PART 23:
The Modi house was silent as if a storm has hit it. Breakfast was not the same as the only person present was Parag munching on the food served by Mani and then in came his fear " am not disappointed to find you here munching as if nothing is happening in this family. Motabhabi is unwell and by his side is her motabhai, due to frustration and anger both our boys went to office on empty stomach but you, the great poet Parag Modi has nothing to worry or feelings towards his family and is only concern about his belly. You should at least show sympathy towards the very people who took care of your responsibilities but no nothing worries the poet."
" Enough Kokila enough! I may not be the kind of husband you want who earns millions and lay it at you foot but I love my family as well and it's because of me you are here and so are our children. Talking about responsibilities I have always stood by it but it was you who snatched it from me or did you forget how I even begged you to come with me. Get this into your head Kokila I chose to be a poet and I enjoy and love what I do and the least you could have done and still do is support me."
" Support you! that's what I have been doing for the past three decades running around motabhabi and motabhai for change to feed,cloth and educate your children. You left us nothing but to fend for ourselves and did you expect me to come with you and the children to an uncertainty and fantasy which has no gaurantees in life."
"Oh just stop it Kokila with all this nonsence talk about asking money off Motabhai to fend for the family. The money you are talking about is my share of the business and what do you think just because I was not here and angry that you refused to support me in my passion I will leave my duties to you and our children. No Kokila I made sure you get my share and put it to use and yes you did by educating our children but what you did not do right is instigate my son against me and for that though I have never mention it find it hard to forget and to be honest forgive."
"I have done no such thing Paragji and Ahem did not see his father when he needed man support so you left me with no option but to make him strong to face all hardship life can throw at him and if you were here like you were suppose to have been then the gap between father and son would be different. I have seen the hurt and envy in Ahem's eyes when he used to see Jigar with Motabhai, the bonding the have made Ahem wished you were here and when you chose your life now why blame me for the distance you have created. Kinjal's case is different as I was here to guide her through womanhood."
" No matter what I say Kokila you will never understand me and what do you mean that I caused distance with my son. When I used to...
" Mom" both looked at Ahem stunned and worried as to how much of their arguments he has heard but he gave nothing away and just added that he forgot his file and just came back for it and went to his room got it and left without a glance at either parent.
Ahem had just reach the office building with Jigar when he remember his file which is urgently needed for the staff and conference meetings. He call Jigar and told him and went home to witness his parents arguments and struck hard with what he heard and did not know how he left the house and started driving into oblivion.
After an hour Jigar spoke to his brother and called the staff meeting, he did not hear from his bhai and was beginning to worry. His phone was unavailable and when he called home Kakiji told him that he has left long ago so where can he possibly be. After hours of no contact he decided to face his dad and tell him to which his father told him to cancel the meetings and to let him know when Ahem returns as it's not like him to be careless with his work.
Sanjay was not feeling well when he woke up on the sofa in his room and decided not to go to work and do all his paper work at home whilst Kajal was still reeling over her night's event with Jigar and too decide not to go out but look after her brother who is in turmoil when a knock on the door reverted their attention from their respective thoughts but neither was ready to face their visitor but when they saw who was led in, both sprung up from their seats in astonishment.
"Renuka! I mean Gopi! what are you doing here is everything ok, is ohmm is Sara ok? Please come and take a seat. Kajal bring some refreshment for your sis... I mean Gopi." Sanjay was stammering not knowing what to say to his little sister after last night's outburst and he can sense she was in the same condition as him but faintly smiled at her and thought at least she made the effort to come.
