Its New York time! I have been so excited for this chapter as you finally get a glimpse at the Omkara without Gauri and the Gauri without Omkara!

Omkara knocked on the door, his suitcase stood by his side.

Nani opened the door, she looked him up and down "Oh come here Omkara" she wrapped her arms around him, patting his hair. She looked behind him "Gauri, is she coming later"

Omkara shook his head "She isnt coming"

"Why not" Nani frowned, holding her hand out "Give me your phone, I want to talk to her"

"Nani please, not now"

She sighed "Fine, not now, but soon" she stood back, allowing him to come in

"But if you ever come to my house without Gauri again, I wont let you in" she threatened

Omkara nodded numbly and walked toward his room

XXX

Anika placed the cup of coffee down before Gauri "Please, its been a few days since youve even spoken, just drink this, it may give you some energy"

Gauri sipped on the coffee, black, two sugars, just how he liked it. God she missed him, she had never felt as empty as she did right now. Her eyes pooled with tears, she swallowed, closing her eyes as they made their way down her cheeks

"This isnt over Gauri, you never give up, do not give up now"

"What am I meant to do Anika, what do I do, he walked away, I cant force him to stay with me" her voice cracked, hoarse from the days of crying

"You go to New York, you show that man what he's missing, you tell him you love him and you stand by his side, he loves you Gauri, I can see it in the way he looks at you"

"The way he looks at me" she muttered, dumbfounded

"He looks at you like you are something magical, a masterpiece" she laughed

Gauri looked away "Dont be silly"

"No, really, he said to me once, that you were a masterpiece, a stunning piece of art, but as fragile as glass, he said he didnt care if he got cut by broken pieces trying to get close to you, as long as you never got hurt by his broken pieces, he said you were magnificent and truly the most special thing to exist"

"When, when did he say that"

"Your birthday last year"

"Im tired of always fighting for him, he never fights for me" she bit into her lip, gripping the mug tightly

Anika shook her head "Allow him the opportunity to fight for you" she suggested

"What do you mean" she queried

"I have a plan, one I think might work"

XXX

Omkara looked down at his coffee, he sighed heavily, drumming his fingers against the table. He wondered what she was doing, if she was okay, if she hurt as bad as he did- or if maybe she felt free.He needed to hear her voice, just once. Picking up his phone he called her

Nani watched from behind, tapping her chin

"Hello" Gauri spoke

His eyes fluttered shut at hearing her voice, he gripped the phone tightly

"Why did you call me Omkara, if youre just going to stay silent"

"I just wanted to know if you were okay"

"You do not get to just walk out on me, then call me acting like you still care, if you cared for me, you never would have done this, you wanna hear the truth, I have to sleep on the sofa because our room smells of you and I cant handle being in there without remembering you, I got sent home from work because I am to emotional, all I do is sit on the sofa, listening to sad songs, wearing your jumpers that still smell like you, so yes Omkara, I am great, more than great actually, you had no right to walk into my life with the intention to walk out of it" She was breathless after shouting at him, so angry that he had deserted her when she needed him the most "How are you doing" she needed to know if he hurt to

"I feel like a shell of who I was" he looked down at the ring she had bought him, glimmering in the light

"Then why did you leave Omkara"

"Because I cant be the man you want"

Anika put her thumb up, Gauri nodded

"I have to go Omkara, Varun is here"

He stood up "What do you mean Varun is there, in our house, are you with him alone" he gritted his teeth

"What does it matter Omkara, you said it right, you cant be the man I want, so maybe he can"

He slammed his fist onto the table "Gauri, that is not what I meant, look I"

Anika grabbed the phone and cut it off "You wanted him to fight for you right, now he will, now wipe those tears and stop feeling bad, you have tried explaining to him with love, but now you must show him that he cannot make decisions for you"

She looked down at her phone "He's calling again"

"Pick up" Anika leant against the wall, waiting

"Hello, Gauri, its Nani"

Gauri jumped "Hi nani, how are you, are you feeling better"

"I am good, but you aren't, I want you to come to New York, Omkara makes stupid decisions sometimes, he doesnt always think them through"

Anika nodded

Gauri swallowed "Okay, ill come, but I dont know if he wants me there"

She laughed "Oh he wants you here, dont doubt that for a second"

"Okay, ill be there then, just dont tell him please"

"Of course" Nani promised

XXX

Anika sat on the bed facing Gauri, her legs crossed "You need to dress to impress, get his attention, drive him wild and make him tell you why he really left, if he knows he cant have you, he will want you even more, your issue is you're to open for him"

"Huh"

"Look, he leaves, you wait till he comes home, he runs, you chase, he says jump and you say, how high, you're always so open for him to come back when it suits him, all girls do it, god knows I do"

Gauri turned, taking in her words when she knocked a shoebox down, the shoebox tipped to the side, the contents spilling over, bending down Gauri picked the stuff up when she came across an envelope addressed to her

She opened it quickly her eyes widening in alarm

Dear Omkara,

It was obvious that if I sent a letter to Gauri, you would open it, since you know my handwriting

Excuse my methods, I just needed to get your attention

Now, I dont want to have to hurt her, but she's getting involved in something that has nothing to do with her, and you know how I feel about people putting their nose in our business

Ita simple, you remember how when you were young, I would write you notes, our secret messages, well heres a riddle for you to crack

Good luck and be quick, leave it to late and I may just have to do good on my promise and ruin the woman you love the most

If you want to save your wife, you will find the answer to this simple question and then do as you are told

Never say this word because it stops all opportunity of meeting again
It is the most painful seven letter word to utter, what is it?

Gauri's jaw dropped, she looked up at Anika "I need to get to New York, now, I know why Omkara left me"

She held out the letter to Anika who gasped loudly

Anyone guess the riddle?
Seeee, I told you guys it was all for a reason!