Chapter 3
Ahem notices that there is a lot of traffic on the road,there must have been some accident he thinks otherwise roads are stark empty at 2 o'clock in the night.Kaka had left four hours back and had asked him to accompany him home but he was so excited at how the events of the day had turned in his favor that he stayed back,delegated responsibilities among team members and chalked entire schedule for the progress of the project for the next couple of months.Now all he wanted was to head back home,have dinner and tell gopi about the day's events.He was surprised how he wanted to share his thoughts with her in spite of knowing that she really wouldn't get a hang of it.He hoped against hope that she would be awake and sit with him,though he knew that she and the rest of the members would be fast asleep since Mom and Gopi start with their household duties early in the morning.
Gopi was really worried, Ahemji had not returned from work. Maaji had asked her to go to the store room and clean 10 kg of rice since the wedding was approaching and the guests would arrive in some days.She had assumed that he was back in time but when she didn't see him at the dinner table she was curious.She didn't dare ask anybody as after taking her vows back she had no right.Maaji would have eaten her alive with skin considering the mood she remains in these days.She had finally mustered the courage to call Ahemji and ask him directly but wasn't sure whether he would like her to interfere in his life ?After all he had offered her his help only because he had taken pity on her helpless condition and he wanted peace for his mother and himself."Kanhaji,but why isn't he home.Why can't i stop worrying."After cleaning up the kitchen,she asks maniben if she had any information about Ahemji's whereabouts.When Maniben answers in the negative,she asks her to go to sleep and says that she will open the door for him and serve him food whenever he is back.Maniben asks her of she would like to have dinner.She says i will eat after Ahemji.She goes and sits in the temple,worried sick and praying to kanhaji for Ahemji's health and safety.
Ahem rings the bell twice.He thinks that everybody has slept and decides to go and sleep in the car.Just then the door opens and he sees Gopi.Her eyes were half closed and she looked breathtaking.Suddenly Ahem's fatigue vanished and he was spellbound by her innocence and freshness. As he stood at the doorway and enjoyed her luminous presence,she suddenly came to her senses and placed the pallu on her forehead.Ahem felt like banging his head against the wall but mutely followed her inside the house.Gopi brought him water and asked him to freshen up for dinner.He just noded and sat at the dining table. She served him dinner and noticed that he was really hungry. She wanted to ask him what delayed him so much but thought otherwise.They had an awkward silence between them.Finally Ahem asked her "Could you bring me some more dal".To which Gopi replied " I was so worried,what delayed you so much?" He smiled inwards and said that he had loads of work to do and then there was an accident which led to a traffic jam.He realized she was lost in her own thoughts so decided against asking her for dal again.He asked her if Rashi caused any more trouble for her today and she said that after the incident which she narrated to him on the phone,Maaji asked her to clean 10 kgs of rice so she did not see her again. He gave her a nod.
Just then Kokila came down the stairs and saw them at the dining table.She looked really tired and worried.She had noticed the increasing comfort and peace between Ahem Dikra and Gopi bahu and was pleased with the progress but she had a lot of pressing worries to deal with at the moment.She came and sat across Ahem and asked Gopi to give him a glass of warm milk.
When Gopi brought the glass of milk she asked her to sit down and told them that mehta's have a demand 1 week before the wedding and it seems that it would be very difficult for the Modis to agree to their demand. Both Ahem and Gopi are shocked.As kokila is about to disclose further,Rashi comes down from the stairs and greets everybody.She eyes Gopi suspiciously and goes to the kitchen.
Kokila asks Ahem to go to his room and rest and tells him that she would discuss with him tomorrow. As Ahem gets up to leave,Gopi looks at him lovingly."How hard he works and he has eaten so less.I wish i could take care of him a lot more.Sigh.. "Ahem gets up to leave,takes one full glance of Gopi and walks to his room.While he was climbing the stairs,he thinks of how he should call Gopi to his room privately and tell her how his day went. As he is about to go into his room,he turns back and does not see Gopi in the living area.He instead sees Jigar hoding Rashi close and whispering sweet nothings into her ear. Sigh..Hmm.. He goes inside his room.
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