The next morning,

"What did you say was his name? Did he call you Chutki?" Anika asked.

"Do you remember him jiji? Sidharth Shukla." Gauri questioned.

"I vaguely remember that name. Papa's friend who was supposed to save us that day," Anika said, her voice trembling at the recall of the morbid memory.

"Jiji," Gauri whispered and hugged her sister tight.

The sisters clung to each other to support and comfort themselves. More than a minute passed and none made an attempt to part.

"From the day I saw Papa's picture, the memories hit me like a storm Chutki," the elder one revealed.

"Ones which gave me nightmares. The ones which I tried hard to forget..."

"I am lucky that I barely remember anything except getting separated from you," said the younger one.

"You were small then but I was old enough to get them imprinted in my brain. The fire, the bare escape, our separation, everything kept me awake for years Gauri. I feel so lucky to get you back," Anika said kissing Gauri's cheek.

Her sister smiled with teary eyes.

"Bade bhaiyya might get jealous that you are giving me so many kisses," she tried to joke.

Anika laughed and nodded.

"Your husband must be sulking too, that I kept you away from him last night."

"Definitely," Gauri agreed with a smile.

"Papa would have loved Shivaay and Omkara. from wherever he is, he must be happy for us Chutki. Or should I call you Arni?"

Anika grinned when Gauri looked at her confused.

"Our mother's name was Punam. She was very fond of the moon. She pestered Dad to name you Arni which means moon," she explained.

"For that reason I like the moon and stars too. Look at my chand," she said showing her beloved bracelet.

"Arni," Gauri spelled out the name given to her by her parents.

"Yeah. Arnika is what they used to call us."

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

"Great, are we back to square one now? We don't know if the guy is Jaivardhan or Girish. How are we supposed to know what he wants out of all this drama," Karan huffed on the phone.

"I know this gets worse day by day. I asked Bhavya to get the details of both the men. We didn't get anything on Girish, maybe we might get lucky with Jaivardhan."

"Shivaay, he can even have an entirely different name for heaven sake."

"No man, please don't bring down my hopes."

Karan inhaled a lungful of breath and let it out slowly.

"Listen to me, we are going in circles. I think you should make a list of your family's enemies and see if we could link any of them to this current person."

"The list would be a never ending one, thanks to my parents."

"Not everyone really. This one must be very devastatingly affected. It should narrow down the search."

"How did you get to that conclusion?"

"He has been after your family for two decades. He wants your destruction. In that case, he must be someone your parents wronged and didn't apologise. He must be important ," Karan said and Shivaay nodded.

"I will talk to bade papa," he said.

"Not only him. Ask all the big ones including your grandmother. Facetime me when you get them alone. I will ask the questions," said Karan.

"Okay, will call you soon," said Shivaay and was about to end the call when his friend stopped him.

"What is it?" the Oberoi asked into the phone.

It was a very slim chance but Karan didn't want to miss it.

"Is your brother with you?"

"Which one?"

"The one who hates me more."

"Karan," Shivaay reprimanded, making his friend smile.

"I want to talk to Omkara first."

"What for?"

"Got an idea, I don't know if it works but we need to try."

"Cant you discuss it with me first?"

"Nope."

"What? Why?"

"Let me first talk to him Shivaay. You will know everything after that."

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

In the Oberoi study,

"What are we waiting for?" Pinky Oberoi asked her son.

"Om is talking to Karan. Once he is done, Karan will talk to us."

"Talk what?"

"About our family," Rudra answered.

Gauri and Anika exchanged glances before they diverted their attention to the worried Oberoi men.

"Bade bhaiyya, why is Karan talking to Omkara ji? I hope they are not fighting again."

"They will be okay Gauri. Om has been on the call for quite sometime and he didn't break anything in that room yet."

Anika and Jhanvi smiled as Rudra sniggered.

"True that."

"Can we get back to the main point here?" Pinky said in a grumble, unable to digest the happy banter.

"What does Karan want to talk to us?"

Rudra shook his head in disappointment again and Shivaay tried hard not to disrespect his mother.

"Daadi," he said, turning his attention to the oldest member of their family.

"Karan wants to know if we can guess the person who might have a long standing grudge on us."

