Omkara had tried to appear his best. He had taken the time to wash, blow dry and put his hair into a man bun. He had also trimmed his growing beard and had put on his black sweatpants and grey tshirt. He had put in his best efforts to appear like a polished gentleman.

He had made up his mind. He was going to talk to Gauri, be honest with her about himself. After that, he would go with the flow. He felt much lighter and his headspace was clutter-less. 

He walked out of his room, made it to the kitchen. It was a little after the usual breakfast time. No one seemed to be around and the house was quiet. Shivaay must have left for office and Anika was supposed to attend Saahil's PTM. But where were the others? He turned to one of the household who was helping him with the breakfast, "Where is everyone?"

"Tej Saab and his friend left for office after breakfast. The guest's daughter went back to her room. Shivaay Saab also left for office. Rudra Saab and  Priyanka Maam just left a few minutes back too. And.."

Omkara looked up sensing the hesitation.

"And?"

"Jaanvi Ma'am left last night."

"What do you mean left?" Omkara asked shocked.

"Yesterday night, she left with Shivaay Saab somewhere. He came back alone."

Omkara nodded  and dismissed the help while calling Shivaay. 

"Hey!"

"Where's mom?" He asked.

"A good way to start talking."

"Shivaay, please. Answer." Omkara muttered.

"She decided to go to the rehab. You'll probably understand why I was trying to call you repeatedly last night and pounding on the door, despite knowing you need your much loved space."

"Why the sudden change of heart?"

"I don't know. She just asked me to drop her last night."

"Without meeting me..."

Shivaaycut his sentence short. "Om, you were the one who didn't want to talk to anyone. She spoke properly to everyone before leaving. She didn't want to wait."

Omkara fell into a thoughtful silence.

"Can I end the call? I have a lot on my to-do."

"Are you mad at me?"

"For last night's attitude, yes. Anything else?"

"Shivaay, I.."

"I need to go. A board meeting." 

"Fine. We'll talk at home. Bye!" Omkara said just before Shivaay ended the call.

He quietly ate his breakfast, wondering why his mother made a sudden decision like that.

The day was a cold one. It had rained through last night to early morning. Omkara made his way towards the guest room Gauri was occupying. He stopped half way by the French windows that opened into the garden. Deciding he need some fresh air before talking he moved out only to run into Gauri as she sat quietly looking the rose bush.

"Hi!" He greeted, his gaze following on her face. Her hair had been pulled into a braid.

She looked up and her eyes widened a bit as though she least expected him.

"Hey!" She mumbled, nervously getting to her feet. 

Omkara's gaze took a moment to admire her. She was dressed in a pair of regular denims and a black top. Finally, he saw the same old Gauri that he had befriended not some rich man's daughter dressed in expensive clothing and jewelry.

"I will probably go back to my room. And just so you know, I have told my father that... I don't want this," she said moving her hand in the air between them. "It's really his call to be here and I guess he's always been the one to decide...so," she looked away, unable to talk any further.

Omkara could make out how unhappy she was with her father or talking about him. He could relate to that on a very different level. "I understand."

"There's nothing really I can do Omkara. You need to do whatever to dissuade our parents." She moved towards him to walk past him.

"Actually," 

She stopped looking at him.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Yeah," she answered, blinking her eyes, trying to smile.

Gosh, she was struggling! All Omkara wanted to at the moment was take her in a hug and tell her she'll be okay. 

"I came to apologize."

Gauri looked a little perplexed. "For?"

"Lying to you."

"You... you lied?" She said, looking unconvinced and confused. "About?" She further inquired.

"I like you, more than a friend. I lied about my feelings.." He said looking squarely into her eyes. "Because I was scared." He swallowed the lump in his throat carefully observing her face for any reaction. 

Gauri quietly stared at him, sinking in her words. He said the word— like, with the phrase— more than a friend; it was little hard to digest. He always made himself clear about hating lies and liars. And here he was, confessing that he was guilty of it too. She waited for him to go on.

"I—"

"Omkara Saab!" 

Omkara turned to look at the panting Khanna, their most loyal staff, standing by the French window. "Everything okay?" Omkara asked panicking seeing Khanna. If the news bearer was Khanna, it usually meant something big. Seeing his worried face he knew it was bad news.

Khanna looked at Gauri and then back at Omkara.

Omkara immediately sensed his uncertainty and said, "It's okay, say it."

Khanna looked unconvinced and took a few steps closer. "Verma Sir had a heart attack, he's being taken to the hospital. Shivaay Sir is with him and asked me to inform you."

Omkara spun around looking at Gauri who had visibly paled at the news, her mouth open in shock. Her eyes met his. "Is he talking about Papa?"

Khanna nodded, giving her the answer she was looking for. 

Gauri's hand flew to her mouth. Tears formed in her eyes. "Papa.." a sob escaped her mouth.

"Khanna, arrange for a car, we are coming." Omkara issued an order and moved closer to Gauri.

"He'll be fine, Gauri."

"Papa!" She uttered breaking into sobs. 

"Come on," He said, his hand holding hers. He led her out of the mansion. The car was ready outside, the driver waiting to drive out.

"I will follow, in a few minutes!" Khanna informed and ran back into the house. Omkara helped Gayru into the passenger seat and ran around the car sitting in the back seat beside her. Throughout the entire drive his hand was holding hers. She seemed to be in shock to say anything. Probably still sinking in the bad news.

* * *

It was a matter of hours. Gauri sat in the cold hospital chair breathing in the smell of chemicals, her nose felt clogged and eyes tired of crying. He was gone. Her father was gone, forever.

