Raat hogi to chand bhi duhai dega

Khwabon me tumhe wo chehra dikhayi dega

Mohobbat hamesha soch kar karna

Ek aansu bhi gira to sunai dega…..

Aur isi khayal ke sath….aaj ka hamara sath yahi pe khatam

hota hai…….

Doston, pyar jarur karna…..kehte hai na……you haven’t lived

until you have found someone worth living for……

Aur aisa insaan har kisiki jindagi me hota hai……agar aapke

jindagi me wo ab tak nahi aaya…..to dariyega mat…uske
kadmoki aahat muze sunai de rahi hai…….aap bas apne dil ke
darwaje khule rakhiyega……

To aaj raat ke liye ‘Lamhe’ me bas itna hi……..mai aapki

chaheti RJ Bani aapse wida leti hun……bas kuch palo ke liye…
…kal subah fir aapse mulakat hogi……so tune in to my morning
show Morning Raga at 8am, only on Mumbai’s no 1 radio
station Radio City……. jaate jaate ye gana mere sare listeners
ke liye…….shubh ratri, shabba khair…..

Melodious tune of Chandani Raante filled the room…..clock on

the opposite wall said 12.05 am…..

Jai slowly raised from his armchair wrapping his hands tightly
together…. though he loved the song….he was no more
interested in listening to it…he switched off the FM and
returned to the balcony……..soft winter breeze made him
shiver slightly.

Bani’s voice still chimed in his ears….her words rippled through

his mind….it was now a routine for him to tune in to her
show….every night he would listen to her,solving other’s love
queries…..answering their doubts about love thoughtfully…..
her voice was honey dipped…..enchanting.

He remembered the night when he heard her for the first time.
While driving back to Mumbai from Lonavala….he thought he
might lose control over the steering wheel with sleep
beckoning his eyes…..he switched on the FM. with her voice RJ
Bani seduced Jai into her world like a hypnotist from where
there was no escape….there was a mesmerizing effect on him
who was left spell bounded….and then he couldn’t help but
listen to her every night like a drug addict….someone who cant
live without a daily dose…….

heaving a sigh, Jai looked up…..shining moon was glowering

down on his face…..for a moment he tried imagining Bani’s
face in the silver orb above but it was difficult……

he indeed felt connected to her with a heartbeat but on her

part, it was just the magical voice…he hadn’t seen her……she
was based in his imagination after all….he wondered if she was
as beautiful as her voice……if her eyes would be as sorcerous
as her tinkling laughter… if she would be as a good lover
herself as the LoveGuru she was acting every night…..

A smile ignited on his lips from nowhere….Jai Walia…The only

heir of Walia Industries dreaming about a distant girl whom he
hadn’t encountered for once…..where every eligible girl in town
daydreamed about him, it indeed sound weird……..but he was
helpless…..Bani..RJ Bani was his object of desire…..he wanted
to meet her….see her…hold her close to his heart…..every
night he would come to a new life with beginning of her show…
and that life would ebb away when it ended…….

What was in her that glued the most impatient man to his chair
for hours, listening to her interaction with other people,
hopelessly in love……

I will meet her one day……she is my fortune…..she will have to

meet me…….his stubborn mind enounced….

Tare aasma no me chamkate hai

Badal itni dur hai par barsate hai

Hum bhi kitne nadan hai

Aap hamare dil me rehte hai

Aur hum aapse milne ko taraste hai……

As he finished writing his thoughts in the diary..he startled…..

After what seemed like years, he had retreated back to his
college days…..his mind again boarded onto the same territory
of love and passion which he left behind for his parent’s wish….
he had curbed the poet Jai Walia in deep dark confines of his
heart…….what people thought jai walia is today…..is just a
superficial existence of his former self to please his parents……
but with thoughts of missing Love-Bani in his life…….once
again the old soft hearted poet jai walia was born……
 ****************** *************************

Jai’s car was running slowly through the wide

traffic jam… checking his watch after every two minutes would
hardly help, he knew…but habits die hard. He was the man of
discipline.

Bani’s voice was booming out of his car FM….how different she
seemed in morning show…so lively, animated…something that
can fill a carcass with life and energy….Jai thought. so very
opposite to her soporific tone in night that would linger on his
mind till he slipped deep in slumber every night thinking about
her…..

Finally when he reached Phoenix Mills Lower Parel….he was still

on time much to his relief……he was to meet some business
associates there.. parking his car in an underground parking
area, he came out only to be greeted by the manager
enthusiastically… they were just busy talking…….when a loud
screech of tires made both of them jump…..they turned around
to witness a scared boy not more than 7 years old weeping
loudly as the car hit his leg before coming to halt ..…blood
started dripping from the wound as unremittingly as his tears…
…

hurrying out of the car, its owner started shouting on the boy
who looked as if he would faint any moment……his mum
dressed in typical yellow cleaning suit came running, pushing
people aside….with crying eyes, she blamed the shouting man
for the accident….meanwhile hugging her pale son and making
a check if he was hurt anywhere else……
The man was bellowing at top of his voice about how poor
people make their children jump in front of swish cars to earn
money….Jai was highly disgusted….though he had not seen
what actually happened, the pleading and caring look on the
mother’s face was evident enough to prove that the man was
talking utter rubbish…..

As he bent down and shook the boy violently…jai moved

forward to get hold of the stupid man…….before he could get
there, A girl not more than 25 years came forward through the
crowd.

she lifted that man’s hand off the boy’s shoulder with as much
force as she could muster….he staggered on his feet for a
second before regaining his balance……

“what the hell you think of yourself??????? Just because you

are wealthy, you can hurt a boy with your smutty new Merc…
….??? Instead of apologizing and taking him to the hospital you
are blaming HIM for planning to trap a richie rich like you…
…???????”

