Gauri understood things she believed could be controlled were out of her control the moment she realized how invested her son had become emotionally with Arnav.   And it went both way from the way Arnav rushed to her home in panic. 

         
Rahul who at first remained loyal to Arun's memory had been slowly giving his heart to Arnav and she didn't want to contemplate how her son will take it if Arnav was no longer part of his life as well .

         
Gauri biological father never showed her any affection or love and still she missed him after their parents divorce and the subsequent years until she met her step father who more than made up for her the lack of love. 

          
And so in a way she understood it was more difficult for Rahul who had Arun as his father , those two were so close and even when Gauri and Arun tried their best to let Rahul know about Arun inability to stay longer with him, she knew his son still felt the loss keenly and Arnav's presence in his life healed him .

      
It was why he is afraid to lose Arnav as well because it will be like losing Arun all over again and her little one is scared of it and that why it broke Gauri heart to realize she may be the one who will break those two apart because she couldn't be the wife Arnav needed in his life .

          
" We need to talk " Arnav's words left her feeling terrified because she wasn't ready to face it yet . The truth that her son will go through a tough time when she break it off with Arnav .

           
  She turned to see him inside her room , he wasn't technically inside her room but stood near the door and the uncertainty in his eyes about his welcome troubled her as well because at her vulnerable moments she hate the distance between them, may it was why she closed the distance between them that night .

           
" I know " She answered back as she walked into his embrace , she knew she was being unfair to him . One minute walking towards him and then running away from him .

            
Gauri was relived when his arms wrapped around her, she always felt safe with him. And the years between them didn't change it at all . He was still someone she trusts more than her life .

           
" I am scared Arnav " she whispered the words against his chest ,because he had an ability to get her open up like no one and once he learns what in her mind ,she is terrified on how he would react because until now her fears were her own and by telling him everything she may risk getting them prove true .

            
" Scared of what Gauri ?" he asked as he titled her head to meet his piercing gaze and she was helpless to resist keeping it together without him finding out .

             
" Dreaming of our future , hoping we could be a family and I don't have to take away another person my son loves away from him . He is too attached to you Arnav and losing you will be too much for him. While I will do anything for my son, I can't tie you with me and destroy your life as well " She answered back still unwilling to step away from his embrace .

             
" What happened in Lavanya house? " he asked instead surprising her, but she knew he was giving her a breathing space to talk about something else. Because while she told him the truth, it wasn't everything and she didn't know if she can ever tell him .

              
" Nothing, Yuv still is angry with me and it created an unnecessary tension in the house. While I know Lavanya wanted me for the wedding, I am beginning to worry my presence will always create a awkward tension " Gauri answered back, she didn't mention how much it hurt to be made feel unwelcome in the one house she considered as her second home for so long .

                
" I will talk with Yuv and in fact I should have asked him to back off the first time he had been rude to you. I am sorry Gauri, I will make it right, and you knew it would be not easy coming here but believe me, my cousin would be upset if you didn't attend her wedding " he answered back and she knew even if she asked him not to he will talk with Yuv, it was the reason she tried to not tell him earlier .  

                 
Gauri waited for him to circle back the conversation back to them, Arnav used to do it often that she knew how he works if she was troubled about something he will divert her with other topics for a little while but he never once avoided any conversation even if it was harder to speak up about and that was why she knew by the end of the night ,he will know why she was really scared to give them a chance .
               
                 
" Do you know how I felt when I heard you got married, my dream crashed and burned that day . Until we met again, even when you asked me to marry you for the sake of Rahul, I jumped into it because you are my dream too Gauri, my biggest and brightest dream . So how can you even imagine being married to you would destroy me when it what made me feel alive after a long time.  " he spoke up and the tears in his eyes made her heart squeeze with pain .

              
" I am no longer the same person you fell in love with Arnav " she answered back and knew it would was an weak excuses because he changed in the six years as well .
             
" So give me a chance to get to know you Gauri, I understand you are terrified and I am too terrified of losing you yet again . I made a mistake six years ago when I walked away from you, and I know I broke your trust in me, give me one more chance to win back your trust . " His plea reached her ears and heart but with it came the fear that if she let him inside and begin dreaming again, then she will end up disappointing him in the long run .

             
" It won't work Arnav, I am too broken to be fixed, there is just too much between us, " She answered back as she stepped away from his embrace , her son heart will be broken by her decision but she didn't know any other way .

               
" What are you so scared of Gauri? " He asked her but she only shook her head in answer because she wasn't going to spell it out to him, it was something she has no interest in sharing with him.

