Part 6 is here. It is slightly long. Thanks for all the treats to my muse. Thanks for all the comments. I will be busy this week and will respond to the comments as and when I get some time to do so. Simran and Jake - thanks for the Sadya! Eva - thanks for the chocolate fudge. Madz - thanks for noticing.
My dear muse is very happy and pushing me to write faster. But Aham's mind is swirling with confusions and doubts that it is a bit difficult for me to comprehend. I am trying my best here. I am not very happy with this part and the logic is a bit shaky. So please be kind!
Part 6
When Aham got up in the morning, his doubts and guilt were still haunting him. He went to office early and Jigar was dropping Kinjal and others before coming to office. In the office, he was very distracted and was making some stupid mistakes. During lunch, Kaka called him to his office and asked him why he was distracted today. He told, "Aham! What is going on? What is troubling you? Are you not well? I have never seen you do such mistakes. Do you find the new project too much for you? Is this about Gopi? You wanted her out of the house and we allowed it. I thought you were planning send her out once your Nani leaves. Isn't that so? So what is the problem? You got what you wanted. May be that is the problem. We have always allowed you to do what you wanted and never questioned you. Should I start it now? I hope you realise that the mistake you were about to make today would have cost us two good employees. It one thing if we lost money but it is totally serious if we lose our loyal employees. You know that they mean more to us. I am happy that it was not too late and we could stop it. So Aham, get your grip".
Aham felt terrible that Kaka had to give this advice to him. This generally only happened to Jigar who was not very responsible. "Kaka! Can I take the afternoon off?" Kaka asked him "Are you not well? Going home?" "No Kaka! I want to think! I will be back home as usual. I am taking the car." He got in the car and did not know where to go. He was very disturbed and too many thoughts were criss-crossing his mind. He did not the like the feeling of helplessness. He saw a park on the way and went inside. He sat on one of the comfortable benches in the shade and thought about the changes in his life. He felt that all the changes and unpleasantness started after he met Gopi. Before that he was very happy as the heir to Modi Industries and the eldest son in the family. He could do nothing wrong. His Kaka often praised him and put down his own son. His mother took care of everything at home and made sure that he got everything he wanted. In fact, because of this he thought that his family will allow him to choose his bride. It was a shock when his Mom decided otherwise. He had never said no to his Mom and so sacrificed his love. What did he get for his sacrifice? Gopi - an unsophisticated illiterate girl. What did she do? Just a few days after marriage she ordered a necklace for Rs. 5 Lakh and pretended as if she didn't have a clue of it! Why? She even brought in her Mami into his famiy. She deserved to be thrown out of the house. What he did not understand was how his mother, for that matter his entire family, believe her? They take the side of somebody they know for six months over him, their son and heir. Only person who supported him was Kinjal. But then she got lost in her own problems. Does he matter so little to the others? His Papa never had shown any interest in him and for a long time they each just knew the existence of the other. Kaki and Baa treated him just as they treated Jigar and Kinjal. And Jigar? They both were very close and Jigar used to worship the ground he walked. The games they used to play when they were young! All that changed recently. He felt that they both have been slowly moving apart from the time he went abroad. By the time he came back, Jigar left. Then Aham joined business and the differences became glaring. Jigar was still nice to him but their closeness started waning down. Why was that? Was that because of Jigar's insecurities and inadequacies? But then, Jigar is not a responsible guy. He needs to change. 'And I', Aham thought, 'have always been responsible and worked hard to expand Modi Industries. I do not fool around. I am definitely better. So, what changed now? Does Jigar too think that I am not a nice person? Why does he not joke around with me anymore? Does he think that I just think only of business and have no feelings? Does everybody thing so? Is that why they are moving away from me? Is that why they think that I could be as callous as that woman? Am I not fun anymore? Do I want to to be fun? I do miss laughing with Jigar and Kinjal? But, does one not leave laughing and playing behind when one grows up? Oh God! please help me! Have I ruined my relationship with my family? Am I wrong? Have I hurt my family in the process of growing up? Is this what growing up is? Dear Lord! why cant we be kids? Why was I in a hurry to grow up? To be like this? To be compared to that mad Mami? What should I do now? Will I get back my family? What about Gopi? I do not love her. Do I not have a right to be with somebody I love? What about Kinjal? She does not love her husband. What can I do for her? I, being the oldest, am responsible for Jigar and Kinjal. Did I do my duty towards them? Did I ever care if they are happy? So, may be this is a place to start. Let me try to repair my relationship with Jigar and Kinjal and the rest of the family. That is the most important thing for me now."
When he made up his mind like this, he knew that was ignoring the elephant in the room. The issue that had brought about all these reflections. He could not still digest the fact that he had an illiterate wife but he didn't want to make any decision in this confused state. He wanted to be more calm and collected before he worked out what he wanted to do with her. He first wanted to sort out his family! He wanted to know why they like Gopi! Do they support her because they don't want a divorce in the family or is there any other reason? He has to clear this. And what did he hear about Urmila using Gopi as a servant? Is that what will happen? He did not like a bit that Gopi will be serving that vile woman. Oh! is he softening towards Gopi? No! no! not possible. He just did not want anybody pointing fingers at him that he divorced his wife but did not provide for her. So he has that matter to sort out. He has to find out what will happen to Gopi when she leaves their home and he has to find out how her Mami will treat her. Only then he can come up with a plan. But what about the plans his parents are hatching? Anyway, he has time till Nani is around. First things first! he has to work things out with Jigar and then Kinjal. He thought that Jigar was the easiest. So he will go home, talk to Jigar and take it from there. He has to find out more about Gopi. How are things with her and her Mami? He needs to get hold of someone to give him the information. May be her Mama? But then what will he disclose about his wife? Rashi is a no no! Oh yes! he got it! he will talk to Panna! He will go to her school and try to fish out details from her. He felt a bit cheap getting information from a child but desperate times call for desperate measures and he has to act before Nani leaves. He should also try with his Mom. She surely will know something. But the trouble is that she might get her hopes high. So he will keep his eyes open to get as much information as possible about Gopi.
