Vani - Zehnaseeb

Chapter 6: Destined to be

A very SHORT update. I've been extremely busy so haven't had time to work on any stories but will continue to give short updates as much as I can. Basically, I will post what I have and then add on to the same chapter. Just wondering, when I add to a chapter (edit it) do you get a notification? Or do you only get a notification when I post a new chapter? If you don't get a notification then how can I make sure you know I've added the rest of the chapter onto the chapter?!

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Veer had messaged Bani a few times asking if she was okay but she didn't respond, however, he saw that she read the messages. Even the one he sent at three in the morning because she couldn't sleep just like him. He was now putting on his socks to go to work when his phone buzzed. Veer rushed to his nightstand, heart racing, mind going a million miles a second, but when he picked up his phone his heart sank. It was Daksh asking him to lunch at his new lounge. He had totally forgotten all about him, even the things he said about Bani. All of the allegations came rushing back into Veer's memory. He didn't know what to think. Yes, Daksh was his good friend and had been there for him when his naani was sick and when his dad was treating him like crap (and still does), but he wasn't ready to believe that Bani could be such a woman. Also, even if she was it didn't matter anymore. He was going to marry her no matter what. Veer sent a casual reply "Yeah sure. I'll be there at 12" and tossed his phone on the bed. After taking a few deep breaths he looked at himself one last time in the mirror. He was dressed in a grey dress shirt, black pants and coat, and dark brown dress shoes. Veer had even taken off that gold chain which Nikhil told him looks tacky and went for his subtle watch over his Rolex. He promised his mom to take work, and apparently his appearance, more seriously and this was his first of many attempts. Okay, Veer...breathe...it's okay. Just go and do your work. Avoid dad and Manav. Bass apne khaam se matlab lena. Don't fight with them unnessarily...Do this for mom and naani...she always wanted to see you succeed in the business. Veer closed his eyes to calm himself down and started to let his mind wander to his happy place. Cruising through the open roads in his yellow convertible, jazz playing on the radio, wind flowing through his hair. He looks to the right and sees the crystal blue sea and then turns his head to the left. There she is. The girl of his dreams dressed in a pale pink skirt with a white cropped ruffle top. Half of her hair is up with a white bow and he hears her laugh as he rubs her arm. She's looking away from him and holding her hand out the side to feel the wind between her fingers. Baby...idhar dekho. He whispers. She looks over and smiles. I love you sweetheart...he says to her. Veer's eyes open suddenly and he falls down on the bed in a panic. It was Bani...the girl...it was Bani. He slaps his face several times, gets up, frowns in confusion, and sits back down. There was worry and fear written all over his face. Bani? Veer...what the fuck...sambhaal apne aap ko...you can't...you can't seriously...love? No no no...Okay Veer. Chaahe kuch bhi hojaaye...don't think about her. Even if that receptionist named Bani says hi to you...don't associate her with Bani. Veer tried to convince himself, but eventually, he started to think about how Bani the receptionist has a habit of being rude to him, just like his Bani. My Bani? My Bani...shit Veer! Before he could overthink it more Veer grabbed his belongings and ran out the door, not even saying goodbye to his mom.

