The third part is here. It was difficult for me to use the vocabulary of a businessman. I have tried very hard to keep it reasonably neutral. If anybody can give me the usual terms used by a businessman, I will be very thankful and direct some of the bribes to my muse to them. Dont blame me for the length of the updates! This guy, I am telling you, thinks too much.
Part 3
He heard some shuffling sound and jingle of some bangles and realised that he had slept on his hands the study table. He was confused and disoriented and looked around to get his bearings. He was feeling stiff and very thirsty. The time was around 1 in the night. He heard the jingles again and looked for the source. He saw Gopi sitting on the cushioned chair and a flask was in front of her. He opened his mouth to ask her what she was doing there and but stopped after he realised that she was fast asleep. The room was lit only by a small table lamp. Something in her face compelled him to look at her. She was looking different from what she looks in the day. There we no jewels and only sindoor and her mangalsutra. She looked very innocent and young like a school girl and also very tired. In the simple green (or is it blue) saree, she looked like she was dressed for a fancy dress competition. What affected him most was the sadness in her face even in sleep. He felt oddly protective about her and got up to go close. She suddenly woke up from the sound of the chair moving and looked around the room. She realised where she was and her eyes flew to him. In those few moments, he saw too many emotions flashing on her face and was captivated by it. He could not move his eyes away from her. She was the first to react and stammered in her own pleasant way "Ji woh.." He thought it was cute. Cute! Pleasant! When did he ever think her as cute or pleasant? Was she not a pest? What is this new urge to protect her? Oh no! her tentacles are reaching him too! He saw her open the flask and pour a glass of milk and offer him. Then he realised that she was talking to him asking if he wanted milk. He was very thirsty and took the milk and drank it. She took the glass back and went to wash in the bathroom.
He started worrying if she would want to sleep on the bed. He wanted to tell her to sleep on the floor to show her that he is the one in control. Somehow, he also did not want to see her defeated face again. Unable to decide, he went into the bathroom once she came out and when he came back after few min, he saw that she was already lying on the floor with a pillow and blanket and had her eyes closed. Again her sad face disturbed him. He was not sure if he was upset or relieved that she took the decision out of his hands. His tiredness took over and he slept.
When he got up in the morning, it was almost 7.30 and saw that Gopi had already left the room. But for the smell of he generic soap and few stuff in the bathroom, he could not detect her presence in the room. He got ready and checked his messenger bag if he had everything ready for office. He feeling very anxious as to how his Kaka will treat him today. Will Kaka continue to monitor him or will they go back to the old routine? He saw Kaka and Papa going down to the mandir and followed them. He saw Papa telling something to Gopi and her face brightening. She nodded her head vigorously and Mom was looking at her proudly. He was surprised as to what was happening and wondered if this was another scheme to make her stay permanently. His Mom asked Gopi to do the pooja and looked at him. He remembered his Mom's words about Nani and struggled to keep his face normal. He didnt want his Nani to detect anything odd and get scolded again. He did aarti with Gopi and observed that she was also trying to look normal. He thought "Well! one chore done. If only I can have some breakfast in peace and leave for office!". The breakfast was uneventful and he saw that Kaki was trying to get Nani's attention on anything other than Gopi and him. He was wondering her reasons but then decided to be thankful and focus on business. When he came out of the dining room to go to office, he saw that Gopi was standing near his laptop bag with an uncertain look on her face. His anger rose and when he was about to scold her, his mother said, "Gopi, bring Aham his laptop bag. He is getting late." Gopi looked at him and he nodded at her. She brought the bag to the entrance and gave it to him. He took it with thanks and left for office. He felt that there was some excitement in Gopi's face and was it because he nodded at her? This girl! When will she learn?. Kaka then started talking about the agreement today and the related recruitment and ads. He suggested that Aham should give the responsibility to Jigar and just supervise him. Jigar looked pleased and Aham was slightly worried if it was to sideline him. Actually, this was a good plan as Aham was already swamped with getting a bigger contract which will take their business to a next level and he had too much work pending because of the time off during Kinjal's wedding. Aham decided to push this aside and think about his immediate worries.
