Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. - Lao Tzu
Part 15
In the morning, Gopi had already left the room before he got up. In spite of it being a saturday, he saw more activity in the kitchen. He was looking for Gopi and she looked busy. His Mom and Kaki asked them all to come earlier than usual for lunch as Kinjal and her family were coming for lunch.
Kinjal and her family? Wow! She got married a few days ago and we already say 'her family'. Does Kinjal feel uncomfortable with this sudden change? That too, coming from her own mother and Kaki? Did Gopi feel so? But then, I am sure her Mami never made her feel belonged. For all practical purposes, we are her real family. And, I sent her back to that house. I have to make it up to her. It looks like I have to spend my entire life making up to her.
He was brought out of these thougts by Kaka calling his name. Jigar asked "Bhai! day dreaming? about Bhabi? She is right in front of you, you know!"
Then Aham realised, he was all the while looking at Gopi. She gave him a shy smile and he said, "Bye Gopi!". After wishing his Mom and Kaki and left for office.
Jigar went to pick up Kinjal and when Aham reached home, they had arrived. They were all chatting in the drawing room and after greeting them, Aham took leave to change. He did not see Gopi.
She must be busy with making lunch. I hope it is something good. Surely she would have made kheer. Mmmmm
While walking to his room, he heard Gopi's voice from Kinjal's room. What is she doing there?
He paused outside the door way. He saw both Kinjal and Gopi there and they couldnt see him. Gopi was telling Kinjal that she will soon fit in her husband's house and some such stuff.
She looks cute while dishing out such advice. Very ... What? What the heck is Kinjal telling?
He heard Kinjal say, "What? Fit in my husband's home? Just like you, is it? You, who was sent back by my brother, is giving me advice! What is the point in winning the approval of your in-laws when your husband hates the sight of you. Aham Bhai will never choose you over somebody like Anita. So Gopi! first think what you will do after Nani leaves and then worry about how I will live with my in-laws."
No! Kinjal did not say this. Is this my sister? She calls her Gopi and not Bhabi! And, why is she hurting Gopi? After all the things Gopi did to her and all the things she did to Gopi! Oh! Lord! Gopi! She looks so sad! look at me! Gopi! look at me!
Gopi looked up with teared up eyes, saw him and was about to react. He signed her to keep quiet and walk out. He just moved out a bit and met her at the door.
"Gopi! Oh! Here you are! What are you doing here?"
He held her by chin and gave her a noisy kiss. He wanted to keep it light, but got carried away a bit. He dropped his bag and pulled Gopi close and then heard Kinjal's gasp.
What? Kinjal? What is Kinjal doing here? Oh! Ok!
He looked up but didnt leave Gopi out of his hold. He said, "Kinjal! How are you? When did you all arrive? You go down and tell Mom that I will change and join you all." He glared at Kinjal and said, "Gopi! come!" Kinjal started, "But Bhai! You with this Gawar!.."
"Kinjal! Are you calling my wife Gawar? She is your Bhabi and you will be better off if you treat her with respect! You better go down now. I will change and meet you in the dining room."
What is this girl thinking? She shows no respect to her elders. This Gopi! why cant she defend herself? She is too timid.
He almost dragged Gopi into the room and closed it.
"Gopi! Why did you put up with Kinjal's nonsense? Above all, she is my younger sister and she has to talk to you with respect. Is this the way she always talks to you? Does Mom know? And she is hurting you and you were just crying? Why didnt you tell her to shup up?"
Gopi was looking frightened and her eyes filled. "Ahamji! I cant talk back! I am very scared."
"Scared! Scared! Scared of what Gopi? What can Kinjal do to you? You are my wife! Do you still worry that you have to leave? Is that why you dont defend yourself to Kinjal or Rashi? Tell me!"
Gopi looked terrorized and said in a feeble voice, "I am sorry Ji! I have never defended myself. I dont know how to do it."
This girl is in the right here and she cannot stand up for herself. And, Kinjal who has been committing mistakes after mistakes talks as if she is the most righteous person in the world. Gopi has no confidence and no wonder she put up with all my crap. How am I going to help her? My shouting now will not help it.
He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. "Gopi! come here! look at me! I see that you are worried about offending somebody. But you cant allow others to hurt you unnecessarily. I know that I did that too. I promise you that from now on I will do everything in my power to replace all your bad memories with good ones. But you have to stand up for yourself! As much as I enjoyed our kiss, I cant be there always, right? Will you atleast try?"
"Ahamji! What should I do? When somebody talks like that, I cant think! I really dont know what to say! So I keep quiet."
