Good olden days..............................................

"Gauri remember that you are talking about your father" shouted Shivaay.

"I know Shiv Bhaiyya, sadly I know that he is my father. That doesn't change the fact that he made my mother crave for his love. She went through so much pain only because he was never there for her" replied Gauri equally angry.

"Gauri you need to understand that your father is serving the country by working as a an under cover cop. If not for him, many people would have suffered. The department could stop riots, save people from bomb blasts and save girls from illegal trafficking."

"I agree, I never said I don't respect him for it. I do but never expect me to love him bhaiyya" said Gauri making Shivaay shake his head in disappointed.

"Gauri... he too craved for the love of his family. Don't you think after these many years he deserves it?"

"He deserves my respect and he has that. Tons of it. He could live with that I guess"

"Can't you forgive him Gauri?"

"No, the same way you cannot forgive Jagdish baba"

"Gauri!!" roared Shivaay. "Don't even think of comparing the two of them. Your father loved you and your mother. He took care of you even though he was not present here. My father on the other hand, misunderstood my mother on hearsay, threw her out of the house and never looked back. Don't you see the difference"

"There is one major similarity Bhaiyya and that is both of them were never there for their children" she spoke stubbornly. "You know that your father's name is Jagdish Tiwari. Do I know what my father's name is?"

"Gauri...." started Shivaay tiredly.

"I don't want to argue with you on this matter Bhaiyya. Please stop it. You should stop searching for him too. They said he would return right? Let him come on his own, whenever he likes it. It does not matter to me. What matters to me is your safety."

Shivaay hugged his sister not knowing how to talk to her. Why does she have to be so stubborn. He knows she loves her father yet she will never accept that to herself. She fears that he will leave her again and losing people she loved was what Gauri feared the most.

"Shiv Bhaiyya, remember one thing. If you get hurt in saving him, I will never allow my father to even look at me. Keep that in mind before you take any decision."

"Why do you love me so much Gauri" he asked still hugging her. "What did I ever give you"

"You were there for me Bhaiyya, that's all that mattered to me. Please do not leave me alone Bhaiyya. I do not want to lose you for anything."

"Always Gauri... I will be there for you always..." promised Shivaay.

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April 2017

Location: Tiwari House, Bareilly.

Abhay entered the storeroom of the house and sat on the unused, dusty couch with a thud. He had been telling himself all these times that he had moved on. He now realized that he was running away from accepting the truth, dogging it to the back of his head until today when the reality crashed onto him. He might never move on. He might never have the heart to love anyone else other then his....... No... not his anymore.

"Abhay, are you okay?" asked Ishaana worriedly.

"Yeah I am okay" he said not bothering to lift his head.

"You don't look okay to me" she replied.

"I don't want to talk now Ishaana, I will be alright. I need a few moments alone"

"No, you want to talk to somebody and I am ready to listen. Shivaay bhaiyya would have done the same" she said and Abhay looked up at her.

"You miss him. Don't you" she asked and moved towards him.

Abhay nodded weakly and Ishaana sat beside him.

"I miss him so badly" he said covering his face with his hands. "I missed him when I had to handle Gauri crying her heart out when she knew about Shivaay. He would have known how to calm her down... I missed him for two years when I waited for Gauri to recover herself from that trauma when in real I was preparing myself to adapt to the idea of handing her over to a person who I had no idea about. I missed him the most yesterday when Gauri became Omkara's wife... when I lost her forever."

He didn't realize he was crying until Ishaana hugged him trying to comfort him.

"I controlled myself so much yesterday Ishaana. For one time in my life I wanted to be selfish and tell Gauri that I love her, that I cannot live without her. She would have come with me you know... she would have understood me. But I couldn't do that to her. I couldn't ask her to choose between her brother and me."

"Why do I feel my heart being ripped out when she is happy with him? I should be happy for her right. Am I a bad person? I always wanted to see her happy Ishaana. But today when I heard that she.........." He couldn't continue further.

"You are a human Abhay and you loved di. It is human that you feel bad when di is with another man. Doesn't matter whose choice he is" she explained. "In fact I am happy now that I saw you cry like a normal person. I was in doubt whether you were indeed normal when I saw you taking care of the wedding arrangements like you were the happiest person on earth."

"When you love someone and they choose someone else, you ought to feel the pain. That pain never ceases to exist but over a period of time it reduces into a dull, aching, numbness which you will get used to" she completed with a distant look on her face.

Abhay smiled weakly "Yeah, I guess you are right. Thanks for hearing me out" he said maintaining his distance.

"Go now before someone came searching for us" He asked her.

Ishaana stood and silently walked towards the exit.

"Ishaana" he called her and she stopped.

"Do not reject marriage proposals baselessly. Gayathri Bua is worried."

