My take on how I want the story to be.

My take on the story.

Gopi sat in front of her mirror and stroked the little bundle of belongings she has brought with her on her marriage. She had, had such high hopes for her future on that day and now it looked as if all her hopes had amounted no nothing. Anita had returned and with her return she had lost Ahem, who had returned to his old ways.

She opened the bundle and caressed her possessions. Then she saw the letter. The one Ahem had written to her before their wedding. She picked it up and caressed it.

"Bhabhi?" Jigar appeared in the doorway. Quickly, she put everything back, wiped her tears away and stood up. 'Yes, Devarji. What's the matter?" He stood in the doorway and smiled. "Er, nothing. It's just that the laundry has just been delivered and I am wondering if my white shirt was with it. I can't find mum and wondered if you knew?" Gopi walked up to him. "Yes it did come in. I ironed it and put it on the pile of your clothes. I left them on the table outside your room."

"OK." Jigar turned to walk away but then turned back. He could see that she was upset with the way things were. "Bhabhi? Can I say something? You won't be offended.?" Gopi shook her head. "The thing is, you and me are in the same situation but in reverse. You love Ahem bhai and I loved Rashi. Rashi hurt me a lot with what she did and I don't think that I shall ever forgive her. But you have done nothing wrong to bhai. Bhabhi, if you truly love him then you will have to fight for him. Don't give up." Gopi looked pained. "Devarji, he is seeing Anita. She is smart and educated. Everything that I am not! How can I compete with that?"

"You are smart in your own way. But why don't you ask Kaki to go with you to the parlour. Go for a new look, get some new clothes. You have to compete with Anita for what is yours. I am asking you. Don't give up."

"I am thinking the same thing myself." They both jumped. Neither of then had heard Kokila walk up. "Gopi vahu, you will have to compete and use any means possible to return Ahem to you." Gopi stood aside and let Kokila enter the room. Kokila turned to Jigar. "Jigar," she said "I will need your help. When Gopi vahu passed her exam Ahem spoke about enrolling her on a correspondence course. Can you find one for Gopi and enrol her on it?" Jigar smiled broadly. "I will do it straight away Kaki." Gopi looked at him. "Thank you," she said "but what about you. You are hurting too."

"Don't worry about me. I will find happiness soon." He said and left.

Kokila turned to Gopi. "In the beginning I was against you studying, but I can see that it would be good for you."

"But maaji? Are you happy for me to study?" Gopi asked. Kokila put her hand on Gopi's head.

"Gopi vahu, I realised that you are the person you are and despite what I thought it will not change you, your ethics or the way you are. Now as long as the household chores are not neglected you study with my blessing." Gopi's smile lit up her face and this in turn made Kokila smile.

That was three months ago. Now she found a maturity and strength that she did not know that she possessed. However, she found herself sat in the exact same place as then. In front of the mirror with her bundle of possessions. Yes, she had changed the way she looked. She liked the way she had looked on holi and had chosen the same look. Yes Ahem had noticed and yes there were times when she thought he had appreciated her as he had done. But he had still spent every evening out of the house with Anita. Maaji had seen her pain and gave her all the support she had needed and been her tower of strength. Jigar had also helped her a lot.

It had dawned on her that she would need her education. If she left home where could she go? She could not go back to her Maami's. Not after the torrent of abuse she had hurled accusing Gopi of enjoying a life of luxury while her sister was suffering. She found out a lot of things that day. Opening the bundle she reached for the letter.

Ahem sat in the restaurant and glanced around him irritably. He listened to Anita droning on about something or other. He had been so happy that she had come back and started off where they had finished. So why did he feel uneasy? Things with Anita hadn't gone as he thought they would have gone. He'd enjoyed being with her, taking her out. Enjoying her company. But time and time again he found himself making comparisions between Gopi and Anita and couldn't work out when he began to appreciate Gopi's simplistic ways and selfless attitude. Something he found lacking in Anita. His eyes focused on her as she giggled. "and then Umaang got really mad and picked up the guys drink and poured it over him." Ahen signalled the waiter to bring over the bill. "You look bored," Anita said. "What wrong?'

"I'm just tired." He said. "Besides I have no wish to hear about your brother. He colluded with Kinjal to break up the match we had chosen and then when we finally agreed for Kinjal to marry Umaang, he disappeared. Left us humiliated. My mom was a broken woman." Anita reached across the table and held his hand.

