After a teary goodbye to her newfound ally, Gauri nervously followed Omkara for her first air travel. As he helped her get in, he could feel her shiver of fear.

"It is going to be okay," he tried to reassure and she nodded clinging onto his arm as she sat beside him.

Securing the seat belts, he asked her to take deep breaths closing her eyes before he gave the signal to the pilot. As the blades started to turn, she closed her eyes and gasped loudly at the sound which decreased considerably after he made her wear the acoustic protector.

She didn't hear him speak there after but she did feel the comfort he tried to give her by placing one hand around her shoulder while he pressed her hand with his other.

The journey back home was reduced from a twelve hour drive via car to a two hour flight via their chopper.

While they landed at Mumbai and took the car to go to the mansion, Gauri knew she was being more silent than normal but she couldn't bring herself to talk. Her mind constantly thought of ways to push him to his room sooner, so that they could avoid unwanted encounters until Shivaay returned the next day.

Omkara's mind on the other hand, stuck on her conversation with Dandi. He couldn't tell if she was lying or if she really planned to leave the earliest. In fact, after what he had done to her, he wouldn't be surprised if she told him she wished to leave that very weekend when her brother forced her to do so.

But didn't she say that she has forgiven him?

"Sir, we reached," said the driver and the couple came out of their thoughts to look out of the window.

It was the same mansion they left four days ago but they weren't the same people who left it then.

They were two individuals unsure in their relationship on the day they last saw the place. Now, they were wife and husband who wished to give a new start to their life.

"Omkara ji, should we go in with the idol?" she asked him.

"O!" Rudra's voice reached them before the man himself.

Omkara smiled as he was engulfed into a bear hug by the younger Oberoi.

"I missed you," Rudra said parting from the hug while his brother rolled his eyes at the cliché.

"We were away for just four days Rudy."

"So?" he asked and turned to his sister in law.

"Gauri... no bhaabhi," he stressed earning a smack from his brother.

"I have the right to call you that. Hain na?" he wiggled his eyebrows and she smiled at him.

Soon, she too got a welcoming hug and she returned the sweet gesture.

"Is the coast clear," she whispered into his ears.

"For now, yes. But we have to hurry up," he replied back in a low tone.

As she parted from the hug, she discreetly nodded her head and turned to her husband who was instructing their house help to take the luggage inside.

"Come inside, Daadi is waiting for you," said Rudra.

"Good, I need to have a word with her," he said

"Rudy bhaiyya, what about the idol?"

"Daadi said we will have a pooja tomorrow. I will have someone put it covered, near the mandir for today," her brother in law informed.

"Okay, let us go then," she said and the trio walked in.

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Kalyani expertly avoided her middle grandson's glare and continued to talk to his wife as if she didn't do anything to put them in a soup the previous day.

Since he couldn't talk anything before Gauri, Omkara waited for his chance and silently listened to Rudra rambling about some new car in the market.

"Taadaka said she wants you to visit her more often. But I told her that you are joining college this month. When you find time, do take Omkara with you. He keeps finding excuses to avoid taking time for himself," Kalyani said.

Now what? Will they plan their wedding night in the next visit? he wanted to say but kept his thoughts to himself.

Wait a minute, wedding night? where did that come from... his mind mocked.

Would you wait that long? His heart reprimanded.

Will you both shut up? She was talking about leaving... he reminded.

"What are you thinking?" Rudra asked.

"Huh?" Omkara turned to his brother wondering if he heard him.

"You are staring at bhaabhi since long. When did you turn into a creep?"

"Nothing, where is mom?"

"Uh,... sh.. she is not well," his brother replied.

"What? Where is she now?"

"Resting in her room."

"Did the doctor see her? I will go and check," Omkara said getting up from his place when Rudra pulled him back.

"You go freshen up first. Then you can go and see her. Look at bhaabhi, she looks tired as well," he said.