With that, he left for home. He was feeling a little calmer than in the morning. He now had a purpose and a plan, though different from what he wanted yesterday. He was a bit earlier than usual and when he went in, he saw that Mani was moving hurriedly to the back yard and Gopi and Papa following her. Gopi again had that happy look and Papa was looking at her proudly and was again carrying books. His jealousy returned again. His Papa somehow seemed to have time for Gopi and they have something in common. He and his father nowadays struggled to keep a conversation going between them and Gopi is in all ease with him. If anybody sees the three of them, they will think that Aham is his son-in-law rather than son. Ahhh! too many problems to solve. One sight of Gopi and he is suffocated by problems. "Ok! Aham! you are a good strategist! It is better to go after one problem at a time. Let me first freshen up and eat something. Then I will talk to Jigar. Gopi can wait." When he thought, he almost snorted thinking, what else she does? just waiting on others. She is not even bold and always hides behind some chore or other.
He changed, came down and went through the usual motions of taking tea from Gopi and his Nani's comments on their love. Doesn't Nani ever get tired of talking these meaningless things? Jigar had returned by then and had come down for tea. He told Jigar that he wanted to talk to him and will wait in the study. Jigar came up with the recruitment files and started talking about the candidates. He looked a bit worried. Aham actually felt ashamed that he talked to him more like a manager than an brother. He told " Jigar! may be from now we should leave business matters to office and not bring them home." "Oh! then what did you want to talk? Is there some problem? with Kinjal? Or did I forget some ritual we have to do for Kinjal?" Aham was at loss. He didn't know what to say. He thought that it is just enough to show his willingness to talk to Jigar and Jigar will be too happy to talk to him. "Here I thought Jigar would be easiest. If I can't have an easy conversation with him, what will I do with the rest?" He raked through his brain for ideas and the stuff they used to do together. He was struck by an idea. "Jigar are you free tonight?" "I don't know Bhai! I wanted to get some work done!" "Oh! is that with the recruitment? I thought that we could go for a movie tonight! May be we both can work together and watch a movie later?" Jigar looked at Aham like he had grown two heads. He did not talk for few moments. Then he asked, "Is this a trick question Bhai? To know if I am serious about the work?" Aham replied, 'Oh no! not at all! I really want to go for a movie with you. Do you think I will trick you?" Aham could not hold back the small amount of hurt in his voice. Jigar looked at him in caution, "No Bhai! I was worried that I was not doing my job properly and you decided to test me." He too was not comfortable with the situation. Aham almost thought that this is a futile effort. He was thinking of what to do next. Then Jigar just added, "Ok Bhai! if you really want to, I could use some help. It is a bit difficult for me to reject the candidates. Then we can go for the last show. Should I call the theater manager to book some seats? Are we taking Rashi and Bhabi too?" Aham thought 'Oh god! why would I take Gopi for a movie? I want to spend some time with my brother and he is pushing Gopi at me!' Aham said aloud, 'No Jigar! I thought that we both should spend some time together like we used to do in college.' Jigar brightened and said "Oh! that would be really great! Come! let me make the call to the theatre and we can finish the work. I am so happy you thought of it Bhai". When he left, Aham thought, "Jigar always has very simple expectations. Is that what keeps him happy always? He seem to please and be pleased with people easily. May be I should talk to him later, how to go about this Gopi business. He might have an idea to make it possible without anybody getting hurt. But will he support me or support Gopi? We will see about that. Remember! One task at a time."
Later they managed to sort through all the resumes. Jigar had made good progress and he was just a bit unsure of his decisions. They actually finalised the candidates to be interviewed and had dinner. They announced that they both were going for a movie and the whole family looked shocked. Aham was suddenly worried that Nani will push him to take Gopi with him. Thankfully, Baa commented that "So you guys are going back to your college days! Remember that you are married men and don't do the same antics you used to do." Jigar laughed and Aham smiled. Without staying back to see the reactions of others, Aham left the room and they both left for the movie. After the initial hesitation, they almost caught up with their old camaraderie and had a good time. Aham felt very positive and hopeful, particularly after the last few days. He also felt a little bad that he belittled Jigar in the past. "Jigar is very good to me. Had it been the other way around, I would not have forgiven so easily. I would still have been very cautious and even tried to get back at him. I really have underestimated him. Thank God! it is not too late."
After many days, Aham felt happier and hopeful. He felt confident that he can resolve all the problems in his life. Before going to sleep, he opened the diary to jot down his resolutions and thoughts. And, out fell the photo - the one with Anita! "Oh God! Anita! What should I do about her?"
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Ok my dear friends! you know what to do now. Read and Review. I beseech you to mention the flaws/errors. A critique would help me do a better job. The next update will be only after Thursday night.
Edited by br2499 - 15 years ago
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