Note:

Hi everyone...😍😁

So, by habit I read through the story again to see if I left any loose threads and guys... I really did miss one... It might not interest you as it involves a little family drama... but still give it a try reading through it... I don't want to leave anything half way and so my mind just won't let me rest till I finish everything properly.

Usually when I leave anything someone or the other reminds me... and then I think yes... this should be included.

That is the reason I religiously read through all the comments but surprisingly this time... no one seemed to register it... including me.... may be because it does not relate to the main story but it does have a link to Gauri's personality so I thought this is important.

Ufff.. I talk so much... sorry...🤐🤐

Now enjoy the read... feedback is essential guys.. sometimes my mind draws a blank and then the comments put some oil to the work engine...

Happy reading... 😇😇

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Two years later,

"Anika, Shivaay are you ready? We are getting late for the press meet" Kalyani called their attention.

"We are done daadi... we will be downstairs in a minute or two" said Shivaay and Kalyani nodded before walking down the stairs to join Rudra.

"Did Omkara and Gauri reach the place?"

"Yes daadi... everything is taken care of... we are late by fifteen minutes... we need to hurry... are they coming?" Rudra asked and Kalyani nodded.

Rudra's mobile pinged with a message notification and he checked it as a smile broke on his face.

"Bhavya said Gayathri daadi ji and Shakti uncle will reach the venue shortly" he informed and Kalyani smiled.

"When are you going to propose her khoteya? It is about time"

"She knows it... bas nakhre hai... do you think she is coming from Bareilly just to attend Gauri Bhabhi's new clothing brand launch?" he asked shaking his head with a silly smile "Nope... she is coming to see me"

"Then what are you waiting for?"

"I am not going to rush her daadi... let her take decisions now.. she is not a kid"

"So? You won't propose or what? You are waiting for her to ask you?"

When Rudra nodded his head in a yes, Kalyani frowned "No... go in the proper way... ask her first and if she says she needs time then you can give her time"

"But she can do that herself right... she knows I love her and I know she loves me... why so much hesitation?"

"Oh God... she is a girl... it should be your job to..."

"There is no such rule daadi"

"You are unnecessarily delaying things Rudra... Had I taken things into my hand and talked to Gayathri ji, you would have been married by now"

Rudra sighed "Okay... I will plan something soon... just don't tell O... he has been giving me a tough time already... with his Bhavuuu" he said with distaste and Kalyani couldn't help but laugh.

"Ungrateful grandsons you have... all because of your lenience to them unlike me" he accused her while she agreed still shaking with laughter.

"What was the joke?" Anika asked as she joined them with her husband.

Kalyani was about to open her mouth when Rudra stopped her "Nothing that important... come we are already running late... we should get going" he said and walked outside the mansion with his family in tow.

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"Good evening everybody... thank you to each and every one of you for being here with us today" Gauri smiled at the crowd who gave her a warm welcome.

She had been waiting for this day since forever, with nervousness and anticipation. If not for her husband, she would have gone mad with tension.

Ever since she took up designing as her career choice, it has been her dream to launch her own clothing brand... to dwell in happiness when people wore her collection and appreciated her designs.

What all did she not compromise to get here??..., She agreed to every rule her father imposed on her, married against her wish with millions of questions and insecurities in her mind, she hurt the one person she loved the most by consciously staying away from him.

It was only luck that she got her Omkaraji who was patient and understanding enough to love her irrespective of whether she expressed it enough or not and guided her till the day he was sure she could take the reins in her hands.

She turned to look at him, standing with her family and watching her. He was dressed in a dark brown suit which she designed for him specially for the event. His hands were folded on his chest, his open mane being blown by the easy breeze of the evening. When he gave her an encouraging smile gesturing her to continue, Gauri stopped herself from running to him and kissing him in front of the whole lot.

Turning her gaze away from her handsome husband she tried to concentrate on her words.

"Many of you are already aware that we have been working since the last six months to be able to get to where we are today and be ready to move forward with our venture... my own brand 'Chaaya'..." she said with a bright smile.

Shakti and Gayathri looked at one another, their heart filled with immense pride.

"Maa.. did you know she was going to give her mother's name to the brand?" Shakti asked his mother.

"No Shakti... she never discussed the name with me"

Shakti nodded a smile and turned to his daughter standing on the dais, addressing hundreds of people.

She looked as beautiful as her mother had been when she was her age. Dressed in white gold woven silk saree, which he was sure was her own design. Matching it with rich pearl jewelry, hair neatly plated to the side, she looked like divine royalty addressing the masses.

