Chapter 23 Hush Little Baby

4 years later

"Neela Omkara Singh Oberoi stop your Nautanki! I know that you did it." Kavya looked at her little cousin and tried to sound stern.

 Since she was the elder one she had to teach Neela how to behave.

Neela, who looked exactly liked her father except from her hazel eyes, 

smiled and hugged Kavya.

"Ar re Kavya Didi I didn't do it. I swear. I haven't touched your chocolate..."

 her eyes darted away and she tried to hide her giggle. 

Kavya smiled against her will and gave her 3 year old cousin a kiss.

"Okay I will not yell at you or scold you. Now let me go I have to do my homework and then meet my friend. We will play later."

 Neela nodded and Kavya walked into her bedroom.

She looked at the picture of their family and caressed Gauri's face.

 Her Chachi truly was a beautiful, kind and warm hearted woman.

"She is truly like you Gauri Chachi."

"Baba...you promised me we would go out and play." 

Neela ran into her father's arms and kissed his hairy cheek. She giggled and he smiled hearing her laugh. It sounded like Gauri was laughing. 

Her doe like Hazel eyes looked into his dark brown ones and he saw Gauri in his Daughter; their daughter.

"Well my dearest Baby I have some pending work to finish but I promise after that we can play. Why don't you play with your Grandma while I finish my work?"

Neela nodded and asked her father to complete his work as soon as possible because she had missed him very much.

"Alright my drama queen I will." He kissed her forehead and asked his mother to play with her for a while. With a smile Jhanvi took her granddaughter and they played some games.

Omkara slowly walked back into his bedroom and looked around. 

He had no Idea where he had placed his files the last time and started to search for them.

"Gosh... Without Gauri I am totally lost", he sighed and finally found his files under a bunch of sarees. 

Women and their sarees.

"Rani... These are Gauri's Sarees; please keep them in the cupboard."

He sat down in his study room and let himself relax a bit.

 Having a 3-year-old daughter and being the CEO of a company and the owner of an Art Gallery was a challenging task but he loved each bit of it. 

Being a Father was everything he ever wanted to be. Without her he would have drowned in his sorrow, his grief.

His Daughter was truly an angel send gift and he thanked all the gods for giving him her. He remembered the day she was born, the day their lives have been changed.

"Mr. Oberoi your wife..."

Before Dr. Sharma could utter a word she was called in again. The patient had a ventricular fibrillation and she was needed inside.

Omkara fell on his knees and prayed to God even harder. For the first in a very long time he hoped that God would hear his prayers. Would listen.

"NO, NO, NO! She won't leave me...I know her...she won't...:"

Anika kneeled down too and hugger her brother. "She will stay with you Omkara. She will."

"I am afraid that if she leaves me I have nothing left to live for...nothing here to keep me alive."

As if she understood his words Neela began crying. 

When Kalindi, Jhanvi and Anika were not able to pacify her Omkara took his daughter and kissed her eyes. 

 Her cry turned into sobs and she held his finger tightly.

"I am sorry dearest Baby. I have you...you are worth living. 

Sorry that I forgot that for a Moment." He held his daughter closer to his Heart and within seconds she fell asleep, clutching his T-shirt in her little fists. She was strong, a fighter. Just like her mother, he thought.

"Omkara? I need you to sign on this project," Rudra entered the room and brought Om back into the present time. As always he tended to get lost in the past.

"Yeah sure come in. What is it about?" 

He looked through the file and saw that is was about their expanding business and offices in Singapore. "Gauri always wanted to visit Singapore.

 I told her we could go as soon as Neela would be born." Omkara smiled at his Brother who had a hard time to smile back. 

Ever since that day their Life hasn't been the same. He knew it and Om knew it too. Nothing would be the same.

"Anything else?" Om started to go through his files again. Rudra shook his head, he knew he should leave his brother alone.

"No that was it. Nothing left to sign." Rudra turned and sighed. His brother was truly a survivor, in front of his daughter he managed to smile but whenever alone his true feelings came out.

Omkara finished his work and looked at his watch. He stood up and walked into the living room. His Daughter was being fed by his Mother lovingly.

"Hey my little Baby. Is the food good?" He sat down beside both of them and smiled when his daughter fed him. 

She smiled when he bit her lightly and told her Grandma that her daddy was as much a drama queen as she was. 

Omkara and Jhanvi laughed and kissed Neela. She giggled when she felt Om's beard.

"Neela!" All of them turned around and saw Boy of 2 and a half Year walking towards them. 

