Here is the other surprise I promised.. My OS for Navrathri😛
I would like to thank Swasthi for letting me use her idea for the story.. Hope you guys like it.
"Gopi, How do I look? Isn't this so nice?" Rashi swung around and her chanya choli spread around as she did so. "You look very beautiful Rashi ben." Gopi beamed at Rashi, proud at the way her sister looked. Rashi had gotten ready for the Dandiya event. Jigar had told her that he would pick her up in another half an hour.
The elder Modi women had left with Baa and Parag in the first car. Rashi was to come with Jigar and Chirag and she was ready for dandiya.
"I am sure I will be wearing the most beautiful dress in the entire pandal." Rashi looked at her self in the mirror and opined. Gopi agreed immediately. She was wearing her sari as usual and looked radiant.
"It is so sad that Kakiji said you cannot come, huh Gopi?" Rashi asked and Gopi's face fell. "Haan Rashi ben." "Then why didn't you tell Kakiji?" "Well, Rashi ben, she was saying that for my own benefit. She is right you see.. The entire Bengali fraternity will be coming together with us Gujaratis. I already feel a little sick after standing in that smell." , Gopi said sadly. "Well, what holds your boat."
Rashi turned around to set her hair straight and saw Jigar walking in with his bag.
"Arrrey, You look beautiful Rashi." Rashi beamed at Jigar's appreciating look. "Of course Jigarji. After all this was my choice of dress." Jigar bowed to her taste and smiled and wished Gopi.
"Bhabhi, can you please get me some tea? I will change. It is already late. Papa said he is directly going to the pandal. So it is just me and Rashi." Gopi agreed and left to the kitchen.
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"Jigarji, how long will..." Rashi stopped mid sentence as she saw Jigar come out dressed in maroon kurtha matching her choli. "How do I look?" Jigar asked and winked. "You got the sherwani?" Rashi asked happily. "Of course. You said you liked it and how could I not."
Jigar walked near Rashi and both stood facing the mirror. "We look awesome." Rashi held on tightly to Jigar's hands and he smiled. "See Jigarji, we will win today for sure." "It does not matter even if we do not win Rashi. It is just a game." Rashi shook her head no.
"Game? Jigarji, we have to win the trophy." Jigar smiled at her childlike insistence and agreed.
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"All the best Rashi ben. All the best Devarji." Gopi waved at both. "Bhabhi, you sure you will be ok for the next hour. Meethi ben is out to see her brother and Bhai said it may take some time.." Jigar asked again worried for his pregnant Bhabhi who was staying alone in the house.
"I am fine Devarji. I will call if there is anything needed. Now go and win the competition." Rashi gave Gopi a thumbs up and both sauntered to the car.
Gopi turned around and walked back into the empty house.
"It is just you and me chotu.." She said lovingly caressing her tummy. She felt the answering kick and smiled. Her baby would give her company until Ahemji came home. He had told Maaji that he would take care of Gopi. Gopi was happy with the arrangement as that meant Maaji could enjoy dandiya which she knew her Maaji loved.
Ahem never cared for crowded gatherings. Hence he would be happy to stay at home. Though Gopi would miss the dance and fun, she accepted that it was too risky to fall sick now. It was not a question of just herself. Gopi again absently ran her hand over her stomach and walked towards the kitchen.
She would make dinner for Ahemji, his favorite Kaddi and then rest.
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Crash!!! Gopi looked up startled. She was giving last touches to the Kaddi. The aloo sabzi was ready and the flour was kneaded to make hot rotis for her Ahemji. The sudden sound frightened her.
"Who is that?" Gopi asked afraid. She slowly walked out and looked left and right from the kitchen. There was no one in sight. "Ah..emji.." Gopi's voice trembled as she called out. There was no answering reply.
Gopi tiptoed out slowly and walked towards the hall when a hand closed in and rounded her. Her voice caught in her throat as Gopi struggled against the person who held her.
"Gopi.. Gopi.. wake up.. Gopi.." Gopi awoke with a start to see Ahem peering down at her with guilt. "Sorry I am late. You look tired."