As he watched her speak for some more time, he was transported to the time where he used to watch as transfixed as he was now whenever he heard his wife lecture his people back in the village to get good education and do well in life. She was his better half in more ways than he could ever ask for, aiding him in every walk of life... Devastated he was after her demise and his only reason to live thereafter was his daughter.

"For the moment, our brand is limited to make ethnic and festive wear for both men and women but soon we plan to expand the franchise to casuals... I hope you all will like the new lehenga collection we put up on display... I would be open for any positive criticism.. feedback and suggestions" Gauri continued.

"Now I pass the floor over to my partner Richa Sanjeev Nagarkar... and Anika Singh Oberoi our marketing director to outline a few of our strategic moves over the next few months. You can then have a clear picture of what is going to happen in the exciting launch period" she concluded asking her friends to take over.

"Impressive Om... Gauri was accurate in description and appeared confident" Shivaay commented and Omkara smiled.

"If she is able to fool you then she is definitely successful" he replied and Shivaay laughed.

"Really?"

"Of course... look at her ...that nervous tapping of foot and frequent drinking of water... she is nervous Shivaay... and that speech... she barely completed what she actually wanted to say... we had rehearsed it before" he said and Shivaay nodded in understanding.

"Go to her then...before she freaks out"

"No Shivaay... she has to deal with it... success comes with responsibilities and tensions. I can stand by her side to support her but she has to learn fight some struggles on her own... public communication is one of them"

The brothers' easy conversation was interrupted when the host announced the start of questionnaire.

"Okay... you can start asking questions... they will be answered"

One of the journalists raised her hand and the mic was handed over to her.

"Good evening and congratulations to the entire team on the launch ... my question is for you Gauri mam... what is the inspiration behind the name of your brand?"

"It is my mother's name... I always wanted it threaded onto my clothes... I never saw her but I love her like any girl loves her mother... hope you like the name" Gauri answered.

"Definitely... the name is catchy and mysterious" the journalist complimented and Gauri thanked her.

"Okay... the next one?"

"Madam... we heard you are from Bareilly.. which is a small town... to dream big, come to Mumbai and launch your own clothing line is not a small thing... how much did your parents support you?" asked another reporter and Omkara sucked in a breath worriedly looking at his wife.

When she remained silent Shivaay nudged his brother and he began walking to the stage when he stopped listening to her speak.

"My father isn't aware of this line of work... he wasn't very supportive but I have a husband who supported me enough"

Shakti couldn't help but feel guilty listening to his daughter... maybe he should have tried and listened to her speak up but he was any normal father worried for their child when they want to walk into unknown territories.

"Ohh... is your marriage arranged or you fell in love?"

Gauri smiled and looked at her husband who winked at her "Arranged for me" she half answered and looked at Omkara silently chuckle.

"Madam... What are the mediums through which one can order your clothes?"

The press meet there after continued smoothly without hitches with Anika and Richa answering questions on marketing and costs of the products and the publicizing about the stores at which the collection will be available soon.

"Thank you everyone.. for your time and patience" said the host warmly and turned to Gauri.

"Mam would you like to give your vote of thanks"

Gauri walked back to the mic stand and thanked the sponsors and various collaborators who made the event successful.

"Lastly I would like to thank my in laws who always supported my decisions and gave me freedom that I never had before" she said heartfully grateful and Gayathri silently gasped from beside her son.

Kalyani looked at Shakti who silently slipped away from them and worriedly turned to her grandsons. Shivaay followed the older man while Omkara stayed back for his wife.

Gauri was too busy admiring her husband that she failed to notice her father's absence amongst her family members "Thank you is a very small word Omkaraji... I know I don't tell this often but know that I love you so much" she announced surprising him and her family.

After getting over the shock, Rudra hooted and whistled for his Bhabhi. Omkara grinned at her before mouthing an "I love you too" from below the dais.

"See... I told you O... my Bhabhi is dabang" Rudra said hugging his brother happily while the later chuckled nodding his head.

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"What was that Gauri? You must be happy with your husband but were we so unimportant in your life that you mocked us like that?" Gayathri scolded her granddaughter once they reached the safety of the guest room in Oberoi mansion.

"I did not mock anyone daadi... I just thanked people who stood by me"

"What does that mean... your father did not support you? Did he not raise you to this day?"

"I was never given a choice in anything" Gauri shouted losing her calm.

