Jai and Viraj Saxena had always been at odds with one another since the beginning of their hospital days.

"Anyways, why don't I show you gentlemen around the garden? Show you what it's really worth…," he says to sidetrack them all. As Rohit leaves with his trailing guests, Jai stays behind, drowning down most of his drink. He feels a sudden touch on his arm and turns to see Mahesh giving him a sympathetic smile.

"Don't let him get to your head… You know he loves to take a dig at you whenever given the chance… He's just jealous of you, that's all… Always been," he says, giving him a small pep talk. Jai's lips crack into a small amused smile despite his gritted teeth.

"There's not much to be jealous of…," he replies bluntly with a shrug. Mahesh pats him gingerly on the back before joining the others as well, who walk off a few feet away. Jai slips a hand into his pant pocket and admires his surroundings while sipping on the last of his drink. He's about to turn around until he hears someone acknowledge him from behind.

"Hello Jai…"

Looking before him, Jai stares at the well groomed woman standing before him, draped in an exquisite yellow saree contrasting greatly to her regular donned blue scrubs he had only ever seen her in. He remains stumped on the sight of her, taken aback on seeing her here of all places, that too, after so long. Dr. Deepa Mehta, his old friend and once co-worker before she transferred hospitals three years ago, takes cautious steps forward, wearing a small smile on her gentle face.

"Deepa," he stammers, at a loss of words. He hasn't much to say to her, which she understands. The last time they had seen one another had been bitter and disastrous. For him, especially.

"How have you been?" she carries on hesitantly, striking conversation with her estranged co-worker and friend.

He shakes himself out of his startle on seeing her and manages to muster a few words in response. "I've been good," he says briefly with a nod.

"You look good," she agrees, replying genuinely. Compared to the last time she had seen him, he appears much better, not particularly happy per say, but content.

"… W-would you like a drink?" he offers awkwardly, wanting to fill in the dreadful silence sweeping between them. She nods her head and graciously takes the glass he extends to her. She takes small sips from it. Jai wonders what Deepa is doing here, but concludes that Rohit and she must have remained good friends even to this day. He clears his throat.

"So, uh… How have you been lately?" he questions as politely as he can, placing a creeping smile onto her lips. He had been anything but polite that day which had changed their friendship.

"I've been good, thank you for asking…."

Again the silence makes its way in between them in which they both stare away awkwardly, not knowing what else to say to each other with all that they had said to one another long before. Finally Deepa looks back to him with determination to get out what had been gnawing at her for the past three years.

"Jai…," she calls for her attention. Jai looks to her, waiting for what she has to say. She stares at him intently with sorrowful eyes.

"I'm sorry for the way I left off things with you…. I'm sorry for not being a supportive friend especially when you needed the support… but most of all, I'm sorry for not doing my best in saving Ananya…I'm very sorry…. I hope you'll be able to forgive me for what I've done to you…. I should have done more… She could have been alive today if I had just----"

"Please Deepa," Jai cuts in immediately. "It wasn't your fault. It was never you fault… It was out of our hands… You wouldn't have been able to do anything for her, no one would have…. I realize that now. What I said to you that day was out of anger… I wanted someone to blame….hence I blamed you because you were her doctor… But I know that there isn't anyone to blame… It's just a matter of fate…. So please, do not blame yourself… what happened, happened…. Let's just let it all go… let bygones be bygones…," he states calmly. He watches as relief spreads onto her face and her eyes shine with unshed tears.

"I've never been able to let go of her death, Jai… nor that fight we had right after she died. It's haunted me these past three years… I convinced myself that it was my fault… that she died because of my carelessness… that if I had been thorough with her pregnancy then her death could have been avoidable…"

"You weren't careless, Deepa, never…. You are a good doctor… and Ananya knew that too. It was simply unavoidable…. You couldn't have done anything to prevent it… She was a rare case…"

She gives him a watery smile, covering for the past malicious remarks they had said to one another the night of Ananya's death after her unsuccessful surgery. Jai returns the smile with a soft one of his own. Deepa dabs at her wet eyes, her widening smile plastered to her face as the guilt that had been consuming her for so long vanishes.

"I met your wife," she states conversationally, drawing Jai's attention once again. "Just now, inside the kitchen when I went to go greet Alisha…," she continues. "She's a lovely woman, Jai…. I hope she keeps you happy," she ends sincerely.

"…. She does," he surprisingly finds himself answer. Before he can dwell on what prompted him to say so, both he and Deepa are distracted by Alisha's chattering voice coming from a distance.

"Jai! Deepa! What are you two silly gooses doing all the way over there by yourselves! Lunch is being set, come on over!" she shouts to them from the patio, setting down dishes onto the long dining table, accompanied by a couple of wives of the co-workers from the hospital.

"Wait, where'd Rohit and your other friends go?" she demands when noticing they are nowhere in sight.

Jai gestures behind him while replying back to her. "They took a little tour around your garden. They'll be back in no time."

"Well alright then. You two better hustle up then. Tanya made lasagna! Which can I say is just yum yum in my tummy! Get it before it gets cold!"

Jai and Deepa share glances at one another. She smiles amusedly while giving a slight shrug of her shoulders. "We'd better get going before she says anymore embarrassing stuff." Jai breaks out into a smile and joins her in walking back toward the house. He lingers behind Deepa, however, just as they approach the patio when a particular figure emerges from the French doors leading to the backyard. He halts slowly in his steps, looking across the lawn, and follows his wife's form toward the table where she places the heavy dish in her hands onto.

She makes conversation with the other women around her, smiling and giggling here and there, seeming at place with everyone---as if she had known them forever. He admires her from a distance, noting her beauty (that he is paying close attention to as of late) that is highlighted by the sun; the fairness of her skin, the shine in her long hair that flares in the breeze, her sparkling honey eyes, and curvy red lips. She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear and glances up, almost immediately meeting his eyes. Slowly, she smiles gingerly at him and Jai feels a familiar reaction hit him once more. This time, though, he recognizes the surge of the powerful emotions consuming him… the power of attraction….the sensation of desire….the captivation of lust.

He was becoming used to these moments in which he would feel a sudden emotion for his wife that would leave him overwhelmed. He would, however, block them right away and force himself not to think anymore on it….to not make anything out of it. He watches as she gives one fleeting glance before returning back into the house. He now expects for the moment to go away…taking away the brief and abrupt feelings it brought with it. Instead he finds the burning inside of him building stronger…refusing to diminish away. As if fuel were being added to the fire raging in him each passing second….

He didn't know for how long he stood there, bowled by what he was experiencing, but was snapped out of it by a thump on his back.

"You alright, Walia? You seemed to have blanked out there for a good minute…," Mahesh comments, appearing in sight. Jai's gaze wanders to him and he notes the other approaching men following behind him. He composes himself.

"No, I'm alright…"

"Shall we then?" Mahesh proceeds, leading the way to the patio….

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Thank you so much for coming. I hope you had a great time," Alisha gushes at the front door while bidding goodbye to Jai and Bani, one of the last of their guests to leave that afternoon.

"Well of course they had a good time, darling. How could they not with a host like myself?" Rohit arrogantly states, bringing smiles onto each one of their faces. Alisha nudges him in his ribs.

"You are far too full of yourself, Rohit," she pokes with a giggle.

"Rohit Bhaiya is right, Didi. We had a wonderful time. Thank you for inviting us," Bani sweetly adds, widening Alisha and Rohit's smiles.

"Anytime, Bani. We'd love to have you here whenever. That goes for you too, Jai. You need to come by more often. I barely get to see you nowadays," Alisha complains. Jai simply smiles politely. "I'll try my best, Alisha."

"Drive safely, you two."

"See you tomorrow, Jai. Bye Bhabhi. Please don't forget my lunch tomorrow!"

"Rohit, stop that!" Alisha nudges him once again. Bani laughs, always amused by Rohit's antics which she finds quite endearing.

"You can count on it being there, Bhaiya."

"Bye."

As Jai and Bani walk side by side to their parked car, a silence engulfs them, but a lulling one that brings comfort. Bani buckles herself in just as Jai starts the engine to the car. She rests her back against the seat whilst discreetly watching the profile of her husband's face. Once he brakes before a red light some minutes into their drive, she speaks out what she had noted for herself that afternoon.

"…. Is something wrong?" she prods in a gentle voice. Jai turns to look at her probing eyes. He raises a brow. "Why do you ask that?"

She fiddles with her seatbelt, lowering her gaze. "You were awfully quite back there….." She stares back up to see his reaction to her words and is perplexed by the brooding expression unfold on his face. He returns his gaze to the road before him, stepping on the gas pedal just as the light turns green.

"… I was just thinking, that's all," he responds after a stilling moment, brushing the approached subject aside and leaving the rest of the car drive in silence….

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Mama, please!" Yash whines as Bani struggles to tuck him into bed that night. She throws an exasperated look over to Jai, who gets the cue that he should step in.

"You can always watch SpongeBob tomorrow, Yash," Jai suggests, hoping that this will settle down his demand to watch the recently airing episode of Spongebob that Bani refuses to let him watch.

"But-but… I wanna watch thish one…Spongebob shad…cauz…Gary lost….," he pouts, hoping this reasoning would make his parents allow him to finish watching the episode.

"It's past your bed time, kiddo…. Plus, you shouldn't be watching late night TV… You should be getting enough hours of sleep….to stay healthy and strong….," Jai explains calmly while poking at his son's chest, emphasizing his point. Yash stares back up at him in puzzlement.

"Waz hourz papa?"

Jai raises his brows, wondering how to answers this, and looks over to his wife, who smiles widely from amusement, restraining from laughing at their son's innocent question---neglecting everything else his father had just said.

"Eerr… I'll tell you that some other day… But right now is the time for you to sleep… If you want to be nice and strong that is… Don't you want to be strong, Yash?"

Yash eagerly nods his head. "Good, then get some rest. And we'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, baby. I love you," Bani wishes him, kissing him affectionately on his forehead. Yash gives her a tight hug before kissing her on the cheek. "Goodnight, Mommy. I love you."

"Goodnight, Yash," Jai wishes too, covering him properly inside the comforter. Yash smiles up at him. "Goodnight, Papa. I love you…"

Jai stills in his movements on hearing these words. Hastily he glances over at Bani to make sure he had heard right. Seeing her smile broaden erases his doubts. He gazes back at his son, who quietly looks back at him. Feeling his eyes grow moist, Jai blinks to get rid of the dampness and replies back in a chocked voice, "I love you too, son." Yash beams right before closing his eyes with a smile lingering on his face. Jai remains in his place for a moment before springing up from the bed and briskly walking outside the room.

Bani shut the door after herself some moments later and finds her husband standing outside the room, his back faced toward her. She takes steps toward him slowly and cautiously places a hand on his back.

"Jai?...."

She brings her hand back when he whirls around to face her. She takes note of his misty eyes and before she can ask him what is wrong, he encloses her into a tight embrace, pressing her against his taut form. She slips her arms around him as it registers what had affected him in this way.

"…. I'm so happy," he whispered into her locks of hair over and over….  

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 18:

"Yes Ma… No, I'm not lying to you…. Why would I lie to you?.... Of course I'm eating… and sleeping…. No need to go and call Bani….. No Ma, don't pester her…… No, that's not what I meant at all… You don't pester people… Yes, you are like her mother too….. Yes, you have every right to talk to her……. Ma, please, I don't have time for this right now…. Okay okay, call Bani…… I knew you were going to anyway…. Now will you let me get back to my work? ….. No, I'm not trying to get rid of you; I really do have to work….. Yes, yes, I'll take care of myself….. Okay, bye Ma… See you in a couple of days….. Yeah…. Bye."

Cutting the call, Jai pushes back his chair, stretching out his long legs, and lets out a lengthy sigh. He decides he should get around to changing his number if his mother plans to call him more frequently like this.

Just when he is about to treasure the peace surrounding his office, he hears a swift knock on his door and glances up to see Rohit standing at the doorway with a wide, quirky smile on his always cheery looking face. Jai releases another sigh, exaggerated more than the last.

"What Rohit?" he snaps immediately, not in the mood to be hassled right after going through a long, painful conversation with his fretting mother.

"Well aren't you just in a pleasant mood," Rohit retorts once stepping into the office space, earning himself a powerful glare in return. Jai stacks the piles of files on his desk neatly on one another and pushes them off to the side.

"Come on, make it quick. What are you here for?"

"Do I have to have a reason to come and see my friend?" Rohit feigns offense to Jai's abrupt, no-nonsense attitude.

"In your case, it is either to rub some money off of me for your late night poker games or to gloat… I'm guessing it is to gloat since Alisha is keeping a strict eye on you ever since she found out you've been back to gambling…," he finishes off condescendingly, casting a wry look in his direction. Rohit simply ignores it.

"Actually, it's about your wife…," Rohit states with a victorious smile for proving Jai's assumption wrong. Jai's brows raise high on hearing this.

"What about her?"

"Well I got to thinking lately….," he begins in proposing his thoughts, causing Jai to roll his eyes immediately and mutter, "This is going to be great." Again Rohit ignores him.

"Your family's away for that wedding, right?"

"Yeah… why?" Jai asks, eyeing him cautiously at this point. "What do you have in mind?"

"Well, Jai, I don't know if you have noticed or not… but this is the perfect time for you to be spending time with your wife and son instead of lugging here at the hospital… you know, quality time with them…. bonding and stuff…. I mean, they hardly get to see you enough with you being so busy at the hospital recently…. Why not lay off and put time to your family instead, huh?…."  

"What makes you think I don't spend enough time with them? I spend plenty of time with them… at least when I can…. And since when did this become your business?" Jai demands, annoyed by the intrusion on his personal life.  

"Come on Jai, be realistic here… when was the last time you took out time to take them out anywhere… more importantly, when was the last time you took Bani out? And don't you dare mention the housewarming party because that does not count…."

