Gauri was standing near the railing of the hospital stairs. She was biting her nails to let go off the nervousness. It was the first time they were talking face to face after that fight.

Om stood behind her backfacing her. He was not nervous! That was what trying to convey through his actions. He cleared his throat to gain her attention. She turned towards him. Her eyes! The brown orbs which made his confidence vapourise in thin air. He quickly looked away from her eyes.

"Vo! I just wanted to clear something!" Om said.

"You are marrying me for Riya! That's what you wanna say right?" Gauri asked.

Om looked at her surprised.

"Yes! Lekin I don't understand why you decided to spoil your life for my daughter. You very well know that i am a father of a five year old and i love my wife very much. Still you agreed to marry me knowing that i can't be a good husband for you." Om said.

"I don't know if you can be a good husband for me or not! But i am sure that i can be a good mother for Riya. I love your daughter very much. If I can become a cure for Riyas condition, then I am ready to do this wholeheartedly." Gauri said.

Om smiled a little.

"Why do i feel like I know you already?" Om asked.

"Because you know me already!" Gauri said.

"Excuse me!"

"I mean I was working with you. So you know me." Gauri said.

"So, you are ok with this marriage?" Om asked.

"Yes!" Gauri said.

"Let me make this clear! I am marrying you for the sake of my daughter. I love my Ishu! For me you are always my daughters mother and nothing more." He said not looking into her hazel brown eyes.

"I know! I mean nothing to you and this marriage will mean nothing to you. You love Ishu and for you I will always be Riyas mother and nothing more." Gauri said and turned to the other side. She quickly wiped her tears withour him noticing.

"Thank you for understanding me Gauri." He said.

She turned to him and gave him a meek smile.

"I will always try to understand you Omkara ji!" Gauri said in her mind and walked off.

Om looked at her retreating figure with a confused face. He kept his hands on his chest and wondered.

"Why does my heart beat so rapidly when she is around me. Does she have any other connection with me?" Om thought!

...

"Bhavya! You are kidding right?" Pinky asked shocked.

"Haa! I too crazy to tell you that my dead bhabhi cheated bhai and her best friend to become his wife! That too in this situation?" Bhavya said sarcastically.

"Lekin, Ishaana was never like this! She loved Om and they both-"

"She loved Bhai! That's true but their story is not like how you and Bhai thinks!" Bhavya said.

"Bhavya! I know I shouldn't be asking this! But by any chance, did Gauri lie about this?" Pinky asked.

"Mummy! How can you speak like that? I know Gauri! She can never lie about this. In fact she could have told this to everyone. But she never did that just for Bhai and Ishaanas happiness. You shouldn't ever get such a doubt." Bhavya said.

"I know! But.... It's just that.... I can't believe Ishaana did something like this. A sweet girl like Ishaana, doing these things. It's not easy to believe Bhavya!" Pinky said.

"If you knew how Gauri was, you wouldn't have had this doubt Mummy! Ek aur baath! Don't tell this to anyone. I told you about this only because you had doubt over this topic. Don't even tell this to papa! And dont ask anything about this to Gauri." Bhavya said.

Pinky nodded. Both of them went to Riyas ward where Shakthi was sitting and talking to Riya. Soon Gauri and Omkara joined them.

"We've decided to marry each other!" Om declared.

"Really!?" Riya asked with wide eyes. Her eyes glittered with happiness.

Gauri went to her and smiled at her.

"Gauri aunty! Are you going to be my Mumma?" Riya asked.

"You want me as your Mumma right?" Gauri asked.

Riya nodded yes. Gauri smiled at her.

"Then I will be your Mumma!" Gauri said. "Only your Mumma!" She added looking towards Om.

"Thank you Gauri aunty! Thank you Dada!" Riya said cheerfully.

"Now all you illness is gone?" Om asked.

"I am happy Dada! Happiness kills all the diseases!" Riya said sheepishly.

Om smiled seeing her getting back to her older self. Bhavya went to Om.

"Thank you Bhai!" Bhavya said.

"Why are you thanking me Bhavya? I am her father! This is something which I can do for her and I am doing that. If my child is happy with this decision, then that is more important to me than my stupid ego and selfishness." Om said.

"So you are ready to give Gauri a chance in you life?" Bhavya asked.

"Yes! Just as Riyas mother." Om said.

Bhavya sighed.

"It will change soon Bhai! I know she will conquer your heart!" Bhavya thought.

"Where is Rudy?" Om asked.

"He had an urgent call and went out." Bhavya said.

Pinky was keenly observing Gauri. The way she was looking at Riya, the way she was comforting Riya, the way she looked at Om and how her face changes when Oms name take part in the conversation. She was almost convinced that what Bhavya told was right.

