“Rudy… she listens to you… ask her not to go" Omkara asked his brother who glared at him.

“Why should I ask? She is your wife"

“It was not our choice Rudy… I was obligated to marry her and she stood there numb… may be she was shocked or something… I don’t know… I went with the drama not thinking that it will mean so much to her"

“Obligated??... who asked you?”

“What does that mean… I cannot let her die… those people cannot take the law into their hands”

“Right… a big fan of justice you are" Rudra said in all sarcasm when his brother sighed.

“We can discuss this later… at the moment go and stop Gauri… if she hadn’t left yet…that is" he said looking at his watch in tension.

“O… listen to me… you hated her till yesterday and even now, you don’t consider her your wife… why do you want her to stay…?”

Omkara turned his gaze away vaguely muttering “I don’t know” when his brother at him irritated with the response.

“I can understand if you cannot talk to her when you are not sure… but you can talk to me O… If I am getting into your business, I need re-assurance that I am not causing harm to that girl who I consider my Bhaabhi… give me one good reason and I will do as you tell me”

“Because I feel guilty with the way I treated her”

“Not a reason enough O"

“I want to help her out in some way or other…for… for what she has done to me"

“Go to hell with your gratitude… now stop wasting time and tell me the real damn reason” Rudra shouted making his brother sigh in defeat.

“I… I don’t know how to explain Rudy… I never even admitted this to myself" Omkara said in a whisper and Rudra calmed down nearing him, to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“Gauri… she… she pulls me towards her… I neglected the feeling thinking she is a bad habit waiting to drown me… that habit which makes you addicted to it" he said in a trance.

“But I know now that she is just a simple girl struck by bad fate. I want to know what makes me want her to be by my side… to be mine... She is a Nepenthe"

Rudra looked at Omkara with a blank look as he said “Sab kuch sir ke upar se gaya (Everything went above my head) Can you speak in an easier language?” he said and his brother rolled his eyes.

“We are poles apart Rudy… I hate lies and she doesn’t care if she lied hundreds in a day… I barely even acknowledged her presence and she is devoted to me…”

“All my life I came across woman who are lying, deceiving, greedy or characterless… Suddenly this village girl barges into my life, considers herself my wife… gives me the place of a God… all this… is… is…too hard to believe okay… It was too hard for me then… I was actually scared to believe it"

“If this pull…or whatever….is mere attraction or gratitude or else guilt on my part, I don’t want her to be stuck with damaged goods such as me only because I took pheras with her”

Rudra smiled at his brother “See… I understood now… Why do you become so emotional O?... if you like her… ask her out.. simple.. why is shaayari so important in life?”

“Rudy… just shut up okay… I am waiting for the attraction to fade off… if it…."

“What if it doesn’t?”

“Then I will ask her if she still gives me a chance to stay with her"

“And what if it fades?”

Omkara stood silent not wanting to think of the other possibility.

"What if it fades O?"

“We will be on our separate ways… we will help each other… may be just by being friends” he sighed.

Rudra scoffed “Friends… like seriously”

“Now that you know she is not going to be harmed both ways… can you go and talk to her? She must be packing…” he said in both urgency and irritation making Rudra nod before walking out.

******************************************************

“What non-sense… why will you pay us back Gauri? I always considered you my daughter… you took money for your mother under dire circumstances… no matter what my idiot son had said… it doesn’t make you a gold digger” Jhanvi said, her anger at her son clear from her tone.

“Maa ji… it is not for what he said… nor it is for what he might say… I have been hurt too many times and he threw so many accusations at me that makes me believe that...whatever I do will be below his standards… I do not care for his thoughts anymore” Gauri said in a calm tone making Jhanvi dumbly stare at her.

What did her son do this time that he managed to put a dent in this strong soul?

The fact that Omkara doesn’t matter anymore to Gauri, began to worry her…

What made her step back from a person whom she had considered her everything?

