Chapter 19 Reckoning Day

"Omkara?"

Om turned around and looked at his mother's anxiety face. He simply hugged her to assure her nothing wrong will happen. Not now, not ever. He would protect them all, maybe he had failed earlier but from now on no one would be able to hurt the people he love.

"Don't worry Mom. Today the Good will win over the evil and no one will get hurt. I won't let him harm you or Gauri but we have to provoke the lion in him. Just promise me one thing!" He cupped her face in his large hands and she saw the fear in his eyes. She knew he was scared for Gauri and their unborn child , she was too. The fear made them more cautious.

"Anything my Son."

"Please...don't let him come near Gauri in a...dangerous manner. I couldn't bear it... If she gets hurt I will die..."He managed to say and she smiled and kissed his hands. He kissed her forehead.

"She will be safe. We both will be."

He nodded and left for Office, they needed to make everything look normal. Like there wasn't anything going on.

Jhanvi turned and saw her Daughter in Law crying; listening to the conversation. Gauri knew how hurt he was, how scared he was for her.

"He loves me so much, how can I leave him? How can he live without me if I die?" She couldn't control her sobs any longer. She did not want to lose Faith that she would survive but she felt the weakness overpowering her. It was sometimes even hard to stand for long; sometimes she had difficulties in breathing as well. But how could she tell him? He didn't know about it, would never now about it. Because if he would he would be broken, he would curse himself, would try his best to save her but she can't be saved by him. Only God could save her now.

"You won't die dear. You will survive. Promise me you will fight, always! Never lose faith in your Shankarjii and what he planned for your fate." Jhanvi hugged her shaken Daughter in Law and asked her to wash her face and to rest before they would execute their plan. They needed all the strength they could have. Gauri nodded and left to take a nap.

"Today is the day of Reckoning, Tej you better pray for yourself." She sighed and left to prepare herself for the plan. They didn't have much time left.

Meanwhile in Office Tej was impatiently walking through his Office.

Slowly Omkara was distancing himself from him, he knew it. Had known it the day he had seen his son massage the feet's of his wife. The love of his son was slipping right through his fingertips, but how to keep it? How to make sure he would never choose anyone or anything over him?

Maybe If I really change? He thought for a second but then slept himself mentally for this thought. How could he fall weak? He was an Oberoi, he was a Man and no Man bowed to his enemies.

"I won't let you Win Gauri, you will pay. Maybe not now but surely one day I will snatch away your life and my son's happiness. I will take my own sweet revenge on you, you bloody Bitch."

He clinched his fists and started to plot his own way of taking his revenge on Gauri the day she would do something to expose him. He had to think fast because he knew something was cooking, he just couldn't tell what.

At the same time in the same building but in a different Office Omkara too was plotting his own sweet Revenge. He wanted his father to pay for his misdeeds and he wouldn't care for the society and what they would do the minute they would find out that He was trying to get his father behind the bars. He was fed up by the fake love and by the two-sided face of his father.

From now on they would not have any relation between them. Tej Singh Oberoi would be a Dead Man for him.

"Sir?" Khanna entered and looked at his boss. He knew today he was not in a good mood so it was safer to leave as soon as possible.

"Yes?"

"There is a call for you in the line waiting."

"Who is it? Didn't I tell you to tell whoever is calling that I was busy?" Omkara said angrily. His patience had hit the top, he felt restless. His thoughts were with Gauri and he couldn't work like that.

"It is your Wife." Khanna whispered and Omkara immediately ran to the phone to attend the call. Something must be wrong, He thought frightened.

"Why didn't you say that earlier?" He cursed his Personal Assistant and asked him to leave. He wanted to speak to his wife in privacy.

Khanna literally ran out and mumbled: "I wish Mrs. Gauri would be here, at least she could tame that furious lion."

"Ri?" Om spoke into the phone; his heart thudding in his chest.