Pathetic!!! Mr. Whoever you are…..just look at him….he needs

medical help and all you are babbling about is how your car
need a wash now…”

Jai jumped as her voice seemed uncannily familiar……his gaze

turned to her simple yet beautiful face…
She was wearing a pink tee shirt with high collar….white denim
jeans suited her hourglass figure though all this was subtle and
no specific efforts were seem to be taken by her to flaunt it…..

sunny glow on her skin was now overpowered by the bright

shade of red as she was giving the car owner a piece of her
mind…….what caught Jai’s attention the most were her eyes
lined with kohl…. They were shining like cut and polished
diamonds…..

Jai nodded appreciatively as she turned her back to lift the boy
on his feet, her silky smooth tresses shined as if it were
lavished with diamond dust….

Sarcasm suited her just too well…….he found the man shut up
totally with this unexpected fierce attack……taking out his
loaded wallet he tried to offer some money to the crying son
and mother duo…….which irked the lady to no end……

She grabbed the bills and threw them on his face……..

“ek to manmani karo…..aur phir paise ka ghamand dikhao?????

Bhagwan ne paise to bahot diye aapko lekin shayad dil aur
sharam dena bhul gaye…..ye paise kise dikha rahe ho aap…
inhe apne pass rakhiye……

Aapko inse mafi mangni hogi……kyonki galti aapki hai……

aapka paisa aapko kisi se chota ya bada nahi banata Mister…..
ye log garib jarur hai lekin lalachi nahi hai…..you are taking
this boy to KEM right NOW……..or I might just call the police…
……”

Jai was mesmerized. His eyes refused to listen to his brain’s

commands to look away anywhere than her.……she stood
there, her one hand resting on her hip and with other she
flipped open her cell and started dialing number…….

Expressions on her face were grave…..her eyebrow arched like

a bow…..she looked no lesser than a war goddess to him…..

Jai smiled as the man made a pleading gesture and readied to

take the boy to nearby hospital.

Another girl came rushing and patted her on back…….

“oye meri Zaansi Ki Rani….tu mahan hai……but its time for

your show darling…you need to go on Air now in 7 minutes…..”

But that girl was busy consoling the crying mother…..she did
not pay any attention to her friend’s words……

At last her friend screamed “BANIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII”

Jai’s heart skipped a beat……Bani????? Is she RJ Bani???? Is she

his Bani???? Now he realized the reason why she sounded so
familiar to him…..
He moved forward……his mind could hardly content the
happiness within…he thought it overflowed and spread over
his entire being……..he finally saw the girl who dominated all
his waking and sleeping hours………though looks never
mattered to him, she was more beautiful than he had ever
imagined her… he was about to approach bani when he saw
her friend dragging her in his direction…..

Jai rehearsed how he would introduce himself but all his words
rang in his mind only. as they neared, his pleasantries denied
materializing on his lips as he stood there like a monument
watching Bani leaving with her friend…….

Apne pyar ko chupa na sake,

Deewane dil pe kaboo pa na sake,
Aaj itne karib se guzar gaye wo
phir bhi unke hath hum tham na sake!!

Jai cursed himself……..

As she passed by him…he heard her saying………. “see this is

the reason I hate these grubby rich people…….thoda paisa kya
aa gaya insaniyat bhul jate hai……..filthy richie richs….”

Disgust could be seen on her face clearly……. so she despised

rich…….all her outburst was not for that man alone jai
thought…..she hated rich people…..she categorized them
generally as one heartless money minded cruel creature’s lot…
……
what kind of game life was playing with him???????

Though he never appreciated it, his wealth and affluent status

was an added attraction to his persona…..girls go ga ga over
him not only because he was handsome hunk but also because
he belonged to one of the wealthiest families in India. And now
the same wealth was proving a hinderance in what he wanted
to achieve the most…..Bani…..

Through out the meeting ahead, he was upset….he spied his

assistant Pushkar with narrow eyes….a middle class boy who
wanted to make it big in business world…with a very sharp
mind he also was very ambitious in nature…..

For a moment Jai thought bani would readily agree to marry a

guy like pushkar…cause he wasn’t rich which was synonymic
to being heartless to her.

frowning unknowingly….he tried a lot to push Bani’s thoughts

out of his mind but no avail…she kept on glowering at him
through all the files and laptop screen……calling him filthy rich
and burning his heart alive.

How would he show her the real Jai walia…..Jai with a romantic
heart….with a poetic mind…..how would he convey to her all
those lines in which he garlanded his thoughts for her…….

How would he convince her that not all rich people are
heartless proudy morons….at least he wasn’t.

he was very humble about the fact that it was his father’s hard
work and sweat that he was running Walia Industries today…..
he was merely a manager……….OH YES!!!!!!!! This is it….
I am just an ordinary manager…..earning 20000 bucks every
month after working for 9 to 5 every day……a plan hatched in
his superlative brains with as much precision and accuracy as
he brought in his business plans.

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

“Chaliye jaldi se muze propose ki jiye…….you have only 5

minutes to do that…….ab tak mere pass pure 45 proposals aa
chuke hai…ab sirf ek aur

Phir mai announce karungi us lucky winner ka naam jisne

aajka… “propose karo, date jito” contest jita hai…….

Mai aapki RJ Bani aapse milungi is short break ke baad yahi pe

Morning Raga me…….jin listeners ne abhi join kiya hai unhe
batadu…..aaj aapko muze aapke anokhe andaz me propose
karna hai……jo proposal muze sab se jyada pasand aayega use
milega mauka, muzse milneka hamare Radio City ke office
me……..Contest ke kuch aakhari minutes bache hai…….to try
kijiye aapka luck…….dial 24969191 ya phir type kijiye BANI,
aapka proposal and send it to 7878……Jaldi Jaldi I am waiting
for my date…..”

Bani slowly pushed the Adver Tab down….an irritating jingle

boomed in her ears……contorting her face she removed her
headphones and kept them aside……..Coifing her loose hair,
she leaned back on the chair, she thought about all those
pseudo proposals she received on air…

Some tried to lure her by promising lavish dates….a boy

actually sang Bheege Hont Tere on air……..bani had rolled her
eyes......guy must be inspired by ‘indecent proposal’ she
thought.

