Gauri woke up the next day ,and decided against sending her son to school. She called her teacher to inform regarding the same , it was hard for her to even think of losing her son . They spent the day together as she baked him ,his favourite Chocolate cake . By the time the cake was done and she had enlisted the help of her son to decorate the cake . She felt herself beginning to relax and forget her brother in law threats until she heard the sound of a taxi .

Her immediate reaction was too just hide her son in his room but as she turned to look at him who was smiling and having fun ,she didn't have it in her to disrupt his happiness . She had been nervous when she reached the hall from the dinning room to see who had arrived , and the sight of her father brought her such a sheer relief as she smiled to see him standing in front of her.

Adharsh Singhania was a man to be reckoned with ,even without his police uniform .He still looked the part of a man who had been in the field for several years . She knew it wasn't fair to ask him to come on such a short notice but she was running out of time ,her father may not be the DGP of this state but she was hoping his influence will work or he may have any other ideas .

She was too focused on her father that she forgot to notice he had brought guests , only when her son walked out of the dinning room and ran straight into his grandfather arms did she turn to look at the two people who were waiting patiently so not to disturb the family reunion .

Gauri understood her father reasons for bringing them Sanskar Maheshwari and his wife Swara Maheshwari were not just parents of her best friend Lavanya, they both were most sought after lawyers in Kolkata for over a decade and Sanskar uncle had been an high court judge for the past 3 years .

She had hoped her father would help her find a solution and he brought the solution with him . Yet Gauri couldn't make herself look at them without guilt ,they have been like a second parents to her . And she wasn't proud of the way she choose to cut ties with them for four long years .

Gauri was vastly relieved when her best friend's mom walked towards her and engulfed her in a welcoming hug as if nothing changed in the four years . It drained Gauri of all the nervousness she felt to see them .

" I am so so so sorry "Gauri managed to speak up when she finally got out of the hug .

" Beta , we didn't know why you choose to cut all of us out of your life but I do believe you must have had your reasons ,so does Lavanya . So please no need to say sorry and introduce me to your son , I am going to have words with your mom for never showing me his pictures . " Lavanya mom spoke up as she reassured Gauri that the past secrets no longer matters .

Gauri would trust her son life with her best friend parents ,but still she was nervous about their reaction as she turned towards her son who was busy speaking with her father . Of course they must have noticed it by now ,she knew that yet when someone asked to be introduced to her son ,she had to act as mediator between the two . Sometime her son who is still so young doesn't understand that not every one knew sign language and he leaves the conversation mid way when she acts as mediator between them .

" Rahul, look who came to see you .." She called out to her son in her cheerful voice as well as signed the words to him . Gauri had never understood why her son wasn't gifted the same speaking ability as everyone else but she knew it would never be a hindrance in his life as long as she lived , she will never let him think of it as a drawback .

When Rahul was born , the doctors were concerned that he didn't make any sound and later after some tests told her , that her son won't be able to speak. Gauri had blamed herself for her son inability as she wondered if somehow she harmed him even when he was in the womb ,the doctors said that wasn't the case yet her heart felt heavy with guilt and Arun had took him to every child specialist as well as ENT specialist from the moment of his birth till he got sick .

When Arun learnt that he won't live for long , he had began to teach Rahul to speak using sign language . When her son first signed the word mom with his tiny fingers she burst into tears as she gathered him into her arms and even when Arun health continued to derail over the months ,he would still spend all the time he can with Rahul .

They had found a special school for him ,where he would learn with kids around his age who are special just like him . He had made more than few friends still she often worried about him ,especially after Arun death . Her child can't even cry out loud to express his distress.

But her worries will cease Whenever she looks at her son and how he interacts with others using his tiny hands she would feel a smile lit up her heart at the confidence in him .

Her family learnt to use sign language for Rahul ,as even now her father was busy talking with him thorough his hands . The teachers have told her ,sometime it good to both speak as well as sign the words to Rahul that way he can learn both languages though his progress may become bit slow as his mind would take some time to learn both of those languages .

