Banim Boys Part 5 (End)

‘What just happened?’ thought Aryan. He wasn’t the only one who was puzzled, Ajay and Armaan were both taken by surprise. Shalini hadn’t pointed at any of the three, rather she pointed at the door suggesting that she and the old man had some business to discuss of their own, privately.

‘Is it just me or has that female literally lost her mind?’ said Ajay, obviously he was mad at Shalini. ‘How is she not sure about me?’ he quarreled with his mind.

The three eagerly waited outside the room for Shalini and Mr Shiradkar to finish their conversation. ‘What is taking them so long to discuss?’ said Armaan in an irritated tone. Finally the doors opened. Mr Gopal and Shalini stood together and Mr Shiradkar was seated in his wheelchair. The three boys were expecting Shalini to speak but instead Mr Gopal spoke

‘Dear children, it has been decided that Miss Shalini will chose her groom on the very day of the engagement’ said Mr Gopal in a sophisticated manner. Though the sophistication of his words lacked clarity. ‘What does that mean?’ asked Aryan

‘It means that this girl wants to take her time, she thinks that she will have clarity at the last moment’ responded Mr Shiradkar

‘But this is crazy! Are you suggesting that we will all dress up as grooms on the day of engagement?Do you realise how humiliating that will be for our family?’ said Ajay. He and Armaan were looking at Shalini with shock.

‘Ajay don’t you worry about that. Now, no more discussions regarding this. The engagement ceremony will take place within seven days here, the Shiradkar residence. It is going to be a close knit affair between families. Do you have or should I say anyone you remember from your side Shalini?’ asked Mr Shiradkar. Shalini shook her head. Even now, she had no recollection of the place where she had come from.

Time flew, days were over and finally it was the engagement day. Except for Mr Shiradkar, everyone at the Shiradkar residence had lost their cool. The whole rapid engagement plan was all his doing, and nobody had the guts to question his decision. In these seven days, tons of money spent on jewellery; for the bride and expected groom. Sweets were sent to every family that had been invited for the occasion. Sarika and Geeta chose a very elegant and elite lahenga for their expected daughter in law. The Shiradkar residence was decked up with flowers and lights, the house  was indeed reflecting a festive mood. The boys were not allowed to speak with Shalini until the day of engagement. Two girls (more like bodyguards) used to remain outside Shalini’s room all the time.

A day before the engagement, Mr Shiradkar presented Shalini a diamond studded set. He said that it belonged to his late daughter. She was honored to have it.

***

Only an hour was left to begin with the ring ceremony, all the guests were seated and gorged on the snacks that were being served. Mr Shiradkar welcomed everyone graciously. One could see how happy he was. Ajay, Aryan and Armaan were dressed like royalties, each looking as dashing and handsome as ever. But Shalini as rumored wasn’t keeping very well. She had trouble sleeping the previous night and complained of serious headaches.

‘I am sure its because of the engagement. She has been so stressed lately’ said Sarika

‘What stressed? Everything in this house is happening exactly the way she wanted. I don’t know what this old man saw in this girl’ complained Geeta.

It was about time when they called the bride. The house girls were appointed for this job. Shalini had spent the entire day in her room, getting ready. But when the house girls opened the room, they found no one. They checked the bathing area but nothing. They were all puzzled, the wedding outfit was neatly wrapped and kept on the bed, the make-up remained untouched on the wedding table. Soon the whole house got to know that Shalini had gone missing!

‘What do you mean she is missing?’ said Mr Shiradkar

‘She is not in her room nor in any of the other rooms and that is not it, the jewellery and the cash you gave her has also been taken’ Mr Gopal informed him

‘Could she be abducted? Did you inform the police?’

‘We don’t know but yes, I have informed the police but I am afraid...’

‘Afraid of what?

‘This is more like of thievery than abduction. I think Shalini wasn’t exactly who we thought'

‘No, that’s not possible. She is my daughter, I see my daughter in her’

Ashok Shiradkar realised that he suffered betrayal from the person who he truly cared for. He adored Shalini more than anyone.

***

Search for the runaway bride went on for days. Now the whole town of Raiza was aware of the situation. The word was spread like wild fire. The family didn’t suffer any bad name because Shalini had been a very dignified woman. The question still remains who was Shalini? Was she even Shalini? All these questions popped. Mr Shiradkar had locked himself in his room after the incident, he refused to speak to anyone except his lawyer. As for Aryan, Armaan and Ajay, they remained puzzled. ‘We all were conned by a girl’ they concluded. Ajay couldn’t believe that he was being played all that time, from the flirting to the crying, it was nothing but a play, a joke. Though the Banims are harder than this. They decided to find that girl and get the truth about her. Nearly all the police stations of 23 districts were informed and given the girl’s description. It was surprise that the Shiradkar’s has no proper photo of her, there was only one in which Shalini’s face was almost visible. ‘No wonder she refused to a photo all the time’ thought Aryan.

