Location: Outside Shayadri fort, Mumbai outskirts.

Gauri turned around quietly not uttering a word still looking at the floor. Holding her breath she raised her head to look at her father for the first time in her life. She noted that her father was a tall man and was still muscular. His face had a rugged look with a squared jaw which had a light stubble. She wanted to see more but the darkness of the night did not allow her to do so.

"Gauri" he called raising his hand towards her when she moved back in reflex.

Kaali sighed. His daughter disliked him... he knew of it but looking at her move away from him did put a knife through his heart. He wanted to hug her assure her that she need not fear him and apologize to her for never being there for her. But he knew this wasn't the time. May be that time would never come...May be he deserved this he thought with a sad smile.

"Gauri we have to go now" he urged her while she shook her head in a no.

"I am not leaving Abhi alone. I was escaping to look around and ask for help before returning here. Since you are here, we can help him out now" she said.

"Your husband is on his way...They will reach any moment. He asked me to take you away till then" Kaali explained.

"No" she stood her ground stubbornly.

"Fine!! at least get in the car there" he said pointing at the vehicle at a distance. "I will go inside and get Abhay out. You guide your husband inside once he comes here" he said.

"No I don't trust you" she said.

If they had light, Gauri could have seen the tears that whorled in her father's eyes but thanks to the darkness that she didn't.

Kaali quietly nodded before going inside through the same window from which Gauri exited. The moment he was in, he made sure to knock one of the men down in a single blow not even allowing him to make noise.

"You go inside first I will cover for you" he said and Gauri did not object.

They stealthily made their way watching around and taking the men down one by one if they came in their way. They were silent enough that they could not alert the others. Once reaching the door to the next room Gauri stilled.

This seemed too easy. Where is Arjun? she searched in the darkness.

Opening the door to the room filled with light, she found it empty. Only the computer screen was on showing some budget sheets.

She moved ahead into the light searching for her friend.

"Gauri they seemed to have taken him somewhere let us leave now" said Kaali.

Gauri turned around and they were about to walk out when they heard sound of heels kicking the ground.

Gauri quickly turned in the direction and saw that it came from a side door.

Kaali got into action going towards it and opened it. The door opened to a passage leading them into darkness.

The father and daughter made their way through it Kaali securely holding Gauri's hand even though she showed resistance.

They came to the end of the passage which lead to the outside of the old mansion. There was pin drop silence except for the wind that howled and the branches of the huge trees that swayed to make sound.

"Abhi" shouted Gauri looking around her but she got no response. She ran further outside screaming his name.

At that moment they heard the sound of an engine roaring to life and Kaali immediately held Gauri's wrist stopping her when she lunged in that direction.

"Leave me, they might harm him if we don't reach them soon" she cried resisting his touch.

"Gauri listen to me. Don't move from this place. Please, I promise you I will get your friend back" he said before leaving.

Gauri waited for a minute before she cursed herself. How can she trust that man. She was momentarily muted when her father spoke to her with so much concern and care. His eyes were brown and his hair showed a bit of graying on the sides as she could see in the bright moon light above them. May be she should follow him she thought and took a step forwards.

"Gauri" called Omkara running towards her... Gauri turned around to see her husband shouting her name, speeding towards her and ran to him happily.

On reaching her he embraced her and kissed the daylights out of her "Gauri... are you okay?" he asked after a moment, checking her hands for any damage while she hissed in pain.

"What happened..... Did he hurt you?" he asked angrily when she smiled nodding a no at him. Omkara kissed her face and hugged her tight not letting her speak. She smiled into the hug feeling safe with him when she heard another voice.

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"Gauri!!" called Shivaay standing a little distance away from the couple and Gauri gasped as she stared at her brother she thought had died. She looked at her husband in shock and he nodded smilingly in conformation that he is indeed back.

She slowly walked towards her brother taking tentative steps praying to her Shankarji that this was not a dream. Shivaay closed the remaining distance hugging his little sister while she cried.

"Shiv Bhaiyya.... Why did you leave me" she asked him accusingly "You promised me that you will never leave me. Didn't you?"

"Sorry Gauri. I had to go" he said crying.

"No you didn't have to bhaiyya. I told you that you needn't go after my father. You still choose to go after him and you made me cry for two years. This is not fair Bhaiyya" she said in between her sobs.

