Om: (smiles miserably) Gauri..It's ok..But now..After hearing the truth..What do you feel about my proposal..?

Gauri didn't quite know what to say. She knew she had feelings for him. But marriage -- It was a huge step. She withdrew herself from the hug, quickly and looked at him.

Ga: Omkara, I... I don't know..For me, you were always the Father of these kids, and the husband of a woman..Its not as easy as you say..

Omkara sighed and looked at the floor, as he couldn't find any words..

Om:(looks up, with helpless face) Gaurii...hmm..But, will you please think about it..?

Gauri was feeling quite exhausted after the day's incidents. She was not in a condition to take any decisions. She just wanted some time to think about everything.

Ga: Omkara..I want some sleep..Please excuse me, Omkara..Goodnight..

Saying so, she started to walk towards her bedroom. Omkara looked at her and said, slowly.

Om: Ok Gaurii..Goodnight..

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

Once, inside the room, Gauri bolted the door and leaned on to it. She was still in shock, after hearing so many revelations. She was feeling so many emotions at the same time.

After changing into her nightwear, she lay down beside Navya.

All the day, Gauri didn't have any meals. Hunger and fatigue were weakening her senses and Gauri fell asleep very soon.

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

Meanwhile, Omkara was lying beside Ayaan in the guest bedroom. He thought about Gauri and his marriage proposal. He was wondering why he had proposed her all of a sudden.

He suddenly felt really bad for rushing things like this. He was overwhelmed by the day's events and he too drifted into sleep.

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

It was 6 a.m in the morning..

Gauri woke up and felt Navya's forehead, who was lying beside her. Her fever had subsided completely. Gauri felt really relieved.

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

It was 7 a.m and Omkara got up from his bed. He got up and freshened up. Then he thought about Navya.

He decided to check whether she is alright or not. He walked out of his room and knocked the door to Gauri and Navya's bedroom.

But there was no answer for quite some time. He panicked and pushed open the door. He saw Navya sleeping peacefully on the bed.

He went and checked her temperature by touching her cheek and forehead. She was perfectly alright.

He smiled and looked around, searching for Gauri. Then he checked the bathroom, but she wasn't there also. He went downstairs and scanned the whole house. But there was no sign of Gauri. He couldn't understand where she had gone.

He tried her phone but it was switched off. He felt really bad. He felt that he shouldn't have proposed her like that. Just then his phone rang. It was his mother, Jhanvi.

Jh: Hello beta..

Om: Maa..

Jh: Did you ask her to marry you..?

Om: I asked her yesterday, Maa..But she..Maa, I think she is not interested in it..

Jh: Didn't you tell everything about how their parents died..?

Om: (tears come into his eyes) I told her, Maa..But..(words got struck in his throat)

Jh: its ok beta..Don't worry..Everything will be fine..

Om: Hmm..Ok Maa..I will call you later..

Jh: Ok beta..

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

Meanwhile, Gauri was at a temple. She stood there in front of the idol of Lord Shiva, praying in her mind..

"Hey Shankar ji..I have come to a decision regarding my future..I need your blessings..Thank you for bringing Omkara and the kids into my life..I am so happy today..I am going to tell Omkara that I am ready to marry him..He is such a nice person..I have become so attached to Ayaan and Navya and I will not be able to part with them..And Omkara..I have realized that I love him..I want to be a part of their lives Shankar ji..Please shower your blessings upon all of us.. "

She took the prasad from the priest and left the temple..

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

She reached her home and she felt so excited at the prospect of telling him that she is ready to marry him. As she crossed the threshold, she saw the kids waiting for her.

But she was shocked to see that their luggage was lying beside them on the floor. She looked at them inquisitively.

The kids' faces were exceptionally serious and they didn't bother to run to her or hug her.

Ay: Good morning, Aunty...

"Aunty..?", thought Gauri..

Ga: (surprised)What did you call me, beta..?

Ay: (seriously)You are not our mother..We know that..

Gauri felt as if a huge blow had hit on her head. Words struck in her throat, she gulped and blinked her eyes in surprise. She looked at Navya instead.

