FF: Dil Kyun Yeh Mera Part 5 pg 9 - Page 2

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Part 2

Ahem stepped out of the shower, dried himself and got dressed in his blue night outfit. He walked towards the sofa and flipped his laptop open. He felt better and thought of the possibility of a cold shower helping curb his inner voice and his emerging desires. He closed his eyes as he shook his head. Was he serious?! With the current trend, he would need to drag a portable shower with him every where he went. There would have to be another way, though not for consideration right now.

He glanced at the wall expecting to see his clock, but all he saw was the wedding picture of him and Gopi that Naniji had insisted that they hang up.

Even in the picture, she smiled very sweetly. He remembered when she first entered the reception hall. She was dressed in a sparkling red white wedding sari. Her make up was minimal and yet, she looked stunningly beautiful. She played nervously with the pallu of her outfit. He was mesmerized by her purity and grace; and maybe his gaze lingered slightly longer at her than he had hoped for. Everything about her imbued innocent elegance.

Was that a perfect description of Gopi or was that a facade? He didn't know and didn't want to know. He hated looking at the picture as it was a constant reminder that his marriage was definitely a charade. He had hoped it would be over soon.

But then what?

Please not now. He silently begged himself.

He had had enough of Gopi for one day. Now he needed to work. He still had to review the profit and loss report for all the different divisions in the business for tomorrow.

He was engrossed in his work when he heard the knock on the door.

"Yes?" it had to her again, her timing was always atrocious.

"Ahemji, your mum is calling you down for dinner." Mani spoke softly.

"I'll be down in a minute." he replied, scanning through the remaining documents.

Why did mum send Mani?

Were you expecting Gopi?

I was not expecting anything. I wondered how long you would stay silent.

Why? Did you miss me?

Nope. Now leave me alone.

He turned his laptop off and made his way downstairs to join the rest of the family, who were already seated for dinner.

As he sat opposite his mother, he noticed that her lips was pursed slightly.

What did Gopi do this time?

He turned to look into the kitchen and he saw Rashi by the stove grumbling. Immediately, he lost his appetite. But he was starving. He had nothing to eat throughout the day. There were laddoos in the garden but he hated sweets so he avoided them completely. Now he wished he had some. They would still be better than Rashi's cooking. He wondered what Jigar saw in her and turned his head slightly left, to look at him. Jigar was staring longingly at his wife who was still in the kichen.

Ahem smiled, poor boy, he has been staring longingly since the day he got married. But there was something slightly different in his gaze. Hope?! Something must have happened, he thought. Though with her grumbling, whatever that happened can't have impacted on her significantly, unlike his brother who looked like a love sick puppy.

At least he has hope. What do you have?

Ahem ran his hand through his thick hair, stopping and applying pressure at certain points on his scalp. "Kaka, I've had a look at the profit and loss report and everything seems in order for tomorrow's board meeting."

Ignoring me, are we? We'll see how long this last.

"Good Ahem. I'll have a look at it tonight before bed. Have we planned for an early start?"

"Yes. I thought that would be better since we had a busy day tomorrow."

Kaka and his father nodded in agreement.

"Gopi bahu, we are waiting. Hurry up." his mother commanded.

"Ji maji" Gopi appeared instantly, like a genie summoned by it's master, with a big serving dish in her hand. The room filled with a lovely aroma of spices, that made his mouth water almost instantly. She carefully balanced the serving dish on her left arm as she started to plate his dinner. He felt his body tensed slightly as he felt her increasing presence and her sweet soft floral scent.

She smells good, doesn't she? His inner voice rejoiced.

He tried to concentrate but found it difficult. He found his hands were caressing the plate gently and immediately took his hands off the table and placed them discreetly between his thighs.

"Ahem dikra, you washed up clean. It didnt' take you hours, did it?" Naniji asked trying to supress a giggle.

He turned his attention to his naniji, who was smiling at him. "Ji Naniji."