Her friend Rashi was rolling on floor when she heard the boy
crooning in his not so worth listening to voice, pleading bani for
date. Some said they would directly take her to meet their
mums as they were sure she was a good wife material…….

Keeping smile intact in her voice, she had laughed it off……..

only if they knew her past and they would know how wild their
imagination was running…..bani cerebrated.

She went through all SMSs she received and found not even a
single one of them worth noticing but she had to choose one of
them as winner……..

Sighing she saw Ajay beckoning her from outside her glass
cabin…..last jingle was being played…..it was time to go back
on air.

But she hadn’t decided the winner yet……wearing her

headphones again…as Radio City 91.1 FM song ended, she
typed Ajanabi on her media center and clicked enter.Title track
of Ajanabi started playing……
Mere jindagi me ajanabi ka intazar hai…

Mai kya karu ajnabi se muze pyar hai…

Wo ajnabi jana pehechana, sapno me uska hai aana

jaana,

Aa ajnabi tere liye dil ye mera bekarar hai……

How apt…. Wasn’t she waiting for someone special to come

her way…...

Get back to work bani…enough of daydreaming….she

reprimanded herself. She needed some time to decide the
winner….she was ready to perform her customary ainy miny
mo……..but

Rashi came in giggling….distracting her.

“So bani who is the winner??????? Bheege honth wala?????”

rashi asked…..her eyebrows dancing in most mischievous way.
Bani waited till rashi’s laughing fit was over.

“No yaar….not single one of them sounds good…..ye bhi koi

proposals hai??? Proposal aisa hona chahiye that can touch
your soul……but chodo……. muze kahan inse shadi karni hai…
…bulalenge kisi bakre ko..chai shai de ke bhej denge ghar…….
ho gayi date khatam…”

Both of them giggled like teenagers….but Rashi with very

thoughtful face started……
“you never know bani….kahi isi contest me teri usse mulakat
ho jaye jo tera jivanbhar ka date ho”

Bani smiled…she wished there was such possibility…..her fate

was not so good. Hadn’t she refused someone in past who
could have been her soul mate…without even seeing him…
without even knowing him……..

kuch tabiyat hi mili thi aisi

chain se jine ki surat na hui.......

jise chaha usse apna na sake

jo mila uss se mohabbat na hui……….

tears started accumulating and before Rashi could see them….

Bani laughed out…

“rashiiiii…go and get the script ready for Traffic News or Avi
might kill you”

As rashi blew a kiss and left, bani smiled…..a red LED started
glowing on ‘callpanel’ line number 12…so she had some
hope…….her last proposal of the afternoon……

As the song ended……she put on her headphones again…..

pulling the mike towards her, she kept her fingers crossed that
this listener would have a nice proposal for her……
She punched a button near her elbow and ‘ON AIR’ glowed
outside her cabin………

“To kaun hai hamare sath..hamare aaj ke last listener?????

Aapka naam?????” Bani asked in her enthusiastic voice…….

“Jai”…..

A husky tone tickled her ears…..a warm sensation ran through

her entire being as if she was in close embrace of the man she
loved.

All her irritation and disappointment swept away in a

moment…..

gathering back her composure, she brought as much

genuineness and pleasance in her voice as her job needed.

“Haan to boliye Jai…….aap kaise propose karenge muze????”

She felt her heart beating with abnormal pace…….imploring

her voice to remain steady, all her life equaled in her ears to
hear him.

“Bani…..i am a very simple middle class working man. Mere

pass tumhe dene ke liye jyada kuch nahi hai.”

He paused for a while……as if deciding whether to speak

further or not.
“Hai to sirf mera waqt aur dil. Ek aisa dil jise ek sathi ke alawa
is duniya me koi tamanna nahi hai.

I wont shower you with expensive gifts but my eyes are only to
see you smiling…my ears are only to hear you crooning…… I
wont take you to a five star hotel for tea or coffee but I can
take you to my house where you can brew a pot of coffee for
us…sorry I don’t know how to make it.”

A smile lit up Bani’s face…….he was well above his time

limit….a Green LED glowed indicating she should take him off
air now….but she didn’t. she felt so light inside, like a feather
whirling in wind…..every word he spoke, she knew it wasn’t
rehearsed….it was as genuine as her own wish to declare him
winner on the spot…..

“I wont take you for ride in Limousine…..but I have a Pulsar…I

can take you to marine drive….where I will race with wind. With
your hands on my shoulder, I would be the happiest man on
earth”

His voice grew even more husky and bani felt as if she would
faint any time soon…..

She wanted to laugh…..just to show that she was indeed

impressed but not swayed by what he had said. But it was a
lie…..

“and finally…….Bani……
meri band aankhon ka saccha khwaab ho tum,
meri tanhaio ke sawalon ka javab ho tum,
ab to khudai bhi ruth jaye to gum na hoga
meri duniya, kaynaat, mera chaand ho tum……

so bani????? Will it be my pleasure to take you out for a

date???????”

Silence filled the studio. Rashi and online editor Anshu glued
their faces to glass in front of bani……nodding their heads
feverishly to say yes……

Their studio manager Ravi was beating his chest as bani had
utilized much more air time than what she was allowed to.

Bani touched her dry lips with her tongue….trying to sound

natural….she spoke

“jai..it was really nice. I am floored……you will get to know the

result sooooooon”

She punched the 12th button on the row ahead…….taking jai

off air…..

Gathering her normalcy back she went on air and declared jai’s
name as winner……..she prayed listeners wouldn’t notice her
happiness laden voice…

Rashi, anshu clapped hard outside……bani gave them a

reproachful look..
Jotting down jai’s cell number in her diary, she logged out of
her session from media center…….

