Chapter 25
Chapter 25 Lost Time
Gauri slowly opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling. She couldn't breathe and turned to see why: Her adorable Husband had embraced her and his Face was buried in her neck, his arm was spread across her abdomen and his leg carelessly thrown over her legs.
She giggled and kissed his cheek before moving aside so she could prepare breakfast.
Gauri tip toed into the bathroom and got dressed within 20 min. She dried her hair, applied some make up and wore her Mangalsutra. A smile crept up in her face as she remembered her marriage, the day she became Mrs. Gauri Omkara Singh Oberoi. The day her fate had been sealed. She had always wanted to be his Wife, his Ri and knowing that she was made her the happiest woman. Even after all this time she was still in love with him; she would always be in Love with him.
With a happy sighed She filled her Maang with Sindoor and left to finally prepare breakfast.
The moment she entered the Kitchen she recalled all the good times, all the bad times.
Once while preparing his favorite Dish, Om had hugged her from behind and had whispered sinful things in her ears till she had turned around and almost made love to him in the Kitchen.
"Good Morning dear." Jhanvi greeted Gauri while entering the Kitchen and kissed her daughter in Laws cheek
"Good Morning Maaji. You should relax let me prepare breakfast. I hope no one's taste changed over the years else I don't know what to prepare." Gauri said with a shy smile and started to prepare some Dishes she remembered her family liked.
" Prepare some Kheer for Neela and she also likes Toast with some butter." Jhanvi said and Gauri couldn't help but smile thinking about her daughter.
"She seems to like the same things as me when I was little... I can't believe I am a mother now, especially a Mother of such an intelligent and beautiful girl. Tell me everything about her...Please..." Gauri asked and listened to every word Jhanvi said her about Neela. About her habits, her likes and dislikes, her mischievous behavior. Everything she could think of and it helped Gauri in finding out who her daughter was.
When breakfast was made She ran into her daughters Room and woke her up softly.
"Baby...Wake up..." Gauri said and shook her daughter slightly.
Neela murmured something and turned around. "No please...Just 5 more minutes."
Gauri had a hard time suppressing her smile. She was Exactly like her Father.
"Come on little Princess you don't want to upset me right..."Gauri said and Neela smiled.
"No Papa..."
She stiffed for a second and tried to hide her tears. Om used to wake her up, used to comb her hair, plaid it and then prepare her for the day.
Not her mother, not her, not Gauri. Would she be able to find a place in her daughter's heart?
It would take time for her daughter to get accustomed to her.
For Herself to get accustomed to be a mother that had to wake up her child, to prepare her for the day.
"No Baby It's me, Mama."
Immediately Neela opened her Eyes and embraced Gauri with her short arms.
"Mommy it's you! I am sorry. From now on I will wake up the Moment you ask me to."
Neela stood up and brushed her teeth. Gauri watched her and laid out some cloth for her.
"WOW Mommy that is my favorite dress, how did you know?" Neela jumped and ran into her Mother's arms to get dressed.
Gauri could not control her emotions, her love for her little girl. How incredible was God's gift. She remembered the time she discovered she was pregnant, and the blissful month after that. Feeling her baby's every move and now she stood in front of her, jumping, laughing and smiling.
Her laugh was the sweetest melody and Gauri turned Neela around to comb her hair, Neela closed her eyes and enjoyed her Mother presence. After only being used to her Father being there for her, it was a pleasant change for her.
Only now she realized how much she had missed her mother, had wanted to feel her presence her love. Finally, she got it all. Finally, she had her mother back. Forever.
"Mama?"
"Yes baby?" Gauri smiled and looked at Neela's sweet smile. She had dimples like herself but the smile was Om, the same teeth, the same lips.
Everything and she was overjoyed to know that her Daughter looked like her father, the man she loved.
"I love you Mama" Neela said and hugged Gauri once again. Her heart skipped a beat and she embraced her daughter harder.
Tears escaped her eyes and she felt Neela softly sobbing as well.
She kissed away her tears. "I love you too Baby. I will never ever leave again, I promise."
Neela nodded and both left the Room to wake up Omkara. The tears turned into laughter and soon happiness returned.
"So tell me Mummyji how is Gauri doing...?" Bhavya asked still arranging her Pallu. Aditya was hugging her leg and tried to get her attention.