Stumped, Jai cannot recall any occasion that he has physically taken either his wife or son out to dinner, to watch a movie, or anything really…. stuff that real families do. He looks back over to an expectant looking Rohit with a gleam forming in his eyes.

"Why are you bringing this up so suddenly?"

"I am because Viraj's comment the other day made me think…. I know you think he's a dirt bag and that nothing that he says is significant…. But it really struck me…. I haven't seen you and Bani go out anywhere… and if you do, it is very rare or for required occasions…."

Jai throws him an incredulous expression.

"You came all the way over here just to tell me an observation you've made?" 

"An observation I've been making for a while," Rohit points out. "That, and I'm on my lunch break so I have nothing else better to do. …. Why don't you two come over for dinner sometime? Alisha and I would love having the both of you around," he ends with an impish smile.

"Look, I know you're particularly fond of Bani…. More so than you should," Jai stresses in a warning tone, "…but this doesn't concern you… What I do with my wife or son is my business…. I can handle my personal life…. I appreciate the help, but I don't need it…."

Rohit lifts up his hands whilst taking a step back. "Alright… Don't mean to push any buttons… I was merely suggesting…. It'd be nice to take your family out once in awhile…. They'd really like that, you know…"

A pensive expression unfolds onto Jai's face and it becomes obvious to Rohit that he is giving deep consideration to his words. He restrains the urge to smile.

"Off I go then…," he announces, placing his hands back to his sides. Jai gives him a confused look. "I thought you were on your lunch break…"

"I am, but I have to go and find Mahesh to tell him to reschedule our poker game… I'm running low on cash at the moment and I know your generosity is cutting short…. Catch ya later," he bids before dashing out the door. He gets a last glimpse of Jai slipping back into a daze, penetrated with thoughts. He grins smugly while whisking out his cellular phone. His fingers hastily dial a set of digits.  

"Hello, …. Aditya? Yeah, Rohit speaking…. I got the job done. Gave him a little shove and ho just like you told me to… Yeah, I'm sure he'll act on it…. I got inside his head, I know it…. Sure, anytime… Just to see my Bhabhi happy…. She's a sweet woman…. Jai just needs a little guidance to get to where she is…. Alright, I'm going to have to let you go, I've got to get back on duty…. No problem…. Bye."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Lecture lasted longer than usual and expected for Bani, who rushes home as soon as she is let out. She doesn't even take up Raashi and Pushkar's suggestion of going to the canteen after class. She has to get home on time to prepare lunch and Tony won't be by her side to help out since it is his day off. She will have to order instead of learning hands on with the butler, who had sweetly been teaching her cooking lessons for the past weeks since the disastrous meal she had made for her husband on his birthday. And God knows she isn't ready to cook a full on meal yet or suffer any further humiliation.

Earlier that morning Jai had briefly mentioned that he'd drop by for lunch for a change---mostly on Yash's insistence for him to come. He must be on his way home soon.

As the driver approaches the Mansion, Bani speeds out of the car and to the front doors, letting herself in with a key. Just as she barges in, Yash's rants greet her as well as the nanny's.

"Mommy, my airoplaaane iz boken…. Wook, you shee? Rigght theerrr….," he pouts while directing her focus onto his broken winged airplane gifted by his father just a few days ago.

"Ma'am, I don't mean to hassle you just when you've come home, but I did have to leave fifteen minutes ago… I had that appointment to get to, remember?"

"Mama, you no wooking!"

"I'm running very late…."

"Wook! Iz boken! You tell Papa get Yash other one?" her son questions hopefully, staring at her with wide eyes.

"And I can't reschedule again… I've done so twice now…."

"Mama, you tell Papa? I wanna airooplaaneee…. Big airooplaaneee… and tuck (truck)…."

"I need to get there on time…. I can't wait any longer…."

Bani looks both ways from her son to the nanny, who both demand her undivided attention, cornering her at the front doors. She feels the beginning of frustration settle inside of her. Ignoring her son, who starts to pull on her clothes wanting to get her attention, Bani looks to Nandini.

"Go, right now… Get to your appointment, I've got it from here…," she nearly barks at her and watches Nandini fly by her through the doors.

"Yash, don't grab onto Mama like that…," she reprimands him as she struggles to hold onto her books with Yash pulling on her arms here and there. Yash immediately stops, letting go of his grips on his mother. She draws out a sigh and looks to her son.

"Okay, now tell me…. What is wrong with your plane?"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jai arrived home some twenty minutes after Bani in which she had ordered for food to be delivered in the next fifteen. Waiting on lunch to arrive, they lounge in the living room, Yash sitting in between his parents, watching television that the toddler prefers. The remote remains gripped firmly in his hands. Yash lays his head on his father's chest, his eyes intently watching the flat screen of the large TV, a silence surrounding the small family of three. Jai, who is relaxed against the plush pillows with his arm swung onto the high edge of the couch, casts a glance over to his wife, who seems drained for some odd reason. He looks curiously at her.

"Bani…"

On hearing her name, she meets his penetrating gaze questioningly. He notices lines of weariness etched onto her young face.

"Are you alright? You seem tired…," he observes closely.

She demurely shakes her head at him. "No, I'm fine…. Just seems like a long day….," she replies faintly before redirecting her attention onto the screen, staring at it blankly. He, however, continues to discreetly scrutinize her, not satisfied with her answer. After some time, it finally dawns upon him that perhaps the regular routine is getting to her…. getting up early, doing puja, handling breakfast, preparing him for work, freshening Yash for the day, getting herself ready for university, sitting through classes, coming back home to prepare lunch, do the house chores, fit in time for due assignments, deal with dinner, get Yash ready for bed, and finally waiting for him to get home…. It's a consistent schedule, unchanging…for the past three years. Rohit's previous words come back to him.

"Bani…."

"Hmmm…," she responds rather disinterestedly, her eyes remaining glued to where they are.

"Let's go out for dinner tonight… You, me, and Yash…. How's that sound?" he proposes, holding onto his breath for a short moment out of anticipation…

He watches his wife look away from the television screen, her honey eyes staring back at him, their gazes interlocked. He feels a strange sensation wash inside of him as her face gradually brightens, taking away the paleness that accompanied it before, and a light smile playing on her lips. Her eyes seem to contain a sparkle in them.

"…. I'd love that," she answers with genuine warmth that has Jai slowly smiling in return….

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

By the time six-thirty rolls by, Jai dismisses himself from work in order to make it home on time and take his wife and son out to dinner like promised. He had seen the brief look of happiness cross his wife's dull face and didn't want to take that away. He can't remember the last time he had seen her genuinely pleased by something, her eyes shining with a born excitement.

Meanwhile, as Jai makes his way home, Bani wrestles with her stubborn son for him to drink his glass of milk which she gives to him daily. She had already gotten him prepared for the evening, dressing him in his best clothes. All that was left to do was get ready herself but only after she dealt with Yash first.  She chases him around, following after his fast strides around the house. Bani finally corners him in the living room where he stands on the couch, jumping on the cushions and trying to figure a way around her and escape. Yash giggles as she persistently scolds him to behave. In a moment to flee, Yash flings his arms up high, throwing the glass of milk out of his mother's hands and making the liquid spill all onto her. He immediately settles down, alarmed by what he did and knowing full well that his mother is displeased by how her lips purse together.

"… Sorry Mama," he wastes no time in order to appease her. Bani simply looks at him after gazing down at her drenched clothes and her skin left sticky as an aftermath. She bites back the urge to reprimand him. She is in too good of a mood to spoil it now. Since the afternoon she has been looking forward to dinner with her husband, the most forward gesture he has made from his side since their marriage. It secretly delights her that he actually thinks of her and even wants to spend some time with her.

Bani reassures Yash that it's alright and forgoes the idea of getting another glass of milk. She lets it go and leaves Yash in his play room while she takes his distraction to her advantage by taking a quick shower. She takes note of the clock, realizing that Jai will be home in some time, and rushes into the bathroom to freshen up, forgetting in a state of flurry about her new set of clothes lying on the bed.

Jai arrived back at home in fifteen minutes and entered a seemingly abandoned Mansion. He unsettles himself, dropping his briefcase carelessly onto one of the furniture in the living room.

"Bani?" he calls out, wanting to draw her attention from wherever it is that she is. After hearing no reply, he cries out his son's name and hears no answer to that as well. He guesses that they may be upstairs in the bedroom and walks toward the staircase.

Once Bani stepped out of the steaming bathroom, wrapped tightly in a white towel, she reprimands herself for forgetting her clothes. She walks over to the bed to seize them but her attention becomes diverted to her son, who comes running into the bedroom with a goofy smile on his face. He holds up his hands high, presenting an object he holds firmly in his fingers. Bani looks close and sees that he has taken her sapphire necklace. She flashes a glance over to the dresser top where she had placed it before taking her shower and concludes that Yash must have grabbed it sometime when she was in the bathroom.

"Yashu, hand Mama her necklace…. It's not a toy…," she states whilst extending out her hand, expecting him to hand it over.  He simply giggles and shakes his head, indicating that he doesn't plan on giving it back. Bani grimaces on this.

"Yash…"

"Catch me, Mama!" he squeals, racing around the bedroom and flaunting off the necklace in a teasing manner. Bani rolls her eyes, feeling exasperated at the moment from her son's never-ceasing energy.

"Beta, listen to Mama and give me the necklace…. It's very special…"

Yash ignores her and continues with his mischief, swinging the necklace around in his hand. Bani grows weary, seeing in the manner her son is playing with her favorite piece of jewelry gifted especially by Jai. She becomes afraid that he may break it, smashing it against any of the furniture in the room. She begins in chasing after him, intent on taking it away from him before any damage is done.

"Yash, beta, don't---…"

"Catch me, catch me!"

"Baby, please give it to Mama!"

"Nope!" he giggles, dodging his mother's following figure.

"Bani?" she suddenly hears her husband's approaching voice and turns to look at the open doorway of their room. Yash, hearing the voice as well, follows her gaze. Filled with excitement that his father has come home, he goes running out of the room to see him.

"Papa!" he screams joyfully.

"Yash, where are you son?"

"Yash, the necklace!" Bani warns, trailing after him quickly. Yash takes a rough turn around the corner and Bani follows in pursuit only to knock into something solid, catching her off balance. She feels a set of hands steady her immediately, taking a hold of her waist, and glances up to drown into her husband's gray eyes that are filled with an indecipherable look in them.

"Papa! Papa!" Yash sings boisterously, dancing around his father and mother who are nearly interwoven with one another. Jai, bewildered by the state of his wife's undress, remains momentarily speechless yet proceeds to gaze at Bani, who pouts at him whilst resting her small hands against his wide chest.

"Jai, he won't give me my necklace. Tell him to give it back….," she straight away shoots at him, unmindful of the fact that she is only wearing a towel and oblivious to her husband's wandering eyes studying her intently. Jai, who is transfixed by the sight she makes in front of him, barely listens to a word she says. He is marveled by the creaminess of her fair skin that glistens from her shower and her wet tendrils framing her fresh-clean face. Becoming further aware that his half-naked wife is standing nearly pressed against him, Jai feels a burn of desire flare inside of him just as this thought is registered. He finds himself immensely attracted to his wife more so than ever and not knowing why he is experiencing these feelings that have sprung up randomly as of late.

"Jai? Tell him, please, he will not listen to me… It's fragile…," Bani says once more, noticing that her husband is not paying attention to her. Rattled out of his brief daze, Jai stares into his expectant looking wife's face and throws a look over to his mischievous son. He clears his throat.

"Yash, be a good boy and give Mama her necklace… It's not something to play with…," he orders in his authoritative tone that he uses when he wants to be obeyed. Yash becomes glum, knowing that his father is serious and will not join in on his antics that he usually displays on his mother, and complies.  

"Okay… shorry Papa…" Yash replies softly after handing the sapphire necklace to his mother, who snatches it right away from his hand, feeling relief on having it back in her possession. Aware that his hands are still resting onto his wife's hips, Jai removes them almost regretfully.

"Why are you saying sorry to Papa? Badmaash… You have been hassling Mama all day… Chal, I'm not taking to you anymore…"

Yash grows crestfallen on hearing this and approaches his mother, tugging on her hand. "No, Mama… I shorry…."

"No," Bani stubbornly refuses his apology. "Mama, I shay shorry… pleeazzz… I shorry." His mother remains silent as an answer, turning her back on him. Yash, who starts to tear up at this point, looks to his father.

"Papa, Mama no talk to me…," he sadly says, hoping his father will appease his mother for him. Jai takes a hold of his wife's elbow, steering her toward him. "Bani, zidd maat karo… Accept his apology so then we can go… Don't spoil your and his mood." Bani unfolds her arms which she had crossed before and concedes to Jai's words. "Teek hai.. Chal maaf karti hoon…," she grumbles softly, putting a slight smile on Jai's lips from her own display of childishness. Yash simply hugs his mother's bare legs, melting Bani's previous indifferent attitude. She leans down and kisses him affectionately. "Bilkul badhmaash…," she says whilst sharing a small smile with him.

"Sunno?" she speaks, directing her attention onto Jai, who raises a brow at her questioningly. She presents her pricy necklace to him with a sheepish smile. Wordlessly he takes it from her and drapes it around her neck after she brushes aside her hair. Satisfied with her most treasured item wrapped safely around her neck where it belongs, Bani flashes Jai a wide smile.

"Chale?" she asks rather cheerfully, her spirits lifted on the thought of going out to dinner for once. Jai, who is at first taken aback that his wife is ready to leave despite her current undress, becomes instantly amused. "Kahan?" he feigns indifferently, trying his best to conceal his creeping smile.

"Arre… Baahr… Dinner ke liye…. You promised…," she resumes back to pouting, her face falling.

