"Gauri..." Omkara tried to initiate the talk.

By the time they started their journey back home, it was late night.

The nanny who worked for the Agarwal family lived at the far end of the city and it took time for her to reach the mansion. Since they could not leave the kids unattended, the couple had to stay till help arrived.

Gauri ignored him as she did during the past few hours. Pretending to be tired, she rested her head on the passenger seat of the car and closed her eyes.

Omkara sighed as he looked back towards the road.

It is past her usual bed time. She must be tired.... he told himself as he drove them to their destination.

Gauri's acting soon turned real and she slipped into a slumber leaving her husband to his own thoughts for the next hour.

A gentle kiss on her temple made her frown in her sleep. Her seat belt was loosened and a hand caressed her face.

"Gauri," she heard her husband whisper into her ears before he placed another kiss on her cheek.

Slowly she opened her eyes to look at her husband's chocolate brown orbs gazing at her lovingly.

Her treacherous heart melted into a puddle at the sight but her brain on the other hand, alerted her of the plan of action.

As he leaned to peck her, she drew her lips into a straight line instead of the slight part she would offer him to take advantage of, every other time.

Omkara, though he noted her unwillingness tried to offer a genuine smile.

"We are home," he said as he parted from her.

Gauri sat up straight in her seat and looked around to find themselves in their car parked in its usual spot outside the Mansion.

Nodding her head, she opened the car door and got down the vehicle. Without looking back, she increased her pace and walked inside her home while her husband tried to catch up.

As it was late, only a few rooms of the mansion were alight. Gauri quietly found her way to the stairs and into her room not caring for the man who was two steps behind.

"Gauri," Omkara called after he locked their room's door, getting privacy.

When she mutely opened the cupboard, took out a fresh change of clothes and was about to move away, her husband held her back.

She stared back at his wrist which locked hers in a gentle grip while he turned her to face him.

"Kuch hua tha kya?"

Her eyes travelled up to lock with his.

"Why are you looking upset?" he asked her.

She knew not what to answer.

Why is he acting ignorant? Did he take her to be a dumb wife who cannot realize her husband's turmoil?

As he raised his hand to touch her cheek, he urged again.

"What?" he whispered.

"You don't know?" she asked and he shook his head in a no.

A glare is what she rewarded him with, for the absolute lack of common sense.

"Thik hai phir, nothing happened."

"What does that mean Gauri. If anything happened, tell me what it is. What wrong did I do?"

She heaved an impatient sigh.

"Really, nothing Omkaraji. Aur agar hota bhi to aapko har harayi se samjh aa jaana chahiye na? Aap itna padhe likhe aur hoshiyaar hai."

"Agar mujhe samajh aata to mein puuchta nahi huun na. Kyun ki jaha tak mujhe pata hai, aisa kuch nahi hua, jiski vajah se tum itni upset ho. So, tell me."

"To jaane dijiye na Omkaraji. Jab aapko pata hi nahi ki kaa hua hai, kya farak padta hai ki hum kya sochte hai kya mehsuus karte hai? Kyun ki hum hum hai aur aap aap," she told him looking into his eyes.

Omkara staggered back as he mumbled, "Aap aap hai aur hum hum? Ye.. what are you saying Gauri, I...?"

"Enough Omkaraji," she yelled cutting him short.

She threw the clothes on the bed, took his hand and dragged him to the dressing table.

"Look at yourself and think if I cannot tell that something is wrong with you.
Take a look at yourself and then lie to me again that everything is absolutely fine. It is work that had put you away from me in the past few days," she growled pointing to the mirror.

Her husband who couldn't look into her eyes anymore turned away when she walked to come in front of him.

Lifting his downheld chin, she questioned him again, "Did you now understand what went wrong? Answer me."

"Gauri... I..."

"I love you Omkaraji and I respect your feelings. I tried to give you your space but now it has started to affect me. I feel as if I am an outsider to you," she said, her voice shaking with emotion.

Omkara guiltily looked at her and shook his head in a no. When he tried to open his mouth, no words came out.

"Humne aapse kabhi bhi humare liye pyaar nahi manga tha Omkaraji. Bas itni si umeed ki thi ki aap humpe thoda sa viswas kare. Par nahi, hum galat the," she said as a tear streamed down her face.

"No, Gauri. It is not that. Please don't misunderstand," he begged, worriedly cupping her face.

Though his own vision turned blurry, he tried to wipe his wife's tears.

"I am sorry. I... I just couldn't bear the thought of stooping any low in your eyes," he cried and her heart immediately sided him.

"I... I trust you Gauri, with all my heart. But I don't trust my luck. Your Shankarji has always given me pain," he sobbed.

"Omkara ji," she wiped his face and shook her head.

"How can I tell you Gauri that at one point in my life I tried to kill myself. How do I tell you that days went by unnoticed while I slept through them uncaring. Please tell me how should I tell you that I wanted to escape from my pathetic life which had a slurry mother, an unfaithful father and a taunting society."

Gauri hugged her husband tight. She began to understand that his anguish, the insecurity was so deep rooted that voicing it out should have been too painful. She could finally feel his pain because of which he ran away, every time something triggered him.

"I could not Gauri. I am sorry for that," she could hear his voice close to her ears as he clutched onto her.

Neither his art, nor his years of solitude ever gave him as much peace as he felt when he embraced his love.

"I resorted to drugs," he mumbled after a pause.

He could feel his shirt being soaked with fresh tears. Her grip on him tightened and he continued.

"They would give me a high. I need not be aware of the world collapsing around me. I thought I found a way to all my miseries."

