Thank you all so much for the wonderful comments😛.. I wanted to finish and give closure to this OS. I am really angry at Hetal and I do not think she deserves what I have written. But then I do not want to extend the OS to something longer😉
One more thing. My firm belief is that a relation and a trust is formed by a true bond. When we remain truthful to our relation, it is a pleasure to all. But the minute a trust breaks, it is not easy to build it back again. It takes time and a lot of patience. I am not saying that mistakes cannot be forgiven, no, mistakes are forgiven when repentance is true but again the time taken to forgive and forget differs. So if this end does not seem to be very clear, I apologize. Actually life does move on after fights.. So here goes Part III
"Dad.. Do you see this? Best in class stereo system. Custom fit. Bhai is the best." Hetal heard Chirag laugh and tell him how Aham had known exactly what Jigar liked. "He even suggested we get you a new car as this but I told him we get a bigger one for the family and give this to you. I am glad I made that decision even when Aham disagreed. I was right about you liking this car"
Jigar nodded happily and Hetal looked up and then she bent her head down. So many mistakes. Her conscience had been mocking her for quite some time now.
"Is something wrong Mota Bhabhi?"
"You do not worry. Jigar is strong. He will tide over this "
"Gopi vahu, I am proud that Jigar has become responsible in his work."
"Here Mota Bhabhi. A sweater for Jigar. It will be cold where he goes."
"Rashi, don't you know? Jigar likes his upma a little spicy?"
"Mota Bhabhi, you are very nice. But you are too kind hearted to even recognize bad people.."
"Why did I do it? Why did I forget the concern and love? How could I?" The questions she had no answers for. She had thought she was the calmer of the both. From the day Kokila got married and came home she had assured her of a sisterly love. She had seen the love and respect Kokila had for her beneath the tough exterior. She had seen the truth and honesty in her but somehow she had forgotten that in her love and fear for her son. Her only son..
"Aham is as much as my son as Jigar." Her own words. Hetal felt ashamed even to think about how false they sounded now. "I do know what you and Aham are playing at." She had been the one who had made that accusation.
Hetal's thoughts came to a screeching halt along with the car. She looked out of the window to see the house that she had visited so many times in the past, happy times when Maasi had welcomed her and made her feel like her own daughter. How would she treat her now?
"What a surprise. Come in Mota Bhai, Bhabhi.. Jigar, park the car around the corner. Come in." Hetal smiled slowly at Kokila welcoming her along with her husband and others.
"Gopi vahu, get some snacks and tea" Kokila turned around to the others as she called out to her bahu to bring them something to eat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hetal vahu, Do you need something? I will ask Gopi vahu to bring it." "No Maasi Ji. I do not need anything. I just.. I mean.." Hetal found it hard to articulate what she wanted.
"So Kokila.. How long do you think Maasi Ji needs your help. We are all missing you guys. So just thought we would visit and also see if the work her is finished and take you all with us." Chirag had come right into the topic.
Hetal did not have the courage to look up even once when he made the statement but she felt Maasi look at her from the time she had come in. Hetal heard Kokila's speak. "Mota Bhai. Excuse me.. But I think Maa needs.. " "Kokila, I can manage from now on. Chirag is right. That is your home. You and your vahu have already done lot. It is time to go home."
Hetal looked up pleased and surprised and saw Kokila look at her mother quesitioningly.
"But Naaniji, Kakaji and Gopi can stay here longer? Why hurry back.. I mean, you need help" Hetal looked up sharply at Rashi.
"Rashi, I think that is for the elders to decide. Kokila and Gopi's real home is in MB and I think Jigar's dad is right. If Maasi ji is fine, they will come with us. Our family is not complete without them."
Hetal saw Kokila's surprise evident but that was only because she was looking for it. To others it looked normal. Hetal for one minute thought Kokila would not accept.
"Alright Maa. I will get everything ready. When do you want us to start Mota Bhai?" Chirag informed that they would start after lunch. Kokila instructed Gopi to get her stuff with Aham's ready while she went to pack hers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Kokila?.." Hetal awaited outside her devarani's room to be let in. "Mota Bhabhi.. Please come in." There was no change in Kokila welcoming her. The same respect, the same tone.. "Kokila, I am glad you are coming back." Hetal wanted to say a hundred different things. But that is all that came out.
"Ji Mota Bhabhi. I am glad too." With that Kokila started packing and Hetal stood there in silence watching her.
"Kokila.. Isn't this the saree I gave you on your tenth wedding anniversary?" Hetal picked up a sari from the small neatly stacked pile. "Yes Mota Bhabhi. It is. And the fourth one below that is the one you gave me on my birthday two years back." "You have maintained them so well. They look newly bought" "They are gifts given with love and good wishes Mota Bhabhi.. I have to give them the care they deserve.."
Hetal remained speechless as Kokila continued her packing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Kokila, You should have called me. Or should have called Rashi. We would have come to help." "It is ok Mota Bhabhi. Gopi vahu is here to help me out. The tea is ready."
Hetal watched Gopi take the tea and snacks to the men sitting in the sofas while Kokila followed Gopi out. She stood alone in the kitchen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Gopi vahu, it is enough. You go and rest too. It is already late and I know Aham does not like if you go late to the room. Now go and rest." Hetal was walking by when she heard Kokila's voice and saw Gopi come out with a small bowl of leftover oil and a blush on her cheeks. She greeted her and hurriedly left.
"Kokila, I came to give you this" Hetal extended her hand with the keys in it. She saw Kokila look at the keys. Hetal could see surprise, understanding and pain in Kokila's eyes. But her face showed no emotion.
