Gauri's recovery took a few weeks since breathing was quite a challenge and she still had some aches and pains from the fire incident. The nurse eventually wasn't needed. The Oberois had been taking care of Gauri as much as possible and to their surprise, Om occasionally came to Gauri's room to make her eat the healthy food and to sometimes look after her.

He wanted to keep his distance from her but there was something that drew him closer to him.

Maybe it was Mira since Mira had developed the habit of needing both her parents in the same room so she could sleep peacefully. If she didn't have both her parents in the same room at night then she would start crying as loud as possible and made sure that no one slept until she got her way. 

Yes the Oberoi princess knew how to get her way, hook or crook. 

Have you ever heard of an angel and devil on either side of your shoulder? 

The angel was like the heart, it would convince you to follow your heart and encourage you to make choices which will create joy and deepen your spiritual connection. The devil on the other shoulder was like your mind. It would discourage you and is very persuasive. It can convince you quite easily because it's spent a lot of time inside you and it knows what to say to get you to do what it wants.

Om was dealing with the angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. The angel wanted him to warm up to Gauri and accept whatever he was feeling in his heart, be a family with her and their daughter, and that he was good enough for her. The devil on the other shoulder was telling him that the woman was a gold-digger who ruined Jhanvi Thakurani's life. The devil was also telling him that he wasn't good enough for her, she deserved so much more than a broken man with a troubled past. The devil also reminded him of Riddhima who betrayed him since she was only with him for money and property, he also got reminded of Ishana who was only trying to be with him for money....

Shivay: it looks a little smaller than it was before.

Shivay said to Om showing him a picture of their mansion that was being rebuilt.

Om: it'll probably look bigger on the inside.

Shivay nodded then noticed Om who was lost in his thoughts.

Shivay: thinking of Gauri?

Om: no. Definitely not. What makes you think that?

Shivay: you know, if you weren't thinking about her, you would have just said no. A simple no, not extra lines.

Om sighed before saying: well I wasn't thinking about her so....yeah, let's go to the mansion building ground.

Shivay sighed as he and Om got up from the chairs and were about to go downstairs when Anika was coming up the stairs.

Anika: hi guys. Where are you all off to?

Om: just to check on the mansion.

Anika: really? 

Shivay: yeah. Where are you going?

Anika: to give some painkillers to Gauri. She's sleeping right now with Mira but just going to keep these painkillers on the side but I will go with Shivay to check on the mansion since I need his opinion for something.

Shivay: for what?

Anika: for something.

Om: nahi Bhabhi, it's fine, I'll go with Shivay.

Anika: I'll go. Here give these painkillers to Gauri and let's go Shivay.

Om was about to say something in protest when Anika grabbed Shivay's arm and dragged him down the stairs but before she did, she kept the painkiller packet in Om's hand. Om sighed as he saw Anika and Shivay walk out of his sight. Om went back upstairs and found Gauri's room. He opened the door to see Gauri asleep and Mira was lying down next to her and she was awake. 

Om kept the medicine to a side before going near Mira.

Om: I thought you was sleeping.

Mira made some baby sounds, looking at her father cutely. Well she was already cute, so she was looking at her father more cutely, giggling. 

Om: tired of sleeping?

Mira smiled, giggling and blabbering random mixed-up words. Om was grateful that he got what Mira was saying since normally he didn't get most of what Mira blabbered about. Om pulled Mira's cheek lightly before looking at Gauri who was still sleeping. 

Om: you know Mira, the first time I met your mother was when she was throwing gol gappas in the air. Weird right? I thought she was this weird mad girl....in a good way. I thought your mother was more mad when she smashed my car with a bulldozer.

Mira giggled.

Om: yeah I actually laughed about it later until I saw something that made me think that she was not this mad crazy weird girl. 

He remembered seeing Kaali Thakur and Gauri in that jeep with Gauri having the red veil on her head. He remember Kaali telling her that she would now be his wife then he remembered what Gauri said in the hospital when she thought he was asleep. 

Om: your mother has always been a good wife and a good mother. I know how much you love your mama Mira. I, on the other hand, have been a terrible husband and a terrible father. I'm sorry Mira.

He said, taking her hand and kissing it. 

Om: I don't deserve your mama Mira. She deserves someone who can really make her happy. 

Mira blabbered, this time she didn't giggle. She was trying to tell her father that he was right for her mother but Om didn't understand what she was saying. He only looked at Gauri. She was so pure and innocent unlike him. He was troubled, broken and was not worth her. She also suffered so much in life so she deserved someone who could show her heaven. He was not the person who could show her heaven. 

She was a gentle soul who brought life and joy whilst he burnt everything to ashes. He was the poison that contaminated the sky and she was the rain that washed away the dirt. She deserved better. Far better. 

