Parag Modi - Page 2

Hours went by and Parag still didn't show up. Everyone had their supper but Koki was still waiting for Parag. She was waiting for his phone. Every time the phone rang it would always turn out to be people asking for Parag to congratulate him. Koki's tension level started to rise up. It was unlike her husband not to call. She went up to Chirag Bhai's room and voiced her concern. Bhai said Parag is in safe hands (PC) or he might be held up in meetings with Rajkot's Literary Council. She came back and sat in her room.Gopi came in with water and saw her MIL's worried look.

Gopi: Maaji, Aap parishaan ho. Pappaji abhi tak nahi aaya esliya? Voh aa jayenga.

Kokila; Gopi vau mai parishaan hoon. Ahem ke Pappa kabhi bhi ethna daer se ghar nahi lautein. Mujhe ajeeb sa daar lag raha hai. Gopi vau tum thaki hui ho (YOU are tired). Ab jaka sau javo (Go and sleep)

Gopi didn't want to leave but she forced her to go. Night fled and day dawned but still no sign of Parag. Koki couldn't hold herself any longer. She was beside herself with anxiety. She started crying. Everyone gathered around her. Chirag & Ahem tried to contact Bhavin Patel but he didn't pick up the phone. All of a sudden Rashi shouted "Parag kaka has been kidnapped. It's all over the News Channel" Koki fainted. Everyone was stunned. The ladies started weeping (Rashi included. She had a soft corner for Kagdi's husband as he reminded her of Jigar). The ghar became like a funeral home. Chirag and Jigar went everywhere knocking on political doors for information. Ahem though tensed had to go to office and look after office stuff. He didn't want to think about his father whom he had always looked down upon. A guilt flashback! Papa gifting him a pen on his birthday, blessing him but he touched his Dad's feet out of duty and courtesy and not love .Chirag Kaka was his role model.' Well, I don't want to think horrible thoughts! thought Ahem and once again delved into his business world" (Readers, he is like an ostrich burying his head into the sand)

Meanwhile Kokila turned into a statue. She couldn't believe that she would miss her husband so much. Hetal missed her Devar so much. She tried to comfort Koki as much as possible. Urmila came with a heartbroken Kinjal and shattered Jamairaj. Gopi managed everything in the house. Outside large crowds and TV News Reporters crowded like vultures waiting for the carcass. It was getting dark.Hetal advised Urmi to go home but asked her permission to keep back Kinjal.Urmi agreed and in the process asked if she could take Rashi with her. Hetal agreed. Urmi , Rashi & Dhaval left the house. The TV News Reporters seeing them asked them questions. The Mother daughter Duo couldn't believe their good fortune for being on TV. Urmi told them that Parag was kidnapped by terrorists from Greenland (she made it up thinking she'd sound sophisticated). The reporters couldn't believe their ears and they quickly realized that it was the ramblings of an unpad woman.Rashi had tried to silence her but who can stop an unleashed volcano??????. Meanwhile Kinjal and Kokila embraced eah other and sobbed their hearts out. Grief brought them together at last. Tears washed away the hurt and pain. Kinjal took charge of her mother's khana pina. Gopi looked after others. Baa was not informed because of her fraility. Two days went by without any news. Strangely enough there were no phone calls demanding ransom.Chirag dreaded every minute and wondered if his brother was killed and he expected a call from the kidnappers demanding a huge ransom every minute. There was nothing to do except wait and watch. Koki went to the mandir. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

Kokila: Please forgive me Krishna Bhagwan. Please forgive me for my mistakes. I didn't respect or love my husband. I looked down on him. I will try to rectify my mistakes. Please bring him safe and sound. Saying this she fainted again. The women carried her to her room (Believe me it was no easy task)

