*three and a half years ago*

It was a cold, moonless night when Omkara knocked on Gauri's door, his heart heavy and his mind clouded with uncertainty. The streets outside were quiet, save for the occasional hum of distant traffic, and the dim light of Gauri’s apartment offered a rare warmth in the city’s gloom. He hadn’t planned on coming to her, but after Vaishnavi left, taking the brightness out of his life, he had nowhere else to turn. Gauri was the only one he trusted, the only constant in the whirlwind of his fractured life.

He couldn't rush to his family at this moment, he didn't know how to. His mind was not in the right place, he had no idea what would he do if he contacted them.

Inside, Gauri had just finished tidying up when she heard the knock. She wasn’t expecting visitors, and for a moment, her heart raced with curiosity. Opening the door, she froze at the sight before her—Omkara, standing there, holding a small child bundled in his arms. The exhaustion on his face, the vulnerability in his eyes—it was a side of him she had rarely seen.

“Omkara…?” she whispered, her gaze dropping to the little girl. The child—barely over a year old—was fast asleep, her head resting against Omkara’s chest, her tiny fingers curled into his shirt.

He took a shaky breath, his voice barely audible. “Gauri… I didn’t know where else to go.”

Gauri stepped aside instantly, ushering him inside without a second thought. Her heart thudded in her chest as a mix of emotions washed over her—concern for Omkara, curiosity about the child, and an undeniable pang of something deeper as she looked at him. Even after years, he trusted her. He had come to her.

Once inside, Omkara sat down on the couch, his shoulders slumping with the weight of everything. Gauri sat beside him, careful not to disturb the child. She was small, delicate, with soft curls framing her cherubic face.

“Who…?” Gauri began but trailed off, unsure of how to ask the question.

“This is Anaya,” Omkara said quietly, his gaze fixed on the little girl in his arms. “She’s… mine.”

Gauri’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening slightly as she looked between Omkara and the child. She had heard about Vaishnavi, about the whirlwind of emotions that had been part of Omkara’s past, but she had never imagined this. A child. His child.

“She’s beautiful,” Gauri whispered, her voice filled with genuine warmth. She reached out tentatively, brushing a stray curl from Anaya’s forehead. The little girl stirred slightly in her sleep, her tiny face scrunching up before relaxing again.

Omkara let out a long sigh, leaning back against the couch. “Vaishnavi’s gone,” he said after a moment, his voice heavy with the pain of that statement. “She left… and I… I didn’t know what to do. I don’t know how to do this, Gauri. I don’t know how to be a father.”

Gauri’s heart clenched as she heard the raw vulnerability in his voice. She had always admired Omkara’s strength, but seeing him like this—broken, unsure, overwhelmed—it made her chest ache. She had loved him for so long, and now, more than ever, she wanted to be the one to help him find his way.

“You’re not alone,” she said softly, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. “You don’t have to figure this out by yourself.”

Omkara looked at her then, his eyes filled with gratitude and something else—something deeper that he couldn’t quite express. He knew Gauri loved him. He had always known. But in this moment, as she sat beside him, offering him a lifeline in the form of quiet support, he realized just how much he needed her. Not just as a friend, but as the one person who had always been there for him, no matter what.

“I don’t want to burden you with this, Gauri,” he said, his voice strained. “I don’t even know how to take care of her properly.”

Gauri shook her head, her expression resolute. “You’re not a burden, Omkara. And neither is she.”

With that, she gently reached out, her arms extended toward Anaya. Omkara hesitated for a moment, his protective instincts kicking in, but he knew Gauri. He trusted her more than anyone else in his life. Slowly, he handed the little girl over, watching as Gauri cradled her with the same care and tenderness she had always shown him.

Anaya stirred again, her tiny eyes fluttering open as she looked up at the unfamiliar face before her. For a moment, Gauri held her breath, worried that the little girl might cry or push her away. But to her surprise, Anaya simply blinked, her small fingers instinctively reaching up to touch Gauri’s face.

Gauri smiled, her heart swelling as she gazed down at the child. “Hi, sweetheart,” she whispered, her voice soft and soothing. “I’m Gauri.”

Anaya stared at her for a moment longer, her eyes wide with curiosity, before she nestled back into Gauri’s arms, seemingly content. The connection was instant, natural, as though Anaya could sense the kindness and warmth radiating from her.

Omkara watched the scene unfold, a lump forming in his throat. He hadn’t expected Anaya to take to Gauri so easily, but seeing them together—seeing Gauri cradle his daughter with such tenderness—did something to him. It filled the empty spaces inside him, spaces he hadn’t realized were so broken until now.

“Thank you,” Omkara whispered, his voice hoarse.

