Malaal- Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

Jigar tossed and turned in his bed. His joy knew no bounds that day. He was convinced that Rashi was in love with him, and would definitely accept him back; that’s what her behaviour indicated. He had no fears, no insecurities now, only hope and expectations for his future with Rashi. He sighed when he thought about his fight with his family members; but he couldn’t have helped it. He just couldn’t live without Rashi and that was it.

“I was ready to take every punishment from you Rashi, but you accepted me without hurting me at all. I can’t believe my luck.”, he thought.

“Ahemji, please calm down. Forget it.”, Gopi was trying to coax Ahem to cool down his anger. He still couldn’t get the punch out of his memory.

“How can he hit me? His own brother!”, he continued to say under his breath. Gopi shook her head slowly.

“Ahemji, you are elder to him, you would have to understand what’s he’s been going through for such a long time. We have each other, we have Meera, but he doesn’t have even himself. He lost himself the moment Rashiben left the house. So, yesterday’s incident would’ve created new fears in him that he would lose her again and that’s why he hit you. We all know how loving he is otherwise.”, Gopi said softly.

“And, I think my kiss can heal any pain, isn’t it?”, she said and pecked Ahem on the cheek. Ahem couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah, I just hope everything gets fine between him and Rashi.”, he said as he laid down in Gopi’s lap for some pampering.

                   ************************

“Yeah Ishan, you coming tomorrow no?”, Rashi was talking to Ishan on the phone as she paced her room.

“No, not Harshad. You know that he has real feelings for me, we can’t use his feelings for my own agendas. Ishan, it’s you who has to do this okay? Yeah, okay bye. “, Rashi said and took a deep breath. She was anxious.

“Shall I really do it? But I think it’s too late to stop. I have built his expectations already, there’s no choice but to hurt him.”, she thought and swallowed.

She walked to Jigar’s room and peeped in. He was sleeping peacefully by now, and Rashi couldn’t control the urge to walk in close.

She looked at his beautiful face.

“How innocent you look Mr Modi, even God can be deceived by this face, I am just a human. I love you probably but I hate you more.”, she thought and kissed Jigar on the cheek.

“My last gift to you.”, she said slowly and walked out.

Kokila was pacing in her room. She was extremely confused.

“I saw love in Rashi’s eyes for Jigar. But why is she making him fight with us? She can’t be doing this to hurt me, because what have I done? Is she doing this to hurt Jigar? But he isn’t that hurt as long as he stays with Rashi. I feel that there’s definitely something cooking in her mind but don’t know what. What and why?”, she thought frantically.

Hetal too was pacing in her room. She had enough of Jigar now.

“He doesn’t seem to care about anyone. He hit his brother, shouted on all of us and made Kokila apologise? I have no hopes for him now.”, she thought out loud, although knowing that she loved him dearly.

                   **********************

“Gaayu, turn up the music!”, Rashi shouted excitedly as she swirled in the hall. Jigar looked at her happy face and his heart danced. He hadn’t seen her this happy in days.

Rashi knew that the Modis had to do puja in some time and Bollywood songs before that, especially for Kokila, were equivalent to the biggest crime on the planet. She noticed Kokila’s expression change. Kokila tried to control herself but she couldn’t help it when someone challenges her ideals.

“Rashi. Please turn the music off, we have to do puja soon.”, she said decently but Rashi’s reaction was enough to ignite a fire. She made a sad and angry face and looked at Jigar. She shook her head, gave Jigar a disapproving look and walked away.

“Kakiji, do we do puja in the hall itself? No. The temple is in another end of the house altogether. Think about me before you speak atleast or don’t speak at all in these situations.”, he said rudely.

“Jigar! Not one more word!”, Hetal shouted at him.

“I won’t stay quiet today, unlike you. Can’t you see that she’s ruining my relationship with Rashi? Can’t you tell her to adjust a bit in order to keep Rashi happy? But no, seems like even you don’t care about your son anymore.”, he said with confidence and hurt in his eyes.

“Enough Jigar! Do whatever you want to do! Don’t even come near us now!”, Chirag blasted.

“Yes, that’s better.”, Jigar said angrily, “I should’ve known that all your egos and principles are way greater and bigger than a person’s life and love. I should’ve known.”, he said and walked away.

Kokila sat on the couch sadly and tried to keep a strong face. Hetal simply broke down.

“What is happening! We had come here to get Rashi back but we are instead losing our son.”, she said amongst sobs.

“Motabhabi, Rashi hates us way more than we had expected. And I don’t know why.”, Kokila said slowly.

                *************************

Jigar was pacing in his room when he heard a cry from Rashi’s room. He panicked and ran straight to her room. He opened the door.

And saw Rashi and Ishan. In a tight hug with their eyes closed.

“I missed you so much Ishan. Never leave me again.”, Rashi said, tightly hugging him.

“I never would. You know how much I love you.”, Ishan replied with closed eyes. 

He kissed Rashi on the cheek, and looked in her eyes.

Suddenly he felt a strong pull, and in the next moment, he was lying on the floor, his lip bleeding. He could feel his jaw hurting like hell. Jigar stood in front of him, his knuckles bleeding a bit and pure rage in his eyes. The next moment, Rashi turned him around and slapped him hard, and Jigar’s eyes widened.

“How dare you Mr Modi?”, she asked in a deadly voice.

                       ********************