"Hain, promise to kiya tha… But are you ready?" he tries to say nonchalantly without giving away the tease in his voice.

Her wife grows puzzled by this. "Hain… I'm ready… Yash is ready… We were just waiting on you, but now that you are here, we can go…"

"Bani, are you sure that you are ready?" he stresses, wondering whether Bani will realize or not that she is in fact not ready at all.

"Yes… Why? Do you not like what I'm wearing?"

"I have nothing wrong with what you're wearing… but I am just asking to make sure that if you are okay with it…," he continues, no longer able to hide his forming grin. Bani becomes more confused by the second, not understanding what her husband is hinting at.

"Of course I'm okay with it… Why? What's wrong with it---…" she begins in asking, staring down to eye her clothes only to see that she isn't even wearing any from the start. She releases a sharp gasp and a color of dark red tinges her cheeks. Bani hastily looks up to Jai, who cannot resist from laughing anymore.

"Aa-aap… Ma-main…," she stutters, too embarrassed and speechless to say anything. Feeling as if she will die from this humiliation, Bani races back to the bedroom and bangs the door shut behind her. She flushes further when she hears her husband's laughter grow…..

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Bani joined Jai and Yash downstairs some twenty-minutes later, dressed in a flattering white saree and with her hair left in wet curls. She blushes when she meets her husband's eyes once arriving on the last step of the stairs. He smiles lazily back at her, still tinkled with amusement with what had happened minutes before.

"You could have told me, you know," she murmurs to him, faking anger when really she felt sheepish and shy in front of him after he had witnessed her half-naked state. "And ruin all the fun? No way," he replied, earning himself a nudge in his ribs from his clearly bashful wife.

Jai drove them to a restaurant in the inner city; a posh place where the rich and classy people of Mumbai dined. Bani instantly felt underdressed for the occasion despite her best efforts in dressing well for the evening.

"How may I help you sir?" the Maitre de greets them just as they arrive at the podium. "Table for three under Walia…," Jai briskly answers. The primly dressed man smiles politely once locating the reservation in his book. "Right this way, sir…"

"Jai… this place must be real expensive," Bani states uneasily, placing a hand on his arm, becoming increasingly aware of the lavishness of the restaurant and the equally lavishly dressed customers. Her husband merely shrugs, scanning through the menu which their waiter had handed them seconds before he left. "Yeah, I guess… Alright, tell me, what do you want to order?"

Bani takes a hold of her own menu and searches through it. The titles of the meals fly over her head and she cannot understand what to get. She throws a sheepish look in Jai's direction.

"I don't know what to get… You tell me."

Jai takes the liberty of ordering for all three of them and hands back the menus to the waiter, who sets to the task of getting their order made. Bani fidgets with her glass of water, still slightly unnerved by the elaborateness of the place. There is some conversation exchanged until their food arrives, but the atmosphere proves to be dull. Even Yash slumps his chin into his hand and drawls out a long sigh.

"How's the food?" Jai questions, casting a look to Bani, who straightens up in her seat from his attention on her. She quits playing with her meal and takes a bite.

"It's good," she mutters with a forced smile and forces the bland food down her throat. Jai gives her a suspicious look on this. He is about to comment on why she seems so out of place but forgoes it. He instead directs his focus onto his son, who picks at his food just like his mother had done before.

"What about you, kiddo?"

Yash scrunches his nose and gives a disdainful look to his plate of food. "Itz yucky, Papa. Yash no like it." Jai looks to Bani at this and sees her demurely tucking in her food, rather unwillingly.

"Hmm… I'm supposing you don't like the food either…," he states the obvious. She gives a meek smile before nodding her head.

"…. It tastes like rubber," she confesses. Bani becomes worried of whether she should have kept quiet and continued to eat the food which he had spent good money on by the look building on his face. However, right when she is about to reassure him that it's alright, Jai surprises her with a slow grin.  

"I thought I was the only one….," he too confesses. Bani, who is dumbfound, takes a moment to collect that her husband sets down the utensils and reaches for his wallet, placing a few bills onto the table. He then stands up, tucking the wallet back into his pant pocket, and extends a hand to her.

"Come on, there's a nice pizzeria place some blocks away… I'm sure it's still open…," he indicates toward the exit way with a nod of his head.

"But you spent so much money---..," she starts in saying, feeling guilty about the waste of money and time on his part.

"I'd rather have my family going home with full stomachs instead of empty ones… But you know, you can stay here and eat this rubbish if you feel so guilty while me and Yash get some real food. Your choice…," he gives the ultimatum with a pretense of apathy. Bani offers him a coy smile when finally placing her hand in his.

"Well considering that you are my ride home, I guess I'm going to have to oblige…," she answers nonchalantly, matching the lack of concern he tries in showing.

"So Pizza it is?" he seeks her approval. Yash throws his hands up in the air and exclaims mirthfully in the restaurant. "Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!"

Bani giggles at his excitement. "Pizza it is…," she concurs after rising from her own seat and taking a hold of Yash in her other hand…..

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"God, I feel so overdressed…. I should have worn something else…," Bani mumbles more to herself, her gaze continuing to waver around the pizzeria full with casually dressed people. A smirk gradually builds on Jai's lips. "Perhaps you should have come in your towel… You'd look fine then… sexy in fact," he adds, not knowing what possessed him to say it. However, he does not have to worry about his wife taking it wrongly when she flushes pink and hits him instead. "Shut up…" She then too giggles at her own plight.

"Ma, you shexy…," Yash comments cheekily. Bani becomes dumbstruck, her giggles ceasing, whereas Jai bubbles with laughter, holding onto his paining stomach. She turns on him, smacking him on his arm.

"It's not funny, look at what you taught our son!"

"Bani, it's a public place! What will people think?" he questions through his chuckles. "Let them think what they want," she huffs. "You have corrupted our son," she points out as Yash proceeds on repeating the new learned word.

"It's just a word, Bani… I hardly think he'll get into trouble over it… You should feel flattered instead… Your son finds you sexy," he sniggers.

"Here are you drinks, sir…," their waitress returns with their individual drinks they had ordered, cutting briefly into their conversation. "Thank you." Just as the lady sets their glasses onto the table, Yash tugs on her apron, causing her to look in his direction. "You shexy…," he states with a toothy smile.

Bani sinks her head into her hands, gravely embarrassed, while Jai is highly amused---restraining the great urge to laugh even more.

"Eer… thank you," the waitress responds rather sheepishly before leaving. Jai throws back his head and laughs to his fullest content and even Bani finds herself giggling.

"Whatz sooo funny?" Yash asks his giggling parents, not understanding the humor of it all. Jai dabs at his now moist eyes and shakes his head. "Nothing son…" He looks to his wife who meets his gaze and both share a smile.  Just then Jai's cellular phone vibrates, drawing his attention onto there. He draws it out and is about to answer it when instead Bani snatches it from his hand and sets it aside, away from him.

"Bani, what are you doing?"

"No work at all… You're here at dinner with your family… It's our time with you," she declares with finality that surprises Jai a bit.

"But what if it's important?" he asks, not really caring for the phone call but intrigued by this display of authority in his wife.

"You promised us Dinner… with no interruptions."

"Well I did promise Dinner… but I didn't necessarily say without any interruptions…"

"No interruptions," she jabs him hard on the chest, stressing her point, and giggles on the befuddled expression on his face.

"By the time we get back home I am going to be covered in bruises because of you…," he remarks, rubbing on his chest, yet smiling himself for no reason in particular. After a long time he feels as if he and Bani are their old selves….close friends….before complications got involved. But life isn't so complicated anymore is it? It's just starting to get simple… things are going back into place… his life going back on track…

"You have an abusive wife... get used to it," she chuckles at her own joke, her face beaming with delight. Jai watches this glow on her face carefully and feels his insides swell with pleasure. Yes, they haven't been like this in awhile…. till now. He's missed this. He's missed her. And now that this easiness in their relationship has returned, he doesn't want it to ever go away…. Why has it taken him this much time to get his life straight? He could have been like this long ago… They could have been like this long ago….

"Yash, your Mama is hurting Papa...," Jai starts to complain to his son, who has been watching his parents interaction with interest, having never seen them like this.

"Mama, you no hurt Papa ok?" Yash warns sternly, causing both Jai and Bani to laugh at his scolding. "You shay shorry…"

"Accha baba,… I shorry Papa," Bani mimics her son, giving her husband a lopsided smile. "Hmmm, … sochloonga….," he quips back, smiling at her. His wife giggles and sips on her diet coke. As they wait for their pizza to arrive, the family of three chatter openly without any inhibitions as it is already a crowded and loud happening place. Their pie is delivered to them in decent amount of time and placed in the center of their table.

"Jai, why don't you take off your coat? It's warm in here…," Bani points out once noticing that her husband seems out of place dressed smartly among an ordinarily dressed crowd. Jai obeys, removing his coat and keeping it to the side. Just as he reaches for his tie, Bani intercedes.

"Wait, let me…"

She takes a hold of his tie and tugs on it, loosening the knot. She takes it off from around his neck and tucks it into her purse then flashes him a smile.

"Now you look like you belong here…"

"And I didn't before?"

"Nope… You looked like some snooty, rich man who waltzed in here by mistake…"

"I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted…," Jai muses, causing Bani to giggle. He rolls up the sleeves to his dress shirt and digs in, Bani and Yash joining in as well. They have a lovely time, conversing, eating, pulling on each other's leg, and laughing from either Yash's antics or Jai and Bani's. For once, they truly felt like a family…. and perhaps they finally were becoming one.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Little Yash had fallen asleep during the drive back home. Jai took the liberty of carrying him back up to their room and tucking him into bed while Bani did some last minute things before calling it a night as well. Jai had been in his study, checking his emails, when he heard a strange noise… a particular banging that wouldn't seem to end. Finally having enough with dealing with the clamor, Jai rises from his chair and tries to locate the source of it. He walks down the hallways, searching, until he lands before the laundry room at the far end. Curiously, he pushes open the door and is shell-shocked by what he sees….

Soapy water and bubbles fill the once neat room, leaking from the washing machine that shakes dangerously, nearly jumping up and down in its place, all over the floor. The cleaning device appears to explode any second now by the wild thumping sounds it makes. His astonished eyes sweep across the barely visible room and finally notice the figure of his wife, clad in her nightwear, wrestling with the machine's lid to remain closed. Her hair has become drenching wet and her body covered in soapy bubbles.

"Bani?"

Hearing her name, Bani looks behind and sees her husband standing at the doorway, looking back at her with disbelief.

"Jai---ufff!" she exclaims when her slippery hands fail her and slide off from the lid that bursts open, splashing water all around. Jai comes running in, closing the door after him so the mess will not make its way into the hallway….

He approaches the machine, stepping through the collision of bubbles, and slams the lid shut and immediately turns it off, switching the dial. He throws a bewildered look to his guilty appearing wife.

"Bani, what the hell? What is all this mess?" he finds himself demanding. Bani fidgets in front of him, avoiding his gaze, and stammers.

"I-I was doing laundry s-since Tony-Tony's not here… and I… I guess I added too much detergent…," she fumbles with her words, her cheeks turning red from embarrassment.

"Too much?" he sputters, not believing the mess she has ended up making. "Try the whole damn box…," he continues, his eyes wandering around the state of the room. Feeling right about mortified at the moment, Bani lowers her eyes to the floor and nearly shrinks in her place. She fiddles with the straps of her robe nervously.

"I-I'm sorry… I-I didn't realize….," she rattles solemnly, dejection creeping inside of her.

"Who told you to do laundry anyway? It could have waited till later… Tony would have done it," Jai states exasperatedly, making his wife feel worse each passing second.

"I thought I'd be nice and do it myself… I mean, it didn't seem like much…. I thought it was relatively simple…. You just put the clothes in the wash and add the detergent….," she fumbles, trying her best to explain her reasoning.

"Yes, but the question is how much detergent did you end up putting in there?" he questions, staring at her unwaveringly. Bani starts to stutter. "I… I… I don't—remember…."

Jai ignores her momentarily and diverts his attention onto the washing machine. With the device turned off, he lifts open the lid to peer inside for what damage has been done. Bani watches carefully as he reaches inside for the clothes she had dumped in almost twenty minutes ago. She gasps and covers her mouth with her hands as he pulls out piles of hot pink clothes that had been previously pure white. Jai stares at the clothing in further disbelief and sorts through them.

"Jai… Oh Jai I'm so sorry! I had no idea! I didn't mean to! I'll----I'll buy you new clothes, I promise! I'll go to the store tomorrow! Yes, that's what I'll do! We'll get you even better shirts….," she rambles, feeling terribly guilty and miserable by what she had done to her husband's white clothes. Jai continues to search through the pile and locates the source that had caused the color change. He turns to his wife and presents the single red sock to her and witnesses her face crumbling.

"I…. I'm so sorry… I'm such a lousy person…. I can't do anything right… I am so hopeless… You must hate me…. I just ruin everything….," she nearly sobs, breaking into tears. Jai listens to her outburst for a good moment before the corner of his lips twitch and crack into a smile. His laughter accompanies it later and rings throughout the room. Stumped, Bani halts in her weeping and watches her husband bemusedly.

"What… What's so funny?" she innocently asks. Jai rumbles with increasing laughter. "You are," he states clearly between chuckles. "God Bani, you are just too damn adorable to be even mad at….," he continues, unaware of how his wife's cheeks turn crimson by his comment.

"You're… You're not mad?"

"I should be… but I'm not…. But tell me this, when you are incapable of doing anything right, why do you even try?" he jokes teasingly. Bani wipes away her tears immediately once it registers that he is truly not upset. Instead of feeling offended by his remark, she is only relieved. She shrugs at his question.

"I don't know…. I just want to be useful…," she sniffs.

"Well you have proven that you are quite the contrary….," he chuckles. Irked by his remarks of her incompetence, Bani glares at him. "Like you could do better," she retorts defensively.