"Do not forget that it was his decision to marry you into this family.... You have everything now because of him"

Gauri scoffed "It was just luck that the family which he decided to marry me off is understanding... Did he ever really cater to my wishes daadi? Did he ever talk to me nicely? Did he ever ask what I wanted from life?.... no... I did not have a mother because she died... but till date I did not have a father either" she said in anger and Gayathri slapped her hard across the face.

"Mind your tongue before you talk about my son" she said "Did we raise you to be this ungrateful? Dare you even speak like that" she screamed and turned to slap her again when Omkara stopped her with a roar.

"Daadi ji!! Do not dare..." he began as he walked to them.

"Om... stop" Kalyani put a break to the dangerously spiking conflict.

"Gayathri ji... calm down... she is just a child" she tried to placate the elder woman watching Omkara embrace his sobbing wife.

"Did you hear what she said Kalyani ji... is that the way to talk about her father? Shameless creature" Gayathri said, still glaring at her granddaughter.

Omkara has had enough and decided to give the woman a piece of his mind. Just as he opened his mouth, glaring at the one who hurt his Gauri, Kalyani instructed in a no nonsense tone.

"Omkara... take Gauri away... we will talk later... it is already late... ask one of the maids to serve dinner in your room"

"But daadi..."

"Not one word Omie... do what I say"

It wasn't new to Omkara that Kalyani called her grandsons with nicknames only when she is terribly angry or when she is incredibly happy... Considering the circumstances, Omkara not wanting to be the receiving end of his grandmother's fury veered his wife out of the room following the former's orders.

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Once they were alone, Kalyani turned to Gayathri who was wiping her eyes with her saree and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Please sit down Gayathri ji... children are bound to make mistakes... you should not take them to heart.. I am sure Gauri wouldn't have meant what she said"

"How can she even think of her father like that... as if he were a heartless tyrant? My son is not good with words... that doesn't mean he did not love her Kalyani ji" the elder woman wept.

"True that he did not support her career choice but that was his only mistake... he wasn't that educated to know what it was that she was sauntering into... When she put forth her wishes, he was worried for her and only agreed when he was sure enough that she was married and settled before that... We knew Shivaay was capable of guiding her if she errored" she said and Kalyani nodded understandingly.

"Tej was a dear friend to him as was Prithviraaj Bhaisaab to Shakti's father. When we know so much about your family, Shakti believed that his friend's son would be capable enough to take care of his little girl... especially when we all know how Shivaay took over the empire at such a small age and brought it to the present glory"

"Shakti liked Shivaay from the start... afterall he was the face of Oberois... We hardly know about your middle grandson except for his name by then. I was not at all happy when Omkara took Shivaay's place because I never wanted my granddaughter to be second in line... in anything" she revealed.

"That day when you came to see Gauri for the first time, I lied to you about the family astrologer saying Gauri should be married in a month... thinking that you would have had taken a step back since Shivaay was the eldest and Omkara cannot marry before him"

"It was my son who saw how Omkara looked at Gauri... he made me understand that your grandson loved her and he wanted his daughter to marry the person who will keep her happy not the person whom we liked... If Gauri is happy today, it was because of my son's forethought Kalyani ji" Gayathri said proudly.

"Every day he keeps asking of her... whether she is happy, if she is well taken care of... 'Maa... Gauri likes these sweets...take her some when you go to her in law's place...' 'Maa... Gauri loves this color, please give this saree the next time she comes home...' Hamesha Gauri...Gauri...karta rehta hai mera beta... aur ye yaha (He always takes her name with love and this girl here)"

"Gayathri ji... I understand... please calm down"

"If my son ever heard her talk of him like today... he will have his heart broken"

"Gauri will not make the mistake again... we will make sure of that... don't worry about remote possibilities" said Kalyani and Gayathri nodded wiping her face.

Gayathri Sharma could take anything except someone accusing her only son. When her own granddaughter bad mouthed of him, she could no longer hold on to her senses, which made her lash out at the accuser. Now that the dam of patience broke, words just flowed out from her heart and they refused to stop anytime soon.

"The day when Gauri came home after that Riya's incident, he was restless... Every day, he used to call Shivaay to know if Omkara calmed down.... Even you know about that right?" she asked and Kalyani nodded.

"When Shivaay told that Omkara will not agree to come to Bareilly until Gauri herself calls him, he pestered me to make his daughter call his daamad ji whom he began to love... He wanted them to sort out their differences sooner, lest things went out of hand. He did not sleep a wink until I made Gauri take the phone and call Omkara" she revealed.

