Omkara had been noticing Gauri since few days,  she had returned to her old self , who talked in monosyllables. He didn't know why but his heart muttered as his every effort was useless.

Gauri had been going through the same turmoil,  her father who attended every meeting now with the Oberoi's had skillfully and awfully ignored her. She was hurt and more disappointed. 

Omkara had to leave the city to attend a conference so he thought to talk to her after his return.

Two days later,  Omkara walked into his home , thinking he'll talk to his wife today but she wasn't home neither his parents.  He called his father the earliest to know that Gauri's Maa,  Anjali had got an attack and is at the city hospital now. Not wasting any more time,  he reached the hospital. He saw his wife and mother aiding his mother in law. 

“ Om , you here ? When did you come ?”

“ Just a while ago . How's you now , aunty ?”

“ I'm okay. You shouldn't have come here , you should go home and rest.”

Brushing her off with a soft smile , Omkara dropped his attention to his wife who was feeding porridge to her mother.

They all remained silent until Tej Singh Oberoi walked in with a doctor. “ Om , you here ?“ “ Haan ,dad.“ “ Thank goodness,  you came. All these women were scaring me.”
That made everyone laugh.

Omkara had tried his best to bring his stubborn mother in law home but that woman didn't pay any heed.Gauri stayed with her for few more days,even though Gauri used to go to office,Omkara missed her.

Gauri reminded herself to have a word with Omkara,  he can't be kept in dark for no reason.

Omkara had been dying to meet his wife but he couldn't force her to come back leaving her ailing mother. But much to his relief , he found his wife home. He didn't know the amount of happiness that spread through his veins. He kept stealing glances at her.

“ Are you busy Omkara?”  Asked she seeing him typing furiously, he nodded negatively, he couldn't say that he was awaiting for her.

“ Then I need to have a word with you.”  Seeing her going serious,  he too sat next to her holding her hands trying to assure her.

“ I..I hid something from you.” She meekly said , not wanting to look at his face she just stared at their intervened hands. 

Omkara was nervous , he didn't know what she hid , he don't even want to know , he just can't let her go.

Even if she cheated on you , whispered his brain. 

Gauri won't cheat , yelled his heart .

And even if she did , he's not letting her go . Omkara whispered. 

“ Maheshwar Sharma is my father. ”  said Gauri as she had no energy left in her.

Puzzled Omkara didn't reply,  the name did ring a bell but his happiness was concerned at Gauri and she didn't want to leave him.

Not receiving any reply from him , she discreetly glanced at him , finding him already staring at her relaxed. 

“ Omkara,  I never wanted to hide it but the circumstances,  I'm sorry no excuses would be enough.”  confessed she , sobbing lightly. 

Gently pulling her to him and hugging her close to his heart,  he whispered “ It's okay , love . Its okay .”

Sobering up , Gauri pulled herself and uttered,
“ You might think then why does he act like he don't know me , but Omkara,  I too thought he might have forgotten me. ”

“ Who ?”  He couldn't understand and asked. 

“ My father,  Maheshwar Sharma,  your current business partner.”

Now the missing puzzles did connect well , Omkara thought. 

“ Omkara, I know you might be thinking why did I want to tell you this now when all I did was keep you in darkness. But I  wanted to tell you,  Omkara.  I didn't have the courage back then but now if I hide it from you anymore , I just can't. ”

Omkara was thoughtless and he couldn't even tell her he don't mind, he really don't. 

“ It's okay , love. I understand you had your own reasons and it's totally alright. Okay ? Please don't cry .”

Wiping her tears and hugging her close to his chest , whispered he. But she slightly shook her head and continued,  “ Omkara,  the day when you left for conference,  Maa and father had a verbal fight and Maa endured the attack.”

“ But why ?”

“ I don't know , I was called home suddenly that day , when I entered I saw Papa and Maa fighting like always.”  She trembled. 

“ Omkara,  they fought again because of me like always. ”

“ It wasn't your fault .”

“ It is Omkara.  It is. They were fighting because Maa didn't inform papa of our marriage.  Papa was extremely furious and I think that's why he ignored me. ”

And she cried bitterly , Omkara could only pacify her and then all the crying exhausted her , she slept off.

Omkara had dinner with his parents and told them Gauri was tired and she slept off.

The next day,  Gauri woke up in a strong embrace of her husband.  She was content that he didn't leave her , he loved her and pacified her. He listened to her silently and most importantly without judging. 

She held him close as possible and whispered a thanks , in return he just held her tight in his embrace. 

Gauri was content and that was evident on her face making her glow differently.  Her father and mother never became a reason for her after that. She was happy to be with Omkara. 

Omkara loved her more than she deserved ever and she deserved it. They were happy in their life.

Signing Off