Gopi gave him a small smile and then looked at the clock. It was only 8:30. She had fallen asleep after cooking dinner and that too sitting on the dining table. "No Ahemji. I finished cooking and fell asleep. You are back? Did you finish your work?"
Ahem nodded and then helped her stand up by holding her shoulders and letting her hold his hand. "Careful.. Here." Both walked upstairs and Ahem held his Gopi near him. Silence held as both reveled the moment of being together alone.
"I have a surprise for you." Ahem whispered into Gopi's ear just as they reached the room. Gopi looked at him questioning but her face broke into a smile. "Wait a little my dear. Now close your eyes." Gopi nodded and said as suggested as she let her husband guide her into their room.
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"Oh so many people. ooo.. Jigarji.." Rashi banged into Jigar as she was pushed. Jigar held her tightly in his embrace. "It is ok Rashi. See how colorful it is. I love it." "That I agree." Rashi happily nodded and both walked closely towards the Modis.
"There you are Rashi." Hetal smiled at Jigar and Rashi. "What took you so long? They are already calling for the dandiya pairs." Kokila said and Rashi looked panicked. "Kakiji, I am not yet ready. I have to first make sure my makeup.."
"Rashi.." Rashi looked up at Kokila's stern voice apprehensively. "You look beautiful. Now go on and register yourself. You go with her Jigar." Rashi blushed at the praise, nodded and went to the counter.
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"How do you like it?" Gopi looked, her eyes shining at the lehenga in her hand. "It looks lovely Ahemji." She looked at Ahem and smiled as she ran her hand on top. "It looks beautiful." Her voice held awe as she again looked at the dress Ahem had got her.
The minute she had opened her eyes she had seen the gift wrapped box with a bunch of red roses on top. Ahem had hugged her and wished her happy Navrathri.
"Wear it. I want to see how it looks." Ahem cajoled as Gopi blushed. "No no Ahemji.. Not now. Why will I wear it? We are just at home." She blabbered all excuses that came to mind. Ahem looked hurt.
"So you will not even wear it for me?" His false anger made her smile and she looked at him and smiled. She had fallen in love with the dress the minute she had seen it and had wanted to wear it. Somehow her Ahemji had caught on.
"Really Ahemji? Even if we are just at home?" She asked wistfully. "Especially because we are at home." Ahem told her enigmatically and ushered her to the bathroom. "Get ready Gopi. This is just a start. Go on."
She turned, looked puzzled but went in obediently.
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"...and how dare you pour water over our pooja things?" Rashi looked perplexed as her mom raised her voice against the woman in Bengali sari.
To Rashi's embarrassment, her mom had come with all her friends to the Pandal. The already crowded place became super crowded and Rashi, angry at her mother had cribbed on the fact that she had not been invited.
Her mom had gotten angry and had vowed that she would clear off the Bengali samaj and had stupidly tried some Kalaakari and had been caught red handed.
"Please Mummy.. All are watching." Rashi pulled at her mom's hand, very close to tears. "Urmila ben. Have some shame. Please stop all this drama." Kokila hissed but Urmila would hear none of it.
She ranted and raved as Rashi watched helplessly.
"There is nothing you can do Rashi." She hid her face in Jigar's shoulders and shed a couple of tears for herself and her mother.
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"Now where is he gone Chotu?" Gopi asked her baby. She had come out and was now dressed in the beautiful dress that Ahem had got her. She had even completed dressing up with the bangles, Maang tikka and other accessories just as if she was going to the garba.
Gopi sighed. "I will imagine I am there." She said wistfully and twirled around slowly enjoying the skirt spread and then fall around her.
"You look beautiful." Gopi looked up to see Ahem walk in dressed in his green sherwani. Her eyes widened as he walked close to her. "Ahemji, you.." "Shh.." Ahem went behind Gopi and closed her eyes with his hands. "Now walk carefully with me." He whispered near her ears and Gopi nodded, placing a hand over his.