Gauri needed to see that and he would show her that she deserved better.

Om: I love you Mira.

He said, kissing her hand once more. Mira blabbered, trying to ask him if he loved her mother too but her father didn't understand her blabber once more. Om looked at Gauri once more and kept the hair strand that was lying on her face. He moved the hair strand behind her ear, and then stroked her long silky hair. 

Om in a quiet voice: I'm sorry...

He found himself kissing her forehead and realised that her forehead was burning. He looked at his daughter and picked her up making Mira blabber in protest. 

Om: stop protesting. Mummy has a fever, we are going to take care of her and you young lady already had a fever. We don't want you to be sick again.  

Mira blabbered once more. Om got out a playmat that Jhanvi had brought for Mira a week ago and kept her on it. As Mira enjoyed herself on the playmat, Om went to get a blanket. Once he got the blanket, he kept it over Gauri before going out of the room to get a thermometer and wet cloth. 

Pinky: why are you going through the medical bag?

She asked as she saw Om going through the medical bag. 

Om: voh choti maa, Gauri has a fever so I am going to check her temperature and keep a cloth over her head.

Pinky: she has a fever?

Om nodded as he finally found the thermometer.

Pinky: I'll makes her some soup. Take care of her, understand?

Om nodded as he went to get a bowl of water and a cloth, and Pinky went to make soup for Gauri. Om was only going to take care of her for the sake of humanity and not because he might feel something for her. 

When Om entered her room, Om saw that Gauri's eyes were slightly opened. 

Gauri: I feel really sick. 

Om: you have a fever. Now I'm just going to check your temperature. 

Gauri nodded, her neck aching as Om checked her temperature with the thermometer. He sat beside her as he began to wet the cloth. Before he kept the cloth on her, he took the thermometer out and saw that her temperature was really high. He had to take her temperature back to the optimum level. 

Om kept the wet towel on her forehead and he continued to keep the towel on her forehead in an attempt to lower down her temperature. Just then Pinky came in with soup. She smiled seeing her nephew caring for Gauri. Pinky didn't know why he acted like he hated Gauri when it was clear to everyone that he loved her and his love for her was so visible in his eyes. 

Pinky: Om, here's Gauri's soup.

Om: thank you choti maa.

Pinky: do you want me to take Mira? She might get bored of the playmat.

Om: theek hai choti maa. I don't want her to catch anything.

Gauri: same here.

Pinky gave the soup to Om and then picked up Mira from the playmat. She took Mira out of the room and Om looked at Gauri. They didn't say anything as Om managed to make Gauri eat the soup. She did make some faces but Om just gave her a stern look, making her eat. 

Once she had finished the soup, he made her lie down and he kept the towel on her forehead. Gauri gave a small smile at his care. He cared for her like she cared for him. He just needed to stop pushing her away and start accepting what was in his heart. 

Gauri soon felt her eyes closing again and before she knew it, she was asleep once more. Om looked at his sleeping beauty, she looked so peaceful like an angel. His thoughts were running in his head. He didn't want any feelings to rise in him since feelings made life complicated...

He had dealt with two gold-diggers in the past and they were in fact gold-diggers but Gauri....she wasn't a gold-digger and it was wrong on his part to call her one. 

...

Gauri: I am still very unsure of the plan. 

She said a week later. She was much more better now and Om knew that she was better. 

Rudy: you have to do this plan. You have to take a stand. Om may try and kick you out anytime soon so you got to stand up for yourself. 

Anika: exactly. You yelled at him as Ketki. You can yell at him as Gauri. 

Rudy: you have to do this...for Mira, for Om. Om deserves to have a life partner like you and Mira deserves to have both her parents together. 

Anika: now just remember what you need to say in case he tries to throw you out. 

Gauri nodded. She was still very unsure about this but she was hoping that Rudy's plan would work. It might be her last attempt to save her marriage. Her mother told her that a soulmate was a storm and it was a storm which had thunder, rain, lightening, purpose, mystery, beautiful and strange. Once you find that storm, don't let it slip from your hand. Om was that storm and she didn't want to let him go. 

Om came in the room with some bag. Before he came into the room, he was thinking that before these thoughts and feelings suffocated him, he should kick Gauri out of the house once more. 

Rudy: what are you doing Om?

He asked as Om went to the cupboard and opened it, taking out her clothes. 

Anika: Om, why are you....

Om: she's has overstayed her stay, now she has to go. 

Gauri looked at Om as Om stuffed her clothes in the bag and then after he closed the bag, he made her stand up and walked with her downstairs, catching all the Oberois' attention including Mira who was in Dadi's arms. Rudy and Anika followed Om and Gauri as they went downstairs. 

Rudy whispering: she better stand up for herself.

Anika whispering: if she doesn't, we are doing the yelling.

Rudy whispering: good idea.

