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I am back with another update.. Sooner than I thought I could manage. But I have moved forward and am trying to get to a place from where I can complete the finale... Before that A very BIG THANK YOU, to everyone who has taken their time to read this story . Thanks for the comments. They have been great. You have all been great!! I am not getting the time to thank everyone individually hence I am thanking you here.
Now to the story.
Chapter 8
"Mota Bhabhi. I think Gopi again started on some work and forgot tea. I will go and call her." Kokila informed Mota Bhabhi as she walked towards her Bahu's room. She knew Gopi. This daughter of hers would have found another work. Kokila had never seen anybody more hardworking than her DIL. Gopi vahu was not just the most hardworking but she was also the kindest person in the world Kokila thought.
"Maaji. Can I talk to you? And you too Kakiji." Kokila remembered when Gopi had walked in to her room that day when Aham had rejected her vahu once again. Kokila had looked at her bahu and her heart had broken to see her. "Kokila. Listen to Gopi." Mota Bhabhi had told her. Her Gopi vahu had sat in front of her and Mota Bhabhi and had started talking. As soon as she had, Kokila had sensed the determination in her voice and at first she had been afraid because she had thought that her Bahu would want to leave her again. But Gopi had suprised her. "Maaji. I am here to ask you for a promise. I want you to promise me that no one, not you nor anybody would blame Ahamji for what happened today." Kokila had realized how much her vahu loved her husband that day. "Maaji, Ahamji is right. What he said is a bitter pill to take , but I think he spared us more pain. He was truthful Maaji and for that I am grateful. I do not consider this a slight. I am actually grateful that he felt he should not leave me in the dark with respect to his feelings. Maaji, it is not his mistake if he does not love me." "But Gopi vahu you are his wife.." "Yes Maaji. I know and that is why I want him to be happy. He considers me his friend Maaji" her bahu had continued with a sad smile "and I am ready to accept what he has to offer. I think it is the best not to build any more castles in the air." "But Gopi beta" Mota Bhabhi had started. "Kakiji. I know you all think I am broken, but actually I felt really happy today. Ahamji for the first time today treated me as his wife. Yes Kakiji. He shared his thoughts with me and told me that he would always be my friend, whatever happens between us. I could not have dreamed something like this 5 months back. But it is true." Gopi had continued and Kokila's hopes had risen a bit. Her Bahu would not leave. She still believed and hoped that her son see the truth. "So please Kakiji, Maaji. Let us not pressure him further." Gopi had finished. Her DIL had then risen to leave. But she had hesitated near the door, turned around and had said "Maaji. I know this may come as a shock. But if in the future, Ahamji falls in love with someone, I want you to accept it wholeheartedly. Please Maaji." She had pleaded softly. Kokila remembered going to her Gopi and touching her head. "I am sure he will Gopi vahu.. with you.." she had said and had seen a lone tear escape her Gopi's eyes.
Gopi was sitting in Baa's room making sure that Baa was comfortable. Baa's health had not been good and Gopi always tried to make sure she was comfortable. As Baa slept, Gopi looked at the book in her hand. She had liked reading the book. Ahamji had recommended it to her and he had ordered it online for her. Gopi had received the book 2 days back. It had been signed "For Gopi.. Yours Aham" and her heart had given a small leap. "I need to control myself. I cannot let myself be swayed every time I see his name or hear him speak." she thought. But Ahamji kept doing sweet things. He thought he was doing it as a friend. But it was making her fall in love more and more. Like when he sent her a bunch of white and pink roses out of the blue with a card that read "For always being there for me.. Thank you.. Yours, Aham" and like the time he had woken her up at midnight to make her watch the New Year's parade with him. And one another time he had helped her find Krishna Bhajans that she had wanted. Gopi knew how little Aham knew about music and hence she had been touched that he had taken the effort to help her. Slowly, Gopi had found herself opening up to Aham more and more. Her husband had actually let her use his old laptop when he had gone on the trip. He had taught her to use the internet to help widen her horizons. Gopi smiled. That knowledge had helped them when Aham had started sending emails to her. It had started out an assignment he set her and had slowly made way for them to correspond as often as twice a day. Gopi found she enjoyed sharing her thoughts with Aham. He had been appreciative of her efforts and had actually on a number of times told her that she had helped him too by giving him suggestions that were out of the box. Gopi had felt proud. And every email they sent, had helped her understand Aham better. She had come to understand how shy he was, she had learnt on how hardworking he had been at school and college. She had started to fear him less. She now understood that Ahamji showed all his feelings through anger. And sometimes his anger did not mean anything. She understood that he was kind and generous but was embarassed to show it.
"Give Mani the sweaters I have at the corner of my shelf. You said her brother was starting school right? He will need it. I have no use for it anyway" Aham had told her during one of their conversations. Gopi had checked his closet and had found a bunch of sweaters all almost new. She had wondered why he had lied about the sweaters being old. She had found it endearing. She had also realized that he was protective of his family. Frighteningly so. And he considered her a part of his family now.. There had been no doubt. "If Raashi or her mother by any chance come near you again Gopi, I will personally make sure that they are sent behind bars for life." He had thundered and then had proceeded to get a court order against them. Gopi had felt secure hearing his words. This time his anger had been for her. She had really needed his support that day. She had been really frightened.
Her maami and Raashi ben had cornered her one day a month after Aham had left for his trip. Gopi had decided to shop for her Maaji's anniversary. She was window shopping and selecting the items in her mind. She had wanted to discuss with Ahamji once before she made the purchase and had mentally ticked off her purchase list when she had found herself suddenly pulled into a corner by her Maami and Raashi ben. Gopi had found herself in a dark alley and her maami had twisted her hand while her Raashi ben had spewed hatred. Gopi had begged them to let her go and had tried to reason with them. But they had not cared. Fortunately she had been saved when Jigarji had come to her rescue. "You scum." He had shouted at Rashi ben and her Maami. Jigarji had looked like he would cause them both physical harm but he had seen her state and had taken her back home. And without doubt Aham had known about it that same night and had called to check in on her. After he had vented out his anger at Raashi and her maami, Gopi had found him questioning her again and again about how she was. Instead of him assuring her, she had ending up assuring him. From that day forward, she had found one of the family members accompanying her everywhere she went. She had guessed this was also Aham's doing and had been grateful.
As they corresponded more, Ahamji had started to sign his name with a "Yours" in the end. She had been suprised and she rejoiced. Her mind told her that it was nothing significant and that he would probaby use it with all his friends but her heart did not agree. Gopi knew that she was just building her hopes up for nothing but she could not help herself.
"Gopi vahu. Baa is asleep. Come down for tea." Her maaji came in interrupting her thoughts. Gopi picked up the book and started out with her Maaji. "After tea, we will go see your Maama. I will come with you. Alright." Kokila continued. Gopi nodded. She was going to say goodbye to her only well wisher from her parent's side. Her maama was going away for good from Rajkot. Although it made her sad Gopi knew that it had been the only option.
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Comments and suggestions please... Next update in a few minutes...
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