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They say if something is meant for you it'll always find its way back to you. Bani had been living with the hope for the last five years that somehow Bholenaath would bring Veer and her baby back into her life, but day by day her faith in God was dwindling. She sat there in the back of the taxi, dressed in all white for the Panditayaan's prayer meet, and smoothed the wrinkles on her saree. As her hands caressed the white cotton she thought back to the day she left Veer. He loved seeing her in white, and that day he joked that she looked like an angel who married the devil. Bani smiled and chuckled a bit to herself, then closed her eyes while thinking of the days she was happier. The taxi driver changed the station, and Bani could now hear the song 'Oh mere dil ke chain' playing on a low volume. Bhaiya zara oochi avaaz karna...my husband loved this song. She whispered. The driver nodded and turned the volume knob to the right. She closed her eyes again and rested her head against the plastic interior, feeling the hot breeze on her skin. As the song played on Bani began to fall asleep and once again memories of her past invaded her peace...
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Five years ago...
Yeh kya kehrahi ho tum Bani? Apni...apni beti ko...apni beti ko tum chodh dogi? Meera asked. Bani smiled down at her daughter who was barely a week old, and caressed her pink cheeks. She's so fair...just like Veer. Lekin honth aur aankhein mujpar gayi hai. I wonder what Veer will name her...Meera came closer to Bani now and nudged her shoulder. She came out of her daze and looked over at her older sister. They were seated on the bed in the small house the the panditayaan's niece lived in. After Bani left Veer she offered her a place to stay, and although Bani wanted to be independent, she agreed because she was pregnant and wanted to ensure she has a healthy pregnancy. Bani was ready to die the day she decided to leave Veer, but once she found out she's pregnant she just couldn't do it. She had already taken away so much from Veer, the least she could do before she's gone forever is to leave him with his child. Bani tum pagal toh nahi hogi? Iss nanni si jaan ko hamesha ke liye chodhne vaali ho tum? Meer asked, bewildered that Bani was not fazed at all with her decision.
Bani sighed and pulled her shirt up, and laughed at how her daughter latched on to her nipple right away. The baby looked up at Bani, scowled a bit, and pierced her breast with her hand. She's so cute. Kitna doodh peethi hai. Meera di...maine faisla leliya. Main apni beti ko ek achi zindagi dena chaahti hoon...mere paas kya hai? Bass todhe baute paise jo maine jodhe hai...aur kuch nahi. Aur...aur main Veer ke saath aisa nahi kharr sakhti. He deserves to know he has a daughter...he deserves to have her in his life. Main Veer ko...aur meri beti ko ek doosre se judha nahi kharr sakhti. I love them too much to do that. Meera rolled her eyes and said Aur tum? Tumaara kya hoga? Bani you already gave up your powers, got married forcefully to Veer, had to leave everything behind because of that evil father of his, and now...now you're willing to give up your daughter for him? Yeh kaisa pyaar hai tumaara Bani? Tum kushi ke laayak nahi ho? Aggar yeh tumaari beti apne pittah ke bina nahi jee sakhti toh apni maa, jisne isko janam diya, din raath nau mahino ke liye tadhpi, aur apna doodh diya...uske bina kaise jiye? She deserves a mother just as much as she deserves a father Bani. Please...please vaapas ajaao...Veer...voh...voh pagaalo ki tarrah tume nau mahino ke liye doond raha hai. Voh itna udaas hogaya ke koi usko pehchaan bi nahi paaraha. He's...he's depressed Bani...please? Meera deplored with tears in her eyes.
Bani put her baby to her chest and patted her back gently. She kissed her head and closed her eyes, a lone tear falling down her cheek now. She refused to cry for those nine months, not wanting it to affect her baby. But she knew that the second she walked away from her child she would do nothing but cry for the rest of her days. The baby will make him happy...voh depression se baahar ajaaye ga. Bani replied. Meera groaned, startling the baby a bit. She started to cry, and Bani shushed her and rocked back and forth. Kyun pyaar karti ho itna Veer se? Meera said. Bani smiled and looked over at the snowglobe which Meera had snuck out of the farm house for her. Voh meri jaan hai. Junoon hai mera. Main usko liye kuch bi karsakhti hoon Meera di...I've already hurt him so much. The least I can do before I go away forever is give him the symbol of our love, our baby girl. He's going to be an amazing dad...if only I could stay to see him love and care for our daughter...Bani said, eyes downcast. Meera stood up and walked over to the door. She put her hand on the knob and looked back at Bani who was lovingly gazing at her baby. Voh time kabhi nahi bhoole ga Bani. Aur yeh bachi...yeh abh usko rozz yaadh dhilaaye gi. Tumaari...tumaare pyaar ki. Tum chaahe kitni bi koshish karlo. Jabh takh tum vaapas nahi aathi, voh tumaara puraana Veeranshu kabhi nahi banne ga. She walked back to the kitchen to get a bucket of warm water ready for the baby's bath. Bani wiped her tear away and laughed as her baby slept and held her finger tight. She came down to her forehead, kissed her there, and then pecked her cheek. Tum mere puraane Veeranshu ko firse zinda karro gi. Roshni aur kushi laao gi uski zindagi mein. Hai na mere shonnu? Karro gi na apne paapa ke liye? Vani opened her brown eyes slightly, and smiled for the first time at her mom. Bani gasped and pulled back, overtaken with emotions. She had dimples, just like her daddy.