"I certainly can because I am handy that way," he prides pompously, flashing her a taunting smile. Bani crosses her arms and stares at him in a challenging manner. "You are?"

He leans away from the machine on which he supported his body against and takes a step forward. "Yes. You on the other hand are a completeeee---…" He breaks off abruptly when his foot slips against the wet soapy floor and the impact sends him falling onto the ground, slamming against the front of the machine. Jai takes a moment to gather himself and stares up at his wide-eyed wife from below. He flashes a look and releases a dreary sigh. "….disaster," he continues, finishing his fragmented sentence, and looks down at the bubbles surrounding him. He raises his gaze when he hears his wife's tinkling laughter seconds later. She throws back her head and giggles amusedly at the sight of him covered in foam.

"Oh you find this funny?"

"Of course I do… One second you are acting high and mighty and the next you're not so much…. What happened hmm?" she gloats happily.

He smirks back at her. "This is what happened," he says right when reaching for her arm.  Bani, alarmed by this tries to move away. "What are you—…" Jai yanks on her hard and she too falls to the ground, slipping on the watery floor, joining her husband by sitting on her behind. Jai howls with laughter by the stunned expression on her face. Bani casts a look in his way.

"Yooouuuu---," she attempts in saying angrily but only joins in on his infectious laughter. She starts to throw suds in his direction, wanting to have payback for pulling her down to the ground. "This is all your fault you know," he rubs in while dodging her attacks.

"Yeah, but only because I was trying to do something helpful for you," she counters. Jai seizes her wrists into his hold, stopping her from throwing anymore suds at him.

"You're lucky to have me as your husband… If it had been anyone else, I'm sure they wouldn't be able to tolerate how unfit you are as a wife….," he quips lightheartedly, smiling at her. Bani gasps at this. "Oh I'm unfit?!"

"Of course! Why else are you unable to cook or even wash a simple load of clothes?" 

"Well excuse me for trying!" she hotly responds.

"Just wait till I tell your mother how Bani Rani is actually doing housework, like creating a fire in your parents' home wasn't enough for you!"

Ban turns red. "Shut up!" She giggles on the reminder while hopelessly wrestling to free her hands from his hold.

"I'm sure she's going to love this one! First fire, now flooding, what are you going to do next Bani Walia?"

"I don't know, I haven't decided yet…."

"Whatever it is that you're planning to do, keep in mind not to destroy our home… We have a son for god's sake… If you can't tame yourself for him, I don't know what will…. You don't want him going to school saying that he is homeless because one day his mommy decided to make some cookies and ended up burning the whole house down….," he sniggers.

"That was only once! And I was fifteen! The fire didn't even spread out of the kitchen!"

"How you can start a fire just by making cookies is unexplainable to me… You really are a piece of work, Bani…"

Bani continues to wrestle her wrists free while Jai's grip grows firmer.

"Jai, you are so m---…"  He pulls on her wrists suddenly with force causing her to stumble forward. Realizing what he has done, Jai quickly tries to catch her just as she lands across his lap being held up in his arms. She stares up at him breathlessly, having the wind knocked out of her and becoming mystified by the intensity of her husband's gray eyes boring down at her.

Jai becomes deadly silent as well having Bani so close to him, right beneath his very nose, her wet hair spread across his lap and a few tendrils plastered against her smooth face. His expressions grow soft and his eyes turn lukewarm. With his one arm holding her body weight and keeping her steady, he reaches slowly for her face with his free hand and cleans off the lingering suds from her face.

"…. I'm what?" he rumbles a few moments later, prodding her to finish. Bani catches her breath when noticing the manner in which he stares at her so closely. She is unable to figure his expression which is unfamiliar to her. But for some reason she felt she understood in a way what he is experiencing right this second because she too is undergoing it. Her heart hammers fast by the feel of his fingers brushing against her skin. They linger and his thumb draws lazy circles onto her cheek.

"…. You're so….. You're so….," she shakily says, not able to finish what she had wanted to say seconds before. However, she is saved the trouble of having to speak when Jai leans down and presses his lips against hers…..

Chapter 19 A:

Jai becomes deadly silent as well having Bani so close to him, right beneath his very nose, her wet hair sprawled across his lap and a few tendrils plastered against her smooth face. His expressions grow soft and his eyes steady. With his one arm holding her body weight, keeping her secure, he reaches slowly for her face with his free hand and cleans off the lingering suds from her face.

".... I'm what?" he rumbles a few moments later, prodding her to finish. Bani catches her breath when noticing the manner in which he stares at her so closely. She is unable to figure his expression which is unfamiliar to her. But for some reason she felt she understood in a way what he is experiencing right this second because she too is undergoing it. Her heart hammers fast by the feel of his fingers brushing against her skin. They linger and his thumb draws lazy circles onto her cheek.

"... You're so.... You're so..," she shakily says, not able to finish what she had wanted to say seconds before. However, she is saved the trouble of having to speak when Jai leans down and presses his lips against hers....

It is tentative at first, almost like tasting a new flavor one is unfamiliar with. But after doing so, the person discovers that he likes the flavor, more than like it actually. Such is the case with Jai, who kisses her leisurely, getting a feel of her plum lips brushing against his...finding that he quite enjoys the feel of her lips pressed on his. Hence, he seeks for more.

He pulls her up to him close, nearly seating her onto his lap, her bare legs that start to show beneath her robe straddling him. He presses her firmly against him, cradling her face into his large hands, and kisses her with a fervor erupting quickly inside of him. Excitement and desire overcomes him once he receives her eager response to his kisses. Her hands dig itself into his hair and bring him closer, giving him the silent invitation to proceed with his actions.

His insides pure in satisfaction from caving into the overpowering desire that taunted him for so long...as if he had found his oasis. He doesn't understand why he has been resisting this all this while. Why he had been trying to keep himself away from her when all he wants to be is with her.

Jai gasps, running out of breath, just as her lips break away from his after what seems like an eternity. He stares at her fixatedly, fascinated by how beautiful she is with her damp hair framing her radiant lovely face. He reaches out to her, wanting to bring her near, have her back in his arms, but is distracted when his wife looks down. He follows her gaze to her robe and watches as her fingers linger around the straps. He looks back to her with anticipation and meets her bashful face. She bites on her lower lip when slowly untying them and allowing her robe to slide off from her body. She shyly averts her gaze as his wandering eyes take her all in. His chest constricts from the sight of her dressed in a white silk slip reaching her knees. From there lust took over... 

His hand trails up the creaminess of her leg to her upper thigh, resting there just as he leans forward and takes her lips with his.

Her moan of approval causes him to be bold, planting heated kisses down along the column of her throat and reaching to the neckline of her nightdress. Bani wraps both arms around him and pushes back her head allowing him easy access. His hand inches inside of her dress while he begins to nuzzle the crook of her neck.

Bani closes her eyes, enjoying this new stage of intimacy in their relationship, not wanting it to end, wanting to venture further and further into it, wanting to drown in her love for him. However, just as quickly as her eyelids close they spring open as she hears a distant sound becoming quickly audible.

"...Jai," she gasps sharply, torn between the passion he is showering on her and their surroundings.

"Hmmm," he rumbles, distracted by the silkiness of her soft skin, wanting to feel every inch of her on him. He is put off, though, when she places her hands onto his chest and pushes him slightly back, creating much needed space between them. She leans her forehead onto his, dizzy and lightheaded from the frenzy captivating her seconds before.

"Yash...," she breathes unevenly, meeting his unfocused gaze squarely. "Don't bring him into this," he groans just before pulling her back to him. Bani resists, keeping him away. "No, I mean he is coming...right this way..."

"Momma! ... Mama! .. Papa?!"

While Jai turns to look at the closed door, hearing their son's shouts drawing nearer, Bani nearly jumps up from her place and reaches for her robe, hastily trying to fasten it around her. As soon as she ties her straps together, the door swings wide open and Yash stands lingering by the doorway in his pajamas staring at his parents in confusion at the state of the room and of themselves.

"Mama?"

Bani pushes back a few strands of her hair with trembling fingers and greets her son with a wide smile.

"Hi baby, stay right there... there was a little accident.... but how come you are awake, huh?" she coos, walking towards him.

"...You no there.... I shcared....," he sleepily replies, rubbing at his eyes.  "What you doing here?" he continues drowsily.

"Nothing sweetheart... just washing clothes... Come on now, let's put you back to bed. This time I won't leave, I promise," she rapidly states, feeling unnerved by her husband's piercing gaze fixed onto her.

"Papa...what you doing?"

"Nothing beta... Papa just fell that's all.... You go on with your mother... I'll just join you," Jai answers calmly while getting up himself.

"Come on Yashu...," Bani prods and takes his hand into hers before leading him back upstairs to the bedroom. Before leaving, Bani flashes a quick look over her shoulder at Jai, who stares back with a glint in his dark eyes. On her way back to their bedroom, tucking her son into bed, Bani wonders what would have transpired if they hadn't been interrupted...

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After taking a shower in one of the guestrooms, knowing fully well that his wife would be using theirs, Jai enters the bedroom silently once seeing the room enveloped in darkness. As he slumps onto the mattress beside his slumbering son and wife, he releases a sigh and casts a look in their direction. He smiles gently to himself at the vision they make and secretly swells with pride over the fact that this is his family, his very own loved ones. He affectionately runs his hand along Yash's hair as he snoozes peacefully to himself. His gaze then trails over to Bani, who is nestled beside their son with the usual serenity occupied on her face.

Had he made a mistake back in the laundry room by sharing such an intimate act with Bani? He had been asking himself this since the moment she left the room. He wanted to feel guilty and expected for himself to feel so. He had crossed a boundary he told himself. What he pulled back there has officially changed their relationship and he felt the immediate need to apologize. However, on further thought he could not figure for what he should apologize. Looking back on that kiss, he was not sorry for it. On the contrary, he was in a way grateful for it. It had awakened him to the feelings he has recently been cherishing for her that he desperately had been trying to hide. And he has now realized that he does not want to hide them anymore. He likes Bani... a lot. And he is damn sure that there is a possibility that he can even fall in love with her. And perhaps he already is...

The thought of her once being his wife's sister had tormented him before. But it is about time that he practices what he has been trying to preach to himself... and that is to finally let go of the past and embrace the present and future. It has been a long time since they have been brother-in-law and sister-in-law....over three years in fact. She is his wife now. Whatever intimacy they decide to share will not be wrong nor will he be betraying his first wife in anyway. Maybe he is ready to take this compromised marriage forward....to have a physical relationship with the woman he has been married to for the past two and a half years... to have a real relationship. Looking at her, he finds his answer....

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Jai stirs awake by the sound of a certain tinkling. He slowly opens his eyes and looks to the side to see the time that reads 8:05. Hearing the tinkling noise again, he follows the direction in which it comes from and sees his wife's figure standing by the wardrobe, shifting through clothes...her bangles following each swift movement of her hand. He rises on the bed and rubs the back of his neck, releasing a long sigh which his wife turns around on hearing.

Bani shoots him a shy smile and greets sweetly, "Good morning."

"Good morning," he replies back groggily, attempting a small smile in return. They mull shortly in the silence building between them, becoming conscious of one another and of themselves. They do not say anything, but the locking of their eyes say everything that is on their minds at that moment. Before either of them can strike any conversation, they become distracted by the opening of their bedroom door. Yash, already awake and dressed for the day, comes running in.

"Morning Papa!"

".. Morning sport, how come you're awake?" he questions, surprised.

"Papa! Itz morning! It no sleepy time!" Yash stresses, stating what he thinks is an obvious fact. Jai grins at this. "Point taken," he agrees.

"Come on Yashu, let's leave Papa to get ready and go on downstairs. Mama made your favorite for breakfast," Bani says, diverting her son's attention away from his still drowsy father.

Jai raises a brow at her. "You made breakfast?" Bani, detecting his mocking tone, throws his towel at him to wipe off his taunting grin, landing on his head.

"For your information, it's completely edible... Now get ready and come downstairs.," she says whilst taking Yash with her outside the room. Hearing his chuckles as she walks away put a slight smile on her face.

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Bani smiles listening to her son and husband conversing over their meal; both chatting animatedly with one another. It is funny to think that a while ago the two hardly spoke a word to one another and now they barely could stop. She looks on at them fondly throughout Breakfast, watching them interact, and realizing how much they mean to her. They are her two boys, neither of who can she live without. Her attention, though, fixates specifically onto her husband, discreetly admiring him.

She turns pink on the thought of how intimate they were last night. She figures that if they had not been interrupted, things between them would have gone even further. His advance toward her surprised her since she hadn't suspected that he felt anything for her. But when he kissed her and held her so closely in his arms, she felt desired, wanted, and loved.

Bani had her share of kisses in the past, but this one was different...more powerful....more drugging...more sensual. He made senses come alive that she didn't know existed in the first place. He made her aware of the fact that she is a young woman and he a virile man. He makes her heart skip beats in a way no one has. He is the one and only man she is ready to give herself mind, body, and soul. Jai Walia is the man she loves and will love till her last breath.

"Alright, kiddo, I have to get going or else Papa is gonna run late," Jai announces, breaking into his wife's train of thoughts.

"Bye Papa!" Yash chirps. Jai leans over and plants a kiss on his son's head. "Bye Yash. Don't give Nandini a hard time okay? Now run along and watch your show."

"Okay," he answers distractedly as he stands up from his own chair to watch his favorite show that his parents promised he could watch if he finished all of his food. He rushes out of the room, leaving both of his parents behind in the dining room to themselves. Bani fidgets in her seat just before rising herself. She distracts herself by picking up the dishes, feeling flushed as she becomes more and more aware of him standing right there.

