She had been the one to draw the line. Kokila was not to involve in the matters of 'her' house and family
"But panditji, it is Baa's birthday" "Hetal ben, usually Kokila ben confirms the dates 3 weeks in advance. This time I thought you decided to get the other panditji."
Hetal replaced the phone almost ready to cry. Baa's birthday was next day and she still had not managed to get the things together. It had never ever happened like this anytime before. Especially this time had to be perfect. Unlike the others there was going to be only a pooja, no celebrations. Baa had informed them a week back that she was not up to a celebration on her 75th birthday.
"Hetal.. Where are you ? We are back from office. Can we get some tea please?" Hetal hurriedly set to task. By now she knew not to call Rashi. Her bahu would have another excuse to give her and she did not have the time to listen. As for Meethi, she had been sent to the nearby shop to order groceries for the next day.
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"But Panditji, you know we always call you. I apologized for my mistake last time. I implore you to come to our house this afternoon. A man of knowledge, you know how Baa likes to hear your pravachan.. Please panditji." Hetal looked at Kokila hopefully as she replaced the phone in its slot.
"It is done Mota Bhabhi. He will be here." Kokila walked off to the kitchen giving Hetal the first happy news of the day.
Kokila had come early on the day of the pooja, just as agreed with her mother and Gopi. Aham and Parag would come later. Hetal realized that she had never felt this happy in her life before. For the first time she felt happy. Gopi and Kokila had come.
"Kokila.." Hetal had hesitated but the task was too urgent. "Kokila, the panditji.." and from then on, she found that things were getting done in a speed that she could not imagine.
In a matter of half an hour, with Naani to give Baa company Hetal had seen Kokila walk around the house. But she had offered no words or opinions but had just got on with what needed to be done.
"Gopi vahu, take this to the mandir. And careful. It has a lot of ghee in it. It is needed for the pooja. And after that, finish the decorations in the mandir. We have just an hour more before the guests arrive. The food needs to be taken out."
Hetal watched as both the MIL and DIL worked for the pooja together. Her bahu was not in sight.
"Mummyji, here you are. I have been searching for you all day. I came to ask Mummyji wheth.. Gopi..." Hetal heard Rashi's surprised screech.
"Jai shree krishna Rashi ben." Gopi had continued her work after wishing Rashi while she saw Rashi go to her room with the shopping bags in hand. She had gone shopping for return gifts, she had said.
"Meethi, lol pini dobi duffor, not there. Place the trays on the serving table." Hetal involuntarily smiled.
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"No Mota Bhabhi. We have travelled from outside. Let Rashi do the aarti after you."
Hetal's eyes travelled around the room as she saw the smiling faces of the guests and her family.
She saw Baa's small frown and then her smile. She saw her husband laugh at something her devar was saying. She saw Kokila look on at the mandir with folded hands. She saw her son go forward with his wife. And she saw Aham and Gopi standing close and holding hands discreetly.
"clang..." Hetal came out of her thoughts as she saw the pooja plate fall down with a clang. "My phone vibrated. Sorry."
For the first time Hetal was irritated when she saw her son nod soothingly at his wife. Why was there a need to have a phone in the mandir?
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The house looked empty. It had 5 people, 6 including Meethi. But after the others left, it looked empty as though the very life had been sucked out of the house.
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"Maa I do not want any snacks. I am full. Lunch was so delicious." Hetal looked up surprised She had nothing but tea for the men today. She was tired and could not gather strength to make any snacks.
"Jigar, where did you have lunch that you are so full?" "With Aham Bhai. Gopi Bhabhi's hands have magic in them. And Kakiji had specially sent panneer bhurji for me when she heard we were getting no lunch from here today. How is Rashi feeling mom? And how are you? I wish Bhabhi and Kaki are back here." Hetal found something catch her throat when she heard the casual remark from her son. It was over a month now.
"Haan Hetal. Did Kokila say anything about when her mother's work would be done?" Hetal nodded no as she made her way to wash the cups. It was over a week since she had talked to Kokila.
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"Mummyji, can't you just leave me in peace for sometime. You always keep asking me to do this and that. Mummyji I am very tired today. I want to rest sometime." Hetal walked away from Rashi in shock. All she had wanted was a glass of water.
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"Hetal ben, the bill for this month and the last one. Can you please make the payment this month? Thanks" Hetal looked at the two bills in her hand perplexed. She remembered giving money to pay for the bill last month to Rashi.
"But Mummyji, that was to pay for the laundary man. You did not give me money for the grocery shop." Hetal again was puzzled. She thought she had paid the laundary man herself. She had never been good at accounts.
"Jigar ke Papa.. Can you please add another Rs. 10,000 in the current account for the bills?" "Sure Hetal. Did the pooja go over budget?" Hetal gave a weak smile to his teasing quesiton. She actually did not know the answer.
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"But mom, not the same paneer again. It has become boring without vegetables. Mom, why don't we go back to the way Kaki used to do? One different dish a day for the week. It was more fun that way." Jigar reminded of one more thing she needed to take into account. Getting some vegetables other than paneer and aloo that Rashi had managed.
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"What is happenning? This is the second time we are facing a this. Hetal, this is going out of bounds. There is no power, we had no dinner and I have a proposal to complete. This is just not done. What do you woman do at home all day?" Hetal looked stunned at her husband's outburst and saw him angrily leave the room.
Tears threatened to fall. The one she had tried so hard to stop that evening. It had been another bad day. Breakfast had been late. She had not been able to send lunch and when she had asked Rashi, she had been informed by Meethi that Rashi had gone to have lunch with her mother. Then there was the EB board. She had not known that the EB office closed every Monday. Kokila usually took care of that. She had never asked.
"Hetal.." Hetal looked up at Chirag and the tears she had so wanted to stop started flowing. "Hetal, I am.." "I need to see Kokila. I think I need to see her. Please Jigar ke Papa. I need to see Kokila. Will you take me to Maasi's tomorrow?"
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That ends Part II.. Let me know if it is ok.. I will complete one more part and I am done😃
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
CID
