New FF: Escape Last Part Page 49 - Page 9

Chapter Nine

Ahem knocked on Jigar's cubicle door and went in. He knew his brother didn't want to talk to him let alone see him but they had a meeting with the CEO and President of Shah Industries regarding the hotel deal. Modi Industries couldn't afford to mess this one up. He walked in and Jigar looked up at him.

"I'm sorry Bhai I was just a little upset about Bhabhi I shouldn't have said all that to you. It's not just your fault it's all of ours. I'm not apologizing about what I said just how and where I said it. I do think that what you did to Bhabhi was wrong, but weather you should be forgiven or punished is no one's decision but Gopi Bhabhi's. Only she has that right. I'll leave it to her. Until then I will help you any way I can because I want her back home where she belongs."

"It's okay Jigar, you only spoke the truth. You're right I don't deserve Gopi. I'm also sorry about not getting to know my little brother more. I promise you that I will be better. Later on tonight we can have talk. Right now we have to get going. Kakaji is waiting outside for us. We have a meeting with Mr. Rahul Gupta and Mr. Sanjeev Shah about the hotel project. We should get going." Jigar got up to follow his brother out but before they left his desk he gave Ahem a hug. He knew his brother could really use it right now. Ahem at first was taken back at Jigar's gesture but he was touched. His younger brother really did love him and he knew he would support him no matter what. He smiled at Jigar and the two Modi men walked out towards Chirag who was already in the car. They drove over to Shah Industries and noticed that they had many competitors for this project. There he also noticed Umaang with his father. His blood began to boil and he wanted to go up there and punch him in the face. Umaang also noticed him and smirked. Jigar held Ahem back as he knew what was going through him mind. He knew Umaang had his project file and so that morning he had quickly tweaked his project and made if absolutely flawless. He would get Umaang back by winning this contract. One by one each competitor went inside and made their presentation. Modi Industries was the last to go. He went in and presented his proposal impeccably. He looked over at Mr. Sanjeev Shah and he didn't look all too impressed. In fact he walked right out of the board room after his presentation. Ahem was dejected. He had worked so hard on this and he thought he had an exceptional proposal. What was Modi Industries going to do without this contract? Rahul Gupta came up to Ahem, Jigar, and Chirag and introduced himself.

"Hello my name is Rahul Gupta President of Shah Industries, but you guys can call me Rahul. You have a fantastic proposal, but I will have to let you know by the end of this week about our decision. We have a lot of companies competing over this contract and Mr. Sanjeev Shah has yet to narrow down his decision. It was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Chirag Modi, Mr. Jigar Modi. And you Mr. Ahem Modi it was a real pleasure meeting you. I have heard a lot about your business skills and I have to say I am truly impressed at your knowledge. I hope to work with you soon." Ahem thanked Rahul and the three men walked out of Shah Industries. Things weren't looking so well for them. Chirag told the driver to take them home as they really didn't have much left to do at the office until they heard back from Shah Industries. Mani opened the door for Chirag, Jigar, and Ahem and was surprised to see them back so early especially Ahem. He never came home this early. She wondered what could be wrong. She knew everyone is the house missed Gopi, she did too. Out of everyone in the house Gopi has always given her the most respect and love. She admired and respected Gopi a lot. She had endured so much at the hands of her own family and yet had never complained. She was always willing and ready to lend a helping hand and never once let her sadness or anger out on others. She missed having Gopi around to talk to as they worked. She went into to kitchen to get water and tea for the clan as everyone was now seated in the living room.

"Ahem Bhai I am glad that you are back before Eleshji comes and picks me up. I know that you hate me right now and don't want to see my face, but I want to apologize. I never meant to hurt you or Gopi Bhabhi. I know I acted really selfishly, but now I realize how right Mom is in all of her decisions. She was right about Gopi Bhabhi and Eleshji. Please forgive me!" She pleaded in front of her brother, but her brother was a stone. Kinjal looked down woefully and Hetal changed the subject. Jigar knew how bad Kinjal felt and Ahem was not helping. He lightened the mood and started to crack some jokes to put smiles back on everyone faces.