"... Breakfast wasn't as awful as I thought it would be... are you sure you made it?" he jokes, breaking the brief moment of silence that blanketed them seconds before. Bani sends him a glance, trying to seem annoyed by his dig when really she is nervous just being within a few feet of him.

"You have a funny way of praising someone, you know?" she retorts causing her husband to smile at her response.

"I'll see you in the evening," he replies amicably, dashing any anticipation or hopes that Bani had from him considering what they shared last night. It's almost as if he is acting nothing happened. She feels instant disappointment settling inside of her but she is determined not to show it.

"Have a good day," she wishes politely just before gathering the last of the dishes and turning around to head on over to the kitchen. Before she can go far, though, she is halted by the sudden tug on her pallu keeping her in place. Looking over her shoulder, she sees her husband gripping onto the end of her saree with a boyish grin playing on his lips. He takes slow steps forward and hovers over her small frame. She watches him carefully with wide eyes, wondering what he is going to do. Her heart hammers dangerously fast when he inches close and presses his lips against her cheek.

"You too.... Take care," he breathes huskily just before flashing his white teeth and leaving with a last glance in her direction. Bani, rooted to her spot, blushes crimson and touches her now flaming cheek with a silly smile plastered onto her face...

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Chapter 19 B:

After finishing an appendectomy on one of his patients, Dr. Walia retired to the privacy of his cabin, where he wished to take a break after being on his feet for most of the morning. As he leaned back into his chair and stretched his long legs out, thoughts of last night dance around in his head. What would have happened if Yash didn't show up as an interruption? Would he and Bani gotten carried away? Would he have cared if they did? Is Bani an equal mess as he is right now? Does she want to share the level of intimacy that a wife and husband are supposed to have? But more importantly, how do they even start? It is all new for him, and even for her he knows. How do they breech that intimacy when they have already been married for more than two years?

She makes him feel strange, discomforted, nervous, awkward, and yet comforted, secure, cared for, and accepted all at once. When concerning Bani, he experiences various emotions that he is unable to describe. As of late, she is occupying each and every one of his thoughts. Is he really beginning to feel something more for his young wife than just friendship? How does he know if he truly is falling for her? So many questions tackle him at once that leaves him feeling drained and exhausted.

One thing is for sure, though, after last night. There is certainly chemistry there now that they have tested the waters between them. This chemistry has potential to be transformed into much more. Perhaps he should not sit down and dissect their relationship so soon and see where it takes them… take it one day at a time. He does know for certain that he wants to give it a try.

He hasn't felt like this in a long time, not since Ananya's death. Is it possible to love more than once in a lifetime? Is it possible for him?

"Knock, knock." Jai hears the muffled voice of his friend as he taps against his office door. Rattled out of his penetrating thoughts, he sits up in his chair, making himself clear his head. Used to these intrusions by now, he allows him in knowing very well that even if he refused it'd make no difference.

"Hey dost, look what I have for you," Rohit announces in a sing-song tone. Jai glances up exasperatedly wondering what Rohit is up to now but holds his tongue from snapping at him when seeing his wife and son come in to view. He becomes bemused on seeing them here in his office.

"Bani….," he slips up her name almost immediately once rising from his seat. Bani looks to him sheepishly—praying for the floor to split open and swallow her up just about now. She bites down on her lip as her husband stares at her fixatedly with his piercing gray eyes.

"What are you doing here?" he questions, his insides feeling strangely funny. The times that Jai has ever seen his wife and son at the hospital is during Yash's appointments with Rohit when Bani would swing by his office and drop in for little time. And as far as he can remember, he does not know of Yash having any appointment.

"Woh---.." she begins in saying, but halts not knowing how to explain her reasoning with Rohit's presence in the room. She feels awfully shy at the moment.

"Papa, you come with us?" Yash shoots right away while approaching him, taking his father's hand into his.

Jai wears a look of utter confusion. "What are you talking about, beta?" He then looks back to Bani for an explanation. She continues to appear sheepish and speaks with flushed cheeks.

"Yash and I wanted to have lunch with you… if that's alright?" she puts the idea across meekly, not sure if she should have come after all. She doesn't want to put an inconvenience on him if he is too busy or be rejected for any other reason.

Suddenly, Jai begins to feel just as much sheepish as his wife is. Especially for being caught off guard like this when just literally a moment ago he was thinking of her. He thinks over his schedule, noting that he does have quite some work ahead of him to do. However, looking at his nerved wife, he is unable to refuse the offer seeing how cute she appears like a little school girl asking out her crush. Also, he finds himself wanting this time with her and their son. After yesterday, he seems to want her company more so than ordinary.  

"Answer the poor girl, Jai, instead of staring at her like a gaping fish," Rohit remarks, causing Bani's cheeks to grow redder and surprisingly even making Jai feel warm in the face himself.

"Er, y-yes… I have time. My break starts in fifteen minutes, but we can go now if you'd like," he inquires awkwardly with his best friend in the room watching his and his wife's interaction with great interest.

"Let's go now!" Yash urges, pulling on his father's hand excitedly. Jai and Bani both share a look at this and smile in amusement at their son's behavior.

"Accha baba, let's go," Jai concedes to his son's demand, putting a bright smile onto the little toddler's face.

"We had brought the driver…," Bani informs her husband, who tells her that they will all go in his car and that the driver can return home.

"I will just go and tell him then---,"she begins to say till Jai intervenes saying, "We'll go together."

"Well my job here is done, I see. Have fun you three. Oh, and if by chance you guys go the restaurant downtown that sells those delicious fries, mind bringing me back some?" Rohit pleads in his usual child-like exuberance. Bani smiles while assuring him that she will try whereas Jai throws him a murderous look for always placing his food needs onto his wife.

Just as they all exit from Jai's cabin and Bani and Yash walk on forward, Jai is halted briefly by Rohit's whispering.

"Something happened," he states observingly. Jai looks at him with questioning.

"You two are different…," he continues, confirming the fact that he had been stealthily watching Jai and Bani's interaction in the room. Despite himself, Jai retains the urge to smile on his comment and simply mutters, "I don't know what you're talking about," before joining his wife and son and leaving his curious friend behind.

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"So where to?" he questions his small family, who are seated in the front of his car, Yash sitting in his mother's lap after much insistence when his parents were not willing.

"Perhaps we should go to that restaurant Rohit Bhaiya was talking about… He seemed to really want those fries," Bani suggests seriously, making Jai want to hit his head against the steering wheel for the way his wife always listens to Rohit's every little word.

"Are we going out for the sole purpose of getting Rohit lunch or for us having lunch together?" Jai questions in slight annoyance with the Rohit factor. Bani blushes and mumbles the latter.

"So let us have our lunch as a family and leave Rohit to address his own hunger… That is not our concern," he replies, setting the car in drive and leaving the parking lot. Despite how awkward and shy she feels with Jai at the moment, she giggles at his small display of a tantrum.

"He is one of your best friends, yet you are always treating him like he is your worst enemy," she points out to him, making Jai feel relaxed that they can still share conversation even with all that had happened the night before.  

"He is a complete duffer, that is why… and don't take his side all the time, I'm your husband, you should be siding with me," he declares, making his wife feel even more skittish in his presence. However, she wants to keep her cool and not show him how much of an effect he has on her.

"But he is so sweet," she defends Rohit and herself.

"And you are implying that I'm not?" he questions with a raise of a brow, genuinely interested in how his wife thinks of him.

"….. You are sweet too,… in your own way," she offers shyly. Jai glances in her way briefly between driving and gives her a small grin. "Now what is that supposed to mean?"

Tongue-tied, Bani doesn't know how to further explain herself until she doesn't have to since her son suddenly speaks up and says, "Mama, … I shexy?"

Both Jai and Bani immediately look to one another and burst into peals of laughter whereas Yash tries to figure out why his parents always laugh when he says the particular word for the remainder of the drive…

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"Oh shoot, oh shoot, oh shoot," Yash cries gleefully with each skip he takes whilst holding onto his mother's hand as they all leave from the restaurant once finishing lunch. Bani throws Jai a look.

"Oh come on, don't look at me like that," he says to her while walking beside her on the sidewalk.

"We shouldn't have any more family outings since so far on each of them you have taught our son an inappropriate word," she jibes purposely. Jai seems simply amused.

"At least he isn't saying the original version anymore… you have to give me some credit for that," he says, wanting some recognition for how long it took him to get Yash to say "shoot" instead.

"Jai, by the time he goes to school, he will have an entire vocabulary list," she persists, wanting him to see the seriousness in the issue that he was taking rather lightly.

"People will think he doesn't live in a good environment…."

"Well they'll think right, won't they? I mean he has a mother who cannot cook or clean and a verbally abusive father---the boy needs serious help," he quips, poker-faced.  Bani gives him another look for this yet cannot help but cave into the urge to laugh at his light-heartedness.

"Once a joker, always a joker," she comments irking Jai's interest.

"You calling me a joker?" he demands, acting as if he truly is offended. Bani, after having completely eased in his presence throughout lunch, joins the little banter.

"Don't look so shocked, you have always been one, ever since I have known you," she digs good-humoredly.  

"Hmm, I don't remember you being any less….with all those pranks you would pull," he remarks, joining her in reminiscing their pasts. Bani flashes him a wide smile before replying cheekily, "Well I have changed now… .. I am a mature adult unlike you."

Jai keeps his mouth shut and simply smiles as a reaction to her words. He looks on at her with a tender expression, silently agreeing to her statement. She has indeed changed, not the young girl she used to be. No, she is now a woman who is smart, funny, caring, and beautiful.

They continue to walk side by side, reflecting shortly over their lunch that went lovely with conversation flowing up until the curse mishap towards the end of it when he spilt his water. Other than that, it was a good time. Walking in the direction of their car, they stop at the end of the sidewalk and wait for a clear passage on the busy road for them to cross it. Jai scoops Yash up, gathering him in his arms. When sensing that it is okay to cross, Jai gestures to Bani to follow his lead. She had been carefully looking for any signs of upcoming cars till she grows distracted by a sudden touch on her hand. She looks over and sees that her husband takes her hand into a firm grip, not giving it much importance as he wants them to cross the street safely. However, Bani feels her heart race on the contact. As they reach the other side, Jai gradually lets go of her hand and occupies himself in chattering with his son, who continues to remain in his arms. He remains unaware of Bani's current state.

"Papa, we going home now?" Yash questions, saddened by the thought of their time spent together ending. Jai throws his wife a backward glance.

"You have any plans?" he asks, jolting Bani out of her whatever had captivated her since crossing the road.

"… Well… I was planning on doing a little shopping before going back… why?" she asks in turn. Jai checks his watch before replying to her.

"I've got time left before I need to get back to work… How about I take you two to the mall and you can get your shopping done?" He wouldn't tell her that he wanted to spend more time with her, not just yet at least.

Bani nearly beams on hearing his proposition, touched that he is taking out time of his work willingly for her. She smiles, immensely pleased at the moment.

"I would love that," she answers in all honesty.

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They attended to all of Yash's hyper demands first, going to toy stores and buying what his parents would let him. With his shopping done, he settled down peacefully, not being such an inconvenience on Jai and Bani any longer. While she has him when she can, Bani proposes that they buy shirts for Jai since she had ruined all his white ones the night before. She had put the idea across embarrassedly for referring to the night before. Jai agreed, saying that they could only stay for a little bit longer since he needed to head back to the hospital soon.

"How about this one?.... Or this one?.... This?" she questions when shopping in the men's department, both Jai and Yash highly bored already since Bani is taking a very keen interest in buying his clothes.

"Bani, they are all the same color… white… what difference does it make?"

"There is a difference," she insists. "They have different material and this one is off-white, not white," she corrects him.

"I don't know, just pick some… I don't care," he mumbles.

"You say that now, but you and I both know that you won't wear any one of these shirts if you don't like them…," she points out, silencing him since she is after all right. Bani muses to herself for a moment, taking a good look at each shirt till she presents them to him.

"Go try them on," she tells a taken aback Jai. He immediately refutes. "Bani, I don't have the time---"

"Jai, it'll be real quick… Also this way you can see for yourself which ones you like," she urges, nearly pushing him toward the fitting rooms. Jai decides not to argue over this and concedes to her commands. He takes the shirts from her and sighs exasperatedly, bringing a smile onto her face.

He had planned to try the shirts quickly, not wanting to waste his time test-trying clothes but his plan was dashed as his wife insisted on seeing each and every shirt on him. By the time Jai slipped on the last one, he buttoned it up hastily and opened the changing room door feeling ridiculous as if he was on a runway or some sort. Bani smiles politely on the sight of him.

"Do you like it?"

"Yes, yes, it's fine… they're all fine. Now let's go before you make me model in anything else," he nearly growls, widening her smile.

"Why are you so uncomfortable? … You have never done this before?" she questions lightly, intrigued by his childish behavior.

"Of course not. Why do you think I have servants to begin with?" he proposes as matter-of-fact, marveling Bani that he has never shopped for his own clothes. Taking a proper look at the shirt, she notes that he has improperly buttoned the shirt from the top. She approaches him coyly to address the matter.

"Well you have a wife now… and this is what wives do…," she softly says to him while focusing her concentration onto the buttons that she properly tucks into its holes instead to the cool water scent of his cologne that tickles her nose. Tucking in the last button, she soothes out the wrinkles to the linen shirt and stares up to send him a smile. However, her smile freezes half-way as she finds herself captured by the intensity of his stormy gray eyes, drowning into the depths of them. She holds in her breath at the way he looks at her so closely, so silently.

He stares at her unabashedly, particularly affected by her soft spoken words. He takes in the youthful beauty of her face and the innocence reflected in her honey brown eyes and feels a tug somewhere inside of him.

Her eyes close on their own will once seeing his face lean inch forward and her heart is sent to a frenzy race.