"But then, you stood up to me for Kinjal, even when I was at my angriest? How did you do that? Remember, now you are not just Gopi, you are Gopi Modi, my wife and my Mom's daughter-in-law. If you allow somebody to hurt you or tease you, you allow them to hurt me and Mom. Think of this next time ok! Will you?"
"Yes Ahamji" and she gave a watery smile.
"Now! let me change and you wash your face. This Kinjal business has left a bad taste in my mouth. I want to sweeten it with kheer. Did you make kheer for lunch?"
"Oh! Ahamji! Maaji asked me to make Kinjal ben and Dhawal bhai's favorites. So I made ksheera! Dont worry, I will make kheer by the time lunch is served."
What no kheer? Ksheera? Who likes it anyway? I was looking forward to kheer. So Gopi! you dont leave me with a choice!
"Thats all right! Lets save the kheer for some other time. I will make do with what I have now" and bent down and kissed her thoroughly.
Mmmmmmmm! Finally! What is this? Does she like it or not? She looks confused! Is it good confused or bad confused? I dont know what she thinks. I did tell her that I want to kiss her. Am I moving too fast for her? For me? But she is passive. What does this mean? Should I not do this anymore? Oh no! no! no! Not that! If I like kissing her, what does it mean? Am I just using her? Oh Gopi! you dont know what you are doing to me.
He didnt let her go and saw her face slowly become sadder. "Gopi! Why are you upset? You didnt like it? Is it too fast for you? Tell me!"
She blushed and looked down. He lifted face by her chin and said, "Gopi! I'm sorry if you didnt like the kiss. Tell me so and I will never kiss you unless you want it."
Tell me you like it! Tell me you like it!
"Gopi! please!"
She looked up and said, "Ji! That is ..." and cleared her throat. "Ilikedit."
"What? Tell me clearly! What did you say?"
She closed her eyes and said in a whisper, "Ahamji! I liked it but you were looking worried. I thought you did not like it. I dont know what to do. I thought I did something wro..."
He just kissed her deeply and then said, "What does this say about liking?"
She gave a bright, happy, shy smile and started, "Ji..." and they heard Mani calling them both.
Oh! crap! A man cannot kiss his wife in peace in his own room. Whose idea was it to invite these people for lunch?
Aham groaned and when Gopi giggled, he had to kiss her again.
He released her and said, "Gopi! I like it when you giggle. I am going to coax more and more giggles out of you!"
Mani called again.
He caressed her cheek and said "These people will not let us have fun. You run and I will follow in a few minutes. Dont forget what I said about standing up for yourself."
Yesss! She liked it! Aham Dikra! you are good! Gopiji! You just wait! Soon you will not recognize yourself! Now I have to follow Gopi and see if she can manage Rashi and Kinjal! Oh that Mami too! How can I forget her?
He went down for lunch and during lunch, he carefully observed Gopi for any signs of fear or sadness.
Oh! who am I kidding? I want to look at her and see if she still has that dreamy look!
He saw that Kinjal had an angry face and was trying to deflect Nani's intrusive questions.
Nani is fun as long as she is not on your case!
Mamaji and Dhawal were looking very happy and pleasant.
I need to find more about this guy if he is really nice as he appears to be. If he is a nice man, poor thing to be saddled with Kinjal! Oh no! this is my sister I am talking about. Forget it! But this Mami is definitely upto something. When did I become good at reading that woman's face? Why is that suddenly I find myself in this kitchen politics? It is for Gopi! If this woman tries something today, she will have to answer me! I do hope Gopi gives her back. Now Gopi! Hmmmm! How long before I can kiss her again? How will it feel if she kisses me? May be I should ask her!
He was disturbed from these pleasant thoughts by Jigar elbowing him. Jigar winked at him and Aham saw that everybody had gotten up from the table. In the drawing room, Dhawal was sitting next to him and Aham was thinking what to talk. He did not want to move out of the seat as from there he could watch Gopi and Urmila.
What is happening to me? Who would have thought that I will be like this? But still, it feels nice to be doing this. Ah! Gopi is looking at me! Hmmmm! When will these people leave? Did she eat? Lunch was quite good! But I missed my kheer. I should get compensated again.
He heard his Mom, "Aham! what is your problem? I have been talking to you so long and you are not listening."
"Sorry Mom!I was thinking about some work." Jigar raised his eyebrows from across and Aham glared at him.
This Jigar is getting too perceptive.
"Its okay Aham! I know you are always worried about work."
God! If only Mom knows what I am thinking about Gopi now! Or will she be happy? What is this? This Mami lady is following Gopi! I am sure she is going to hurt Gopi! I am coming Gopi! No! let me observe and help if Gopi needs.
Aham coughed a little and said, "Mom! I need some warm water. I
will go and ask Gopi!"