Neela stood up and walked toward her little cousin Aditya. He was the second child of Rudra and Bhavya. 

Soon after Neela's Birth Bhavya found out she was pregnant and she and Rudra were over the Moon.

"Ar re Aditya my prince come give your Grandma a kiss." Jhanvi hugged her grandson and kissed his chubby face. Ever since he could walk and talk a few words he was a real troublemaker.

 Also since he and Neela were only months apart they would grow up together, like siblings.

"Where is your mommy?" Neela asked and just in time Bhavya came running down, looking for her mischievous son.

 She scolded him for leaving without informing her and took him into the kitchen.

He waved a Goodbye to Neela who just giggled and asked her Father to read her a story in her Bed; she would love to hear his voice.

"Sure, I will do everything you wish for Baby." Together they went upstairs and they sat down in her Room and Omkara started to narrate the Story to her of how he met her mother and how he fell in love with her. 

Neela listened carefully and asked some questions in between.

"Was Mommy Happy?"

"Yes she was. She loves you so much and she always wanted the best for you and for me."

"I love her too. " Neela smiled and hugged her father. Omkara closed his eyes and both of them fell asleep.

"Mr. Oberoi? Can you come with us?" Dr. Singh und Dr. Sharma smiled hesitantly at him and he followed them into the ICU. There she was: his Wife, his beautiful and Dabang Gauri. 

She was alive but she was in a coma. He turned to the doctors and asked them about the further treatments.

"Will she wake up and if she will when will that be?" He had so many questions, so many fears.

"Well we don't know. She could be awake by tomorrow or in the next weeks. Maybe even in years. It is hard to tell all we can do is Wait. Her injuries were very fatal and we should be grateful that she is alive..."

Alive...At least she was alive, he thought.

The doctors looked at him. Any other Questions?

Omkara nodded and asked if he could bring his daughter in, she needed to feel her mother.

"She is a new-born right?" Dr. Singh asked;

Om said yes.

"Okay then she can come in but only for a few minutes?"

Within seconds Omkara brought Neela in and sat down beside Gauri. 

Her face was pale and she was breathing through a tube and another fed her as well.

She looked nothing like the Woman he had met a few years ago. 

The woman that would throw dirt on him, the woman that would kiss his anger away, the woman that would fight him like no one else. 

How could she leave him like that, he tried to stay strong...strong for their Girl.

"Hey my Dabang Wife, look who I brought with me: Our sweet Neela. Look Neela your Mommy is sleeping. 

"He laid his daughter next to his wife and cried soundlessly. He was happy she was alive but what kind of live would she be living in the coma?

 How could he take care of his daughter alone until his wife would wake up? What if it would take years? Will his strength be enough.

"Mr. Oberoi I am sorry but you have to leave now."

He wiped away his tears, carried his daughter and walked out of the hospital.

No matter what he knew the day would come she would wake up.

"Omkara...Om...Wake up."

Omkara opened his eyes and looked at Bhavya, she smiled at him and he stood up carefully to not disturb is sleeping beauty.

 They left the Room and sat down in Rudra's Study Room. After a while he too sat down beside them and they enjoyed some Ice Coffee and some cookies.

"So how is she?" Bhavya dared to ask and Om sighed, he knew they deserved some explanations.

"Well nothing new. She is healthy but She is still in coma...God...I wish she would wake up soon. It has been four years...four years without her."

"She will. I can't believe she is in coma for four years now...I still remember the day she first came into this house and brought so much happiness and live with her. Omkara you are very lucky to have Gauri as your Wife." Rudra said and drank a sip from his coffee. 

Bhavya smiled despite her slight displeasure. She loved Gauri but it hurt that her Husband talked about her as he would wish to have her for himself.

"Haan Om Rudra is right. Tomorrow you should take Neela with you...She hasn't seen her since that day of her birth. Why are you keep telling her that her mother is not here but loves her and always thinks of her? She is a small girl I know but she is smart beyond her age."

"Because if she dies how can I endure seeing my little princess in pain? I don't want her to see how fragile her mother is and that her life is not save...I don't want Neela to see her like that...And I bet Gauri would do the same. 

Neela shouldn't remember her Mother like this. "Rudra and Bhavya looked at each other understandingly and knew he wasn't ready to see his daughter sad if she would realize that her mother possibly would never wake up again. 

Hell even he didn't come to terms with her being in a Coma...what would he do once she would truly be gone? Of course he had hope but he was a human and he wasn't as strong as he hoped he would be. Omkara stood up and informed them he would visit Gauri and would be back in 2 hours. 