Gauri looked up at him, her eyes shining with emotion. “You don’t have to thank me, Omkara,” she said softly. “I’m here. For both of you.”

And in that moment, as the darkness of the night pressed against the windows and the quiet hum of the city filled the air, Omkara knew—no matter how uncertain the future seemed, he and Anaya weren’t alone. Gauri was with them. She always had been there for him, and she always would be.

————–——

The day began innocuously enough. After a quiet breakfast, the family was lounging around in the living room, enjoying a rare moment of peace. Shivaay, Rudra, and their wives hadn’t left yet, their plans postponed by a few more hours. “Let’s just stay a little longer. The business stuff can wait,” Shivaay had said, and no one had objected. There was something comforting about all being together, especially after the emotional whirlwind of the last few days.

Anaya was curled up next to Gauri on the couch, her head resting on her mother’s lap while Gauri absentmindedly ran her fingers through the child’s hair. Vaishnavi watched from a distance, her eyes lingering on the closeness between them. Every now and then, she would try to engage Anaya in conversation, asking her about school or a recent drawing. Anaya responded politely but always turned back to Gauri soon after.

Omkara noticed it, the way Vaishnavi's gaze seemed to harden just slightly every time Anaya chose Gauri over her. He saw the tension in her posture, the tightness in her smile. It wasn’t overt, not yet, but it was there, simmering beneath the surface.

Over the next few days, Vaishnavi’s presence became a constant thread weaving through the fabric of the Oberoi household. She was always around.

It began on the first morning after Vaishnavi’s latest arrival. The family had gathered in the dining room for breakfast, and Vaishnavi took a seat across from Gauri and Anaya. Anaya was happily chatting about her upcoming school project while Gauri helped her pick out ideas. Vaishnavi leaned in, her voice softer than usual. “Maybe I could help you with that project, sweetheart. I used to love art projects when I was your age.”

Anaya glanced up, blinking curiously. “Mama and I are going to work on it,” she said, not rudely but with the unwavering confidence of a child secure in her routine. She shifted closer to Gauri, clutching her mother's arm.

Omkara’s brow furrowed as he caught the moment, though he said nothing. He saw the slight flicker of disappointment in Vaishnavi’s eyes, but he didn’t intervene. It was, after all, just one small moment.

Later that day, while everyone was lounging in the living room, Anaya had grown bored and restless. She ran over to Gauri, tugging at her sleeve. “Mama, let’s go to the park!”

Before Gauri could respond, Vaishnavi stood up. “I’ll take you, Anaya. It’ll be fun, just you and me. We can grab some ice cream afterward.”

Anaya hesitated. She turned to look at Gauri, her small face scrunched up in uncertainty. “I want Mama to come too,” she said finally.

Again, Vaishnavi’s expression faltered, but she masked it quickly with a forced smile. “Of course, sweetheart,” she said, though her eyes flashed with something unspoken. Gauri, noticing the tension, offered a reassuring smile to Vaishnavi, but even she could feel the weight of it starting to grow.

Omkara watched this exchange from the corner of the room, the seed of unease beginning to take root. He was starting to see the pattern now. Vaishnavi’s subtle, careful attempts to slide into Anaya’s life—only for Anaya to inevitably turn back to Gauri, seeking her warmth, her comfort. And the more it happened, the more Omkara felt the shift in the air.

On the third day, the family gathered for a quiet dinner. Shivaay, Rudra, and their wives hadn’t left yet, their visit extending as work commitments kept them in the city. It was a relief, really, because their presence made the house feel full, balanced. Yet Vaishnavi’s presence, now so close and constant, disturbed the peace.

As they sat around the table, Vaishnavi reached for Anaya’s plate. “How about I feed you tonight? Just like when you were little.”

Anaya, mid-sentence about something funny that happened at school, paused and looked confused. “Maa feeds me,” she said simply, handing the spoon to Gauri without a second thought. The casualness of the moment struck Omkara, like a soft blow to his chest. He saw how Vaishnavi’s smile faltered again, the sting of rejection flashing across her face, though she quickly hid it with a laugh.

For the first time in days, Omkara found his voice. “Vaishnavi,” he said, his tone measured, “you don’t have to… do this.”

Vaishnavi looked at him sharply, though she tried to maintain a neutral expression. “Do what?” she asked, her voice innocent, though her eyes held an edge.

Omkara leaned back, crossing his arms as he glanced toward Anaya, who was now lost in a conversation with Rudra. “You don’t have to try so hard. Anaya knows who you are. You don’t need to… force anything.”

Vaishnavi’s jaw tightened, and for the briefest of moments, Gauri thought she might snap. But instead, she exhaled slowly, collecting herself. “I’m just trying to be a part of her life, Omkara,” she said softly. “I know I’ve been gone for years, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care. I’m her mother, too.”

