Gohem OS: New Beginnings. Part 2 page 3 Updated

Gopi sat on the edge of her bed. Numb and with all the worries of the world on her shoulders, she stared into nothingness. Her mind continually processing the events of the past few days. Joy had turned to anger and then to despair. The lives of both her daughters blighted to such an extent that she did not know where to begin. One daughter, Vidya, embarking on the joys of motherhood only to find out that her unborn child had already been bartered. A life for a life. Promised to her sister in law, Shravan's sister as part of a blood feud agreement. And her other daughter, Meera? At such a young age undergoing the rituals of a widow. She rubbed her forehead, more to rub away the events of the day rather than the headache which was beginning to manifest itself behind her eyes.

The shouting continued down stairs with Paridi accusing Sona of be a bad omen to the family. Sona for her part, wasn't staying silent this time. She returned all of Paridi's taunts with her own, reminding Paridi that she herself did not enter into the Modi home with their blessing all those years ago, that she too employed underhand tactics.

"How dare you." Paridi lunged forward, shocking the family as both women scrapped, ending up on the floor and nearly mowing down Baa, who desperately tried getting out of the way. Jigar seeing no other way to resolve the situation waded in and with Sahir's help separated the two. "Let me go." Paridi screamed, "Jigs, I said, let me go."

For once in his life. Jigar stood his ground. He turned and scolded Sona.

"You've said what you had to say. Let that be the last time you speak to Paridi like that." Sona breathed heavily and wiped her mouth. Paridi smirked, knowing she had the upper hand. But Jigar wasn't finished. "And you," his eyes blazed, "you claim to be Sahir's mother yet you are hurting him with your attitude." Paridi looked at him open mouthed, "if Sahir has chosen a life partner for himself, then who are you to interfere. We have all accepted Sona and she has proved that she belongs here yet you constantly put her down. You forgot so easily how it was for you in the beginning?" Paridi's eyes narrowed.

"So you will throw that at me too?" Not waiting for an answer she flounced off.

"I can't go down to sort this out," Gopi muttered quietly.

"You don't have to." Ahem stood before her with a glass of water and some tablets. He handed them to her. "There is no need for you to get involved. Jigar is there. He's sorting it out." Gopi swallowed the tablets.

"What has happened to our family, Ahemji." She lamented. "Everything bad happens to us. Even our moments of happiness are short lived." Ahem put a comforting arm around her. He was at a loss. If Gopi was feeling low, then he had his own demons to deal with. That of wanting to blame his mother for the predicament they were in but knowing that he couldn't. Gopi turned to him. Her eyes beginning to glisten. "Both our daughters ..." She couldn't finish. He held her tight as she cried, his own heart fit to bursting with the same pain.

When the tears subsided they both sat in silence, allowing the moment to pass by. Eventually Gopi felt strong enough to support herself.

"I think it would be better for us to bring both our girls home. I cannot trust Shravan to care for Vidya and I don't want either girl to be near Gaura." Ahem nodded in agreement.

"It's late now and you are in no state to be going there. We will bring them tomorrow." He touched her forehead. "Look how stressed you got. You have a fever." He got up and pulled back the sheets. "For now, get some rest. I'll send Meethi up in a while with some soup for you." She held onto his hand and in a flash he saw Gopi as a vulnerable and scared woman. The layers of bravado she had built up, quickly fell away. His heart melted and he lay with her stroking the hair off her face and taking in her features, remembering how he had done the same, all those years ago when their love, or rather his love, had blossomed for her.

The commotion outside the door brought him back to the present. He quickly got up as Paridi barged in with Jigar hot on her heels.

"Gopiben? I need to speak to Gopiben." She tried to look past Ahem but he blocked her way and ushered her out.

"Gopi is resting. She's had a lot to deal with ..." Paridi quickly interrupted. Gopi stirred.

"I just need to speak to Gopiben and tell her how badly behaved her daughter in law is." Ahem glanced back before taking Paridi by the arm and shut the bedroom door behind him.

"Paridi for once swallow your pride and your anger. Both our daughters are in a predicament and Gopi is not taking it well. Let her rest." Paridi looked at him as if a veil had just been lifted from her eyes.

"But Gopiben is so strong ..."

"Gopi cannot carry you and your troubles. She has sacrificed enough." He passed by her, leaving her open mouthed. She looked at Jigar.

"Do you feel the same, Jigs? Am I laying all my troubles at Gopiben's feet?

"We all are as much to blame." He put his arm around her shoulders and gently led her away.

The weather outside changed. As Gopi slept a fitful sleep, tears squeezing out of tightly shut eyes and falling on the pillow, the rain began to fall heavily, soon followed by thunder and lightening. Gopi tossed and turned, her dreams bringing her more sorrow and the biggest gift of all-hindsight. Each chapter of her life was played out. Starting with Radha's turn of character, her evil deeds, Meera missing all those years, her separation from the family, Rashi and Urmila's kalakaris against her which she allowed to Rashi's untimely death for which she held herself responsible, Kokila's so called friendship with Gaura which led to both her girls being traded by Kokila and her mother's behaviour accusing her of Radha's death.

At one point she woke during the night and looked in the darkness for Ahem. Seeing his silhouette on the bed she felt comforted and went back to sleep.

The light of morning gently woke her up. Gopi sat up in bed and brushed back her hair. Ahem's side of the bed was empty. Her head still felt heavy and she stumbled into the bathroom colliding with the bedside table which she was sure wasn't there before.

Washed and ready Gopi made her way to the dining area. Not having eaten the night before had made her week. She stumbled into the kitchen and began to prepare breakfast. Something gnawed away at the back of her mind but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Outside the family gathered to eat. She brought the food out and laid it on the table, looking at the faces before her, she felt a sense of deja vu and nausea.

"Gopi vahu? Are you alright?" Kokila looked at her concerned. Gopi nodded and looked for the others. Ahem joined them at the table and informed them that the menfolk had to go to the office urgently so wouldn't be stopping for breakfast.

"But Ahemji, today we were going to collect Vidya and Meera." Ahem looked at her, puzzled.

"Who are Vidya and Meera?" He asked, bemused.

Thanks Manzz for taking the time out to read and comment. Much appreciated. 😊

Thank you. It has been a while. All being well I shall post part two tonight. There is a reason why Ahem asked that question in the end. All will be revealed.

It has been a while. I was thinking of earlier when both Paridi and Jigar would not leave Gopi alone to concentrate on her own life. Part two will be a little clearer about the end.

bring it onnn... waiting for the next !!