With an impatient flick of her tongue she pulled him into her arms and soothed him. Jhanvi smiled and sat down to talk to Bhavya.
Ever since it had been the two of them they became closer, Jhanvi was happy that both her sons had chosen such beautiful life partners.
"Well she seemed like a newly wedded bride. I remembered the first time she cooked for us, how much she had blushed the entire time.
Today it was almost the same, when I entered the kitchen I thought I was dreaming seeing her standing here after 4 years but it was not a dream. She is back and I think she is doing okay but she should not exhaust herself to much.
She just woke up from coma, even though the doctors said she kept in good health and the rehab she is visiting every day seems to do wonders."
Bhavya nodded and sighed. "I am so happy that she is back. I think now we are finally complete again."
Jhanvi nodded, looking at Rudra and Kavya entering.
"I too think the same. Finally our Family is complete."
Rudra kissed Bhavya's cheek and then his mother's forehead before asking for Gauri and Omkara.
"Papa!" Aditya cried and wanted his father to hug him tight. Bhavya giggled and handed over the winy boy to his Father. Rudra kissed his little baby and made him laugh. It felt good being with his family. Rudra thanked his lucky stars for making him see the beautiful soul his wife possessed before it was too late for them.
Bhavya was truly everything he had ever wanted in a wife all she had needed was some Love and Attention.
"He surely is an attention seeker Rudy." Bhavya said and greeted her Daughter who just returned from her friend's house. She had stayed their overnight.
"Reminds me of his Mother. Rudra said chuckling earning a glare from his Wife.
Bhavya turned to her Daughter and hugged her.
"Kavya beta are you happy that your Aunt is back?"
Kavya nodded "Haan but I think I will talk to her the minute Neela sleeps. She deserves every second of hers Time right? After all the time apart..." Kavya side hugged her mother and Bhavya smiled proudly of her Daughter's maturity.
"Talking about the devil...Where are Neela , Gauri and Om?" Jhanvi looked around for her youngest Son and his Family while Rudra and Bhavya were clueless.
"Om... Baby...Wake up..." A soft voice, Omkara stirred in his sleep and turned away, he was exhausted after last night's activities but still managed to smile in his state of sleep. The ever sweet voice reminded him of all the things that were said and done the night before.
"Daddy...Come on...Wake up..." Another voice. He sighed again and opened his eyes to see his wife and daughter sitting next to him, waiting for him to wake up.
Gauri was wearing a red saree with a black backless blouse and Neela wore a Black Dress with a red hairband and red shoes. They looked like those mother daughter photoshoots, dressed similarly.
"Wow...What a sight...I think my heart broke seeing you two angels..." Omkara held his Heart in a dramatic way and was awarded with the most beautiful laugh of his two women.
"Daddy see? Mama woke me up and dressed me ...Like I always wanted...You had promised me she would and she did...She loves me more than you do. My Mummy is the best." Neela said and sat on her father's stomach.
He tried tickling her and she laughed loudly. Gauri shook her Head and pulled her daughter up. She knew they would end up delaying his awakening and he had to go to office.
"Baby...Go shower we will wait downstairs..." With these words Gauri turned and put Neela down for a second, before she turned and ran into Om's Arms, who was caught by surprise and stumbled against the wall. Her lips pressed into his and He groaned her name in need. Before he could enjoy the kiss she withdrew herself and ran away; Neela following her giggling. His heart was warming up seeing how beautiful his life turned out to be in just one day. Only one day since Gauri came back and yet it felt like she had always been there.
"Total gone case..." Omkara smiled and went to have his shower.
"Mommy...Did you give Papa his good morning kiss?" Neela asked while She and Gauri walked down the stairs. The rest of the family heard her question and Rudra began to whistle.
"Kya baat hai Gauri! Looks like you are more than just fine...I mean..." Rudra was cut off by Bhavya who gave him a faint whack on his arm.
"He means that you look better than yesterday. Are you feeling well?" Bhavya looked at her husband and hugged Gauri for a second. Gauri, though still blushing, nodded and sat down with Neela. The rest followed her.
"Mama...will you feed me?"
"Neela let your mother finish her breakfast so she can have her medicine." Jhanvi said and nipped from her tea . For the first time in 4 years she thought about her Husband...The man that had caused her family so much pain. After he had been imprisoned she only visited him once.
