Am back with the next shot. Turned this into an SS.. Please comment on it.
Ahem tried to steady his breathing as he slowly sunk into the sofa-chair... She is furious, she is really angry at me... I can't believe this... How much must I have hurt her to push her to this point... Anita understands me better? Oh God, I didn't mean any of the stuff I said... But shit, she took it literally... It must be killing her...
Ahem got up as these thoughts ran into his head. He turned to see Anita standing near the door. The very sight of her triggered something in him, he turned away in disgust... Not just at her, but at himself. I compared Gopi to her... How? How could I?
Anita came in thinking that maybe Ahem had been waiting for her for too long and that's why he was angry. She came in and called out to him "Ahem..."
Ahem closed his eyes praying to Gopi's kanhaji to give him patience. I can't shout at a guest mom has brought... I can't shout at her.
"Ahem... Are you ok..."
Ahem took a deep breath... "Yes, Anita I am absolutely fine. Please leave the room. If you want anything go and ask Kaki or Mom. I am really busy right now..."
"But Ahem... Gopi told me... "
Enough already! Ahem turned towards her his face tensed with all the anger he was controlling...
"Anita. Leave. Now" his voice controlled but the steel enough to make Anita shiver. Anita left the room shaking her head... wondering why she was always the victim, inspite of all the love she had for Ahem... Would no one ever reciprocate her feelings... No one deserved her... Not even Ahem... With this thought she looked back at him, and shook her head in disapproval. She was too good for him. With these thoughts she left the room.
Ahem waited a few minutes for his anger to cool. I need her in this room, right now. I have to bring her back. She actually went and called Anita... What did she tell her that I want to speak to her? How could she? I have told her so many times that I want Anita to go away... But still one mistake I make in a fit of anger and she forgets everything... How can she do this to me? I can't wait for her to come, I will bring her here myself.
Ahem turned around and stormed out of the room. He saw her near the mandir with Baa and decided he had to ask her in such a way that she can't deny in front of Baa. Ahem walked slowly and purposefully towards them as he rehearsed what he was going to say in his head.
"Gopi." he called out to her with a small smile on his face.
Baa and Gopi turned towards him. Gopi was a little taken aback as she put the pallu over her head and immediately looked away. Continuing with the thing she was doing. Baa smiled at him. "What happened Ahem... Do you need something...?"
Ahem saw her stance and realised that he had been right in his plan. This was the only way to make her come with him. Let her make whatever she wants of it... I am taking her with me.
"Yes Baa, I wanted Gopi to help me out with something... I am trying to organize a set of files and I need Gopi's help. She is the only one who I can trust to do this right... You know Baa, I never let anyone touch my files... But Gopi... " with this he looked at her with a grin on his face. He was acting but he meant every word he said. She instantly looked at him... What did he just say? Her mouth agape as Ahem stared back at her with not just admiration but even amusement.
Baa was shocked at how blatantly Ahem had praised his wife... Never had she imagined that her grandson... Ahem... the man of steel... would be standing in front of her and praising his wife without batting an eyelid.
"Wow... Ahem... I am very happy to see that you value her so much..."
"Baa... I know I don't say stuff but that doesn't mean I don't care or I don't notice. And Gopi is perfect... in everything she does... I can trust her without thinking... Please Baa can she come with me... I really need her help."
"Sure... Ahem... Take her... Gopi vau... Go. We will do this later."
Gopi stood rooted to the spot. What just happened? He didn't ask me... he asked Baa. I don't have any option but to go with him. I can't believe Ahemji would be capable of such scheming. She stared at him with a frown. He raised an eyebrow and smirked at her, making sure that Baa didn't notice.
"Actually Baa.. Maaji told me that this work had to be..."
"I will explain to Kokila... Don't worry. I told you before also, Ahem is like his grandfather, he needs everything to be done by his wife only... Go with him." Baa nearly ordered her.
"Ok.. Baa..." she turned her head slightly towards Ahem... "Ahemji, you... you go on I will come... "
"No Gopi... You are coming right now only na... then we can go together."
Gopi had no alternative but to agree... She slowly nodded her head and placed the thaal on the steps of Kanhaji. She looked at the idol while she did this and prayed to give her strength. The only thought that confused her was why Ahem was being so persistent and making this so difficult. She didn't want to think of any reasons for his appreciation after what she had heard. She steeled her heart and walked towards him... Her eyes on the ground.
Ahem waited for her to reach him... and turned as she walked past him. The entire trip up the stairs and to the room, Gopi remained as far as she could from him. Ahem walked with her, glancing at her every now and then.
When they entered the room, Gopi immediately went towards the table to see only 2-3 files laid out. Then she looked over on the sofa and found nothing. She was about to turn towards the cupboard when she heard the door close a little too loudly. Gopi closed her eyes waiting for the new onslaught he was going to throw at her.
"So... you are punishing me now? Is that it?"
Gopi didn't answer. Ahem stood at the door waiting for her to move... but she didn't.
"So much anger? I didn't know you had such a temper."
A tear rolled down Gopi's cheeks as he heard the soft playfulness in his words. But no, its not true.
"How long have you sentenced me for?"
Gopi turned towards him and looked at him again. Ahem noticed that the pain, the hurt, the agony he had seen a little while ago.. it was all intact.. it had increased somehow... He felt something break inside him..
Before she could say something, Ahem took a few steps towards her... "I am really sorry Gopi. For everything... I just got.."
"Ahemji..." she interrupted him as her gaze returned to the floor. Ahem stopped and blinked. This was the first time she had interrupted him as far as he could recall. Again, it felt like a dagger to the heart.
"Ahemji, you don't have to apologize. And... " she looked back into his eyes... "I am not punishing you. Infact I am releasing you from a punishment that started with our marriage. You had to do this for Maaji and I understand. But I can atleast make things easy for you..."
"Gopi!... " Ahem breathed... Not believing, not wanting to believe what she had just said. He reached towards her and she took a few steps away...
"No Ahemji, I have done enough to torture you, I can't anymore. Sorry." her voice choking up and against her resolve to be strong.
With that she ran past him and out of the room, as her tears finally gave away. Ahem stood frozen to the spot, shutting his eyes as he felt her leave...he waited listening intently to the sound of her running away... She was going to the terrace... to hide her tears. He wanted to go behind her but his body was almost paralysed by her words.
It took him a few minutes to absord every inch of emotion in the words Gopi had uttered. The disappointment... The complete sense of hopelessness. She isn't angry with me...She has lost faith in me...
I did this for Mom? Why is she going back to those things all of a sudden..?
Ahem opened his eyes as realisation dawned on him. She heard us...She heard my conversation with Anita. She heard what I said... "Anitaben understands you better" "we are married to different people, but I still understand you so well" "Don't you think you married the wrong girl?" "Yes.." "And if your Mom hadn't pressurised you, you would have married me..." "Yes"
Ahem crumbled on to the floor... kneeling near the table. What have I done? What have I done?
More later.
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