FF: Aham Modi Falls in Love Pt20 pg 62-complete - Page 22

Originally posted by: br2499

I have started with a quote which is self-explantory.

Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot. -By Order of the Author

-- Mark Twain (Tom Sawyer).

"My object then," replied Darcy, "was to show you, by every civility in my power, that I was not so mean as to resent the past; and I hoped to obtain your forgiveness, to lessen your ill opinion, by letting you see that your reproofs had been attended to." Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Part 13

When they were close to home, Aham told Gopi that he wants to announce to the family about their decision. He will come clean with Nani too. But Gopi looked thoughtfully and said, "No Ahamji! Not to Naniji! She might be upset that we all, and particularly Maaji, lied to her. If you still want to tell her, please check with Maaji!"

"Ok! I will talk to Mom."

When Aham and Gopi entered Modi Bhavan, it was close to 6 and everybody was at the drawing room including Baa and Nani. Even Kaka and Jigar had come back from office. His Mom was looking at them with worry and Aham smiled at her. She looked even more worried and Aham was surprised. "Why is she worried? I thought she will be happy with my decision. Oh! but she doesnt know what we have decided." Aham took Gopi's hand and when she looked up, smiled at her. Gopi gave him a shy smile back. His Mom did not look convinced. He could see everybody other than Nani were looking at him and Gopi with anxiety. Nani asked, "So Aham! Did you take her some place nice? Aham's wife! I can see that he missed you a lot yesterday from the way he is holding your hands. Where did he take you? If you are not happy with where you went, let me know. I will make sure that he takes you wherever you want." Gopi blushed prettily and said, "Yes Naniji! He bought me ice cream and then took me to the park. We got ice cream for all of us." Aham saw his Nani's smile and Baa's surprise. He could also see that his Mom and Kaki were burning with curiosity. Mom finally said, "Come Gopi! Let us keep it inside. Bhabi and I prepared snacks for tea. Let's go and bring it." Kaki said, "Kokila! let me also help you." The three of them went to the kitchen and after a few seconds, Rashi gave Aham a weird look and went to the kitchen. Aham knew that they will take some time to finish their enquiry with Gopi and so decided to change.

When he was coming down for tea, his mother met him in the stairs and looked at him doubtfully and said, "Aham! Gopi tells me that you want her to stay and be her friend and something else I dont get. Is this true or did you ask Gopi to cover up whatever scheme you are plotting?"

"No Mom! Gopi tells the truth. I dont want her to leave our home and I told her that I wanted a chance at working on us."

Mom gave a cautious smile and said, "Aham Dikra! I pray that you both are happy! We will talk tonight after Maa goes to sleep."

Aham said, "Mom! I want to announce our decision to everyone including Nani. But, if you dont want me to tell Nani about these things, then I will not." His Mom replied, "No Aham! I dont want her to scold you. What is the point in telling her now? Anyway, come have tea. We will talk tonight."

When he went down, Gopi brought his tea and was about to get his snacks. He stopped her and said "Gopi! why dont you freshen up and come? I will wait for you." Gopi hesitated before telling, "Ji" and went upstairs. When he looked around, his Mom and Kaki gave him a satisfied smile and the others were looking at him in astonishment. He blushed at their enquiring looks and pretended to read newspaper. Only when Gopi came back, he looked up from the paper. Jigar laughed and said, "Bhabi! what magic did you do to Aham bhai? He is not even looking at us and wants to look only at you." Aham glared at Jigar and said "Shut up Jigar! Otherwise, I will ask Gopi to put excess salt in your food tonight." Everybody else laughed.

Everybody seemed relieved and happy at dinner but for Rashi. Aham could sense that she was looking baffled and uneasy. He remembered what she said to Gopi in the afternoon and glared at her before looking down at his plate. After everyone finished, he went to talk to Jigar and Kaka for half an hour and came to check on Gopi. She was doing some cleaning and Aham asked her, "Did you eat Gopi?"

She dropped the dish cloth and looked at him in shock. She said, "No! not yet. I will eat after finishing this."

"Gopi! it is already 9.30! when will you finish and when will you eat? I am telling you eat now! Mani! set a plate for Gopi! Now! Eat and then you can finish your work. I am not leaving till you finish eating."

He could see Mani's smirk and she set the plate on the small table in the kitchen.

Gopi was eating hesitantly, looking at him after every mouthful.

"Gopi! What is this? you are eating like a child?"

"No Ahamji! that is ... you looking at me!"

"So what? I eat everyday, every meal while you are looking. So, you can do too. Anyway, I am not leaving until you finish. We have to talk to the others about what we decided. They are waiting. So, make it fast."

Gopi finished eating and Aham said, "Ok! Lets go now."

Gopi again hesitated and said, "Ji! That is.. Mani ben hasnt had her dinner yet. I will see to her dinner and then join you. Please."

Mani added, "No Aham Bhai! you take Bhabi with you. I will eat and finish the rest of the work. Bhabi! dont worry."

"Mani ben! are you sure? Aham ji! Can we not wait for few min?" She looked at him with pleading eyes.

Aham did not know what to answer. He has never worried about Mani's eating or not eating before. He felt guilty and found that he could not say no to Gopi at that moment. So he said, "Ok Gopi! I will be in the room. You dont delay. Baa needs her rest."