Ga: (kindly)Navya beta..You are alright now..?

Gauri walked towards her and picked her up in her arms. Navya was gazing at her with a blank expression.

Gauri began to feel really bad. Suddenly she heard Omkara's voice.

Om: Gauri..

He was coming towards them and Gauri kept down Navya, back on the floor. After straightening up, she gazed at Omkara, feeling quite clueless. She thought, he had some explanation to all this.

But Omkara's expression was strange, he had a happy and sad smile.

Gauri couldn't understand what his actual feeling was.

Om: (tries to sound excited) I just told them everything about their parents' death..

Gauri was shocked and she gazed at him, expressionless. Omkara waited for her reaction, but since he didn't receive any response, he continued.

Om: (excitedly) But they actually surprised me..They didn't cry or create any trouble; they just accepted the truth..they were trying to console me, instead.. (smiles warmly)Can you believe that, Gauri...I am so relieved now..I have been carrying the burden of the biggest truth of their lives..But now I am free from it..(sighs)

Gauri couldn't believe what she was hearing. She didn't know whether to smile or cry. Omkara waited for her response again, then continued talking after a brief pause.

Om: Gauri...I know that I have created enough trouble for you by asking to play their mother's role as a part of our 'Deal'..I don't want to disturb you anymore..I am really sorry Gauri..But, you have been a wonderful mother to them.

Gauri smiled rather sternly, but her heart was weeping silently. Her breathing had become shallow. She knew what was going to happen now. They were going to leave her forever.

Om: The kids wanted to thank you for giving them all the happiness which was missing from their lives..

Omkara looked at Ayaan and Navya and Gauri's gaze fell on them.

Ay & Na:(smiling) Thank you Gauri Aunty..

Tears rolled down her cheeks and she nodded with a sad smile.

Ayaan and Navya walked towards Omkara. They hugged him and looked up at him.

Ay: But we will never call him "Uncle"..He will be our "Papa", always..

Na: We love you, Papa..

Gauri smiled widely, through her tears. She felt proud of them. Omkara smiled at her seeing her reaction. He walked closer to her and said in a low voice making sure that the kids won't hear him.

Om: Thank you Gauri for everything you have done to us..I am sorry for my proposal. Please forgive me..

Ga: (looking to the floor, nods solemnly) Its ok..

Omkara raised his hands and placed them on her shoulders. Gauri didn't have the strength to look into his eyes, again.

She knew she would break down into tears. Omkara took off his hands, afraid that she was not liking his touch.

He knew that it was going to be difficult for him to say good bye to her. He walked to the kids and announced, with a heavy heart.

Om: Ok Gauri..We are leaving to our villa now..Two days later we will leave to Delhi..Ok now Ayaan and Navya, say bye-bye to Aunty..

Ay & Na: Bye..(waving their hands)

Ga:(waves her hand with a heavy heart) Bye..(bites her lips, sadly and blinks, fighting back her tears)

Omkara and the kids started to walk away. As she watched them leave, she felt as if something heavy dropped into her heart.

She didn't know, how she got the courage to take the next step. Taking a deep breath, she crossed the distance between them and hugged Omkara from behind.

Omkara was startled and turned his head in shock. Gauri pressed her cheek to his back and cried out loud.

Ga: Don't leave me, Omkara..I love you..(starts to sob) I am ready to marry you..Please don't go..

Omkara couldn't believe his ears. He smiled widely and placed his hands over her hands which were clutching on to his chest.

He forced them apart and turned towards her. The pain of separation and the love for him were visible in her eyes. Omkara heaved a deep relaxed breath and hugged her with all his love.

Om: I love you too, Gaurii..

The kids were so happy and they hugged around their legs..

Ay : (excitedly)Yaayy..Papa..We got our Mumma back..!!!

Na: (giggles)Yes..We are so happyyy...

Omkara kissed on top of her head and smiled at his kids, happily. Gauri chuckled and gazed at their kids, still her face pressed close to Omkara's chest.

Ay: We had asked Papa to marry you, when we came to know the truth.

