FF:First Love~LAST PART~ page 81 12/9/11 - Page 10

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Part 6

As a result of Anita's phone call, Ahem and Jigar reached the mall, fifteen minutes after five. Ahem was just dialing his phone to call Gopi and ask her about her whereabouts when he noticed her. He quickened his steps, but in the next moment stopped in his tracks. He was shocked to see Gopi talking and laughing with a man.

Not just any man, but a very well known architect Elesh Mehta, whom Modi Constructions will be working with soon. Ahem wondered how Gopi knew Elesh.

When Jigar noticed that Ahem had stopped walking along side him, he looked behind him to see what had caught Ahem's interest. He noticed his bhai was starring in distance, and turned to see what he was looking at and was also shocked to see Gopi talking to Elesh.

What surprised Jigar was that Gopi appeared relaxed and her smile was affectionate. His bhabhi had seemed sad in last few months, and he knew why, and hadn't known how to help her, but now seeing her like this made him happy.

He turned and walked back to his bhai. "Ahembhai, are you ok?" He knew his bhai and bhabhi's relations were strained, but his and Ahem's relations have also seen the distance that was not there before.

Just then Gopi turned and saw them walking towards her, her smile dimmed instantly, seeing Ahem's scowl.

Elesh noticed the Modi's walking towards them and turned to Gopi. "Do you know them Gopi?"

Before Gopi could reply, Hetal and Koki joined her, and on the other side Elesh's mom and bhabhi also arrived. Gopi's smiled widened when she saw the new arrivals. She rushed to Ketki Mehta, bent and took her blessing and then hugged her tight. She then turned to Elesh's bhabhi Sudha and greeted her also.

Modi family looked on at the exchange with confusion on their faces. They all wondered how Gopi knew the Mehta's. Gopi turned towards her family. "Maji, this is Ketki aunty, my kaki's bhabhi, her elder daughter in-law Sudha bhabhi and their younger son Elesh bhai."

She then turned and introduced her family to Ketki. Elesh smiled at Ahem and Jigar. "Gopi I already know your husband and devar we will be working together soon."

Gopi turned back to Keti and spoke with bit of nostalgia in her voice. "Kakiji, how is my Kakima doing, and when did you come back?"

Ketki smiled at Gopi and caressed her head. "Your Kakima is fine and she misses you a lot. We came back six months ago, and your Kakima is coming back soon also. I will tell her I saw you and will let you know when she comes back so you can come see her. Gopi's eyes became wet with tears at the thought of the person who raised her until she turned sixteen. Gopi discreetly wiped the tears from her eyes and turned back towards her family.

She was about to ask Ketki what they were doing there when they heard a loud voice from behind them. "Gopi dikra, Vavenji, what are you doing here?" Gopi turned with surprise and watched as her Mami and cousin Rashi rushed towards them. Besides her Ketki also stiffened as Urmila came towards them.

Koki gritted her teeth, while Heatal smiled. "Urmilaji, what are you doing here?"

Urmila eyed Gopi with glee on her face, and thought perfect. "Woh, vavenji, my Raj beta had sent money for Rashi to get a rakhi gift, and she did not want to wait, so we came to shop for what she wants." She turned to Gopi with a calculating look. "Waise Gopi beta, did you also receive your gift, is that why you are here also?" Seeing the pain on Gopi's face made her day. Thank god her son Dhaval had called and informed her that he had heard Jigar talking with his father about the shopping trip. She didn't want to miss the opportunity to taunt Gopi and also show off her daughter to Hetal and Jigar.

Both Koki and Ahem noticed the pain on Gopi's face at the mention of her brother's name, but it was Koki who stepped up to Gopi and answered to Urmila. "Urmilaben we are actually shopping for Kinjle's gift for right now, and as for Gopi's gift she does not want to spend her money yet, so we will come back another time for it."

Ketki also spoke up; she knew what Urmila was trying to do. "Urmilaben, looks like you didn't recognize me, remember me? I am Gopi's kakima, Shantiben's bhabhi Ketki."

At the mention of Gopi's kaki, Urmila shut right up. "Oh, Ketkiben of course I remember you, how are you doing, and how is Shantiben?"

Ketiki smiled and said, "I am fine and so is Shantiben, she will be returning to India soon." Ketki turned to Gopi. "Waise Gopi, we are also here to shop for Shreya's rakhi gift, so I hope you can also help us with her gift."

Gopi's smiled at mention of Mehata's youngest daughter, she was just like her Kinjleben. "Of course Kakiji, I will help you."

After few minutes they all entered the Jewelry store. Gopi stiffened when Urmila and Rashi followed them in the store. She knew exactly what her mami was trying to do, she wanted her cousin Rashi to catch Jigarji's attention, but thank god Jiagarji has ignored her so far, and so has Hetalkaki. She didn't know how she would handle it, if they asked her to set up the alliance between Jigar and Rashi. Her mami didn't like to here no from Gopi, and if she ever did she has always retaliated back by getting her father involve, and that has yet to change.

Ahem had been watching Gopi from the moment he spotted her to the moment when she realized her mami and cousin were following them in the store. He frowned thinking he didn't know his wife. His mom seems to know more about Gopi then he does.

He watched as she discussed several options regarding Kinjle's gift with his Kaki and mom, then finally decided on a diamond set from him and matching bangles from Jigar. She turned towards him and held the set out to show him. Her eyes widened when he moved towards her and deliberately touched her hand when he took the necklace out of her hand, all the time starring straight into her eyes. She tried to move back, but he caught her hand. "Don't move." He raised an eyebrow when she glared at him.

"Why are you glaring at me? I can't even touch my wife?"

Gopi looked around to be sure no one was watching. "No one is watching us right now, you don't have to put up the loving husband act." She said this with sarcasm.

Ahem caressed her hand. "Who says I am putting on an act?"

Gopi was startled to see glimpse of old Ahem when he said that, it reminded her of the day when they met up for the second time in the library. Before she could say anything, Koki called out to her, and Ahem let go of her hand.

Ahem watched as Gopi went back to his mom, and smiled. He had managed to surprise her today. He followed her to the counter and stood beside her as she helped the Mehta's select their gift.

After the shopping was complete, the Mehta's once again reminded Gopi to come visit them soon, and made Ahem promise to bring her with him. Ahem and Koki both reassured them that they would have Gopi visit them soon.

After the Mehta's left, Ahem noticed that Gopi was gazing at the art shop with longing. He turned to Jigar. "Jigar you take mom and kaki home, I will bring Gopi, I need to make a stop, we will meet you at home."

Before Jigar could reply Urmila and Rashi came out of the shop. Everyone in the shop had ignored Rashi and Urmila, but Ahem had noticed, Rashi trying to flirt with Jigar, but Gopi had kept interrupting them. Ahem had been curious at Gopi's peculiar behavior, and now he realized there was something definitely going on with Gopi and it had something to do with her family.

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