New FF: Sacrifice pt40 updated Pg 71 - Page 5

Part 11

Meanwhile back in MM.

MM is not the same as it was about 18 months ago, there have been subtle changes in the house hold.

Ahem is more workoholic than he was before, who knows how long it had been since anything had made him happy. His search for Gopi is ongoing, the guilt he feels is overwhelming, not knowing whether she had been pregnant or not when she left has been eating at him alive. He can hardly sleep thru the night, when he manages to sleep he wakes up in cold sweat, imagining her in trouble. His feelings have not been sorted out completely, at this point all he wants to do is find her and bring her home.

Koki is more mellow than before, she missed Gopi so much everyday, as did rest of the house hold. Rashi had slowly won everyone's trust with help of Baa, and then later Hetal. It was Baa who started pointing her in the right direction.

First things Rashi did was learn to do the Pooja like Gopi did, and with Mani's help at first she learned to cook the basic things. Little by little she learned everything. Finally when Hetal once again started taking intrest in her she started helping her more. Now days even Koki is impressed with her and her work and has stopped yelling at Rashi because she could see that Rashi has genuinely changed her ways.

Jigar even though not as upset with Rashi anymore, is still not willing to close the distance between them. His own overwhelming guilt in not pointing out Rashi/Urmi antics had made him keep his distance from her. He, like, Ahem is always trying to look for Gopi to bring her home. Meanwhile the two brothers were lot closer than they were before. Jigar has learned alot from his Ahembhai, but he still has long way to go.

Kinjle had finally managed to gain her rightful place of daughter in the MM. It took awhile but both Koki and Ahem forgave her. Kinjle and Rashi are also coming closer now, they both knew they were both at fault and finally after talking about it they both confessed their part in all the misunderstanding to the whole family.

Even with all these changes, things in the MM is not the same. Each and every member of the family misses Gopi very much, smallest things would remind them of her. They are all unwilling to give up the hope of Gopi returning one day.

Back in Ribhi (Ria/Abhi) house hold

Ria had was waiting for Abhi to come back from the hospital to share the news of her cousins visit that night. When Abhi comes in he could tell that his wife was impatient to share something with him. They share tea and talk about their day. She tell him about his cousin, he get a particular look on his face when she mentions the cousin and his wife's name, as though he has heard those name before.

Abhi to Ria, and of course you asked Gopi to come for dinner also. Ria with a smile thinking, my husband knows me the best. Ria replies to him and says yes, but not because I can't cook, but today once again she was thinking about her past, and I didn't want her to be alone. Abhi in deep thought but does not say anthing to her for now, she will find out soon enough anyways.

Just then Gopi comes and both Gopi and Ria go in the kitchen to cook, while Abhi goes to his room and thinks, should I warn Gopi? He knows eventhough his friend smiles and appears to be happy, she is not, and it is time for her to face her past and come to terms with it, may be then she can move forward, by herself or with Mr. Ahem Modi.

Gopi is in the kitchen doing last minute things with the dinner when Ria comes and tells her to leave everything and go and freshen up, guest should be arriving anytime. Gopi leaves.

Abhi and Ria are talking quietly when the door bell rings, ria goes to open the door for her cousin and his wife, and its none other than Dhaval and Kinjle, who is six months pregnant.

Ria introduces Dhaval and Kinjle to Abhi, she tells him Dhaval is her Masi's son (her mom side of the Family, no relation to Urmi who is Dhaval's dads sister). They were all sittiing and talking when Gopi comes down and stops in the door way stunned. Kinjle is first to notice and quickly gets up and goes to her and hugs her and says Gopi bhabhi, where have you been, she couldn't believe, her Gopi bhabhi was in front of her.

Ria shocke, Dhaval is smiling, and Abhi once again with thoughtful look on his face, but not shocke, because when Ria had mentioned Kinjle, he knew who she was and how she was related to Gopi.

