"You shouldn't have lied Bhabhi" Omkara said in disappointment.

"But what do I do? He cornered me and asked about my fiance... I just had to lie... I cannot let him get to know the truth... it was sheer luck that he did not get to it yet"

"Now from where you expect we bring this Vikram Rathore?"

"Let us ask Prabhu deva" Rudra supplied.

"What?? Who is he now... ?"

"Are he was the director of Rowdy Rathore O..... you do not know?? He..."

"Yeah... I know... what a block buster song... it has.. dhadhang dhang .. de..." Anika joined her brother-in-law who was about to perform a step, and Omkara lost his cool.

"Urghhhh... shut up Rudy... itna important baat chal raha hai and you two...." he shouted making them stop in fear taking a step back.

"Why are you screaming?? Vikram Rathod... is.."

"No... don't even think of starting it again..."

"Anika bhabhi... don't you think this person here is getting a bit too frustrated by the day??" Rudra asked.

"I agree Rudy... perhaps the fact that Gauri shifted out of his room must be poking his ego right??"

"Exactly... bhabhi... from the moment he got to know of it in the morning, he has been cranky... shouldn't he be relieved that he got his 'space' for which he is a big fan"

"That's what... why are you not happy Omkara... Do you want me to talk to Gauri?"

"What makes you think she will listen to you?" came the unexpected response making her gasp out loud.

"Matlab kyaa?? If you know she'd agree... you want me to talk?"

"I did not say that... and we are deviating... we should focus on Gauri..."

"Kyaa? (What)" Rudra and Anika chorused.

"Umm...mera matlab hai... we should focus on bringing Vikram here..."

"Hmmm... let me bring Gauri here... "said Rudra making the rest look at him in question.

"What? She gives nice ideas"

"No... I know that but...why are you calling her Gauri?" Anika voiced her doubt.

"She asked me not to call her bhaabhi" came the answer making Anika surprisedly turn to Omkara who avoided her eyes.

"She won't come" she said after a minute, making the brothers exchange a look.

"Why?"

"Yesterday, I was about to tell her why I had to leave Shivaay and she said she doesn't want to know anything about my family... I did not give it much thought then... Now I know what she was saying" she sighed feeling sad for her eldest brother-in-law.

A tense silence followed when the brothers tried to absorb the fact that Gauri was distancing herself from them wantedly and that she no longer considered herself a part of their family.

Seems like Shivaay was not the only one who was late to realize his mistakes.... Oberoi men as a clan were dimwits when it came to relationships.... Anika thought grimly.

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"Clear those bottles from my room" Jhanvi ordered some of the staff and they obeyed walking towards the mini bar.

"Badi maa... did you call me?" Shivaay asked as he entered her room, his eyes wandering over the cleaning activity inside the room.

"Yes Shivaay. I want you to make arrangements for Gauri to study her tenth and then maybe college."

"Ohhh... ?"

"I could have asked anyone to do the work but I know if you take this up... I need not worry for my daughter in law"

"Everything alright Badi maa?"

Jhanvi shook her head giving him a grim look "No... Gauri was about to leave the mansion ... she had no plan to return"

"What?"

"Your brother messed up again" she said and Shivaay closed his eyes, tiredly rubbing his forehead.

"Just the day before, she was asking me how to bring his inspiration back... she seemed so hopeful... whatever happened after that?" he wondered loudly and Jhanvi sighed.

"Nothing ever came easily to my son Shivaay... he always struggled even for the simplest of the things... which were his right" she said walking to the couch and taking a seat as she asked him to settle beside her.

"A father's support, a mother's attention,... a smooth career and now a love filled marriage... nothing was given to him...though he was worth everything" she said her voice filled with bitterness of the truth.

"Badi maa..."

"I failed him Shivaay... as a mother I wasn't strong enough" she said her eyes turning misty.

"It is okay Badi maa... it was not your fault"

"No... it is my fault... I did not stand up and ask for my rights when I was treated like trash... Instead of staying strong for my children I burdened them with my weakness... To them, I was a fragile doll who cannot survive without their father"

"Today when my daughter in law called my son a heartless man, I realized what my weakness turned him into... when she talked about self-worth and respect in a relationship, I realized how I should have been when faced with the same problem sometime back" she said in guilt.