RJ Tarana stormed in congratulating her………logging in she

wished all listeners a hurried good afternoon…and played “koi
mil gaya” and dedicated it to bani who playfully hit her on her
head with a file……..

Bani couldn’t hide her glee as she came out…..almost

everyone had noted the serious and genuine tone of jai and if
dealt properly this could mean a good chance for their lonely
bani to find man of her dreams……

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

Jai was pacing up and down in his office cabin……when he

heard about the contest in morning, he knew, it was a platinum
opportunity to work out his well thought plan….

He had almost given up when his incessant calling turned

futile…..but may be god was on his side, finally he got to talk
to her……to convince her of his love.

She sounded no different when she spoke but the silence in-
between verbalized another story…he could imagine an awed
and shied look on her ivory face even when he couldn’t see
her……his first task was accomplished. He had touched her
soul and heart……exactly the way he wanted to…..he almost
jumped in air when he was declared winner not that it was
unexpected but it somehow nursed a deep wound in his
heart…….he remembered the way his marriage proposal was
refused by that girl……..girl, he had never seen or talked to ….
his ego was hurt beyond repair……feelings of defeat had not
dampened over the years as everyone expected…his wound
remained as freshly bleeding as it was 7 years ago when it
happened…since then he never took idea of marriage
seriously.

Today when he felt Bani touched by those words..it was a soft

blow of air on his burning bruise.

Tanha hai is kadar ke tanhai bhi sisak uthi

Sukhe hue phoolon se yaadon ki mehek uthi

Ulzi si jindagi hai ulzan na sulaz saki

Jab bhi ki ye koshish wo aur ulaz uthi

Dil me daba ke rakhi thi ek chingari

Teri ek aahat se shola ban sulag uthi

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

Bani felt tension radiating across her shoulders and all the way
up the back of her neck, as she glanced towards the clock….
only five minutes remaining……..

Nibbling over her lower lip, which was now pinker than the top
one, even though it still sported some lipstick, she kept her
fingers crossed for something worthwhile to happen on her
date…for example, her date..Jai turning out a fine normal man
with whom she could spend some time relaxing….and not
some creepo singing Bheege Honth tere.
Frowning with her thoughts, she wondered why she was
suddenly acting like a despo…..she has been alone all her life…
wasn’t she the one to choose it intently that way….then why
this sudden urge of finding a man who could love her with no
barriers and boundaries……and why for heaven’s sake she
wanted this particular man to be the one…..

Thoughts after thoughts kept splashing on her mind like sea

waves….. retreating for a while and then coming back with
equal force.

Sweaty palms and fluttery hearts are for teenagers and not for
a mature man like you Jai…he kept lecturing himself on his way
to Radio City’s office in Phoenix Mills….he had cancelled some
of his not so important meetings and others were rescheduled.

Not being used to wander around on the city roads in fire

spitting sun, he was exhausted like never before in just an
hour. With Pushkar in tow, jai for the first time went shopping
on roads… precisely on Fashion Street near Churchgate…..a
very well known shopping street in Mumbai for duplicate Labels
and Brands.

He was surprised when all his shopping cost him much lesser
than a single Giorgio Armani suit….thanks to Pushkar’s
bargaining skills. Poor guy was still perplexed to know Jai sir’s
intentions…but he knew what Love can make of a man, so he
decided to help him in every possible way, this shopping being
a part of it.
He drew a list of all famous middle class joints around the
city….. including places Jai obviously hadn’t heard before……
convincing Jai of their hygiene was one grueling task…

“Sir, if you take her to Taj or Oberoi for a tea, she would hardly
believe you are a middle class guy….”jai recalled Pushkar’s
words.

He had taken as many tips as he can about leading a middle

class life and when he took glimpses of it around him, may be
for the first time in his life….he wondered how difficult it is to
lead life that way…Offering him some change and 50 rupees
notes, Pushkar had warned Jai not to carry any big bucks and
international Credit Cards in his wallet….

Jai thought a middle class life was truly challenging …..his

brand new Blackberry was replaced by a MotoSliver much to
his annoyance……but he wanted to be with Bani and he would
pay any price for that….even if it meant giving up his luxurious
so called happy life…..

Suddenly bani could hardly breathe. as she saw Jai

entering the studio she felt as if something was swelling in the
pit of her stomach, leaving no room for her lungs to expand…
….. even without knowing him, she somehow recognized him
as Jai……the same man whom she virtually dedicated every
song she played over the week……every romantic lyrics meant
for both of them….now this man would yield a face to her mere
imagination…. completing it….and what a face he has!!… bani
thought…..throwing all mannerisms to wind, she stared him
with wide eyes as he asked for the directions for her cabin….
A greek god embodied was her first reaction….. Tall and Dark,
with smooth waves of his hair minus any styling gel, his
handsome and finely carved features were not intimidating…..
there was enticing warmth on his face.

Slowly her gaze traveled down…..a black color plain shirt did
nothing but delineate his broad shoulders…..with top two
buttons undone she noticed strong column of his neck and
crisp dark curls lurking below it…her eyes lingered for a
moment on flab less abdomen, then on his strong masculine
hands with sleeves rolled back a little and finally a pair of lean
legs, but what compelled her attention was the air of
confidence that surrounded him…..

It was impossible for her to realize him as a mere manager. He

looked like a man born to rule.

to her relief she wasn’t the only person to think so. she saw
Rashi and Anshu unable to take their eyes off him and thus
resulting into much needed collision to bring them back to
reality.

As he came closer, she drank in his appearance with odd

intensity. Perhaps her thoughts were zooming across the room
because he turned his head directly to her, avoiding all
appreciative glances on his way as if he was very well
accustomed to them…..

It was then that recognition hit her with utmost impact…she

was potently attracted to this man….without even talking to
him…terms like ‘wavelength matching’…. ‘intellectual
attraction’ sounded nonsense…..his evident male charm was
towering over her mind to think about anything else sanely…..
for the first time she repented for zero in on him as the
winner,on her self destructive impulse….as her father very
rightly said about her…she would dive off the high board first,
then check the pool for water on her way down…..he was oh so
dangerous!!