Part 12

Gopi is just as surprised to see Kinjle, looks over at Ria and Abhi and then looks at Kinjle with tears in her eyes and say, Kinjleben how are you?

Kinjle replies I am fine, but where did you go? We have been looking for you for so long, everyone at home is missing you, I can't beleive your are here. Dhaval comes over to Gopi and hugs her and says to Kinjle, calm down, lets sit down and talk.

Gopi notices Kinjles, bulging, preganat stomach and says, congratulations to both, she has a brief flash back of her own pregnancy but she quickly squashes the memory before it can overwhelm her and gives them a small smile.

She takes Kinjle over to the sofa and sits her down. Ria is speechless, she didn't know how to react, on one hand she wanted to shield Gopi from all the hurt she recieved from her in laws, but she also wants Gopi to have some kind of a closure with the family so she can move on with her life, so decides not to say anything and just watch out for her friend.

Gopi asks Kinjle how the family was, Kinjle promptly replies they miss you, especially Baa and Mom. Baa's health is not good these days, she wants to see you just once. Will you please come home.

Dhaval cautions Kinjle, and says don't overwhelm her, she will come when she is ready.

Gopi gives him a greatful smile, and asks him what he was doing these days. Dhaval tell her how he came back from Mumbai on the day she left, after selling everything there and bought a small restaurant in Rajkot and small house close to MM so Kinjle can be near her family. And now he has expanded the business and looking forward to moving in the big house before the baby comes.

Gopi looks at Kinjle and asks if she is happy, Kinjle replies yes and its all thanks to you, if you hadn't talk to bhai about Dhaval, he would never have had the confidence to approach bhai on his own, we would have been still living at the CM.

Ria decided to interupt, and says lets sit down to eat, they go and eat the dinner and talk about why Dhaval didn't make it to Ria's wedding because he was busy with opening the third restaurant and they just found out about the pregnancy so they didn't want to travel.

Gopi didn't contribute much to the conversation, she was lost in her own thoughts. Now that Kinjle know where Gopi is, she is sure to tell the family and they will all descend on her, especially Koki. She realized she can't not wait anymore to face the past, because whether she wants to or not, her past has found her.

After dinner Kinjle once again ask Gopi to come home, at least to visit, so the family knows she is OK. Gopi finally agrees to visit in few days time, but she asks Kinjle to not tell the family yet, she needed few days to gather courage to go visit them.

After awhile Kinjle and Dhaval leaves. Ria turns to Gopi and says, are you sure you want to do this?

Gopi nods her head yes, looks over at Abhi, who had stayed quiet and says its time. Abhi decides not to say anything for now and just watch out for her, but eventually he will go talk to Ahem Modi to find out what his intentions were towards Gopi.

After few days and constant badgering from Kinjle Gopi decides to go to MM with Kinjle and Dhaval. Ria tries to stop her and tell her to wait for Abhi to take her, but Gopi says she would be fine, she would return to Ria's house that evening to talk to her.

On the way to the MM, Gopi was quiet, she was nervous, she knew the family would be happy to see her, but she didn't know what Ahem's reaction to her return would be, she had purposely avoided bringing him in the conversations she has had with Kinjle, and Kinjle understanding Gopi's feeling had also stayed quiet on the subject, because she didn't know how her bhai felt either.

When they get to MM, Gopi looks around outside and thiks, everything looks the same, its as if she had never left. She is standing little behind Kinjle, when Rashi opens the door, she is happy to see KinWal, but she is shocked to see Gopi standing behind them and shouts Gopi!

Koki and rest of the gang who are sitting in the hall, hears Rashi call out Gopi's name rush to the door and all are shocked. Ahem, who was in his room working, hears the commotion comes down the stairs and stops in his tracks.

Gopi slowly enters the house, everyone rushes to her, she takes blessings from everyone and hugs Rashi. She turns and sees Ahem standing there and looks at him for few seconds and looks away, she turns towards Koki and says Maji, where is Baa? May I go see her? Koki says come I will take you to her.