"I should have realized it when Om was ready to marry his father's mistress for keeping my marriage. I should have given him a slap then for being self-destructive... to bring him back to senses... It was my mistake Shivaay" she said looking at him when the former placed a comforting hand over her shoulder.

"Gauri is a no body... she served him as a servant.. she was not even given the respect of being his wife, though she deserved it completely. If she was ready to stake herself to save my son and put her life on hold for his good... why can't I at least try to bring the life back to my son?.. I am his mother"

"It is time that I right things Shivaay... I have done him enough damage.. I cannot make him lose the one woman who loved him unconditionally... No..." she said with a determination and Shivaay smiled getting a glimpse of the confidant woman his grandmother told him about.

"I need your help to bring my Om back... that Good son whom I lost in the hands of a deceiving devil"

"I will do anything for my brother and you Badi maa... you just need to order" he said hugging her and she smiled into the hug.

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

"Aapne bola than aapki inspiration... barish ki bunde hai.. badaloon mein chalna...."

Her voice melodic and soothing, still echoed in his ears...

"Aaj Gauri Sharma apne sawalon ke jawab nahi jayegi... aur agar chali gayi.. to phir nahi ayegi"

The pain, the anguish and the anger in her tone... it was as clear as daylight... how could he miss it... Omkara closed his eyes in regret as he walked through the garden.

Did she give up? Did he not matter to her anymore? What if he really lost her? ... hundreds of questions attacked him left right and centre making him feel suffocated. He took another lungful of air and let his mind numb for a minute or two, basking in the fresh breeze of the evening.

"Please let me inside... my name is Dandi... I just want to know if Gauri is here" he heard a man plead with the security and curious walked in the direction.

"Sir... you are not allowed inside... we need an ID card atleast to..."

"I forgot to bring one with me.. please call her and ask for yourself" the guy asked again.

"Security... leave him" Omkara ordered and the man turned to him in hope... but the moment he recognized him the emotion changed to anger.

"Umm... you are?"

"Of course, you don't know me Mr. Oberoi... but I know so much about you.... Are you not the one who has a blindfold of mistrust tied to your eyes all days?"

Omkara looked at the security who were watching the intruder with a frown "Khanna... call Gauri and tell her that she has a visitor" he said and turned to the man who seemed to have some grudge against him.

"Please come inside"

"I don't want to step inside a house which treats woman like objects of abuse... where is Gauri?" Dandi hollered.

"You are Gauri's friend?"

"Oh yeah... I need to give my introduction... I am Dandi... Gauri is not my friend.. she is like my little sister... I thought it is necessary to tell this because who knows if given a chance, you might even bad mouth our relation" he said in disgust.

"See Mr. Dandi..."

"It is you who should start seeing things Mr. Oberoi... I have known her only for a few days but in that short time I understood how nice a human being she is... You stayed with her for months and yet failed to realize her worth... I pity you"

"Is your brain even in a state of function? You believed a man like Kaali and thought my sister was a gold digger?"

"My Omkaraji is a good-hearted man... my Omkaraji is god.... She never used to tire speaking your praises.. and you....? Where is she.. did you throw her out again? She called me last night to ask for help and her phone was not reachable from morning... what did you do this time?"

"I understand your concern... Gauri is..."

"Concern... my only concern at this moment is to take her away from you... please don't mind me saying this but there isn't much difference between you and that Kaali.. both have humiliated her and both have made her life a living hell... in fact I feel...you are far worse because..."

"Dandi bhaiyya..." Gauri's voice made the two men turn in her direction. Dandi rushed to her asking if she was alright while she apologised for not realizing that she needed to inform him of her change in decision.

"What? Why do you want to stay here sister? No... come with me... I got a new job in the drama company.. I will introduce you to the manager.. he is a good man... you will get a job too"

"Bhaiyya... please calm down... aap"

"Wait a moment is someone threatening you?" he said turning to Omkara with a glare.

"Excuse me" said Omkara and left the place his efforts to get some peace going down the drain, his mind filled with new accusations of Gauri's friend-brother.

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Vote and comment...

This is an early update... an exception... please do not expect another update till the next weekend...

By the way I was watching old episodes to get ideas to write and I came across this good for nothing Jhanvi-Swetlana-bhoot Tej track... 😂😂
What was the purpose of that thing??

I want to know how these two women teamed up.

Love you all...

Signing off... yours Soujanya.