"I apologize Mota Bhabhi. But I think the keys are best kept with you. You are right. You are my Jethani and you have more right to them than me." "No Kokila. I was.." Kokila did not let her complete her sentence. "Mota Bhabhi, I apologize. But if you really respect my words, then please have the keys with you. I do not need them. I never did before either."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Bhabhi, what do we make for dinner?" Hetal looked at Meethi but her mind did not hear her question. She was watching Gopi and Kokila work near the mandir. Kokila had a small smile as Gopi decorated the mandir. She could hear Gopi's singing softly.
"Bhabhi?" Hetal came back and looked at Meethi. "Bhabhi, what should I make for dinner?" "Meethi, did you ask Kokila?" "Ji, Naani Bhabhi said that all decisions regarding the kitchen will be yours. So.."
"Kokila, Kokila.." Hetal went forward near the mandir calling her name. "Ji Mota Bhabhi?" "What do we do for dinner?" Hetal asked in a small voice. Her heart wanted to make an attempt to demand Kokila to be the old one she knew. The Kokila who would have by now not just told Meethi about the menu but also would have made sure the preparation started.
"It is your choice Mota Bhabhi." "Thurday's were usually Daal and Gobi." Kokila added to Hetal's benefit as she saw her face become small at her first statement. "Saaru. Meethi make the same. Hereafter ask Kokila if you have any questions."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Arre Gopi.. What do you think you are doing? I asked you to take the daal from the stove.. Now see what has happened.. You are really good for nothing Gopi."
"RASHI... " Hetal heard Kokila's voice as she came into the kitchen behind her. "Gopi vahu, I told you that you are needed on the terrace. Why did you come her to the kitchen?" "Woh.. Maaji, I came here.. Raa.. I mean" "Gopi vahu, go to the terrace. I will take care of things here."
Hetal saw Kokila send Gopi away from the kitchen. Something clicked into place now. Gopi's relieved face at Kokila's words said it all. Hetal waited for Kokila to admonish Rashi.
But to her surprise, Kokila called Meethi to start cleaning the daal again to make a new one.
"Mummyji, Kakiji woh, I was just telling Gopi that she just remove the daal from the stove. She ony did that nothing more" Hetal was irritated at Rashi's obvious lie. Gopi had been in the kitchen for more than half an hour. She had herself seen Gopi go in.
Hetal saw Kokila glare at Rashi and then turn to do her work.
"She is my bahu and I know the good from the bad" Words again came back to haunt Hetal.
"Rashi, why are you standing like a statue. Get that vessel from your Kakiji and make daal again. Where are your manners?" Hetal surprised herself with her words.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Mummyji, again kofta today. If only we could make Jigarji's favorite paneer.." Hetal looked at the words that sounded familiar. Her bahu had a face of innocent concern.
"I asked for kofta today. It is Aham's favorite" Hetal's statement left Rashi open mouthed.
"Rashi, as for Jigar. He got tired of all the paneer and has decided to stay off for a month. You should already know. You are his wife."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Jigar, here, drink this Kaada. You will get better very soon." "But Kakiji.." "Jigar. Drink." Hetal watched as Kokila strictly made her son drink Kaada. They had learned that Jigar had started feeling sick in office.
"Now sleep for sometime until I send Gopi vahu to call you for dinner." Hetal watched Kokila lightly touch him on the cheek and leave.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Mummyji, see I have brought a new clip for you." Hetal stood watching as Rashi opened her purse to take a clip out of it. It looked like one her vevanji had used during the time she had won the lottery. "Why are you this late Rashi? Gopi is preparing dinner for all without any help."
"Voh.. Mummyji, you do not know.. I searched so long for the clip that I.. Kya Mummyji. You are asking as though I was late on purpose." Hetal felt no difference seeing Rashi's hurt face and tears. Somehow all looked fake.
"Rashi, You are a DIL in the house. That means you have responsibilities. Stop being immature and start to at least show some interest in work. I would prefer you doing some useful work instead of wasting time on getting me a hair clip. Understood?"
For the first time Hetal felt happy at being cross at someone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Gopi vahu... What is the need to go to the garden at night? That too, why do you have a spade in your hand?" Hetal watched as Gopi struggled to answer Kokila's question while her bahu stood fidgeting.
"Rashi, what are you doing outside? What is happening?" "Voh Mummyji, I heard something and came out. I am as surprised as you are. What are you doing Gopi?"
Hetal looked at the confusion that passed Gopi's face and tears come into her eyes. "But Rashi ben.." Gopi was struggling with words and tears. Something was definitely wrong.
"RASHI..that is a lie" All women turned to see Aham walk towards them purposefully.
"Aham.." " "Mom.. Rashi woke Gopi up and took her with her just half an hour ago. She said something about stopping a leaking water tap. " Aham turned to his wife confused. Gopi had now started crying.
"Aham Jiju. You are mistaken. I did not.." "Raashi. I know when my wife leaves my side. I saw you at the door talking to her. I am not deaf and blind."
Hetal saw Aham move near Gopi and stand beside her. Kokila looked angry and confused at Rashi. Hetal was completely bewildered but there was this foreboding of doom.
clang clang...
All turned around to see the the spades on the shelf fall down. Her vevanji was standing staring at the fallen objects with her mouth opening and closing like a fish.
"Urmila ben Shah..." Hetal felt the same anger and frown that Kokila's voice carried looking at the woman in front of her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So that is it... The end... I know I let off Hetal very easily.. But again, I do not think that trust once broken can be forgotten easily. Kokila and Gopi may be generous to forgive but to forget is never easy.. I hope the story we see in SNS makes it worth our while.. And again THANK YOU 😛
Cricket