Na: But he was saying that you don't want to marry him. And we were so sad, Mumma..That is why we called you "Aunty"..!

Ay: But now we know that you really want to be our Mumma, Isn't it, Navya..?(smiling widely)

Na: Yes, Ayaan..(giggles)

Gauri left Omkara and knelt down to hug both the kids, placing her arms around their necks.

Om: Ok Gaurii..I am leaving to office right now..See you all in the evening.

Ga: (smiling happily) Ok, Omkara..

Gauri's eyes shone with admiration and love for Omkara, as she looked at him. Omkara had a half mind to stay back, seeing her expression.

But his work was also important. So he left the two kids with Gauri at her villa and went to his office. He was feeling really happy because Gauri had accepted his proposal. He was waiting eagerly for the moment when he would be back with his kids and Gauri in the evening.

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

Omkara, finally managed to finish the day's work and left his office in the evening. When he reached the villa, he walked inside feeling excited. He saw her sitting on the drawing room couch, but her back was turned towards him. He could see the top of her head.

Om: Gauriii..I am home..

She turned her head towards him and Omkara was shocked to see Ishana, instead.

Om: You..!! (looks around) Where is Gauri..?

Ishana stood up from the couch and she smiled at him amiably.

Just then Gauri came into the drawing room, carrying a tray with tea and snacks. She saw Omkara and smiled widely.

Ga: Omkara..you are back from office..?

Omkara nodded without a smile and gazed at Ishana, rather apprehensively.

Ga: (smiles) Omkara, this is my friend, Ishana.. (turns to Ishana) Ishana, this is Omkara..I told you about him right, he is my fiance...(blushes)

Is: Hmm..Hello Omkara..(smiles mysteriously)

Om: (nods solemnly, looking at Ishana) Hello..(turns to Gauri)Gaurii..Where are the kids..?

Ga: They are in the bedroom, getting ready..

Om: (surprised)Getting ready..? Where are they going..?

Ga: We were just thinking that, we will take them to a nearby children's park. I was just going to inform you, Omkara..(looks at him apologetically)

Om: Oh..

Ga: But since you are also here, we all can go together..It will be fun and you can get well acquainted with Ishana as well..

Looking at Ishana, Gauri smiled sweetly.

Omkara thought, "How much more can I get acquainted with this selfish woman..I know much more about her than you do, Gauri" and he glared at Ishana.

Gauri didn't notice his fury, as she was looking at Ishana, who just smiled at him confidently.

Just then one of the kids called out from their room.

Na: Mummaaa..

Ga: Yes, Navyaaa...

Gauri placed the tea tray on the dining table and drew chairs for them.

Ga: Ishana, Omkara, you both please sit down and start having tea. I will be back with the kids.

Gauri made them sit down and walked up the staircase. Just as she disappeared into the room, Omkara and Ishana faced each other.

Om: (angrily) Why are you here, Ishana..?

Is: (sweetly)Didn't you hear what Gauri said, I came to visit Gauri..I am her friend..

Om: (scoffing her)Oh really...Then why weren't you surprised when you saw me here..?

Is: (seriously)Omkara..Remember one thing. I don't want to dig up our past in front of Gauri. Please act as if you don't know me. If you want to marry Gauri and live happily with her. I didn't know anything about both of you, until I came here. But when I saw the kids, and heard your name from Gauri, I knew that it was you, whom she was talking about. That is why I was not surprised, when I saw you...

But the truth was that, when Ishana had seen them in the restaurant on Sunday, she was intrigued about what Gauri was doing with Omkara and his kids.

She had followed them to the villa on that night itself and couldn't believe her eyes when she realized that Omkara was staying at her villa in the night.

The reason behind this visit was to know more about Gauri-Omkara's relationship. Gauri had told her everything, when Ishana asked her about the kids.

Omkara seemed to believe her and he was having his tea now, without paying her much interest. Ishana too started having her tea, and then Gauri and the kids came downstairs.

Ga: (smiling)Omkara..The kids are ready..
*********End of Part 7*******
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Love,
Naina