There was a smile on every face in the mansion today. All because of a good news from her side. A little surprise that she gave to the members of her family this morning “I am expecting” was all she said to the two other bahus of the mansion. She knew Omkara knew it all, because according to him, he could read his face, and yes he did. He recognised the time she came out of the checkup room, even before the doctor could say anything “I am really happy” she remembers the big smile that lingered on his lips reaching his eyes. He got it even before the doctor herself could announce.

Omkara saw her from the start of the time she reached the door of the hospital gate. He knew something has happened but ultimately confirmation was all he was waiting for. But when she stepped out of the doctors check up room blushing, he needed no proves to get the things correct. His heart was filled with joy, he wanted to stand and jump, dance, shout and announce the whole world that he was also going to be  blessed with a very precious little surprise. His own little gift from the Almighty. The reason for him and his Gauri to be even more happy. Right now his happiness knew no bounds. With his brothers knowing it, Rudra immediately started dancing and after a few seconds of sudden shock recovery Shivaay too joined him throwing his tie and shoes, getting a glare from Annika, to which he chuckled. 

But what he also noticed that she was not looking that happy. And he knew it was not at all the worry of this stage. It was something different, totally different from what he could think. He knew her well enough to recognise that she was sad on something that can’t be handled. Because his chirraiya was good enough to handle everything that can be in this wide world. But she was distant, smiling only a small amount with no sparkle in her eyes. He knew she was happy, but that happiness was down, covered with something he wasn’t aware of. “Go to your room and take rest beta” he heard his mother say and saw her lips pressed in a small smile which didn’t reach her eyes.

Gauri was happy, to know that very soon she too will have her own bundle of joy, filled her heart with lots of happiness and excitement. It was not like she was not happy. But right now, going to be a parent, her thoughts immediately ran to something she had lacked for her life. Her father…

Ungli pakad ke tune

Chalna sikhaya tha na

Dehleez oonchi hai ye, paar karaa de

How she wished he was here, right next to her. So that she could keep her head on his shoulders and tell him this good news. How she wished he was here, near her so that she could complain him about his husband forcing her to eat even if she was not willing to. How she wished he was here, so that she could tell him about everything she felt. Everything was here, every happiness she had wished for, everything she could have asked for. Except him, except her father…

Baba main teri mallika

Tukda hoon tere dil ka

Ikk baar phir se dehleez paar karaa de

She slowly dragged her fingers on the frame which had her, her jiji and her father. “Baba” was all that came out of her chocked breath. She saw a tear drop falling on the glass frame. She wiped it, to see his face clearly “Mubarak ho baba, aap nana banne wale hain” she said bringing the frame near her face as she kissed it. “I miss you baba” and she hugged the frame shutting her eyes tightly, letting the sobs escape.

Mudke na dekho dilbaro

Dilbaro…

Mudke na dekho dilbaro

All she had were some faded memories with her father. All she remembered was his face laughing widely when she used to pout after doing something. Being very small at the time she lost him, she could not even remember anything that properly. Annika at least had some clear memories, but she was too small to remember that much. “I wish you were here baba. Kaash aap yahan hote, humare paas” spoke her choking voice.

Omkara stood near the door hiding behind the door, in order to not to interrupt her. He didn’t wanted her to sense him anyhow. Seeing her broke his heart and knowing it was somewhere his family involved in those tears, cracked his heart even more. He thought he only was the one who was unlucky in terms of parents, but right now seeing her in front of her crying for her dead father cleared all the other things. All he wanted to get her smile, get her happy like he saw her the first day. All he wanted was the sparkle in her eyes that are his light. The smile on her face, that is his life

He opened the door and entered the room “chalein” he saw her wiping her tears as fast as she could. “Kahan” she asked turning to him. “Arrey, let’s celebrate, after all I am going to be a father now” he sat beside her. “So, tell me… Where should we go?” he asked her masking his voice with excitement. “I don’t know” was all that she said. “Ummmm… How about chaupati? Eating and walking?” he saw her smiling still which didn’t reach her ears. “Let me change then” she got up when she felt him holding her wrist. “No need, you look beautiful as it is. Let’s go” he said taking her, walking out of the mansion as they drove the car off.  

