For SumiRai5 and @kunjoose

Story Setup: Take it down from the Navratri episode where Bani being an adinaagin gets revealed and Jai pretends to be Mayuri, saying that she is unwilling to marry Ponky, so that Singhanias don't doubt her disappearance.

Note: No markaat in the scene

.................

Jai cut the call as Ponky began to sob. He phased back to his own self.

J: Uff! Kaisa cheel hai ye bhi

M: I know, imagine maine kaise jhela isse (thinks)

Mayuri was very weak from the bite of the Adi Naagin. She was lying in the backseat where Jai had carelessly dumped her body without care. Little did he know that she was not dead. She cannot die of the bite but Bani's poison was so potent that it had a very drastic effect on her. Jai could have tried to reverse it but he simply picked her up and set off.

A while later, the car stopped and Jai had reached a high ground. It was a rocky hill and beneath it was vast sea. Mayuri wondered what was happening when Jai dragged her body to the edge.

J: Bye Morni. It was good knowing you but ab powers sirf meri hai, ek hisedaar khatam...mai waise bhi share nahi krne wala tha...hahaha

He pushed her over and left. Mayuri did some quick thinking and took her mayur roop to flew a little, she them dropped another rock in so that a splash was heard. Jai laughed when he heard the sound of water when he was receding and said "good riddance".

Mayuri dragged her weak body and closed her eyes in pain.

M: (thinks) iske liye maine mere childhood friends ko dokha diya? Shukla ke sath mere plan me shamil kiya...Jai tujhe toh nahi chodungi mai..

.....................

Meanwhile, Jai had made an enterance in Veer's house and was living with them now. He tried to plan how to end Bani but every time he within 5m radius of her, Veer would somehow pop up and get in between. It almost seemed impossible to get her alone. To add to his annoyance, he could see Bani's growing feelings for Veer. Their slight flirting and random eye locks, he knew there was little time left till Bani would confess her feeling and they would become truly inseparable, they were already always around each other without making a conscious effort. Aur agar Bani ne use apna saathi maan liya to mai ek sadharan naag bankr reh jaunga, adi naag banne ki shakityan to adi naagin ke saathi hone se aathi hai. He need to plan something quick.

........................

It was diwali today and Bani was busy making rangoli. She was also talking to Meera on the phone.

B: Aap kyu nahi aa rahe di?

M: Tu sach me pagal hai Bani. Diwali ki pooja sb apne ghar krte hai na. Aur kl subah to hum aa hi rahe hai na

B: Thik hai. Diwali ki subhkamnaye di...mai apse baad me baat karungi.

Bani got busy in making Rangoli again. Her hair was in a messy, low bun and light pink saree was knotted at her waist. She had gotten up early and made sure that the house help cleaned up the house perfectly. She had painted the diyas last night and made sweets as well. She would not admit it but she made sure to make those sweets a lot more that she had noticed Veer take an extra help of at dinners. Mujhe pasand hai isliye banaya hai, uska mujhe kya pata, mai thodi dekhti rehti hoon use; she had explained to a smirking Meera.

She moved a stray hair away from her face, getting color on her forehead. She just had to put the toran (the garland put above the door) after this. Veer was coming inside the house when he noticed his gharwali. His eyes sparkled and he forgot how to blink as he took steps towards her.

B: Veeranshu!

V: Hun! (he said as if coming back out of trance)

B: Kya kr rahe ho, abhi saari rangoli kharab ho jaati.

Veer looked down to see that he had almost stopped on the rangoli. He moved back and went around it to sit behind her. Bani now conscious of his presence, shivered. He took some color and slowly took his arms around her waist. His fingers crawling on his stomach. She leaned back on him, eyes closed to get her control back.

B: Holi nahi h Veeranshu.

V: I know sweetheart but I don't care.

Bani tries to stop him as he continued to stare at her. You are mine love, all mine.

V: oye!

Veer's sudden voice got her out of the zone and she got off his arms. Veer held her and pulled her back.

V: Kya dekh raha hai, nazar neeche aur chal jaa abhi..chep dhabewala.

J: Bani!

V: Kya bani? Phisaddi! Jb dekho Bani! Bani! Khud nahi lad skta kya? Free ki rotiyan tor raha hai na, wahi kr...aur haan Bhabhi bolla kr Bani ko...ya Mrs. Veer, Mrs. Singhania....Naam mt le lena galti se bhi..

J: Ba-

B: Kyu ladna ka festival ke din...Jai, Jao abhi.