"Just because he never openly confessed that he loved his daughter, she cannot think that way of him... She has become so blind in her husband's love that her father's presence or absence does not matter to her anymore"

"No Gayathri ji... you are taking it wrong... I am sure she loves you and Shakti ji... might be that certain memories left bitterness which she is yet to wash away... and It will happen in due time...If not Shakti you must have told her all this"

"Why should we? She is a matured child... she should have known better than disrespecting her father like that... I did not raise her to end up like this" Gayathri blatantly denied taking the blame and Kalyani sighed.

Now she understood why Gauri was always silent and closed off during the initial months of her marriage... It seemed to be a familial trait that people did not tell that they loved the other person in clean words.

"Okay... you please freshen up... I will come in ten minutes after changing... we will have dinner" she said and the later agreed sniffing.

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"God Gauri... will these tears ever stop... it is okay.. just a slap" Omkara helplessly tried consoling his wife as she continued to cry.

"Just a slap?" Gauri mumbled into his chest.

"You should have seen my daadi run after me and Rudra with a broom stick in hand whenever we used to come home after a fight at school... In fact you should be thankful that your daadi isn't like our Hitler" he said and she chuckled imagining the scene.

"I did not mean all that Omkaraji" she said after some time with a hiccup and he gently rubbed her back as she hugged him tightly sitting on his lap.... Their usual posture of comfy talk.

"I know... Gauri... now I can use colorful profanities to describe your grandmother... but you won't like it either... tell me what should I do?"

"Don't do anything... just hug me... I will be okay" she said as fresh tears made way and he sighed.

"You have been saying that since half an hour... with those buckets of tears you just shed, you will become dehydrated" he quipped making her whack him and he chuckled kissing her temple.

"I am hungry Gauri... can we eat?" he asked again and she frowned at him nodding a no.

"Why do you do this always? If you are upset, you should not punish your stomach... let me get us something to eat" he said trying to get her off his lap while she stubbornly clutched onto him refusing to move an inch.

He stopped trying for a moment before he tickled her bare waist making her scream and wriggle out sooner and he grinned in triumph.

"Good... Change your saree and wash your face... I will just come" he ordered before leaving the room, while she smiled at his back. She then wiped her tears and got off their bed to do as he said.

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"Wow..." Omkara moaned as he put another spoon of the delicious kheer in his mouth "Daadi outdid herself this time... I want more" he announced taking another serving while Gauri smiled finishing her own meal.

"The only sweet I like is kheer made by the Hitler herself" he said and she nodded aware of the detail.

"Did Rudra bhaiyya have it? you both always quarrel over who will get the bigger share" she said fondly and Omkara smiled shaking his head.

"There is Mahabharat going on in the house and my brother wisely slipped away taking your cousin for a long drive" he informed and she gasped.

"Daadi?"

"She was occupied with you right... and Anika-Shivaay took care of Shakti papa... If anyone asked, Bhavya went to have a sleep over in Richa's house as they met after a long time... umm... what dod you call it... ahh... girl's night" he said and Gauri nodded getting the lie.

"You knew about it and did not trouble him? how is that possible" she quipped and he grinned.

"Let him have his fun... they hardly ever met in the last few months... I have been through that phase and he helped me then"

"Aww... you are becoming sweeter day by day... you should eat more kheer then" she said pulling his cheeks and he swatted her hands away.

"He doesn't need to know that I know of his plan okay... I will trouble him tomorrow" he said with a wink.

"Okay... I take back my words... you are bitter than a bitter guard... always troubling my Rudy"

"Because he is troubling my Bhavuu" he cooed while she glared at him "by not proposing sooner"

"He will Omkaraji... may be he planned something today... let us see" she said and he nodded putting the empty dishes away before calling for help to clear them.

As they snuggled together on the bed a bit later in the night, Gauri run her fingertips over his chest making a bizarre pattern.

"You looked so handsome today" she murmured kissing his neck and he chuckled muttering an "Ahaan" kissing her hair.

"You looked no less than a goddess" he said later, kissing her lips with desire and she welcomed it.

"You surprised me when you said I love you to me in front of camera... didn't you feel shy then?"

"No... you are my husband... I should not be shy to say I love you... right?"

"That is like my girl" he said taking her mouth in yet another searing kiss while she smiled into the kiss pulling him closer.

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I have nothing more to say...

Do let me know... if you wanted anything more.

Don't forget to Vote and comment.

Signing off Yours Soujanya.