(CH4 page 4 )The Phoenix- 7 Years Later FF - Page 3

Arjun's mother was a pristine host to Ahem, providing his with the finest linens, pillows, and the master suite of her flat. So she, and her husband were left to arjun's room. Arjun got the living room floor, since his 6 foot frame could not fit on the small sofa. The poor guy was too preocuppied with his boss's odd behavior to care about his horrible sleeping position. His boss was typing away doing research. And cursing here and there. Why so angry? And why has he completely forgotten the paint issue?

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Kokila ran hundreds of possibilites through her mind, but they all pointed to one.

He is reconciling with Anita!

"I must stop this"

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Ahem is typing away furiously on his laptop. Nobody would be surprised by his actions. The context on the other hand, well that would shock.

Ahem just purchased a home, in Behala, a small neigborhood that is an inconvenient distance from his office.

He spent the past few hours googling his ex-wife, not Anitha who he has googled far too much. He did find a Gopi M. who was a PhD candidate for Comparative Literature, but it could not be HIS Gopi. Additionally, there was no photo of this "Gopi M" . Also, why would she keep his last name? But he did need to buy a home , and for some reason "Behala" was stuck in his head. Some small neighborhood out of the way. He was attracted to a 3 bedroom flat that was right next to a library, and out of compulsion, he purchased it. Not in the hope to possibly come across Gopi. If that even was her. Ahem disgusted himself with the mental ping pong going on in his heart. All this commotion in his brain still failed to hide the blender like sensation in his gut, and the heavy beating of his heart. He needed to see this woman again, Gopi , or not. He needed to make sure. He also needed to call Rashi

. He wanted to see the girl again, but he knew that of all people, Rashi would want to see her the most, for she would speak of it all the time. Rashi's guilt was repulsive in the beginning. But when her mother died, she became a site to see. Instead of buying clothes and jewelry with her allowance, she hired private detectives to find her cousin. Jigar turned the other way, but Ahem, setting forth to marry Anitha, and was was angry. He confronted his sister in law, and she confessed to her actions one day. A burden she put on him, for Ahem too felt great guilt. That guilt was one of the driving forces of his and Anitha's demise.

He realized that he did not love her very early in thier marraige. It was as if he married a stranger all over again! She did not appreciate what he went through. Ahem was not surprisded that she would eventually turn to somebody else.

"IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT"

He balls up a fist and is about to punch anything, but he reminds himself that he is a guest. He needs to move out soon.

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It was him. Every single detail was him. That voice . The curve of his fingers. His height. His ability to be scary one second , and gentle the next. His hair style has not changed. He wears the same cologne. And his eyes were still sad, and raging, glaring and pleading. A man of contradictions. He would give Heathcliff a run for his money. She was filled with disgust for herself. She and Sister Margaritte have gone poured through counseling session after session. And she still acts like this? She no longer wears the 20 pound saree. Her hair is short and easy to take care of her. She no longer has to live a lie, and anwsers only to herself. But the woman turned into a girl in an instant. She hated feeling so suffocated.

"Focus, you never were Radha, and you have moved on."

Gopi remembered that Arjun bhaiya was manager for some prestigious office.

"Maybe his buisness can sponsor the school."

Gopi attempts to snap out of her daze and phones Shristi, but in actuality, head is light and her body feels like it is chained to those eyes, those hands, that voice.

"Shristi, I have an idea"

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"Ahem! Funny you would call right now! Rashi just broke her water! Our daughter is coming today!"

"Wow! Jigar" Ahem was taken away from his uncomfortable place, and his desperation changed to joy.

"Jigar, it's okay, i can still use my hand and mouth and ear to talk on the phone. Ahem... what is it? You never call me, it must be important... is it about G.. gop... aaaah ! it hurts"

" sorry Rashi, I will call you later. take care"

Ahem hangs up in frustration. The funny feelings are back but now they are worse. For some reason he wondered what Gopi's daughter would look like as a baby. A tiny bundle with a magical smile, a baby that would not cry too much.

The whiskey bottle magically poured itself into the cup in milliseconds.

A long night it would be to get past alone.

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"Sir, the weekend after the grand opening, I need you to stay here in Kolkata."

Ahem was inspecting the fixed paint job. Snapping his head at his manager, he gave him a quizzical look.

"Sir, I am engaged, but not formally, so Shristi and I are going to have a ceremony. It's going to be in the school that she is working for. Please sir, it means the world to me."

Ahem smiles at Arjun. He is very happy for him. A marriage to such a balanced woman. Shristi was a joy the few times he met her. Arjun reacts to Ahems subtlety with a dorky grin.

"But you must bring a date! " Arjun is dead serious

Ahem's smile melts into a glare

"If you don't bring one , I'll pick one for you! "

Ahem roles his eyes and continues searching for a blemish on the wall.

griiiiiiiiiiiing

"Ahem, it's me Jigar! She is 9 pounds 2 ounces! Her name is Shreya !"

Arjun, eavesdropping on the call snatches the phone out of Ahem's hand.

"Yeah, yeah, Ahem is very happy! I'm getting engaged the week after the unveiling. Bring Rashi, the little one and the new baby! I already booked your hotel room!"

"Sir, your Behala aparment if fully furnished and ready to be lived in. I am on my way to move your belongings there. Do you need anything else? "

"Thank you Ramujeet, I'm sorry for calling you out during your leave. I will pay you triple for today. "

"Wait, you bought a house?!" Arjun was shocked

"um Its a second home, I'll live here for atleast a year to watch over the development of this branch, i'm actually planning to do this for every branch."