"He was looking out for his sister. I was so upset and he didn't like to see me like that>" she smiled "Brothers and sisters do things for each other. Just the way your sister tried to help you before your marriage." Ahem gave Anita his full attention.

"Yes," he smiled "she did so much to help me." He wasn't sure what Kinjal had done but he did not let on. "How can I forget."

"Exactly!" exclaimed Anita "She wrote the letter as if it was from you and said that you did not wish to marry her. We did not think that she would turn up for the wedding, the shameless gold digger." She looked at him "but it doesn't matter now. We are together now." Ahem stared intently at Anita but his mind was in turmoil. And then all of a sudden he knew what he wanted and it wasn't Anita. He removed his hand from Anita's and stood up.

I don't think I can do this any more." he pulled out his wallet and paid the bill. "I'm going home." Anita stood up. "Won't you take me home?" she came round and looped her arm through his. "It is still early. Why don't we go to mine and spend some more time together?" He removed her arm from his. "I don't think so. Can you get a cab? I've just realised that I have got to do something." That said he left.

"The roads on Saturday have never been this bad." Ahem thought to himself as he negotiated the traffic. It didn't help that it had started to rain causing even more congestion. "Dammit!" he cursed, hitting the steering wheel with his fist as he came to a halt once again. He cursed the traffic, the rain but most of all he cursed himself. He was so stupid. At the end of his road the car stalled and refused to start. He got out and moved the car to the side of the road assisted by a passing street beggar. Ahem took out his wallet and took out his wallet and handed over all the large notes. The beggar, grateful for the money wished him well and went on his way. It was raining heavily and Ahem made his way to the house.

Kokila looked on amazed as a drenched Ahem stood on the doorstep.

"Ahem, what happened?" she asked.

"Nothing Mom," he replied "The car broke down at the bottom of the road. I had to walk the rest of the way."

Kokila sighed. "Never mind. You go to your room. Everyone went to their rooms early. I'll heat you some milk with haldi and bring it up to you." He nodded and made his way up the stairs. Kokila headed to the kitchen.

The light was on in the bedroom when he got there but Gopi was nowhere to be seen. "She's probably in the bathroom." He thought to himself and shut the door behind him. He went to the wardrobe and pulled out two towels and dried himself off. He took out his kurta and pyjamas and quickly changed into them. Puzzled he went over to the bathroom to see if Gopi was there. He tried the door. It wasn't locked so he went in.

Gopi was sat on the floor against the vanity unit. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and she had rested her hands on her knees and had then rested her head on them. "Gopi'" he called out to her gently. She didn't stir. Concerned he moved towards her and squatted down. She was asleep but he looked at her and realised that she had cried herself to sleep. He saw the letter in her hand and gently took it. He knew what it was and still read it. Gopi had not known how to read at the time so someone must have read it and had not told her. Was is out of concern for her or was there another motive. He figured that it was the latter. Gopi still slept. He folded the letter carefully and put it in his pocket. Gently he picked Gopi up. "Back don't give up on me now." He thought as he laid her on the bed and covered her with the blanket and stepped back.

Kokila appeared with the milk. "Thanks, mom." he said. She acknowledged him. "It is getting late. Get a good night's sleep." She turned to leave.

"Mom," he stopped her. She turned. "He looked at the sleeping figure on the bed. "Gopi is sleeping deeply. Would you mind if she sleeps in late tomorrow. It is Sunday? She has worried for days, partly my fault" he says sheepishly, "but some things have come to light." He tells her about the letter. Kokila is fuming, displeasure etched on her face, "Please mom let me deal with it in my own way. I know that it is hard for you but please allow me to sort it out my way." Kokila nodded.

"That's fine, Ahem. Don't worry about breakfast. Mota ben and I will see to it. Good night."

"Goodnight, mom," Ahem replied and shut the door behind her.

He locked the door and dimmed the lights. He picked up his blanket wrapped it round him and sat in the armchair near the bed, watching Gopi sleep.

It was 2am when she stirred. She saw Ahem staring at her intently. "You," she sat up in bed.