                 
" Okay . I won't ask you to tell me anything now but I will ask you to give me time at least till Lavanya wedding to make you believe in us ,our future just like I do " he answered back and she noticed the determination in his words and yet her traitorous heart want those moment with him . Even for a short while .

                 
" Till Lavanya wedding and if you can't convince me then you will walk away because Rahul can't get more attached to you Arnav " she answered back . 
                 
And was relieved to see a flicker of smile on his face at her acceptance . " I will go and check on Rahul then crash in the sofa in his room " Arnav spoke up and left leaving her alone in her room .

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

         
Gauri woke up early the next day and sneak peak into her son room revealed both of them sleeping , she found her brother in the kitchen and shooed him away from the stove as she took over the cooking .

          
Ishaan was a terrible cook but today being her mother birthday,he wanted to cook for her . Gauri felt a tinge of remorse that she failed to remember her mother birthday unlike her brother .

         
  " Don't beat yourself up Di ,you got lot on your mind . Is Arnav bhai still sleeping in Rahul room? " he asked her ,as he helped  her with the cooking .
           
" Yeah ,Rahul wouldn't sleep until he promised to stay the night " Gauri answered back , no one in her family had raised the topic about her marriage with Arnav and she appreciated their support and the fact they let her and Arnav work it out .

           
" He loves you Di , and he loves Rahul too " Ishaan answered back surprising her ,he had always been perceptive and her biggest support .

           
 Their sibling moment of bonding were disturbed when the calling bell rang and Gauri wondered who had arrived so early in the day ,Ishaan went to get the door and came with Yuv along side him .

             
After yesterday ,she didn't expect to see Yuv this soon and that too in her house . She didn't know how to react around him anymore ,Yuv was like a brother to her and his anger and rejection bothers her a lot as well . She wants to mend the fence between them but didn't know how yet .

              
She felt a flicker of relief when Arnav walked outside Rahul's room with her son in his arms , who was soon followed by his parents who were surprised to see the crowded dinning room .

            
Ishaan was the first to rush to wish their mother , followed by her son who was back to being happy now that he had Arnav with him . And soon her mother was the center of attention which wishes poured from everyone including her who apologized for forgetting it as well .

          
" Join us for breakfast Yuvraj ,If you didn't eat yet . " her mother had been the first to invite Yuv to join  and Yuv eyes traced back to hers because last night he had purposely left her out of the invite to eat lunch with his family which had been the reason for the tension in the first place . 

             
" What bring you here so early " her father asked Yuv as his eyes looked at her brother in search of answers , sure she knew Ishaan and Yuv have become quite good friends over the years but she couldn't fathom what brought him this early to her house after last night .

            
" I came to see Gauri Di " Yuv answered back and Arnav eyes drifted back to her to see her reaction .

      
There was a hint of concern and a question in Arnav gaze as he silently asked her if he should interfere ,while he promised to talk with Yuv ,she knew he will let her make the final  decision . And she shook her head in answer unwilling to cause a rift between the cousins .

             
" Did Lavanya sent you " her mother continued to drill Yuv and Gauri hoped he wouldn't mention about yesterday ,her family had been able to get along with Lavanya family over the years and she didn't want to cause a rift between them .

              
" No . I came to apologize , can I speak with you for a moment Di ,alone " Yuv answered back leaving her taken back by his words . She didn't know what brought the change of heart .

              
" Let us talk in dad office " Gauri answered back as she walked ahead of him , and he followed her . Once inside the room the tension was back .

                
Her father office room was filled with pictures of their family and her eyes strayed towards one of the group picture she took on her birthday  and she can't help but notice Yuv was standing right beside her with a huge smile in the picture unlike now when he was standing the furthest from her .

               
" Yuv there is nothing to apologize for " Gauri spoke when she couldn't stand the awkwardness between them but he only shook his head in answer as if struggling to find the right words .

              
" I am sorry Di , so sorry . I was rude to you last night and I was rude to your ever since we met again .  Forgive me . " Yuv spoke up and she didn't know what brought this change but was glad to no longer have his anger directed towards her .

                
" It is okay Yuv . " She answered back because sometime there isn't enough words to convey what we feel or enough words to apologize for the hurt you cause your loved ones but to mend any relationship one need to try speaking those words first .

                  
" Stay for breakfast Yuv ." Gauri answered back as she walked away leaving him alone in the room to collect himself first .

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

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

Also I have decided to ask a small favor from you . Let suppose you have ten stars , you need to split them between the characters I give below on how much you like them.  You can give all ten to a single character or split them as well . And I am going to do it in all my ongoing books .

   1 ) Gauri Singhania 

   2) Arnav Khanna
 

Love

Juanita Reid