"You know how much I cried for you. How much I missed you when I was getting engaged, when I was getting married to the person you choose, when I left our place and the orphanage" she managed to speak in between her wails and hiccups while he silently listened stroking her hair.

Gauri parted from her brother to look at his face which had tears streaming down his face and smiled "I am married to Omkaraji" she said as if he doesn't know and she expected him to appreciate her.

Shivaay smiled looking at her face. She still looked similar to the four year old baby he first saw outside his old house frowning and calling for his mother. He missed the frowning face, the stubborn nature, the loving sister and most of all the Sherni... his Sherni.

"He is not angry at you" Gauri said after a moment referring to Omkara.

That earned a chuckle from both the men.

"I know Gauri" said Shivaay kissing her forehead and she smiled hugging him.

"Please don't leave me again" she pleaded and Shivaay smiled at her tearfully "Never Gauri... never again" he promised.

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Arjun was ragging. He was seconds close to becoming a millionaire and they dared to come in his way he cursed out loud.

His good for nothing men couldn't take care of a twenty two year old girl. How did she manage to fly away he wondered.

The moment Abhay knew of Gauri's escape he turned against them immediately knocking down one of his men. Man that guy has strength he thought thankfully he lacked the technique. It took ten minutes for his men and him together to knock him down and now the guy is unconscious with a bleeding arm and hand into which he stabbed a knife.

Why couldn't Mukesh provide his men with a gun? He thought cursing. Out of the blue that guy called him the day before planning the kidnap and didn't even provide him with necessary equipment. He told him that they should wait for ammunition but Mukesh was persistent that they should act fast and the guy was too confident that his plan will not misfire.

"I'm not letting you go Abhay...You will die a slow painful death after you wake up. I promise you that because you deserve it" he said sadistically laughing at the now unconscious Abhay.

If Gauri brought help, he will be outnumbered. Already they were only four men remaining with him as Abhay was successful in injuring five of his twenty.

Arjun knew he cannot fight the rest but he cannot hand Abhay over too, lest he survived and his revenge remained unfinished. He decided to flee with him through the secret passage of the mansion he kept for emergencies.

"What is taking you so much time?" he growled at his men. "Start the car now before they get to us"

"Sir someone tampered with the engines of both the vehicles we are not able to start the cars fully. They are just roaring to a start only to stop again a moment later" said the man with fear and anxiety clear in his face.

"Crap!!. What the hell..... It wouldn't be long before they get to us. Hurry up do something" he shouted.

At that moment a shot rang in the air and the men panicked looking around.

"Stop looking around and help me hide him" said Arjun to his men and they go into action.

With difficulty they managed to drag Abhay out of the car and managed to hide him behind a tree.

"What are you people doing?... Need help?" said a voice and they turned around to see a man pointing a gun to them.

Arjun at once took out a knife and crouching down to Abhay, put it to Abhay's neck.

"One wrong move and I will slit his throat" he threatened the unknown man before him.

Kaali laughed "You will not... If you wanted to kill him you wouldn't have waited till now. Would you?" he said and emptied the bullets of his gun into the remaining men even before Arjun could react.

Arjun was shocked to see his men fall to the ground like leaves from an autumn tree soundless, weightless and lifeless. He looked at Abhay. One single cut and the man would bleed to death he thought gripping his knife and readied to stab when Kaali shot his arm.

"AHHHH!!!" he cried out in pain his knife falling out of his hands.

"Oh!! You feel the pain now?" asked Kaali going to him and slapping him across his face.

"I could have killed you this instant but my son in law wouldn't be happy" he said catching hold of his hair and dragging him away from Abhay.

"Yup I won't" shouted Omkara making Arjun and Kaali turn towards him.

Omkara smiled at his father in law and walked towards them "I was worried that you already killed him Uncle" he said.

"Now I can't deny you your wedding gift daamad ji. Can I?" replied Kaali playfully still holding on to Arjun's hair making him wince in pain. "Where is Gauri?" he asked.

"She is with Shivaay" informed Omkara looking at Arjun for a second before punching his face and Kaali left his hold on him.

