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Chapter 7

Her arms wrapped around her knees as She let her head fall into her knees as She cried out loud unable to control the pain she was feeling right now . It was hurt ! This wasn't something new for her since the day She married him but for the first time She questioned herself ,

"Can't I please him?" , She cups her mouth muffling her sob remembering the words of Daadi and Maaji – they had always taunted on her competency -

"He rejected me" Her words struck on her throat as she let the pain take over her

She asking time to be intimate was different from him rejecting her . A sardonic chuckle leaves her lips hearing the screeching sound of the car speeding off . Escape ! Leaving her alone with her questions he left – It was easy for him to walk away as if nothing happened but was it easy for her?

"I Hate You" She whispers hoarsely finding his wall size photo looking at her with a smile . It looked like as if he was mocking her .

Mornings brought freshness for Gauri but Today it wasn't , Her Morning filled with sadness and hurt . Looking at her reflection in the mirror She found her eyes red and puffy and redness peaking on her nose . Biting her lower lip to stop another sob which was trying to escape her lips. She closes her eyes applying the 'sindoor' on her parting .

Was Our Relationship only bound to this mangalsutra and sindoor she wore each day?

His eyes comes past in the curtain of her eyelids , His smile then His teasing the day back and Finally he walking away repulsed by her !

Gauri wipes her tears hastily hearing the tap on the door . Swallowing the lump which was forming She walks to open the door.

Can My morning be any better?

"Maaji" Her voice sounded tired

"Why—"

Gauri cuts off tiredly "Spare me today –I am not ready to hear your taunts "

Jhanvi's eyes softens hearing her , She wanted to check whether Gauri was doing fine , She had woken up in the midnight hearing the commotion , walking out of her room Jhanvi had seen Omkara leaving trying to balance him on his feet – She knew that moment He was drunk ! Jhanvi wanted to reach out to Gauri at that moment to know whether she was fine but She knew it would not be good to walk into her daughter-in-law's room at that time .

Jhanvi for the first time was scared about Gauri , Her eyes had wandered to the clock each minute she heard the tic-tock . Her Maaji, Daadi, had kept taunting on Gauri on her upbringing saying She cannot even wake up early morning . Pretending to fake her anger front of her Maaji she had come to check on Gauri.

"Are You Fine Bacha?" Jhanvi asks her heart paining seeing how sad she looked and the reason was her son hurt her more.

The floodgates open as her tears starts pouring . Gauri wraps her arms around Jhanvi's shoulder hugging her tightly as She cries . She saw her mother in Jhanvi for a moment .

Jhanvi hugs her back soothing her back worriedly "Bhacha what happened?"

Gauri sobs loudly hugging her more tightly , her knees give in , all her energy drained as She falls on her knees weeping uncontrollably .

Jhanvi kneels beside worried and concerned as she cups Gauri's face in her palms "What happened Bhachi?"

Gauri runs her fingers around her cheeks and fakes a smile "I just miss my Mumma , that's it" She moves back from Jhanvi's palms knowing She would taunt her now but for her surprise Jhanvi pulls her to her chest wrapping her arms around Gauri's shoulder and patting her head .