The truth was as bitter as bitterness could get. She was left alone. In a city she was new to. In a place she could call no on her own. 

Abandoned. 

Gauri always felt she was unlucky as a kid. Her mother had left the world very early, she was barely five something. Her father had been her family, her everything. Losing not just a wife but an unborn child had left a huge impact on her father. He wasn't the same anymore. He was empty.

Gauri had always felt that he gave her less than what she deserved when it came to affection. However, there was never a wish that hadn't been unfulfilled, except her life decisions of course. She had complains, but that didn't mean that she didn't love him. She loved him just that it was hard to be affectionate when he became the stubborn controlling father.

"Gauri!"

She looked up at Omkara. She got to her feet and hugged him. She felt protected in his arms. 

"You can see him, now." 

She broke into sobs. Did she really want to— see her father's lifeless body. She had begged the doctor to let her see him but she could only see him thorough the glass of the ICU. 

"I can't!" She murmured. "This is not fair." She cried.

Omkara felt pain. He rubbed her back. "See him Gauri. I will be with you." Saying that he slowly led her to the room her father had been shifted to. His arm protectively around her shoulders. He had never seen Gauri so devastated, so broken. He could only imagine her pain. He had been terribly shaken when his grandmother had passed away, here it was her father.

Omkara hadn't left Gauri's side. She had taken to silence after crying her heart out apologizing to her father'slifeless body. Her cries still echoed in his mind. Her tears had dried up but Omkara knew that the soul was still weeping, he could feel it. Anika offered to take her to the washroom. 

She nodded and walked away with her.

"Om, I know this is hard. But Gauri is the only living immediate family. We'll need her to sign the documents for claiming the body and... application for death certificate. She also needs to tell us how the last rites are supposed to be carried out."

Omkara knew this and he wasn't ready to let Gauri face it all. It was heartbreaking really. "She's devastated. Is there no other way?"

"I am trying to get in touch with Mr. Verma's attorney. But I guess Gauri will need to carry out a lot of formalities. Just talk to her, ask her what needs to be done and I will get it done. I have requested for a room on the  floor above... she can stay the night there. Seeing her, I don't think she would want to move out of here. I have arranged for dinner too."

Omkara let out a breath and nodded. This was hard but definitely nothing when compared to what Gauri was going through. He needed to be her rock no matter how hard it was for him. She needed him.

* * *

Omkara was not seeing a —strong, courageous, carefree young woman who had run away from home— but he was witnessing a little girl who had been orphaned. She had refused to eat or talk. She cried and cried. When she got tired she silently sat lost. Minutes later, more silent tears would roll down her cheeks. 

Omkara sat on the couch watching her. He hadn't eaten either. He had asked Shivaay to leave them for a while. Omkara knew he needed to encourage her, assure her that she would be okay. But more than anything, he knew she had to cry her pain out. 

The clock ticked, time passed slowly. Omkara got up and sat beside her, she appeared drowsy. "Gauri, sleep for a while."

She looked at him and simply nodded. He got up and picked the try of cold food she had refused to eat. She lowered herself and laid on the bed. Omkara covered her with the blanket. 

"You'll be here, right?" She mumbled, holding his hand.

"Right here." He answered, bending forward he kissed her forehead. "You'll be okay, Gauri. I will be right here."

Gauri tiredly bobbed her head and turned away. Omkara pulled the stool and sat by the bed as she slept. The hospital room, the machines around reminded him of the time when his grandmother was admitted in hospital. He then looked at Gauri, she was stronger than she knew.

An hour passed. Omkara had a splitting headache. Gauri had drifted into sleep her hand had left his. He turned his head when he heard the door creak. Shivaay slipped in through the open door. Omkara got up and walked upto him.

"You didn't eat?" Shivaay asked looking at the two food trays, looking just like he had left them. 

"Not hungry," Omkara muttered.

"Om, Gauri needs you. And if you're not going to take care of yourself, how will you take care of her? I will get it heated." Shivaay offered, moving forward to pick up the tray. "Or maybe you can come out, if she's asleep. We can talk."

"No. She asked me to be here." Omkara whispered, glancing back at her.

"The pantry is just down the corridor. She seems to be in deep slumber. Let's go."

Omkara reluctantly agreed and walked put with Shivaay.

"This must be so difficult for her," Shivaay remarked.

"It is. She just won't stop crying." Omkara sighed, despite no appetite he began eating. "Anika and Rudra?"

"Left for home."

Omkara nodded.

"What about mom?" 

Shivaay met his eyes. "She decided to go last night, I did what she asked me to."

Omkara looked back at his plate, chewing thoughtfully. "Did she call or did you speak to her?" 

"No, it's been a hard day. I did however ask Rudra to call. He didn't tell me anything."

"How were you with her father?"

"We had a board meeting in the morning. Soon after Bade Papa wanted me and dad to meet Verma uncle, apparently he had some proposal to make. Dad and I were in the room waiting when Mishra came in to tell ius that Mr. Verma had collapsed in the corridor. That was it. We rushed him into the hospital. The doctor in the emergency immediately asked to take him into ICU. They were preparing for the angioplasty the medication wasn't helping. It was a matter of some minutes."

Omkara let out a sharp exhale. 

"Talk to Gauri about the last rites, first thing in the morning, will you?"

Omkara nodded. "What about the attorney?"

"I did get in touch with him. He said he will get the paperwork ready. Gauri would obviously need to fly back soon."

Omkara thoughtfully bobbed his head. 

"What are you thinking?" 

Omkara said, "She'll need us."

"We'll be there for her." Shivaay reassured.

Omkara smiled a little. Truly it was said, Life is what happens to us while we are busy making other plans.

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