Veer smirked at Jai. Laughter dancing in his eyes. Ha! Dekha Chipku! Gharwali ne mujhe kuch nahi kaha

Jai left fuming. Bani ab use kuch kehti bhi nahi hai, koi baat nahi aaj ke baat kuch kehne layak bachogi bhi nahi!

Veer left to get himself a glass of water. Bani got up to tie the toran and got up on a stool as many of the househelp was human and she did not want to scare them. She also liked working in her human from. She was working on it when her leg slipped and she landed in the arms of a stranger.

B: ahh! ... (opens her eyes) um...Thank you..(thinks: bach gaye bholenath)

Stranger: Kon ho tum? Pehle to kabhi nahi dekha...(He is lost in her charm)

B: Aap, Utar skte hai mujhe...hello!

V: Arman!

Veer stalks towards them and snatches Bani from his arms.

A: Veer! Bro!

V: Haan bs bs...

A: Gale to mill saale..

V: Bani tumhara kaam ho gaya..

B: Bs vo toran thora thik se lagana hai..

Veer saw Arman's eyes stare at her. He clenched his Jaw.

V: Mai thik kr dunga. You go get ready. Pooja ka bhi dekhta hai na..

Bani nodded and left. Arman's eyes trailed her slim figure.

A: Hot!

Veer punched his face.

A: Abey ye kisliye..

V: Meri gharwali hai vo, Wife! So do not look at her..

A: Yrr mujhe pata nahi tha...waise hai kafi h-

Arman saw Veer's nostrils flare and stopped mid sentence.

V: Tu ja sbse mil.

He left without speaking more. Tum sirf meri ho Bani.

..................

Bani entered the room and noticed a packet on the bed. It was addressed to her. Inside it was beautiful lehenga with a golden bottom and dupatta. Its blouse was dark green with embroidery. Bani smiled at the gorgeous outfit. It was first time she had received new clothes on diwali and she got ready happily and got out the Veer's black and gold outfit. She took a green pocket square, matching it with her blouse and kept it on his kurta, blushing.

She left downstairs when she felt someone creep after her. She turned to see Jai.

J: Bani Vo-

He suddenly sprayed something at her face and before Bani could register anything else, she fainted. He took her into a cave in the woods and tied her with a magical trap.

J: (thinks) hahaha! Bs Bani, ab tum padi raho kuch din. Tb tk mai tumhare us Veer ka kaam tamam kr dunga.

He took Bani's roop and entered the mansion.

..................

The pooja had been done and Jai (as Bani) was talking to Meera who had called Veer to talk to her as she did not pick up her phone. Jai gulped, trying to answer Meera while Veer stared at him suspiciously. Veer was studying the way Bani was talking and moving, this made Jai very nervous.

D: Bhai, aaj bhabhi se phir gandh aa rahi hai.

V: Use vardaan hai, usse gandh aa rahi hai mtlb kuch to gadbad hai...

Veer got up and caught his arms, dragging her into the study.

V: Kon ho tum?

J: Veer- Mai, ye tum kya baat kr rahe ho..

V: Sahi bol raha hoon. Kahan hai meri Bani!

He flipped away the table on the side and drops of sweat started to appear on Jai's forehead. Armaan and the rest of the singhania's rushed in.

B: Ye kya ho raha hai Veer?

P: Bhai aap isse gussa mt dilao, dass legi ye hume..

A: yr itni hot hai teri wife, kyu gussa krta hai...

V: Bas! Ye nahi hai meri Bani...Nahi hai...

Veer got a been out of a drawer and asked Daksh to play. He kept a close watch as brown-grey scales began to appear.

V: Dekha! Itne sade hue scales nahi hai meri Bani ke!

Jai could not control himself any longer and took his nag roop. An enraged Veer asked Daksh to stop and held Jai by his hair.

V: (smashing Jai's face on the floor) kahan hai Bani....bol!

J: Vo-..(coughs)

V: Bol...

J: aha..haha (coughs) kbhi nahi milegi tujhe..

V: (screams and breaks the desk into two) Zaban kaat dunga teri, chup chaap bata...

All the singhanias back away, scared at the look in Veer's eyes, they almost looked demonic, devoid of any emotion but anger. He looked like a man ready to burn the world till he had his wife with him. Veer here had beaten Jai black and Blue when Jai's phone rang. Veer put it on speaker.

Man: Sun mai gufa ki taraf ja raha hoon pandupi pahad pr...tu bhi jaldi aa, adi naagin ko marne ka hathiyar ready hai.

Veer roared at what he heard and threw the phone to Tapish.

V: Track it

He said and flew away from the window. Daksh followed him while the rest of the Singhanias took Jai away from there.

....................