"I am fine don't worry... Tell me is Father in Law still in the Office? "

"Yes, but he will take his leave in 10 minutes. I asked his P.A. Gauri ...Are you sure we are doing the right thing? Maybe there is some safer plan? "

"It is now or never. Sometimes we have to risk something to gain something now listen: I will call Father in Law and will tell him that you know the truth and that I have a proof. Then he will surely come to see me and will be greeted by your Mother and me. We will provoke him and the rest it up to you Baby. We will start the Revolution today; Today is the Day of Reckoning. He will pay for his sins." Gauri explained to him and was already preparing herself mentally. It was a risky plan but It needed to be done that way.

"Okay but please be careful till I reach. Take care of my Baby..."

"Your Daughter will be safe..." Gauri blushed and he could sense her smile. Wait a sec- Did she just say his Daughter?

"We are having a girl?" He asked in joy. She said yes and then heard him scream into the speaker as if he has won in the lottery.

"Thank you so much for gifting me my own little princess to cherish and to love. I love you and I will love our Daughter till the day I die. She will be spoilt by our Love." Om felt the tears in his eyes and smiled. He was having a girl; they were soon to be parents of a sweet and innocent girl. Their own princess. He knew in this instant he would pamper her, spoil her would give her everything she asks for. He would give her the world, his life if necessary.

"Okay I will hang up now. We will celebrate that later, okay? I want my daughter to come into a house in which she will have equal rights."

"We will win Gauri. I won't let my daughter be held in a cage like my sister and mother used to. I will change the house and its rules."

She smiled listening to his words. First she wanted to surprise him with the gender of their unborn baby but then she thought it would give him the power to really execute their plan. Now he had one more reason to fight for.

"Okay Baby. We will start now. See you soon and don't forget your part on our plan."

"I will be ready. See you soon."

He hung up and looked at the framed picture of him and Gauri. It was taken on their first Anniversary, he had booked a restaurant just for the two of them and then had gifted her a beautiful diamond necklace. The picture showed him hugging her from behind; both smiling into the camera.

"Tomorrow will be the first day of a new Life." He caressed the picture and kissed it.

He closed his eyes; waiting for his time to rise the curtains play.

"A Daughter it is?" Jhanvi asked smiling at Gauri and hugged her happily.

"I just found out the other day. Since I am in my 7th Month already the doctor asked me if I wanted to know the gender and I said yes. I mean now I at least know that Omkara will cherish his little princess when I die. He will spoil her, pamper her and will make her independent and strong. I want my daughter to live a carefree and tension free Life Maji."

"She will and you will raise her well, you will love her and watch her grow up but I am afraid Gauri. What if Tej does something to you? He doesn't have a heart he would harm you and your little baby. Can't we try something else?"

"No Maji. We will do it my way so now listen: You have to do everything according to our plan...He needs to be caught red handed. But Promise me one thing..."Gauri took Jhanvi's trembling hands in hers and placed them on her abdomen. Even She was afraid that something could get wrong but she was amendment too. They needed to break the chains to be free. They needed to lose to gain.

"Whatever happens in that room; promise me you will save yourself first. Don't care for me I will manage but please you need to be careful and If you see it is getting out of hand run away and go to Omkara. He will save me and our Baby." Gauri kissed her forehead and Jhanvi was speechless; her Daughter in law was so selfless yet so fierce and strong. She simply nodded; knowing the minute Tej would try to hurt Gauri she wouldn't run away like a coward. She would fight against him. She would protect her.

"Mrs.Oberoi?" Rani, their Maid, came in and handed her Tej's Coat and bag" Mr.Oberoi came back from office."

Gauri and Jhanvi looked at each other and Jhanvi asked Rani to look for Seta and to stay in the kitchen to prepare food and sweets. Rani nodded and left. Jhanvi took a deep breath and looked at her Husband's Coat.

"I will go now Maji. Remember don't be scared." Gauri smiled at her Mother in Law and walked past her to her Father in laws Study room.

