OS : Makar Sankranthi

They just finished getting their kite ready and Gopi picked it up to go up in front of Ahem to let it fly with the family looking on. Kokila smiled, basking in the light of Gopi's growing confidence. Ahem took the kite from her and said "why don't you learn to fly, you do it this year I will help you." "Ahemji" she shot him a doubtful look "Go onn try I will help just like the mangoes" he winked at her. She looked down avoiding his teasing look trying to quell the slow blush that took over her cheeks. "Yes Gopi vahu, you should give it a try my Ahem is a good teacher" said Kokila giving Ahem a knowing look and it was his turn this time to look away. His mom was so good at picking up on his actions and sometimes he just wished he was not such an open book to her at least when he was trying to flirt with his wife. Thankfully gone were the days when she was disgruntled by his closeness with Gopi, now however she had started teasing him and he was not sure how he was supposed to respond.

Since Gopi was going to fly a kite, Raashi decided to do the same. Dhawal looked expectantly at Kinjal but she just looked away. Ahem let go of the kite and came and took over the maanja and slowly guided Gopi verbally and sometimes holding her hand. Gopi was becoming more and more aware of Ahem behind her as he got closer intent on the flying, it took every ounce of will power to concentrate. "Gopi hold steady..Gopi are you listening...hold steady what.." He looked at her she just said "huh" because it seemed that her vocal chords had abandoned her. "Huh Ahem dikra; teaching your wife to fly a kite huh? You are doing better than your Dadaji he used to give me presents only after the fact." Said baa, giving him a knowing look. "Oh boy! Not baa as well" Ahem muttered under his breath while Gopi tried to suppress her giggles. She was not just tickled by the fact that Ahem was being teased by his family, but also the heady feeling of him near her was making her feel tipsy. She sidestepped to avoid him and tripped on her pallu, he held her by her arm to prevent her from falling. "You have got to do something better with this darn pallu" and without paying any attention to their where they were, like he had done at the cricket field he picked up the extra material and tucked it into a her waist only this time he did it more patiently and with care. Gopi felt Ahem's fingers graze her waist and then slowly dip into the waistline of her skirt. He lingered there for more time than necessary and then when he withdrew slowly caressed her waist ever so lightly. That was as much as Gopi could take, she dropped the string of the kite and as Ahem quickly plunged forward to retrieve it stepped back to try and compose herself. She guardedly glanced towards the others no one seemed to have noticed or at least they pretended like the whole incident had gone unnoticed.

Glancing towards Gopi, Raashi realised that Ahem had taken over. Oh good jiju is done with his romancing now let's make this fun, she thought. "Boys vs. Girls" yelled Raashi "come on Gopi get my Maanja; let's see huh Jigerji" fully expecting Jiger and Dhawal to take up the challenge and Ahem to just watch from the side lines after all her jiju was not much of a fun person, he certainly would not take up a girls challenge, but to her surprise it was Ahem flying the kite and Jiger holding the maanja. "Oh shit" she muttered "what was that Raashi, we did not hear you. Did you just bet money against us?" "Jigerji she bit out" looking at him while he laughed at her squirming. He was aware of how uncomfortable she was with Ahem. She had always been but now since she had come clean with Gopi; it was worse for though Ahem had not spoken to her since, he made his disdain for her quite clear besides which he was darn good at flying kites.

They were having fun and the elders looked on as Dhawal cheered his cousins. Kinjal sat in a far corner she was still to be comfortable with her family. Her mother's disappointment in her was evident but it was the contempt that she felt for herself that was worse.

"Come on Gopi distract jiju or we are never going to win." "What are you saying Raashi bhen, How can I do that?" "Oh Gopi don't feign innocence I've seen the looks you guys exchange now come on we are on the same team remember."

Splotch "aargh" cried Raashi as everyone looked at her. She was holding her head; the kite flying was abandoned as everyone rushed to her side and then one by one left the circle satisfied that she was not hurt but holding themselves against their mirth. A pigeon had crapped on her.

"That is what I call poetic justice" remarked Kokila while she continued to serve the drinks pointedly reminding every one of the fiasco with the pigeon last year. Raashi so wanted to throw a tantrum but seeing everyone trying to conceal their laughter changed her mind and ran in to get changed. Gopi attempted to go after her but was pulled back by Ahem "and where do you think you are going?" "Just wanted to check on Raashi bhen" "she will be fine, she is a big girl quite capable of looking after herself" Gopi thought she heard an almost cynical tone in his voice "besides you still have to finish your kite flying lessons."

"What Kokila bhen, your son frightened from last year's defeat now plays with the girls in the house" taunted Savitha. Ahem looked up irritated, but Gopi held his arm to calm him down while Kokila moved closer to the fence to shut Savitha bhen once and for all. She had had enough of this women if it was not this then it was always something with her and this year Koki had promised she was not going to let Savitha get to her and spoil the fun she was having with her family.

