Hi everyone.😊
First let me apologize and grovel for being so lazy and getting lost in SNS Gohem to update quicker. Please forgive me.
Thank you all so much for your patience.
Here is the next update.
Part 14
Gopi lay back in bed, her head resting on stack of soft pillow reflecting on the day's events as she waited for Ahem to join her. Her eyes fell on her rings and she smiled to herself. Leave it to Ahem to pick out the most beautiful set of rings for her. Her heart swelled at the reminder of his love for her and she promised herself that soon she will also tell him how much she loves him and have always loved him.
Gopi felt the bed dip and turned to see Ahem dressed in body hugging T-shirt and pajama bottoms. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him turn towards her and smiled with so much love in his eyes. He raised himself on his right elbow and rested his head on his hand.
"What are you smiling about? He asked her.
Gopi held up her left hand and smiled. "My rings look beautiful, thanks so much." She said to him.
Ahem rested his head back on the pillows then took her left hand in his. He pulled off the wedding band and showed the inside of the ring to her. "Did you see the inscription?"
Gopi was startled and took the ring from him; she hadn't thought to look at the inside of the ring. She read what was inscribed inside the ring. "Be mine forever." Her eyes glazed over and her heart lurched at the words, but she still couldn't bring herself to tell him how she feels about him. She did not want to ruin this night so she kept quiet, she did not want to tell him how much she loves him until she confesses everything to him. She also knew she wasn't being fair, but she just couldn't do this him on their wedding night. However she could give him something to let him know that he was not alone in this feelings he has for her. She took his hand in hers and pulled off the wedding band she had placed on his ring finger.
Ahem frowned when Gopi took off his ring and realized she had a similar thought as him and had his ring engraved also. He felt his heart give a loud thump and felt it's beat increase in rate. He read the inscription inside the ring. "You make me whole." Ahem's happiness increased ten fold with those words, because those simple words told him more than any of her other gestures showed him.
They both placed the rings back on their fingers. Ahem put his arm around Gopi to pull her close to him and she placed her head in the crook of his neck and inhaled his musky scent. She placed her right hand right over his heart and felt the vibration of his heartbeats against her palm.
Ahem caressed Gopi's bare arm and shoulder. Her night attire of thin-strapped silky tank top and matching pajama bottoms had surprised him. The material of her outfit was smooth as the skin he was caressing gently. Ahem took her hand and held it up to distract himself and immediately remembered he needed to find his name in her hand. He absently traced the design with his finger until something familiar caught his eye.
Ahem brought her hand forward for a closer inspection of the design and tracked the A and G entwined together in the middle of a heart. The design was unique in itself because one couldn't tell where the A ended and G began, not only was Ahem touched by the design but this particular design solidified his belief that Gopi was meant to be his. He wonder how Gopi will react to what he had done with the design familiar to what she has in her hand.
He turned his head to look at her and saw her gazing at him with her lips parted. Her eyes wide open in amazement and he felt her souls reach out for him. He moved closer to her and captured her lips to taste her and he felt her enter his mouth to taste him. Ahem deepened the kiss and Gopi tightened her hold on by placing both of her arms around his shoulders. He turned her on her back and his hand caressed her gentle curves.
Gopi let go of her inhibition and put in all her emotions and feelings into the kiss. She matched Ahem's each touch and each caress equally. She groaned when he left her lips and was rewarded with tender kisses down her neck.
Soon Ahem brought her down from her euphoria by gentling his touch. He had to be sensible and do what is in her best interest even if she is willing to be seduced by him. He didn't want her to regret anything later so he stopped while he still had the strength to stop himself.
Gopi felt tears prickle in her eyes even as she hugged him tightly. She would forget herself in the moment, but Ahem made sure to remember not because he would be hurt in the process but because he didn't want her to be in pain if things went out of hand between them at any moment. "Ahem would I be asking too much if I asked you to hold me in your arms like you did that night in Florida?"