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"Careful now. Watch the step. There we are here." Ahem removed the cloth around Gopi's eyes and she blinked twice before adjusting to the bright lights in the hall. The hall looked dazzling with lights and decorations. It looked like the.. "Garba pandal..." Gopi whispered as she slowly rotated taking in all the colorful decorations and lights with a mock of the various stalls.
"Ahemji, you.." "Do you like it? I did not want you to miss this year's navrathri" Ahem closed in near Gopi and asked. She nodded eargerly and felt tears prickling her eyes. "It looks like I am at the Garba itself.." She hurriedly wiped her tears as they threatened to fall. "I am glad." Ahem gently took Gopi's face in both his hands and wiped the lone tear.
"Thank you Ahemji." Ahem kissed her on the forehead and hugged her to himself."
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"STOP IT.." Arundhathi said loudly at the women fighting. Silence engulfed the area as guards came in and stood around.
"I am ashamed I decided to allow these two groups to celebrate the function together. CHi.." Women looked abashed as Urmi stood staring her face twisting at the officers words.
"I thought this would be a decent set of people who would enjoy different cultured and traditions. I was wrong. YoU and YOU.." She pointed to Urmila and the Bengali lady who had been involved in the fight. "I want you and all who are associated with you to leave this place immediately."
Urmila immediately went forward. "hey, who are you to.." "I will order you to be arrested if you utter one more word. OUT.. OUT of here now.." Urmila looked frightened but she turned and started out in a huff..
"Rashi, come with me." Rashi tried prying her hands away from her mother but her mother had been loud enough.
"Mrs. Modi, this woman is known to you?" Kokila threw an angry glance at Rashi and Urmi but nodded in answer. "Then, I have to ask you and your family to leave this place too. Please. For peace and quiet."
Rashi looked horrified as Kokila started to reason. But Rashi saw her Mummyji nod no at Kokila and the entire Modi family left the garba ground.
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"Mrs. Gopi Ahem Modi, will you not dance with me?" Gopi looked surprised as Ahem turned to face her extending the dandiya stick in his hand. "Dance Ahemji?" She asked surprised.
"Yes, Mrs. Modi. I was hoping you would dance with me." Gopi nodded yes and took the sticks from his hand. Ahem walked towards the music system and switched it on. Garba music filled the air.
Gopi started slowly but soon lost herself to the music. She moved around swinging gently and dancing with Ahem, her heart bursting with joy. All she had wanted was to play Garba with Ahem. The dance brought back memories of their first dance together. She found Ahem dance around her and then hug her from behind.
"Are you happy?" He asked and she craned her neck to see his smiling face. "Hmm.." She felt Ahem hug her closer to him and enjoyed his scent and closeness.
"Ohh.." Ahem jumped suddenly and Gopi looked surprised. She turned around immediately. "You alright Ahemji?" She asked worriedly while Ahem's face looked in wonderment. "Gopi.. Gopi.." Gopi waited for him to complete. She saw Ahem look at her in complete happiness and then look at her tummy.
"Gopi, was that our baby?" Ahem leaned close and Gopi realized that Ahem had for the first time experienced their child, alive and kicking in her. She nodded yes and looked at him.
Ahem could not resist himself. He had hugged Gopi close to himself and was immersed in her when he had felt it. A kick. For a second time had frozen but realization had dawned immediately that his baby had made itself known to him with the kick.
It awed him and stunned him to silence.
Ahem pulled back the extending arm only to find Gopi hold his hand in hers. "It is ok Ahemji." She smiled at him and slowly placed his hand on her bulging stomach and closed her tiny hand over his. "Feel chotu, Ahemji. He is saying hi." Ahem's eyes widened as he felt the little life inside Gopi move and then he felt it, the next kick.. "Whoa.." Ahem said involuntarily and then laughed.
"Our baby wants to dance too." Ahem looked at Gopi's sparkling eyes filled with love and pride as she held his hand letting him feel their child. Ahem nodded as his heart overflowed with love. Their baby was alive and he could feel it. It was humbling and the most beautiful thing in the world.
