Chapter 4
It was a typical autumnal evening with the air
crisp and cool following the drizzle during the day. The sun sets earlier due
to the clocks going back an hour. Most of the leaves had fallen leaving trees
bare and ready for hibernation.
"Now don't miss this opportunity Rashi. Jigar is
still not married yet. You can have the same things as Gopi if you do as I told
you to last night," Urmila pecked Rashi as she got out of the neighbour's car
they had arranged a lift in to the Modi house.
"Yes, mummy," complied Rashi following her mother
out of the car.
Gopi stood dazzled by the grandeur of the Modi
house and its surroundings. The row of lanterns forming a pathway up the drive
to the entrance brought out the domineering frontage of the house, with well
manicured gardens and some large trees dotted around causing shadows on the
lawn. The house was covered with tiny twinkling lighting running from the roof
to the ground, making it look like an ornamental jewellery box.
There were lots of expensive cars parked on the
drive with well dressed people milling around chatting in groups and children
running around playing. The women looked to be high society, dressed in their
latest designs and colours, and decked in heavy jewellery.
Feeling out of place, Gopi looked at herself. She
wore magenta and olive green panelled crepe gharara with antique working. The
skirt hung close to her. The blouse was covering her to her waist that had
working on the border with an open curved back and a tie whilst her dupatta
which was draped over her head had intricate antique working on the olive green
border. Her jewellery was small and dainty. Nothing was elaborate or grand
about her outfit when compared to those visitors.
"Urmilaben, jai shree Krishna," called out Kokila
at the entrance of the house, taking Gopi out of her thoughts.
"Jai shree Krishna, Kokilaben," replied Urmila
walking up to her with Rashi and Gopi following in tow.
"Let me see my vahu to be," said Kokila turning to
Gopi who came and stood near Kokila.
"Jai shree Krishna, auntyji," responded Gopi
taking her blessings.
"Call me maji from now on Gopi vahu. This is mota
bhabhi. We have something to give you. Show me your hands," told Kokila as she
held Gopi's cheek.
"Call me kakiji Gopi dikra," said Hetal sweetly to
Gopi cupping her hand on her other cheek also, "you are looking very beautiful
tonight."
"Thank you," replied Gopi shyly as she lifted her
hands for Kokila.
"Yes mota bhabhi, Ahem dikra is in for a surprise
when he sees her," said Kokila tunefully looking at Hetal.
Hetal revealed an opened small ornamental box that
had two golden kangans.
"This is for agreeing to be my vahu," Kokila said
as she placed one on each hand of Gopi's. Urmila's eyes widened at the grand
and heavy looking kangans then looked at her daughter who was equally shocked.
"You don't need to do this at all," replied Gopi.
"You are going to be the eldest vahu of this house
and you should be rewarded appropriately," Hetal chimed out, "You must accept
it."
"Thank you maji and kakiji," resigned Gopi.
"Now come and meet Baa and the rest of the
family," Kokila said, taking Gopi with Hetal into the house.
Gopi followed her maji and kakiji into the house.
She was already feeling so loved and pleased that she will be having someone to
call as her maji. She could hear in the background a classical instrumental
composition played on sitar. This set the ambience well as she found herself
meeting many people both family members and family friends, greeting them along
the way whilst she noticed her mami and Rashiben moving into the background of
the crowd of people.
Her favourites were Baa, then her new papaji and
kakaji, and of course her maji and kakiji. The one person who was missing from
there was her future husband, Ahem. Whilst she was meeting the well wishers she
was told commendable things about him and how much she would compliment him.
However, Gopi felt butterflies beginning to flutter in her tummy with his non
appearance engulfing her.
She looked around the room and just only realised
the size and scope of it. Whilst the outside revealed a very English outlook
the inside felt as though she was on a Bollywood set. The hall was vast with a
grand staircase leading upstairs to passageways with ornate arches that leads to
several doors. Adjacent to the open planned hall and dining area was the mandir
with Krishna and his Radha enshrined. This will be her favourite place for
sure, she thought. The light coloured walls brought out the beautiful
traditional coloured decorations put up with veils of cream chiffon to match
the splendour of the place.
