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Hi guys.. .A hurriedly written OS. Something on the current track. Hope you like it😛
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Apology~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I will be in Bhuj tonight. We will get the documents and meet you at the meeting tomorrow at 12:00 Noon. Bye Aman." Ahem cut his call and threw another angry glance at his wife. He then walked angrily out of their room to update the change of plans to his manager who would have to get his tickets ready immediately.
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Gopi walked as fast as she could, placing all the items her Ahemji would need in the suitcase. She had made a big mistake, she could see. Her Ahemji was even now on the phone making arrangement to leave during the night as the elders had insisted that he stay for the party. He had said nothing about her mistake to them, only that an important document was destroyed and he needed to go to Bhuj that night instead of the next day morning.
The family had been worried and her devarji had volunteered to go with Ahem as the manager in-charge could not make it at such a short notice. Gopi placed his blazer on the top and closed the box. She had just wanted to see his joy when he opened the cupboard where she had hidden her anniversary gift to surprise him.
She had been careless costing her a lot more than she had bargained for. Now the gift remained in the cupboard, there was no anniversary, no wishes either.
Gopi walked out the room slowly to the kitchen. She did not want to make her Ahemji any more angry than he was. If that meant staying out of his way, she would. She was used to it from before.
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Ahem walked hurriedly into the room, ready to leave. He had just received confirmation from the travel department that they had managed to procure the tickets to Bhuj for him and Jigar. There was no time to lose. The room was empty and Ahem felt deflated but his eyes fell on the table where there was a smattering of glue residue still on the side.
His anger flared again and Ahem made his way to the bed where his suitcase lay ,all locked up. He angrily opened the box. He had been most impatient for the party to get over so that he could make his way to Bhuj and get his project documents in order. Gopi's foolish mistake had to be now corrected.
Mechanically his mind noted that his suitcase had everything in order. He needed nothing else. But he still went towards the cupboard. Gopi would surely have forgotten something, he thought.
"Ahem Dikra the car is ready. Jigar said he is waiting for you." Ahem looked up and saw his Kaki give him a heads up and walk downstairs. He told her retreating figure that he would be down in a minute.
Ahem hurriedly opened the cupboard and took out the first hanky there. A small box rolled out. He bent down surprised and took the box in his hand. The ribbon around the box wished him a happy anniversary. His hands opened the box and Ahem lifted the small bracelet charm out. It was a gift. Today was their anniversary.
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Ahem and Jigar walked towards the train. Both silent, were thinking about the party, each lost in his own thoughts. Jigar gave a small smile as he remembered Rashi wishing him all the best for the project. His part was going to be small. But he hoped to learn from working closely on a project of this scale. Jigar smiled to himself as he visualized Rashi's pleasure when she discovered the ring he had hidden in their room. He could imagine her joyous cry. He would miss that but work was important.
Ahem walked beside Jigar silently, his thoughts far away. The silence helped. His thoughts were in a disarray and he struggled to find order in the chaos. His heart hurt deep inside. He thought of the trip that had to be made in such a hurry due to the ruined documents and somehow that did not seem to be such a big issue as it had looked before. Here he was on his way to Bhuj with Jigar for company and they would get the copy of the originals in another 3 hours. It had all worked out for the better.
But your anniversary is ruined. He reminded himself and an involuntary sigh escaped. He had not wished Gopi even once and had given her no chance to wish him either. It was not due to the lack of trying from her side, he knew. Her mistake and his anger for that mistake had managed to make the rest of the anniversary into nothing.
Ahem traced the newly added charm on his bracelet, deep in thought. He could feel the contours of the engraving that was on the heart shaped charm. From Gopi and the baby.. Happy Anniversary. She had managed to wish him in her own way even though he had made her feel guilty all day for her accidental mistake . He had been stubborn for no reason. Ahem's heart pinched as the chaotic thoughts fit into their places. Her mistake was even now being corrected, but his... His would remain a cruel mistake forever if he did not do something about it.