"That must be quiet a handful," said Pinky and Kalyani had to agree.

"We have enemies billu. I cannot point at one."

"You can narrow down our search daadi. Try to remember."

"Yes Daadi," Rudra said.

"It might be a family member too. Do we have anyone capable of such an act?"

While Kalyani tried to remember, Gauri came up with the name.

"Daadi ji, you said you have a daughter who is not in good terms with the family right? On the day of pooja when Omkaraji and I returned with the Shiv-Parvathi idol, you mentioned her."

Pinky and Jhanvi widened their eyes while Tej and Shakti exchanged glances.

"Could it be her?" Shivaay asked his troubled grandmother.

"No billu. No matter how much we fight, we still are a family. Roop is not capable of ..."

Kalyani's words were cut short when Omkara entered the room with a phone in hand.

"Karan wants to talk," he announced loudly and switched on the loudspeaker.

"Did Shivaay brief you about the purpose of this talk?" Karan asked from the phone and the family replied in positive.

"So, let us get to the point. Do we have any new names? A long lost twin, avenging mistress or an estranged child of the house in line?"

"Shut up Karan," Shivaay chastised but informed him of the new name.

"But daadi believes that Roop bua is not that bad," Rudra added.

"What is the reason of her anger? What wrong did you do?" asked Karan.

Kalyani was about to open her mouth when Tej stopped her.

"It is not proper for outsiders to know about the family maa."

"Oh please Mr. Oberoi," Omkara shut his father down.

"Now is not the time we maintain family secrets intact. We are in serious trouble here and it needs to be solved."

"You are right Om," said Kalyani and her eldest son huffed in annoyance.

There was a moment of silence when the Oberoi seniors contemplated their thoughts.

"Well?" Karan said loudly.

"Daadi, you should tell us," Shivaay pleaded and Kalyani began the story.

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

The same day evening,

Gauri knew that her husband was upset. The story they heard from Kalyani was disturbing even for her and she could imagine her husband's dislike for his family.

When he rested his head on her lap, she instinctively massaged his head making him fall into an instant sleep.

As she gazed at the clock which chimed eight in the evening, she contemplated whether or not to wake him up.

"Omkaraji," she called him hesitantly.

"Hmmm."

"You should wake up. Maa ji will call us for dinner."

"I am not hungry Gauri. You go," he said and got up to move away from her.

With her hand pulling at his shirt, Gauri stopped him and he avoided her eyes.

"I know that you are upset but..."

"But you cannot do anything about it Gauri. Nothing can change the past and nothing can change the present. I wish I could disappear from here rather than get to know such ominous deeds of my parents."

"Omkaraji.. please."

"Roop bua was the daughter of this house. Just because she wanted to marry a low profile guy my father cast her out. How is that any human?"

"She got pregnant Omkaraji. At that time may be what they did was to..."

"Honor the family name? Is that what you are trying to tell me? Really?"

Gauri looked at the fire in her husband's eyes and shut her mouth. Nothing that she uttered will justify the family's misdeeds nor will calm him down.

"I always wondered why she harbored such hate and dislike towards us. She made sure that whenever she was in the house, the members get into a fight disturbing the peace here. Any mother separated from her child, any woman who was married against her wishes only to be widowed few years later is capable of such animosity. No wonder at all."

"I think we deserve all that we are going through Gauri. My only guilt is that I dragged you into all this. You deserve better."

"Let us not go there Omkaraji. You know that my happiness is with you. Please do not think this way," said Gauri and hugged him tight.

Omkara embraced her love and basked in the comfort.

"I really want to get you away from this Gauri."

His wife shushed him with a kiss to his cheek.

"I am serious," he insisted. "After we solve this issue, I am taking you away from here and you will come with me, wont you?"

She cupped his face and nodded her head in a yes.

"I will come wherever you take me. Just don't let the negativity clog your mind while we fight the current problem," she said.

"No matter what your parents did, punishing you, Rudy bhaiyya and bade bhaiyya for your parent's crimes is not justifiable. You did nothing wrong and you should fight against all odds for our happiness. Not only that, but we also don't know if this Girish is the one who your bua loved."