Gopi and Kinjal stayed with her all night tending to her. Kinjal now started seeing Bhabhi in a new light. She now realized what an unpolished diamond she was. Guilt overcame Kinjal thinking of the taunts she had rained on this person and the role she played to bring about division between Bhai & Bhabhi. She promised herself that she would do right with them and ask forgiveness. Koki woke up and asked the girls to leave her alone. They left. Ahem came in all worried about his mother. He hugged her and she kissed his forehead gently. He tried to reassure her but she was inconsolable. Then she asked him to leave the room too. He didn't want to leave but respecting his mother's wishes he left her alone. She locked the door and went to his cupboard. Started touching his things as if trying to feel his presence. She had become numb. All of a sudden her eyes fell on a two shirts that Parag wanted to wear for his son's birthday to impress Ahem's friends. Koki remembered the scathing remark she passed and remembered how crest fallen he looked. How she wished she could reverse back time and take back those cruel barbs. A fresh bout of tears ensued. She wished she could have seen his good qualities and not focused on those which were not important. The world not only needed businessmen but artists too. She didn't recognize his talents but the world recognized it. A fresh memory of the last scene flashed before her eyes .Parag wanted to share something but she was too busy to even listen to him. She felt so small and ashamed of herself. She promised she would undo all her past mistakes. Night passed with Koki reminiscing all the memories ' childhood playmates, marriage, the birth of their children etc How she yearned to hear his kind childlike voice once again and feel his strong assuring strength of his arms around her!

Night passed. Morning dawned with no life in any one of them. Gopi came and invited everyone for the aarti. All of them started praying. Everyone realized Parag's worth when he was not around.Puja over and everyone gathered in the living room. Despair shone on everyone's faces. It seemed that they all had become living statues. The door bell rang. Mani went and opened the door. Her eyes popped out in astonishment seeing the person standing before her. She screamed in joy! Parag walked in with Bhavin Patel.

Bhavin Patel: Sorry we got some inside information that some scumbags who were not happy with a Gujarati guy getting the Jnanpith award wanted to kidnap Parag and kill him. They were planning to kidnap him from your place, demand a huge ransom and then kill him off. We whisked him off to a safe place for your and his security. We planted the false news in TV channels of Parag's kidnapping to mislead them .We have the antisocial elements in our custody now. Sorry for keeping you in the dark. We had to move with utmost secrecy and caution. Map kijye!

Chirag thanked him and left. Everyone gathered around him and hugged him. Chirag was so happy that his kid brother returned safe and sound. Gopi, Hetal and Kinjal hugged Parag and cried uncontrollably. Kokila couldn't believe her eyes. She was in a stupor. Parag hugged all of them and went and stood in front of his wife expecting a harsh tirade. Koki stared at him.Parag realized something was wrong. His wife who was never at a loss for words sitting speechless!

Parag: Koki, I'm sorry. I don't want my family to come to any harm. Forgive me.

The answer was she jumped up & touched his feet. Please forgive me. I've been a bad wife to you. What can I do to earn your forgiveness? Give me any punishment. She then said" I have to ask forgiveness from you for belittling you in front of the children

Parag couldn't believe his ears! Koki and forgiveness! Was he dreaming? Pinched himself. Ouch that hurts!

Parag laughed and said" Your punishment is coming with me for a honeymoon

Koki blushed and said "Thoda Sharm to kijye ! Wo bhi bachon ke samne."

Chirag said he would fund their honeymoon trip and asked if Hetal and he could tag along (winking at Hetal.

Parag said "Na Bhai it's on me. I want this trip as a gift to my wife. I also want to fund the trip for u and Bhabhi and also before we four leave, I want to send my children Ahem & Gopi, Jigar & Rashi, kinjal & Dhawal to three different honeymoon destinations. I want all of you to be present when I get my award. Tears streamed in all their eyes .Jigar went and hugged his uncle.

Happiness dawned on Modi bhavan. All of them went to the Mandir and thanked God for bringing back Parag safe and sound. Then it was business as usual in MB. Both Parag & Koki waited till the night to express their love in the haven of their bedroom. Let's leave them in their suki world!