"And this is what husbands do… they complain," he says gently into her ear. Bani's eyelids fly open and she stares back into his mischievous eyes. Her lips break out into a beautiful smile which her husband gradually shares. She fiddles with the buttons of his shirt needlessly, biting on her bottom lip. She feels extremely shy at the moment and not knowing why.

"So… what do you think?" she looks for a verdict of his opinion.

"Well my bossy wife has made me wear all of them… may as well buy them too," he responds, grinning handsomely. She chuckles at his attempt of light-hearted humor and feels at ease when he laughs too.

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After paying for her husband's clothes and claiming that she needed nothing for herself, the family of three makes the decision to finally leave the mall since Jai receives a pager regarding his needed presence at the hospital.

"But I want ice cream," Yash whines when spotting another child eating a chocolate ice cream on a cone. Jai and Bani make promises to treat him some other time, but he hears none of it.

"Bani, you go on and take the royal prince to get his ice cream while I get the car and meet you up front," he recommends, seeing how his obstinate son will not leave till he gets what he wants. She agrees to the idea and takes Yash by the hand, leading him away and eventually fading from sight. Jai proceeds on with the way to the parking garage till he is stopped by a voice calling for his attention.  

"Excuse me," she cries after him. He halts in his steps and turns on his heels in query. Before him stands a young woman, in her early twenties, with long brunette hair and chocolate brown eyes. She is a relatively attractive woman which he could tell she liked to flaunt off with her chosen attire, a purple halter-top paired with a short white skirt. He wonders what she wants from him.

"Yes?"

"That woman you were just with…. She is my oldest friend… you must be her husband, right?"

Jai's previous query rises from her statement. He continues to look at her wearily.

"Yes, I am…. You are saying you are one of Bani's friends?" he questions for clarification. Till date, he has never seen this woman.

"Yes, my name is Pia Chopra…. I have known Bani since the beginning of university… we studied together in Mount Abu," she explains with a cheery smile that didn't seem so genuine to him.

"… See, I would have gone up to her just now but she left so quickly, didn't see where she went, and then I saw you with her, so now I have come hounding you…," she continues.

"She went to the ice cream parlor toward the other side of the mall, you can meet her there if you'd like… I'm sorry, but I have to go," he politely excuses himself, but to no success since Pia rattles on away.

"I understand, you're a doctor… She had mentioned it when we met up for lunch some time ago…saying you are always busy. I haven't seen her since then, though, and I have seemed to misplace her new number … How is she doing lately? How is marital life treating her? Poor thing was just too young when she was married…hopefully she is better adjusted now."

"Excuse me?" he says not so politely anymore, not appreciating her discussing about his wife with him when they are strangers who have just met.

"Oh, yes, I know about the circumstances in which you two were married…. And to be quite frank, I don't know how that girl has pulled through with everything that was thrown at her…. Having to be married, move to a different city, and raise a child all so sudden that too when she was only nineteen… that is a lot of responsibilities to take up, especially when you don't want it. Poor Bani barely had a say in anything… quite unfair. She often talked about how she wanted to finish university and pursue a career, be a career woman. Then after all that she would find a husband, settle down, and have kids. … I guess life just doesn't happen according to what you hope for," she carries on, unmindful of the fact that her supposed friend's husband grows enraged by her audacity to speak to him about all this.

"A real pity, if you ask me," Pia finishes with her rambling.

"No one asked you. Mine and my wife's business is none of your concern, Ms. Chopra. And to put an end to your concern about her, Bani is just fine," he coldly responds, staring at her with steely eyes. Not giving her another minute of his time, Jai stalks off, leaving Pia behind feeling completely rebuffed.

On arriving at his car, he tells himself to forget what she had said. She was obviously just a catty person, nothing else. Yet, against his will her words engrave itself into his mind.

Does Bani still feel the same way? Is she unhappy at the way her life has turned out? Did she wish she never married Jai and didn't have Yash as a responsibility? Does she feel suffocated in their marriage? Does she dream of having finished her studies uninterrupted, built a career, and found a man to love and settle down? Does she feel that Jai has snatched all this away from her? To live her own life according to her own terms?

He was in a pensive mood when pulling up to the front of the mall and waiting on his wife and son. When they arrived, he did his best to uplift his spirits again to show that nothing was wrong. However, something was wrong and he didn't know how he felt about it.

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Chapter 20 A:

The rest of the Walia clan returned a day earlier than expected, not that Bani or Jai minded. The house felt lonely and empty without the presence of their family members. It felt nice to have laughter, noise, and company once again.

"The wedding was an absolute scandal, you won't believe it…. If only you had been there you two," Aditya chattered that morning at the breakfast table, recounting each and every detail of the scandalous marriage that took place. Bani simply smiled whereas Jai looked bored.

"Other than that, it was a lovely occasion… so much dance and food… It was great fun," Dadi pipes in her usual jolly mood.

"Oh yes, Dadi had great fun, she was even close to dancing when the Sheila ki Jawani number came on at the ladies sangeet," chipped Anu, earning laughter from everyone on the image of the elderly woman dancing to such an item song.

"You didn't see Ma's reaction to Munni badnam, I had to literally keep her to the chair," Jigyasa announces laughingly.

"Hain haso, haso---but mind you all, I may be old, but I still have not lost my touch," Dadi remarks, gaining agreement from everyone at the table. Bani goes all around, making sure that everyone receives their meals, and affectionately places a hand onto her sister's head who gives her a happy smile in return.

"Accha, Jai…Bani… what did you two do while we were gone?" Krishna asks, turning the conversation to a different direction. Bani blushes against her will and busies herself by attending to everyone's needs.

"Nothing much, Ma," Jai replies evasively.

"Arre, you must have done something…. Bani?" Krishna directs her attention to her daughter-in-law, who stands rooted to her place, not knowing what to say as an answer.

"Dadi, we eat Pizza….Papa took me and Mama to restoooanttt (restaurant)…and stores…. And-and we watch movie," Yash chirps excitedly, providing his grandmother with the answers his parents were not willing to give.

"Accha?" Krishna notes in surprise of her son, for he has been an introvert for a long while now, never going out needlessly besides to work.

Yash nods his head in affirmative, bringing a pleased smile to his grandmother's lips. She ruffles his hair fondly.

"Seems like our Yash baba had fun while we were away," she states.

"Wah, Jai, spending time alone with your wife and son… not bad," Aditya teases, causing Bani to blush further and Jai to glare at him.

"Accha hai… at least Jai spends time with them… you on the other hand, I don't remember when was the last time you took me out," Jigyasa puffs, causing a brief brawl between the long married couple, ending with Aditya pacifying her.

"Mami, will you pack lunch for me today? I don't feel like eating out," Saahil asks, usually having the habit of eating at restaurants during his lunch breaks, but now growing tired of eating out all the time.

"Of course, just let me know what you want to eat before you go to the office," she replies kindly. "Thanks, you're the best," he responds with a grateful smile.

"Ah, the office… What a good getaway we had… now back to the same old routine," Aditya dramatically sighs.

"Come on Dad, it's not that bad," Ranveer comments.

"You are young, my son. Just wait till you get as old as me," he replies equally dramatically.

"Aditya Jiju, you are not so old yourself," Bani comforts him when placing another parantha onto his plate. Aditya aims a beaming smile in her direction.

"Hai, Bani, you always know the right things to say to make me feel better," he states sweetly.

She smiles gingerly at him before retreating into the kitchen to get a head start on packing everyone's lunch. When returning, she watches everyone flutter around once finishing breakfast in going about their own schedules. One by one they take their lunches from her thankfully and vanish to complete their day's work. She sees them off with a smile, glad to have them home again. She did not realize how much she missed them till their return.

After getting ready herself, gathering her books, and seeing to that Yash is taken care for by Nandini, Bani goes on about with her own day by attending her classes. Just as she steps off the staircase, heading to the front doors, she halts on hearing her name being called out.

"Bani,….  I'm on my way out too… I'll drop you off to university… No need to have Ram drive you," her husband proposes breezily, taking Bani by a bit of surprise as she turns on her heels and sees him joining her. She looks at him, dumbstruck.

"You have not gone yet? I thought you had left some time before…," she states.

"No, I was in my study, I am just leaving now… Now tell me, do you want me to drop you or not?" he asks, looking straight at her.

"Are you sure? You aren't running late, are you?" she politely inquires, not wanting to put any inconvenience on him.

"Well, I haven't been paged all morning, so I suppose I'm not…. Besides, like how you love to remind me all the time, I'm not the only doctor there… I am taking my time today," he explains which Bani can see clearly since he seems at ease and in no rush to make it to work on time like he usually is. She smiles gingerly at him.

"I will just go and tell Ram Singh that I will be going with you," she says. Jai nods before replying.

"I'll wait for you in the car…," he tells her then carries on with his way whereas Bani sets out to find Ram Singh and inform him of her change of plans…..

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Bani smiles to herself, casting discreet glances to her husband, whose sole attention is onto the road before him when driving her to the university. There is a visible change in their relationship, one that she and even he surprisingly have accepted. Jai is much more open with her, willing to joke, and be carefree around her. He had been reserved earlier, but she is glad to note that gradually for the past weeks he has been changing for the better. These past couple of days spent with her husband has been highly memorable for her that she will forever cherish. She felt as if her old Jai had come back to her, at last. Whatever inhibitions that kept him away from her before now out of the way.

She flushes when remembering their heated night of passion. Since then Jai made no further advancement to her, but she did not fail to notice his tender looks, his gentle touches, and his affectionate smiles. It will take him some time to move their relationship forward, she knows this, and she is willing to wait.

"Bani, I forgot to tell you…," he rumbles, breaking into her thoughts. She turns to look at him, giving her full-undivided attention.

"Hmm?"

"I met a woman named Pia Chopra at the mall the other day…. she was saying that she was your old classmate and friend," he continues carefully, glancing in her way. Bani seems stumped by what he says.

"You met Pia?" she asks in disbelief that her husband had actually met her. He nods his head in affirmative.

"I bumped into her on the way to the car. She had seen you with me earlier and approached me when not able to find you... She was asking about you and wanting to meet with you."

Bani seems perplexed by this. "Well, she has my number…."

"She said that she lost it…," he clarifies.

"Oh, .. then I guess I will contact her then," she says unmindfully, not particularly caring for the topic. Pia was an old friend and Bani decided that she wanted to keep it at that. They have become into two complete different people and share no common interests anymore. What had kept their friendship alive in the first place was how modern they both were. But since her marriage, Pia didn't see her the same anymore—classifying her as a traditionalist. Bani didn't bother to explain that following family values does not make a person any less than modern. She didn't feel the need to and let her think whatever she wanted to. Personally, she could care less.

"So… she was a good friend of yours?" Jai urges, preluding the topic since he had been troubled by what Pia Chopra had said to him that day. He wanted to know how well Bani and Pia knew each other and if there was any truth to what he had heard.

"Yes, we were rather close since the beginning of our university days… Her and our other good friend, Anamika. … We have lost touch though, since then….," she trails off, not caring to pursue the subject any longer.

She fails to notice the grave expression that settles onto Jai's face on hearing the confirmation he was dreading. Although catty, perhaps Pia knew Bani more than he gave her credit for.

He pulls up at the university, slowing down and briefly parking by the side of the street. Bani flashes him a thankful smile.

"Will you come home for lunch?" she asks cheerfully since he had been doing just that for the past few days. Jai cannot help but return the warm smile faintly.

"No… I will try to come for dinner, though…. Depending on how long the surgery takes," he informs.

"I will make palak paneer for tonight…and your favorite gajar ka halwa….So you will have to come," she stubbornly responds, lifting her husband's smile.

"You will make it or your precious Taj Indian palace will cook it for you?" he cannot help but tease, bringing a flush onto his wife's cheeks.

"No, I will make it… I have been practicing for some time now….," she insists, yet rather shyly.

"Oh, this will be good… Then I will surely come," he pokes, making Bani glare at him instead.

"Shut up," she snaps, causing Jai to laugh at her plight. He promises that he will try and make it on time before driving off to the hospital to get to the workload he was avoiding. On the way there, he decides that he will consult with his wife about the concerns he recently has been having. If he wants the answers to his questions, he will have to directly seek them from her himself.

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He didn't get the chance to bring forth the subject that night since his surgery went longer than expected. By the time he came home, it was late at night and Bani was waiting with his food heated. He did not have it in him to broach it right then and there when she seemed preoccupied with excitement of him trying her hand-cooked meals which she worked painstakingly on. The effort was clear as he praised her for the food, bringing a blush onto her pleased appearing face.

The next couple of days he was kept busy at the hospital since he volunteered to work in the ER causing him to return home far late into the night or not even at all. Even though pushed back in his mind, Jai knew he would have to discuss about it with her sooner or later.

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It was his fourth day working at the ER, against his will since there was a dire need for more doctors, and the exhaustion of the hundreds of cases flying in was settling inside of him. He was in a terribly grouchy and irritable mood.

"Where is the patient's x-rays?" he demands in a clipping tone to the male nurse by his side. "It hasn't been reported back yet, doctor," the nurse answers timidly, fully aware of Dr. Walia's off-set mood due to sleep-deprivation.

"It should have been here an hour ago… Go and see what the big hold up is," Jai commands and watches the nurse scurry off to do just that. He sighs in frustration. Never again will he volunteer in the ER, at least not any time soon.

"Doctor, we have been waiting for hours now without any news of Ricky's condition," the patient's wife speaks up. Jai casts a look at her direction.

"I apologize for the inconvenience… We will get to you as soon as we can…," he dismisses himself when pushing through the curtains and attending to another one of the many patients occupying the Emergency Trauma Room. The crying and groaning coming from all around nearly boils him to his breaking point. He doesn't know how much more he can take.

"You have suffered serious fractures to the bone in your wrist… You will be need a proper cast so it can heal over the course of the next few weeks…," he distantly hears one of the fellow doctors discuss with his patient nearby.