While Veer was trying his best not to think about the girl who he's falling for, Bani was at home helping her massi unpack the new shipment of clothing she got. She had a side business of selling wedding attire and Bani offered to help. Bani? Bani...maine poocha keh iss lehnge ki kheemat kitni likhu? Bani mumbled Hmm. Dad ko bhi voh sabzi passand hai...main banaalungi and continued twirling the pompoms of a dupatta between her finger. She was lost in thought thinking about Veer wanting her to take his ex's dress off; it bothered him that much that she was wearing it. Jhanvi rolled her eyes and threw a pen at Bani, making her glare at her massi and wonder what that was for. Bani tum subha se khoyi huee ho...uss bichaare ko ek toh reply dedho. So what aggar uski ek ex girlfriend thi? It's obvious ke tum bhi usse bhaat karna chaahti ho. Bani slammed the accounting book and shook her head defiantly. Massi...please just stop. Aapko pattha hai...main usse shaadi nuy karna chaahti... Jhanvi sighed and held Bani's hand affectionately, rubbing her moonstone ring. Beta...kya bhaat hai? Aggar tum mujse nahi share karogi toh kiss karogi? Why are you getting married to him then? Na kehdo...Bani stood up off the bed to begin folding the clothes and putting them in the bags. She turned around so that her massi couldn't see her face and spoke while continuing the folding. Nuy...main...main theek hoon. Mera matlab tha ke main Veer...Veer se shaadi nuy karna chaahti...lekin I'll adjust. When she heard this Jhanvi's heart sank. Her niece who used to be obsessed with fairy tales and wrote stories about her prince charming coming and her getting married to him was now telling her that she'll just adjust with this man who she barely knows? Jhanvi was not going to let her niece make the same mistake she did when she got married to Vikram, her ex-husband. Jhanvi gently rubbed Bani's shoulder and rested her chin there. Bani...jabse main tumse milli hoon maine tumein apni beti jaise maana hai...tum meri sab kuch ho Bani. Beti aur best friend...please muje sach batao. Meri Bani aisi bhaatein kabse karne laggi? Bani held Jhanvi's hand and tried her best to not let her sorrow show. She couldn't tell Jhanvi the truth. Veer blackmailed her and Jaya's condition as well. If she did Jhanvi would run to Bani's dad and tell the truth so that the wedding doesn't happen. It would end up with the wedding being called off or worse, him suffering another major heart attack. Either way, Bani didn't want to take the risk.

Massi...main abh badhi hogayi hoon. Kabh takh main garr parr rahungi? Ha...I didn't fall in love and get married...but I'm sure ke Veer mera khayal rakhega...uski mom muje already apni beti aur bahu kehti hai...uska bhai Ponky bhi bauhat pyaara hai...aur Manav toh mera pehle se dost hai. I'll be fine massi. Jhanvi thought for a second and decided to let it be. Maybe she was right? Maybe Veer was the man for her and she was destined to fall in love with someone after marriage? Who was Jhanvi, already with a failed marriage and her kids wanting nothing to do with her, to judge? Theek hai baby...lekin uss bichaare ko ek text toh bejdo. Bani rolled her eyes and grabbed her phone from her massi. Theek hai meri ma. Bhejdungi...abh please iss Veer ka subject choddo! Muje toh lagta hai aapko uspar crush hai. She joked with Jhanvi. Her massi giggled and nodded like a little girl. Ha hai...photos mein kitna handsome lagta hai aur uss text messages ko parke muje romantic bhi lagta hai. Kyun? Jealous ho rahi ho Mrs. Singhania? Before she could continue with her jokes Jhanvi heard her sister calling her downstairs to read a letter to her. Yeh buddhi baddi high fi hoti firti hai aur abh takh isko apna bijlee ka bill padhna nuy aatha. Abhi aayi main beta. Bani laughed and nodded at her. Once Jhanvi was gone Bani read Veer's text messages again and sulked. She was so confused. She hated him for being such an asshole to her, blackmailing her, yet she also found him to be so adorable. Why are you such a mystery Veer? Nobody has ever confused me the way you do. Last night he sent her a text just before dinner "Maine uss ladki ki koi dress nayi dekhi...it was a joke. Itna gussa karne ki kya zaroorat? Stop acting like a child Bani". Then an hour later "Seriously you're that worked up that you can't even text me back? Shaadi ke bhaad bhi aisa hoga? I'm not going to text you after this. Can you please just call me?". Finally at three am he texted "I'm sorry Bani...muje itna rude text nuy bejna chaahiye tha. I can understand why you felt weird wearing that dress...bas ek bhaar muje text ya call kardo. Please". Bani sighed and finally responded to him "Hi Veer" She frowned and backspaced. Hi Veer? Are you sending an email? She tried again "Hi...main kyun naaraz hongi? It was just a dress...I don't care who designed it and what their relationship is to you. Whatever. I'm fine." And she sent it quickly before she changed her mind again.