"Yeah, you go to your room Omkara ji. I will go to the guest room," Gauri said making him frown.

"No need Gauri, I have asked the staff to shift your luggage into Om's room," Kalyani provided.

"Oh, but..."

"We can talk later, you both go," the elder one said and gestured Gauri to hurry up, leaving no room for argument.

The couple started to ascend the stairs leading to their room. A few more steps and they would have reached their safe sanctity when they heard them being called.

Omkara sharply turned around recognizing the voice and his wife cursed mentally. There is no way that they could avoid drama henceforth.

"Hi Omkara baby," Svetlana walked to them, a huge smile on her face.

Gauri glared at the female while her husband stood shocked.

She glanced at Gauri for a brief moment before she spoke again.

"Why wasn't I informed of your return?" she asked looking back at Rudra and Kalyani who threw imaginary daggers at her.

"Anyways, it has been long since I last saw you. Didn't you miss me?" she shifted her attention back to her favorite Oberoi.

Lifting her hand, she tried to caress his cheek when he caught her hand before it touched him. He then pushed her away, his shocked look now replaced with a condescending glare.

"Why are you here?" he asked her in a cold tone.

Svetlana sighed and fanned herself, "You look dashing when you are angry. Do you know that Omkara?"

"Why are you here?" he screamed this time taking a predatory step towards her making Gauri hold his arm.

"I can't tell you that but I can tell you who brought me here," she smirked and he knew the answer before she spelt it out.

"Tej Singh Oberoi."

"Get out," he said and she laughed.

"Omkara," Tej walked into the scene much to the annoyance of his family.

"Go to your room. You don't want to do this," he said.

"What makes you think I would listen to you Mr. Oberoi?"

"God Omkara, don't start it now."

"Who do you think you are to even act irritated at me. How dare you bring her back?"

He turned to Rudra and asked, "Is that why mom isn't coming out. Because of this man? Why am I not informed of this?"

"O, it is not..."

"What is not Rudy? Is this why you are trying to rush me to my room?"

"Yes, you are absolutely right. Now go to your room and rest," Tej said making his glare more prominent.

"I am not going to rest until you both are out of my house," he announced before he pulled at his father's hand and started walking towards the door.

Gauri worriedly followed him asking him to stop but he wouldn't listen. Rudra and Kalyani soon joined in her attempts to cease the fight but nothing could stop the angry man from dragging his parent with an intention to throw him out.

"Om, stop," he could hear his mother's angry voice from behind but his steps didn't falter.

"Omkara ji please stop, please listen to me," Gauri continued to plea and held his hand.

Blinded with anger, he pushed her away and she stumbled back, Rudra catching her intime to stop her fall.

A few steps later, Omkara's cheek stung and a slap resounded in the room. He came to an abrupt stop to see his mother beside him, her glare directed not at his opponent but at him.

Svetlana smiled victoriously enjoying the drama while the rest were distraught feeling a son's heart break.

"Mom," he mumbled.

"Leave his hand," she ordered angrily and he wordlessly left it.

"What do you think you are doing? He is your father," she said and his eyes filled with tears.

Having nothing left to say, he walked back from her and swiftly ascended the stairs to reach his room.

Gauri started to follow him but Rudra pulled her back.

"Not now Bhabhi. He is too angry, give him some time," he said and she looked worriedly at the door which closed with a loud bang.

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It was past dinner time and Rudra could no longer keep his anxious sister in law from going to his brother. When he attempted to stop, he got an earful from her making him zip his mouth shut.

With a plate of food in hand, she took doubtful steps and reached the entrance of their room. She raised her hand to knock when she noticed the slit between the doors. Realizing that he did not lock, she pushed open the doors making a creaking noise which echoed in the otherwise silent room.

The room was dimly illuminated with a narrow stream of moon light seeping through the curtains which were drawn shut.

She saw her husband's form on the floor, his back against the bed and his head leaning on the mattress as he slowly breathed. Locking the door, she kept the plate on the bedside table and went to his sleeping form.

