OS: Where the heart lies

"Meethi, take good care of Baa. Remember to give her the medicines." "Yes Naani Bhabhi" Meethi bid goodbye along with Baa in one car.

"Ahem, take good care of my Gopi vahu. Your Naani's place is a little far off from the city. In case you need anything you will have to drive 10 miles but this is the best we can do under circumstances. Call if you need anything. The only comforting fact is that Baa and Mota Bhabhi will be with Gopi vahu."

"Don't worry mom." Ahem assured Koki. "I will take care of your Gopi vahu." He winked at Gopi who blushed while Koki turned towards her.

"Gopi vahu, be careful. I am loath to let you go to a village when you are this pregnant but we have no choice. The only 2 good hotels in Rajkot are booked full due to the minister's daughter's marriage. The house is uninhabitable due to the pest control taking over and spraying medicine all through." Koki frowned as she remembered the heavy duty smell. "Take care of yourself and eat on time. I would have come but Jigar, Ahem ke papa and Mota Bhai are staying here and Rashi also has just been out of surgery." Koki placed her hand on Gopi's head just as Gopi bent to take her ashirvaad. Koki stopped her midway and hugged her. "Take care child."

"Kokila, I will take care of Gopi. Now go on. The other car is waiting for you. Vevanji and Kinjal will be waiting." Kokila nodded and left as Hetal took Gopi's hand and took her to the car.

All waved as Ahem drove a set to Naani's while Jigar drove the rest to Rajpal Nagar.

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"Mummy, we are finally here." Rashi called out to Urmila and plomped herself on the sofa in the hall. Kinjal came out of the room and then came forward to welcome her mother and the others. "Jai shree Krishna Maa." Kokila wished Kinjal back and then Dhawal.

"Please make yourself comfortable.. Please. Let me get Fui and something to drink for you all." Dhawal went forward welcoming all.

"I will get some juice Dhawalji." Kinjal offered and went to the kitchen while Dhawal went to fetch his aunt.

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"Ahem Dikra, will it take longer? My feet are already hurting." Baa complained as Ahem skillfully guided the car around a pothole. "Just 10 more minutes Baa. We will be home. The rains have made the road messier and it is hard to go fast." Ahem explained.

His Kakiji leaned to the front and whispered, "It is alright Ahem. Just drive carefully. Gopi is sleeping and you have to go slow, I get it." Ahem turned red and fumbled with words. "Chalo Dikra.. It is alright." Hetal laughed silently and sat back. She grinned more as she saw Ahem stealthily look sideways at the sleeping Gopi and move a stray hair off her face as she slept in the seat adjacent to him.

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"Fui talk.." Dhawal hissed as Urmila stood open mouthed at the brood of Modis sitting comfortably in her hall with her daughter. "Hi Mummy.." Rashi said and then frowned as Urmi looked around with wide eyes.

"Fui, I invited all here. There are a swarm of bees in MM and as the pest control guys are working on clearing them out, I invited Sasuma, Jigar Bhai and the rest here to stay. I did right didn't I?" Dhawal asked excitedly and without waiting for an answer ran to help Kinjal place plates on snacks on the table.

"Jai Shree Krishna Urmila ben. I hope you are not too inconvenienced." Koki wished the shocked Urmila as Rashi switched the fan on.

Uff.. it is so hot. Mummy, can you please switch the pedestal fan on too? I am getting cooked." As Kinjal smirked, Urmila wordlessly went to her bidding muttering under her breath.

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"Come in.. Come in all of you." Naani went forward and invited everyone in. She stopped Ahem just as he entered the house with Gopi. "One second Jigar. I have asked Meethi to bring the Aarthi thaali." Ahem looked confused as Hetal smiled. "Maasi, this is Ahem and Gopi. Jigar is not here." Naani nodded and smiled.

"Haan, Ahem. My Koki's son. Come in with your wife.. " She said as Hetal took the aarthi.

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"What is this Rashi? Your entire family is here suddenly?" Urmi caught Rashi alone in the kitchen and cornered her. Rashi cried out in pain. "Mummy, take your hands off. You are hurting me. That is the very place I was stung." Rashi shook her mother's hands off as she rubbed her hand vigorously with the other to reduce the sting.