"Stop lying – Did He force you?" Jhanvi asks not so comfortably , Jhanvi had experienced this in her phase of marriage , she was once forced by Tej when he was not in his senses , She despised his touch for the very first time it hurt her so much yet she gave in , knowing it was a woman's duty to please her man but it came with baggage to her dignity – She lost her dignity that day to the very man she loved all her life in an unpleasant way . When the morning arrived Tej had begged his forgiveness as She had cried her heart out , She hadn't forgiven him back then up to now , She had been aloof and withdrawn herself from everyone around , Her Maaji, Daadi who had noticed how unhappy her son looked had chided Jhanvi when Jhanvi had cried in front of her Maaji wanting someone to confide her pain She had been shocked and surprised when Her Maaji took it so lightly saying it was her duty to please her Man in any means , That was the day Jhanvi had taken a decision She would never have a daughter – She would not be able to bear if her daughter suffers through the same obnoxious and patriarch cruelty . When she had seen Gauri Jhanvi wanted to hug Gauri tight and welcome her home with open arms but She couldn't given that her Maaji had strictly instructed on how to behave with a daughter-in-law if not her Son would go behind his wife like a love sick puppy . Jhanvi wanted to vehemently refused but the first few days of Omkara's marriage how her son had taken a stand against his wife insecurity grew in Jhanvi that made her act indifferent to Gauri. But today She is not going to turn her head if her son had done something regretful. She is going to stand by her Daughter-in-law even if it means to stand against her own Mother-in-law ,Daadi,.

Gauri looks up from the embrace hearing Jhanvi nervously trying to gauge was she angry or was she concerned ? about Gauri but seeing the softness in her eyes Gauri cries looking at her Maaji "No" ,

Jhanvi leaves the breath She had been holding to feeling relieved at least Gauri did not go through what she went through

"He –" Gauri closes her eyes not knowing how to the form the sentence , "He—nothing!" Gauri tells a minute later , Which mother would be pleased to know that her son wasn't happy with his wife? That too Jhanvi who had taunted Gauri on that basis will be more angrier .

Jhanvi knew Gauri would not tell her anything given the way she had taunted her but She is not gonna let this go like this . If her son had wronged here which was a proof from Gauri's tears She is going to punish him badly . He could be a grown-up man but that does not given him right to give his wife pain.

"Then Why are You crying?" Jhanvi asks sternly .

Gauri wipes her tears moving back from Jhanvi "I—missed my mumma"

Jhanvi gets up knowing She had to divert Gauri with whatever has happened "Is this the time for a girl to wake up?"

Gauri's lips curve up slightly seeing her trying to put up the act of the stern-khadoos Mother in law "Thank You" Gauri says softly overwhelmed , Hugging her Mother-in-law for few minutes had made Gauri calm and lessen her pain .

"Hmm- Come serve Breakfast" Jhanvi says sternly and turns on her heels as a small smile makes its way through her cheeks .

***

Despite her anger and her pain her eyes wander to the door wanting to get a glimpse of him . She really did not want to be taunted on a festival day that her husband had left her alone . The house was decorated around She was ready in her heavily worked Shalwar which her Mother-in-law had gifted . loosely braiding her hair Gauri sat on the couch wishing he gets back home . Since yesterday night after that incident She did not see him around , No calls or messages not even to his parents . Gauri doubted whether He knew that His Family was here . It was like he had vanished in the thin air . Looking at the clock striking 7 pm Gauri knew that it is hopeless to wait for him .

"Gauri Where is he?" Daadi scoffs asking Gauri who stood up seeing her

"Daadi –I-"Gauri fumbles with words fidgeting her fingers

Gauri's phone rings . She looks at them and swipes to answer "Hello"

"Hello Gauri" Gauri hears Randhir's voice

Seeing Daadi glaring at her furiously "Omkara where are you?"

"Gauri it's me Randhir" Randhir speaks from the other line wondering whether Gauri could not recognize his voice

"I know – Omkara come soon Daadi is here just standing front of me , Maaji and Papaji are here too" Gauri tells hurriedly

Randhir gets the cue as he says "Gauri Omkara left to London in the early morning flight – He would be back only after two weeks "

Gauri masks her pain with a smile "Acha Omkara – No—no I am not angry –If it wasn't important and urgent I know that You would never LEAVE ME and PRIOTIZE BUSINESS OVER ME"

Randhir could feel the hidden pain in his voice as He smiles sadly "Gauri" He calls her softly

"No worries Don't be sad it is Our First Lohri and You aren't here , We have many more FIRST's To Come !"