As she passed her hand through his hair, she called him with all the love she had for him.

"Omkara ji."

His eyes slowly opened and he turned to her. The vulnerability in those orbs was unmistakable but she saw it soon turn into defiance.

"Get up, Omkara ji.. I..."

"Go from here Gauri. I don't want to talk," he said removing her hand from his cheek.

"You did not eat anything since morning," she tried to reason.

"I won't die if I do not eat for a day, please go from here."

She got up from her place but returned with the plate making him look at her in anger.

As she tore a piece of roti and dipped it in the curry, his eyes never left hers. When she brought the piece close to his mouth, he slapped her hand away and rose from his place in irritation.

"The last thing I want from anybody is pity," he yelled throwing the table clock on the floor shattering its glass.

A knock sounded on the door and Gauri heard Rudra calling out to her.

"Bhaabhi... are you okay. Come out now."

"I am okay Bhaiyya, you go and sleep."

"Open the door now," he banged on it making her sigh and get up.

"Please chulbul bhaabhi, go to your room. I will stay with O," he said once the door opened.

"No, this is my room and I want to stay here tonight," she spoke adamantly making him sigh.

"Why don't you understand..."

"Please," she said taking his hand and he nodded in give up.

"Call me, I will be in the next room," he said before he bid a bye.

She locked the door again and turned around to see her husband near the window. With the blinds now fully open and the moon light falling on his face, she could make out his features in more detail. He always looked handsome to her but with his hair open and the wind gently blowing it, she found him enchanting.

His anger was not what she was afraid of. What worried her was the sadness in his eyes which seeped out as a lone tear.

Walking near to him, she placed a hand on his arm but he didn't look at her. Instead, he moved away, hiding his face and his tears from her.

"You need to eat," she said again and pulled at his hand. This time, he complied and followed her to the recliner.

"Sit," she said and he stared at the cushioned furniture for a long time.

Sighing, she made him sit and brought the plate again. He ate the piece offered to him but then took the plate from her hands.

"I can eat," he said and she smiled nodding.

The next fifteen minutes, Gauri watched him gobble food.

"Do you want more?" she asked and he shook his head in a no.

Taking the plate, she walked out of the room only to return a few minutes back with a jug of water.

"Now what? I ate. So, you go and sleep," he ordered.

"This is my room too," she said and sat beside him with a stubborn look.

"I am not in a mood to talk Gauri," he said with a sigh.

"I didn't ask you to Omkaraji."

"Then why are you still here?"

"I just told you this is my room too. I want to sleep here," she said.

"The bed is that side," he showed her and she gave him an astonished look.

"Right, I never saw it till now," she said sarcastically and he rolled his eyes.

Next, she got up from her place and Omkara looked away, fully expecting her to do some other tactic to make him feel better.

When he didn't hear her make any sound for the next fifteen minutes, he curiously looked up and found her sitting on the bed cross legged, staring at him.

Gaining his attention, she grinned at him and he frowned.

"What?"

She shook her head in a no, then took a pillow, placed it on her lap and patted the place beside her.

How does she always manage to pull at his heart... he wondered for a minute before giving in.

As he lay on the bed with his head on her lap, he felt the misery in his body getting replaced with contentment. Her hand which passed through his hair, relieved him of the stress and her kiss on his forehead clogged his throat with emotion.

He didn't open his eyes to look at her. Otherwise, she would have noted the film of water in them.

"Omkara ji," he heard her call him in a soft caress.

"Hmm."

"You said you don't want to talk."

"Hmm."

"Will you listen?"

She saw him frown... his eyes still closed but she massaged it removing the creases.

"Hmm," he finally obliged and she smiled giving him a rewarding kiss before starting the story.

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Story kal sun lena... now go to sleep fellas...👻

Good night...😴😴😴

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Until the next update, signing off ... yours Soujanya.