"Jhanvi...As I can see you are not wearing white which means Gauri did not die?" He laughed bitterly and sat down on the ground in his cell. Jhanvi went closer and dragged him closer.
The slap on his face did not bother him. Tej Singh Oberoi had nothing left to lose.
"I hate you! I hate you! I will hate you forever...How could you...How? She is in coma, maybe she won't ever wake up. What about Omkara? He is alone with a 4-day old Daughter...How could you do that? How can you separate him from his life partner? Are you even a human? You seem like a monster to me and from today on I am not your wife anymore. Being your wife is a disgrace. You are dead to me...and I am a widow." With a tear escaping her eyes she wiped away the sindoor on her forehead and turned around to leave.
"Jhanvi!" His voice stopped her and she turned half around. It was over now; he was no longer a threat. What else could he possibly do to destroy their family?
"If you are not my wife, then who are you? You are nothing, your sons are nothing without me, without my name...Go...I don't care if you consider me dead at least I will rot with the satisfaction of knowing you and your family will suffer. That Gauri will suffer."
Jhanvi looked into the eyes of the man she had loved the most and saw nothing except from emptiness. She tried to move but she was rooted to the spot.
"I am Jhanvi Singh Oberoi...Just because I am not your wife does not mean I don't know who I am. My Sons are the reason for your successes don't forget that while you rot in hell. Our life could have been so beautifully but you destroyed it. Now let this loneliness and emptiness destroy you. I hope you will realize that your fate is far worse than death because you will die in the abyss of your despair. "
With her chin raised high she left the cell and left the man she had loved the most behind; not caring for him calling out her Name.
"Grandma?" Neela looked at her Grandmother and waved her hand in front of her face.
"I am fine Beta...Enjoy your meal" Jhanvi said and stood up to keep back her tray and the food she hadn't touched.
"Neela I will be right back...Okay?" Gauri said and went to Jhanvi. She hugged her from behind and kissed her cheek.
"It is over now Maaji... Don't think about the past."
"I know...It's just once we love...we never forget right? Anyway go back to your daughter. She needs your time...I am okay believe me. He won't ever bother us again."
Jhanvi thought about the day she had found out he had died. After her visit he suffered from a stroke and his left side was paralyzed till his death. He had written a letter which she received 2 years ago, still unread. She had sworn not to read the letter till her Gauri would return.
Now it was time to know what Tej had in store for them.
When Gauri came back she saw Neela on her Fathers lap eating his toast. She smiled slightly before approaching the father-daughter duo.
"Arre my cutie Pie...Won't you let me eat..." Omkara said and tried to bite from his toast when Neela once again took it away and ate it herself. She smiled at him and he kissed her cheek.
She sat down next to Omkara and took Neela on her lap. Neela looked at her mother in displeasure.
"Baby...I prepared some Kheer for you...Don't you want to taste it?"
Neela shook her head and went back to her father, She sighed at her daughters' stubbornness. "Like Father like Daughter she mumbled and Om suppressed a smile on hearing her.
"Nahi I want some toast." Neela winked at her mother and asked her to prepare some Toast for her with jam and butter.
Gauri sighed and stood up but felt a bit dizzy. She sat down again and drank some water. Om immediately rubbed her back and asked her to lie down a bit longer after all last Night was quit exhausting for her. Hearing that she looked at him with a smirk and Rudra coughed indicating he knew exactly what they were talking about. Neela caressed her Mothers face worriedly and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
"Mummy are you fine? Do you want to lay down with me? Then I will tell you Stories and afterwards we can play Hain na?" Gauri kissed her daughter fingertips.
"I am fine little princess." She said to Neela but looked at her Husband.
She really felt fine but it was true that she was still weak, was yet to recover fully from her coma.
"Gauri...If you want I can stay home too. Rudra would you take care of my meetings today?" Omkara asked and turned to see if his Brother was listening. Before Rudra could answer his little brother Gauri stood up and took Neela in her arms. She knew Omkara would say those words and looked at him while speaking: "Om Baby you can go to work. I am fine also Maaji and Bhavya are with me so don't worry. "As if to sooth his worries Gauri bend down and kissed his cheek. He looked at her not truly convinced. After all this Time both knew each other in and out. He knew that she did not want him to worry anymore and she knew that he was already worried.