"Gauri" Randhir calls her softly knowing she is trying to control her pain in front of his family "I am Sorry –Once he is back I am going to kill him with bare hands "

Gauri chuckles sadly "Take care" Saying she hangs up .

Daadi scrutinizes her eyes "Where is he?"

"Daadi Omkara is going to London – he is needed urgently" Gauri replies

"How can he leave just like that?" it was Tej who spoke angrily pulling his phone out to give an earful to his son , His behavior seems unacceptable .

Gauri knew she would be caught if he gave a call , "No Papaji he was so sorry for it –it was me who forced him too-it's fine" Gauri tells with fake smile .

"I am going to pull his ears once he is back" Tej tells shaking his head dejected and paces out of the flat followed by Daadi who seemed not happy about her grandson missing .

Jhanvi keeps her face stern but pacing towards Gauri she squeezes Gauri's palm lightly assuring and leaves .

Once everyone was out of her sight Gauri runs to her room wiping the dew drops which had started streaming down . She falls on the floor as She pulls the bangles harshly injuring her wrist as She cries out in pain loudly . Her fingers runs to her neck as she pulls the jewelry harshly the chain scratches her neck lightly as She hisses . Her fingers tangle in the mangalsutra as She holds it up to her eye level . Her fingers trying pulling it away from her neck but something stops her as She hits her palms on the floor .

She could hear the people enjoying outside dancing and singing . Dragging her feet to the Balcony . Her eyes roams down to the couples who are celebrating so happily down there . Love and happiness reflecting in their eyes as they hug each other laughing and chuckling to what-ever their spouse was whispering in their ears .

"Have I ever done anything bad to people? That My Fate was tied to him?" She questions raising her head up . She lets out a cynical smile seeing rain drops falling.

"Take my tears away" She whispers stretching her hand as the water puddles on her palms .

***

Omkara swallows another bottle of liquor letting It spill over his shirt as He holds the railings looking at the City of London .

"Omkara" , Omkara chuckles sardonically hearing the voice "Om" either sides of him.

He shakes his head trying to stop his hallucinations.

"Go --goo—Leave me" He shouts holding his head

"I killed you" He says crying looking to his left to see her standing there with a smile itched on her face .

"I should have not let you go Ishana" He says as tears seep through his cheeks . His eyes bloodshot red from crying all day

"I Killed You Ishana – Why –Why? Didn't I stop you that day? If I have – I would not be here destroying two pure souls –" He yells at him loudly hitting onto his chest .

"Omkara"

"Gauri" he whispers turning to his right to see her stretching her arm for him to hold

"I give you only pain Gauri—You would hate me now right?—I initiated kisses thinking it as Ishana and when I heard you call me I left you – I know how you would have felt—I saw the hurt in your eyes ! I am Sorry Gauri—I am cheating on you !" He muffles his sobs taking another gulp falling on his knees "I am cheating everyone "

"What can I do?" He cries pulling his hairs frustrated

"Om" ,

"Go away Ishana –I Killed you" He screeches shoving his hands in the air as if to chase Ishana out .

"Omkara" , Om sadly chuckles "Why I need You?" He whispers looking at Gauri who was standing front of him with a smile "I am a cheater –I think I love Ishana but I push her away while I do not know what you are to me yet I need you in my life !"

His vision blurs as He stumbles on his steps and drags his feet towards the bed as he lets his body fall onto the soft mattress as the bottle falls from his hands.

"I am Sorry Gauri" He whispers before his eyes closes .

***

Gauri looks at the now empty house as She locks the door . Daadi had created a ruckus early morning. Gauri had thanked her maaji in her mind for dragging Daadi to her room and announcing that they are leaving. Gauri could not believe how her Mother-in-Law had softened a bit towards her in a day . She felt happy for once . Gauri's parents had ringed where her mother had asked over-excitedly what her Damadji gifted on their First Lohri. Gauri found herself choking trying to maintain her voice she had told hurriedly that Daadi is calling and hanged up the phone .

