Bani’s POV:
Flashback:
“Where are you taking me? Tell me now at least, Jai….I can’t walk anymore. Just tell me where we are going? We are walking from last 20 minutes now.” I said panting as he was pulling me to walk.
“Oh common Bani, you are really irritating me now. Just few more minutes and we will reach there. It is a surprise for you”. He shrugged his shoulders while pulling me.
“Here it is Bani. We have reached the place.” He said pointing his fingers towards our front.
Beautiful!
The time was around 6pm I guess as the sun is slowly setting down giving his duties to moon. The view at Mumbai’s favorite Juhu beach at this time is worth watching. The tired rays from the sun bounces on the waves making them glow with pride. I have never watched such scenery before and all thanks to my love Jai.
“Wow Jai. What beautiful scenery it indeed is. I just loved it. I never saw the sunset near a beach earlier. Thank you so much Jai.” I hugged him and he wrapped his arms around me.
“I know Bani. I am happy that you loved this scenery. I wanted to make you happy so I brought you here. Now, I want to tell you something.” saying this he bent on his knees and plucked out a rose from his blue suit.
I froze. Tears started filling in my eyes.
“I love you Bani. I want to stay with you in your every wins and losses. I want to be a shoulder for you to cry out the miseries, to lean when you get tired from work. I want to embrace you to the eternity. I want to become your support when you need it. I am unable to speak anything right now…..
He pulled out a paper from his back pocket and started reading.
“I will always promise to tell sorry to you whenever we have any fight. I will always promise to make you happy. I promise you that I will never make you sad or get angry on you. I will always cook food for you whenever you are tired. I know my cooking skills are hell but I will try to improve them. I will always massage your shoulders after you come back from your office. I will do anything for you if you promise me to stay with me until death separates us……
I stopped him by putting my hand on his mouth but he took my hands off and said “Like the sky and the earth we will always stay together. I love you.”
I couldn’t speak anything as tears were flowing from my eyes. I sat on my knees in front of him and took the rose flower from him. I nodded at him and said “I love you too Jai”.
With that he pulled me into his arms. I felt heaven in his embrace. I love him so much.
Flashback ends….
Opening my eyes I couldn’t see anything around me or for the reason that tears were flowing from my eyes making my vision blurry.
Memories with him are still emotionally connected me. He came into my life like a Sun emerging in east at 5am. It gave me smile, peace, love and when the time passed it also gave me tears, pain, heartbreak.
He said true we were like the sky and the earth. They both appear as if they are meeting with each other for the world but indeed they never meet. The sight is just an illusion and I wonder if the words he said were real or an illusion.
It would be easy for people to suggest me to move on but less did they know that the strength in me has reduced to ashes by him. I never felt that the person who was the most trusted one by me will cheat me to this extent.
I really want to know the reason behind his betrayal to move on.
A knock on the door brought me back from my thoughts.
“Bhabhi, are you ready?” Mahek said. She is Veer’s younger sister. She was in a college trip when they had last visited us.
It’s been a week since their family visited our house with the proposal that I am sitting in my room with my bridal attire. The decisions were made quickly when the priest said that today is an auspicious day for the marriage. At first my parents were in thoughts with this decision as the arrangements of the marriage take time but gradually everything paced up. I never thought my marriage would be done in such haste.
“Bahbhi, What are thinking?” she jerked my thoughts away.
“Nothing Mahek, just call me Bani.” I smiled. She is indeed very cute and gorgeous. I am damn sure that she broke many hearts in her college. Obviously most of the guys must have fallen for her. Oh god what am I thinking!
The very next day of their parent’s visit she came to my house. She said that she fought with her family members for not telling her about me. She stayed with me the whole day. She is very talkative and funny. I loved her company very much. We both became very good friends and she helped me in everything. She is literally the best.
“Oh Bhabhi…..Bani, but I want to call you as Bhabhi because I have always wanted to have a Bhabhi. Anyways, Are you ready? Priest is calling you.” She said smiling sheepishly.
