Banim Boys Part 4

Shalini loved it at the Shiradkar residence. She was being pampered by everyone at the house from Ramu kaka  to Sarika Ji. Shiradkar family sort of adopted her. Meanwhile this girl was enjoying herself, tension arose between the three brothers. They had proved themselves good in every aspect. Even Ajay, who initially was reluctant to play this game overcame his anger and concentrated on his job.
Armaan and Aryan were quite surprised to see Ajay's change of attitude. Though until now, Aryan proved  as the best contender for the Chairperson position. The companies under him were doing very well both in business and work ethics. And undoubtedly, Ashok Shiradkar noticed this. He was secretly very proud of Aryan. But who could woo Shalini? he thought.

And then the least expected Banim decided to take a chance with Shalini. Armaan's mother forced him to talk to her, and finally he was ready for it.
'She is not a nuclear weapon' he thought. 'Keep it cool and calm'
Shalini was out in the courtyard, playing and enjoying with the Ramu kaka's daughters.
Armaan fixed his gaze on her, for the first time he noticed her beauty. Her olive skin glowed in the sun's light, with her eyes shining with joy and happiness. 'Wow! She is magical' he thought, thoroughly mesmerized by Shalini's appearance and aura.

'Can I join you?' he asked
'Off course Armaan, come please sit' Shalini smiled and said. Armaan sat right beside her. He wanted to wrap this up as soon as possible. There was a certain tension in the atmosphere, he didn't speak for a while but when he tried to begin, Shalini already started. She asked Ramu kaka's to bring her some water from the kitchen, then she looked at Armaan and winked at him. 'Why on earth did she do that?' Armaan thought.
'Shalini, I..um I wanted.....to say something um...' Armaan started,unable to speak. Certainly not a very good first impression he thought.
'I know Armaan'
'What? Who told you?' Armaan said sounding very puzzled at her reply.
'Armaan, I know, I do notice and I wanted to say the same thing for a very long time'
'Okaaaay, but what Shalini?' he asked again
'I love you too Armaan!' Shalini said with sheer joy in her voice. Armaan couldn't get what just happened at the moment.
'You love me? Oh my god you love me!!!Shalini, just by saying this you have shed all the world's weight from my head'
She laughed and put her hand on his hand. She seemed definitely happy and he seemed satisfied. ' This was easy' Armaan thought, as if he just earned himself an Olympic medal. Suddenly Shalini spoke
'Armaan we must tell anyone about our love for each other, otherwise we might fall into trouble. I might fall
into trouble'
'Off course, no one will know until the right moment' he assured the innocent pretty girl.

No sooner, Armaan broke his promise. The first and only person aware about the Shalini-Armaan affair was none other than Geeta Shiradkar, the spiteful daughter-in-law of the house. She was wickedly happy on her son's recent victory.
'Good job Armaan, now it's just a matter of days when Mr. Shiradkar will ask the three of you for their matrimonial match and I am sure, you will be the winner!'




It's an old Hindi saying "Deewaro ke bhi kaan hote hain" (the walls have ears too). Ajay over heard his Aunt's conversation with his cousin. He was angry because he knew that Armaan did not love Shalini at all, where as Ajay was smitten by her on the day they first met. He decided to talk to her directly. He didn't want his stupid cousin to ruin an innocent girl's life by marrying her.
Next day, Ajay got ready a little early so that he could talk to Shalini without arising any suspicion. Shalini had just woken up, when suddenly she heard someone knocking her door. She immediately opened the door, it was 'Aryan?' she thought
'Hi! Can I come in?' he asked like a gentlemen
'Yes please'. Without any further delay, Aryan spoke like a young businessman, wait he was already one.
'So Shalini, like you know that everyone at this house is very fond of you. Particularly my mother and my grandfather. Well, there is someone else who is also really fond of you and...'
'And Aryan?' Shalini urged Aryan to speak more, she was expecting a surprise
'And I think you deserve to know this'. Aryan was kneeling down on his knees and  held a beautiful diamond studded ring in his hands.
'Okay this was a surprise' she thought
'Shalini will you join me in holy matrimony as I promise you to keep happy and safe for the rest of your life'
Shalini was flattered by Aryan's gesture. The ring was a beautiful. She was being propsed by a Banim, a big occasion already. Before she could say anything, Aryan spoke
'You need not hurry, take your time and answer me' He handed Shalini the ring and left the guest quarters. Shalini was on a high, two Banim were ready to marry her. The question remained, where the hell is the third one? And then, there was another knock on Shalini's door. It was Ajay, at last.

'Shalini! I need to tell you something?'
'That you love me too?' Shalini said in an unusually excited tone
'What? No!!Who said that to you?'
'No one, so why are you here so early in the morning?'
'Oh yeah, Shalini all this Armaan liking you and stuff, it is all a sham, a lie, a game started by my grand father and I just want to put an end to it.
'Wait wait wait, I am not following. What game?' Shalini asked in a serious tone.

And Ajay explained Shalini everything, from the beginning to the end. As he narrated her the entire story, the reality struck her. She felt as if someone had punched her straight into the stomach, that too hard!
'Shalini I am so sorry that you had get involved in this family politics, it's just that my grandfather found you like his daughter, so when you arrived there was a sudden rise in his spirits' Ajay said in a remorseful tone.
Within minutes Shalini started crying like a baby. She couldn't control her tears and embraced Ajay.
'Ajay, I so wish that everybody could be as trustworthy as you' she sobbed
'Shalini please don't cry. Don't worry, whatever they ask you just say no'
'Actually I think I have come to a conclusion'
'Conclusion?What conclusion' Ajay asked
Shalini asked Ajay the only thing, the one thing. 'I surely do'
'Well I guess your grandfather will have an answer from me and so will your brothers'

The Judgement Day :
The three Banims, all dressed formally in professional attire were summoned by their grandfather early morning. He was ready with his lawyer and dear friend, Mr Gopal.
Armaan spoke to Shalini a day prior just for confirmation. Ajay and Aryan, however, did not approach her at all. Ajay was confident about her answer and so was Aryan. Aryan hoped that she will wear his ring if the answer was a yes.

'So my boys, it looks like you all have done a fantastic job' said Mr. Shiradkar
'I can truly say that my grandsons are highly capable of handling the Shiradkar foundation, but as promised, only one of you will take over my position and on the 31% shares of the Shiradkar foundation' he continued
'Now before I continue, who have you three chosen as your matrimonial companion?'
Aryan, Armaan and Ajay all together said 'SHALINI'. The room echoed with her name.  'Holy shit!' thought Mr Gopal.
The boys stared each other with blank faces. Mr Shiradkar was highly confused.
'Well it is most certain that you all can't marry the same girl' he said, his tone still very content.
Then Ajay spoke 'Can't we just ask her who she wants to marry?'
'Wait, we shall proceed to that but before hand you must clear me, are you three sure of her?'
All three nodded. Really, did they have a choice at the last moment?
'Very well, Gopal please call Shalini'
Within minutes, Shalini was there in the room. She looked content by face, like she already made a choice. Aryan searched for the ring in her hand, but sadly she wasn't wearing any.
'Now, Shalini I think you know why you are here'
She nodded. 'Then can we have an answer?' prompted the old man.
 Tensed faces all around, when Shalini pointed at...


To be continued.