Ahem lifted up and gazed down in her eyes and smiled at her tenderly. "I thought you would never ask. It would be my pleasure to hold you in my arms every night, not just tonight." He kissed her on the forehead then turned on his back pulling Gopi along with him. Once he had her comfortable with her head on his chest he reached over and turned off the lights. He pulled the covers over them then took the hand resting over his heart in his and entwined their fingers together and placed it back on his heart. He closed his eyes to sleep with the knowledge that he would sleep and wake up next to love of his life every day for the rest of his life.
Next Morning Gopi woke up with a smile and knew instantly where she was and whom she was with. Today starts her new life with her new family and her husband. She looked up to see if Ahem was a wake.
She lifted up on her elbow and gazed down at his sleeping face. He looked even more handsome when he is relaxed. Gopi moved his hair back from his forehead and traced his forehead with her index finger, she brought her finger down his cheek, to his chiseled jaw to his sensual lips. She traced the outer edge of his lover lip then the upper lip.
Ahem woke up as soon as Gopi moved away from him but stayed still when he felt her gazing down at him. She was so intent on what she was doing that she didn't notice him open his eyes slightly to watch her. His breath caught at the sensual look in her eyes and he felt the answering heat in his body. He groaned silently because this is all he will get from her until she is ready. He decided to stop her exploration of his face before things got too hot.
"Good morning Mrs. Modi. If you keep that up we are not going home anytime soon." He said, making her pull back instantly. Before she could move any further he had her flipped on her back and was looking down at her with a teasing smile. "Too late, you already started something."
Gopi's eyes widened in surprise at first then narrowed when she saw his twinkling eyes and realized he was teasing her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and brought his face closer to hers. "Good morning Mr. Modi, I guess you will be taking your first cold shower this morning." She teased him back.
Ahem smiled widely at her teasing, he was happy to know she knew him well enough to know when he is teasing her and gave back as good as she got. He buried his face in her neck and hugged her to him. He was reluctant to leave this private world of theirs but he had no choice.
Gopi hugged him back and rubbed her hand up and down his back absently. She closed her eyes and savored the moment. "We have to get ready Ahem; the family will be waiting for us."
Ahem lifted up from the warmth of her neck reluctantly and looked down at her. He kissed her on the cheek and released her. "You are a spoil sport, we could have waited a while longer."
Gopi laughed at his whining tone. "We need to get moving if we are going to join the family for breakfast as promised. I am going to shower and then pack while you shower." Gopi got out of bed quickly before temptation to stay in his arms took over her senses.
An hour later they arrived home; Gopi felt the change in Ahem as they got closer to home. He had turned into a quiet young businessman from the teasing husband of that morning. She looked over at him when he stopped in front of the house. "Are you okay?"
Ahem also turned towards her. "I am fine; I was thinking this should have happened three years ago, not today." He glanced at his house then back at Gopi. "When we first moved into this house I was very excited. I put a lot of thought into exactly how I wanted everything but when things fell apart I no longer wanted to live here or be near my family."
Gopi gave him a thoughtful look. "Ahem sometimes its best to let go and look forward to the future. We don't really know what motivates our parents to do what they do. Some parents have a valid reason for denying their children what they want and I truly believe that your family did not intend to hurt you by what they did. You should talk to your mom and ask her why she did what she did three years ago, her answers might surprise you."
Ahem nodded and thought her words made sense and she speaks from experience when she talks about parents and their motivation and wondered what her parent's motivation is in denying her the rightful place in the family.
He got out of the car and came around to her side to help her out. They walked to the front door together and waited for someone to open the door. He was surprised to see his mom was the one to open the door.
"Jai Shree Krishna Maa." Gopi greeted her and his mom's smile grew wider at the way Gopi addressed her. He realized his mom was very happy with Gopi and loved her already. He felt a twig in his heart because except for that one time his mom was always affectionate and loving to everyone most especially him. That is why his pain was so much greater at her rejection of his love.
Ahem thought about what Gopi had said during breakfast and watched his family genuinely accept Gopi as part of the family. She was treated like she has been born into the family rather than just joining them only few weeks before. Seeing his mom being affectionate to Gopi made him realize he needed to talk to his mom soon.