Omkara was overprotective of her, he always had been.
"You are 100% sure?" Only when he saw her nodding he stood up, kissed her and Neela and then left for work. Soon Rudra followed him and Bhavya finished feeding Aditya.
"Mom I am still hungry. Can I have some kheer?" Neela pouted and tried to get her mother's attention. Gauri fed her lovingly and after cleaning the table with Bhavya she went to the lawn and sat in the wing with Neela.
"Now baby tell me everything you want me to know..."She stroke her hair and listened to her stories with most interest. It was nice getting to know her daughter like that. Just them relaxing and talking while Gauri played with her hair. It was everything she imagined it to be. Being a Mother would be a tough job but Moments like this made her crave for more.
"And then there was this woman...I forgot her Name...She came here and met Papa and talked about wedding plans. I told Daddy not to think like that since we knew you would return but that woman was adamant she came back. The last Time I saw her was a month ago." Neela had told Gauri everything about her likes and dislikes, her kindergarten friends and how she and the family had lived without her in the last four years but hearing her last words Gauri became rigid and looked down at her little girl.
"Baby I want you to think really hard, what was the woman's name...?" She caressed her cheeks and Neela closed her eyes to remember the Name.
"Her Name was..."Neela tried to remember when someone else answered.
"Svetlana. Her Name is Svetlana" Gauri and Neela both turned and saw Omkara entering the lawn.
Gauri stood up while Neela ran to her father to greet him with a kiss. With a thud she realized that they had spent over 2 hours talking and laughing.
"Who is Svetlana I never met her before Omkara..."Gauri said the jealousy visible in her eyes. He tried to hide his smile and thought to tease her a little bit.
"My old Business Partner. She is interested in me...in marrying me. She heard about you being in Coma and thought I needed some female company...You understand?"
Gauri turned her face away to hide her anger, so the woman tried to seduce her man? Her Om?
"And then? Why did she come back again and again if you rejected her? Is she that shameless running after a married man."
Omkara sighed theatrically and sat down on the wing. Neela giggled as she realized her father was teasing her mother, she knew her daddy had yelled at that woman for even saying those words. She had heard him insulting her and throwing her out with her screaming.
"I told her I would always enjoy female company..." Before He could finish Gauri turned on her heel and marched away. She wiped away her tears and starred down on her hands. Neela gave him an angry glare and Omkara ran after his Wife, pulling her into a tight hug. In the beginning she tried to push him away but only succeeded in bringing him closer. Omkara titled her face and kissed her lips for a brief second.
"I told her I was happily married, I told her that I would rather die alone than marry again or look at another woman again. I told her that she should get her s**tty ass out of my house, that she should be ashamed for chasing after a married man and I told her that for me there is no one except from you. Tu meri Zindagi ho, I love you. I always have and I-"
Her lips caused him to stop speaking. She kissed him with all her love and he smiled.
"Never ever tease me like that again...Please...It hurts. Even thinking of someone trying to come close to you kills me."She whispered against his lips and he nodded seriously. He knew what she meant. She did not want to imagine him being with someone else just the same way he could not imagine her with someone else. They were meant to be together, he was her destiny and she was his fate.
"So How was your conversation with Neela?" The minute He said his daughters name she came running to the both of them and asked for a family outing.
"Lekin Beta I have some meetings pending that I have to attend. I just wanted to check on you guys." Neela's lip quivered and tears threatened to spill out any seconds. Gauri knelt down to console her daughter when she saw her wink at her. She was truly a drama queen, exactly like her Mother. Poor Om, she thought. Has to deal with two Drama queens now.
Omkara on the other hand thought she was generously sad and promised her he would be back in 1 hour and then they would do whatever she wished to do.
Neela smiled and hugged her father while smirking at her mother. Gauri hid her smile and stroke Neela's hair proudly. Her daughter truly was a little version of herself. She knew what to do to make her father agree to each of her demands.
"Okay Daddy also promise me you will buy Mommy and me a nice gift."
"Oh so we are negotiating, looks like you are already into business my young lady but I will agree." He said and left for his remaining meetings.
"Dear you are really a little version of me...truly A drama queen." Gauri laughed loudly and picked Neela up to spin her around in her arms. Neela hugged her tight and both enjoyed some free time alone until Om would return.
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