Hey guys. Thank for all of your comments. Sorry about the short delay over this next chapter but here it is. Hope you guys enjoy and let me know your thoughts.
Eesha.
Chapter Eight
Ahem woke up the next morning late and in a bitter mood. He got up and quickly got dressed. He needed to get into the office and try and salvage what his sister had done. Plus, it would help him keep his mind off of Gopi. He couldn't stop thinking about her ever since last night. He kept picturing her face, but he couldn't ever get a clear picture. All the times she had been around him she always had that stupid pallu over her head. How he wished he had just grabbed it and thrown it off her head at least one time. Every memory he had he was either screaming at her or watching her being insulted. She always had tears and fear in her eyes around him. He hated himself more and more each time he recalled one of those memories. Is that really the kind of person he was? A hateful, ungrateful, stone-hearted man who never noticed the gem he had attained through his wife. He wished he could take it all back. He wished he could wrap his arms around his beautiful wife and protect her from everything that had happened to her. He knew it was wishful thinking, but he prayed that she still loved him, still cared for him, but more importantly still considered him as her husband. He went downstairs and was greeted by Hetal and Jigar.
"Kakiji where is mom?" He looked around but didn't see any signs of his mom. It was weird. His mom was always up and was usually the first to greet him in the morning. Hetal looked down at the floor. For the first time since Kokila Parag Modi had stepped foot in this house, this was the first time she hadn't been the first one downstairs dressed and ready in the morning.
"Koki isn't feeling really well today Ahem. She's still in bed." Ahem knew exactly what was wrong with his Mom. She felt guilt and missed Gopi. "You can't go to the office today Ahem. You have to go and pick up Kinjal for Pag Phere today." Ahem looked at Hetal angrily. There was no way he was going anywhere near Kinjal and her sasural.
"I'm sorry Kakiji but I'm not going anywhere. That girl was selfish and I don't want to have anything to do with her. I'm not going. Besides I need to get to the office and see what the damage is. Our company was really counting on this contract. I have to find a way to salvage this before it's too late." He walked away leaving Hetal disheartened.
"Don't worry Ma I will go and get Kinjal. I'll leave in about an hour or an hour and a half. First I want to go and check on Rashi. She's really taking all this hard. I need to make sure that she is doing okay." Hetal nodded and told her son to go ahead. She had already lost one daughter-in-law. She wouldn't be able to bear it if she lost another one. Jigar walked into his room to see Rashi still sound asleep. He hated that he had to put up this act in front of the family. He pretends like wife is broken about what happened to her own sister but she could care less. She almost seemed glad that she was gone from their lives. The more he got to know his wife the more he saw the differences between his wife and his Bhabhi. It was like night and day. His Bhabi was sweet and caring while his wife was greedy and selfish. "Rashi get up. It's morning and everybody is already up. You have to go and help Ma with the housework as Kakiji isn't feeling well." He shook her again to get her up.
"Stop is Jigarji. Let me sleep. I don't care what's wrong with Kakiji, but I'm tired. I'll get up when I want to." This was it. Jigar had had enough of her.
"RASHI! Get up right now and go and help Ma." Rashi was startled by the sound of his voice and shot out of bed. She had never heard her husband talk like this. "Look I've had enough of you and your deeds. You're never going to change are you? Gopi Bhabhi loved and respected you like a sister and what did you do to her. You humiliated her at every turn and you still couldn't care less. You have no remorse do you? Gopi Bhabhi may not have known how to read or write, but you'll never be half the woman she is. Now get up and go help Ma. I don't want to hear anything else. I've had enough, and if you have any problems you can just pack up your suitcase and move back in with your mother because I really don't care." He shot one last glance at his wife and walked out the room. He walked to his car and checked his messages. Ahem bhai had already left a message telling him to get to the office as soon as he could. He saw the change in his Ahem bhai. He missed Gopi Bhabhi. It was like a piece of him was missing. He hadn't gotten this bad even after Anita. Jigar knew about Anita and his brother's feelings for her but he never let his Bhai know that he knew. His brother had always been a private person and didn't really share his feelings with anyone. He wished he could change that about him. He wished his Ahem Bhai would confide in him and that they could be friends and not just brothers. Ahem was always so busy with work that he never really stopped to look at the relationships in his life. He silently drove to the Mehta's house thinking about his Bhabhi. He missed her as well. How could they all have done that to her? He couldn't stop the tears from falling every time he thought of that night. He couldn't bear it any longer so he turned up his radio to drown out his thoughts.