Jiger heard his Kaki shooting their neighbour down and walked over to where his parents were sitting. "Beta are you going to check on Raashi?" his mom asked "She will be ok mummy I will give her a few more minutes and then go and see." replied Jiger while helping himself to the snacks on the table. Raashi and he were mending their relationship slowly, it helped that Raashi had admitted to his bhabhi and Kaki all of her misconduct towards his bhabi. His mom and Kaki worked as a team now to help Raashi conform to the ways of the family. He was not too comfortable with his mother-in-law and sensing this Raashi kept her contact to the minimum. Jiger felt badly about restricting mother daughter relationship but Raashi herself had come to understand that her mother was not the positive influence she needed and as a consequence however she had started developing a better relationship with her father. At present theirs was a platonic friendship and Jiger was satisfied with that. He watched fondly as his brother and bhabhi stood a bit away from all of them. Bhai was still trying to teach bhabi to fly a kite or making an excuse of the same to be near her. Ahem's comfort around Gopi had at first attracted plenty of attention from the family and though they still teased them now and again, the family was quite accustomed to it. They soon gave up on the flying and were clearing up as Jiger joint them to help. Gopi swatted Ahem's hand away as he tried to cover hers on the pretext of lifting the same kite. "Ahemjiii" she stuttered and looked up to see Jiger smile at them "Bhai are you bothering my favourite bhabi again? "Now Jiger why would I do that "said Ahem with a straight face.

Later that night, Ahem slipped into bed and scuttled over to sit close to his wife who was seated with her back against the head board her legs stretched under the covers reading a book. When she felt him near her, she smile ups "no work tonight?" "Nope" he said as he closed her book and leant over her to place it on her night stand. Gopi took a deep breath inhaling the scrubbed clean smell of her Ahemji. A slow smile lit her face up Her Ahemji she liked the feel of it. Ahem paused just above her looking at her face, "what are you smiling about" she shook her head "Nothing huh" he smiled as he covered her lips with his pulling her in for a long satisfying kiss. When they finally broke off Gopi was laying flat on the bed her head on a pillow, her hair floating around in mesmerising disarray. Ahem lent his forehead on hers and when he was able to breathe normally again playfully rubbed her nose with his and smiled. "Happy" he asked. She smiled and nodded not trusting herself to speak; This, had been by far one of the best Makar Sankranthi's of her life. Ahem noticed the fleeting change of emotions and instinctively knowing where her thoughts were gathered Gopi in his arms and held her tight. To lighten the mood he traced his finger along her swollen lips and asked "why do you still feel so shy every time I come near you, you blush like a new bride?" Gopi just looked at him and then blushing furiously said "but I am Ahemji." They had consummated their marriage but like everything else about them it had been a slow seduction over a few months. She was still shy around Ahem and the thought of the family being aware of their change of relationship was even more embarrassing. "Besides you were blushing too when maaji and baa teased you except you don't go as red."

"Is that so" he said his voice dropping to a baritone as passion took over. Gopi loved the change of tone in his voice; a warm feeling enveloped her as Ahem dropped feathery kisses all over her face. He kissed her jaw and took to her lips again before he slowly worked his way down her neck and throat. He slowly moved aside her pallu and traced the neckline of her blouse. Gopi closed her eyes revelling in the feeling of the moment and tucked herself further into him feeling the length of him on her. Ahem slowly taking time with each pressed little kisses along the imaginary line that his finger had traced. He buried his face in her cleavage and bought his hand that had been caressing her waist up to the buttons of her blouse.

He paused there, bringing his face up to hers; she anticipated this as it had become their own ritual, he always asked for this nonverbal permission and though he knew her answer waited for her response. She arched up wrapping her arms around his neck pulled him sown into one of the most sweetest of kisses, her way of saying "take me I'm all yours." This was all they need, they had never needed words. They sunk into each other and made love with a passion that shook them to their core.

Lying there spent having expressed their love for each other. Ahem lay back with Gopi wrapped in his arms. The sheets tucked securely around them she had her arm out across his chest. He ran his finger up and down her arm making circles. He felt her smile against his chest, he knew she liked the feel to that, she often said it lulled he to sleep. How he loved her, she awoke in him a man he never knew existed. One who laughed, who played, who empathised, who loved with a passion that sometimes even shocked him. His Gopi yes His Gopi they had come a long way and he was thankful for it more than that he was loving every moment he was living every moment he loved His Gopi.

"I love you Gopi" "and me you Ahemji" she said as she drifted into a warm slumber in his arms. They were a couple who needed very few words between them. They rarely voiced their feelings aloud, for there was no need as they read each other clearly and yet, when they were voiced it was the sweetest feeling ever.