Om brought Gauri to the door and gave her the bag that contained her things in.

Om: now please go Gauri and don't try and come back in the disguise. We don't need you here in our lives. We do just fine without you so please go and never come back. 

Gauri: if I have to leave then I am taking Mira with me. 

That shocked Om. He didn't expect Gauri to ask to take Mira with her. 

Om: Mira?

Gauri: yeah. I am taking Mira with me. 

She went up to Dadi and took Mira in her arms. Dadi knew of Rudy's plan so she didn't protest. Gauri then came back to face Om who was looking at her with his dark black eyes. 

Om: you are not taking Mira with you. She is my daughter.

Gauri: she is my daughter also and why shouldn't I take her with me? I have a right over her. 

Om: if you have a right over her, then I also have a right over my daughter. Mira is staying with me! 

Gauri: ek minute...what right? Who carried Mira for nine months in her own body? Me! Who endured the pain of a 12 hour labour to bring Mira into this world? Me! Who fed Mira her own milk in the last six months? Me! I had Mira which means I have the right to keep Mira unless something happens to me. 

Om: ek minute Gauri! I am her father and even if I didn't give birth to her, I still manage to give her love and affection. She is just as much of my daughter as she is yours and I deserve to keep her.  Unlike my dad, I want to be in my child's life, Mira needs me in her life so give me back my daughter and leave!

Gauri: and Mira needs me in her life.

Om: Gauri, don't make me take this to court!

Gauri looked at her husband with gritted teeth whilst the Oberois held their breath. 

Om: waise bhi I am more likely to win the court battle, why? Because unlike you, I can provide for Mira, I can make sure she has everything she needs.

Gauri: Mira doesn't need artificial things. All she needs is love, affection, protection and happiness. I can give her that.

Om: but she also needs a roof over her head where she can be safe!

Gauri: look, I am taking Mira and that is final! You tried taking Mira from me once and it's clear that she needs me in her life.

Dadi: Om...I have to agree, Mira needs her mother in her life. 

Rudy: we'll miss Mira but it's for Mira's wellbeing. We all saw how she was before her mother came back. 

Anika: Mira, we'll miss you and hopefully your mother will let us meet you. You deserve to be with your mother. We don't want to deny you of a mother's love. 

Shivay: but...

Anika gave him a look to shut up and she also mouthed that she'd tell him everything later. Shivay stayed quiet and witnessed the drama unfolding with a confused Jhanvi, Pinky and Shakti. 

Rudy kissed Mira's hand, saying: we'll meet you and remember....always be like your Rudy chachu. 

Gauri smiled. Rudy mouthed to the confused people to just go with the act. Jhanvi went up to Gauri who was holding Mira and looked at the little girl.

Jhanvi: bade dadi loves you Mira baby. 

After everyone said their 'goodbyes' to Mira, Gauri was about to leave. Mira looked at her father as Gauri walked. Her black orbs met her father's black eyes.

Om remembered holding Mira for the first time, he remembered when her little hand wrapped around his thumb. He remembered cradling her, looking after her, making her laugh and smile...her  smile....he'd give up everything just to make sure that she always had a smile on her face. 

He was a fatherless child. His father just went ahead and left him and his family, stayed as far away from the family as possible. He didn't want his daughter to suffer an absent father. Om didn't want to be like his father and he remembered on the day Mira was born, he promised her that he'd never be like Mr Oberoi. 

His daughter was the most beautiful gift that the world gave him and he didn't want to let Mira go. 

Om: stop Gauri!

Gauri stopped walking and turned around, facing her husband.

Om: you are not going anywhere. You can stay here but if you try to separate me from my daughter, you are out of here. 

Gauri looked at Rudy and Anika who was behind Om. They gave her a thumbs up. Gauri looked back at her husband.

Gauri: fine. But if you try separating me from Mira, then I am leaving and I am taking her with me. 

Om and Gauri looked at each other. The tension was thick and unsettling. As of on cue, Rudy's phone rang making the tension disappear. Gauri walked past Om and went to Dadi whilst Rudy picked up the phone.

Rudy: yes Nikhil? You need a place to stay? How come? Accha. I'll ask, stay on the call.

Rudy kept the phone away from his ear and looked at his family. 

Rudy: is it okay if my friend Nikhil can stay here for a bit? 

Jhanvi: yeah sure. 

Shakti: we have room for Nikhil. 

Rudy kept his phone back to his ear.

Rudy: yup you can come. Okay see you in an hour. 

He cut the call and looked at Anika then Gauri. Nikhil....he was going to help sort Om out. 

Precap: dori strings

The precap will make more sense when I update. Soooo all excited to meet Nikhil? And before you all ask if Nikhil will actually fall for Gauri, let me just say that there is a surprise waiting for you. 

I hope you all liked this chapter.