Bhavya hugged him and asked him to never lose hope. He smiled at his Sister in law and hugged her back.

"Maybe today is the day she will wake up." Rudra Said and smiled at his little brother. Om thanked both of them and went back into his room to get his coat.

Ever since that Day Gauri has been in coma he was trying to keep his faith intact, On the Good side she was responsive to the new medication and if everything went well they would try to wake her up somehow.

"I miss you..."His voice trembled as he looked at their picture. Gauri had a big smile on her face and he had hugged her; both caressing her swollen abdomen.

"She is in Coma."

The entire family locked shocked and Kalindi asked if she could see her for a few seconds. She and her husband went in and Omkara cried in his mother's arms.

"Mom... She won't come back... What if she never wakes up? I can't raise a child alone...What if Gauri misses out the most important years? What If I am asked to let her die one day? I...I...I...want will I do then? Mom...I can't do this...I can't Mom we were supposed to have a good life together...I ...I..."His voice broke off and his mother had a hard time talking herself. Both of them were shattered with the sudden turn of the events. Ever since they had exposed Tej Gauri had been in deep Trouble and now this? Jhanvi prayed she would wake up soon but she also had to be realistic.

"Listen to me...I will help you raise Neela until your wife returns and if after several years she is still in coma set her free, okay? Don't give up now. Do you really believe Gauri can go like that? That she would? She will come back when the right time comes. You know your wife better than anyone. She is strong and a believer. God will protect her."

"Om, there is a call for you-" Jhanvi entered; her face full of tears. In the last 4 years there was only one day she had cried. One day.

"Mom Kya Hua? Who called?" He came closer and took the wireless phone out of her hand. The one phone call that would change his life forever.

"Who is it?" he asked nicely.

"Mr. Oberoi here is Dr. Singh. I called to inform you about something."

"What is it? Just spill it out..."

"Your wife she woke up. "

Omkara fell on his knees and closed his eyes. The day he had been waiting for finally arrived. She was awake. His Gauri, the Love of his Life was awake.

"She woke up?"

"Yes and she is out of danger. We checked her vitals she is completely healthy only a bit weak because she was sleeping for so longish asked for you and your daughter. We will wait for you. She is in Room 320.Come soon...but be prepared she doesn't know yet how long she has been sleeping we thought you should be here."

Omkara Stood up and looked for his car keys. "Okay thank you so much for your call. I will be there soon."

Jhanvi came closer and touched his Shoulder. Immediately he hugged her and started to cry.

"Mom... MY Gauri came back...She is back...She came back to me, to our daughter Oh...Mom..." He kissed his mother's forehead and smiled wholeheartedly after a very long time.

"I knew it My Son...I knew it. I told you God never harms the innocent one. Go wake up Neela. I am pretty sure she wants to meet her mother."

He nodded and went to wake up his daughter.

"Neela? Darling wake up. I have a surprise for you!" Omkara whispered into his daughter's ear and smiled when she instantly opened her eyes. Just like her Mother she loved surprises.

"What is it? Tell me right now!" She caressed his cheek and giggled because his beard tickled her soft skin. He kissed her fingertips and then her forehead.

"Your mommy finally woke up. She is coming back to us and she wants to meet you. Are you ready?" He smiled and his heart warmed up on seeing how his daughter smiled and got dressed in her favorite princess dress.

"Do you think mama will find me beautiful? Will she love me daddy?" Her innocent eyes looked into his for an answer and he hugged her tightly.

"She will find you more than beautiful my dearest. You are the person she loves the most. The one person she would do anything for."

He took her Hand in his and went to the garage.

Gauri...I missed you so much...

As they reached in the hospital he felt himself getting nervous. After all this time she still managed to make him feel like a lovesick teenager.

"Papa?" Neela stopped right in front of the Room Gauri was laying in. She played with her long and soft curls and looked at her father. He kneeled down and asked her what was wrong.

"Do I look like mommy or like you? I mean if I look like you how will she recognize me?"

He smiled. "Baby... You look like me but your eyes and your Nose are like your mothers. Also you pout your lips the exact way whenever you both are angry or hurt. You both are so generous and some real Drama queens. You are as mischievous as your mother but you 

always want to help the people by your antics. Like your mother you love the color white the most because you believe it is the purest. Like your mother your hair is straight till your back but the end is curly. Like your mother your smile breaks all hearts. She will recognize you because you were inside her womb for 9 Month. She is your 

mother she will always recognize you...You are her flesh and blood; you are her princess as much as you are mine." Omkara stopped talking because if he wouldn't stop now he would never stop. It was so easy for him to talk about Gauri for hours...but right 

now he wanted to meet her to kiss her. He needed to feel her to be sure that she was truly back.