He discretely followed Gopi and stood behind a pillar. Hiding in my own house? But then, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!
He heard Urmila's voice, "Hey stupid girl! What are you trying here? Are you trying to get the box for yourself? Are you trying to put your sister down? What is with all this drama? The day this old lady leaves is the last day you will be in Modi Bhavan. Where will you go? you have to come to me! I will make sure you will repent all the bad things you do my Rashi. What is this drama of being a good DIL? Even if you get the box, once this old lady leaves, you will be sent back and I will give the box to my Rashi. You will never win."
Is she even a human being? She once claimed that Gopi is like her daughter and is this the way one behaves with their daughter? Does she even not have some humanity? And what the heck is with this box? What is this competition? Why did Nani have to create more confusion here? This Nani is going senile in her old age. She needs to be shown to a doctor. I hear Gopi! what does she tell now?
Gopi replied, "Mamiji! what are you telling? Why would I do anything bad to Rashi ben? And, Ahamji ..."
"Yeah! yeah! I know about all that Aham told. Dont dream of reaching beyond your status! What is it that you have that will make Aham accept you as his wife? You are stupid, illiterate Gawar. You cant even talk properly. How can you think that you will be a Modi bahu? Only an educated, smart girl like my Rashi can be a Modi bahu. I dont even know why that Kokila chose you. She should have chosen my Rashi. Rashi would have put Kokila in her place. And, even if Aham wants you to be his wife, Rashi and I will make sure that he will realise his mistake and will send you out soon. Mark my words! Your fate is not to be Aham Modi's wife but my servant."
What? Rashi? my wife? This lady is really senile! Does she not realise that Rashi is married to Jigar? How can she talk like this? Goodness! What kind of mother makes such comments about her married daughter? How on earth did these people think that Mom will like Rashi? Rashi showing my mother her place? Is this Mami serious? Does Rashi also feel that she should have married me? Oh Jigar! what will happen to you? I really need to do something about this! And why is she terrorizing Gopi? Who is she to decide who will be my wife? Does this lady think that her tricks can change my mind? I cannot imagine how Gopi lived with woman all her life. No wonder she is timid. My dear Gopi! Answer her back.
"Mamiji! Why do you say such things? Rashi ben is Jigarji's wife and if you talk like this she will be hurt. Please dont tell anything bad about Maaji and Ahamji. Maaji loves me like her daughter. And, Ahamji told me that he wants me to be his wife and I believe in him. Whatever happens in future, Kanhaji will take care of me."
This is not strong enough Gopi! But still atleast she said something back. What is this? She is almost shaking?"
"Gopi! My throat feels scratchy. Can you get me some warm water? Hey! Did something happen? You are looking upset! Did somebody say something bad to you?"
He glared at Mami and took Gopi's hand. I can feel Gopi shivering. Is it from the adrenaline rush? I can now believe that she is talking back to her Mami for the first time. This woman must have terrorized her.
He drew circles on the back of her palm to calm her. Gopi looked up at him in surprise and Aham smiled back at her. She said, "Ahamji! I think you are getting cold. I will get you water with tulsi and pepper. Maaji says that it always helped your cold."
She started walking and without leaving her hands, Aham looked back at Mami and smirked at her.
Her eyes are bulging! I hope they dont fall out of the socket! But it is fun to see her like this.
He followed Gop telling, "Gopi! No! Pepper! it will be hot! I dont like it."
"Ahamji! you act like a kid! Dont worry! I will put honey in the water and it will not be that bad. I will make it and you should drink everything without leaving a single ..."
Gopi stopped and looked at him with a contrite expression. "I am sorry Ahamji for talking like this! I dont know what came over me. I will behave."
"Oh no! Gopi! I liked it when you take care of me so. You could have been more stronger to your Mami but then it will come by practice."
Wow! She is a fast learner. And, I do like it when she fusses over me! Her voice! it turns husky when she talks like this and it is giving me all possible ideas! Oh no! this is not going to help me.
Aham sat at the dining table and drank the vile concoction that Gopi gave him.
Why am I drinking this horrible liquid? when did I even get sore throat. All for you Gopi! This stupid liquid is worth all the fussing she does. But, who fusses over her? Stupid Aham! of course it is you! Talk to her and find out what she wants and dreams of and make her dreams come true.
-----------------------------
I had some baang effect in the weekend. I had cold and cough and took some medicine. Apparently, I react very strongly to that combination and was feeling weird. I was feeling giddy and my husband claims that I was talking gibberish. He says that thanks to the medicine he knows now that my inner most thoughts are all gibberish.
BTW, any error/flaw in this update is to blamed on my cold medicine.
R&R as usual.
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai
Hui Ghum Yaadein
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Fan Fictions