The agreement was signed and he had made arrangements to travel to Mumbai in two months time to meet with clients regarding the next contract. The outlook was positive and he was hopeful that he will actually sign the agreement during that trip. He also enjoyed the lunch and Kaka and Jigar did not tease him during lunch. He was pleasantly surprised by Jigar. Jigar had a positive approach and was more comfortable with people than files. He just had too many scruples and needed to learn how to say a firm no and then will be very good at HR. Aham told this to Kaka and they both decided that Jigar should be given more responsibilities with less overt supervision. He felt that Kaka was acting as usual and decided that yesterday was just an isolated incident. All in all he had a good day at work and they left together for home. For a change, Jigar was taking work back home and he was relaxed.
When he entered the house he heard his Mom's voice, "Gopi! they are all back. You can continue tomorrow." He saw Gopi coming from the back yard. Gopi was looking very happy and excited. When she saw him, her expressions changed to fear and apprehension. He again felt a pinch in his heart. He saw Papa following her from backyard with some books. He thought, yes! only people like Papa and Gopi will waste time in stuff like poems, mythology and stories. He imagined his father reading his latest poem to Gopi and Gopi saying wah wah to him. He went up to change. Though he wanted to dismiss Papa and Gopi, he was worried that somehow his Mom was involved in this scheme. He knew that his Mom never had any time for Papa's poems and interests. He remembered his Mom's proud look, almost similar to what she has when Kaka praises him. He also remembered what he heard when he entered the house. He could not fit the pieces of the puzzle together and did not like the helpless feeling that nagged him. As he came out of the bathroom, he saw Mani leaving after bringing snacks and tea for him. He called her, "Mani! can you take this green tea and bring me masala chai like yesterday?". Mani's face showed surprise for a moment and went back to usual sedate expression. She nodded and left. He called her again and told her "I will be in the drawing room! Bring my tea there." He thought that he will talk to Papa to figure out what was going on. He was sure that with her current attitude, Mom would never divulge anything to him. He found his father reading some book and taking some notes. He was intrigued because he generally has seen his father with a diary looking at some distance and every now and then writing some lines. He went close to him and tried to get a peek at the book. His father closed it before he could peek and gave him a complacent smile. Ha! something is definitely wrong. Papa was always in search of somebody to listen to him and generally, it is others who run away from him. He was determined that his parents are scheming up something to permanently tie Gopi to him. Over his dead body! he thought. He heard Gopi from his back "Papa! did you check this? This was left in the backyard. Please tell me ...". He saw that his father was vigorously shaking his head at Gopi and turned back to see Gopi hurriedly hiding something behind her back. Oh God! something is definitely wrong. Is the entire family conspiring against him with Gopi? He opened his mouth to ask what was going on. He heard his Nani telling, 'Aham! you are back? How was your day? Gopi did you give something for Aham to eat?". Aham thought, this Nani and her timing. How does she know to enter at all the right (wrong) moments? Ha! He got the wonderful aroma of masala chai and saw a cup in front of his eyes. He followed it to see Gopi holding the cup. Though she was looking at him, her eyes were only cautious and did not have the wonder he used to see earlier. Nani was telling "Aham! your wife makes the most wonderful chai! I am happy that you stopped your green tea nonsense and started drinking her tea!". Oh God! Can a man not drink tea of his choice without bringing this wife business? Why could not Nani have a longer pilgrimage? Is there any deficit of temples in India? Why did she have to come back so soon? He started walking away from Nani and saw Gopi's face was full of excitement. For taking a cup of chai? Does she have such low expectations? Really? She seems to be too easy to please. He could not hear what his father was telling but saw that he was encouraging Gopi for something and she looking at him with full concentration. He could never remember his father ever talking to him like that. He looked at them with something like longing.
At that moment, he was jealous of Gopi. He hated her for easily getting acceptance from everybody just with her innocent looks. He decided that he has to start acting on getting Gopi out of his house and get his life back. He was not sure what he would do but was determined that he will surely get what he wanted. He will have a perfect plan and not depend on his Mom. He will wait till Nani leaves and pounce on the first available opportunity to send her back. This time he is going to win and he will definitely see the last of Gopi.
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This is what I could gather from Aham's mind today and as usual I have questions. Is there a nefarious scheme? Can Aham win over the schemers? Will he want to win? And why is he jealous? Answers when I get a peek next time. What are your questions? Let me know. Next time when I get a glimpse, I will try to look for answers to yours too. Do I have to remind you all to bribe my muse? 😆
Edited by br2499 - 15 years ago
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