"You dared to take my wife away from me" he growled before taking his uninjured hand and twisting its fingers making the man yell out loud.

The next moment, Omkara kicked him in the chest making him fall to the ground. He put his shoed foot on his neck pressing on to it and chocking him while Arjun coughed out frantically trying to remove his foot.

"Now, now damaad ji. You can have your fun later. Leave him before he falls unconscious. It is tiresome to drag two unconscious men to the vehicles. Abhay is knocked down already and we have to get him to the hospital fast" said Kaali in a pleading tone.

"I will give you a painful death" vowed Omkara looking at Arjun who was still coughing and breathing hard to get his lungs the much needed oxygen.

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"Abhi... what happened to you" said Gauri worriedly running to her husband who was walking towards their vehicle supporting an unconscious Abhay on his arm.

"Abhi" she called out crying and patting his cheeks while Shivaay looked at Omkara and Kaali worried.

"He is just unconscious Shivaay. We need to get him to the hospital now" explained Kaali.

"Of course how can I expect that you would bring him to me unharmed" spat Gauri, looking at her father accusingly.

"Gauri is that the way to talk?" said Shivaay scolding her making her silent.

"It's okay Shivaay, she is just worried. Do not scold..." started Kaali supporting his daughter.

"He is my brother and he has the right to scold me" said Gauri again and Kaali left his sentence incomplete.

"Gauri" warned Shivaay glaring at her.

"Shivaay help me get him to the vehicle" asked Omkara not wanting a fight to ensue.

Shivaay quietly helped Omkara still glaring at his sister who stubbornly refused to acknowledge her father's love.

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Location: ABC Hospital, Mumbai.

Abhay was admitted in the hospital while Arjun was arrested and taken into custody along with Mukesh.

Vikram and Nikhil Bharadwaj were released on bail but the department had enough evidence against them which will be put forward in court at the time of the trail and Omkara was sure that they will be found guilty without a chance to escape this time.

He entered into the hospital after talking and giving instructions to his teammates. He watched his wife who looked worried and tired still crying for Abhay clinging too Shivaay who sat beside her. His mother and Rudra sat opposite to the duo outside the emergency room praying for Abhay's early recovery and his father in law was a bit away from the family staring longingly at his daughter.

He walked towards Kaali placing a hand on his shoulder. The older man turned towards him in question when he returned a reassuring smile.

"She hates me" he whispered to Omkara who nodded a no.

"She doesn't uncle she is just angry at you" replied Omkara and saw a tear slide down his father in law's cheek.

He lead Kaali away from them and talked "Uncle I know it is difficult but give her time. She will come around."

"She has so much hurt bottled up inside her Om. I am afraid if she told me all that I won't be able to forgive myself. Radha was a very understanding wife and she never stopped me from my work but I should have thought of my daughter too. I shouldn't have left her all alone."

"She wasn't alone uncle. She had her brother with her. She says she doesn't need her father but I heard the longing in her whenever she takes my dad's name."

Kaali smiled at him "You are just like your father. Brave, charming and understanding. I was not wrong in my choice" he said keeping a hand lovingly on Omkara's head.

"You forgot handsome and possessive" joked Omkara winking at him and Kaali tried to laugh.

"She will realize your place in her life soon uncle. I will make sure of it. Trust me" said Omkara and Kaali hugged him silently crying "I trust you Om..... I trusted you with my daughter. I trust you that you will make her forgive me" he choked.

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"He is out of danger for now. We have sewed the stab wounds on his leg and arm, given him a transfusion of blood and fluids. He will be under observation for two to three days. He has multiple contusions on his body but nothing life threatening. We will shift him to the ward tomorrow. Let him be in intensive care for tonight" explained the doctor and the family nodded thanking him.

"Omkara where is Kaali ji. Did you ask him to stay at our mansion?" asked Jhanvi turning to her son.

"Yes mom. I just sent him home to freshen up."

"Gauri, Shivaay both of you go home along with Om. Me and Rudra will stay here for the night. In case of emergency I will call Kaali ji" instructed Jhanvi.

"Maa ji I will stay with Abhi please don't ask me to go. I cannot leave him like this" pleaded Gauri.

Omkara felt the green headed monster creeping up on him but he shushed it telling himself that his wife is just worried for her best friend.....just... friend.