"Yes, me," he replied. There was a vulnerability about her and he hated himself for what he had done. "I've put you through a lot, recently, haven't I?" he said gently. Gopi looked down, tears threatening to fall again. Ahem took out the letter. "But there is one thing I did not do." Gopi looked at the letter in his hand. "I did not write this letter." He looked at her and saw confusion on her face. "it is true that I was against this marriage, but I did not write this. I know who the culprit is and I will deal with them later. Tell me?" he moved over to the bed and sat facing her. "Given what was in the letter, why did you turn up?" Gopi looked at him.

"I did not know how to read. When your letter came Maami and Rashiben opened it and told me that the letter was from you and that you were happy with the marriage." She looked nervously at his face. He put the letter on the bedside table. "Gopi?' he took her hand in his and covered it with his other hand, "I have caused you so much hurt. More so in the past few months. I cannot put right the past nor justify my actions. But you give me a chance?" he put her hand to the centre of his chest. "Will you forgive me. Can we start afresh?" Tears welled up in Gopi's eyes. She nodded. Ahem breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her for what seemed like an eternity.

He woke as Gopi rushed out of the bathroom drying her hair. She sat in front of the dresser and combed her hair. He studied her for a while and then sat up. "Good morning," he said. Gopi turned and smiled shly.

"Good morning," she relied and blushed. He was bare chested, his hair was tousled. Thoughts of the early hours of the morning ran through her mind and she blushed even more. Finally she looked at him and spoke. "It is late. Maaji will be upset if I don't go down to help." Ahem shook his head.

"Don't worry. You were in a deep sleep." He got out of bed and wrapped the sheet around his torso. And came over to her. "I asked mom to let you sleep in. Besides, it's Sunday." He bent down and kissed the top of her head and noticed her reaction to him in the mirror. "I'm going for a shower" he smiled and disappeared into the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later he was showered and dressed. Gopi had sorted out the bed and was ready to go down. His mobile phone rang. Ahem picked it up. "Yes, Anita" he looked at Gopi, who started to look uncertain. He shook his head as if to say don't worry. "I'm sorry, Anita. I can't meet you tonight." He stopped as the voice at the other end continued. "Anita, I have made my decision and I am staying with Gopi. Perhaps it is better if you forget about me and move on. Make a life for yourself. I can't be the person you want me to be." He disconnected the call and came over to Gopi and brought her close to him, hugging her as if never wanting to let go. "You have nothing to worry about." He murmured. Breaking the hug he looked down at her. "Go down to breakfast. I'm right behind you." That earned him a coy smile. He smiled back. As she left the room he walked over to the bedside table, picked up the letter and put it in his breast pocket.

Breakfast was a leisurely affair. Everyone sat down to eat and Ahem was informed of the news that Sonal's marriage had also ended and Jigar, Kaki and Kaka had already spoken to Sonal's mum who had happily agreed to their alliance as soon as the divorces were finalised. Ahem and Gopi smiled. It was good to have the mischievious Jigar back.

The breakfast things had just been cleared away when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it." Kinjal said as she ran to the door. She opened it and found Anita on the doorstep. "Anita? You? Here at this time. What's up?" she asked as she look at Anita's tear stained face.

"Your brother." Anita replied and the family members gathered at the foot of the stairs. "Who does he think he is?" she spat angrily. She looked at Ahem. "I thought you loved me?"

"Anita, I told you that I can't do this. I was deluding myself. This is where I want to be." He looked at Gopi " and this is where I am happy." Anita looked at Gopi and sneered.

"You will never be happy with her. Gawar!" Ahem stepped towards her but Gopi put her hand on his arm and held him back. Just as he had held her back before to stop her from following Rashi. She moved towards Anita. A confident and calm Gopi.

"Anitaji. However you have come here, please be aware that you are in my family's home. Do not disrespect me or my husband. As you have heard Ahem wants to spend some time with his family." She walked to the door. Anita followed her and spun her around. Ahem moved forward. "You. You Gawar. You think you are so big. You know nothing. We go back a long way. He was my boyfriend long before you came!"

"Yes!" Gopi spoke in English. Clearly and with pride. "But he is my husband now. You have no claim to him. Please leave!" She shut the door after Anita and turned to see the admiration in her family's eyes, especially Ahem. She smiled back and joined Hetal and Kokila.

Ahem pulled out the letter and turned to Kinjal.

Once again, as I have said this is how it would see it. I hope you liked it. If some one else wants to finish it, please do. xx

Your take was really good Xarina. Hope you are continuing our story.