When Gopi came to the room, she said, "Thank you Ahamji! Mani ben always stays with me while eating. So I didnt want her to eat alone. Maaji asked us to come to Baa's room."

Aham again did not know what to say. Then he remembered something and asked, "Gopi! Where is Rashi? I did not see her with you? Did she eat earlier? Then why didnt you eat with her?"

Gopi again hesitated and looked very uncomfortable.

Aham asked her again, "What is it Gopi? What happened? Where is Rashi? And, by the way, why did she say those vile things to you in the afternoon? And what was the gift she talked about? Why didnt you say anything back to her?"

Gopi looked at him sadly and said, "Please dont get angry with Rashi. She was only telling me what was about to happen. I will be here till Naniji is around and have to leave after that. Rashi will continue to be here. So she has more rights in this family than me. Naniji has some gifts which are her heritage. She wants to give it to the best bahu of the house. If I dont have the rights as bahu here, then how can I aspire for the gifts? This is what she was telling."

Aham just fell into the chair and started "Oh my God! Gopi! ..." They heard his Mom call them both, he said, "Gopi! we will talk when we come back. I am sorry for what you had to put up with because of me. Come! lets go before Mom calls us again."

They both went to Baa's room and found every one other than Nani there. Kaka asked him, "Aham! Have you both come to a decision? You told us that you will let us know after your outing. So what did you decide?"

Aham looked at them all and said, "Mom! Papa! Kaka! Kaki! Baa! I do not want Gopi to leave our home and we have decided to take a chance on our marriage. Gopi has agreed to my suggestion that she observe the next three weeks before she makes up her mind about me."

He could see that his Mom wanted to say something but Kaka beat her to it and said, "Gopi! what do you say? What are your plans?"

Gopi, looked up at him and said, "Kakaji! I want to be Ahamji's wife and the bahu in this home. But I want Ahamji to like me and love me. I dont want to be his wife if he cannot love me. If he cannot love me, it is better that I leave him so that he can marry somebody he loves."

His Mom stopped Gopi and said, "Gopi! What is this? I dont understand. Aham! do you want Gopi as your wife or not? What is this trial for three weeks and deciding? You had so long to make up your mind. Tell me if Gopi will be here or not!"

Aham sighed and said, "Mom! I dont know what will happen. I want Gopi but I also want to take it slow. I have been rude with her and hurt her a lot all these days. Unless otherwise I show her that I am changed, how can I ask her to be my wife? So please Mom! understand."

When his Mom was about to say something, Baa said, "Kokila! let them take their time. You already forced them on each other. Let us wait this time and hope for the best. I have a good feeling that they both will be happy."

Aham saw Gopi's face brighten and he smiled at her. She looked up at him and he could not take his eyes off. He was distracted when he heard Jigar snicker and clear his throat. Aham glared at him. Jigar chuckled and added, "I knew it! Bhai! You should thank Rashi for this. One chutney and you went running to get Bhabi back." Aham had to smile at this and looked at Rashi. She was looking angry and worried. Kaki then said with a smile, "Aham Dikra! I am happy that you both have made this decision. I am sure Thakurji will set everything right for you two." After listening to the happy comments made by Kaka and Papa, they all called it a day.

Aham went to his room after listening to Jigar's tease and discussing with his father on the books he had ordered for Gopi. In the room, he saw the pillow on the floor and felt bad. He used the time Gopi took to check in on the kitchen and locks to talk to a couple of male servants and the driver. With their help, he replaced the big chairs with a diwan. When Gopi came in, she saw the diwan and the pillows on it. She looked at him questioningly and Aham said, "I should have done this much earlier. I am sorry that you had sleep on the floor. I hope you are comfortable with this arrangement." She just nodded her head.

When she came out of the bathroom after changing, Aham asked her, "So can we now talk about what happened with Rashi? Now she cannot tell that you dont belong here right? So will you defend yourself if Rashi taunts you? Anyway, what is the best bahu business?"

"Naniji has got some gifts which are very special for her. She has told that only the best bahu will get it. She will observe both Rashi ben and me and decide who will get the gift."

Aham noticed that Gopi was avoiding the his first few questions and answered only the last. "What did Mom tell you?"

"Maaji told me to win this competition and make Naniji declare that I am the best bahu."

"Gopi! If Mom wants you to win, you should win. But, you are not answering me. Will you defend yourself if Rashi taunts you?"

She just hesitated and refused to meet his eyes.

"Gopi! Tell me! What is going on? Why did she talk like that to you today and you did not even allow me take care of the situation? Does this happen always?"

"No Ahamji! Please don't get angry with Rashi ben. She was telling me those things so that I understand the reality. She was really being kind to me."

Her voice broke and she was tearing.

Aham took her hands and said, "God Gopi! I don't know what to say other than sorry. I will surely make it up to you. After today, I am sure she will not repeat it again. I assure you, if anybody hurts you or says anything bad to you, tell me. I will try to sort it out. Oh no Gopi! Please don't cry."

"I am sorry Ahamji! I am always upsetting you. I don't want to cry but nobody has ever spoken to me so kindly." Her voice was down to a whisper and she broke down. Aham felt helpless and could not stop himself from hugging her. He could only hear her sobs and he could only rub her back.