Not her again. Aham thought as he walked into his parent's room. Meethi had informed him that Gopi and his mom were closeted with her.. He wanted his green tea.
Aham felt silence engulf the room as he entered. All eyes were trained on him. "Ji Aham?"
His mom. Now what do I say? Tell her you need green tea. Aham realized that was why he was
her in his mom's room. Green tea. Not for anything else. Not for example to see Gopi. He
needed tea before going to sleep.
"Aham?" "Mom I need my green tea" Laughter. Aham turned and shot daggers at the girl
laughing and holding her hand to her mouth. Her.. Aham just tried to ignore her.. His
nemesis.
...FB...
"Aham don't you recognize me?" "You?" Aham's snapped with irritation. Preethi. His Kaki's
daughter from his mother's side. The bane of his life. If he was numero Uno, she was one in
her own realm. 4 months younger to him, she was equally as smart as he was. And an
extrovert, an apple in the eyes of all and his greatest tormenteror..
He remembered the times even his mother supported her against him when they were young.
Jigar and Kinjle, his two siblings would go berserk with happiness if she was around. He
felt he wantedly incited them against his peace. That was just too much.
And she was back this time and he was sure, it was going to be worse.
...FB...
His mom and wife also looked at her surprised. Then his mom's face changed. He saw her
sternly eyeing her. "Preethi, what is there to laugh? You know Aham's habits. Aham, Meethi
will get you your tea. You go to your room." Aham turned around disappointed and irritated.
The nerve of her to laugh at him. And now he had to drink tea made by Meethi.
"Maaji, I will get Ahamji his tea." Ahah.. Aham smiled as he walked out. His wife. She came
to his rescue every time. Now he could get the pleasure of drinking tea watching her. A
triumphant Aham went to his room
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Gopi, I thought I would get my green tea here itself.." Aham walked into the kitchen.
watching her make it here and then asking her to get it to his room meant seeing his wife
for 3 extra minutes. Aham mentally smiled.
"Gopi Bhabhi... Come on.. Oh Aham is here. Hello Aham.." Gopi looked from the one to the other.
Aham wore an irritated expression while Preethi wore an expression of indifference.
"Hello Preethi. So Gopi, the green tea, bring it to the room." Aham turned to go when..
"Gopi Bhabhi, Let Meethi give him the green tea. It is done. I want you to come to my room. I have somthing to show you."
Aham saw his wife being pulled by hand out of the kitchen even before he could himself go
out. She gave him a look that said sorry, but had no choice but to follow Preethi.
"Meethi get Aham his green tea" Aham heard Preethi's words and saw Meethi walking to the
kitchen. "Aham Bhai, I will get the tea." "No Need." Aham huffed back to his room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Aham Bhai, Gopi Bhabhi and Nani Bhabhi have gone with Preethi ben. They said they will be
back before dinner." Aham nodded and tiredly placed his laptop on the table. Preethi again.
She was the most irritating person ever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What is wrong Maasi?" Kokila looked at the girl, just four months younger to her son, he
sister's daughter. Her mother was the closest of her siblings if it could be called that and
Preethi had made them at least correspond more frequently.
"Nothing is wrong Preethi." "Maasi, I am not stupid. I can easily see that there is
something going on. I may not have visited for 6 years. But I know something is not right."
"Preethi, it is all your imagination. Go and sleep. We have had a long day."
Preethi walked out unconvinced but let go off it for now. She had felt it the minute she
came into the house. Everything seemed normal including Aham's shock and dismay. She had
wanted to laugh at it. Her introvert, good hearted brother. He was surely shocked seeing
her.
But she had found something amiss. Her maasi was still the same but there was a hint of
sadness when she talked about years that it took for a relation to develop. Then more odd
was Hetal Kaki. Her usual welcoming smile was this time very indifferent. It looked like she
was doing it out of duty than any actual concern.
Then at breakfast and at various times, she noticed the different opinions, decisions. Two
days and she saw that the house was not what it was before. It was divided. On one side was
her Maasi and her sweet Bhabhi and on the other was Kaki with Jigar's wife.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Aham, here you go. Gobi Mutter" Aham looked at his plate. It was her favorite dish.
"Gopi Bhabhi, serve Aham the kofta you made. He will be happy." Aham looked up surprised to
see a blushing Gopi walk to him with a bowl of his favorite Kofta.
"Aham Bhabhi made it just for you. Remember to thank her. If I had an option, I would
have told her not to make it, especially not for you."
"Given an option I would not have eaten if you make it either. Thank God, Gopi made it. It
would be heavenly." His retort got a warning from his mom, a raised eyebrow from Preethi and a grinning Jigar. Aham looked at Gopi as she placed the bowl on his plate. She looked pleased, shy and oh so cute. As delicious as the kofta.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You and Maasi are the same to me Kaki. So please do not say no." Preethi saw Hetal accept
with a smile that did not reach her eyes. The presents she got for everyone was being
distributed.
"Wow Mummyji, look at how nice it is.. Thought the work is not as heavy as that of Kaki's,
still this one looks very nice. After all Kakiji is Preethi ben's Maasi." Preethi frowned at Rashi's words. Not that it sounded accusing but it was overtly sweet. She saw Hetal run her hands over the sari.