"Urmila Ben.." Kokila walked in and then looked worried at Rashi. "What is it Rashi? Are you in pain?" Rashi tried nodding no but Kokila went forward and looked at her hand. "It is swelling. Urmila ben. get some ointment immediately. Rashi is in pain."

Urmila fought against a repartee and her concern for Rashi and finally went away to get some medicine.

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"What is this Janko? You are all talking about some big story on bees. Remember the time we used to have that big nest behind our house?..." Baa and Hetal discussed their earlier days and the fun they had as kids . Hetal and Gopi followed by Meethi came in with trays of coffee and snacks. Ahem immediately went forward and helped set Gopi's tray and then turned to get Hetal's. Naani signed to Baa who just winked.

"Oh yeah, he is exactly like his grandfather alright.", She whispered and both woman giggled between themselves.

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"Rashi, you rest first. I will take care of getting the things set for tomorrow." Jigar made Rashi sit what had been her bed before and went ahead with partial unpacking of their suitcases.

"But Jigarji.." Rashi got up and joined him in the corner. "Are you finding it difficult here?" She whispered and then proceeded in taking out his shirt and replacing the one Jigar already had taken out.

Jigar accepted the replacement with a smile and looked up smiling. "No Rashi. Why do you ask?" Rashi looked down a bit and then said softly. "This is no Modi Mansion. There is no AC, or a separate room.." Jigar laughed and then placed his hands on her cheek.

"But this is my wife's home. So it is mine too." Rashi smiled happily.

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"Maa, what are you doing?" Kinjal went ahead to get the pail of water from Koki's hands. "Getting water for cooking Kinjal. What do you think I am doing?" Kinjal grew silent at Koki's reply.

Just then Parag came outside and smiled. He took the bucket from Kinjal's hands and smiled at his wife and daughter. "Reminds me of old times Koki." He said absent-minded.

Kinjal looked puzzled as her father left with the bucket and was more surprised to see her mother smile a bit. "Maa, what did Papa mean by that?" Kinjal asked, growing confused by the second.

"Nothing much. He used to help me get water when we were newly married." Kinjal looked at Kokila open mouthed.

"Just like old days." Kokila continued to explain. "I remember getting water from the common well with Mota Bhabhi in the initial years of my marriage. We used to have so much fun working, cooking and helping each other." Kinjal looked amazed as her mother went into the past.

"Those were the days." Kokila again smiled a bit and then turned to Kinjal. "We are where we are in life because of all the hardwork inside and outside the house Kinjal. You did not think that we were always this rich, did you?" Kinjal nodded no mechanically while her mind processed what her mom had just said.

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Gopi walked into the room holding the plate in her hand. She came in just as Ahem hissed as he applied medicine to the bee-stung area in his hand.

"Why didn't you tell me Ahemji?" Gopi asked and walked towards Ahem and took his hands in her small ones. She then proceeded to blow on his wound softly. Ahem looked on and smiled, staying silent.

"I observed during dinner too. You did not eat at all." Gopi turned to remove the plate covering some rotis and the daal as Ahem looked at her puzzled.

"I know you are still hungry. You had almost no dinner." Gopi replied softly to the question in his eyes. She then proceeded to tear a piece of roti and took it near his mouth. "Please eat."

Ahem smiled and accepted the piece. "Thank you." He whispered as Gopi fed him another piece of his dinner. "You should have told me." She pouted as Ahem grinned.

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"Here is your tiffin box and please go carefully." Rashi handed Jigar the box of food. "Sure Rashi. You take care too. Make sure that you take some painkillers if needed. I will be back soon." Jigar quickly looked around to see if anyone was looked and then gave a quick kiss on her forehead. Rashi blushed and then waved him off to work.

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"Keep that down. I will ask Meethi to clean the backyard. Can't you sit still for sometime?" Ahem asked exasperated when he found Gopi cleaning the backyard doing what he considered backbreaking work. "Meethi Ben is busy Ahemji and anyways, I was bored sitting still." Gopi replied and gave him a sweet smile before continuing. "Gopiii.." Ahem went forward to take the broom off her hands when he heard his Naani's voice.