A deep red color flushed her cheeks as she didn’t even realize
when the face she was observing for past few minutes was
now standing just few footsteps away…..

Intoxicating Wine color of his eyes deepened in dark black as

he gazed her face……verifying each and every detail of her
face with what he must have imagined.

Firm jaw and Sensual line of his lips she found totally
irresistible…. and with this thought she found her cheeks
emitting heat waves……

Although the ritual of greeting was over, a trace of his smile

still dawdled on his well cut mouth……

It was him to start the conversation……praising her for her

voice and style of presentation…..though only Jai knew, he was
rambling on to keep himself sane enough not to pull her in
close embrace… watching her so closely was creating havoc
with his nerves.

Initiator……just the way a Man is suppose to be Bani thought

again… though his eyes seemed to be reading every thought in
her mind as and when it popped, she was thankful that nothing
called mind reading existed in real world otherwise she would
have scared the man off with her wild thoughts….

She could see his lips moving….lips, full but hard edged as if
they had been laser cut into the perfect shape……..his voice
which enchanted her a week back bounced on her eardrums…

But her brains had stopped functioning properly….she could

not decipher a single word of what he was saying…..she was
weltering deeper and deeper into the depths of his eyes….
wishing she hadn’t don the same lost look on her face as small
children have when they see their favorite lollypop safe inside
a glass jar.

Finally she had to take part in the conversation, accepting his

praise which flood her face with fugitive color….not that she
was hearing it for the first time to blush profusely like that, but
it was his effect on her……those simple words sounded like the
most beautiful poem in the whole world….every time he looked
deeply in her eyes…it sent a tingle down her spinal cord.

“I think I have either bored you to death or I am a bigger

chatterbox to put an RJ silent” jai said sipping his cold drink
slowly.

She saw his mouth twitching in smile over the rim of the
glass……bani didn’t realize what to say…..almost in a fit she
blurted out,

“Oh no…not like that…in fact this is really nice…I have really
enjoyed talking to you”

“you mean, me talking and you blushing” Jai’s wine-y eyes

were flecked with gold….but its irises deepened to dark
chocolate, as she blushed even harder listening to his
comment.
“So when are we meeting next?” Jai asked, keeping his fingers
crossed below the table….

“next???” Bani stuttered. Only her mind knew she was happy
like never before…she would go out with him on one leg as he
seemed genuine, reliable and middle class hardworking guy….
with no arrogance that comes with easy money…..

When he saw her hesitating, his heart missed a beat…..he

prayed to as many gods as he could recall at that time……

He was in dilemma, whether this would make a good move or

not…if he was rushing into it….but he decided to go with his
guts……rising slowly from his chair, he held bani’s hand softly
but firmly. She was startled but made no attempt to release it
from his clutches……as his thumb massaged her pale knuckles,
electricity flared up inside Bani’s stomach and traveled along
all the nerve ends.

As if watching his reflection floating in her shining eyes….he

closed the distance between them…..his thumb still working its
magic, he said in the same husky tone…..

Aapke saath yeh mausam Suhaana lage

Aapki ik shaam chura loon agar bura na lage

Aap chahein to bhula dein hume

par aapko bhulane mein shayad ye Zindagi bhi kaam
lage

bani was speechless.

She merely nodded her head…..her cheeks were hot and

damp, a thick strand of hair clinging to her forehead. Jai slowly
dragged it clear with his forefinger leaving a trail of fire behind
where he touched her skin.

“See you then…..you have my number right????” bani again

nodded……. capturing his smile in her eyes for times when he
wouldn’t be as close to her as now.

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

It were almost three months now, Jai and Bani’s mutual

attraction turned into a bond of friendship. Though Jai never
hid his real feelings for her, Bani was thankful for the patience
he exercised in expressing them…He maintained his limits,
every time they met and it was fairly regular.

They went out to beaches, relished on chat, built castles. They

went for movies, art exhibitions. Jai used to rush back to his
office after meeting Bani and work till wee hours…..it was
taking toll on his health but with Bani beside him, he couldn’t
care less.They went out shopping but bani lever let him buy
anything for her….there were times when Jai had to refrain
himself from buying the entire shop then and there when her
eyebrows disappeared in exclaim after watching the price tag,
but he was helpless……though it was difficult, he quickly learnt
to raise his eyebrows in similar fashion, everytime they
encountered something off budget.

But for the first time, Jai felt he was living life. Managing his
work in 9to5 frame was difficult for a businessman like him.
There were times when he was almost caught but his struggle
to manage both his faces was still on with success….

He was over the moon when he received letter from

Indian Chamber of Commerce ……awarding him Businessman
of The Year title….his hardwork was finally paying off….but his
happiness was short lived. If he accepted the award, his photos
will be all over the media and then his middle class stunt would
die its death…which also meant losing bani…..and with this
thought he conveyed his inability to accept the award……he
prefer to lose the prestigious title than Bani… & amp;
amp; nbsp;

All these compromises should have put him off but

only he knew how much he was longing for bani’s love and he
would jump off empire estate if it meant achieving her.

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

Jai hurried out of his office, instructing his secretary

about tomorrow’s meetings….he was suppose to meet bani at
6 o clock near worli sea face….as his driver drove his Chevrolet
Optra, jai removed his coat and tie and stuffed it in his bag,
ruffling his hair slightly, he rolled his sleeves up and undone
top two buttons…donning his regular middle class avatar His
car dropped him near the single…watching carefully around he
got down and walked upto their meeting point…….

After an hour or so they were sitting on a bench near Worli Sea

Face…watching sun drowning in splashing sea…Jai had seen
many beautiful sun sets before but this one was way too
special…..bani was with him this time, which made it extra
ordinary….he stole glances of her watching pink hue of the sky
that reflected on her unblemished skin as well…….bewitching
he thought. If there was one thing he had craved for in his
life…….it was bani’s presence. His conscious hit him hard
sometimes for lying to her but he knew the real Jai walia would
win her one day and then his wealth and rich status will not
pose any problem….