Ahem was too stunned to move, kept watching her, he couldn't take his eyes off of her, she looked so beautiful in her simple blue sari in bengali style, with her hair loose and parted to side. He realized she had changed, her expressive eyes that couldnt hide her feelings were full of pain and sadness. She kept looking at everything as though remembering her time in this house, and realizes she only had handful of happy memories in this house, no thanks to Rashi, Kinjle and him, between the three of them she probably more bad memories then good ones. She wasn't the same scared, naive girl that lived in the MM before, he couldn't believe after months of looking for her she was back.

He wanted to talk to her and find out whether she was pregnant or not when she left, and if she had the baby where is she/he. Where did she go? Why did she not contact anyone? He didn't know where to begin.

On the other hand, Gopi walks thru the MM she is assulted with all the memories of the past, from the day she was married till the day she left. Remebering the first days of her marriage was the most painful memories for her. From the time Ahem found out she was not educated to the day she took her wedding vows back. Eveything he had ever said to her came back to her like it just happened the day before.

Gopi know she would have to meet Baa and leave quickly as possible. She thought she was ready to face everythin, but one step in to the MM had set her back to the place she was before. She started shaking like a leaf, she felt overwhelmed by all the memories she is recalling. She felt a panick attack coming on.

She increased her steps to get to Baa's room as quickly as possible. She gets to Baa's room, she sees Baa laying in her bed, she could see baa health was detorieating, she looked more frail then before.

Baa slowly opens her eyes and sees Gopi standing there and get happy. She says I knew you would come one day, I knew Kanaji would anwser my prayers one day and bring you back to see me before he calls me to him.

Hearing this Gopi gets tears in her eyes and goes to the bed and hugs Baa, who kept repeating meri bacchi has come home, thank you Kanaji. Koki leaves Baa and Gopi and goes back in the hall.

Koki goes to Kinjle and says where did you find Gopi, Kinjle tells her about Ria and Dhaval relationship and how she met Gopi at Ria's house.

Koki asks Kinjle did she tell you anything about where she has been? why she left her mami's house? No mom she hasn't said anything. She hardly talks as it is, it took me all week to convince her to come here.

Kinjle, looks over at Ahem, who is quietly listening and at the same time his eyes are guled to Baa's door, she say to Koki, Mom I am really worried about her, she is not the same Gopi bhabhi as before, it as though she has dealt with something really bad after leaving MM. I am not sure what it is, but she doesn't show emotions or intrest in anything.

Koki is thoughtful, Hetal comes over, Kinjle Gopi has been thru lot in her young life, it is bound to happen, she is more grown up and mature now. May be she has just learned to hide her feelings now. It wil take her time to trust again.

Kinjle, but Kaki she says she does not want to come back here, she flat out refused when I asked her to come see Baa, she said she would come visit Baa everyday, but she would also keep her promise.

Everyone looks at Ahem who is shocked to hear what Gopi had told Kinjle, thinking she is still the same in that regard, she will die before she would break a promise. How is he even going to talk to her, he knows she will do her best to avoid him. If he thinks about it she started doing that right after he brought her back and she found out that he had only brought her back because his Nani was visiting.

Part 13

Gopi finally get Baa to go back to sleep and promised her to visit the next day. She had to make Baa understan why she could not move back, after a while Baa said she understood how Gopi felf and she would not force her to come back to live at MM. Gopi was relieved to hear Baa say she understood and had said as much to her, Baa replied I of all people should understand, remember I was here when all those things happened to you.

Gopi comes out of Baa room, everyone looks at her, she goes to the family and tells them that Baa had gone back to sleep.

Koki is thinking about how to get Gopi to stay for dinner without pushing her, she decided to just ask her.

Gopi dikra stay for dinner, I will get Ahem to drop you if it gets too late. Gopi about to say no when her phone rings (yes our Gopi has a cell phone), she looks at the call display and frowns and excuses her self to talk on the phone.

