Gauri's friends collectively decided that she needed to come out of the room and get some change of place. Mithila offered to take her to their mansion since Gauri was close to the kids and they might take her mind off the disturbing event.

To everyone's relief, Diya and Akhil served as effective therapy for Gauri. The innocence of the toddler combined with naughtiness of the elder sister worked wonders in improving her mood. She slept through the night hugging the kids and they clung to her like baby bears making her sleep free of the scaring images.

Determined to push the incident to the back of her mind, Gauri decided to spend the coming days with the kids until her husband returned home.

With much hesitation, she called her mother in law to ask her permission. Jhanvi, who thought that her daughter in law was missing her husband and wanted a distraction, readily agreed to the arrangement reassuring that Omkara will return soon and get her back.

It was an early evening, two days after the unpleasant event and Mithila was yet to come home from the college. Gauri and Akhil lazed around the terrace swimming pool while Diya being an energy ball played hopscotch alone.

"Gauri," she shouted again.

"Get up and play with me," she called out as she panted.

Gauri, who laid back on the beach chair with Akhil hugging her and fast asleep, lazily opened her eyes.

"I am bored playing alone," Diya said stopping her game and running to her side.

Gauri gently sat upright, taking care not to awaken the sleeping handsome.

"Aku is sleeping Diya. We will play right after your mother comes," she smiled at the pampered kid.

Diya looked at her watch with a frown.

"Mom should have come home by now. Why is she late?"

No longer did she say those words, they heard their car sound a horn as it entered the Mansion gate.

"Mom is here," Diya screamed making her brother frown in his sleep.

"Shh, you are waking him up," Gauri rebuked and Diya zipped her mouth shut.

"Come, let us go down to greet her," she said in a whisper and the little girl nodded her head. Turning around, she ran down the stairs while Gauri slowly stood up cradling the little boy to her chest.

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

The first thing Omkara did after reaching Oberoi mansion was to go straight to his room in search of his wife.

He barely spoke to her in the past two days owing to his busy schedule and his wife's secret rehearsals. Determined to give her a warm hug and a much needed miss you kiss, he called out to her.

"Gauri," he searched in his sister-in-law's room when he didn't find his wife in his bedroom.

A house help was taking coffee to one of the rooms and he stopped her to ask for information.

"Didn't Gauri come home yet?"

"No sir," came the reply and he gave a disappointed nod.

"Omkara, you came in early," he heard his aunt's voice and turned around to look at her walking towards him.

"Choti maa," he greeted and she smiled back.

"When did you come?"

"Just a few minutes back."

"Okay, should I ask someone to send you anything? A coffee perhaps?"

"Uh, no. I am good. When is Gauri coming home, any idea?"

Pinky gasped with her dramatic 'Oh my maata.'

"Didn't she tell you that she isn't coming home these days?"

"What?"

"Great, what a good mannered wife. She stays with her friends for days while her husband goes for work and she doesn't have the courtesy to inform."

"Choti maa, stop the drama and come to the point. Didn't she come home yesterday?"

"Yes and also the day before. It seems that she is the mood to chill," she said making a face.

Omkara frowned at her tone but didn't want to prolong the conversation.

"Which friend? Mithila or Himani?" he asked instead.

"She might be with either of the two or with her favorite professor. What was his name again?"

"CHOTI MAA," he screamed and she smirked, happy with his response.

"I was just saying Omkara. Shouldn't you be more careful with her? She is ...."

"Stop right there Choti maa or I do not know what I would do," he gave her a fair warning.

"What is happening here?" Kalyani walked towards them hearing her grandson shout.

"Nothing mummy ji. I was just advising Omkara that he should put his wife under control. See, he goes out for work and she doesn't inform him as to where she goes," she taunted.

"Chup kar Pinky. The poor child barely ever steps out of the house. What is your problem if she goes and stays with her friend for a few days?" the elder one scolded.

"What magic spell did she cast on you all that you are not able to see through her mask? I do not want Omkara to be hurt again. After all he is his mother's son. Naïve and ..."

"Enough," Kalyani cut her rubbish.

"Om, Jhanvi told me that Gauri is with Mithila. You go and get her home," she said.

Giving a glare to Shivaay's mother, Omkara marched away from the place.

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

"You should have let her play with me for some time Mithila ji," Gauri told her friend.

"I am sure she has irritated the hell out of you since morning, especially that I am not here to pry her away," Mithila replied with a smile.

"That's too harsh. It is not her fault that she wants to play all the time. She just has so much liveliness in her that she keeps spreading."

"You are too patient Gauri."

Her friend gave a small smile.

"Or I need all the distraction that she provides," she mumbled.

Mithila's heart went out for the girl who grew to be like a sister she never had. No one deserved such a fate.

She gently squeezed her shoulder in reassurance.

"You will be okay Gauri. With or without Diya."

"Of course, I will be. I just need to get back home."

"Oh," Mithila said with surprise.

"Do you want to go to your place? The driver didn't go yet, he can drop you..."

"For me home is not a place Mithila ji. It is a person," Gauri said and her friend grinned.

"Aww, now it get it."

"I am missing him," Gauri said making the other one chuckle.

"You re avoiding his calls. First talk to him properly Gauri."

"He will know that I am not alright."

"Then he should know that you are not alright Gauri. I am not in support of your decision to keep things from him like this."

"I will tell him Mithila ji. When I know that his anger has curbed down. We are happy now. I don't want my married life to have any glitches. That day..." she paused a bit and closed her eyes trying not to remember the incident.

"It was just a mishap because of my negligence and nothing else. I do not want it to be anything more than that."

Mithila sighed helplessly. She knew that no matter how much she tried, her friend would stubbornly cling to non-logic.

"Okay, I still will advise you to think it over."

Not wanting to outrightly refuse, Gauri merely nodded her head when she heard her name being called from a distance.

Not long after she recognized the voice and ran in the direction.

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

Omkara was welcomed into the Agarwal mansion by the staff who knew him well by then. They also informed him that his wife was upstairs with the lady of the house. He began to call her name and had just ascended the staircase when he saw her coming out of Mithila's room.

He stood at his place and smiled at her while she walked towards him with a similar smile. Running the last few steps, she threw herself at him and he caught her midair. Hugging her tight, he spun her around making her laugh merrily.

Happy with the initial greeting, Omkara put her back on the ground but didn't yet part from the hug. Twisting his head to her side, he kissed her neck as he murmured, "I missed you."

Gauri furiously wiped her tears which wouldn't stop even with effort. It would mean less if she only told him that she missed him but she said it anyways.

Parting from her, he cupped her face which had faint traces of tears.

"Hey, it is okay. I am here," he said.

His wife nodded her head with a bright smile.

"Now, I will be okay," she said and tiptoed to brush her lips with his.

Omkara was surprised by his wife's public display of affection but he thought it was because she was too happy to see him. Nevertheless, he decided to have some fun.

"Haww, what will Mithila ji think. Look, she is watching with an open mouth," he jested and she widened her eyes to check behind her.

When she heard his laughter, she turned back to him with pout.

Giving her a peck, he hugged her to him and she was not the one to complain. She closed her eyes in bliss and tightened the hug, pressing her cheek to his chest. As much as possible, she tried to soak in his presence, fill her lungs with his musky essence.

In his arms, she felt home, she felt safe and no worry of the world can dampen her happiness when she had him on her side... she thought as a happy tear slid down her face.

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I know this is not much but you will have to do with it. Between not updating at all and updating a smaller chapter I choose the latter because I know that some might be waiting for it.

Love you lots.❤❤

Signing off.. yours Soujanya.👻