Kinjal woke up the next morning and looked around her new home. She looked over at her new husband and felt ashamed. She felt ashamed at everything she had done and everybody she had hurt. She was her Gopi Bhabhi's biggest culprit. She just prayed that she would find her soon so she could make amends. She wanted Bhai to be happy again and that would only happen if Gopi Bhabhi came back into his life. He looked so dejected and remorseful when he found out the truth. She looked at the clock and realized she needed to get up because her Bhai would be here to pick her up soon. She recalled the events of her first night in her new home and she smiled. She really was lucky to have gotten a husband like Elesh. He was a great guy who really loved and respected her. She knew he would protect her from everything. She thought about Umaang and everything he had done to her and her family. She hated him for what he had done, but she wouldn't let even the memory of him come between her and her new life.
Kinjal was sitting on the bed waiting for Elesh to come up. It was quite late and there was still no sign of him. She was afraid he wouldn't come up after everything that had happened. She was still surprised that he had still agreed to the marriage. She couldn't stop the tears from falling every time she thought about it. Her family looked so disappointed in her. They had showered her with love all her life and she had repaid them by destroying theirs. She was a horrible person and she didn't deserve to be happy. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice the presence of the other person in the room. That was how Elesh Mehta found his new wife on their wedding night. He was sad for her. He knew that she was a good person at heart, but a simple sorry wasn't going to fix everything she had done. Elesh sat down in front of her and grabbed her face in his hands. He slowly wiped away the tears on her cheeks and shook his head at her.
"Please don't do that Kinjal. We are about to start a new life together, this should be a happy moment. A new life started in tears can't be a happy one. I know that you are unhappy after what happened today, but these tears are not going to solve our problem. I accepted you as my wife because I know you have a good heart. I fell in love with you the moment I saw you and I always hoped you loved me as well. I know know that you don't but we are married and that is a fact that neither of us can change. I was hoping that we could start this relationship as friends and get to know each. I want you to promise me that you will not keep anything from me. I want us to share everything with each other from our joyous moments to our woeful ones so our relationship can grow. Trust is the most important thing in any relationship and I want you to know that you can trust me with anything. I won't ever let anything or anyone hurt your Kinjal Elesh Mehta." Kinjal had tears in her eyes. These tears weren't of sadness but rather tears of happiness at finding a loving and respectful husband in Elesh. She hugged Elesh and promised him she would take care of him and his family always. With that bond Kinjal knew she was going to be okay. She would find a way to seek forgiveness from those she had wronged and she knew she wouldn't be alone in her mission.
Kinjal got up and walked into the bathroom. She quickly showered and changed into a sari for the first time in her life. She stood in front of the mirror drying her wet hair with a towel. That was the way Elesh found her. 'She looks so beautiful,' he thought. He could get used to waking up to such an angelic sight. He walked over to her as she was putting on her mangalsutra and sindoor. "You look beautiful." Kinjal smiled and blushed. Elesh laughed before pulling her into a hug.
"Stop it Eleshji. Maaji can come in any moment."
"Mom knows it's our wedding night. She wouldn't do such a thing," he assured her.
"Our wedding NIGHT was yesterday. It's morning now so please GO." Kinjal grabbed his towel and pushed him into the bathroom."Get showered and dressed. You have to go to the office and Bhai will be here any minute to pick me up for my Pag Phere. It won't look good if you still haven't showered." She smiled before walking into the kitchen. Ketki was already there waiting for her.
"Good morning Beta. Did you sleep well?"
"Jai Shri Krishna Maji and yes I slept wonderfully in my new home. Can I help you make the breakfast?" Ketki smiled at her new daughter-in-law and handed her the flour. Kinjal went right to work. Ketki was proud of her son and the way he had stood by his word, his decision, and his family. Kinjal was now a part of that family. She thought of Gopi and where she could be. She felt saddened that her son had a part in what had happened to that poor girl even if it was unknowingly. She heard the doorbell ring. It looked like Ahem was early to come and pick up Kinjal.