"YESS!!! Now you can be my best man for my wedding! And Jigar can come visit you and I can show the two of you around town!"

Arjun runs off like a little girl with his arms flailing to call Shristi.

Ahem LOVES weddings (sarcasm)

/*** OKAY THATS ENOUGH TIME FOR ME TO SLEEP

Love the story so far!

Chapter 4 (starting to experience a little writer's block :/, hopefully the CV's will give us more ahem/gopi to quench my thirst!)

"Oh Gopi! How is the school shaping up? I heard about the paint issue. You fixed it right? Why did I even have to ask , of course you did! Usha has agreed to double her donatio-

"Tina, lets prepare dinner , and then deal with the school later, we have unlimited time tonight."

"Okay then, you did bring your laptop so I can check up on your thesis, right?"

A little girl runs into the living room. " GOPI MASHI!!!"

(For my african friend, Mashi = Aunt :D)

Gopi hugs little Payal, and the 3 ladies go on to have a splendid dinner. Tina and Gopi go straight into talking buisness. Tina agrees that Gopi does need to find a sponsor.

"At this point we won't be able to open our doors. We might have to cease construction in the next 4 days if we don't find more donations, or better a sponsor."

"There is a prospect , but it is taking a while to process."

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"Sponor a PRESCHOOL? For children who's parents could never afford our products? What would the incentive be? From where will we get our money and time back from it?"

"Sir, it would be purely for PR. The coordinator for the preschool is very sharp. She raised crores while still in college, and has 2 major national news channels waiting to report stories once the final phase is over. This is our chance to associate ourselves with something positive. Think of the demographics that we WON'T appeal to if we ceased this opportunity. Give it a few days, and se Coca Cola or Adobe snatch this away from us! "

Ahem could not counter the argument. Arjun had a point. "Fine, but 20% of the donation will be cut from your base salary, and another 15% from your commision, If you can make that much.

Arjun swallowed those conditions, but he knew that the sponsorship would elevate Celluniverse to brand name status. He would make 150% of what he would lose after the brand gets exposure.

"Beautiful house, sir. I have some friends around the street. Well, a friend, her huband is no more. Tina Roy, she used to be an accountant for Johnson & Jonson's but now she does freelance work and stays home with her daughter. She is attached to the preschool. We can go to her place right now."

"Not right now! I actually need to be alone for a while , I have some work to do. But thanks , Arjun. I have a good feeling about your plans. "

Arjun left Modi's flat with a wide grin on his face.

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"It seems that she has a fever."

Tina Roy was worried about her daughter.

"And now it's raining!"

"We can take the car to the chemist"

"Gopi, I sold the car last month, when we were short on bills for the school"

"Tina, I'll go there and get it. It's across the street from the Library, right? " Gopi felt guitly. She owes Tina more than any action can convey.

"Watch out for yourself. Oh, and take the rest of the kheer. The Saha's love sweets."

Gopi found the roads to be flooded once she stepped out, but she treaded through the water.

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Ahem had a horrible headache. He did not know of any good doctors in the area, so he wanted to visit the well know physician on Park Street. Pulling out of his driveway, he notices the highschool aged punks messing around with an unattended food vendor's stand. Something makes them lose their focus. They start walking towards another figure. Ahem need to drive the other way, but he can't look away. A small girl with brave eyes is showing uniterested and defensive body language. The fools seem unaffected by her air. He instinctively pulls up next to her and opens up the passenger seat.

"Get in, madam."

The boys beat it. And Ahem looks up to see the very person he was thinking about.

More shocked than he, this time Gopi wasn't brimming with fear.

"You... you Ahe.. Mr. Modi, you are following me?

He never has been addressed so directly before by her. He could not respond. She was wearing a white salwar kameez, but the rain made what was underneath quite recognisable.

Gopi almost fell backwards when her ex husband expertly snapped off his coat and got out of his car and put it around her. He soon returned back to the drivers seat and looked back at Gopi.

"Do you need a ride anywhere?"

"No, I need to pick up some medicine for somebody, there is a Chemist a block away from here."

"I was also going there, actually."

"But Ahem-Ji your car is facing the wrong way."

Both individuals turned scarlett red. Gopi could not believe she adressed him as a husband.

"I'm new here, I.. I don't really know how to get around:

Ahem reminded himself to stash away his GPS when she would not be watching.

"Okay then...."

Ahem did not know what to say or do. So he shuts his car door and walks up to Gopi. He is freezing. With his fingers jammed into his pockets , he tries to utter some words. "Well, lets head over there"

"Gopi avoids all eye contact and starts walking towards the pharmacy. Ahem stays a pace behind her at all times. His coat could fit two Gopi's in it. He could see tension in her neck, and feel the nerves in her step. Is this who she is, or is this what I make her? What has she been doing this whole time? "

"What?"

"Nothing" Damn, he needed to stop mumbling under his breath.

Gopi ordered children's cough medicine.

At this , Ahem froze.

"And you sir?"

" Aspirin, please"

After making purchase he turned around to see a concerned Gopi.

"Are you feeling okay? "

"Well, you should be more concerned about your child, right? "

Anxiety fills every inch of Gopi's being.

"Mr. Modi , I need to get back soon. Thank you . Gopi removes the coat and hands it to Ahem. She then walks off briskly. "

Ahem watches her walk off, and curses himself. Why did he do that? What was wrong with him? She was obviously the menial housewife to some unpleasant Arjun like character. That would fit her character. What type of mother and wife goes out in the rain in such clothing?

another long night of tossing and turning was inevitable. But this time it would be reciprocated.

very nicely written :)