Later that day Ahem went to his parents' room and knocked on the door. His mom told him to come in. When he opened the door and stepped in his mom was surprised but smiled. "Ahem did you need something?"
She was sitting in chair with all her jewelry spread out on the coffee table and was sorting through everything. He sat next to her in the chair and waited for her to look up at him. "Mom I wanted to tell you I am sorry. I haven't been very nice to you in the last three years."
Koki dropped the necklace she was holding back in the box and looked up at her son with tears in her eyes. "No Ahem I know now that what I did to you was wrong."
"Why did you do it mom?" Ahem asked quietly.
Koki turned to Ahem and took his hand in hers. "I was blinded by my own ambitions. Ahem I come from a very large middle class family. We were comfortable but I always had a dream of becoming wealthy one day." She let go of his hand and stood up. "I was the oldest of four girls and my parents were always worried for me the most. I was lucky enough to marry your father and come to America at a young age."
Koki looked out into the distance and remembered those first days in a new country. "When we first came here we struggled a lot. The work was hard and we missed our family. The more difficult it was the more I wanted to make sure that my kids would have a comfortable life. It was nice to have that goal, but I did not know when to say this is enough to make my kids comfortable and so when the proposal came with the business merger I did not want to let go and did everything in my power to convince you."
Ahem realized Gopi had been right. She knew his mom better than he did apparently or her own experience made her see what he didn't see. He stood up and went to his mom. "Thank you mom for explaining what drove you to push me so much. I know you skimmed over things and the reality of starting a new life in a new country with new people and learning the new language must have been more difficult than I can imagine. I should have realized that you would have never denied me what I wanted without a good reason."
Koki placed her hand on Ahem's cheek. "Thank you beta for understanding me, but what I did was wrong and have regretted it for the past three years. I am glad you have finally forgiven me for denying you what you wanted most."
Ahem finally moved close and hugged his mom. He had missed his mom and their closeness. "Thank you mom for accepting Gopi as my wife. I really love her so much and I don't know what I would have done if she hadn't agreed to marry me."
Koki finally felt at peace and hugged her son back. She pulled back and took his hand to make him sit next to her in the chair. "I can see why you love her beta, she is easy to love."
Koki saw the fleeting pain on his face and realized he was hurting for Gopi. "Ahem beta I know you are thinking about Gopi and her parents but don't worry I am sure everything will work out and if not we have enough love for her to have no regrets regarding her parent."
Ahem nodded and asked his mom what she was doing with her jewelry. Ahem spent most of the afternoon talking to his mom and regaining the closeness he shared with her before the engagement fiasco.
That evening Ahem was not surprised to see all his favorite dishes for dinner, but the rest of the family was surprised. Kinjal was first to complain. "Not fair Kaki you made Ahembhai's favorites again. I am not going to be here long, how come I don't get my favorites?"
Hetal smiled at her. "Kinjal I didn't make the food today." Everyone looked at Gopi, who shook her head. "I didn't make it either."
"Mom made it at my request." Ahem said shocking everyone. Ahem winked at Gopi and everyone smiled. They finally had their Ahem back and that was enough for them.
Later that night when Gopi walked into their room Ahem was on the phone. She closed the door and walked towards the bathroom to shower and change. When she came out Ahem was playing with his phone and didn't hear her come out. She went behind his chair and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him on the cheek spontaneously. "Did I tell you how proud I am of you Mr. Modi?"
Ahem pulled her around the chair and into his lap. "The credit goes all to Mrs. Modi." He said and touched his forehead to her forehead.
Gopi wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes. "I am very happy for you. I didn't know it was going to be this easy to get you to talk you your mom."
Ahem smiled at her teasingly. "Ahh..now the real reason for marrying me comes out."
Gopi smiled, got up from his lap and walked towards the dresser to comb out her hair. He followed her to the dressed and leaned against it to face her. "So what did you do while I was talking to mom?"
She dropped the brush back on the dresser. "Explored the house, unpacked my things and visited with Kinjal."
Gopi looked at him to gauge his mood. "Are you okay?"