That’s when someone called him from behind…..as both of

them turned around. To his horror Jai saw Mr.Singhania getting
down from his car…..with a muffled curse jai faced him…..

“MrJai Walia??” color drained off Jai’s face quickly as Bani

looked surprised…

“ohhh Jai sir..wo aapko office me milenge” Jai said swallowing

hard.

Mr.Sanghania spied him as if jai was a white ghost…..afterall

witnessing Jai walia in a plain middleclass attire…sitting on a
bench with equally simple looking girl and then pretending that
he was no Walia was no frequent sight.

“Jai?????” he asked once again to make sure if he indeed

talking to Jai Walia…..
“dekhiye Mr.Singhania, I know I am Jai sir’s personal manager
but my duty ends at 5 o clock….if you have anything to say or
ask…please meet him in the office”

Jai said hoping against hope that Mr.Singhania could get the
point and disappear before Bani’s confusion turned into
doubt….

Murmuring something under his breath, Mr.Singhania went

back to his car….Jai heaved a deep sigh and managed to put
smile on his face.

“so you work for that guy????” bani asked him in most
forbidding manner…

“that guy???

“Jai Walia…..that millionaire walia heir ” her expression stung

his heart…she uttered his name as if it had contaminated her
mouth.

“yes why???” Bani spoke nothing…..a pulse throbbed near her

temple…..

“of common bani…why do you hate all rich and wealthy

people??? Not all are same………..” before he could finish his
sentence……bani stood up…her Turquoise dupatta swaying
with wind…..
She said…… “they are…they all are same…..they need money
to survive, money and power that it brings along…..power to
affect other’s lives….power to kill them off as if poor and needy
have no right to live in this world…..power that blinds them……
power for which they could overlook their own loved ones…..”

Tears started flowing….and her voice mixed with sobs ruptured

jai’s heart….

“you know Jai….i myself belong to a very rich and affluent

family….i hail from Rajasthan…my parents had love marriage.
My father was an orphan, a poor man but with heart of gold…..
my nana nani got them married on one condition that he would
live with them…..i was born….and from the time I can recall, I
had seen him humiliated…maltreated cause he was poor.
Cause he didn’t have money to build his own house for his wife
and daughter….and when I was 14, he committed suicide…..
my mother couldn’t bare it and she passed away soon after
that.

I had all the money in the world but still I was an orphan. You
can buy luxuries but not happiness....but my nana nani never
understood it……they killed my parents for their fake self pride
of affluence. they altered their lives in painful death…..all my
life I had to search for security….money could hardly help it.

Wiping her tears away…..she smiled hesitantly….

“when they decided to take charge of my life…….i thought it

was enough. I wouldn’t let them sell me away in a bargain
called marriage…..they had fixed my marriage with some richie
rich guy much to my distaste…..my marriage was again not my
union with my soulmate……it was a merging of two booming
businesses.

That’s when I decided and eloped from my house……..now you

know why I hate them”

Jai’s eyes were moist…..her story was heart wrenching….

almost in a sudden fit he asked her….

“do you belong to Dixits????”

Bani whirled around…..appalled.

“how do you know????”

“they are walia industry’s clients…..a very powerful business

network in Rajasthan”

He couldn’t meet his eyes with bani…..

Bani was touched beyond words when she saw his moist
eyes….he looked hurt as if it was him who had to go through
this……day by day he was closing in the distance between
their minds with his unconditional support and love…..step by
step he was shattering walls around her heart with his affection
and care…..she knew he was the one for her. May be three
months are not enough to know someone…….but her instincts
had told her so right from the moment she saw him for the first
time in her office…..

For the first time, she took his hand firmly in her trembling
hand and looked in his eyes……

“that’s the reason why I like you Jai. You are a self made man…
life didn’t offer you things on golden platter…..you had to
struggle to survive….you know what relationship means and
you will never chose money over your loved one….”

With a sense of deep relief she buried her face in his chest….
circling his body with her shivering hands…without caring for
all those eyes which stared them in amusement….only if she
could see jai’s guilty expressions….his fingers curling into fist
with a tension that flowed through him……

“jai…take me to your house…..please” bani said in hushed

tone as she got aware of where they were standing.

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

“my house????” Jai thought he was surely caught this time…..

Where on earth can he find a middle class house ready for

him???? His mind started racing in sync with his pulsating
heartbeat.

He tried convincing bani that it was late…and he would take

her his home some other time…..but Bani was adamant.

ordering two soft drinks, he excused himself on the pretext of

making a call….

He had Pushkar’s house keys but he needed to call him before

he could take bani there….while it was still ringing on the other
side….Jai looked at happy looking Bani….her elbows perched
on the table in front, she was busy day dreaming….a sheepish
smile adorn her beautiful face…..

What would she think of you Jai…..she hates Jai Walia…is Jai
alone strong enough to overpower jai Walia…..she trusts you
blindly…her faith would turn into another disappointment
soon…..she may not believe anyone after this….forget about
achieving her love, your actions could kill her alive…..

Jai was so engrossed in his thoughts, that it took him some

moments to register Pushkar’s voice.

Bani’s heart was thumping against her ribcage when she

stepped inside Jai’s house…she believed him whole heartedly
and his bachelor status did not deter her from coming alone
with him to his house.

A smile appeared on her face as Jai put on the lights……a

typical bachelor pad.

A complete mess……

It could be her future home….a crimson shade enveloped her

face and neck…

Jai seemed confused with the things and their locations but she
laughed it off as his anticipation of having her around.

Gathering things here and there, she looked around…..as she

moved in the bedroom….her wall size portrait stared her back.

“Jai??? What is all this????” did she actually need any answer…
…..

