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Gopi is folding the clothes which she got from the clothesline on the terrace...Ahem sneaks in slowly leaves his laptop bag near the table and... slowly tiptoes behind heri, she is engrossed in something while folding the clothes...
He stands right behind her and blows air near her neck over her right shoulder..gopi is startled and turned to see Ahem standing there and she immediately wraps her hands around his waist and lays her head on his chest...and is silently breathing in and out, in sync with his heart beat... and trying to hold back the tears pooled in her eyes
Ahem knew gopi would hold him like this when there was some problem, he started rubbing her back for few moments before he pulled himself back and looked into her eyes ...she was not her usual self "did something else happen today... is mom ok" "ji nothing '." she paused and continues " maaji is just getting more and more worried with each passing day ' and i can't see her like this" said gopi letting out her tears
"shhh...gopi...look at me... look here " she looks into his eyes "do u trust me" "hmm" "do one thing get me green tea to mom's room ' i will freshen up and come over there" "ji" she walks out of the room to get his green tea
Ahem can not take it any longer it's been 2 months since his mom and his wife are in such a depressed and emotionless state.. He needs to talk to his mom about it... with that in mind he walks to the restroom to freshen up. Gopi and Ahem are like any normal husband and wife .. thanks to his reverse technique which worked for them
*****************FlashBack************
It's been over a month, since holi festival is gone by ..., Gopi was still doing every duty as before, but she is just talking in monosyllables, no smile, no shyness or blushing, no happiness, even when he took off his shirt and asked her to apply the antiseptic... she was blank with no expressions...
Ahem in his way was trying everything to make her happy and see her smile, he used to talk to her, about her events during the day, take her to market, to temple, he did every little thing which he thought would surprise her.. Gopi's heart fluttered with each of his actions, she was intimidated by his closeness... she is seeing Ahem's every action speaking that he is doing everything for her and only for her , to see her smile...Gopi is loving all this attention and concern from him,,but is very apprehensive and hurt when she thinks about how he forgot and how he would feel about their intimacy on the holi afternoon. She just kept ignoring him more and more
He is clueless and his efforts are not making any progress in getting back the shine in her eyes and smile on her face. He is becoming restless and frustrated to see her in such denial mode...he isn't sure as what to do ? how to do ? whom to talk about it? he kept thinking thinking and thinking about his feelings and about her denial ? he knew, something happened on holi night ? but not sure what it was? when he came near her ? she used to go away?
Days passed by, weeks passed by, now it's more than a month, it's almost 5 weeks since the holi festival..he knew he had to tell gopi what he feels for her ? but will she be able to tell her feelings to him ? Ahem running his fingers through his hair, pacing down the bedroom...thinks, if he says i love you to her she will never say No to him... she will surely say him i love you ..for his happiness ' but again it is same as forcing his decision on her... he wants to know what is in her heart... what she feels for him ,...at one point he felt he knew she loved him... but over the last few weeks things are terrible... not the way he wished for... she ignores him ..still cares for him... "grrr it's confusing" ...Ahem to himself "think Ahem think , you should make her to confess her feelings to you ,,,what she thinks about you ...think" he says to himself...as if a lightning struck him ..he smiles at himself for getting such a brilliant idea
At night when she comes to room after her chores, she changes and is about to go to bed Ahem holds her hand and makes her sit on his couch...he sits beside her and "gopi i want to tell you something" he sees the same expression for this line all through the holi night ,...what does that expression mean... Ahem chides himself "you are going off track ..concentrate on the task" he is back on to his mission...
"Gopi, i know you don't love me, and you don't even want to stay with me..." gopi's eyes are well up "Ahemji.." "Gopi please let me finish what i wanted to say" said he and moved to the floor, sat down near her feet holds her hands "i know i have been very nasty and mean to you, but as time passed by we became friends... you were smiling and very comfortable with me... i thought you wanted both of us to give this relation a new chance" "but Ahemji... i always."
"No Gopi ' now i know i do not deserve even your friendship and your care and you are just doing all your duties mechanically ' i can understand that you are still not sure about this relation , you are ignoring me, you are not smiling anymore, i can see you are not happy with me anymore..you are willingly distancing and moving away..." gopi's tears are rolling down her cheeks ..Ahem wipes her tears and asks her to stop crying and
"Gopi all that matters to me ever is your happiness and your smile... if you are happy staying away from me .. then .. i am ready to let go off you " said Ahem leaving her hands from his ...Gopi immediately grabs his hands "Ahem ji " Ahem pulls his hands back "No gopi ' you need not be in this relation against your heart, listen to only what your heart says " "My heart says Ahemji " she screams and cries '"yes my heart beats for you Ahemji... i can't think of my life without you" she brought his hands close to her eyes and sobbing in his palms '"
Ahem lets her cry for some time, she comes down to the floor kneeling down ..and still cries.. Ahem is still trying to recollect those above lines,.. he holds her shoulders and pulls her up ' both of them sit on the bed...
"Ahemji ...Ahemji..I ..." and hugs him so tightly and cries on his shoulders... she pretty much said everything in her tears... Ahem holds hugs her very close and tight towards him...no words spoken for the next few minutes '. still in the same position '. "Gopi what were you about to say...you .." gopi comes out of the hug and bends her head down with that smile...
Ahem, with a finger under her chin raises her face and looks at the same smile on her face, same twinkle in her eyes, which were lost 5 weeks ago... Ahem gives a bright smile of his "I Love You Gopi '. i don't know when, but by the time i realized, i was in love with you " '."I too love you Ahemji " "good" "ji" asked gopi with a question in her eyes "very good... your English is perfect " said Ahem teasingly and pulled her into a hug...