"Kinjal beta can you finish up here while I go answer the doorbell?"
"Ji Maji I am almost done with the breakfast. I'll be right out." Kinjal quickened her pace around the kitchen. She wanted to finish breakfast for her family before she left with her Bhai. She wanted her husband to eat food that she prepared with her own hands on their first morning. She finished up and went into the living to find Ketki with Jigar and Elesh in the living room. She looked around for Ahem but he was nowhere in sight. She looked over at Jigar with a questioning look. Why hadn't Ahem come with Jigar? Jigar read the look on his little sister's face and knew who her eyes were looking for. He didn't have the heart to tell her how he had refused to come so he looked away.
"Ketki Kaki I think we should be leaving now as everyone in the house must be waiting for us. Are you ready to go Kinjal?"
"Nahi Bhai. Eleshji hasn't had his breakfast before work. We can go as soon as he eats."
"Go ahead Kinjal. Mom will get my breakfast for me. Go and spend some time with your family. I'll come by and pick you up after work." Kinjal followed Jigar to the car and stepped inside.
"Bhai why didn't Ahem Bhai come with you? I know it's because he's still mad about what I did to him and Gopi Bhabhi. He hates me and I don't blame him. I am such a selfish terrible person."
"No Kinjal don't talk like that. You are repenting for your mistakes and that is all that we can ask. We are all to blame for what happened to Gopi including and most of all Ahem Bhai so don't blame yourself entirely for it. Gopi Bhabhi was his wife above all and he should have stuck by her, understood her, trusted her, and loved her but he didn't do any of those things. I admit that he loved Anita, but it wasn't fair of him to blame it on Bhabhi. He married her out of his own free will. He had every right to say no, but he didn't so he should have lived up to his vows and responsibilities." Kinjal looked over at Jigar and was proud to call him her brother. He was so forgiving and a part of her knew what he was saying was correct, but the part that had wronged wouldn't let her forgive herself so easily. The rest of the drive was filled with silence. Upon reaching their destination Jigar told Kinjal to go ahead and go in without her as he had to get to the office. Ahem was waiting for him and he knew he would be very upset if he didn't get there soon.
Jigar drove to the office and walked straight to Ahem's cabin. He knocked on the door and entered upon hearing Ahem's voice.
"Bhai I came as quick as I could. Did you need me to do something?"
"I called you over two hours ago and you come now. Don't you know we have a lot of work here in the office if we are going to save this company?"
"Sorry Bhai, I had to pick up Kinjal for the pag phere before coming to the office."
"I don't care and woh ladki ka tho naam bhi maat lena. I don't want to hear anything about her do you understand. And stop making excuses for your irresponsibility's because I really don't want to hear it."
"Enough Bhai! I understand that you are older than me, but I've heard enough of your nonsense. I understand that Kinjal made a mistake, but you are equally to blame for what happened to Bhabhi so please stop taking you anger out on everyone else. Bhabhi loved you with all her heart and she only ever thought about you. She loved all of us as her family because they were your family. You kicked Bhabhi out of the house in the middle of the night, wasn't that a crime. Stop judging other people for their crimes and look in the mirror because you are Bhabhi's biggest culprit. You insulted her, abused her, and humiliated her enough. You didn't deserve her. You were better off marrying Anita. I respected you and admired you my entire life. I wanted to be just like my big brother but you never cared. I always wanted us to be friends. I wanted us to be brothers, but I guess I was expecting too much from such a stone-hearted person." Ahem was taken back. He never knew Jigar felt like this. He always just looked at him as his irresponsible younger brother. He was right though. He was Gopi's biggest culprit and he definitely didn't deserve her. "Do you have any work for me Sir?" Jigar sounded so distant and cold as he said this last sentence. Ahem was pushing each and every member of his family further and further away. He felt so alone and he didn't care because. He didn't want anybody else, just his Gopi.
"No. You can go home Jigar. I'll take care of the work here."
"No thank you Sir. I will finish my pending work and go home like the rest of the employees at this company. No if you will please excuse me I have some work to do." Jigar walked out of the cabin towards his cubicle. He was disappointed in his brother. He couldn't stand to look at him. He needed to leave before he said something that he really would regret later.
Cricket
Kumkum Bhagya