“And no one is saying otherwise,” Gauri chimed in gently, her tone calm yet firm. “But you can’t push her into anything. Anaya will come to you when she’s ready. Forcing it will only make it harder for her.”

The tension was palpable now, filling the room like a thick fog. Omkara could see it, the quiet battle Vaishnavi was fighting. She didn’t want to admit what she really wanted—to step back into Anaya’s life fully, to reclaim her place as her mother. But Omkara also knew that no matter how much she tried, Anaya’s bond with Gauri was something deeper than biology could ever touch.

Over the next few days, the subtle tug-of-war continued, but Omkara had grown tired of watching it play out. Every time Anaya chose Gauri, every time Vaishnavi tried and failed to assert herself, it was like watching the same scene on repeat.

Finally, after one more quiet rejection—this time when Vaishnavi offered to tuck Anaya in for bed, only for Anaya to insist that Gauri do it—Omkara had had enough.

He found Vaishnavi in the hallway after Anaya had been put to bed, her expression weary and tight with frustration. “Vaishnavi,” he said, his voice serious but calm.

She turned to him, already bracing herself for what she knew was coming. “What is it, Omkara?”

“I’ve been watching you,” he said, stepping closer, “and I know what you’re doing.”

Vaishnavi raised an eyebrow, her posture stiffening. “What do you mean?”

Omkara sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re trying to force your way back into Anaya’s life. But that’s not how it works. You can’t just walk in and expect everything to fall into place. Anaya has grown up with Gauri. She loves her, trusts her, and that bond can’t just be replaced.”

“I’m not trying to replace Gauri,” Vaishnavi shot back, her voice defensive. “I’m just trying to have a relationship with my daughter.”

“And you will,” Omkara said, his tone softening. “But not like this. Not by forcing it. You can’t expect Anaya to feel something for you just because you want her to. These things take time. You need to give her space, let her come to you when she’s ready.”

Vaishnavi’s eyes filled with frustration, and something else—pain. “Do you have any idea how hard this is for me? To see her with Gauri, clinging to her like she’s her mother? I am her mother, Omkara. I should have that bond with her.”

“You gave birth to her, Vaishnavi, and you left” Omkara said quietly, “Gauri is the one who has been raising her. She’s the one who has been there every day. You can’t expect Anaya to forget that.”

Vaishnavi looked away, her expression tight with emotion. “I know that. But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

“I’m not saying it’s easy,” Omkara said, his voice gentle but firm. “But you have to be patient. Forcing it is only going to push Anaya further away.”

As the conversation reached a tense silence, Gauri stepped into the hallway, having overheard part of their exchange. She was so proud of her husband handling it all in a calm manner.

She approached Vaishnavi cautiously but with a soft kindness in her eyes. “I understand how hard this must be for you,” Gauri said quietly. “But Omkara’s right. Anaya needs time. And so do you.”

Vaishnavi looked at her, her eyes searching Gauri’s for any sign of malice or judgment. But there was none—only empathy and understanding, even if it was tinged with protectiveness.

“I don’t want to take her away from you, Gauri,” Vaishnavi said, her voice cracking slightly. “I just… I just want to be part of her life.”

“You are,” Gauri said gently. “But you have to let her come to you in her own time. I’ll never stand in the way of your relationship with Anaya. But you can’t rush this.”

For a moment, Vaishnavi looked like she might break down, but she held herself together. She nodded, though the weight of her disappointment was clear. “I just don’t want to lose her,” she whispered.

“You won’t,” Omkara assured her. “But if you keep pushing, you might lose what little chance you have. Let her come to you, Vaishnavi. That’s the only way.”

The quiet settled over them again, and the weight of the conversation hung in the air. But there was also a sense of understanding—an unspoken agreement that things needed to change.

As Vaishnavi walked away, Gauri turned to Omkara, her expression soft yet determined. “We’ll make this work,” she whispered.

Omkara nodded, pulling Gauri into a comforting embrace. For a long moment, they stood there in the quiet hallway, letting the emotions of the last few days settle. The house had felt heavier since Vaishnavi’s arrival, but now, in the soft glow of the night, it felt like they were finally moving toward a resolution.

“She’s struggling,” Gauri said softly, her cheek resting against Omkara’s chest. “I can’t imagine how hard it must be for her to see Anaya so attached to me.”

Omkara pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “It’s not easy, but it’s also not something we can fix overnight. Vaishnavi needs to understand that this isn’t about competition. Anaya loves you because you’re her mother in every way that matters.”

Gauri sighed, pulling back slightly to look up at him. “I just hope she’ll give Anaya the space she needs.”

Omkara nodded, his expression serious. “She will. I’ll make sure of it.”