OS: Best Moment
Ahem drove home with anticipation, he couldn't wait to go home to see what Gopi might have done for his birthday. He knew he hadn't been very nice to her that morning but he couldn't help himself. He had been looking forward to her wish all morning, and waited eagerly for her to come into the room, but to his surprise she had ignored him completely. He waited thinking she might be shy but still she kept herself busy with bedcovers. When he realized he was going to be late waiting for her he got up and made his way to the door. He was still wondering why Gopi didn't wish him and thought may be she forgot his birthday.
He was startled to see Anita outside of his room with bouquet of flowers in her hand, she wished him happy birthday and then shocked him by kissing him. Before he could react she moved back and he saw his mom and Rashi in the hall and schooled his expression. He didn't dare look back at Gopi.
Once everyone had wished him his pain increased when Gopi still didn't say anything then finally she stopped him and wished him. He saw the similar pain in her eyes when she tried to explain she wanted to wish earlier, but he brushed it aside because he didn't care for an explanation, the moment had already passed.
It wasn't until later when his anger prevented him from working that he thought of things from her perspective. Could he really blame her for hesitating? He didn't know what happened but he was sure she would put her heart into making up for whatever had happened to make her hesitate to wish him in the morning.
He parked his car in the driveway and almost sprinted to the front door. He rang the bell and waited impatiently for Gopi to open the door.
Gopi felt her heart lurch when she heard the doorbell ring. She felt an irrational urge to shout and tell everyone attending the party to leave because she wanted to celebrate her husband's birthday with him alone, but she didn't have the courage to shout out anything. Only brave act for her on this day was buying the bright blue shirt for her Ahemji, that too just to defy Anitaben.
She opened the door with trembling hands and saw her husband standing at the door; he gave her a small smile and entered the house. He stopped when he heard his friends and family shout happy birthday. She saw the surprise and delight on his face at the unexpected party.
Ahem had expected something very special from his Gopi, but he never thought she would go all out to surprise him. She must have worked all do to decorate the house and make the food for the party herself. As he had expected she put her whole heart in the preparations to celebrate his birthday. He turned to her.
"Gopi did you do the decorations? They are very nice, thank you." He said with a smile.
"No Ahem, Anita did the decorations." His mom said walked up to where he and Gopi were standing.
Ahem was stunned and immediately looked to Gopi who was unable to look him in the eye and bowed her head in shame. He couldn't understand why this was happening. Why is Gopi letting Anita do everything for his birthday? Did she really not care for him? The questions were twirling around in his head making his head and heart hurt at the possible answers. He had never imagined Gopi not having any kinds of feelings for him. Had he done this to her?
He looked over to where Anita was standing and she immediately came to stand next to him. "Ahem lets cut the cake." Ahem looked at Gopi. Before he could say yes or no one of his friends spoke up.
"Do we have a cartoon cake this year also?" Ahem clenched his jaw in irritation and he could see Gopi looked down in shame. His mom answered in negative.
Gopi looked up at him, and he could see the tears shining in her eyes and wanted to pull her aside to reassure her. "Ahemji you go freshen up first." He nodded his head yes, but his mom spoke up before he could leave.
"No Ahem, Anita is right. Cut the cake first." He was surprised at his mom and so was Gopi and he could also see the hurt on her face when his mom took Anita's side. He didn't have any choice but to move towards the cake.
When he saw the cake his mind flashed back to his previous birthday and the cartoon character cake flashed in his mind. At the time he had been angry but today he would have taken anything ordered by Gopi. They say karma is a bitch and no one knew this better than Ahem. What he wouldn't do to go back in time and ask for a different wish on his birthday last year. He turned his head slightly to glance at Gopi and saw her look away before he could catch her eye, but he didn't miss the fleeting pain in her eyes. He wanted her to step next to him and cut the cake with him but when she remained in place he had no choice but to cut the cake by himself.
He blew the candle then cut the cake. Ahem took the first piece and fed his mom the cake, then immediately turned to Gopi and offered her the cake. He saw the surprise on her face and wondered whom did she think he would feed after his mom. She took a small piece and brought it to his mouth as he fed her the cake. He saw her blush when her finger grazed his lower lip and they both smiled at each other.
Just that one-shared moment made everything else irrelevant for both of them but the feeling of normalcy did not last long. When he turned back Anita offered him the cake. He took a small bite and kept his distance. He immediately wiped his mouth. He did not want anything or anyone to erase Gopi's touch. He had wanted to wipe the kiss off just like that, but circumstances had prevented him from doing this when his mom showed up. His only consolation was that it was not the same place where Gopi had accidentally kissed him.
Anita handed him a gold gift box. "Thank you." His voice sounded stiff but he couldn't help himself.
"You are welcome, now go and freshen up." He felt his temper rise and clenched his jaw, but walked away without saying anything.
Gopi felt her heart clench in fear. What if Ahemji, like everyone else appreciates what Anitaben did for his birthday? Will she be able to bare the pain of rejection of her choice of shirt? Will he wear the shirt that Anitaben chose for him to show his appreciations?
"Gopi you didn't you give Ahemjiju his gift?" Gopi looked at her Rashiben and felt tears threaten again. "I left it on the bed Rashiben." Her sister gave her a strange look but did not say anything.
Meanwhile Ahem walked into the room angrily and slammed the doors shut. He noticed a gift box on the bed it was wrapped in bright pink paper he walked towards it and dropped Anita's gift box on the bed. He picked up the pink box and smiled as he stared at it. Gopi had written Happy Birthday Ahemji, in Hindi on the top of the box. He opened the box and was surprised to see the turquoise blue shirt in the box. He took out the shirt and spread it on the bed.