Gopi eventually settled down next to Baa who was
talking about a shokla from the Bhagavat Gita when Kinjal joined in.
"Baa, you will soon have lots of time to talk to
Gopi bhabhi once she is here. Ma wants me to take Gopi bhabhi to freshen up for
the engagement," Kinjal told Baa taking hold of Gopi's hand, "Come bhabhi."
"I will come back soon, Baa," Gopi told Baa and
Baa nodded.
Gopi followed Kinjal upstairs onto the passageway
leading to the right near the far end whilst she watching the excitable crowds
of people enjoying themselves below. Kinjal lead Gopi into a bedroom.
"Bhabhi this is bhai's room soon to be yours too.
This door leads to the bathroom. You can freshen up here. I will be back soon
to collect you and take you down in time for the ceremony," said Kinjal softly
then closed the bedroom door behind her leaving Gopi alone there.
Gopi looked around the room taking in its large
size. The room looked like a photograph from an interior designers magazine
feature article. It had a huge bed with side tables that was the central piece
in the room, just looking at the bed sent tantalising shivers down her body.
The wide dresser and matching stool complimented the golden green curtains
draped luxuriously around the windows. On one side of the room were couches and
a coffee table creating a space for evening tea when he returned from the
office. The room looked lived in and exuded everything about Ahem that she had
experienced, she thought. When she opened the bathroom door it immediately led
into a walk in closet which enveloped her in his scent, that lead to the plush
bathroom which was larger than her own bedroom at her mami's house.
Gopi felt overwhelmed by all of this and found herself
looking at her reflection on the bathroom mirror. Her peaked cheeks were
flushed with pink. Her eyes beamed radiance and her lips were plump and deep
pink. She sure looked like the blushing bride to be. She instantly looked away
shying herself from this and faced another side of the bathroom.
Suddenly she heard a ruffled sound in the bedroom
and froze in her place. She felt her tummy turn as though the fluttering
butterflies were trapped inside it. She dared not turn to see who it was as she
felt the same magnetic pull as she had when she first met him. It had to be HIM!
The sound grew louder as it approached her.
Ahem stood at the entrance door of the bathroom
and saw the back of the petite girl whom he will soon be engaged to. He had not
seen a photograph of her even though his mother and kakiji had attempted a few
times to show him, when he arrived at noon but he had shown no interest as all.
He was simply doing this out of duty for this dear mother and nothing else. He
knew his heart laid with the girl who came to him in the storm and he was going
to look for her, but now he had to set his cards on the table and tell his
future bride how he felt.
"Erm," said Ahem clearing his throat to get her
attention, "I just want to let you know that I cannot give my heart to you. It
is taken by someone else. This...marriage...is all for my mother. I'm..."
He walked away before he could finish his
sentence. That's it; it is all said, he told himself as he went downstairs. He
needed things to be set straight to avoid any expectation or disappointment
from this girl. Now it was merely him going through the motions for the sake of
his mother. A relieved Ahem kept a relaxed aura about himself as he mingled
with the guests.
The air hung, pungent with his scent and unused as
Gopi stood still and stopped breathing. Big, hot tears fell involuntarily on
Gopi's cheeks. Her whole world misted over. She stood there for what felt like
infinity.
She felt inadequate. Life fated her to be this way
and was once again stinging her similar to the time when her parent's left her.
Kinjal called out for Gopi. Gopi came out of her
semi conscious state. She quickly wiped her tears, tidied her face and looked
at herself one more time. She looked disaster stricken. Please kanaji give me
strength, pleaded Gopi silently then she walked out to Kinjal who was waiting
in the room.
"It is time, let's go," informed Kinjal. With this
Gopi walked out of his room with Kinjal holding her at one side and Rashi, who
was waiting in the passageway, joined in on the others side leading her to the
top of the staircase.