Aapke bina ab is dil ko chain nahi aata,

Aap na ho to koi nazara in aankhonko nahi bhata….

Aankh khule aur aapka deedar na ho,

To hamara din shuru nahi hota…….

again words failed her….but when did they needed them. Their
silence shared their feelings better than words……

that night Bani stayed there…..it didn’t take much for Jai to
convince Pushkar to stay somewhere else for the night.It
rained heavily…..while the raindrops pitter pattered on the roof
above, they sat in balcony with steaming mugs of coffee,
pondering over their lives……

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

Bani’s eyes squinted against the sun light…rain had

stopped, rendering them earthy smell …. .she opened her eyes
to find herself resting in Jai’s cozy arms….they hadn’t realized
when sleep engulfed them last night.

He looked like an overgrown baby to her…..she ran her fingers

through his hair…stirring, he pulled her back in his embrace…
…she wasn’t complaining.

She ignored the world around her, listening instead to the heat
of his body, the hum of desire that matched her own. Though
his lids very heavy with sleep, he forced his eyes open….she
was watching him….her eyes beaming…he touched her lips
with his fingertip with careful absorption, as if he would startle
her into vanishing. His head bent, his lips were just millimeters
away from hers when she pushed him back playfully. Sticking
out her tongue she laughed and ran in.

While toweling his wet hair, Jai heard Bani humming slightly as
she lightened the gas burner……Jai wished her good morning,
still pondering over what her laughter meant. Did he rushed
into it yet again??? May be he shouldn’t have…..

But her wet hair, glowing skin, smile on her face told him
another story….even when nothing happened last night, it was
the most peaceful sleep he ever had in his life as far as he
remembered.
“what are you doing bani???” Jai asked.

“oh some breakfast……I have afternoon show today…and I am

really hungry..hope you don’t mind”

Moving forward, jai touched her hair, fingering it away from her
neck, easing it over her shoulder, then releasing it to cascade
down her back…it was tormentingly sensual.

“ happy valentines day bani” jai whispered in her ear….his

breath warming up her cheeks.

Ouch……bani gasped with pain…..a dark red blood drop

appeared on her fingertip where her knife worked a second
ago….Jai held her hand and watched the drop dripping slowly
along the line of her long finger….he brought it to his mouth.

With a strange mixture of tension and huskiness he asked

Bani…..

“should I kiss it better???” bani gaped….she had never wanted

anything more.

“Yes” she said. Anticipation thrusted her beyond the reach of

common sense.
“please Jai kiss me”

For a moment Bani glimpsed the same gleaming of need in his

eyes. Then he bent his head and took her finger in his
mouth…..she was sinking deeper, drowning in the deep liquid
sensations of him and he knew it.

He then buried his lips in palm of her hand. He stayed there for
a long moment letting her fingers cup and explore angularity of
his face. His lips moving on mapped her arm. Discovering the
pulse at her wrist, he claimed it. Slowly he ascended towards
her shoulders.

He chased a flashing light through her veins, by the time he

had traveled her neck, throat, her chin….she was sparkling
with need.Finally he found her mouth. With a mute cry of relief
she rocked forward, wrapping her hands around his shoulders.
He parted her lips with a deft urgency, entering unknown
depths of her mouth as if he owned them…..her knees
trembled but he gathered her melting body quickly in his arms.

Her eyes shut, she thought she was gazing at a

kaleidoscope….his every move bringing onto a new pattern of
rainbow colors. She shivered, surged, burnt until she wanted to
whimper against his lips.
She is kissing jai…and not jai walia…she would rather kill
herself than kissing him…..this thought hammered Jai’s
insides…..

Engulfing himself in the velvet of her skin, he didn’t want to

think about it. But his conscience couldn’t be shut down.

All too soon, before she was ready, Jai began to lower the pace.
his hands stilled, reducing the pressure. She murmured her
disappointment….like a child who has just discovered
something too thrilling to relinquish, she wanted another ride.

He smiled down on her….whispering once again……

“I want to be a prince today….a prince who wants to woo his

princess……for a day Bani, forget all your hatred and give me a
chance to pamper you like never before……please”

She didn’t know what to say…for a moment she thought to tell

him how much pampered she felt with he touched her and for
something that can happen so easily there was no need to go
out of the way to please her……she was his princess…..come
what may.

But she nodded. If it can make him happy…..she would forget

whole world.
“so no show today….you will do what your valentine wants you
to do” Bani heard him saying in mischievous tone.

She shied.

“I will meet you at 6pm today….where, how you will come to

know shortly….now let me leave”

Hugging her once more jai left her alone wondering what is
going to follow….

It was nearly 3 pm when doorbell broke Bani’s sleep…..

when she opened the door, there was no one but a corsage of
red roses and a pink envelop….

She opened it with quivering hands……there was a card in it.

She read it eagerly

nazrose nazar mili to dil machal gaya,

apke dil ki shama me dil jalke pighal gaya,
kya kare kasoor hamara nahi nadaan dil ka hai,
jo aapko dekha or dhadkana bhool gaya.

4 pm… Franck Provost Day Spa…………Jai.

Spa??? And that too Franck Provost??? Bani thought but she
had promised him in the morning that she would do what he
wanted her to do.

To her surprise, when she descended staircase, a black Merc

was waiting for her to take her to the spa.

As she got into it, she tried calling Jai but his cell was switched
off.

She did not know such cosseting before…….a strawberry body

scrub and pampering massage performed in perfect rhythm to
instrumental love music made her lose all tension and worries
in her mind…..she thought she had rejuvenated to a new life…
…

She was just watching herself in full wall mirror ahead her,
when another bouquet and envelop followed.

This time it read…..

Pyaaar ke shama jalakar to dekho,

zara dilka aashiyaan sajakar to dekho,

tumhe ho na jaye ishq to kehna,

zara hamse nazre milakar to dekho....