Despite searching every nook and corner, they still couldn’t find anything on the girl.

The police, however found some information. Inspector Rajendra paid visit to the Shiradkar residence

‘Sir, this girl who you call Shalini isn’t Shalini at all’

‘I think we all know that already inspector, tell us something we don’t know’ said Ajay

‘Sir, this girl can be known by various names and identities, we have looked up for many robbery cases and a girl thief has been quite prominent among them. We think this is her, matches the description but all the times different names, last police report was from a village 250 kms from here, the name registered was Shanu, some landowner’s boy fell in love with her, later she went missing taking away all their jewellery and some cash’

‘This is exactly how she conned us’ remarked Armaan

‘Yes Sir, but this time she conned a big family, rest cases were of middle class landowners or small time businessmen’

‘So this time she tried to fish out for more. But I swear, she is going to regret her decision, she played with the wrong people’ swore Ajay

‘Don’t worry Sir we are going to find her’ the inspector assured.

But Shalini wasn’t an easy catch, three months passed and no news. With time, all wounds were healed except for Mr Shiradkar, it seemed that he was in much more love with her than the rest of the people.

‘Budda pagla gaya hai’ (the old man has gone mad) said the servants of the house. If they were caught saying this, they will be burnt to death but somehow these words did have some truth. Even the family members wondered what magic Shalini had done on the old man.

‘I don’t know what that girl did on him, he doesn’t eat properly or talk. Why didn’t he get married to her’ babbled Geeta Shiradkar, Armaan’s mother.

It just doesn’t end here, one day surprisingly all the three boys were summoned by Ashok Shiradkar. They were all surprised to hear it from him after so long.

 

‘Is this about the whole chairperson thing because right now I am not upto it. Infact I don’t care now, you two can have it. Enjoy!’ said Ajay.

‘I agree with Ajay, I don’t want it either. Aryan I think you deserve it, we will both volunteer to leave’

Aryan gave a slight nod, he had no idea what to say.

On reaching the room, the boys had three people in front of them; a old man, his wise companion and a veiled but recognisable woman. The woman removed the cloth from her face and there she stood, not still the same, her color of hair changed from black to burgundy. Her eyes had been red, like she had cried a lot.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ shouted Ajay. He was ready to strangle her but Ashok Shiradkar stood up to stop him. He raised his hand suggesting to back off

‘But she lied to us, what are you doing? Are you so blind?’ Ajay screamed with anger. His wounds took more time than others. Aryan and Armaan were shocked. It was Shalini in front of them.

‘Are you seriously that mad, you have lost it !’ Ajay screamed further. Mr Gopal decided to intervene

‘Relax Ajay, Shalini is here for answers and she got them’

‘Answers? Why does she need answers? Didn’t she rob us?’ questioned Armaan

‘Armaan, Ajay and Aryan. Shalini is not any girl, she is your family’s own. She is your late aunt’s daughter’ said Mr Gopal

The three stood still. It took them awhile to process the news of their new sister. ‘How could she be?’ asked Aryan  

‘I will explain’ said a voice that had been quiet for long. Shalini stood and started

‘I was raised by my Dai Ma (nanny). For years I thought that she was my actual mother but when I was fifteen, she told me the truth. She said that I was born to the daughter of a rich and aristocratic family. When I was born my real mother died, Dai Ma took me in her custody informing the family of the girl that both baby and mother had died. Dai Ma then raised me as her own child. She was poor but she made sure that I ate and lived a happy. Even when she told me the truth I decided to stay with her. But four years ago she passed away. Before dying she handed me a locket, saying that it will lead me to my real family.’

She handed the locket to Aryan, he could recognise it. Before a Banim is born, a locket is made for him/ her. It was a tradition that was being followed since ages.   

Aryan couldn’t believe his eyes, but it was true. Shalini was after all a Banim and a successor to the Shiradkar family.

‘I knew it, somewhere I was convinced that you belonged to us’ said the old man

‘But what is your real name?’ asked Armaan oddly. Shalini laughed, wiping the tears away from her face, ’It’s Advika’. Ajay who took time to process the revelation ‘She is my cousin, holy shit!’

‘So...?’

‘Well, it looks like we have found the successor to Shiradkar Private Ltd. ‘ announced Mr Shiradkar. Nobody was shocked to hear that, in fact the announcement reduced the stress between the brothers. Once for all, everything was back to normal.

Except somethings never change.

‘It’s sad we are cousins’ Ajay said to Advika.

‘Oh please, don’t you ever get into that impression, it was all fair acting’

‘So, you never liked me?’ he asked awkwardly, Advika laughed.

‘Sorry but no bro’

 The End