One and a half year later..........

The music was so loud that it made his skin tingle and lungs feel mush. One couldn't make out any words, but laughter rang in his ears and wouldn't seem to stop.

Omkara sat in one corner conversing with an older man, a glass of cocktail in hand and a perfect smile on his face.

"Congratulations for clearing your exams Dr. Omkara... you are one of the best students I have ever taught" appreciated Dr. Kevin.

"Thank you so much sir, I enjoyed my term here....It was interesting learning new technique and fine skills. Please enjoy the party" said Omkara smiling at the elderly man who nodded.

He then walked away from his professor to a group of men his age "Are you all having a good time?" he asked dutifully as a perfect host should.

"We are man...cheers" said one of them. "Thanks for the party" he said.

"You are wel..." started Omkara when a pair of arms encircled his waist from behind.

He shook them off, irritatedly turning around and fake smiled "Hi Lizze... hope you are enjoying yourself" he asked and was answered with a sexy smile and a hug.

"Lizze... can you please stop being touchy...I would greatly appreciate it if you maintain distance" he more or less growled at her and she pouted.

"Om baby... I love you... when will you take me out?" she said as she slurred.

"May be never" he said with a blank face making her touch his shoulder giving it a squeeze.

The group of Omkara's friends chuckled at their host's plight and one of them grabbed Lisse's hand and took her away making Omkara sigh in relief.

"Omkara... she is hot man... why won't to take her out" asked one friend making him roll his eyes.

"Dinesh... if you find her hot, you ask her out... She is not my type" he said.

"Yeah...yeah... not your type... I know...when are you meeting the girl of your type then? when are you returning to India?"

"I haven't decided yet but I guess soon" he said with a wistful look on his face.

He excused himself and settled into a shaded corner away from the ear splitting music. He took his phone out and opened the locked album to gaze at the love of his life.... Caressing the screen gently he smiled.

"I miss you" he whispered to her smiling face.

It has been one year six months since he last saw her, heard her voice and felt her skin. There wasn't one moment when he didn't think of her... not one day when he felt like packing his things and boarding the next flight to India to get one glimpse of her but he couldn't.

He followed her though... rather stalked her pictures on the internet...

Gauri Trivedi one of the trending Indian fiction writers who published three best sellers in the span of one year. He was so proud of her and he wished he could tell her that.

Was she still angry at him? Will she look at him with same amount of love if he goes to her now and ask her forgiveness? Did she miss him the same way he missed her?

He knew he hurt her.... He regretted it too... but he could never let her compromise... that was something non-negotiable for him. His thoughts were interrupted when a handsome man sat beside him on the couch.

Omkara looked at the blue eyed man and smiled "Shivaay... thanks for coming man...how is Priyanka doing?" he asked giving him a warm hug.

"She is perfectly healthy... I had to come to give you the good news that she is getting engaged in a week and married next month... you have to attend both the functions Omkara" he said and made him genuinely feel happy for the second time that evening.

"Really... that is great news Shivaay... I am happy for her... I will call her tomorrow" he said.

"Thank you so much man... the seizure attack didn't recur after the surgery Omkara... if not for you we have given up all our hopes" said Shivaay gratefully.

"Shivaay it was my job...Priyanka's case was a bit complicated and was non curable... I just happened to hit the right point and she was cured. It is common to miss the right focus during the first surgery. I am glad that she is okay"

"I asked you this many times but I am asking you again....when are you coming back to India... I will return in two days...I came to attend a conference here and by coincidence you called me at the right time" said Shivaay. "Shall I book you tickets? Come with me .. you will enjoy the village marriage. Priyanka wants to get married in the traditional way and my fiancé granted her wish by inviting all of us there"

"Oh.. so you...the great Shivaay Singh Oberoi... are going to stay in a village for a month then... how will you survive man?" asked Omkara laughing.

"Laugh all you want... that Shivaay who refused to stay in anything less than a seven star hotel changed after he fell in love with a beautiful village belle" said Shivaay with a fond smile and Omkara couldn't help but feel a bit jealous... His friend has his love with him... he was miles away from his.

"Anyway....I am not going alone... my mom and sister will be there and you too are coming doctor ji... let me introduce her to you... thinking about it... I never really talked about her to you...did I?"

"No Shivaay... I am not coming... If I really go to India there is one thing I need to do as soon as I land there" said Omkara looking at his phone.

"No... this time I won't hear a no... you are coming to Bareilly and that is it" said Shivaay and the former looked at him in question.

"Bareilly? Your fiancé's native is Bareilly?" he asked, a feeling of restlessness creeping up his heart.

Shivaay was about to answer when his phone rang and he answered the call with a happy smile "You are going to live for hundred years my love... I was just telling my friend that my fiancé is from Bareilly........ are you tired with the preparations? Don't over work yourself... I will be there in two days... we can work together darling" he laughed.