6 pm….Grand Hyat…………..Jai.
But there was something else too this time……she opened the
bag and found a cherry red sari and some exquisite pieces of
diamond jewelry inside. At last when she looked herself in
mirror….she was no lesser than a real princess……red color
suited her honey toned body….heart shaped pendent and ear
rings looked stunning……their shine reflected on her soul.
Though she never liked richness and show off…….it was
something she knew had come directly from Jai’s heart…….

This time when she stepped outside the salon, a black

Limousine was waiting for her….

Wondering how many month’s salary jai has washed down……

she reached Grand Hyat…..

As manager there beckoned her to a party hall….her eyes

made a quick search for Jai…but he wasn’t there.

As she entered the hall……her breath caught in her throat. It

was beautifully decorated with Red and Golden ribbons….there
were hundreds of her photos on wall in which every mood of
her was captured. Perfumed candles were burning, emitting a
seductive fragrance…

Entire floor was filled with heart shaped red balloons again
carrying her name except for a middle path that lead to a
round table in the middle of room. As she moved forward, she
saw kiss shaped dark chocolates lying on the way…….as she
reached the Table, there was another envelop waiting for her.

As she opened it with tear filled eyes……it read

I kiss the ground you walk……..Jai

She whirled around to see him standing in one corner……..her

eyes forgot to blink with surprise.

Was he the same Jai??? He looked so devastatingly handsome

in black tuxedo he wore….his hair gelled…..he looked like some
bigwig businessman…..

She ran to him…with watery eyes she said…

“Jai…..itna sab karne ki kya jarurat thi……tum mere ho yahi

mere liye sab kuch hai”

Keeping his finger on her lips, he quieted her. Taking her hands
in his, he spoke.

“Bani…….i love you. I love you more than anything in this

world……I cant live without you…..you are my life instead.

Pausing he saw a thick tear descending on Bani’s cheek…

kissing her lips.

“jaindagi ye mauka baar baar kisiko nahi deti……lekin ek aur

mauka diya hai jindagi ne hame ek honeka”
“ek aur mauka???????” Bani asked watching expressions
changing fast on his face.

“I am the same man whom you refused 7 years back…….Jai….

Jai Walia”

Bani looked at him with her eyes wide open…..the candles

gilded one side of his face, accentuating the high cheekbone
and strong, beautiful bow of his lips. It was all too easy to
remember why she wanted him to kiss her…..he was the most
intriguing blend of knock-you-over virility……and cheating.

Her mouth went dry…..the man she kept her faith in turned out
the one she hated the most in past. He was deceiving her day
in day out….posing as a middle class man cause he knew she
hated rich…….so all this was planned. May be that kiss too…..
that night too.

She wheeled around, ignoring the stinging behind her eyes,

she calculated distance to the door.

Praying the tears wouldn’t fall until she could make her escape
from the most disappointed moment of her life…….she loved
him….and will always do but forgiving him was out of
question…..she wished she could travel back in time and erase
all those moments when they were close……

In desperation, Jai reached out roughly, his hand encountered

cool liquid fabric of her sari and then warmth beneath.
“let me go Jai” Bani’s voice a low monotone that reflected
emptiness behind her eyes…..

“listen to me Bani” his gaze searched her face as if he was

looking for a sign, a glimmer of hope that she could be
persuaded…

“I am sorry for all those lies I spoke to you….but my heartbeats

were not fake. My care my support and affection for you
weren’t fake….fervor with which I kissed you wasn’t fake…..i
wanted to show you that Jai walia is not a ruthless man….he
posses heart that beats only for you…..i was equally shocked
when I realized you are the same girl who refused me and hurt
me……but then I thought it was one more chance that life was
offering me to woo you back……everything is fair in love and in
war…..it was my love for you and a war with my own self…I
have died every minute when you held me close thinking me
as Jai and not Jai walia……but I know I would win you one day…
…..”

Tears at last crossed their boundaries and spilled on her face…

….

“I cant say I will leave whole world for you…cause I am not

only responsible for my self but also for all those people who
work for me….i cant leave them…..but I assure you that you
will be always the one for me……no one and I mean no one can
take your place in my life…decision is now yours…….”

Bani’s throat ached.

Interpreting her silence, his shoulders drooped and he let go of
her hands…and collapsed in chair behind him….

“Main deewaani hun aapke nam ki

is baat se inkar nahi,

kaise kahe ki hame aapse pyar nahi,

kuch to kasoor hai aapki nazro ka,

hum akele to gunhegar nahi.....”

Jai’s head shot upward in fraction of second…..his ears couldn’t

believe his luck.

“Bani” he said in shaken voice and then she was caught and
held in an embrace that was wonderfully warm and possessive.
Clutching the hard arms that encircled her, she wept into his
chest, quite unable to content her happiness within.

After what seemed like an eternity they broke apart……

Going on his knees, Jai held Bani’s hand and opened a red
velvet box ahead of her…..a blood red ruby ring…
“diamonds are too pale for you my princess……Bani…will you
marry me???”

Again words failed her…..she nodded yes and to her surprise,

jai’s and her family followed into the hall….clapping hard.

she looked at jai surprised……

with a heart warming smile jai said….

“we are getting married tonight……I cant bear this separation

any more. 7years is a longgggg time”

Very much later that night when Jai and Bani waited till their
breath came back to normalcy…moon showered them with its
uniform light.

Chandani raaten was playing somewhere…….its tune made

their first night even more special……

rolling them both onto their sides, jai kissed her deeply. He ran
his hands over her warm and damp skin until, gradually Bani
relaxed against him.

She pressed her cheek to his chest and sighed, a weary

vagabond for 7 years had finally found a home. Physically he
had introduced her to sensations she never knew existed
before… and emotionally she felt secure and fulfilled for the
first time in her life….
Secure in the circle of Jai’s arms…Bani drifted into sweetest
sleep that she had ever known…..

A Valentine day had finally filled her life with love passion and
fulfillment, just the way it promises……..