"No Gauri did you look at yourself? You are not in a condition to look after him. Shivaay was just discharged from the hospital and I don't want him to unnecessarily be exposed to infections here. Go home and come early tomorrow"

"But maa ji I..." started Gauri.

"I am not going to repeat Gauri" said Jhanvi in a nonnegotiable tone. "Shivaay!!.... Take her from here" she ordered and Shivaay nodded taking his sister away from the emergency room while Omkara silently followed them after hugging his mother and asking Rudy to call him up if required.

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Location: Oberoi Mansion, Mumbai.

By the time they reached the mansion, Gauri slept in the car placing her head on Shivaay's shoulder.

"I will take her to our room" said Omkara opening the door and tried to take his wife into his arms when she tightly fisted her brother's shirt in her sleep refusing to let go.

"It is okay Om. Let her be with me tonight. I missed her too" said Shivaay and Omkara nodded understanding.

Shivaay took his sister to one of the guest rooms in the mansion and settled her on the bed. He looked around to see if Omkara entered his room. Once he was sure his friend left, he closed the door without locking it and neared the bed. Kissing his sister on her forehead he whispered to her "Om is not here Gauri"

Gauri opened her eyes to look at her brother looking at her in question.

"Abhay loved me bhaiyya" she said with tears in her eyes and coming straight to the point.

Shivaay looked at his sister in shock not knowing what to say to that.

Gauri gasped "You knew" she said accusingly.

"Why bhaiyya..... You let him go through everything alone. He must have cried in silence and I was ignorant to his pain all this time. I couldn't be a good friend bhaiyya" she said crying.

"No Gauri he knew about you and Om two years back. I told him about Radha maa's wish."

"So that he will not come in your way to marry me off to Omkaraji. Right bhaiyya?" deduced Gauri. "Maa would never have objected if she knew Abhi loves me. She loved him equally. You know that. Had I known about this before I would have chosen him" she said angrily.

"Gauri...Shhh" said Shivaay looking around "Don't shout. You are married now. Why are we discussing this. Are you not happy with Om?"

"It is important bhaiyya. You people have given me no choice" she yelled raging. "I wouldn't have hurt him bhaiyya. You know he always thinks about others before his happiness and I loved him too in my own way. Why could you not tell me. Do I not have the right to choose whom I marry? Does Omkaraji not have the right? You hurt him too. Why is it so important that I marry him. For what? A mere promise?"

"Gauri listen to me" said Shivaay as he took a deep breath before he started again. "Abhi is matured enough to know what is right and wrong. He could have told you that he loved you himself. Why did he not? Because he knows the importance of parents and their sacrifices. He respected your mother's last wish. If Om was not good enough for you I wouldn't have agreed for this marriage either. But he is the one for you Gauri" he said and when she remained silent "Abhay is too innocent to handle you. I know Om can do that" he tried to joke which earned him a glare.

"You don't understand bhaiyya. He isn't ready to move on from me. All this while I have been pushing him towards an unwanted marriage with Ishu not knowing that I was again hurting him" she told him crying.

"Ishu? Ishaana?" asked Shivaay and Gauri nodded her head "She loves him bhaiyya. He is going to get engaged to her soon" she told him.

Shivaay smiled "Then let's get him married. He can love her later" he said and Gauri hit him playfully.

"On the brighter side she suits him better than you Sherni. Meine use bacha liya(I saved him)... Poor Om" said Shivaay laughing and Gauri hugged him tight.

The night saw the two siblings bickering and chattering away their fears and short comings. They slept talking to each other with Gauri resting on her brother's lap and Shivaay sitting against the headboard of their bed his hand on his sister's head.

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One week later,

It was late evening and Gauri returned from the hospital to their room to look at her husband frantically searching for something in the bed side table.

She hardly saw him nowadays. Since the night after she has been rescued she was busy looking after Abhay while her husband and brother looked after the proceedings of the case. Abhay was slowly recovering and he will be discharged the day after.

Ishaana stayed with him looking after him and Gauri was happy that her friend was in safe hands. She still didn't talk things out with him. But she let it rest. Now is not the time she thought.

