Here comes Part 9. I could not upload yesterday because our router at home decided to go on strike. Enjoy the fruits of my horrible conference. My muse is back on eating terms and welcomes all types of treats.
Part 9
The following weekend and the entire week, Aham was very busy as he had too many meetings and deadlines. He did not anytime to spare for his confusions. He had told his secretary to find about adult education materials and details on some diploma courses. On Saturday, he left for home before lunch, as usual. After lunch, he went to his parents' room and gave the study materials and details to his father. "Papa, my secretary found these books and the details. I dont know if you already have these books and so I decided to buy them. It looks like Gopi can directly sit for secondary exam without any schooling. Then, she can do a diploma or degree in open university. I got the syallbi and the starting books. Once you think she is ready, I will bring the books and material to prepare for the exam. She can either go to a tutorial college or have a home tutor, if you feel so." Papa looked surprised and pleased at him. He said, "Aham Dikra! I really enjoy teaching Gopi. She is such a good student and is very enthusiastic. You know! she practically taught herself to read simple words in Gujarathi.** I wrote down some simple songs she knows already and composed a few poems. She has picked up very fast. I love teaching her. Poor girl! She has never had anybody take such interest in her. She told me the other day that she thinks of me as her father and I am very touched." Aham was upset again and with a stiff nod, he was about to leave. Then his father asked him, "Why Aham? Are you unhappy with me for teaching Gopi? I thought you were okay with that and you even brought some books. So what is the problem?" Aham was about to go out telling "nothing Papa" and then remembered his resolution the other day. He told sadly, "I am not unhappy with you teaching Gopi. But I am jealous of Gopi that she got you to teach her and support when you never even cared what class I was studying. I am reminded of all those days where you were not there for me. You had time for Kinjal but never for me" His father looked stunned and was tearing up. He got up and took hold of Aham's hands and said 'Aham! Dikra! I did not know that you felt so. I always thought that you did not want anything to do with me. Ok! not always. When you were young, I gave in to your mother and left your education to her. But later, I saw that you were mostly going to Mota Bhai and so decided not to interfere. How could I not care for you? You are my first born and I am very proud of whatever you have achieved till now. Whatever I am doing for Gopi, it is partially for you too." After looking at Aham for a moment, he put his hand on Aham's shoulders and hugged him. Aham, first went stiff and then relaxed and leaned on his father.
Both were emotional and his father quipped, "You have grown taller since the last time I hugged you." Aham smiled and moved to sit. "Aham! I am very sorry that we both lost so much time. But, it is not too late. We can always talk to each other and you can come to me with anything. I am not good at business or making money. But I can always listen to you. I can also share with you my interests." "Oh Papa! finally you caught me and now I have to listen to your poems." They both chuckled and Aham was feeling quite happy and proud.
He went to his room to get his files and in his bag was the envelope that he was hesitating to open for the past few days. That was the report on Anita's whereabouts. In the last few days, he was not sure if he wanted to read that report. In his usual manner, he did not want to deal with this. But, Anita is not Gopi and he cannot use his Mom as his mouth piece. But then he did not want to lose his good mood after his chat with his Papa and decided to read it after a few days when he has decided about Gopi.
On the table, he saw Gopi's notes. He opened out of curiosity and saw that in a few attempts, she has picked up basic writing and was doing well in maths too. Her English handwriting was a bit bad and he found that was because, she was using some bad techniques. The problem-solver inside him overtook his instincts to avoid anything about Gopi. "I should tell Papa to teach her the basic techniques and then she can practice." He was thinking about how long will it take for her to sit for her exams and how she will perform. She should not have much problems with languages but it might take her some time to learn 10 years worth mathematics and science in a short time. He decided to find about private coaching for the exams. He would hire a few of them to coach her. It might also be good that she goes to a centre and studies with others. That way, she will learn to overcome her shyness. She is too timid and shy. She cannot even manage one day alone, if she remains like this. This thought brought his attention to his Mom's questions. He thought that he had almost solved her problem that day and only had to work out the details. Now his mother is raising these issues. After hearing her arguments, he cannot allow Gopi to stay alone and even if he arranges something, he is not sure that the Mami lady will not exploit her there too. 'I don't know how Kinjal is managing with that lady. Why did Kinjal have to do all those things and get into an unwanted marriage with somebody like Dhawal? Both of us have unwanted marriages in our fate. What will happen to her? Will her marriage also end like mine?' Will her husband also leave her like ..'
Then it struck him! 'Oh my God! Oh my God! How did my life come to this? That I am thinking of sending my wife out of my home? Why did Mom have to get me married to this stupid Gopi? Only after that everything spiraled out in our family. And Kinjal! how she lied and made us all and particularly, Mom suffer? If Dhawal thinks that he cannot live with Kinjal, will he also send her out? Nah! Our family, for that matter, I personally, will make sure that Dhawal does not do so. OK! Suppose, if, and it is a big IF, Gopi's has some relatives who insist that I should live with her, what will I do? Will it be easy for me to ditch Gopi if her father was alive or if she had a brother? Then, they might have educated her too. There is no point in thinking about these ifs. Kinjal's and Gopi's are different cases. In Kinjal's case, Dhawal married her knowing everything. So he cannot leave my sister! Gopi! Gopi is uneducated and she did not reveal that to me and even lied about that later. What about the Rs. 5 Lakh jewel she bought without my knowledge? My laptop? What about upsetting Mom on one of the fasting days? And her acting nice to everyone?
