Tears flowed down without barriers. Both Gauri's and om's eyes were dabbed with tears, Om's thinking about his past whereas Gauri's listening to his pain. Neither of them talk nor was the silence awkward. After sometime gauri broke the silence.

G: tumhare kamre mein jo photo thi woh ridhima ki thi na (om nods) aur woh pic jiska caption " your smile brought a new life into me" was of Omira right.

O: sahi kaha. Woh meri princess thi, Omira.

G: tumne aaj drugs lene ki koshish kyun ki om.

O: aaj jab maine Ira ko dekha toh mujhe omaira ki yaad aa gayi. Agar woh zinda hoti toh Ira ki age ki hi hoti.

Again there was silence. Om's eyes again filled up.

O: pata hai main humesha Mr Oberoi ko kehta tha ke woh ek achche father nahi hain. But I'm more worse than him. Main apni bachchi ko protect nahi kar paya. Na main ek achcha baap ban paya na bhai na beta.

G(shaking her head in negative): tum ek bohot achche bhai aur bete ho aur shayad baap bhi hoge.

Again there was silence.

G: om kya main yeh sab Shivaay bhaiya, Anika bhabhi aur rudra ko bata sakti hoon.

Om shakes his head in positive. Gauri takes a sigh and om lay on her lap. She began patting his head gently and at times pressing his temples to release him of his stress. Om looked at the lovely lady through a mirror,  even gauri looked at him, both smiled at each other, there was some sought of calming sensation that both felt when they were with each other and then Om shut his eyes looking forward to one of the most relaxing slumber after years. He slept like a five years old. After rocking him to sleep soon sleep overtook Gauri's highly tired eyes and she slept in sitting position resting her back on the bed.

The next morning gauri woke up when she heard a knock on the door. It was Shivaay. She asked him to call AniRu to his room and wait there for her. Shivaay did as aaked. Gauri came in.

S: gauri sab theek toh haina?

G: haan bhaiya. Mujhe aap logon ko kuch batana hai.

A: kya gauri?

G: mujhe pata chal gaya ki ridhima ki death kaise hui.

R: kaise

Gauri narrates what om said. All the three of them were listening to her with great concentration when om entered the room. Nobody noticed him standing there. Om too didn't make his presence felt. Soon gauri completed her narration. AniRu were in tears while Shivaay's eyes held anger and guilt. There was a prolonged silence. Om decided to break it.

O: I'm sorry guys. I should have told you this earlier.

Hearing his voice all turned to him. ShivRu ran towards him and hugged him tight.

S: tu sorry kyun bol raha hai om. Sorry toh mujhe bolna chahiye. Agar main tujhe arts school jane ke liye persuade nahi karta toh yeh sab hota hi nahi.

O(coming out of the hug): nahi Shivaay iss mein teri koi galti nahi hai.

R(crying): agar woh ridhima zinda hoti toh main usse apne haaton se mar deta.

A(crying): sahi kaha rudy ne. Main bhi usse apni chameli se khub maarti.

Om couldn't control himself and pulled AniShivRu into a hug. Then he saw gauri standing alone admiring their bond and gestured her to join them but she refused. Shivaay, who saw this pulled gauri into the hug. They soon come out of the hug and settle themselves on the bed.

G: Shivaay bhaiya aapne om ka release karvaya tha na? (Shivaay nods) kaise? Mera matlab suicide case mein more than 5 years jail hoti hai na.

S: om ko jail se nikaal ne ke liye sirf doo raste the. 1.om ko innocent prove karna 2.case withdraw karna. Kyunki hum pata hi nahi tha ke kya hua issi liye hume second option choose karna pada. Main ridhima ke ghar gaya uske parents se baat karne. Maine uske parents se request ki. Uske father ne kaha ke case wapis lene badle mein unhe 5 crore chahiye. Maine unhe amount de diya aur unn logone case wapis le liya.

O(doubtful face): Shivaay tumne "parents" mention kiya right? (he nods) par ayse kaise ho sakta hai? ridhima ki mom ki toh death ho gayi thi Omaira ke saath.

G: are you sure?

O: I'm damn sure

G: and you bhaiya?

S: I'm damn sure too.

R: this is so damn confusing.

A(thoughtfully): agar ridhima ki maa zinda hai toh omaira bhi zinda ho sakti hai.

"haan ho sakta hai" says gauri while the Obros stare at each other. Om's eyes started to fill up but his lips were curved in a smile.

O: meri princess theek toh hogi na?

S(seriously): om dekh abhi hum kuch nahi keh sakte. I think ridhima has played something big. Hume agar pata lagana hai ke Omaira zinda hai ya nahi toh we have start from the beginning.

G: it all started in London right? (om nods) we'll have to start from there.

S: toh main kal hi London ke liye nikalta hoon.

O: main bhi chalunga.

R: aur main bhi.

G: koi bhi kahin nahi jaa raha. Agar koi London jayega toh woh main jaungi.

S:par...

G: main waise bhi 2 din baad London jaa hi rahi hoon kaam ke silsile mein. I'll extend my stay.

O: can i join you.

G: no om you've already started having withdrawal effects. It'll only get worse in the upcoming days. You'll not be able to travel om.

A: agar aysi baat hai toh tumhe om ke saath rukna chahiye.

G: no no. Om ko sirf ek strict diet follow karna hoga. (om makes faces) and kuch medications follow karni hogi.

S: and do you think om humari sunega.

G: don't worry main ek assistant chod ke jaa rahi hoon. Woh khayal rakhegi om ka.

O(disbelief): and who is that?

G: tumhe kal pata chal jayega.

Precap: assistant

Guys i know I'm late but what to do. First of all I have a very busy schedule. And secondly the lack of response is very disappointing. I have decided to give an abrupt end to this book if this continues. I know it is rude but I expect appreciation, if not comments atleast votes. So i have decided to set targets for each chapter. Only if the target is achieved, i will update the next chapter. I have already written the next 3 chapters and i can assure you full fun, drama and revelations. If want to read them fulfill the targets. To begin with a small one.

Target:
Votes - 50
Comments - 25

Will meet you when the target is achieved. Bye.