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"I am so sorry Jigarji." Tears fell as Rashi apologized to Jigar for the umpteenth time. "OH I wish Mummy never came. Now we cannot even dance in the garba and they would not let us dance in the competition either." Rashi could not contain her disappointment and she looked outside the car window, feeling angry and dejected.
The car screeched to a halt outside the Modi office building and Rashi found herself pulled by hand into the building. "Now what Jigarji?" She asked unable to comprehend what was happening. "Shh.. " Jigar hissed and then switched on the light in the dark hall.
Rashi grinned as she saw decorations and a music system in the end.
"Rashi, this may not be as big as the Dandiya ground, but we had a small office celebration for navrathri. You wanted to dance garba right. We can dance Garba here." Rashi eagerly nodded yes and Jigar switched on the music.
Music filled the hall and Rashi twirled around as Jigar joined her.
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"Enough Ahemji. I cannot eat anymore." Gopi held a hand over her mouth and one over her stomach as Ahem cajoled her to take another bite from the paneer roll. "Just one more. For our chotu." Gopi relented and took one more bite.
"I loved it Ahemji." She said as Ahem gave her a tissue and then helped her up. "Let me clear these up and then.." Ahem nodded no and placed his finger on her lips stopping Gopi from saying anything further.
"I have called Ramlal and his wife to help clear things up. All you need Mrs. Modi is to come upstairs now and then take rest. You have had a tiring day." Gopi laughed at that and nodded slightly. Ahem took her hand in his and both walked upstairs just as Ramlal and his wife entered.
"Nazar na lage." Ramlal's wife said and smiled at the couple walking upstairs forgetting the world around them.
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"Just one more dance... Please Jigarji.. just one more dance.." Jigar huffed, out of breadth but agreed seeing Rashi's enthusiasm. They started once more going round and round to the music.
The dance reached a cresendo and both Jigar and Rashi twirled faster and faster losing themselves to the fun. As they finished they could hear clapping all around.
Both were out of breathe as they came to a stop holding on to each other for support. "Well done!!" "Superb" "Beautiful" Words of appreciation filled the air as both came to a stop.
Rashi's eyes widened seeing a group of people applauding them. Her mummyji, Kakiji, Kakaji and Papaji were standing in the front of the crowd clapping their hands furiously.
"encore..encore." The crowd chanted and Rashi beamed with pleasure.
"It was an amazing performance Jigar sir." An employee came forward and greeted Jigar and then he turned to Rashi and complimented her too.
"Jigarji.. what is this?" Rashi asked half angry but happy too. "I do not know Rashi." Jigar whispered ,confused himself.
"They were working on the project submission tomorrow Jigar and then we heard you drive in. I was driving the others home when Susheel ji called me and said that we were missing the best garba of this year and so we came her."
"Rashi beta, you danced so well" "Thank you mummyji." Rashi shrugged happilly. "Rashi, you dance very well. You would have surely won the competition." Kokila said pulling her pallu to the front "Thanks Kakiji" Rashi beamed and she entwined her fingers tightly around Jigar's hands... She felt him close his fingers around hers and both smiled happilly at each other as the music again started and all joined to play garba.
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"What else does choti do?" Ahem asked eagerly as they sat on the sofa close to each other. Gopi's head was on his shoulders and he had his one hand around her. The other caressed her tummy feeling their child.
"Its Chotu." Gopi said softly and then continued. "Sometimes he becomes a badmash and I can feel him moving around restlessly." Gopi said and smiled as Ahem ran his hand over softly. "If I tell a story or recite something, then chotu will sleep, isn't it chotu?" Gopi asked softly.
"I can feel it Gopi. Choti is saying yes." Ahem excitedly replied and then kissed Gopi again. "Can .. Can our baby hear me?" Ahem asked and Gopi nodded yes.
Ahem softly removed himself and kneeled before the sofa. "Baby, this is your dad." He said softly. "I love you." Ahem hugged Gopi and their child and planted a soft kiss on her stomach. "I love you and your mom. Thank you Gopi."
Gopi hugged him back and they stayed in each other's arms enjoying their child enclosed safely between them.
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Anupamaa
Pocket Mein Aasman
Cricket