"Who told you that I reject them baselessly? I cannot marry somebody when I love someone else. I am not bound by friendship or any vow." She replied.

Abhay got up sighing and walked towards her. "Why do you love me Ishaana. I cannot love you back."

"Why do you love Gauri di Abhay?" she said a little loud when he shushed her fearing somebody will hear them.

"Gauri will always have a place in my heart Ishaana. I cannot give her place to you."

"I never asked for it Abhay" she said turning around facing him.

When he looked at her confused she spoke "I want a place for me inside your heart. I am not going to take anybody's place"

"You mean to say you want to marry a person who loves your sister and be happy? How can you even love me Ishaana. You don't know everything about me."

"How can anybody not love you Abhay" she said looking at him in disbelief "You are a person who can do anything for your friends, who respects elders understand their sacrifices, their duties. You are a person who always stayed with di when she needed you even though you know that she will never be yours. Tell me how can anyone not-like you."

"Your sister" he tried to joke but failed.

"Seriously? Do you really think Gauri di doesn't love you? She loves you in her own way Abhay. It was you that put her away from you lest you forget your promise to Shivaay Bhaiyya. You are the one who constantly reminded her that bhaiyya wanted her to marry Omkara jiju. How will she put forward her feelings even if she had any, to a person whom she clearly knows doesn't reciprocate them?" she asked shocking him. How the hell did she know that?

"What? Shocked that I know?" said Ishaana looking straight at him. "You and di are too mature for your own good Abhay. You know your responsibilities and never back out from them even if it means you keep your feelings aside for them. I'm glad that I am not as mature as you both. I cannot ignore my feelings for you" she spoke determinedly.

"If you still think that I don't know you, I will try to understand you better once we marry each other." She concluded.

"You should not compromise on your happiness Ishaana. Don't lie to me and say you will be happy knowing that your husband loves an other woman. You cannot be."

"You cannot decide for me whether I can be happy with you or not. You don't know me either Abhay" she said this time angry at him "I can live with the fact that you love di, but I cannot live without you" she declared and left the place after closing the door with a bang leaving Abhay to gape at her.

He never saw her this angry at something. He always thought Ishaana was a stark contrast to Gauri. While Gauri has an outspoken, bubbly and stubborn nature, Ishaana was a calm, collected and warm person. Looking at her now, he knew he did not know her after all. Guess he had to deal with angry women for the rest of his life he mused and smiled.

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On the evening of the same day

Gauri's bidal was done on the same evening. She relived her moments in her hometown with a teary smile. How she wished she had her brother with her assuring her that his choice was right, that Omkara would keep her happy. How he would have warned him to not dare hurt her. She missed him so much that her tears which she had been keeping at bay since long, refused to stop coming out.

Abhay and Ishaana gave her a warm hug while Roshni was a crying mess. After a last minute talk with his father in law to take care of his wife, Omkara helped a crying Gauri get into the car to start their journey to Mumbai.

It was late night by the time the Oberoi family along with the new bride reached the mansion. The home coming ritual was done by Jhanvi and Bhavya with Gauri entering the house after pushing a rice filled kalash with her right toe and taking the first step into the house along with her husband.

Rudra tried to make his Bhabhi smile after the tearful farewell and was quite successful in mellowing down her pain.

"Bhabhi!! You, me and mom are in one team and these two guys" he said indicating Bhavya and Omkara "are our rivals."

"Feel free to come to us if this guy hurts you" he said and Gauri smiled while Omkara rolled his eyes.

"Come Gauri, let me show you your room. It is quite late already. I suggest you take rest now and we can talk in the morning." Said Jhanvi and Gauri nodded a yes.

Once inside the room, Gauri went to the washroom freshening up quickly and changed into her nightware. She knew that her husband wanted to talk to her by the way he watched every movement of hers waiting for her to get comfortable. She finally turned to him and raised her eyebrows in question.

Omkara wanted to talk so much but as usual, he felt a loss of words before his bride. He wanted to apologize for making her upset, give a shoulder for her to cry in case she missed her family. He wanted to kiss her to let her know that he was serious when he said he will be loyal to her and intends to work on their relationship.

After a few minutes when he did not speak anything, Gauri asked him "Do you have anything to say?"

When he merely stuttered saying "I..... sorry..." she sighed and turned to walk towards her bed. However, Omkara turned her around and pulled her towards him kissing her squarely on her mouth.

The kiss was not gentle as the one exchanged between lovers nor the passionate ones that they had shared before their marriage. It was filled with raw need, the one needed to curb Omkara's insecurities and the one filling Gauri's heart with hope. The kiss was a way of trying to reassure each other that they had the other with them and together they will work out their differences.

Omkara was not satisfied with her yet. The way she responded with equal measure to match his need, the way her hands clutched at his hair, the sound of her bangles which clanked in the process, everything added to the sexual tension. But he knew they were not ready yet. He knew she still did not trust him. Letting desire rule him will only result in complications and he didn't want to mess it this time.