“This is not for him.. this is for me… I don’t want to be in debt of anything” she said firmly.

“Gauri… you… what do you mean by that? You still consider him your husband… don’t you?”

“No… he is not”

“Gauri… Omkara must have…” Jhanvi started when Gauri stopped her speaking in a sharp tone.

“No matter what you say… I will not change my decision maa ji”

“Beta please…”

“When you don’t get respect from a relationship, you should stand up for yourself and step back… hum padhe likhe nahi hai iska ee matlab nahi hai ki humko jo bhi bola jaye… hum sehte rahenge… (I am not a literate… that doesn’t mean I have to shut up no matter what is being thrown at me). It is over maa ji”

“I will stay here only as your help… to may be try and bring some life back to his heart which he had stoned,…because we know he is not the heartless man who doesn’t know how to love"
Jhanvi nodded her head as Gauri continued.

“But my wait is finite… I will stay only until I repay you… if he becomes better till then, it is good but if he doesn’t, then it is not my job to serve him for life… I am not a psychologist nor a psychiatrist”

God…Om…what the hell did you do… Jhanvi screamed mentally. No… she has to intervene before things get out of hand… she determined.

“How do you plan to repay me Gauri?”

“I can do all the household work maa ji… I can stich.. you can tell me…”

“Your mother’s treatment costed fifty lakhs… How much time do you think you will take to pay that amount by doing household work?” she asked cursing herself for her unempathetic tone.

Gauri stared at the woman in shock… Fifty lakhs? How was she supposed to get out of here? But the doctor said….

“You should study and start working in my company… I will give you a job if you at least pass your metric” Jhanvi said bringing her out of her thoughts.

“But.. now?”

“I will ask Shivaay to make arrangements… you can work here in the meanwhile”

“Thank you so much maa ji”

“No… I am thankful to you Gauri… thanks for agreeing to stay on my word”

“I will stay in the servant quarters till then”

“No you won’t” the elder woman denied her.

“You will stay in the guest room beside the pool… close to Anika’s room"

“But….”

“I will not hear a no Gauri… you are staying because I asked you to..  and it is my responsibility to see that you are comfortable… and for the nth time… you are not a mere servant for me"

************************************************************************************************
“I agree to your conditions Gauri… I promise I will not stop you… but….” Rudra heard her mother say when he barged into his brother’s room and stopped in his tracks.

“What conditions?” he asked in a reflex making the women turn to him in shock.

“Rudra… why didn’t you knock before entering” Jhanvi scolded her son and he mumbled a sorry.

When he turned and saw the packed bags on the bed, he rushed to the younger woman.

“Bhabhi… please don’t go.. I will have my brother apologize to you… please stay” he said taking her hand in his.

“Rudy bhaiyya…I ….”

“Please… you consider me your brother right.. I am asking you as your bhai… Don’t go Bhabhi… I am sure there must be something between you two that O wants you here… don’t say no”

Gauri opened her mouth when Rudra bet her to it “First say a yes…otherwise don’t open your mouth… I am not going to let you go” he said tightly gripping her hands and she sighed with a smile.

“Okay… I will stay” she said bringing out a jubiliant smile on Rudra’s face.

“But only if you start calling me Gauri… not Bhabhi”

“What? Why?”

“That or I am going bhaiyaa… you decide” he said leaving no room for arguments and Rudra muttered an okay.

“Rudy… did Omkara send you here?” Jhanvi asked with hope.

When her youngest son nodded a yes, a smile bloomed on her face “He should have come here himself…”

“He would have… but he said bhaabhi… I mean Gauri will not listen… he tried yesterday” Rudra sided his brother and Jhanvi looked at Gauri who nodded in confirmation.

“Okay… she said she will stay… go and tell your brother that news.. I still need to talk to her” Jhanvi ordered.

Rudra nodded and left not before happily hugging the girl his brother has started to like... he was sure things would improve if given a chance.
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Signing off... yours Soujanya