Kokila was nowhere in sight. She had not been out of her room since the morning. She was hurt the most over the loss of her Gopi. Kinjal was home for pag phere so she went to call Kokila.

"Nani Bhabhi, everyone has returned from the office and are sitting in the living room asking for you."

"Go. I'll be down in a couple of minutes." Kokila never even scolded Mani anymore. Mani walked away feeling distraught and unhappy. Kokila quickly put her hair up and went into the living room. She listened to them talking and laughing as if everything was okay. She was angry.

"STOP IT. Stop pretending like everything is okay. Everything is not okay. We should all be searching for my Gopi Bahu. Aren't you all worried about where she is and how she is or am I the only one in this family that cares. You guys are all pathetic. Nobody deserves her love. NOBODY!"

"Kokila shant ho jayo. Sab kuch theek ho jayega."

"How Mota Bhabhi how? We don't know where she is or if she's even alive after that heartless man kicked her out in the middle of the night." She pointed and looked over at Ahem in shame. Koki's words felt like a knife being plunged deep into the heart for Ahem. His mother had turned her back on him. Was this the same mother who carefully picked out each and every one of Ahem's possessions, the same mother who had sacrificed so much for her son? "I was always so proud of my upbringing and the sanskar I thought I had given to my children. My daughter shamed her whole family and ruined her brother's life, and my son threw away his wife, the family's honor, and a piece of my heart like yesterday's garbage." Kinjal and Ahem look ashamed. They knew their mother was right. They had both hurt her. Kokila couldn't stop her tears. She had never been such a weak person in her entire life, but she had nothing to be proud of anymore. The one person she could be proud of still had gone away from their lives and she was partly to blame for it. "You were right when you said I made a mistake by marrying you to Gopi Ahem. You were absolutely right. I did make a big mistake. I ruined my Gopi Bahu's life by trusting you to keep her safe and happy. You never deserved her and you never will." Kokila ran from the room back into her bedroom. She couldn't stand to be around those people. She just wanted her Gopi Bahu. Ahem had tears in his eyes. He felt too ashamed to look anyone in the eye and so he left the room. Mani called them to eat dinner, but no one was in the mood to eat. One by one each member of the family excused themselves to their rooms to wallow in their misery. Rashi stood in the living room smiling at the grief of the Modi family. If they didn't want to eat they didn't have to. She would go and enjoy the fabulous dinner all by herself. She wasn't going to go to bed hungry because of the Gopi. She followed Mani into the dining room and ordered her to serve her.

"Hurry up you lazy girl. Can't you see I'm starving?" Mani ran into the kitchen and served her dish. She looked at Rashi with disgust. She had always hated Rashi since she had stepped foot in this house. She didn't want to be around such a filthy person so she excused herself into the kitchen on the pretense of work. Rashi sat alone enjoying the dinner when Jigar suddenly came by.

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself? No one is this house has eaten and you're sitting here like a maharani enjoying yourself. Don't bother coming into the room. I don't want to see your face. You can sleep in the guest room or better yet why don't you just go back to your mother. No one around here wants you to stay anyhow. Definitely not me!" Rashi ignored Jigar and went on eating. She didn't care who was upset and why. She wasn't going to ruin her day. She watched Jigar walk back to his room. 'Who cares Jigar. I really don't want to sleep in the same room as you anyhow. At least I won't have to wake up early now.' The sound of her phone took her away from her dinner. Who in world is calling me and this hour and why. She looked down and her phone and frowned. She looked around and made sure nobody was around to listen and answered the phone.

"Didn't I tell you NOT to contact me in any way shape or form? I was going to call you tomorrow when I was visiting my mother where it would be safer to talk."

"Wait I have to discuss something important with you otherwise I never would have called." The voice on the other end sounded desperate.

"Okay hold on let me go to a safer place where we can talk and no one can walk in. I'll call you back in a few minutes." Rashi left her plate on the dining table and quietly ran up the stairs into the guest room. 'Mani that lazy duffer can clean up. I need my rest anyhow.' Little did she know someone had been listening in on her whole conversation.