He gently parted from her when she let out a disappointed moan. He kissed her everywhere on her face while she had her eyes closed basking in the aftermath of that kiss when he hugged her close and she reciprocated.

"I think... I more than just like you Gauri" he said and she didn't dare speak.

She felt like someone splashed a bucket of cold water on her face bringing her back to reality. What was she thinking? she cannot let him close to her. Not when she was this close to what they planned. She was preparing herself for two years for her chance and all he had to do was kiss her to make her forget the very purpose of this marriage.

Her brother had hurt him enough and she did not intend to add to it. This should not happen, not now at least. She felt hot tears run down her cheeks and hurriedly left him to turn away.

"Gauri..." he started but she cut him short "I'm felling a bit sleepy now Omkara ji... we can talk in the morning" she replied in the same tone she used with him the night before and promptly got on the bed.

Omkara was taken aback by her tone. He thought they were improving. He could clearly feel that his feelings were reciprocated. He knew she wanted him just like he wanted her but she was holding herself back. Why? Was it because she knew of his past affairs or was she trying to hide something.

Deciding to let the matter rest for now, he proceeded towards the rest room.

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The next morning, Omkara was woken up by a call from Abhishek.

"Sir, we got a cue on Daksh's trial, if possible come to the office early. We need your orders to proceed further" informed Abhishek.

Omkara answered "I will be there in an hour" and finished the call. He turned to the side to find the bed empty and looked at the clock which showed seven am. He knew his wife was an early riser. Was she in the bathroom? will he get to see her the same way as yesterday? He smiled at the thought.

As if in answer, the door to his bedroom opened and he saw his wife enter with his coffee, dressed in a lemon yellow kurti and red duppata glowing in the sunlight which seeped through the curtains. Her bright red chura matched the color of her dupatta and looked beautiful on her hands. They seemed to be becoming his favorite ornament after her nose ring.

Though he was disappointed that he could not see her in a towel, he was happy that she was the first thing that he saw in the morning. He smiled at her saying a "Good morning" and she returned it formally.

Omkara got ready as soon as possible and left for office not before kissing his wife a good-bye before his entire family.

Gauri saw her husband leave the mansion and hurried to her room telling her mother in law that she had to arrange her cup boards.

Once she locked the room from inside and made sure that she wasn't heard by the rest of the family members, she called Abhay.

"Gauri, is everything Okay? I was waiting for your call last night"

Her thoughts went back to that kiss when she promptly scolded herself again and replied "Everything is as good as it can be Abhi. When are you coming to Mumbai?"

"I bought a place near to Oberoi Mansion. I will leave tomorrow and in two days once everything is set, we can start the work."

"Okay, tell me the address, I will arrange for the cleaning and setting of the house till the time you arrive"

"No, it is not needed Gauri I already took care of it. I just have to move in with my computer and set up the system. Then we are good to go" he explained and hesitated for a moment "Gauri, are you sure you don't want to tell Omkara about this? Remember that he is not part of our mission"

"No!!" said Gauri hurriedly "Omkaraji is very close to Shakti Khurana. He will not help us in our mission against him. I do not wish to take any chances Abhi. We cannot involve anyone else until we get a clue. I don't care about anything else other than bringing that man to his knees. My brother was betrayed and that man will pay for his sins. I will make sure of it" she replied with angry tears.

"Gauri calm down. Everything will be alright" said Abhay as he knew she would be crying again. "Try to be in good terms with Omkara. We cannot let him suspect anything. Your husband is smart enough to suspect foul play from miles away and we need accesses to the case files and passwords. I don't know how you plan to get them until Omkara gives them willingly. That seems to be an impossible task for you."

"I have other ways Abhi. Omkaraji is not the only one with access to those files. We have Bhavya too. I will get them through her. Two years we have been waiting to get close to that man Abhi. Now that we have him this close to us, I will do anything to reach our goal. You just come here fast" she said and he sighed.

"Be careful, nothing is more important than keeping your cover. I will be there in no time. Take care" he said and finished the call.

Gauri opened her suitcase and searched for it frantically. Once she found it she kissed it and clutched it close to her heart. "I will not leave him Shiv bhaiyya. What you wished for will happen. I will bring them down. This is my promise" she vowed.

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Yes...........that is the motive and that is the end of Chapter 12.

Hope a lot of your doubts have been cleared.

Omkara is not Gauri's mission. She is using him to get close to Shakti. Do you think she is right?

I also hope I don't need to explain what "IT" was Gauri clutching on to at the end of the chapter.

Lastly, did anyone of you cry for Abhay?? Because i had a hard time myself while writing.

Let me know your thoughts......

Till the next update........signing off...........yours Soujanya.