Even as he was trying to justify his stand, he realised that all the things that he listed about Gopi sounded frivolous compared to what Kinjal did. 'To be very honest, Mom told me that she knew about Gopi's lack of education. And Gopi is liked so much by the family that they are all taking her side over mine. Laptop? Actually, now that I have a back up, it is just a joke. Most likely, as she told that day Rashi might have given that suggestion to Gopi. This necklace business - why am I upset? Five Lakhs is a small amount to me and I can afford that much for my wife. Or is it because she ordered on her own and lied about it? But, did I bother to check if she ordered it? How do I find if she ordered it or not? But, what if she did not order it? Then, I am punishing her for no fault of hers. And, I hit her too! What have I become? Am I just clinging on to her perceived faults to have her out of my life? It is one thing that I do not love her. But, is it not bad on my part to blame her without any basis? And, what if she ordered the necklace? Looks like she has never had anything nice. So she might have got tempted. Can I not forgive her? Even if Gopi lied, was her lie bigger than Kinjal's? Dhawal was ready to marry Kinjal after knowing that she loved somebody else and was pregnant with his baby? It looks like they are doing okay. If I was in the same situation, would I have done the same thing as Dhawal? Most likely, I would not have. What is the point in thinking of these hypothetical situations?
Let me focus on the present. I guess, I need to find out the truth about the necklace at least to close this file. How do I go about that? Gopi said that she was told that I sent her the necklace. If she did not order, who would have? It cannot be Mom, Kaki or Baa. Either Rashi or Kinjal. Most likely Rashi. But how could she have known the jeweller we usually buy from? Could it be Kinjal? Why would she do that? To make me angry and throw Gopi out? After all the things she has done, I wouldn't put it past her. But why? Was she told to do so by Umang? Yes! That could be it! Kinjal! Kinjal! how could she do all these things? For Umang's sake? Could love make one do these stupidities? Why did not I do so for my love? Why did I not choose Anita over Mom? Kinjal chose Umang over her family? Is this love or obsession? I don't know. So did I love Anita or was she there to fill some gap? I really need to apologise to her. But not now. Later. After I read the file. Let me first sort this necklace matter. If Kinjal had bought it, how can I confirm it? If I ask, will she tell the truth? What will Dhawal feel? If he comes to know, will he not hate Kinjal? Will I be putting her life in trouble? What a mess? Without any facts, I already punished Gopi. Will Dhawal punish Kinjal for deliberately putting Gopi's life in trouble? Gopi even calls him Bhai. Is he close enough to Gopi to take her side? I don't know. I once made a judgment without knowing everything. I should not repeat it. I will talk to Gopi and see if I can get some clues.'
He heard his Nani enter the room and got up. His Mom too followed her looking slightly worried. Nani told him, "Aham I am very happy to see you like this. When I arrived, I thought that you and your wife were not very happy. Both of you always were upset. But now, for the past one week, I see that you look peaceful and your wife even looks happier. I am pleased that you both have made up now. I can now hope for a great grandchild." Aham was shocked and could not comprehend what was going on. His Mom said, 'Ok Maa! leave them be. Everything will happen in its own time." Nani replied, "Koyli! I am telling you! These quiet ones are always deceptive. Something tells me that we will have something to celebrate soon enough." Aham's jaws dropped literally and he thought 'What the heck? What is she up to now? All my confusions till now are because of her and now she drops another bomb. Hopefully, she wont announce that she will not leave until she sees our baby. God! please don't punish me like this!'. His Mom smirked at him and took Nani away. 'This Nani is a walking-talking-disaster. I should be more careful. At least she saved me from my depressing thoughts.'
He again went back to Gopi's notebook and she entered. Gopi came to the table and hesitated. He looked up at her and she said, 'Ji! My notebook was here and...'. She saw it in his hand and stopped. Aham gave it to her. She said, 'I'm sorry! Did I disturb your files? I thought that I had kept in this corner as you told.' He told her, 'No! It was where you had kept it. I just happened to see it. That's all.' She took the notebook and some book and went to the coffee table to study. He wanted to ask her about the necklace and saw her doing her studies with full focus and enthusiasm. He did not want to disturb her. He was surprised that she was very optimistic and had not turned cynical at all after all the things she has gone through. Though it is borderline stupidity to naively believe in the best of everybody, he also realised that it not easier to hold to optimism when there is so little hope. May be her strong faith in God helps her to get this strength. She looked up, saw him looking at her, blushed and looked down. At that moment, he thought that having a daughter like Gopi was not a bad idea at all. He was taken aback by this wayward thought and was quite happy that minds cannot be read so easily else his Nani would simply order him to just do it!
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R&R as usual. Let me know the flaws/errors.
Edited by br2499 - 15 years ago
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