They further talked about the holi afternoon and all other things in the last 1.5 years of their married life 'and moved on to their relation as a husband and wife in all sense...
*****************FlashBack Ends************
"Jai Shree Krishna Mom" Ahem comes in "Jai Shree Krisha dikra" said koki sitting on her rocking chair, wrapped in a shawl, with a small bindi on her forehead, she became pale, with dark circles under her eyes, and a simple cotton saree with minimum jewellery . Any one seeing koki like this makes their heart wrench... Koki has spent many sleepless nights in her own house... she is confined to a room or two in the very house which she took care of for the past 30 years...
She is now spending most of her time, reading religious books asking gopi vahu to read some spiritual books..
she has almost lost the touch with the outside world...
"Mom ' " Ahem holds koki's hands "hmm" just then..gopi gets the tea for all four of them, parag comes from the restroom. Gopi offers to tea to everyone and sits in a chair next to koki on her left side .. Parag is placed on a chair near his study table...Everyone has gloomy expression, no words spoken..
Ahem looks from gopi to his mom...both are sitting without any expressions on their faces..."Mom..." "hmm " "mom it's hurting and painful to see you and gopi like this mom...why should we stay like this ,.. can't we have any work around 'i mean move out ..."
"Ahem dikra..you know what Baa and Chirag kaka said " Parag recalled the devastating day in MM...while walking from his chair to join the rest
"yeah dad... i do remember ' but it's been 2 months already ' how long will we stay like this...is there any specified time period... where it says that this whole thing will end in 6 months or 1 year ' can't we live our lives peacefully... dad..look at mom and gopi.. how long can we take it dad" koki looks up at Ahem directly in his eyes...recalling the last line her son just said...
"Ahem dikra 'i agree with you..." and looks at koki " Koki, listen to me, we have seen our share of happiness in our lives,,.. now it's the time for the kids to have happiness and joy...Gopi dikra was happy to be part of such a big family ' now she is completely devastated with this...poor girl is trying to put a brave face for us ' we need to do something and for this we need the old koki back" said parag with his hand on gopi's head...
Koki noticed tears rolling down gopi's cheeks...she wasn't crying ' tears were just flowing down,...kokila can't see this anymore ..she is thinking and contemplating what to do and how to do? it's high time we can't sit like this forever... everyone are staring at gopi..'. . "How long .. definitely we can not stay like this forever " said parag looking at rest of them.
"But what can we do and how can we end this" gopi said in her usual low tone. All eyes on her "We have to do it. " said koki , all heads turned to koki . Koki spoke something so strong and affirmative, 2 months, after that devastating day in MM '
Koki glanced through them all and repeated "yes gopi vahu, we have to do it.. " "but Maaji ...how can we .." , koki straightens up a bit... there is firmness and willingness in her face and voice to do something for her gopi vahu, for her Ahem dikra,,, for all members of Modi family "I don't know gopi vahu, how to do and what to do... i can't think about it right now " said koki looking at all three 'and continued "but i am sure we will have to do to something to get ourselves out of this... because god helps only those who help themselves " said koki removing her shawl and pulling her pallu over her shoulders...,Kokila is back with vengeance...to pull back her family, Modi family as one '
All stood up, parag moved back to his office desk..."Gopi vahu... have you made the dinner ? or do we need to prepare it" "Maaji it's almost done... only roti's are to be made ..i will make them at dinner time " "teek che gopi vahu... call me when you are going to kitchen ' i will help you in making rotis" "par maaji aap..." "i know gopi vahu... from today onwards i will come to help you in the kitchen... i will be with you" said Koki by placing her hands on her head... gopi gave a simple smile.. koki smiled and Ahem smiles looking at the smiling faces of the two most important woman in his life
"Gopi Vahu, you both go and relax for some time, we will have dinner shortly" "ji maaji " Gopi and Ahem in their room . Gopi is a bit relaxed and is smiling ..Ahem pulls her towards him into a hug..."happy now..." "hmmm " said gopi with a beautiful smile... Ahem feels good to see her like this after so many days...'Maaji said we will do something .." said Gopi with happiness and hope in her eyes, that her maaji will take care of everything '. "good now keep smiling '. no tears ok.." "hmm" said gopi coming out of the hug...
Next day the men leave to work... Gopi is near the terrace door, with a bucket of clothes in her hands, she suddenly stops in her tracks... when she heard ..."Yes mummy , don't keep telling me everything... i know what to do and how to do' see how i threw that kaagdi out of my life and now i will do the same with mummyji... she is a little soldier before Kaagdi, i can shove her single handedly" gopi leans on the door, trying to contemplate what she just heard..."Mummy i think someone is coming ' i will call you later bye Mummy " says Rashi ending the call and looks around ...Gopi mouths "Rashi ben" she calms herself before going to the terrace..They both see each other and ignore as always
*****************
In the kitchen, Koki is preparing lunch on their side, hetal is shocked to see koki in kitchen after all these days.. hetal is thinking what might have happened all of a sudden that she is back to kitchen ..
"Mummyji... what do we make for lunch, " "Rashi.. lets make some potato peas" "No mummyji ..we will make pasta.." "but rashi your pappa will not eat pasta... we will make Indian food " "No Mummyji.. you make indian food for you and pappaji,.. and i will make pasta " "ok rashi"
Koki who is witness to all these dialogs thinks in her mind "100% became 50%,and now 50% is becoming 25%" and shakes her head gopi comes running into the kitchen "Maaji Maaji..." "what happened gopi vahu... is everything alright" gopi sees Hetal and Rashi on the other side of the kitchen and says "Maaji can we go to your room ' i need to talk to you something very important " said gopi waiting for kokila to walk before her and gopi glares at Rashi before walking out of the kitchen..
*****************
to be continued...
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