Ahem was shocked to see Gopi talking on the phone, he remembered she barley ever talked on the phone, unless someone forced her, he was curious to find out who she could be talking to. He ignored his family, who were teasing Kinjle about her pregnancy and followed Gopi.

He heard her give a small husky laugh and even became more curious, she was telling somone to wait for her, that she would be there soon. First thought that came in Ahem's mind was she already had someone special in her life, is that why she came back so she could divorce him and be that person. And if she did find someone, why did he feel jeaolus of this unknown person.

Gopi senses him and quickly turns toward the door. She tells Abhi, who was telling her that Ria was worried for her and wanted Abhi to pick her up, to not to bother to pick her up she will find a way. She tells him she has to go, she would see him when she got there, Abhi interupts, saying is someone listening to you, she replies yes, he then says let me guess, its the great Mr. Ahem Modi, Gopi is surprised and says how do you know? Abhi replies and says I just do. He finally says bye and hangs up the phone.

Gopi hangs up and walks towards Ahem, both awkward, didn't know what to say to each other. Ahem finally says Gopi how are you, she doesn't meet his eyes and says fine, silence again, then she walks past him in to the hall where everyone is, before he could say anything else.

Gopi stands bace and listens as Rashi and Jigare teases Kinjle, they were telling her by the time the baby comes along she was going to be big as a house, and how Dhaval wouldn't want to be seen with his moti wife, Kinjle was glarring at them and saying I am not going to get big as a house. Gopi looks at all with a sad smile on her face, thinking, this is how it should have been for me, but Kanaji had other plans, she notices Ahem standing near her, watching her and quickly turns her head away so he wouldn't be able to see the single tear in her eye.

Ahem was watching her and thinking why did she look so sad watching his family tease Kinjle, before he could see anything else in her face, she notices him watching her and turns away from him.

Gopi goes to Koki and says I am sorry maji I have to leave, someone is wating for me, I will come and visit Baa tomorrow. Koki says thik che dikra, let Ahem drop you off, Gopi says no its ok I can take the taxi, but Koki insists, so Gopi finally gives in.

Ahem and Gopi in the car lost in their own thoughts; Radio is playing a song in the background. Both realizing the song playing on the Radio is reflecting their thoughts.

Hajaar Raahe Mud Ke Dekhee(Gopi)

Kahee Se Koee Sadaa Naa Aayee

Badee Wafaa Se Nibhaayee Tum Ne (Ahem)

Humaaree Thodee See Bewafaee

Jahaa Se Tum Mod Mud Gaye The(Ahem)

Ye Mod Ab Bhee Wahee Pade Hai

Hum Apane Pairon Mein Jaane Kitane(Gopi)

Bhanwar Lapete Huye Khade Hai

Badee Wafaa Se Nibhaayee Tum Ne (Ahem)

Humaaree Thodee See Bewafaee

Kahee Kisee Roej Yoo Bhee Hotaa (Gopi)

Humaaree Haalat Tumhaaree Hotee

Jo Raat Hum Ne Gujaaree Mar Ke

Wo Raat Tum Ne Gujaaree Hotee

Tumhe Ye Jid Thee Ke Hum Bulaate (Gopi)

Humei Ye Ummeed Wo Pukaare

Hai Naam Hothhon Pe Ab Bhee (Ahem)

Lekin Aawaaj Mein Pad Gayee Daraare

Hajaar Raahe Mud Ke Dekhee(Gopi)

Kahee Se Koee Sadaa Naa Aayee

Badee Wafaa Se Nibhaayee Tum Ne (Ahem)

Humaaree Thodee See Bewafaee

Ahem stops the car in front of a medium sizes bunglow style home, she had given him directions to the house and he was curious to see who lived there. Gopi and Ahem gets out of the car, just then the front door swings open and a very good looking, tall, faired skinned man with dark hair, in casual jeans and red polo shirt, stides toward Gopi and hugs her and says Hi sweetheart, Did you miss me?