Gopi too did not know where to start but thought she had it all in control but facing him was even harder than she imagined. She cough to clear her throat and thanked the gorgeous looking girl she taught was Sanjay's girlfriend but only to be introduced to her as his sister which made Gopi her step sister and that made Gopi bad for thinking ill of her thinking that she ruin Saraben's life. She started " yes woh I ...I mean your house is lovely and that portrait looks beautiful." Sanjay nodded and thanked her without taking his eyes off her and both not realising that Kajal has sneaked out leaving them to catch up. " I came to apologize to you for my behaviour last night. I should have said all that to you especially when you were ahmm Saraben's guest and that was not a nice thing to say. Basically I reacted inappropriately and I hope you will forgive me and not blame Saraben as it was not her fault and she is a good person. That's all I came to say and yes Ahemji is my husband and he has his faults but he too is a good man and we I mean I love him a lot and could not handle someone blasting at him." She said all this with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Sanjay too was in tears not because of her apologizes but just looking at his sister for real and remembering all the good times they had and how life snatched that happiness from them and making them orphans. He is looking at those beautiful round innocent eyes that has matured without him not protecting her from the clutches of the evil world and its bad people. He knew her tears are not the pain of last night but the loss of time that has separated them for so long, the longing to see each other again, the pain of not knowing the obvious, of loosing their parents fatally. They stirred at each other none willing to take their eyes away afraid it might be the last or that's all a dream.
From the kitchen door, Kajal could feel the anxiety anxiousness pain and most of all loss of longing unspoken between them and knew that the bond they shared in their childhood was so strong that after so many years of separation they still love each other despite last night's unfortunate events. She was so focus on them that she forgot the milk on the stove and sound it made brought all three to reality.
He faced her and said " the fault was mine and you need not apologize and to be honest am proud of you for standing by your husband as that proves you have not forgotten your upbringing and more over marital vows. So please Gopi do not worry yourself as I had the whole night to think of a way to apologize to you and Ahem as well as Sara. As for Sara, rest assured my intentions are very gentlemanly towards her and I owe her a lot so I would not dare blame her either and like I said the fault was mine and intend to rectify it." He finished.
"Well bha..I mean Sanjayji am glad and happy and so on this note I going". " I have many more sketches ...up...stair...I thought you ..you like this one so I can ...I mean would you like to see more." He interrupted not wanting her to leave and literally pleading with his eyes for her to accept the offer.
Gopi was overwhelmed with her meeting her brother properly could not hold her tears from rolling down her cheeks or take her eyes off him and did not want to leave so soon either " I'd like to" she said and followed him to his study room. She sense a feeling of belonging,warmth,security and pride the moment she entered the room as if finally someone was holding her firmly into arms and floating in thin air and wispering soothing words to ease her pain. A hand touched her shoulder and that's when she realised that the tears had made her eyes blurry watching the portrait of her no their parents hanging proudly on the wall smiling down at them and made her realised the feeling was how she felt when her parents used to hug her whenever she hurt herself of fought with her brother. With tears flowing her face like fountain she moved closer to the photo and there all her childhood loss came crashing on her and she fainted but was held in time before she hit the ground by her protective brother. He knew this would be hard on her innocent young sister but thought her to be stronger and then realised that her pain would be greater than his. He felt her feverish and took her to the guest room and called on Kajal to call the doctor whilst he went to call Ahem but when he was not reachable he decided to call his own pillar of support.
Jigar was now very worried for his brother as he did not turn up to work at all and his phone was off. He did not know what to do when he got home and Kakiji asked about him as papa might have already told them that Ahem did not reach the office. Both Kokila and Parag look at each other with blaming eyes and worry and knew Ahem has their argument. Jigar tried contacting all their business associated and friends but got the same response. At first he did not want to call her but then he thought out loud " may be bhai is with bhabi so let me call her" and on impulse dialled her numbered only to be answered by and angry Sara " Jigar! where the hell is your brother and is this the right time to switch off his phone. Listen tell that irresponsible brother of yours to better get to Durga hospital as Gopi is admitted there." and the line went dead leaving Jigar in turmoil as what to do.
"Jigar! Jigar!" he was shaken from his frozen point by Kokila who taught she heard him say Gopi bahu is with Ahem. "Jigar did you just call my Gopi bahu" "Kakiji woh... Bhabi is... in hos...pital and she has ...no idea..bhai...is ...is miss...ing."
"What are you talking about Jigar, Gopi in hospital and Ahem is missing". Everyone turn to see the face of the speaker.
Well that's it for now and will leave you to wonder:
who spoke the last sentence
Where is Ahem
What happened with Gopi
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