“Of course Mahek darling, she is ready.” Mom said coming into my room. She nodded at me and started taking me outside with some of my cousins and relatives. As my marriage was fixed within a week, we couldn’t invite all the relatives. Only few of our close relatives came to this marriage. Anyways from Veer’s side mostly two to three families have come. My Mother-in-law suggested to have a grand reception after few days for which we can invite all our relatives.
According to me, my marriage is an intimate one with very less number of people.
With my each step there was a constant fear. Fear of trusting someone else. Will I be able to accept this marriage? What will happen as even Veer is not happy with this marriage? Will he able to accept me?
Gradually I had reached the Mandap(stage built for marriage). I saw him sitting in his golden colored silk sherwani which was gifted by my parents. I could notice that the sherwani was a bit tight to be fitted to his well built body.
Oh gods Bani, stop drooling your husband.
Wait…What? Husband? So you have already accepted him?
“See Bhabhi, my brother is ogling at you like a starving creature. I can’t imagine how wild he will turn during your first night”. Mahek said controlling her giggles. I slightly hit her on her head.
“What is this Bani? Why are you beating her?” my mother said glaring at me. Her eyes were of penguin’s size. It was very terrifying.
“She…. i..is troubling me Maa”. I blurted out keeping my stare downwards.
“What Bhabhi?, I am troubling you. How can I do that Bhabhi? Anyways, what did I said that troubled you?” Mahek said pouting innocently. Oh god she is acting very innocently. If she had not said those words to me I would have believed her.
She wants me to tell everyone about what she just said. If I say anything about it then it will be me, who will be embarrassed right.
Suddenly I was pulled back by Mother-in-law. She caressed my face and hugged me. I hugged her back. She is very lovely person inside out.
“You are looking like an angel, Bani”. She said caressing my cheek.
“Thank you aunty”
“Not aunty, call me as your Mom.”
“Thank you…..Mom”. I said with tears in my eyes. She again hugged me.
“Can I also get a hug Maa(Mom) and Bhabhi ?” Mahek said.
I instantly pulled her into the hug and we all started laughing when she was struggling in our embrace.
I was slowly taken to the Mandap and made to sit beside Him, you know who.
My heart started beating fast as the rituals are taking place. Our hands touched while doing some ritual and he instantly took back his hand. I know he is not happy with this marriage. He had never come out with his family for shopping at least. He even refused taking photographs on our engagement day.
After few minutes he was told to fill my hairline with Sindoor. His hands were reluctant and shaking to fill it but he eventually started filling my hairline. Unknowingly tears started filling in my eyes as I couldn’t control them and I closed my eyes.
After all the rituals we both took the blessings of our elders and the time for our departure came.
I was neutral throughout the process as I held my emotions back. It was not like any other Bidaai(A ritual in which girl is sent to her in-law’s house) but I didn’t cry at all. When I hugged my father few tears escaped my eyes and he kissed.
“Take care of my daughter”. He said for which veer nodded his head.
My mom was in tears and she couldn’t control it. I instantly hugged her to console her. I could feel the warmth that I have missed for in all these three years. I bid my adieu to everyone and sat in the car with Veer beside me.
Only we both sat in our car with driver in the front seat. Veer instantly pressed a button which brought an opaque screen up dividing the car into two parts internally. As of now the driver couldn’t see what happens to his back.
I was amused to look at that feature. Even I will fix such feature in my car which I had brought by my first salary. My father owns a very big business while my mother is an house wife.
Even though my father suggested me to not work and look after his company, I refused as I want to stand on my feet. I want to reach the heights I aspired by from the beginning. Whenever my father is sick or some other issue I always look after his company until his return.
I work in a software company as a principal software engineer. I just hate this job to the core as it makes me to sit in front of a machine and work all day. I just wish to stop working but this job was just a part time job.
I know being an engineer cannot be a part time job for any normal person but who said I am normal. I am absolutely different from others. My dream job is to be an advertising manager and I am working for those opportunities.
During the whole drive we didn’t have any talk. I slowly leaned backward and slept on the seat as I was tired for the day.