Vani - Zehnaseeb

Chapter 1: Introduction to Sharmas and Singhanias

Dad aapne davayi leeyi na? Aap hamesha bhool jaate ho. Bani dug through her dad's medicine cupboard to make sure that the pills for Sunday morning had been taken. When her older sister was around the house, which was years ago, her dad never missed his medicine once. Everyone was scared of Riya, even Bani, and her dad. Nobody ever dared to go against anything she said, but you know what they say, the bravest people suffer the most terrible tragedies. That was the case when she was just 20 years old. Nobody would have guessed that she would have to go through such an ordeal and have no choice but to leave the house and her family forever. Bani kept her secret to this day and dealt with the consequences on behalf of her. She had grown used to the whispers and glares that she got from people in her own community, but the hurtful words her step-mom said came to be too much so she used her studies as an excuse to move out. It was the best decision she ever made. Now she was back home for a week to make sure that her dad takes care of his health, and to also help out with her cousin's wedding which was just going to be two days away. Little did she know that her dad called her there to meet someone as well. 

Bani tum yeh sabh choddo. Tum bilkul apni daadi parr gayi ho, voh bhi aise hamesha saaf safayi karthi rehti thi aur mera peecha nuy chodh thi...Bani glared at her dad as she walked up to him with his pills and a glass of water. Dad aap rehne do abh. You don't take care of yourself. Armaan bhi abh college jaane lagga hai aur main bhi apni company mein busy rehthi hoon. Dad please...please just promise ke aap at least apni davayi time parr toh loge? Bani's dad opened his arms wide for her to come into his embrace. As she sat in his arms he caressed her hair and kissed the top of her head. Beta tum ho, Armaan hai, Yash hai, aur tumaari ma bi hai- Bani adjusted her body and sat on the other side of the couch now. She stared at the ground and avoided her father's eyes as she whispered Dad please...she's not my mom...please aap muje unko mom ka role dene mein force matth kijiye. Bani's dad sighed and drank the rest of his water. Aur Yash? Voh toh tumaara bhai hai na? Beta we've all been together for 21 years now...tumaari asli mom tumse nahi toh milti hai aur- Bani got up suddenly and shook her head. Dad, stop. I don't...don't want to talk about mumma right now. Bani's dad stood behind Bani and rubbed her head lovingly and whispered Lekin beta kabhi na kabhi toh bhaat karni padeghi na? Rajvi ko hum sabh ko chodhe hue bayees saal hogaye...voh kabhi vaapas nahi ayegi. Bani felt her face heating up with a mix of resentment towards her biological mother for leaving her at the tender age of six, and sadness that her dad was still insisting on her accepting Yash and Jaya as her family. Perhaps she would have eventually warmed up to them, but when her sister left the house twelve years ago all because of Yash and Jaya, Bani knew that she would never have a place in her heart for them.

Acha...acha theek hai. Nahi bhaat karni? Toh theek hai...main apni pyaari si bitiya ka dil nuy dukhaana chahta. Abh muje yeh apne bunny jaise dhaant dikao na? Bani smacked her dad's hand away and tried her best not to smile at how he lovingly calls her his bunny due to her teeth. As a child, she hated it because she thought he was poking fun of her but slowly she started loving the nickname and even decided not to get braces because she learned to embrace her imperfections. Dad aap bhi na...okay chodiye abh. Muje Kajol ke gharr jaana hai abh. Uske bhai insist karr rahe ke voh sabh ek family performance karre toh Kajol ko kabraat horahi hai aur usne meri maddat maangi koi simple choreography sikaane ke liye. Before she ran upstairs to change out of her shorts and t-shirt Bani's turned around and smiled when she saw her dad practicing the stretches that she had taught him that morning. Dad...Bani whispered. Her dad looked up with a smile and lifted his chin up to her asking her what was wrong. I love you papa. Aaap duniya ke sabse ache papa ho...I'm sorry ke main kabhi aapki bhaat nahi maanti. Bani frowned. Her dad walked up to the foot of the stairs and shook his head. Tum meri beti ho, tumaara haq banta hai apne papa se apni dil ki bhaat kehne ki...lekin Bani...aaj shaam ko bass party mein tum Jaya aur Yash se achi tareeke se bhaat karna? Vahan mere business partners bhi hoge aur humaari family toh- Bani walked up to her dad and kissed his forehead. Dad aap fikkar matth kijiye. Main kabhi bhi aapka sarr nayi jukne doongi...I promise. Main Yash aur Mrs. Sharma se theek se bhaat karlungi. Hmm? Okay now I have to run! You know na muje thayaar hone mein kitna waqt lagjaata hai! Okay Muah! Love you!