"I don't have a doubt. Every link points to him. Bhavya called us sometime back. She informed that the incident at the Maha Aarthi a year ago where a man set himself on fire has something to do with this Girish. Roop bua was a part of it as well."

Despite all efforts, Gauri couldn't hide the shiver of disgust. Omkara felt her stiffen and he tried to assure.

"I assure you Gauri. We will get that Girish or whatever his name is. We will make him confess to his crimes and repent them. If feel that mystery of your father is also related to this. Everything will be solved and once it is done, I will take you away," he promised.

Gauri nodded meekly and Omkara kissed her forehead before gathering her in his arms.

"All will be well soon," he said.

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

Pinky was in her room, her mind revisiting the incidents of the day when a knock sounded on the door.

The clock showed nine in the night.

With a frown as to who might be wanting to meet her that late, she stood up from the bed and walked to answer the door.

"I want to talk to you choti maa."

"Omkara?" she was more confused finding her nephew at the door.

"Can I come in?"

Pinky nodded and stepped away for Omkara to enter the room and locked the door behind.

"What is it that you wanted to talk?"

Omkara looked around the room in silence. It has been years since he was in the place. As a child he wouldn't dare enter and in his youth he had other problems to deal with.

"Om?"

"Chote papa?"

"He went out with your father on some investigation work. Karan asked them to come."

Omkara nodded his head.

"I want a favor choti maa. I know you can do it."

"Me? Will your wife and brothers approve it?"

"They do not know things that you know."

Pinky scoffed at him.

"Like what?"

"Give me the contact of Svetlana."

Omkara's expression turned from grim to anger while Pinky's face paled in color.

"Or better, can you arrange for a meeting choti maa? It might help us both in decreasing time and effort."

"Om, what are you saying? Why will I hve her contact? What nonsense are you suggesting?"

"Do not think you can fool me choti maa. I am barely holding on to my patience and if I hear more lies I do not think you are capable of handling my anger leash."

Pinky took a scared step back. If not anything, she is scared of her nephew's temper and she also knew that he never lied.

"I am sorry Om."

"Sorry?" Omkara whisper yelled cutting the statement off.

"You planned to separate me from Gauri. How can I forgive you for it? Do you know what she means to me?"

"I understand that."

"You don't," he screamed.

"You wantedly put in the edited video of me molesting that dratted woman. You showed it to my wife and mother in law. You gave the information to Svetlana that I was planning to propose Gauri. It was you."

"I... Om... she threatened me. I promise you that I was compelled to do it," Pinky sobbed.

"With what?"

"I put in that video out of anger. It was a one time favour from her. I agree that it was my fault to trust that woman." She said.
"I swear that I didn't contact her after that. Svetlana knew about your proposal through other sources. She only threatened me to give the exact details of the place and time. She said she will tell Shivaay what I did to you."

Omkara felt like strangling the woman but he fisted his hand and moved away, lest he took to action.

Pacing about in the room, he tried to cool himself down while his aunt continued.

"I was wrong to do what I did to you Omkara. I was only worried that if Shivaay knows, he will..."

"Gauri knew about it and yet she never told anyone. Not even to me. No matter how much you insulted her, she always respected you and this family for me. You choose to hurt such a person choti maa. I don't even know what to call you."

"I am not a bad person Omkara, I was merely helpless," Pinky cried.

"I only wanted my son to..."

"I will never ever come in Shivaay's way," Omkara yelled in response.

"I am sorry."

"I do not want your sorry anymore choti maa. Give me the number and we are done here. I don't think I can calm down if I stay here any longer."

Pinky nodded and walked to her closet to remove her other phone. Looking through the numbers, she gave her nephew what he wanted.

"One more thing," said Omkara.

"Did you also tell her that me and Gauri are together now? Do they know that we are acting?"

"No," said Pinky and he sighed in relief.

"I told them that Gauri is angry and you didn't yet return."

"Thanks for your goodness. I request you to kindly continue the act," he said before he swung around and left the room.

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

Sorry for the delay guys.

If I was busy before, I don't know what to call it now. Professional schedule is as usual hectic but getting married has been added to the personal list.

I am getting engaged in a few days.

Wish me luck ... I need all of your blessings.

I promise I will complete this fanfic no matter what.