"Dikra, what are you doing in the backyard when I just waved you off to work?" Gopi turned around and gave a small laugh as she heard her husband give an unconvincing answer about getting water. She heard Baa join Naniji and both of them teasing her Ahemji who quickly waved them goodbye before rushing off.

Gopi continued working and stopped when she heard the sound of her cellphone receiving a message. "Take rest. It is an order." the message read followed by love you from Ahem. Her heart filled with happiness as she saved the message both in her cellphone and in her heart.

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Rashi sighed and slowly walked back to the sofa and sat on it. The house looked empty. Kinjal had Kokila to the neighbor's house. The Modi women had been invited but Rashi had declined the invitation. Her mother had been cribbing all morning about the amount of food that she had to spare for the Modis and it had given Rashi a headache. She had even been short with her mother to the extent that her mother had scolded her and was even now sulking in her room.

Rashi looked unseeing at the magazine in her hands and sighed. Everyone had insisted that she rest. Her Kakiji had helped Kinjal in the kitchen and also get water from the common tap while her mother had excused herself siting a non existent sprain in her ankle. . Kakaji had accompanied Dhawal Bhai to the market. She had felt embarrassed and angry when her mother still made a point about how costly everything was.

"Hi Rashi.." Rashi looked up to see her college friend Shruthi walk in. "I saw your husband leave in the car and thought maybe you have come for a visit and I was right." Rashi grinned and welcomed her friend.

"So tell me Rashi.. How are you? You are married into such a rich family. This is what you wanted right? A rich family, a husband who you always listens to you.. You should be very happy now.." Rashi opened her mouth to protest only to stop. Her mind thought back on what her friend had just said and she realized that her dreams had come true.

"I am very happy." Rashi said and smiled inspite of her physical pain.

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Gopi placed the folded shirt in the bag and ran her hand over it lovingly.

"Mom called and said that we can come home today. I will return early and help pack. Till then just rest Mrs. Modi." Gopi had nodded by habit and then said yes into the receiver of her phone. She was glad that they were going home. She had missed Maaji and Rashi ben though it had been a good happy two days at Naani's house.

"Getting ready to go home Dikra?" Gopi stood up as Naani came into her room. She nodded and proceeded to make place on the bed to let Naani sit.

"Mari Dikri." Naani smiled and then continued. "Gopi vahu, before you go home I wanted to give you something." Gopi looked at Naani and waited. Just then Hetal and Baa walked in.

"I want you to have this Beta." Naani brought forward an idol of Kanhaji with a pot of butter wrapped in silk. Baa gasped. "Yes janko." Naani turned to Baa and nodded. "This is Koyeli's father's gift when I was pregnant. I never thought I could part with it but Ahem and Ahem's wife remind me of us. I could not resist." Baa and Hetal nodded happily while Gopi took the idol trembling in her hands. Her eyes filled as she accepted the ashirvaad.

She almost let it fall and gasped only to find another hand holding hers and her Kanhaji from falling.

Ahem squeezed Gopi's hand slightly a she smiled through her tears. Both bent forward to take blessings from the three woman in the room.

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"Isn't it just awesome that we are going home Jigarji?" Rashi skipped around the room, throwing things into the bag. Jigar looking at Rashi's college photo turned around and smiled. He could not resist asking. "You seem to be in a very happy mood Rashi. What is going on?"

Rashi turned towards him and stood for a second. A grin spread across her face. "Don't know Jigarji. I am just very happy. We can all go to MM and Mummyji and Gopi will be back. It is nice to be together." Rashi shrugged and hugged herself and continued her random flinging of clothes in the bag.

Jigar shook his head and smiled. He was pleasantly surprised as his wife hugged him from the back and whispered. "Thanks Jigarji. I love you." She ran out happily the next minute leaving a stunned but exhilarated Jigar.

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"Fui, You did this? You set the bees in MM?" Urmila looked at Dhawal frowning at her. She saw Kinjal next to Dhawal shaking her head in disbelief. What was more scary was Kokila standing silently, her eyes boring into her as the bee-handler stood cowering...

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