He parted from her and cupped her face.

"I was wrong. I did not realize it until it was too late. If not for Shivaay I wouldn't have thought of a rehabilitation and if not for you I wouldn't have found a true escape to my problems."

She smiled at him as she held his hands.

"I was weak," he whispered.

"No," she strongly opposed shaking her head.

"You fought through the dark and owned your mistakes. You cannot be weak Omkaraji," she assured bringing his head close to give him a kiss.

"I am sorry that I couldn't understand your concern, that I did not give you enough time," she apologized.

"You have the right to know Gauri," he told her holding her close.

The couple grew silent taking comfort in hearing to the rhythmic beats of hearts which bleed for one another.

In the arms of love, they mutually assured themselves that they will have the other one's help, no matter what.

"Never think even for a moment that I had any reason other than guilt and shame to tell you about my past," he said truthfully.

Gauri nodded her head and kissed his hands, letting him know that she believed him.

"You need not be ashamed. I will never think any low of you Omkara ji. Humne humesha aapka izzat kiya hai aur aage bhi karenge," she assured much to his relief.

As the weight of his past was cleared off his shoulders, the constant buzz in his mind quietened. His heart found peace in the silence of the room unlike the day before when the same stillness frightened him.

Wiping his tears of solace, he stared into her hazels which always brimmed with love for him.

"You are the best thing that has happened to me Gauri," he caressed her cheek as she leaned into his touch.

"I believe in your Shankar ji now," he said with a smile.

Gauri too smiled through her tears.

"Glad," she said.

"At least I don't need to protect his idols from your anger," she quipped.

"Only because he gave you to me, I will forgive him for all the torture he put me through," he retorted.

"Hey Shankar ji," she exclaimed.

"Aap ka naam Omkara hai to aapke paas itna mahatv hoga hi aap bhagwan ko maaf karenge?" (Since your name is Omkara? You think you are so powerful to forgive God?)

"Yes," he goaded her.

"Ek jaap se dewar pe sat jaye be," she warned making him chuckle.

"Thanks for choosing me, meri Dabaang chiraiyya."

"And thank you Omkara ji for accepting me for what I am," she said.

He looked at her in disbelief for a second before he opened his mouth to remind her of the pain he caused her. His wife on the other hand guessed his move and silenced him with her next words.

"Thank oo," she cooed, as he liked it.
His smile returned to his face before he leaned to kiss her lips.

*************************************************************************************
The next morning

"Gauri, did you not stay at Mithila's home last night?" Jhanvi asked her daughter in law who was descending the stairs.

The family was sitting in the living room waiting for the breakfast call from the kitchen staff.

"No maa ji, Mithila ji's help arrived and Omkara ji came to bring me home," she explained.

Jhanvi widened her eyes and looked at Shivaay and Anika who had relieved looks on their faces.

"Finally," the mother-in-law could hear Anika's mumble.

"Oh, good. Is Omkara coming down for breakfast?" Kalyani asked.

"He is yet to wake up daadi ji. I came to get a coffee for him."

The elders looked happy and the younger ones grinned without restraint.

"Yeah, I will ask the staff to get it to your room Gauri."

"I will take it maa ji, no problem," the daughter in law replied with a sweet smile and walked towards the kitchen.

Once she was out of ear shot, Jhanvi asked Shivaay.

"Did Om listen to you at last?"

"No badi maa. I think Gauri managed to set her husband right this time."

"That should be the case right," Kalyani appreciated.

"How long will everyone help them.
They should solve their own puzzles," she said and the rest couldn't help but agree.

"Correct my brother had enough interference in his life already," Shivaay said in a taunt earning a smack from his grand mother.

"Chup billu, had I not intervened, your brother still would have been sad, unmarried and confused with life. He will be finding new ways to hurt your now sister in law."

"I agree. The marriage plan really brought out changes in the couple. Om would have taken forever to ask Gauri," Anika sided with the matriarch.

"These brothers only appear to be intelligent Anika," said Kalyani.

"In matters of love they have the IQ less than morons. If not for us ladies, who will tell them?" she said and the other two chuckled.

"Okay daadi. Defeat accepted. You are the best," Shivaay said with an eye roll.

Kalyani grinned happily while Jhanvi's thoughts veered to his son.

***********
"Omkara ji," Gauri tried to wake up her husband with a gentle shake.

Omkara frowned in his sleep before his eyes slowly took in the light.

Looking at his wife staring down at him, he gave her a charming smile.

"Good morning," he wished her and she wished him back.

"Get up, it is much later than your usual time for work," she gestured towards the wall clock which struck nine.

Omkara stretched lazily but didn't make a move to get up from the bed.

"Come on, won't you go to the studio today?"

He shook his head in a no. Moving to a side, he gestured her to sit on the bed beside him.

When she obeyed, he rolled over and placed his head on her lap.

"I don't want to go," he said and she smiled combing her hand through his hair.

"Okay, rest for today then. I will come home for lunch," she told him and he opposed her.

"You will not go anywhere. I need to sleep and you are the drug for it," he said hugging her waist tightly.

"Omkara ji, my college..." she started but stopped getting a glare from him.

"Okay, as you wish," she complied not wanting to spoil his mood for the day.

"Good," she heard her husband tell her as he snuggled close to her belly.

Positioning a pillow at the back, she adjusted her position to accommodate her husband with comfort. Not long after she started to caress his head, her husband dived into a dreamless sleep.

Clearly, the drug served its purpose.

**********************************************
Good night ... I am sleeping too.

Happy Sunday to you all. 😍😍