Bani reached the Singhania mansion. She was a little dizzy because the trap sucked a lot of her energy but she was still in great shape. Veeranshu ko pata chalne do Jai, tumhe cheelo ka dinner nahi bana dega mera pati! Bani's mind questioned these thoughts but she knew she could no longer deny her heart. It yearned for Veer and she knew it.

Mayuri ran behind her.

M: Sb kahan hai? Aur ghar ki halat dekho. Lagta hai bhoochal aaya tha.

It was true. Everything was on the floor. Jaise toofan aya ho ya koi bohot speed se udta hua gaya ho.

Armaan came forth: Babe! Mtlb Bhabhi, Veer to tumhe doodhta hua gaya hai..koi pandupi pahad pr....waise who are you (looking at morni)

M: Oh shut up! Chalo Bani.

Bani and Mayuri left back for the pahad. Arman trailed behind them as well. (He is a cheel)

......................

While this happened in Singhania Mansion, Veer has reached the pahad and was going through every cave he could find. 

Daksh sat on a branch, tired but scared of his brother's madness. He got a call from Tapish.

T: Vo number tumhare south me kahin active hai. Approach that direction.

Daksh and Veer moved in the direction and spot a cave. They entered it to find Shukla with two knives in his hand.

S: Kitna wait krwaya Jai...lagta hai adi naagin bhaa-

Shukla turned and froze. Shit!

Veer laughed like a maniac.

V: Surprise Surprise taklu!

S: Veer Baba, mai vo.

Veer looked around to see no sign of Bani. He noticed a trap and some blood near the floor along with a golden dupatta. He assumed the worst.

V: Tune kya kiya Bani ke sath Shukla?!

S: Kya? Baba...mujhe nahi pata...mai aya tb..

But Veer had had enough of these backstabbers. He quickly grabbed his throat.

V: Tujhe nahi pata?

S: Nahi pata ba-

V: To tu kissi kaam ka nahi hai.

Veer twisted his hands, ending Shukla's life and threw his limp body against the cave walls. He looked around for Bani. He broke what was remaining of the trap and thought of a million ways to end Jai's existence. He screamed.

V: Kahan ho Bani! I swear agar tumhe kuch hua na to poori duniya me aag laga dunga

B: ab poori duniya ko bachane to aana hi padega.

Veer turned to see Bani. In a second his was in front of her and hugged her tight. Daksh breathed in relief.

D: Thank God you are safe.

V: MINE! Do not speak with her.

M: Isse kya hua?

D: He thought she was seriously injured or worse- dead.

Bani was in awe of the man in front of her. To the world, he was strong cheel, a bad boy but to her, he was the sweetest.

Arman- Bani tum thi-

V: Kahan na don't talk to her. Koi pass nahi ayega Bani ke and koi baat nahi karega.

B: Veer mai thik hoon. Tum please relax karo.

V: I thought I lost you.

He took his cheel roop and straightened his wings. Then, he brought those wings around Bani, hiding her from the world.

M: Ye aise hi rahega kya?

D: Kuch time tk to haan

A: waise hua kya tha..

B: Mai batati hoon-

Veer tightened his hold on her as Bani tried to get out of his cocoon. He was breathing her sweet scent to calm himself down.

M: Relax V-

Mayuri stopped as Veer looked at her sharply.

M: Uh..mai batati hoon.

Mayuri narrated her tale on how Jai had cheated her and she realized that she was powerful enough. Her aim was to enjoy life and she was not really interested in power games. So, she decided to end Jai's pathetic games as a form of repentence.

B: Yes. She-

Flashback

Bani laid in the trap. The magical ropes slowly draining her when she heard some noise. Mayuri entered the cave.

M: Hey Bani!

B: tum? Tum zinda ho!

M: Off course! Tum Naagon ke koi school nahi hote kya? Ye bhi nahi pata ki hume vardaan milla hai. Koi samp hume nahi das skta.

B: Tumne ye sb kyu kiya. Veer thik hai na? Usse hath lagaya to dekh lena.

M: Tumhari problem kya hai? Humesha jhagde ke mood me rehti hoo.

Mayuri walked towards her and tried cutting off the trap. She cut her hand in the process and winced as blood started to ooze.

B: tum kya kr raho ho?

M: Kya dikh raha hai? Tumhari help!

B: Kyu?

M: Kyunki mai us Jai ko sabak sikhana chahti hoon....bloody loser.

Mayuri pratted off all his evil intentions to Bani.

Bani took her naagin room and came out of the trap through the space Mayuri managed to make. She tried to run but saw her dupatta had somehow stuck and unpinned it from her shoulder.

B: jaldi chalo, Veeranshu pareshan hoga..