He glanced at the box that Anita had given him and wondered if it contained a shirt also. His curiosity got better of him and he picked up the box. He opened the card on the top and frowned in irritation. When he saw the message on the card he was livid with anger, he realized there was something really wrong here and he is not seeing the obvious. He put it aside for the moment to think back on it later.
Ahem opened Anita's gift and found a beige shirt in the box. He took out the shirt and laid it next to the blue shirt. He compared the two shirts and decided the blue was the best color hands down. Blue shirt was vibrant and youthful like his Gopi. It reminded him of her smile which has been missing for quiet some time now and he realized he was responsible for Gopi's lack of confidence in their relationship. He decided to wear the shirt that she bought for him to show her that even her smallest gesture made him happy.
When Ahem came down and saw Gopi's face light up at seeing him in the blue shirt he knew he made the right choice even if this is the first time he is wearing something in such a bright color. His mom also thought the same and asked him about the shirt. He smiled and gestured to Gopi. "Mom Gopi gave me the shirt."
Jigar walked up to him and said, "Bhai the shirt looks really good on you; you should wear colors like this often." He nodded to Jigar and looked back at Gopi with a smile.
As the party progressed and he made the rounds of the room he received more compliments on the shirt and how good he looked in it. Each time he heard someone complimented him his eyes searched for Gopi and was not surprised to see her looking his way and smiling. He declined the food offered to him, he wasn't much into Italian food; Ahem wished Gopi had cooked his favorites instead.
Gopi had been watching Ahemji decline food every time someone offered him something and was glad she went ahead with her plans and made his favorite dishes anyway. She went to her Rashiben and explained what she wanted from her and went off to make arrangements to surprise her Ahemji.
By the time Gopi finished doing what she needed to do the last guest had just said their goodbyes. She signaled Rashi to let her know she was done. She went back in the room to wait for her Ahemji.
Gopi was listening for the sound of her Ahemji's feet walking towards their room but to her horror she heard Anitaben talking to Ahemji and it sounded like she was going to follow him to their room. She quickly stepped out of the room, closed the door and intercepted Ahemji and Anitaben.
"Ahemji I have laid out your clothes for the night; I thought you might be sleeping early since you have to be at the office early in the morning." Gopi said stopping in front of Ahem.
Ahem was relieved and grateful, he turned to Anita. "Thanks Anita and goodnight." He kept his tone polite, nodded at Gopi and walked towards his room.
Anita looked on sadly but thought she could stall Gopi. "Gopi thanks for letting me do this for Ahem. Wasn't he very surprised and happy?"
Before Gopi could reply Rashi stepped next to her. "Yes he was very surprised; Jigarji even took some pictures, do you want to see them?" She asked. She turned Anita towards her room and turned back to Gopi to wink at her before escorting Anita away from Gopi.
Gopi smiled happily and rushed down the steps to get the food.
Ahem walked into the room and was surprised to see the coffee table set with candles and flowers. He was about to go enquire when Gopi walked in carrying tray with dishes and what looked like bowels of food. He realized what she was up to and smiled in appreciation.
Gopi placed the tray on the table then went back to close and lock the door. She walked towards Ahem and stopped in front on him. "Ahemji I noticed you hardly touched any of the food tonight so I brought something for you." She hesitated but got out rest of what she wanted to say to him. "I am sorry I didn't wish you first this morning. I was going to but Rashiben thought it would be nice to surprise you in the evening."
Ahem saw how it had hurt Gopi to not wish him first and how she had genuinely wanted to surprise him but Anita ruined Gopi's plans of surprise by wishing him in front of her. "It is okay Gopi, I understand. What did you make for me?" He asked her next.
She smiled at him shyly. "Your favorites, Malai Kofta, rice and parathas."
His mouth watered when she mentioned his favorite foods. "Did you eat?" He knew she probably didn't eat either because him, and he was right when she shook her head back and forth. "Okay serve food for both of us, I want to eat with you today. This will make up for your ruined surprise."
Gopi moved to the table to serve the food. Ahem joined her at the table and broke a piece of paratha to deep in sabzi and offered it to her. She was surprised when he offered her the first bite and also took a piece of paratha and did the same to offer it to him. They both fed each other the first bite and smiled at each other in appreciation and were happy to share this moment with each other. They finished the dinner quietly each lost in their own thoughts.
Once Gopi cleaned up and they were both ready for bed Ahem asked Gopi about the party. "Gopi who's idea was it to plan the surprise party?"
Gopi hesitated then told him the truth. "Rashiben was going to help me plan the party but Anitaben wanted to thank you for taking care of her and came up with the idea to throw you the surprise party also, I didn't have the heart to deny her."
Ahem nodded but he was not convinced by the reasons that Anita gave to Gopi. He really wanted to know what motivated Anita to take over as though it was her right to do the things she did. He didn't want to share his suspicions with Gopi and add to her worries. Instead he smiled at her with pleasure. "Gopi thank you again for the shirt, it is a very unexpected gift."
Gopi blushed and smiled at his compliment but the way he was looking at her made her sense he wanted something more personal from her also. Gopi's mind flashed back to the kiss he had given her and the pleasure she felt when his lips touched her cheek and wondered if she would be able to reciprocate the feelings.
She took a step towards him, then another until she was standing close to him. She gathered courage and stood on her toes so she could reach his right cheek. She kissed him on the cheek, close to the corner of his lips, and held for few seconds then pulled back to look him in the eye. "Happy Birthday Ahemji."
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