"… I understand. … Doctor, would you happen to know if Dr. Jai Walia is anywhere around at the moment? I know he is currently working in the ER….," responds a very familiar voice, too familiar. Jai straightens on hearing this and looks behind him, following the voices to the isolated section surrounded by blue, washed out curtains.  

"Yes, he is. He must be with a patient right now. May I ask why you are asking about him?"

"He is my husband. I have been trying to reach him on his cell, but he hasn't been picking up."

"Oh, let me see if I can reach him for you---"

Before the doctor can act on his words, Jai pushes the curtains to the side, revealing his wife sitting on one of the hospital beds with her left hand bandaged tightly. She and the doctor accompanying her look up to see Jai staring at them with a dark expression forming onto his face.

"What happened?" he immediately bellows, stunning the doctor in their presence and catching Bani off guard.

"Jai, I---..," she begins in stammering, not knowing where to begin or how to explain herself to him. He approaches her, taking her broken left wrist carefully into his hands. He examines the injury as well as everywhere else around her body to see if she has any others.

"How did this happen, Bani?" he urges, roughly, for an answer. Bani seems hesitant in providing him with one, observing the scowl marring his handsome face.

"I-I--…. I was driving and---.."

"You were driving?" he immediately cuts her off, his voice rising, and stares at her in disbelief. Bani nearly shrinks under his towering figure and disapproving eyes.

"Ranveer was teaching me—.."she meekly continues only to be intervened again.

"He was what?" he almost thunders. "What was he doing trying to teach you to drive?! And why were you letting him?!"

"Because I wanted to learn…," Bani weakly puts across, knowing that her stance isn't strong enough against Jai's evoked anger.

"You should have asked me--I will kill him," Jai threatens, alerting Bani to how quickly his anger is growing by the second.

"Jai, please---…"

"And then what happened? Did you two end up into an accident? Is that how you broke your wrist?" he demands further for answers.  Seeing Bani look immensely guilty, he receives them.

"Where is he?" he persists, completely forgetting that they are in the hospital among other people, only focused on the current situation.

"He went to find you," she replies reluctantly and jumps up from the bed on seeing Jai turn to leave. She stops him by taking a grip onto his arm with her free hand.

"Jai, it was just a small accident, that's all. We're both fine. The car is fine---.."

"No, you are not fine. You have a broken wrist," he points out crossly.  

"It's not a big deal—nothing serious happened," she insists, wanting him to understand her and not to overreact in this way.

"It is a big deal! You're my wife, goddammit, and something more serious could have happened to you!" he yells in frustration for her inability to understand how he feels. Bani is silenced by his outburst, left speechless, and looks at him wide-eyed. Jai tears his gaze off of her, ashamed by his behavior, yet unable to control his surfacing feelings. They don't say anything to each other for a short moment till the doctor awkwardly excuses himself, mumbling about getting her cast ready.

Bani silently observes her husband's steely exterior, his stormy eyes and rigid posture indicating that he is terribly upset. She feels absolutely lousy right about now.  

"… Mamaji?"

Her gaze flickers to behind her husband, where Ranveer stands fearfully in his place with a frightful expression on his cut and bruised face.

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They stayed till Bani got a proper cast on her arm and for Ranveer to address his bleeding nose received by the blow his Mamaji gave to his face. The three sat in the car which Jai drove back home, leaving the other car to be handled by Ram Singh and Hari Mann, their other family chauffer.

No one said a word while Jai brooded quietly to himself whereas Ranveer and Bani wallowed in their own personal guilt. On arriving at home, they had to answer to a lot of questions, mostly raised by Krishna.

"Arre, what was the need to do this?," Krishna demanded to know, highly upset about what had occurred. Jigyasa tends to Ranveer's cuts, admonishing him for being so careless, and not to be so careless in the future again. Aditya attempts to be the peacemaker, mostly to settle down Krishna, and explaining that these things happen and that they should all be lucky that both Bani and Ranveer did not get seriously injured.

"Bahu, why would you feel the need to learn how to drive? What used would come out of that? Our family has drivers for that—..," Krishna continues, bringing tears to Bani's eyes and making her feel ashamed of herself. After all, she was the one responsible for the accident. Ranveer was generous in his offer to teach her when she casually stated she wanted to learn driving. She shouldn't have taken him up on it else they could have avoided this.

"Agar tumhe kuch hojaata toh? I would have thought you would at least think about Yash--.."

"Ma, stop it. Now don't you say anything else to her," Jai interrupted his mother coldly. Krishna, taken aback, clamps her mouth shut, knowing her son will get more upset if she says anything else.

He turns to look at his wife, who has tears brimming in her honey brown eyes. "Bani, go to our room and rest," he instructs calmly. Bani obediently listens, casting her gaze to the floor, and walks over to the stairs. Rano, noticing how visibly distraught her sister is, follows after her.

"I am going back to the hospital… Ma, you will not speak to Bani about this any further. Let her rest. Jigyasa Didi, give Ranveer an icepack to cool down the swelling… it will be fine in a couple of hours," he advises. Jigyasa nods her head before proceeding over to the kitchen after telling Ranveer off to his room as well.

Jai stalked off back to his car and sighed heavily to himself, running his fingers through his hair in distress. He wonders why he reacted so strongly to such a minor accident and shakes off the remaining fears of Bani landing herself into something far worse. He starts his engine and pushes these thoughts to the deepest, farthest parts of his head…

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Bani awoke an hour and a half after her emotional breakdown with her sister, telling her how awful she felt about the whole thing. She wallowed in her own self-pity till her husband returned later that night.

She knocks softly onto his study door and allows herself in when hearing him give permission. She closes the door after herself and sees her husband turn to look at her and then avert his gaze elsewhere. She approaches him in slow steps and stares at his back that he purposely faces onto her.

"… I'm sorry," she speaks softly and waits for a reply for her apology. When receiving none, she places a touch onto his arm, wanting him to speak to her and not ignore her in this way. She didn't want to feel crummy anymore.

"Jai, I said I was---.."

Her sentence is left mid-way when suddenly Jai takes a grip on her hand, turns around, and pulls her forward. She bumps her nose into the solid surface of his chest and takes a confused moment to realize that her husband has taken her into his arms, holding her close to himself, and buries his face into her silky tresses.

"Don't you ever do anything stupid like that again," she hears his muffled voice warn into her hair. Unexplainably, tears fill her eyes and she soothes herself in the warmth of his secure embrace.

"Or else….," he continues, allowing his words to trail off.

"…. Or else, what?" she challenges gently, placing her hands against his firm chest and hiding her face into the crook of his neck.

"…. Or I will break your other wrist," he threatens in a deadpan tone when clearly she knows he is making a morbid joke. As her eyes sparkle with tears she laughs half-amusedly at his words.  

"And who will you hit for that?"

He pulls her closer, if that is even possible at this point, and mutters, "Rohit… I have wanted an excuse in doing so..."

Bani's laughter grows and she wraps her arms around his torso, nestling herself against his chest, allows herself to be held so affectionately and so intimately by her husband, who shows no signs of ever wanting to let her go….

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Chapter 20 B:

He walks forward into the darkness cautiously in small steps, not knowing where he is going. All around is pitch black that never seems to end. He just knows that he has to get out of here some way or another----his feet carry him further on.  That is until he halts on hearing a distant sound. Listening in closer, he realizes it is a voice.

"….Jai…." it calls for him. Struck to his spot, he remains still for a long moment before racing forward, running after the person who continues to summon for him. His heart beats fast and the drumming of it fills his ears. He doesn't know where it is he is being led to, but he knows he has to find her.

"Jai…," she says again, this time, as a mere whisper. 

The more he runs, the more he begins to think that there is no escape from this god forsaken place. Until he sees a light beaming from a distance and feels hope rushing into him. His legs sprint faster as he catches the familiar figure of a woman---her vision blurry, but still there.

"Ananya!" he yells for her. On his continuous shouts, slowly she turns in order to face him…yet, the sudden gleam of a brightening light blinds him and engulfs her body altogether….

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His eyelids fly open and he stares at the ceiling for a good few seconds before turning to the windows, where the sun shines brightly, rudely awakening him from his deep slumber. He has been having this same dream sporadically since the first time he dreamt it. Till date, he does not understand why.

Feeling the sudden mist of water spray onto his face, Jai touches his wet cheek in confusion. He glances around and spots his wife, freshly changed into a red saree, vigorously wiping her soaking hair with a towel. She throws her head back, sending further mist onto her husband's face. Jai blinks groggily from the second attack and wipes away the water residue with the sleeve of his shirt.

"Banee," he groans, not appreciating her drenching him in water as soon as he awakes. Bani, startled, throws a backward glance in his direction, holding the towel close to her chest.

"You are up?" she questions in surprise, not expecting him to wake up till another hour or so since it is his day off. He gives a grunt before turning around and settling himself back onto the pillows, getting comfortable in order to fall back asleep. He feels immensely drowsy.

"I will just go and get your coffee for you…," she says before dropping her towel and swiftly leaving the room. As a response, Jai simply throws the comforter over his face to protect his eyes from the blaring light.

She returned a few minutes later in which he had been drifting back to sleep till she shook him, her bangles tinkling. His facial features distort in irritation for being bothered.

"I have brought your coffee… drink it and get ready. It is nearing 12 o'clock now… You haven't even had breakfast yet," she chides, her words falling to deaf ears since Jai ignores her, snoozing silently.

She shakes him again. "Jai, are you listening to me?"

"Kya yaar, soneh do…," he grumbles in complaint, not heeding to her. Bani frowns at the way he is disregarding her. Not knowing what else to do, she shakes him some more. By her shoving and the sound of her bangles rattling, Jai grows exasperated. In an attempt to stop her, he aims to take a hold of her arm, not realizing that he grips onto her broken wrist instead till hearing his wife's cry of pain.

"Ouch!!!"

He gets up in a jolt, all drowsiness leaving him, and becomes alert by her near shriek. He stares at her in concern.

"What happened?" he asks and follows her pained gaze to her left wrist, which he still clasps onto. He lets go immediately.

"Shit! I didn't realize----Does it still hurt?" he shoots all at once, feeling guilty as hell for causing her pain. His wife blinks at him a couple of times before breaking out into a mischievous smile.  

"No… I was just faking so you'd get up," she answers proudly for duping her husband. Jai looks at her, stumped.

"What?" he nearly exclaims for being fooled as he was genuinely worried. Bani shrugs it off and brings forth his cup of coffee into his view.

"Drink it before it gets cold…"

Jai takes the mug from her with a cold glare. "That was completely unnecessary," he speaks grudgingly, referring to her acting.

"Wrong, it was completely necessary… else you wouldn't have woken up till past noon," she complains.

"So? It's my day off," he points out after taking his first sip of the warm beverage.

"So? It does not mean that you can waste the whole day sleeping," she quips back, having risen from the bed now and adjusting the curtains, drawing them fully apart, allowing more sunshine in.

"It does if you're a doctor who has been on call for the past fifty-two hours…," he replies fittingly back, earning a disapproving look from his wife for using his profession as a defense.

"That is your own fault… Who told you to become a doctor when you have a perfectly good family business to run?" she puts forth, causing Jai to roll his eyes whilst sipping some more on his morning drink.

"Not you too… as if Ma wasn't enough," he moans inwardly. She smiles at his comment.

"Speaking of which, Mummy ji has organized a puja at home this evening for Saahil completing his internship and officially joining the office….and you are expected to be here for it," she adds on warningly, knowing very well how her husband feels about religious ceremonies as he is an atheist.

"Fine, it's not like I have work as an excuse anyway… Where will I run off to?" he responds in resignation, furthering Bani's smile at his plight.

"I have laid out your clothes on the chair… I will just go and have a meal prepared for you since you have missed Breakfast," she informs him and leaves him to finish his coffee as she sets out to the kitchen. After instructing Tony to have Jai's meal ready by the time he comes down, Bani retreats back upstairs to check whether Jai had fallen back asleep or not.

"Mami!"

Bani stops at the foot of the staircase and follows the voice to across the hall where Anu emerges from outside her bedroom. She is dressed in a jean skirt paired with a white top and is in the middle of the task of screwing her earrings properly. Bani wonders where Anu is heading out to since today is a Saturday and she has no classes.

"Mami, have you seen Rano anywhere?" she inquiries from her. Bani is further puzzled.

"Nahi toh… I haven't seen her since Breakfast… Why?"

"We are supposed to go out shopping… That chashmesh promised me for weeks now to accompany me in buying a new dress for Neha's birthday party and now there is no sight of her," Anu whines childishly.

"Anu, have you checked her room? She is probably in there," Bani suggests, knowing very well that Rano chooses the weekends to read in the solitude of her bedroom.

"Twice now… I do not know where the girl has gone," Anu continues in agitation for having to search for her some time now.

"She must be around here somewhere, Anu, I am sure you will find her downstairs," Bani proposes and watches as her niece heaves an exhausted sigh just before running down the stairs to continue her search.

"Bani Mami!"

Bani looks back and sees Saahil at the end of the stairs, calling out for her after having spotted her when passing by.

"Yes, Saahil?"

"Would you mind calling Bhai downstairs? Mom has some work regarding him and has been trying to get him all morning, but he won't budge from his room. She has her suspicions that he has probably fallen back asleep."

Bani smiles understandingly and reassures him that she will just go and check on Ranveer now. On the way to his bedroom, she mentally ponders over what is needed to be done in preparation for the puja later today and not wanting to fail in any regards.

Mindlessly, she twists on the doorknob to his bedroom and pushes through the door.

"Ranveer, you haven't fallen asleep have you? Jigyasa Didi has been----.."

She halts in her words, letting them hang in the air, and stifles a gasp at what she sees in front her. Ranveer and Rano spring apart, their lip lock breaking, and stand awkwardly with flushed faces looking every bit like guilty criminals caught in the middle of their crime. They both look equally mortified as she does right now—both blushing red as a tomato.

