Come back to me

He fixed the Bluetooth carefully on her ear taking care to tuck it behind her ear; his fingers brushing her cheek that was tear stained and red from crying. He could feel the tension there. He focused on the job at hand he reached to pull her pallu over her head to make sure the blue tooth was concealed his hand slowly resting on her head a finger absently caressing her fore head. Is it fair to let her go to expect so much from a scared meek woman whom he had scarcely acknowledged as family let alone as his wife?

Her body was strained with the tensions of the past few days. Rashi had been kidnapped her family had finally believed her. The kidnappers had made their demand $10 crores to be delivered by a women. The money was arranged they were the Modi's after all but who was to go. Maji volunteered but Ahemji put his foot down. "Absolutely not Mom you or Kakiji are not going " for obvious reasons no son would allow this but then again Ahemji would lay down his life for maji (he already had). Mami wanted to go but Maji said she was too distraught and should not go (but something told me she did not trust Mami). Kinjal ben flatly refused. I was the only choice, mami (who never liked me) begged me" for your sister" she claimed. I was in a daze, for the first time since marriage maji or Ahemji were not my first concern mamaji her soft spoken gentle yet backboneless mama was her first concern. Mamaji who had taken her in yet failed to stand up against his wife when she ill-treated her, yet shed many a tear with his helplessness now once again stood broken in front of her. Rashi needed to be saved. Her sister (who had never considered her so) needed her. She nodded, Maji gave her blessings, Mami said something, even Ahemji supported her said he would be with her as her shadow. She heard the words she understood the danger but she had to go she owed them " khannaji help me, be with me".

They now sat in the car. She was to get down from the car walk over to Vittal Nagar get into the rickshaw that would take her. The kidnappers had their plan and Ahemji his. She just had to follow what she was told (that was easy, she always did what she was told). He wanted her to wear the blue tooth she did not know what it was he explained it to her in his normal monotone, but then he helped her put it on. Ahemji who barely acknowledged her as a person, who in the last year and a half had scarcely touched her had wiped her cheek and now had his hand on her forehead he was touching the very sindoor he had refused to acknowledge. It broke her; she felt a tremor shake her body...

He felt the tremor, he mistook it for nerves. He knew she was scared (hell she was scared even of him), they all were nervous; Rashi's life was in the balance and now Gopi, his small nervous simple shy Gopi. He had it all planned he would tail her and would be there with her all the way and they had police back up yet the need to protect her, the urge just to make her safe to take her back home was all too strong. His hand slid down and covered her hands that clasped together on her lap. He squeezed them tight she looked up at him." Be safe Bhabi, take care" said jigger breaking into both their thoughts. He had bought them back to the task at hand. They were all aware of the danger that lay ahead. Quietly Gopi removed her belt, and stepped out of the car. Jigar handed her the case and she walked ahead stopped and turned around for alone last glance at her Ahemji. Khanaji be with my Ahemji. I want to be his joy, his peace but if it is not me he needs then let this be his release... the unsaid words were so powerful her heart pounded in her head, her foot slipped and she missed a step. "GOPI sambalke" Ahem shouted. He almost jumped out to go get her when he saw the rickshaw turn the corner... Ji Ahemji she replied studied herself and walked towards the rickshaw. "Just cough once for yes and twice for no Gopi don't look behind I am behind you. I will keep talking to you." She just coughed once in affirmation.

Despite her demeanour she was strong his Gopi, he knew they would make a good team that's why he had agreed to all this and yet... come back safe my Gopi he thought we have a whole life time ahead of us.