Omkara on the other hand is frustrated. He wanted to touch his wife, hug her, kiss her and make love to her but he was afraid. Afraid of her rejection. That day when they came home from hospital, he went to Shivaay's room to check on her before he slept and heard bits of their conversation. He left the place after she said "I would have chosen him"

He understood her that she wasn't given a choice but he wasn't given either. They are married now and he loved her. He knew she loves him too but why was she so angry with Shivaay. Is she not happy with him?

He was scared that if he talked to her, she would ask him for a way out and he feared that he cannot give her that however mature the decision seemed to be. He can never let her go. No!!.

His mind kept nagging him with obvious questions. One, will she ask him to leave her?. Two, if she asked him that,.. what would he do?...lock her up in a safe so that she won't get to go to her friend. Three, till when could he avoid talking to her.

But like any typical male he decided to push the questions to the back of his mind and run away. When he does not have answers, he decided to avoid the questions as well and he silently prayed that she would not do that to him.

"Omkara ji? What are you searching for?" asked Gauri.

Omkara closed his eyes in irritation why does he have to be so lost that he didn't notice that she would be back by this time.

"Nothing I was looking for a file" he answered her question formally.

She slowly walked towards him with a smile "Let me help you" she said and asked for the details of the file which he gave monotonously.

Gauri started to look for it with intense concentration eager to help her husband. He looked worn out. May be she could lessen his work a bit she thought.

Omkara stared...no drooled at her. She looked beautiful now more than ever. May be because she is forbidden at the moment which added to the sexual tension. He almost swore out loud when she gently nibbled her lower lip with her upper in concentration while she looked for his file.

He fisted his hands tight not to raise his hands towards her to keep away the strands of hair which seemed to come in the way of her work. He saw her grab the file finally and happily turn to him handing it over to him with radiant smile.

Looking at her smile at him like that... he forgot his turmoil for a moment and returned the smile involuntarily.

"Om, Gauri come down for dinner" called his mother and the trance broke. He reprimanded himself and hurried down before his wife does something which might be silly enough to normal people yet managed to arouse him.

After dinner, Omkara left the place citing work as excuse and after an hour or so finishing her work, Gauri returned their room.

Why did she feel that her husband was hiding something? She clearly saw him look at her with passion when she gave him that file, just before her mother in law called them for dinner. It was so unlikely of him to not act upon it. What stopped him? Now thinking back she noted that he barely touched her since the past week.

She entered the bathroom with these thoughts clouding her mind for a warming shower and forgot to take her clothes with her. After the shower when she realized that fact, she removed one of the towels from the cabinet, wrapped it around her and walked into the room after making sure that no one was there. She wasn't expecting her husband to come soon and no one else would enter their room without knocking. She tiptoed fast to the cupboard to grab her clothes.

Omkara had to come back home when Shivaay kicked him out of the office for his lack of mental presence and he sulked. He doesn't want to be home and not go near his wife. He lazily walked up the stairs towards his room, opened the door and froze.

Gauri was successful in grabbing her clothes and was just about to turn when her husband walked into the room. She looked at him frozen in his steps looking at her, his eyes darkening with every second. Oh God !! why was he looking at her that way.

She muttered a sorry and hurried towards their bathroom. She wasn't fast enough though because by the time she reached it and grabbed the door handle her husband caught up with her locking the door. She squealed when he lifted her off the ground effortlessly without warning.

He threw her on the bed unceremoniously and got on top of her growling "Enough!!" making her gape at him shocked.

"Omkaraji...what has gotten into..." her sentence was left incomplete when his mouth closed on top of hers in a hungry kiss.

Damn!! she missed him she thought once she got a taste of him. She gave in returning his love equally passionate if not more. Not in this lifetime can she say a no to him.

Omkara was ecstatic that finally he has his wife near him, melting away to his touch. He will leave no stone unturned and no move unattempted to show her how much he loved her so that she will have no thoughts left to ponder, no thoughts about anyone else except him...except them. Let everyone go to hell, he isn't giving his wife to anybody he thought before he pulled her towel away in one swift move.

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With that we come to the end of Love, Lust and Lies...chapter 26.

I will try to write an epilogue soon.

I got lots of love from you all and call me selfish but I still yearn for more.

Keep loving this with your votes and comments.

Signing off............... Yours Soujanya.