Her son turned around and immediately became quiet at the sight of strangers ,he had learnt to wait to check if other person knows to speak like him before attempting to talk . So Gauri had been relieved when Sanskar uncle ,her best friend dad bend down to greet him first using his hands to communicate with him . And soon his wife followed the same and Gauri relaxed a little as she knew her best friends parents were good with kids .

Soon her son was busy chatting away with them ,telling them everything his tiny brain could comprehend and finally finished the tale as he took them on a tour to show the cake he decorated , only then he turned towards her to ask if he can cut the cake now . And she nodded her head in answer ,by the time her son ate two slices of cakes and got exhausted after getting both her dad and Sanskar uncle to carry him around the house . It was almost lunch time .

Lavanya mom choose to help her in the kitchen ,Gauri had learnt to cook mostly from her as she would always haunt the kitchen in her best friend house . Gauri accepted the silence and reprieve it gave her during the hour because once her son got settled down ,she need to tell them about the case . They were here to help her and she can't hide her past from them if she wanted their real opinion but it wouldn't be easy to share it with them when she kept it a secret for four long years .

*************************

Sanskar Maheshwari looked at his friend playing with his grandson and wondered how he had been able to keep it from them , when Gauri and Arnav fell in love all of them were happy including his daughter who was Gauri best friend and Arnav cousin. And when they broke up , it caused tiny rift between everyone who were like a family . He had hoped it would fade away with time and somehow he understood Gauri intention to stay off the radar for awhile after her marriage .

But four years felt like a long time , and over the years he had met Gauri parents often and Gauri brother still remained a close friend of Meera ,his niece . And yet no one told them about Gauri or how she is doing in her life . Every time any one asks a question about her ,the answer would be she is fine and happy . So Sanskar wasn't surprised that they weren't told about her son or the fact her husband is dead .

" Arun had been a good husband for her and when he died ,I asked Gauri to come back home . But she refused , I worry Sanskar about her all alone in this city " Adharsh Singhania spoke up a moment later .

" The custody battle between Gauri and her brother in law , can you ask Gauri to give me the court notice . I would like to read it through first" Sanskar asked his friend because right now helping Gauri was the priority not finding answers to her disappearance from their lives .

Two hours later , Adharsh took Rahul out for shopping which left Gauri and them alone in the house . He had been going through the copy of the will and had few doubts of his own as he went through it .

" Can I win ? " her hesitant voice broke him out of his thoughts as he turned to look at her standing beside his wife who looked nervous as well .

" Come and sit beta , I wouldn't ask you this questions if I didn't think it would help me find a solution . Who handled that cases files against you ? ,I need the lawyer name and also your family lawyer as well . I want to talk with them first " he told her as she went in search of her phone to get him those numbers by the time he finished speaking with those two lawyers , Sanskar Maheshwari understood the reason behind Arun Prasad will but he didn't know how to explain it to Gauri .

*****************************

Gauri had been nervous ,she knew her past won't remain a secret and they were more than few FIR charges against her , she looked at Sanskar uncle to see if he realized the reason behind her actions but his face didn't reveal anything as he walked outside Arun study after talking with the lawyers .

Gauri was grateful that Lavanya mom remained by her side throughout the day ,her eyes still remained focused on the door worried for her son even when he was with her father .

" Gauri beta , do you have any idea why your husband wrote such a will . Do you really think he choose his brother because he didn't trust you with Rahul " Sanskar uncle asked her as he took the seat beside his wife .

" I don't know , Arun and his brother reconciled before he died but to the fact of making him guardian of Rahul ,I can't understand that . Arun know his brother doesn't like me much " Gauri answered back yet again wondering the reason behind her husband decision .

" Your family lawyer sent the copy of the will to three people as per your husband demand , one was you and the other one was your brother in law . Do you know who the third one was sent too " he asked Gauri who didn't have an idea about the third person as she shook her head in answer .

" Who was it Sanskar " Swara aunty asked the question that haunted her .

" Arnav ..." her husband answered back and just one word yet Gauri felt the effect of the truth as she realized her husband intentions and learnt that it hasn't never been about his lack of trust in her but it was his way of trying to look after her even after his death .

P.S :" That it for now ..Let me know your thoughts and Feedbacks .Hit the votes if you liked it "

Love

Juanita Reid .