I am back with the next installment. I just wrote and have not edited much. If you guys think that the pace of part 2 is different from part 1, let me know. My muse is very happy and she thanks you all for the cakes and ice cream.
Part 2
He started walking back to his room having completely forgotten why he came to his mom's room. He changed into sherwani and came out of the bathroom, cursing that he has to go to the bathroom to change today, as Gopi might come and go anytime. There he saw Gopi moving his files. It was not even a day he got his room back and Gopi is back again in his space. He lost control and thundered, 'What do you think you are doing? Have I not told you many times never to touch my stuff? It is not even settled that you will stay in this room and you already started going through my stuff. Get ready to move out. I am talking to mom and moving you to another room. Dont even think that I brought you here to live with you. My Nani refused to eat without seeing you and so I brought you. So dont even bother to unpack. It will save you the trouble of packing when she leaves." He saw that Gopi was looking terrified and could not even breathe properly. He felt a tiny pinch in his heart. Involuntarily he took a step closer to her and she jerked back in fear.
Right then, his mom entered the room and started asking "Aham! why are you shouting? what happened now?". He said "Mom! she is staying here in my room. I am just putting her in her place. May be you should ask her to leave." His mom replied, "No Aham. She will stay here and this is her place." "Ok mom! Let me move back to guest room then." His mom gave him a look as if he was a moron. She asked, "Do you want Maa to know that you and Gopi are not together? Is that why you brought Gopi back here? What is your problem Aham?". He replied, "Mom, she just came back today and she is already going through my things. Ask her not to touch them." He felt that it sounded like a whine and badly wanted his mom to scold Gopi. Then it happened! His mother said, "Aham! I told her to clean the room as you had made a mess of it in one day. How will she clean without putting things in their place?" His mother? His own mother? Is that a pun? Is she taking a dig at him? What is happening to him?
Just then his Nani made an entry and started scolding his mom to leave the room and give some privacy to him and Gopi. Aham almost snorted and thought "Privacy! my foot! I would happily go to jail than have privacy with this stupid girl. Goodness! she still looks terrified. What did I say? How on earth Mom thought that she would suit me? Just because she cooks well and looks good doesn't mean that I should love her. Oh! no! don't go there! who cares how she looks? This is Gopi, remember!" Luckily he was brought out of such dangerous thoughts by his Nani when he heard her say, 'Aham! did you fight with your wife? Why are you looking sulky and why does she look sad and terrified? Is that why she went to her mother's? What is going on? Whatever be the problem, you should sort it out immediately. I really want to see her smile and talk. Why does she not talk? Are you scaring her? Be nice, my dear boy!". Aham felt like he was again a school boy scolded by his teacher. He thought "Seriously! how did Gopi manage this in less than a day? What is going on? She puts on such pitiable faces and everybody thinks that I am a monster. First my family, then my mom and now my Nani! All these people who used to think that I hung the moon now treat me as a Rakshas? They say that she is a simple girl! Yeah right! simple indeed. Great! now I am rambling and I really need to take control!" His Nani was continuing, "If you keep fighting how will I see my great grand children?" Aham's jaw dropped and he was stunned. He saw that his mother was looking smug and Gopi - 'what is this? Why is she looking sad? Great!' he thought. 'Now the water works starts. No! She is giving me that wounded look! Wow! this girl is good! Now Nani is going to scold me more!". He heard his Nani telling his mother, "Koki! come! lets go! let the children settle the fight among themselves." His mom replied "yes Maa! I am coming in a min. I need to say something to Gopi." She then gave him a look and said "Aham! behave! I don't want to hurt my mother's feelings." and left.