Tej was sitting in his study room unaware of the events that would take place very soon and which would shake his entire empire. He heard a knock and saw the person he hated the most entering. Gauri slowly walked in playing with her dupatta end. She had tears in her eyes and almost immediately he smiled. So she was sad, good. Serves her right. If possible he would do his best to make sure she was always sad, always crying; suffering without anyone to help her.

" Gauri What an unpleasant surprise. Tell me what is wrong with you? Don't get me wrong I love your pain and tears but I want to know the reason to make them last."

On Hearing his Words Gauri tried hard not vomit and took a deep breath, she tried looking as devastated as possible.

"Omkara...he wants to divorce me because of you. He wants to throw me out the minute after my delivery...just because I tried telling him what a monster you were. He didn't listen said I was stupid and had no right to stay here longer. Please Father in Law talk to him he can't separate me from my child. I am a mother I can't live without my child. Tell him to let me stay; tell him to not separate me from my baby. No one can separate a child from its mother. Please I beg you." She approached him while talking and put her hands on her abdomen.

Tej smiled seeing her state and hearing her words. So he was wrong? his son didn't know a thing, his son was still the same. He would never choose a bloody woman over his godlike father.

With her words he felt secure in his son's love and his place in his life.

"Why should I stop him? I will be thrilled the moment he throws you bloody chit of a girl out of my house. If you have a girl I will let you take her with you but if you have an heir a boy he will stay with us and he will become just like me. Omkara is my only hope for an heir. What should I do with another granddaughter? Girls are worth nothing; they are inferior to men. They don't deserve to live. They don't deserve respect."

Gauri looked at him in utter Shock; her disgust was clearly visible on her shaken face and Tej looked at her with an untouched face. He didn't care for her. For all he cared she could be dead by tomorrow, another Girl lost wouldn't be a problem to him.

Who was he to decide who was worthy to live and who not? Gauri thought angrily and took a step towards him.

"How can you say that being a Father of a daughter yourself?

"Anika was a burden for me ever since she came into this world. If I would have known she was a girl I would have killed her in Jhanvi's womb. After her delivery I started hating my Wife, the woman I respected and loved. She broke my trust the minute she gave me a daughter as a first born. She was imperfect not worth to be treated with respect. No Woman deserves that only those who give you an heir. That day I started abusing her, started to punish her for her mistake of giving me a girl and because she had lost her worth to be treated with love." Tej turned and looked at the picture on his desk. It was a picture of him and his family when they were still kids. Omkara and Rudra were standing next to Jhanvi while he was carrying Anika . She had been so clingy always running after him; trying to gain the love he gave Omkara and Rudra, the ones who deserved to be loved. They almost looked happy in the picture but he had to remind himself they were not. His father had taught him to respect men and not woman. He had taught him how to treat your wife if she doesn't give you an heir and he did like his father used to do it. Why should he change his ways?

"Daddyji please..." Gauri came closer and touched his Shoulder. He pushed her away a smiled when she fell on the ground very hard with her abdomen. She winced in pain but did not want him to see it. Something felt wrong; Gauri touched her abdomen in pain, she could tell her little daughter had felt the pain too. Something happened to her. Something was wrong with her daughter, she needed to know she was save.

"If I could I would kill you but unfortunately I can't... but I can throw you out..!"

"Omkara wouldn't let you..."

"He will do whatever I say. He is my blood my Son. And the minute you bloody wh**e leave I will take care of Jhanvi. She shall never see a day without being beaten black and blue by me. She will realize what her attempt of changing the rules will cost her." Tej grabbed Gauri's arms and made her stand on her feet again He caressed her face and whispered: "No one will save you from my plan. I am always one step ahead. I won't let you live in peace not now not ever."

Gauri shivered in fear and looked at the door. Jhanvi slowly entered and looked at her husband manhandling her daughter in law.