"I-I---…y-you….," she stammers, speechless and unable to register the current situation. It takes a good few moments for it to sink in and process what she had just witnessed. Her own cheeks flame in embarrassment.

"S-sorry," she hastily apologizes, not knowing why, and shuts the door in a jittery fit. She flees to her own bedroom, her mind racing with various thoughts. She questions whether she had actually seen what she thinks she saw.

"Bani, have you seen my towel? I can't find it anywhere---..," Jai rumbles on seeing her slide back into their room.  

"I didn't see anything!" she cries defensively and burns under her husband's fixed, curious gaze on her.

"Okay… I guess I will just go and tell Tony to hand me a spare then," he states slowly, observing her carefully as she seems very odd at the moment looking very wide-eyed. She watches him leave with disinterest as her mind currently reels on what to do with the information she has just gotten by chance. Ranveer and her sister? She doesn't even know where to begin in thinking. Of course she knew that Ranveer nursed a little crush on her little sister, but did not think anything major would come out of it. 

She camped out in their bedroom for as long as she could much to her husband's entertainment. She wanted to avoid seeing either Ranveer or Rano and any confrontation of what had just happened. She did not wish to hear whatever they had to say, not yet at least….

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Due to Yash's insistence, Jai and Bani took him to the nearby park briefly, keeping in mind that the upcoming puja required preparation and Bani would need to go back and provide her assistance. When sitting on the bench side by side watching Yash play, Jai decides that this is the right time to speak with Bani as he has her alone. He has delayed it enough.

He clears his throat before speaking up, breaking into the silence that has surrounded them.

"Bani, I've been meaning to ask---.."

"Okay, I lied! I did see it!" she instantly crumbles, taking Jai aback by her sudden outburst and when seeing her dump her face into her hands, shaking her head grievously. His brows rise in question, not knowing what is going on through his wife's mind as she has been strangely quiet so far.  

"Bani, what are you talking about?" Then it dawns on him. "Are you talking about my towel? Because it's okay, I used a spare," he continues incredulously, baffled that she could possibly be upset about something as minor as that.

"No, not that," she moans into her hands.

"Then what?" he asks, quizzically. Despite himself, Jai feels tickled with amusement by her dramatic behavior. He wonders what has been eating her up since early afternoon. He had noticed something peculiar going on with her but resisted the urge to pull her leg over it.

She waits for a pausing moment before saying in one go,"Anu was looking all over for Rano, not being able to find her and then Saahil asked me to go to Ranveer's room and call for him since Jigyasa Didi had some work with him and then I walked in without knocking and saw them both there kissing and all over one another like a pair of eels, I didn't know what to do so I ran from there!"

A silence passes between them in which Bani hesitantly glances up, peeping through her fingers at her confounded husband, dreading his reaction. She observes as the corners of his mouth twitch and gradually a grin unfold onto his lips.

"…What?" he chuckles, not able to resist as he hadn't caught onto a single word in the midst of her fast rambling that was muffled by her fingers. She is both relieved, yet dismayed that he hadn't heard her. She did not want to say any of it again. It was painful to say it even once.

He reaches for her hands, pulling them away from her face, and continues to laugh lightly at her expense.

"Now tell me slowly, Flash… What's the matter?" he urges and Bani takes in a deep breath before complying.

"… I caught Ranveer and Rano…uh, err… kissing," she states reluctantly, watching her husband carefully and witnesses the bewildered expression that overtakes him when registering her words.

"You what?"

She nods her head gravely. "Earlier today, in Ranveer's room… I didn't know what to do so I left from there," she ends meekly. Seeing that her husband still remains fazed by this piece of information, she ducks her head and puts across her woes to him regarding the subject.

"Oh Jai, what will everyone think once they come to know about this? Today I had caught them, what if tomorrow Mummy ji or someone else does?... It will not look good to anyone in our family that two young people are sneaking around behind everyone's backs… God knows how long their affair has been going on… I cannot just turn my back on this and act as if I don't know…  Sooner or later, it will come out," she presses, stating the seriousness in the situation.

Jai rattles himself out of the temporary shock that absorbed him and notes how upset Bani is over the given topic. He places a comforting hand over hers, causing her to look back at him with big doe eyes.

"Don't worry, Bani… We will take care of this together and discuss it with both Ranveer and Rano. .. You are right, sooner or later everyone will learn about it. It's best that we get to the bottom of it now."

She smiles feebly at him, appreciating his support, and feels at ease knowing that she alone does not have to bear the burden of such a secret. She squeezes his hand back….

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On their return, Bani became wound up in instructions from her mother-in-law for the puja that was just a couple of hours away. In this time, Rano tried continuously to get her sister alone in order to speak with her. Bani, however, did not oblige.

"We'll speak later, Rano," she insisted steely, as now was not the time since she was currently busy in preparing for the ceremony.

"But Didi—..," Rano beseeches, wanting to address what her sister had seen and explain herself. She did not want her own sister thinking maliciously about her actions.

"Bahu! Pundit ji has arrived… What are you doing in here? Come, come!" Krishna exclaims when entering the kitchen, alerting both sisters.

"Ji, Mummyji" Bani replies dutifully while exiting the kitchen promptly after her mother-in-law to greet the holy priest. The puja went smoothly with everyone's attendance and later they all praised Saahil and wished him good luck for his first day on Monday.

Bani had left Yash to play with his older cousins, Saahil and Anu, to assist in any remaining chores in the kitchen but is intervened by Rano who suddenly appears in her way.  

"Rano, not right now--," Bani dismisses. Instead of listening, Rano takes a grip onto her arm and steers her off to a secluded corner.

"Yes, right now, Didi. I need to talk to you," she pleads desperately and Bani realizes that she should put an end to her sister's personal misery. She has been giving her the cold shoulder enough already. Releasing a sigh, Bani looks here and there to see if anyone will notice whether she is gone and gives a nod of her head.

"Okay,… right now," she agrees. Rano smiles faintly in relief.

"Go to your room…. I will meet you in there," she instructs quietly. She watches Rano nod before carrying out with her instruction. Bani sets out to find Krishna, telling her that she wants to retire to the bedroom for some time to take rest as she does not feel well. Krishna nearly scooted her away to the bedroom, saying that she should indeed take rest as she has been working all day. With this excuse, she knows no one will beckon for her. Bani discreetly makes her way to Rano's room, making sure not to draw any attention to herself.

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She discovers that Rano and Ranveer are in love and that their affair has been going on for nearly three months. They did not come out with their relationship yet as they had not been sure of their feelings till now.

"Rano, you should have told me this earlier," Bani admonishes, making Rano's face fall.

"I know, Di, I was just scared, that's all…"

"I am your sister," she protests. Rano appears even guiltier.

"Di, I wanted to tell you as soon as I was sure of what I felt… I didn't want to come to you about some petty crush."

"Crush or not, you could have told me either way…. I can't believe that I had to find out by catching you two. Since when have you been keeping secrets from me, Ran? I thought we told one another everything," Bani stresses, deeply hurt as she feels far removed from her sister's life for missing out on an important experience of hers—her first love.

"Oh Di, please don't be mad at me," Rano begs, close to weeping.

"I was mad before… but now I am just hurt," Bani says in all honesty, silencing Rano altogether. On seeing how crestfallen she looks, Bani sits beside her on the bed and gathers her into a comforting hug.

"You are so silly … Why you would be scared in telling me, I do not know… But what I do know now is that this matter needs to be addressed… You and Ranveer cannot sneak around anymore. We are a respectable family, Rano. What will the elders think? They will feel cheated… above that, when finding out, they are going to want the both of you to get married considering this family's traditional values…they will not allow the two of you to share a relationship when living in the same house… perhaps you should considering moving into a hostel…," she rambles to herself, going over the various options as an outcome to their relationship getting out.

On the mention of marriage, Rano's whole face flushes bright red and she grows unbelievably shy.

"I would not mind…," Rano hesitantly responds, distracting Bani from her racing thoughts.

"Moving to a hostel?" she inquires.

"No… I-I… I would not mind marriage," she finishes sheepishly, averting her gaze elsewhere as Bani looks at her in deep shock.

"You want to marry Ranveer?" she sputters with disbelief. Rano blushes some more whilst nodding her head demurely. Bani is bowled by her response.

"But… but you wanted to finish studying… get a career first… stand on your own two feet… then marriage," she argues, not believing that her sister is actually considering marriage. Rano has always been a headstrong, modern girl just like how she was at her age. Marriage was always the last thing on her baby sister's mind. In fact, Rano refused to even discuss it.

"Di,… I love him," Rano simply states as matter-of-fact.

"You have only just now discovered that you are in love with him….. Already you want to marry him?"

"It will happen sooner or later…. Why not now? I can carry out with all of my plans even while being married… Ranveer will not get in the way of my studying," Rano insists defensively.

"I didn't say you couldn't Rano…. But still, marriage is an important step… I don't think you should rush into this so hastily… especially since you are still very young and have a long time before you till you have to settle down," Bani advises gently, wanting the love-struck Rano to see some sense. She does not want her sister jeopardizing her bright future over a premature relationship when really she could possibly just be infatuated.

"Di, I am turning 21 very soon… and you were only nineteen when you got married to Jiju…younger than me….and look at you, you are getting to finish your studies and pursue your career despite being a wife and mother… Now why is it that I can't do the same?" Rano objects stubbornly.

"Yes, but you know in what circumstances me and your Jiju were married in… it was completely different," Bani justifies.

"So you are saying that you regret getting married? Is that why you are advising me against it?"

"No, of course not! I have no regrets," Bani clarifies openly, not wanting herself to be misunderstood.

"I know you don't Di… In fact, you seem very happy with Jiju… If you have ended up being happy with a marriage you originally did not want, then imagine how happy will I be with a marriage I do want with the man I am in love with?"  

Bani remains tongue-tied by her question, not having an answer to it as she realizes that Rano is potentially right in her stance. But still, she wants her sister to think with a clear head and not allow Ranveer's love to sway her abrupt decision.

"Look… you may be right. But I just want to make sure that this is something you really want and it isn't a spur of the moment decision… What if after marriage, you feel differently?"

"It is something I want… I love him so much, Di… and I do believe that I want to spend the rest of my life with him… And if for some reason after marriage, I begin to feel differently… then Ranveer and I will address that problem when we get to it and solve it together…," she answers with all the maturity she possesses, astonishing Bani as it is clear that Rano has thought this through before.

"… We will see, Rano… that is if Ranveer feels the same way… and if our families will allow it. We will save this discussion for later."

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Jai shrugs off the black kurta, which his wife previously had forced him to wear against his will, and carelessly discards of it when reaching for his nightshirt. He had pulled it over his head, throwing it onto himself, when Bani entered the room with a snoozing Yash held upright in her arms. He flashes a disapproving look just before taking their son out of her hold and gently placing him onto the bed.

"Bani, what are you thinking? … You shouldn't be putting any strain onto your wrist…," he scolds.

"He had fallen asleep on the couch downstairs… I didn't have the heart to wake him," she mumbles in her defense. Jai takes a hold of her left hand carefully and leads her to the bed where she follows in sitting down beside him. He examines it closely.

"How is it feeling?"

"It does not hurt as much as before."

"Hm, it has only been two weeks…it will take a few more weeks for it to properly heal." He looks up at her, noting the sullen look settled on her beautiful face.

"What is wrong?" he prods.

"… I spoke to Rano earlier… She tells me that she is in love with Ranveer and even wants to marry him," she tells him exasperatedly, as if not knowing what to do with the matter. Jai grimaces on hearing this.

"Ranveer had come to my study some time before to speak with me…," Jai informs, causing Bani to lift her lowered gaze.

"Apparently your sister spoke to him about what you two had discussed…. He and Rano assumed correctly that I knew along with you…. He wants to marry Rano as well…," he voices expressionlessly.  

"Jai… do you think they should get married?" she questions softly, wanting to know his honest opinion as she doesn't know what to think herself.

"Well, I do not see any harm in it… If they truly want it, then we should respect their decision and support them. Besides, Ranveer is twenty-five, quite old enough… His parents have been looking for marriage proposals for the past year."

"… Rano is older than I was when I got married to you…," Bani adds. Jai looks sharply to her when hearing this, observing the pensiveness embodied on her features. It dawns on him that his wife had been very young when entering into a life-long commitment with him… far too young.

"Maybe I'm being overly cautious… Rano and Ranveer are both mature for their age…and they are consenting adults… I shouldn't be treating Rano as if she is incapable of making her own life choices… Perhaps we should talk to Aditya Jiju and Jigyasa Didi about this?...,"she continues, unmindful of how her husband suddenly appears troubled by something.

"That seems like the next logical step…, don't you think?"  

Jai mutters something inaudible that Bani takes as an agreement to her suggestion. It is finalized between them that they will speak to the elders when given the chance and see what their views are. When settling into bed to go to sleep for the night, Jai turns to his wife who reaches for the lamp next to her.

"Bani…."

Her hand halts and lingers by the switch, her eyes trailing back over to him. She stares at him with silent question. Jai meets her probing honey brown eyes and convinces himself to speak what had been occupying his mind for the past many days, but finds his throat dry and no words able to come out.

"Yes?" she asks after a slow, long moment later. Jai forgoes the chance by shaking his head.

"Nothing…. Goodnight," he wishes her, receiving a small smile before she murmurs her wishes back and switches the light off, allowing darkness to unveil in the room.

He lies on his back, his gray eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, demanding from himself why he is unable to put across his thoughts to his wife. Is he afraid of her answers? Does he not want to hear her side and hence he will have to make some kind of decision regarding their marriage? Or is he purposely getting in the way of his own happiness once again? Denying himself of a perfectly good relationship? After all, what is it?

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