He glanced at the rest of his family who seem puzzled about their conversation though he certainly was not in any mood to provide any clarification.

"See Gopi bahu, you were right when you told your dhani that it was just gulaal and would come off easily"

"Ji Naniji" She spoke though it seemed more like a question posed. From the steel pitcher, he studied her reflection. Her eyes seemed to move from side to side, as she bit her inner bottom lip. She was not sure.

Did she not remember what she said?

This was just brilliant. How was he supposed to act now since he knew how she felt but she didn't?

He reasoned that it shouldnt matter anyway since he hated her. He briefly glanced at her and instantly corrected himself. No, he didn't hate her. But he definitely disliked her. He was certain of that. And another thing he was certain of, he had to act as though nothing had happened. But that was proving difficult. Her one statement of not being able to live without him had supercharged his inner voice.

What a mess. He shook his head.

You can do this Ahem Modi. You can do anything. He clasped his fingers together. Just imagine that she said nothing.

"Ahem dikra, are you ok?" His mother interrupted his thought flow.

"Yes why?"

"You seemed slightly distracted. And you've not touched your food."

"Nothing mum. I'm waiting for everyone to be served first. Also thinking of work." He managed a smile.

Liar. Since when work involved Gopi?

Quiet!

Gopi worked around the table as she served the rest of the family. He watched as she modified the amount she plated as though she instinctly knew the right amount for each member.

He took a spoonful of rice and chewed. He closed his eyes as he savored the wonderful delight. He was definitely in heaven. The girl certainly knew how to cook. He was so glad that his mother had taken Gopi back into her care. The food would be good from now on.

"Kokila, weren't we suppose to have khichdi?" Naniji asked as she eyed her plate.

"Yes ma, but Rashi accidentally dropped soap into the khichdi whilst she was cooking." He watched as his mother glared angrily at Rashi who emerged from the kitchen and sat next to Jigar. "It was my Gopi bahu that was able to russle up a vegetable biryani quickly for dinner, or we would all be starving tonight." She looked at Gopi proudly as her left hand straightened her pallu across her chest, his mother's trademark when she wanted to prove a point.

A warm feeling enveloped him. Was he thrilled that his wife could cook very well?

Your wife? Since when? With what rights?

He reasoned that he was happy because his mother was happy.

He glanced at Rashi briefly.

Did his ears hear correctly? Soap? Into a dish? Is this what she normally did? No wonder the food always tasted awful. But soap?! Unbelievable. He knew she was incompetent and lazy but it took a new level of stupidity for her to drop the soap into the dish. And how could that be an accident? What did she think it was, butter?!

He reeked thinking of the time he had to force himself to eat her disgusting tasteless dish in his attempt of being polite.

He continued to watch Rashi and was amazed that she was still able to smile though it stopped prematurely at her cheeks. She seemed more annoyed than remorseful. He watched Gopi as she approached her sister and felt his anger levels rise as he caught a glimpse of Rashi staring angrily at Gopi as she plated her dinner.

How dare she?

What? Get angry at Gopi? How different is she from you?

Very different. I only get angry at her when she is at fault.

Really?

Yes?!

He now wasn't sure. There were numerous incidents when he was angry with her, but maybe just maybe they were not always her fault. But still she should have known he was angry and stepped over or not cry unnecessarily.

Ahem took another spoonful and finished his dinner.

Immediately Gopi was by his side, "Do you need some more?"

He raised his hand. "No. It was delicious, thank you."

Gopi smiled which brought a slight smile onto his lips and a flashback of her smiling and telling him that he had a beautiful smile.

He reminded himself again that he did not like her and what she said did not matter. But he knew he was lieing to himself. Whether he liked her or not, something in him had awaken from hibernation and now her statements mattered a lot. And for once in his life, he was helpless on what to do next. He waited for a sarcastic response from his inner voice.

Nothing.

Had he just hit the nail on hits head?

He wished everyone good night and excused himself. He needed a good night sleep to be fully prepared for tomorrow.