Shakthi noticed Pinky observing Gauri.

"Kya hua Pinky? Observing your to be bahu from now on? Planning to do the saas bahu drama?" Shakthi joked and chuckled.

But on seeing Pinkys face his smile vanished.

"Kya hua?" He asked.

"She is too good Shakthi ji! She is too good for our Om. I don't know if our Om deserves her." Pinky said.

"What are you telling Pinky?" Shakthi asked.

"Kuch nahi! I was just noticing how she was. And she is really sincere and good towards everyone." Pinky said hiding the real things which was roaming inside her mind.

...

"So it's decided?" Rudy asked.

"Haa Rudy! We are getting married." Gauri said.

"For Riya!" Rudy exclaimed.

"But I love Riya!" Gauri said.

"You do! But marrying her father for her is insanity! You are spoiling your life." Rudy said.

"It's Omkara ji! Not any random man!" Gauri said.

"What's the difference? He is the man who failed to recognise you when he claimed to love you. I would have been happy if he confessed that he loves you and then he decided to marry you. But he clearly mentioned that he is marrying you for his daughter." Rudy said.

"It's better than living my life as a moving dead body in his memories. Atleast he will be around me every day! At least I will have the label as his wife in front of the world. I am tired of running away from him Rudy. I just want to live my life with him. Even though it won't be the way I dreamed of. But still I can be around him and Riya! I sincerely love her. I can do anything for her." Gauri said.

Rudy sighed.

"I can understand Gauri! But let me tell you something, it won't be easy as you think. You will have to be around him everyday but still you will have to keep distance. He the man whome you loved and now you can't even show that love to him. You will have to see his love for his late wife who stole your position. I won't stop you from marrying him. It's your life and your decisions. I will happily take part in your marriage if you are ok with all these." Rudy said.

"I am ready Rudy! Nothing worse can happen. I've already spoiled six years of my life! Now if living with him makes my life the same, I am ok with that." Gauri said and smiled at him.

...

"Simple marriage? No bhai! Let's make it so luxurious. It's been so long that we took part in a dhamakedhaar wedding. It will be so wonderful." Bhavya said.

"Yeah Om! Without rasam, we can't consider the wedding as a wedding." Pinky said.

"We can do the rasams but why in a luxurious manner? We can make it simple and i dont have time to spend in these stupid little things. I have made it clear to you that this marriage is nothing to me. I am doing this for Riya." Om said.

"You don't have to keep repeating Om!" Pinky said making faces.

Bhavyas eyes widened seeing Gauri along with Rudy infront of the main door.

"Gauri! Rudy!" Bhavya asked shocked.

All of them turned to see Gauri and Rudy standing there.

"Oh god! Did Gauri hear what Om said? She will be hurt for sure if she heard him." Bhavya thought.

Gauri quickly covered her expression with a fake smile.

"She heard!" Pinky thought.

Pinky welcomed them inside.

"You told you will reach by 12. Why so early?" Bhavya asked nervously.

"We were able to hear what your Bhai said na?" Rudy thought.

"Vo, Rudy said he had some important work to do at 12. So he took me here now. I told him that I will inform you guys but he wasn't allowing me to do so." Gauri said.

"Kyunki your to be husband will escape if we inform about our early arrival." Rudy thought.

"Anyway it's good that you both came now. Om had some work at 12. We can select the dress now. I will go get the designs." Pinky said.

Pinky went upstairs and took the designs and came to them.

"When will Riyas class be over?" Gauri asked.

"Evening!" Bhavya said.

"You go after meeting Riya. Till then let's gossip about my son!" Pinky said excitedly.

"Mummy!" Om called in a warning tone.

Gauri pressed her lips to control her smile.

"Ok ok! Now don't start the quarell. Let's select. Gauri, you select for Bhai! And bhai, you select for Gauri." Bhavya said.

"It's her wedding dress Bhavya. Let her select hers according to her wish." Om said.

"Ok! But you simply select. If she didn't like it, she is free to change that na?" Bhavya said.

"She is right." Rudy supported.

Seeing no other options Om started looking at the designs. Gauri without looking at anyone also started looking at the designs. After a long time Gauri spoke.

"This is good!" Gauri said showing a golden sherwani.

Pinky took the design and showed it to Om. He was quiet surprised to see her selection. It was like she knew him for a long time. It would be the same if he selected the sherwaani.

"Ek minute! Bhai! Why are looking at the gowns? You were supposed to look for her wedding dress. You both are not doing any church wedding na?" Bhavya asked.

"Oh! I am sorry. I was kind of lost." Om said.

"Koi baath nahi, let him select the gown. It will be useful for the reception." Shakthi said.

"Lekin reception-"

"Reception must be there. We can't just simply marry her off to your son right? It might not be his first marriage, but it's her first marriage." Rudy said.