"Jigar, I need to go back home. I forgot something." Jigar looked surprised at Ahem as they came to a stop right before their train compartment. "But Ahem Bhai.." "I.. I have to do something.. I know you can handle this. I forgot something back home. Here, call me once you reach Bhuj. I will be there for the meeting tomorrow afternoon. Take care Jigar. Bye."
Ahem thrust his project bag to Jigar and then turned around to go. He then came back and hugged Jigar once. "Thank you Jigar." Jigar grinned surprised at the sudden display of love from his elder brother as Ahem just turned back around and ran towards the car in the parking lot.
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Gopi moved slowly around the empty room. She felt like she had cried all she could but her heart still felt heavy. She moved slowly, her hand on top of her stomach feeling the baby's movements. It looked like even her baby wanted to be left alone. He was quiet, sleeping.
Gopi sighed as she placed the folded shirts back in the cupboard and made her way slowly towards the bed. The lights had been dimmed in the room. It was very late. Her Ahemji would be on his way to Bhuj now, to get a copy of the documents she had ruined. A silent tear escaped her and went unnoticed as she made her way to the edge of the bed. Then she heard the sound.
"Ahemji?" Gopi turned to see the silent figure staring at her with an incomprehensible expression on his face. Gopi stared back confused and for a second wondered if her mind was playing games with her. "Ahemji, is that you?", she asked to make sure.
"You forgot. You again forgot Gopi." His voice was stern. He sounded angry.
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Ahem stood silently staring at his wife make her way slowly to the bed. She was walking slower than usual, her steps tired and wary. It was not just her pregnancy, he could see. She was lost in thoughts. Then he saw it. The tears, glistening in the night-light as she ran her hand over her stomach and sighed. He saw her make her way slowly to the bed not even trying to wipe those tears away, as though it did not matter. It mattered, to him.. His heart ache as he saw the sadness in the face that had glowed just that morning at his success.
He moved forward a bit and his legs hit the table making a noise. She was startled and he saw her turn and look right at him, her eyes trying to see who it was.
"You forgot. You again forgot Gopi." His voice came out harsh and dry. His throat caught and Ahem coughed trying to clear the choking feeling in his throat. Concern immediately clouded her pretty face replacing the guilty one just a second ago. "Ahemji, are you alright?" Fear and concern, she was walking towards him, searching his face just to make sure he was alright. Her love radiated from every pore and there he stood, his eyes stinging as he realized just how lucky he was .
"Why did you forget?" He croaked. She looked at him again, this time looking around, searching for what she had forgotten and then back to his face. Her beautiful, large eyes were pooled with tears again as she looked at him imploring him to reveal her mistake, waiting for him to shout again.
Ahem took two long strides and reached her. "Do you know what you forgot Gopi?." He whispered. Her face showed that she was still waiting for him to tell her and berate her for her mistake. Her face clouded with confusion and fear as she failed to connect what she had done to his question. "I do not know..." She whispered still not understanding why he was there. "I thought I had packed everything you said. The shirts, the blazer, the toothbrush.."
Ahem shushed her placing his finger on her lips. "Shh.. shh.." He felt them tremble beneath his fingers as she struggled to maintain her composure. Ahem turned her around and slowly walked her to the bed. He sat her down, kneeling in front of her. He looked up, seeing her troubled face and all he wanted was to take the sadness away from those eyes that held so much love and concern for him.
"Do you know what you forgot Gopi?" He asked again and saw her nod no, the fear returning back in those eyes. His heart berated him for being the most insensitive person on earth for failing to understand her guilt and pain and adding to it my being mad at her. He had ignored her plea for forgiveness, so evident even now in those eyes.
"You forgot to tell me what a big jerk I am." Ahem said. His voice sounded angry again. But this time, it was at himself. "You forgot to tell me that all this success in the project, the profit, the name, all this is nothing if it is not for you and our baby." His hands on her stomach he looked up wanting to lose himself in those depths forever.
He saw them again. The tears. The first drop rolled down and fell on back fo his hand as his words sunk in. Ahem could hold it no longer. He stood up and gathered his wife in his arms hugging her to him as he whispered "I am so sorry Gopi. Happy anniversary."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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