Part 3
"Hetal Aunty, Kokila Aunty – I have
caused a lot of miseries to your family.
I cannot undo that, all I ask is one chance to explain myself. Can you
please grant me just one chance?" The
sincerity in her voice did not go unnoticed by Kokila. Kokila got a nod of approval from Hetal Bhabi
and Prerna too.
"Rashi for the sake of Vishal we want to give you one chance." Kokila said. Rashi wanted to go ahead and hug Kokila. She stopped herself, this was not the place or time but she would get the blessing of these elders very soon.
FLASH BACK – 26 YEARS AGO
Rashi's insecurities and frustrations were increasing day by day. Why do I not get praised? Why is it that Gopi is always given credit for whatever she does? I am the educated one and she is the Gawar, in spite of that everyone sees Gopi as the ultimate Bahu and me as a side kick. I got married to Jigarji for the the" Modi" brand name, the status, the money. Life has become mundane, all the Modi ladies do is work the whole day. I wanted to be queen of the Modi household and here I
am being belittled for everything I do. The MODI brand name had given her more pain than gain. Something had to be done to turn the tables.
"Mummy……..Baa's friend from America, how could she do this to me? I made western food for her, but what did she do in return for me? She said she does not like western food, she loves local
delicacies. That old prune, I just cannot stand her and to add salt to my injuries, she happily rewarded Gopi for being the elder daughter in law. How can I be treated differently just because I am the younger daughter in law"?
"Arre Rashi dikra, in your family the Kagdi, controls the family. If you want to enjoy the Modi money and status, this family will have to split. Once you are on your own you will be able to twist your mother in law and husband around your little figure. Do whatever you can so that your mother in law starts hating Kagdi and wants a separation. Your mother in-law does not have a personality of her own; she needs to be guided all the time. After the separation you will be guiding her and then you may have and do whatever you want. "
Hence under the close supervision of Urmila Shah, the conspiracy of separation started. Rashi was engrossed in her games with Hetal and Kokila that she totally ignored the person because of whom
she was in the Modi mansion.
Jigar lovingly noticed the growing intimacy between his Bhai and Bhabi. Bhai, invariable forgot something in his room every morning and would go to collect it. Without fail he was not able to locate it and Gopi Bhabhi would be summoned to locate the missing item. Minutes later they would both emerge, with Ahem having a cheeky smile and Gopi profusely blushing. These days, Ahem Bhai, invariable wrapped up any discussion they would have post dinner once Gopi Bhabhi
entered his room. Love, understanding, care, concern was so evident in their body language that even a by passer could make out that they were deeply in love. Then how could Jigar not notice it?
Jigar's heart yearned for the same intimacy with Rashi. However he found her lost in some world to which he did not have access to. He found himself at the gate of that world, but the barriers were so
high that he could not see what was going on behind the walls. He repeatedly knocked on the doors, he called out over and over again, but his pleas for admission into her world were cold heartedly rejected over and over again.
It was and extremely hot night. Jigar woke up to get a sip of water. At almost one am, he did not find Rashi on the bed. Probably she is in the washroom, he thought. She did not emerge from
the bathroom after what seemed a long time, curiosity took the better of him. What could she possibly do at this time of the night? He finally heard her voice coming from the terrace.
The whispers were easily heard in the dead of the night. "Mummy, I knew my mother in law was a softie, but did not know she could be manipulated so easily. She is even worse than Gopi in terms of being a Gawar. She has no sense of judgment, she doubts her thirty year old relation with her sister in law based on the games I am playing with her. Kagdi is on the vigil to find out what is wrong, but I am not giving her the chance to investigate. Before she can resolve one issue, I create another misunderstanding between them. Do you know my mother in law has not said a word to Kagdi for the last three days and Kadgi and her gawar bahu are trying to pacify her and my mother in law is maintaining her silence? Right now the misunderstanding is between the ladies and the men do not know about it, but I am sure a couple more moves and the fight will be out in the open and we will have the long awaited Separation. I am so excited………
"GET OUT OF MY LIFE AND MY HOUSE" the screamed pierced through the entire Modi Mansion in the middle of the night. Jigar dragged her down the stairs, screaming at the top of his voice. Why did I agree to have you back in my life again? Your type cannot learn a lesson. GET OUT, JUST GET OUT.
By this time the whole clan had gathered in the hall. "MOM PLEASE APOLOGISE TO KAKI AND GOPI BHABHI FOR NOT TALKING TO THEM FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS." Hetal looked a t Jigar with questioning eyes – how did you find out? "MOM APOLOGISE NOW, I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT MISUNDERSTANDING YOU HAD WITH KAKI JI AND WHY YOU ARE NOT TAKING TO HER, BUT I KNOW THAT THESE MISUNDERSTANDING WERE CREATED BY YOUR DARLING DAUGHTER IN LAW." Hetal shook her head and tried to speak. "MOM DO YOU BELIEVE ME? IF YOU DO, PLSEASE I BEG OF YOU IN THE NAME OF KANHAJI, DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING THAT RASHI TELLS YOU ABOUT KAKIJI. SHE AND HER MOHTER ARE UP TO THEIR CHEAP TRICKS AGAIN." That was all Jigar said. He did not explain anything more that time. Jigar dragged a flabbergasted Rashi to the car. Ahem offered to drive the car, as Jigar was not in the state to drive. The brothers dropped Rashi at her mother's house.
Jigar was more composed by the time he got home. He explained the whole situation. He did not hesitate to admit that despite giving all his love and attention, Rashi did not reciprocate his feelings. He always found her cold towards him. The only time Rashi was happy when he took her to expensive restaurants or got her expensive gifts. Simple loving gestures had no meaning for her.
Every time he got close to her, she would run off. The constant rejection was taking a toll on him, but did not know how he could broach this sensitive topic with the family. Ahem hugged him, the brothers cried. "You should have spoken to me, I am no expert in relationships but we could have worked something out."
"Bhai I would have given her all the time, but it what I heard today was the last straw." Between sobs Jigar explained the telephone conversation that he had overheard. "I loved her and accepted her with all my heart even after finding out the truth about her the last time. Yet she still wanted to play games. She wanted power by splitting the family. I could not let that happen. I admit I cannot change Rashi and I have taken this decision."
He walked to Gopi, joined both his hand – "Bhabi, Rashi is your sister, you have done everything in your power and maybe more to salvage our marriage. I urge you in the name of your and my Kanhaji, please this time, do not force me to take Rashi back. Bhabi I love you and respect you. But for the sake of your dewar, please do not request me again to forgive your sister. She is a closed chapter in my life." Gopi held her Dewar's hand and this time, promised herself more than anyone that Rashi Ben will not be part of her Dewar's life anymore.
He came to Kokila and put lis head on her lap, cried his heart out again. "Kakiji, I may call you Kakiji, but I feel the same love for you as I feel for Mom. I am sorry for whatever issues Rashi has caused. I know you will set things right. You are and always be the backbone of our family. I am ashamed that Mom misunderstood you."
That had been an eventful night. It was twenty six years ago. Jigar had moved on with the love and support of his family. Hetal and Kokila's realation was stronger than before. Kokila had selected Prerna for Jigar and after a lot of persuasion, Jigar remarried. Gopi still missed her sister Rashi but realized that she was not meant to be her Devrani. Gopi had accepted Prerna as her Dewrani and they were more than sisters. The Modi clan had lost Baa along the way. She had become pardadi to Abhishek and Vishal before she joined Dadaji in his heavenly abode.
So this was the Modi side of the story, what happened to Rashi after that night? I will reveal it in the last part. Friends pls pls pls leave your comments.