SS:Gopi's Mahabharat 16th update (Page 5)

Part 7:

While Gopi was slowly adjusting to her life and responsibilities, MM was having a hard time without her. Kokila had turned bitter towards life, and barely spoke to Aham. Aham had however, numerous times tried to make conversation with her, but a forced conversation never really works out. Thus, he eventually only spoke when needed to her.

When Aham would be alone he would remember the gawar's little acts, and wondered if she was alright. At times his own consciousness would prick him. Aham tum insaaniyat ke naate bhi uss gawar ke bare mein yeh nahin socha ki agar ussay kuch ho gaya toh? Taazub ki baat hai na ki uski behan padhi likhi aur woh ek letter bhii jaanti. Maine uske saath theek nahin kiya. Par who kahan hogi. Police ne tph puri tarah se khoj kit hi. Chirag Kaka ne bhi apne contacts ko istemaal kiya. Khair main kyun itna sochne laga hoomn uss ladki ke baare mein? Argh, iss se achha hai ki main kuch office ka kaam kar loon. Slowly Ahem turned into a non stop workalholic, in order to suppress the guilt he would feel.

In RaJi's room:

Rashi had started to get fed up of the tasks that she had to complete alone. Whenever she would try to protest, Kokila would cleverly have Hetal too occupied to listen to Rashi's pleas. Additionally whenever, she would make a complaint to Jigar, he would brush it off saying she had to complete the responsibilities as it doesn't look nice otherwise. Hence, Rashi was in a dead-end. She blamed herself for driving Gopi away and landing with all the work.Uff ghar ka yeh kaam kabhi khatm hone ka naam hi leta. Aur yeh Goi Ganwaar na jaane kahan picnic manane chali gayi.

Jigar had slowly started to see the lack of qualities that Rasi possessed, yet he turned a blind eye to it all. He did not want to become another Aham who ill-treated his wife. So, he chose to remain silent.

Slowly one year passed away. Kokila framed a pic of Gopi in her bridal dress, and placed an 'akhand jyot' underneath it. She prayed that Gopi receive the happiness that she was entitled to, and which she never received. While in one year, things had changed at MM in Rajkot, there were changes in Shimla too at Sister Maggie's house. Changes that included a complete metamorphis of Gopi.

Part 8:

Slowly with the passing of a year, Gopi had actually become literate in both English and Hindi. Since she knew how to speak Hindi, learning how to read and write was easier in Hindi. As a matter of fact, she learnt reading and writing Hindi in just two months. Sister Maggie had her fully immersed in language and sciences. Seeing Gopi's rapid progress, Sister Maggie was able to get Gopi to clear the 3^rd grade in just one year. Along with becoming literate, Gopi had begun to get street smart as well. She had begun to realize that the intentions of Rashi and Urmila when she was in MM, but she then usually turned a blind eye to it. Probably it was due to feeling gratitude towards her Mama who sheltered her. However, she slowly realized that being gratuitous did not mean that she should allow to be treated in the manner that she was. She had already done her fair share of being used as a voiceless maid and scapegoat by the mother-daughter duo of Urmi mami ji and Rashi Ben. This change however had not come easily. Sister Maggie had instilled slowly in Gopi a sense of pride, never to let anyone trample of one's dignity and to stand up for what was wrong. Gopi too being given the freedom to do as she pleases began to understand that she also is a human being.

Passing time with Sumit Bhaiya the caretaker godson of Sister Maggie, Gopi began to also understand the effects of herbs. Sumit himself had knowledge of ayurvedic medicine, and he was more than pleased to pass on the knowledge to his eager student Gopi. Gopi with her knowledge of home remedies began to implement the information she shared with Sumit. She came up with a brilliant idea and spoke to Sister Maggie about it. Sister Maggie encouraged her, but told her to first experiment a little. By this time in the span of 3 years, Gopi had finished the 8^th grade. Sister Maggie knew from the proposition that Gopi had brought forth that it could emerge as a very successful idea, but that idea needed to be marketed properly. Hence, the need of Gopi successfully finishing high school was necessary.

There were times when Gopi would feel alone. She would reminisce about her failed marriage, and her legal husband. Yes, that is what she had reduced him to. He was merely husband in name. Getting educated had helped Gopi see the world for what it was. She had removed Ahem from the pedestal of being a God. He had erred, so how could he be considered a God? He too could have tried to help her, but he never did. Rather he verbally abused her whenever he could. She knew that she could not blame Ahem completely as at times he too was the victim of circumstances that were created by her dearest cousin Rashiben. Gopi wiped her tears away, and firmed her resolve to get justice for herself. It was not like Gopi had no soft corner for any one. She understood her saas Kokila. Kokila was the only one whom she truly respected.She knew the things that Kokila had tried to do to help her, but the gap between Ahem and Gopi was too big to be bridged by simple efforts.

Meanwhile things in MM were dull without the presence of Gopi Vau. Everyone seemed just as if life was stuck out of them. Urmila tried her kalakaris along with rashi, but they were not the same as this time they did not have a scapegoat like Gopi. If Urmila even tried to do something to Kinjal, then chhoti kagdi would get back at her with double the vengeance. Rashi's shopping and beauty parlor trips had also become nillable as she always was caught up with housework. Her married life with Jigar was still at the pace it had been 3 years ago. Jigar too had given up on Rashi after trying so hard to please her.