"Rashi." It was her Maasi. She intinctively knew to intervene. "No Rashi Bhabhi. You are
mistaken. The work on Kaki's sari is more intrinsic and minute. I know Kaki likes yellow
very much. So I got her this. Bhabhi,, it does not always matter what the gift costs but
the thought that goes behind it. I know Kaki thinks the same" Preethi added and heard Rashi
tell her that she meant the sari would suit Hetal very well and nothing else.
Preethi nodded thoughtfully.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Gopi.." "Ji Ahamji?" "Get me that blue file."
Aham looked up as Gopi got the required file. She had a box in her hand.
"Gopi, What is that box?" His wife's face bloomed and she replied that Preethi had got her a
gift. A sari. "See Ahamji." Gopi eagerly showed him the gift. A pink sari. Aham saw green.
"So you like it?" He bit it out. "Yes Ahamji. It is beautiful. Preethi ben is very kind."
Of course she will find it beautiful. Aham thought. Then what about the one I got her on
Navratri. Huh.. Fickle human mind.
"Gopi Bhabhi.." Aham rolled his eyes internally as she walked into the room. "Gopi Bhabhi,
see you left this box in my room. You said this was your favoritre sari ever and you forgot.
Here you go." Aham saw her give Gopi a box and walk out of the room giving him a smile.
Gopi walked towards the cupboard and placed both boxes inside. They slid to fall down on the
floor.. The pink one that Preethi got her and the second.. Another pink.. with cream.. It
seemed like.. Her favorite. His gift.
Aham turned around grinning. He felt like a king.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Gopi.. How could you? I told her to do it Mummyji. Gopi, you could have atleast told me
that you will not be able to send lunch." Preethi walked into the scene.
Hetal Kaki looked displeased and angry. Rashi Bhabhi looked accusing and her Maasi was
looking angrily at Raashi Bhabhi.
"Rashi, why did you ask Gopi to prepare Jigar's lunch anyway? It was your duty." Preethi
smiled. Her Maasi was a stickler to responsibilities.
"But Kakiji, she was free and I was busy helping Mummyji." Help? Preethi thought. The last
she saw Rashi Bhabhi do was talk on the phone.
"Kokila, how is Rashi to be blamed? She asked Gopi and Gopi did not do what she promised.
First make sure your bahu does not make mistakes. If she does not want to prepare food for
my Jigar then fine. But atleast tell me."
Preethi was shocked beyond imagination at the words that she saw made her Maasi tear up. Not just that Gopi Bhabhi was in tears and she seemed to be trying to get two words in..
Preethi decided this was enough.
"Gopi Bhabhi.." She wantedly made her presence known as she walked towards the group. "Jigar said he was most grateful for the spread. He said he never tasted anything more delicious. His Brunch with his favorites..And that too after a bad breakfast. I just left him smiling.
He said your hands are worth their weight in gold." Preethi came in smiling at the tense
group. Jigar had said more.. He had told her that breakfast sucked without realizing that
his sweet wife was the one who made it. Well that comment would only make the situation
worse
Rashi looked shocked and indignant. So did Kaki and Maasi.
"You sent lunch Gopi vahu?" "Ji Maaji. Early lunch. To Kaka, Devarji and Ahamji." Preethi
felt sad at the small tone of her Gopi Bhabhi's voice. A soul with no grudges.
"Mota Bhabhi, Excuse me. But I think Rashi owes my Gopi vahu an apology." "But Kakiji.."
"Kokila, people make mistakes. It was a misunderstanding. I do not think Rashi meant
anything wrong. She was worried for Jigar." "But Mo.." Preethi placed her hand on her
Maasi's and Kokila looked down at her hand but remained silent.
This was not the time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Gopi Bhabhi, Aham said he loved the lunch you sent." Preethi saw Gopi blush and smile as
she worked on cleaning the mandir. The fight had been avoided and Preethi felt the person
who was most happy was Gopi..
Preethi felt good when she was with Gopi Bhabhi. Her bhabhi was sweet and very silent. A
perfect match to her Kadoos brother.
She could see their love for each other. On giving him his food, Aham had sounded irritated
at her presence but the mention of Gopi making the lunch had brought a softness, a sparkle
and a small smile to her brother. She never imagined it happening ever before. Not that he
showed much. But she could detect the excitement at Bhabhi's name. She had added Jigar's
comment to his benefit. Maybe then it would go into his brain that it would be a good thing
to give his wife a present..
However, they made a lovely pair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Rashi Bhabi, we made the purchase and specifically told you to make the payment. Kaki, I know I am younger to you and should not speak much. But this time I have to. I saw Gopi Bhabhi hand the money over to the vendor and Rashi Bhabhi said she needed to get something more and will make the total payment. If the payment is only half done, it is not Gopi Bhabhi's fault."
Hetal stood speechless at the outburst from Preethi who was trying her level best to keep her cool and was failing miserably. Her Gopi Bhabhi had just been accused almost of theft.