It was Makar Sankranti, a festival Gauri was excited since her childhood, This festival always brought the small kid in her who was fascinated with the colors of kites flying on the sky . It had so many memories attached to her , She would be one who always wins in Kite competition . Her Rudy Bhaiya and she was the craziest cousins from everyone They would literally drag everyone to enjoy .

Gauri had dreamt a Lovely moment with him before her marriage about this Festival. They both together would fly the kite where he would hold her in his arms ad kiss her time to time earning a lovely slap from her .

'Did I Dream too much?" She whispers to herself holding the railing too tightly watching the sky filled with fascinated colors of Kites .

"Gauri" Bhavya taps the door with over-enthusiasm

"Bhavya" Gauri opens the door with a small smile calling her

"Gauri it's Makar Sankranti" Bhavya shouts with joy jumping on her toes with her kite in hand .

Gauri smiles ,It reminded of her before marriage ,

"Yes so?" Gauri replies smiling

"What so? Come lets go fly" Bhavya screeches excited.

Gauri cups her ears chuckling "Bhavya you go I am not coming" Gauri replies instead

"Don't be a Spoilsports You are coming" Bhavya says dragging Gauri

Gauri laughs "Slow down I am coming" , at least it would take her mind off things .

Bhavya soon gets busy with her friends as they fly the kite . Gauri sits under a tree watching Bhavya crazily yelling and others cheering for her.

"Didi Come on "A 5 year old kid taps Gauri giving her a kite to fly .

Gauri ruffles his hairs taking the kite form his hand "What's your name?"

"Omkara" That boy replies making Gauri's face falls He and his name follows her like a shadow.

"Om come" The little kids calls him as he runs to them .

Gauri looks at the kite in her hand her lips curve up sadly as She holds the thread in hand . Gauri spots a pen lying in the ground . Taking it in her hand She writes

'Omkara + Gauri'=

Marriage

Love

Happiness

Her eyes wells up as She writes the last word highlighting it

Pain

"Gauri and Omkara means Pain" She talks to herself caressing his name in the kite as she shuts her eyes tightly as a lone tear drops on the corner of her eyes .

Gauri flies the Kite as The wind takes it far from her sight , She pulls the string as the thread gets tangled to the branch of the tree .Sighing she pulls the string a bit too harshly as the kite gets torn in its end and falls off. Gauri runs to get hold of the kite .

Taking it in his hand , She sees the last bit torn and Only the following words she wrote unaffected .

'Omkara + Gauri'=

Marriage

Love

Happiness

A mocking chuckle leaves her lips reading it "Never Ever" She whispers.

*** 

Two weeks passes a blink in loneliness , Gauri gave Anjali aunty a break for two weeks , at first she had refused but when Gauri had given half of her salary in advance she had left . Gauri wanted to stay sometime alone in peace , If Anjali would come over each day it would be filled with taunts. Bhavya would come over whenever she got spare time to spend with Gauri.

Bhavya would tease Gauri time to time when she would have sad face thinking that She missed Omkara but reality was different wasn't it? , She did not miss Omkara instead she awaited his arrival to ask the questions which was lingering in her mind .

Gauri had called up Rudra a week back thinking to spend some time with him only to know that Rudra had gone abroad as a representative of his company. That had made her sulk .

Gauri did not even dream or wish to see him in that state after two weeks .

"Bhaiya what happened to him?" Gauri asks concerned at Randhir who was putting a fainted Omkara to their bed.

"Gauri he is having high fever" Randhir replies removing Omkara's shoes

"But How—" Randhir cuts her off "Get me a towel and a dress for him"

Gauri nods seeing Omkara all wet and shivering . She runs to the closet grabbing a pair of t-shirt and trouser she gives to Randhir and leaves the place letting Randhir change him.

