Part 2
7 years back
Rashi was successful in driving a wedge between Hetal and Koki. Now Hetal became assertive. An irritated Kokila used Gopi as her punching bag. Hetal was always hurt on seeing Gopi being illtreated. Earlier she used to plead with Kokila and ask her not to punish Gopi for small mistakes, but now things have changed, Hetal decided to take the matters into her own hands. She knew that Gopi's marriage to Ahem was a farce and she needed to bring her life back on track. Hetal had talked to Ahem about it but he gave evasive replies. It broke Hetal's heart that such a thing is happening in the house in her presence.
Hetal took a deep breath and went to the mandir, there she prayed to Kanhaji to give her the strength to help Gopi. She created her profile on all matrimonial websites and started a secret groom hunting. Things weren't easy, even though a lot of people knew that Gopi was a very good person, the fact that she was married before became a taint on her.
One afternoon her phone rang. Hetal answered it. It was her friend Lalitha from Bangalore. She knew Lalitha for the past twenty years, she was her neighbour back then. Modi's lived in a modest house and Lalitha's husband who worked in a bank took the neighbouring house on rent. Hetal liked Lalitha whereas Koki despised her. Lalitha stayed in Rajkot for 6 years before her husband was transferred elsewhere.
Lalitha had called Hetal for advice, she asked Hetal how to make her son regain his happiness. Hetal knew the cause of Nalin's unhappiness. Lalitha told that she wants to get her son re-married and was looking for a bride, caste no bar. She told Hetal that she wants a sanskari bahu and it doesn't matter where she comes from.
Hetal sensed an opportunity and told her Gopi's story. Lalitha asked for a photo so that she could show it to her son. Hetal asked Jigar to post a photo of Gopi on facebook. Jigar does that even though he isn't sure why.
That evening Lalitha asked Nalin to log into facebook and do as she said. Nalin agreed and they eventually saw Gopi's photo. She looked beautiful in a baby pink salwar-kameez[ After Hetal decided to protect her ,she made Chirag declare that they have adopted Gopi, Ahem was irritated but Hetal asked Gopi to dress like an unmarried girl henceforth. Gopi agreed to it for her elder's happiness. She knew tha her marriage is decaying and its stench is unbearable].
Hetal and Chirag took Gopi to Bangalore and made her meet Nalin. Gopi was nervous but she knew that she can't stay in MM forever, if Koki gets Ahem re-married then she will feel awkward in the house. She knew that she can never be Ahem's love. Nalin and Gopi spoke in Hindi as he knew that she didn't know English. Nalin found her to be a nice person and since his mother liked her a lot and she needs company at home, he agreed to the alliance.
Gopi liked Nalin's nature. He respected elders, he was soft spoken and above all he was Hetal's choice. Lalitha and Hetal consulted a Pandit and decided to get them married after two weeks. The wedding was to be a simple affair in the town of Tirupathi [ Neither Gujarati nor coastal-Karnataka rituals were to be followed, all they wanted was God's blessings].
That day they shopped for loads of silk saree for Gopi's trousseau. Gopi was apprehensive about her impending wedding but didn't show it. On their return to MM Rashi jumped at the bags in Hetal's hands but Hetal shook her away and told her that those were for Gopi. Rashi made a face and asked can't she have even one of them? Hetal said -"No , I don't have the time to shop for new sarees as Gopi's wedding is after two weeks". All at MM where shocked, Kokila shouted at Hetal but she remained firm and told her that Gopi isn't Koki's bahu anymore, she is her daughter now. Koki didn't know how to react to this and wondered whether she should inform Ahem or not? If she does then he will come back for sure and create more confusion in Gopi's life. Ahem was in Nigeria for the past 2 months in order to oversee a construction project and if he leaves Abuja then the project would be in jeopardy. Kokila finally decides not to tell Ahem