Ahem had been thinking about asking her about her parents but thought better of it. Instead he took her hand and helped her into bed. "Let's watch TV." He took out the remote and flipped through the channels on the TV.
Gopi sighed and settled her head on his chest. Ahem turned off the TV and wrapped her in his arms. "How do you feel about your new home? Do you miss Rashi?"
"It's different but I like it, and I do miss Rashi. What I really like is it is never boring or you are never alone. There is always someone to talk to. I visited Baa for a while in her room and listened to some interesting stories of her childhood in India. She reminds me of Dadi." Gopi looked up at him with a smile, but he also saw the lingering sadness of missing her dadi.
"You miss her still don't you?" He asked.
She nodded and laid her head back on his chest. "She would have liked you."
Ahem rubbed her back soothingly. He didn't know how else to comfort her. After a while he realized she had fallen asleep and smiled. He reached over and turned the lights of then settled down to sleep.
Week later Gopi had settled into the routine with the family as if she had been there for years instead of just week. Modi family was now getting ready for Jigar and Rashi official engagement. The wedding arrangements were already started.
One evening the whole family was talking about the arrangements for the engagement when Ria and her parents came to visit. Gopi got up and hugged her. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you for a whole week."
Gopi saw Ria's smile slip a little and wondered if everything was okay. As she observed Ria interact with the family something was not right with her. Gopi knew her brother had gone out of town on business and Ria must be dealing with the family on her own.
Later on when Gopi came back from giving Baa medicine she heard Ria mention the engagement.
"Kinjal I don't know what to do; I may not even be able to attend the engagement." Ria said bitterly.
"Ria relax, I am sure if you tell Amit he will not let them stop you from coming." Kinjal reassured her.
Gopi did not want to eavesdrop on their private conversation so she walked away from there, but she felt that she should prepare herself to tell the family the truth about her family.
Two days later her premonition came true and her world came crashing down around her.
The whole family was gathered in the main hall after dinner. Rashi had come over also along with Gopi's uncle and aunt. Ria and Amit were also present. The dinner was organized for Gopi's aunt and uncle who will be returning to India the following week.
When Ria's mom asked her what she wanted to wear for the engagement, Ria would not answer her. "Ria what is wrong with you? I have been asking you for weeks now and you have not confirmed anything with me." Savita foi asked in frustration.
Ria lost her cool with her mom. "Mom I am not coming to the engagement." Her outburst shocked the whole family into silence.
Amit saw Ria bite her lips to stop the tears that were brimming in her eyes and turned to her. "Ria, what has happened to make you say that? Of course we are attending the engagement."
Gopi saw Ria shake her head as if to say leave it for now but her bhai kept looking at her with curiosity.
Gopi looked at the varying expressions of worry on everyone's face and realized that something was really wrong. Ria was always pleasant and cheerful; she never let anything build to a point of explosion.
Gopi stood up from where she was sitting and went to kneel in front of her. She took Ria's hands in hers. Gopi knew that she was the cause of this frustration in Ria when she avoided Gopi's probing gaze.
"It is because of me isn't it?" Ria shook her head adamantly but Gopi could tell that Ria didn't want lie to her.
Gopi turned and looked at her brother, then her aunt, and finally to Ahem who was watching her. She turned back to her brother and aunt and nodded her head at them. She saw Rashi come and stand by her aunt.
Gopi took a deep breath and squeezed Ria's hands to make her look down at her. "She is forbidding you to come to the engagement because I am part of your family now, am I right Ria?"
When Ria nodded her head yes she felt the family gasp and look at Gopi in confusion.
"What nonsense, she can't do that. Why the hell would your mother hate you so much that now she is blackmailing Ria just to trouble you?" Jigar asked in anger.
Gopi stood up and went to sit next to Ahem. She needed his strength to do what she needs to do.
Ahem sensed Gopi needed him now more than ever, not caring that it would seem disrespectful to his family he took her hand in his to assure he would be by her side no matter what happens next. She looked at him in appreciation then turned back to the family.
"She hates me because I am not her daughter Jigar." She answered in calm voice.
*~+~*
😛 I know most of you are ready to kill me by now, but I couldn't resist.😃