Aham felt like he had survived a cyclone. He saw that Gopi had that same confused hurt look and was about to leave. He scolded her ,"Now why are you leaving? You want Nani to scold me again. Save your tricks for another day. Stay back for few min! Oh God! I am hungry and tired and over and above I had to survive this melodrama! Great grand children indeed! Not in this life time!" Gopi silently put a tray of samosas and a glass of water in front of him. She said "Ji, that is, Maniben will be bringing hot tea shortly." and then hesitated. "What now?", Aham asked her. "Can I put these files on the study table? Ji!.. please eat your samosas!". Aham just gave up and nodded his head and started eating the samosas. Those samosas were heavenly and he felt that his own stomach had become a traitor. Just then Mani entered with a nice smelling tea and he drank it without realising it was not green tea. He just thought that masala tea went wonderfully with the samosa. Gopi saw his cup and said, "Oh Maniben didnt bring you green tea? Please forgive. I will bring it right away!". Aham was super annoyed and turned to glare and shout at her. But then Gopi had left already. He just wanted to smash something in the room and then realised with his luck that day, he will get another round of scolding for that too and left the idea. Instead, he just grunted and decided to work. He opened the laptop and opened the agreement to go over it once more though he had done that many times that day. Then he remembered how Kaka was subtly second guessing him in the afternoon too. He felt that today was not a good day for him and wanted it to be tomorrow already. He was aimlessly browsing and catching up with news for sometime and drank the d**n green tea Mani brought. He heard Jigar calling him for dinner and saw him enter. "What Bhai? Not coming for dinner. Don't worry! I have inside information that Bhabi and not Rashi is making dinner today. BTW, did you get anything for Valentine's day? Rashi gave me a bracelet." Aham glared at him and thought "yes! your wife got you bracelet and my wife got me scoldings from both Mom and Nani." His jaw tightened and went with Jigar for dinner.
At dinner, he found that his entire family (Gopi and Rashi do not matter) had turned against him and were teasing and taunting him openly or slyly. For each and every dish he picked, they were all smirking and Jigar was chuckling shamelessly. His mom, who always put Jigar in his place, just kept her mouth shut and even was encouraging him with a smug smile. And Gopi! She was having the same innocent look. how does she get it right always? May be, he thought, he should learn that from her before she leaves. Ok! first things first, he should ask Mani to learn the recipes from Gopi and never allow Rashi to cook his meals once Gopi leaves. He then heard Nani say that, "Gopi, you too eat and go to bed early. You have just returned home and dont let Aham wait for you too long. Koyli, you do some of Gopi's work with Rani here." Aham saw his mom grimace and Rashi almost groaning. He thought, Rashi, doing work? what a joke? If not for Gopi, how can she manage? Again Gopi! He actually shook his head and cleared the thoughts. He saw that Gopi was looking down so that nobody can see what she thought. But he could clearly read the signs of defeat in her shoulders. He felt that he could not be there any longer and got up telling that he had some work to finish. His Kaka asked him, "What work aham? I thought I cleared the agreement. Are you still editing it?" The table went silent and Aham felt his face burning with shame. His Kaka had never questioned him in business and now he is doing it in front of the family. He saw his mother and she had her head down. He replied that "No Kaka, I am planning to balance my personal account which I haven't because of the wedding" and left. When he crossed Gopi, he saw her giving him a concerned look. He could not take her concern and glared at her and she promptly lowered her eyes.
When he came back to the room, he felt awful. He thought that the world as he knew was cracking around him. He really needed to rally back and set it right. His Mom's and Kaka's behaviour that day left a bad taste in him. He could understand his mother as she was the one who chose Gopi for him. But his Kaka? His Kaka, who more than his father, had always supported and praised him and even let him make all the decisions in business. Now the same Kaka is questioning him in front of everybody including Gopi. He thought that somehow Gopi had turned his Kaka against him. He felt very tired and agitated. He was not sure what he wanted. He groaned and rested his head on his hands on the study table.
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This is it for today. Is Aham's world around him changing? Will he adjust to the changing world or change the world to suit himself? I have put these questions to my muse. Hopefully she will come up with answers soon. In the meantime, please keep my muse happy.
these are a little bribe for your muse! Tell her that there is more where that came from! 😉
Hui Ghum Yaadein
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