Reaching the beach, she saw a lot of people surrounding the place; playing, running, walking, drenching themselves, eating and what not. The place was full of life. But what caught his attention was a little girl on his father’s back keeping her hand across his hand, clinging to her father tightly as her father purchased ‘gola’ for her and gave it. She was discreetly looking at the view where the girl was eating the gola and her father was smiling even if most of the drops fell on his shirt making it dirty.

“Gauri voh..” he turned to her looking into the direction feeling what she must be thinking. “Gauri” he called her making her face him. “How cute they are. You know what Omkaraji. I don’t even remember if I and baba had any such moments too” her smile dropped. “I was too small to remember anything” her head went down as he knew she was hiding her tears.

“Climb it up” he said looking at the bench they were sitting on. “What?” she asked in confusion. “Arrey climb it up and no questions… Please” he pouted making her chuckle. “Okay okay” saying this she climbed up the bench with him helping her to. Suddenly he felt him lifting her through his back facing her. “Omkaraji” she said shocked. “What? Let’s roll around” and he started walking as she held her hands tightly over his back. 

Mere dilbaro…

Barfein galengi phir se

Mere dilbaro…

Fasalein pakengi phir se

At first he took her to her favourite paani Puri stall and placed her down. He ordered a plate of her favourite spicy paani Puri as the vendor started preparing it. She was about to take it when “a..aan… My treat” he held the plate and taking the food in his hand he fed her. One after the other before she resisted them. Again he held her the same way, on his back, and started moving. He purchased her gola and gave her to eat. “But your shirt?” she asked. “Who cares, I have lots” he said as she chuckled and they shared the gola.

Tere paaon ke tale

Meri dua chalein

Duaa meri chalein…

They roamed around the whole place in the same way and not once did he complaint. They laughed, ate a lot, chatted roaming on the sand there. Suddenly she saw a horse ride merry go round and he walked to it as if sensing her. “Arey, I am not a kid to sit on it” she complained. “Who told you to sit. I want my child to sit and as she is in you, you have to sit” she knew he was making excuses. “And how do you know if it is she?” she raised a bow. “Father instincts… No more questions” he purchased the tickets and helped her to sit. “Par Omkaraji…” he cuts her “no par.. Just sit” and he moved back. Not once did his eyes leave her as she kept on moving round along the ride, laughing and feeling the air alongside her. She felt life blooming like a flower and finally he saw the smile. A smile with the sparkling eyes. A smile which reached her eyes.

Ungli pakad ke tune

Chalna sikhaya tha na

Dehleez oochi hai ye, paar kara de

“No, I am not” she refused to sit on his back as she knew it would hurt. “Let’s just walk” she entwined her fingers in his as they started moving. They walked in a pleasant silence just as both of them loved it. 

Baba main teri mallika

Tukda hoon tere dil ka

Ek baar phir se dehleez paar kara de

“So mr father, how do you know it will be a girl?” she asked him. “Because I know it. I feel it. I don’t know, but I always wanted a daughter only Gauri. I always wanted a princess. And as you said that day, how pleasant it would be to see her run to me calling ‘papa’ and I would pick her up in my arms. How I would play with her destroying the whole room and you would shout on us and she will hide behind me” she mock-glared at him. “Really?” she raised a bow. “Really” he answered back. And after some time he took her home realising that her feet might hurt.

She changed into her night wear and slept beside her. He placed a hand beneath her head bringing her head on his shoulder as he kept one hand lightly on her belly. “I love you Omkaraji” she said hugging her tightly dipping her head in his embrace. “I love you too Gauri” he said fighting the grip, but not much to hurt her. 

“Shukriya baba” she said in her mind drifting into the most peaceful embrace she was blessed with in her life, her Omkaraji.

Mudke na dekho dilbaro

Dilbaro…

Mudke na dekho dilbaro

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