"Are you ready to meet her?"

"Yes I am...Let's go."

They opened the door and slowly entered. Omkara let Neela go first because he needed to prepare himself for everything that would come. It was more than his heart could take.

"Mommy...?"

Gauri who had been looking out the window turned when she heard the voice of a little girl.

She stood up slowly and saw a girl about 3 years old enter her room and behind her the reason of her life. 

Omkara looked ravishing good and Gauri blushed to a crimson tone of red. She tried to think who that little Girl was, she looked at Omkara and searched for her little new born daughter.

And then she realized what the little girl had said.

"Mommy?" Gauri's confused gaze met Omkara's and she realized that she hasn't been asleep for just a few months but for years.

 She looked at the little girl and saw her Omkara in her. The same Face, yet her eyes were hers. Hazel like eyes staring into her own.

"What is your name my little princess?"

"Neela Omkara Singh Oberoi. I am the daughter of Gauri and Omkara Oberoi. You are my mommy aren't you?"

Gauri felt tears in her eyes and slowly walked up to the little girl. Om saw the Love for their Daughter in her eyes; saw how proud she was but he also saw how thin she had become, that her hair was reaching till her mid-thigh and that she looked paled. 

It was evident that she hadn't taken care of herself in a very long time. She did not look like the Gauri he knew but he didn't care she was awake and everything else would come back soon.

Neela took a step forward and hugged her Mother. She smiled and the tears fell unchecked on her cheek. She was happy; finally she had met her mother. Neela only knew stories and pictures but seeing her in front of her eyes was overwhelming for her 3 years.

"Oh my princess. I am so happy to meet you again. You look so sweet...How old are you by now? I am so sorry for missing out so much...Can you forgive me..." Gauri kissed her daughter endlessly and took her tiny hands in her. 

She remembered the few minutes she had held her in her arms after her delivery. She had thought she would die but deep down she had known Omkara would rescue her on time. He was her savior after all.

"Mama I know you were sick and I am not mad at you. Daddy already told me why you weren't with us so it is okay. But tell me...did you miss me too Mommy?" 

Neela looked at her mother with her innocent smile and her dark brown eyes; they had some hazel sprinkles.

"I missed you and your Daddy so much...I am happy to be back. From now on I will never ever leave you. Never ever!" Gauri kissed Neela once again and then stood up to look at her husband.

"Hey Baby..." She whispered; her voice didn't seem to work. After seeing him she could not believe he had become even more handsome.

"Hey Darling...I missed you..." He stepped closer and got hold of her hands. 

She smiled and nodded a no. Neela giggled and Omkara too smiled while drawing Gauri closer to himself. Inhaling her scent he tried hard to fight his tears.

"Really? Are you sure you didn't miss me...?" His lips drove over her cheek and she closed her eyes in pleasure. 

Feelings that were new yet somehow familiar rose inside of her and she kissed his lips gently. He kissed her back.

"Thank you for coming back...I knew you wouldn't leave me..."

"Hush little Baby...I would never leave I told you. No one can separate us...Plus I hope your bed still has some space for me...?" She said looking into his wonderful dark brown eyes. God, she wanted him so badly.

When she woke up the first thought had been to kiss him senseless and then to meet their baby.

 Even after being gone for so long she was chuckling on the fact that she had missed her husband physically the most.

Now after meeting her little daughter she wanted to satisfy her own needs.

Om nodded. ,,I am yours...Always and Forever. My Bed is waiting for you, It was so cold without you..."

She laughed and bend down to pick her daughter up. She nuzzled her head in Gauri's neck and hair and tried to hide her laugh. Omkara stroke her hair and hugged both of them. Finally he had both of his women in his arms. Seeing that Neela was lost in playing with her Hair Gauri bend down to Omkara.

"Good to know because the minute we will return Home I will ravish you Mister be prepared.

Omkara stiffed; he could hardly breathe listening to her sweet nothings. After all this time of Abstinence he needed to have his way with her...all night long...and looking at her face he knew she wouldn't oblige.

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And that's a wrap. I hope you liked the Chapter. So what do you think happened to tej in this 4 years?

How will Gauri and Om rekindle their relationship after being apart for so long?

Will Gauri and Neela struggle to bond?