M: Haan.

Flashback ends

B: Thanks Mayuri.

Mayuri smiled. Veer also gave her a slight nod. Appreciation clear in his eyes.

D: Us naag ka plan tha hi stupid. Itni gandh aa rahi thi. Bhool jata hai ki we can identify him.

M: Vo he has a spray to hide his scent. Maine badal diya tha isliye kaam nahi kara.

A: Kafi smart ho..

M: Whatever! (Mayuri rolled her eyes)

B: Ab chodo mujhe Veeranhu.

V: Never.

Veer lifted her in his arms and flew away.

D: (yelled after them): All the best Bani Bhabhi.

D: ab kuch dino tk bhai ko bear krna difficult hoga (laughs)

A: Chalo hum bhi chalte hai..

M: Okay bye guys

A: Tum nahi chalogi.

M: I have a life and now that I don't feel guilty for Singhanias, I am returning to my old life.

Mayuri left.

A: um!...Daksh sun tu jaa...mai aya.

Daksh shook his head and left for home as well.

...............

M: Bani! I have helped you right! So help me now. Is loser ko door rakho mujhse.

Arman trailed behind her. Bani was sitting in her room wearing a yellow saree when they both entered through the window. Veer sprung into action mode and got in front of Bani. His animal instincts taking over to protect his wife. She had been in danger today and he was on edge.

M: Veer! I won't harm her. Just get this pest off me.

A: Maine kya kiya?

M: Am I stupid? Mere peeche peeche ud rahe ko kabse.

B: Arman, tum jao yahan se. Mayuri aa gayi ho to thodi der ruk jao.. aaj diwali hai and abhi bs hum garden me jayenge patake chodne.

V: Mai to us naag ki poonch me rocket chalaunga.

B: veer!

V: Pr tum kahin mt jao gharwali.

B: Arey, Aaj diwali hai. Please na-

V: Accha but mujhe ek second bhi door nahi hona. Manzur ho to chalo.

After much debate, Bani lost and Veer practically attached her to his hip as he held her hand tight and walked down. Mayuri went after them.

P: Mayuri baby! I missed you. Tum nahi reh payi na mere bina.

M: Oh god! Ek ye kam tha, jo ab ye bhi-

A: Ponky! Mayuri baby?

P: Haan we are engaged #poyuri

M: We WERE engaged Ponky. Get off me you both.

A: Ha! She is fair game now!

B: Bs tum dono. Ponky, Mayuri aur apki engagement tut chuki hai, aap mahek pr dhyan dijiye and Arman, she is clearly not interested.

Mayuri flashed her a grateful smile and poured herself a drink. Ponky sat sulking in a corner and Bani video called Mahek to cheer him. Arman persisted behind an annoyed Mayuri.

V: Sbka socho tum siwaye mere Gharwali

B: Aisa kyu sochte ho tum.

V: Aur nahi to kya sochu?

B: Tum bhi important ho gharwale!

V: Hmmm (Veer hugged her)

Bani knew he was on edge and needed to feel her safe every few minutes. So, she let him.

They burst a few crackers then Veer took away a protesting Bani saying she should watch only from far. Veer's over protectiveness had tripled due to recent events and Bani sighed at her beast of a man.

M: Accha I will go now Bani.

B: Ruk jaati tum. Raat ho gayi hai.

M: No, I have plans to stay with Kinjal.

B: Okay, thanks..vo

M: We are not friends but awkward hone ki zarurat nahi hai...I like you Bani. Arguing with you was fun. Take care.

B: You too (smiles)

Mayuri left slowly so that nobody follows behind her.

A: Kahan gayi vo Morni (to bani-) Apne dekha use..

Mayuri hid behind the pillar near the exit while Bani pointed at the opposite direction. Mayuri flashed a quick smile and left.

V: Gharwali and baharwali ki aisi bonding. Should I worry?

B: You worry too much Veer.

V: Wherever you are concerned, I will always worry.

Bani smiled at her husband. Her crazy, over protective husband. Hers.

Xoxo,

Well I tried to roll two requests into one. A.) Mayuri in a friendly role, helping Bani & B.) An obsessive side of Veer. The second one was slightly difficult for me as I don't have much idea on psychotic love and find it hard to write. Hope I could portray it well.

Note: I thank all you people for your encouraging words and love. However, I have decided to end this short story collection here. I will try to update requests once in a while or make a separate book later but currently I have things planned in life that require attention and I am working on something else. I am also planning to work on a new plot that has to be a separate book due to its length. I might start publishing it mid-jan or end of this month.

Until then,

Loads of love and stay safe