Randhir comes to the hall to see Gauri getting a bowl of cold water and a cloth . He could not help but feel happy and sad at the same time for Omkara . He got a caring wife but Omkara is not making use of that . Randhir had gone a day back to London in the idea of dragging Omkara here knowing the pain Gauri had been going through in this few days .

Randhir had got to know from the company Omkara never reported to the company . Finding the hotel he had been staying Randhir did not have the slightest idea he would find his friend as A drunkard muttering time to time forgiveness from both Ishana and Gauri.

Ishana was a pure soul and loved Omkara wholeheartedly but She did not how to express her love in ways Omkara wanted but Gauri here is caring when Omkara gave her only pain.

Should I tell her how he had been high on alcohol? Randhir wonders but seeing her worried forlorn face he decides otherwise "Gauri He arrived today morning, We had a small fight and Omkara walked away in the heavy pouring rain. I went looking for him after an hour and found him unconscious lying on middle of the road .

Gauri nods taking in . Randhir lets out a trouble sigh , He hadn't lied rather said the half truth , Omkara had been weak with only alcohol consumption since two weeks . Making him have some real food had been a hard task not to forget his appearance he looked like a beggar. Randhir had run him a bath and shaved his grown beards and had given his long hair a proper cut . Getting Omkara to his senses had been the hard task . Knowing staying in London will be no help. Randhir had flown with Omkara on Oberoi's private jet back to Mussorie .

Randhir had taken Omkara to his place knowing Gauri would end up panicking if he took a Drowsy Omkara home . When Omkara had woken up Randhir had almost ended up shouting on him for the injustice he is doing to Gauri . Omkara had listened impatiently but the moment due to a tongue of slip Randhir had mentioned to 'Divorce her if You are not ready to give her happiness and let her marry someone else" , Omkara had held his collar raging in anger .

Randhir had pushed him asking 'What right You have over Gauri?", it was the last blow for Omkara who had walked out of the conversation in the heavy rain.

True Randhir was angry that he did not run behind Omkara as always he did but it had melted after an hour that he had gone seeking for him more than sure that Omkara would not make it home.

"Gauri" Randhir calls her softly seeing her lost in thoughts "I'll leave it's already late , Let him rest"

Gauri nods giving Randhir a side hug , Randhir had been another support through this two weeks for Gauri , Randhir had updated Gauri regularly that Omkara was doing well and not to worry , least Gauri knew it was all lies .

Gauri sits beside him looking at his pale face, His eyes was bloodshot red and he had dark circles under his eyes .

"What have You done to yourself?" Gauri whispers to his sleeping form . She was angry but She wasn't heartless to see a man suffering. Out of humanity She covers him with a heavy blanket seeing him shivering badly . Wetting a piece of cloth She presses it on his forehead checking his temperature .

"Cold" Gauri hears him his tremble

"I –am—Sorry-Gauri" Gauri hears him mutter as She leans down to hear him properly

"A sorry could not take my pain away Omkara" She tells sadly running her fingers through his hair .

Omkara trembles pulling the blanket more into him "Cold"

Gauri looks at him worried seeing him muttering 'cold' again and again . Letting out a deep breath , removing the blanket She slips beside him letting him snuggle more closer to her body as she covers him with the blanket . Gauri feels him pushing his face more into her nape reluctantly she wraps her arms around his shoulder .

"I haven't forgiven or forgotten whatever you did to me yet I aren't heartless to see you suffering !" Gauri whispers softly in his ears .

"A long night it is going to be" Gauri talks to herself holding him up placing his head on her chest.

***

I Know Some wants Omkara to Open up but Do think is it really easy? they know each other for few days it is not really easy to trust anyone completely to open up and for Gauri She wants him to talk to her but something is stopping her too 

But Somethings done are not easy to forget or forgive let's see What storms are in store the new morning !

And I need readers to give genuine comments I see many new readers commenting 'Update soon' I would really appreciate if you guys leave a genuine comment about what you feel about the chapter 

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