"Don't touch her! You bas***d!." She said and dragged Tej away from Gauri. He turned and slapped Jhanvi hard causing her to fall on the couch. Gauri tried stopping him but he slapped her too and her head hit the desk when she lost her balance; she slithered to the ground unconscious.

"GAURI!" Jhanvi screamed and started to beat Tej with her tiny hands. She slapped him and his shock was satisfying. Her nails dug deep into his skin.

"NEVER EVER RAISE YOUR HAND ON ME AGAIN! ELSE I WILL KILL YOU, you Son of a Bitch. "She screamed for the bottom of her lungs and Tej laughed seeing her plight.

"You are weak Jhanvi you always were. No one will listen to you, will believe you. You are nothing and when the right time comes I will take my revenge for your betrayal..."

Before he could do or say more, Omkara stormed into the room and with him the police and the rest of the family. All of them had listened to the conversation Tej had with Gauri and with Jhanvi.

Immediately Tej left Jhanvi and tried to lie by saying when he came in he saw her and Gauri fighting and then she hit her head on the desk and fell unconscious.

When he left her Arm Jhanvi ran to Gauri and made her head lie in her lap. She stroked her Hair, wiped away the blood and asked her to wake up. "Please Gauri...Open your eyes."

Omkara looked at his wife and her condition and grabbed his father by his collar.

"DON'T YOU DARE LIE INTO MY FACE.I WILL GET YOU BEHIND THE BARS FOREVER FOR THREATENING MY WIFE, MY FAMILY YOU CRAZY MONSTER! You are a sick man; I want you to rot in hell."

Omkara slapped him and started to beat him almost black and blue, for a minute he forgave all the good deeds and let his anger win the upper hand.

The police made him stop and handcuffed Tej. The family members rushed into the room to treat Gauri.

"Omkara... She isn't opening her eyes." Anika had a hard time controlling her tears. After she had heard her father's words she felt pity for her mother and for herself. She had lived though she was unwanted by her father. She would never ever yearn for his love again. All these years she had tried to be the perfect daughter, had married the man he chose only to be beaten every day, only to be used for physical pleasure. She thanked God every day that she was not Married to Shivaay. He treated her like a Queen.

Like she was worth so much more than she thought she deserved.

Bhavya held Anika in her Arms with tears streaming down her face, she was shocked beyond imagination after what she just had seen and looking at her husband she knew he too was not able to realize what just happened. All this time they had never realized what was really going on.

Omkara turned on hearing Anika's voice and paled when he saw that his Wife was indeed still lying unconsciously on the floor; the blood running down her face.

Tej looked at the scene in front him as the police was trying to take him with them.

"I will come back and then you all will regret this day. I will take away your happiness once and for all. I will snatch away your most precious!".

"Anika Beta go call an Ambulance and wait for them outside. Rudra, Omkara help me put her on the couch. She fell really hard so you need to be careful with her head. Before I came in he pushed her onto the floor and she fell on her abdomen, we will have to see a gynecologist..." Jhanvi said.

"That is the reason why I asked her to be careful...Mom what if ..." He didn't dare to finish his sentence. He didn't dare to even think about it.

"No she will be fine. She is brave and believes in God. God will protect her. He always had and always will. Never lose Faith Omkara. She needs you to be strong! She needs to know you believe in her."

Half an hour later they were in the hospital. The doctors were still running some tests on Gauri especially since she was pregnant and Omkara thought about his father and his threat. He wouldn't come back, couldn't right? He was stopped for God, but then why did he feel like this was just the beginning?

"Om...The doctors said she is still unconscious." Jhanvi paled and looked at her Hands covered with Gauri's blood. They were standing outside the room since they were not allowed to see her yet.

"She will be fine...She has promised to be."

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And that's a wrap ;) If you think this is the last we saw of Tej then stay tuned for the upcoming chapters.

Will Gauri be okay? Will their Baby be Okay?