Rudy was highly irritated when heard what Omkara said. Gauri understood that. She held his hands to calm him down.

"I don't have any problem. Vo he is little possessive about me. Don't take it wrong." Gauri said.

"He is absolutely right. Reception must be there." Shakthi said.

"Om! Which gown did you select?" Pinky asked.

He showed the gown and Gauri meekly nodded.

"Which flowers should we use for reception?" Bhavya asked excited.

"Haa tell us Gauri. Which flowers do you like? Do you like roses?" Pinky asked.

"Actually, I don't like the smell of roses. Can we use lilies instead?" Gauri asked.

Om looked surprised at her. Few memories came to his mind listening to her.

~~~

"You are weird Miss Ajnabi! Who on earth doesn't like roses?" Om asked her through phone.

"Weird nahi! Unique. I am unique Mr Khadoos! Usually everyone like roses and am a different person! I like lilies. They are so beautiful right? The smell of roses suffocates me." His Miss Ajnabi said.

"Still you are weird Miss ajnabi! You are different from other girls." Om said.

"How many girls do you know?" She asked.

"I have a sister for God sake!" Om said.

She laughed.

"Ok so! I will buy lilies for you when we meet." Om said.

"Ok deal!" She said.

~~~

"No wonder why they are best friends. They have lot of similar tastes." Om thought. "Selection is over right? I have a meeting to attend." He said.

"But that is at 12!" Bhavya said.

"No it is preponed to 11. He needs to go. I am also going with him." Rudy said and stood up from his place.

Om looked confused at Rudy.

"Aren't you coming? We'll be late." Rudy said and walked out.

Om followed him with a confused face. He reached out and saw Rudy standing there.

"Why did you lie?" Om asked.

"Whose car will we go in?" Rudy asked without answering his question.

"I am asking you som-"

"Lets go in your car." Rudy said.

"Rudy! I am-"

"You drive! I will sit in the passenger seat." Rudy said.

"What are you-"

Before Om could say anything Rudy took the car key from Oms hand and opened the car and sat in the passenger seat. Om shook his head in disbelief went to the driving seat.

"Aren't you going to start the car?" Rudy asked.

Om started the car without saying anything.

"Why did you lie?" Om asked.

"You wanted to escape right? I helped you." Rudy said.

"Why?"

"Just thought of helping you. Is that a crime?" Rudy asked.

Om sighed.

"Where do you want to go?" Om asked.

"Somewhere! I just want to talk to you during this journey." Rudy said.

"Are you going to kill me? You sound too serious." Om joked.

"You doubt that? I can actually kill you." Rudy said.

Hearing his serious tone, Om gulped.

"Listen O! I am sure you won't understand half of what I am going to say. But eventually you will understand each and every line which I am going to say now. Just listen to me carefully." Rudy said.

Om nodded.

"I know it's not easy to accept someone else to your wife's place. I know how much you love her. She is really lucky to get such a loving man as her husband. But let me tell this, Riya is a complete stranger for Gauri. She met her just through Bhavya. Their initial meeting wasn't really good either. Still she loves Riya so much. She is ready to sacrifice her life for that little child, who is your daughter. Even if you don't want to start a family life with her, don't hurt her. And hurting her means, you may not understand you are hurting her. But your words will create affect on her." Rudy said.

"How am I suppose to know that?" Om asked.

"The way she knows you." Rudy said.

"The way she knows me?" Om asked confused.

"She understands you easily O! You don't have to do much. Just think her as how your wife was when you both used to talk through the phone and send letters to each other. Every girls are almost same in that case." Rudy said.

"I can't even imagine other girls taking her pl-"

"You didn't get me O! I am not telling you to flirt with her or talk to her like the lover boy you were. You knew how to handle that girl through the phone right? You knew her likes, dislikes, what made her sad, what made her happy, what made her angry. Right? Just do the same with Gauri. Atleast think that she is doing such a big favour to you and your daughter. It's your responsibility to keep her happy." Rudy said.

"How do you know I used to talk to Ishu through phone at first?" Om asked.

"I am your sisters boyfriend O! She told me." Rudy said.

"That's true but-"

"No ifs and buts now. Ek aur baath! it isn't necessary to repeat that dialogue again and again!" Rudy said. "I am marrying her for the sake of my daughter." Rudy said mimicking Om.

"I just want people to accept the reality and not to expect anything more from me. But I can understand what you are trying to say. Don't worry about Gauri. I will try to consider her as a friend. I will try to do what you said." Om said.

Rudy nodded.

"If you don't! Don't forget about the threat! I will kill you." Rudy said.

Om gulped. Rudy pressed his lips to stop smiling.

#OkThanksBye