Omkara couldn't shake off the uneasiness listening to the conversation between the couple but he wanted to know the name of his friend's future wife. He patiently waited for Shivaay to finish his call while the later discreetly turned to the other side and whispered into the mouthpiece but he was loud enough for Omkara to hear the name.

"Okay.. I will call you once I reach home...take care... Bye... I love you Gauri..." said Shivaay and Omkara felt his world collapse around him.

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One day later.........

"Mom... please make it fast... I need to hurry to the hospital" shouted Rudra from the dining room.

"Five more minutes Rudy.." answered Jhanvi from the kitchen making her son roll his eyes while Tej chuckled.

"Dad... she has been saying that since the last half an hour" complained Rudra and Tej gestured him to keep quite placing a finger on his lips.

"Dad...I am done... I am going now it is already late" he said getting up from his place and turned towards the door only to freeze in his steps.

"Why are you here?" Rudra asked angrily making Tej look at the person who entered his house.

"Om? When did you come back...come sit" he said while his son glared at him.

"I asked you...why are you here? Have you gone deaf after you went to UK?"

"Rudra.... Is that the way to talk? Where is your decency" said Tej scolding him.

"Why? What wrong did my son do?" asked Jhanvi who came out of her kitchen and looked at the scene.

"Jhanvi... please don't" sighed Tej pleading her and she shut up but still glared at Omkara making him shift in his place.

After a while when none spoke, Omkara found his voice and started "I ...I am sorry...Rudy...I know" but was cut off by Rudra.

"I only allow people close to me to call me Rudy... and you Omkara sir...you...don't have the right" he growled and Omkara nodded his head in okay.

"Rudra... I think you are getting late for work... leave now" said Tej.

"No dad... I won't go unless I know about this man's intentions of coming back after he disappeared for more than a year" he told his dad before turning to the man whom he once admired "Kisko barbaad karne aye ho abhi? Did you leave anything unbroken here since last time?"

Omkara's face remained blank of emotions as he asked Tej " Is...is Gauri engaged to Shivaay?"

"Yes...and she loves him...so stay away from her" said Rudra and Omkara blinked his tears back looking away.

"Om" called Tej placing comforting hand on his shoulder "Did you go home?" and Omkara just shook his head in a no.

"Go home... Kaali is missing you... spend some time with him. I will come tomorrow to your house" said Tej and Omkara nodded his head still looking at the floor before he left the place.

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Kaali was cooking in the kitchen when he heard the bell ring.

He looked at the clock which showed the time to be a little later than twelve in the afternoon. He wasn't expecting anyone... who might that be? he thought as he walked to the door.

He lazily opened the door to look at the visitor and was shocked to see the person he least expected at his doorstep.

"How are you Kaali?" she asked and he stood motionless unable to form words.

She peeped over his shoulder to look inside the house as if searching for someone.

After a moment Kaali recovered and asked in a cold tone "What are you doing at my house Radhika"

"Won't you even let me inside?" she asked softly and he stepped back while she walked in, her eyes still looking for her son.

"Om is not here... if you came for him, you could leave right now" informed Kaali and she turned to him.

"I know I wronged you... but can you at least try to forgive me Kaali" she asked in a sincere tone and Kaali sighed.

"I had forgiven you long back Radhika... I don't waste emotions on people whom I don't care about" he lied.

"Kaali... please... I am sorry..."

"Oh... you are sorry...that is great..." spat Kaali angrily.

"You told you love me and when I rejected your love, your ego started to hurt. You made me believe that you are a great woman who sacrifices herself for other's happiness and I fell right into your trap. You hated children and when we had a son, you started showing your true colors... My son used to cry for you.... when you ignored him Radhika" roared Kaali.

"You asked for a divorce and I gave you one... as if that was not enough, I recently got to know from Om that you met him when he was twelve to corrupt his mind against me... showing yourself as the victim... may I know why? You don't love him right? What was the reason you went to him then? ... are you not satisfied with destroying my life that you set out to destroy my son's too?"

"I am sorry Kaali" said Radhika crying "I know I have done so many wrongs that I can't undo... but I am sincerely sorry for all of them. If there is any chance that I could go back in time I would have made things right" she said and heard him scoff.

"I realized I made a mistake in divorcing you and I wanted you to take me back... I know you love Omkara the most so I approached him and to make him like me, I lied that you never gave me a chance to build my career so that he would compel you to take me back" she revealed.

"The hell I would....after knowing what kind of a woman you are..." shouted Kaali disgustedly "Did you....even for a second... think of the impact your words had on his mind? Your son's life?" he roared while Radhika continued to cry.

"He left a girl who loved him thinking he saved her career... not realizing he hurt her so much that perhaps she can never forgive him" he shouted.

"You are the one mistake I made in my life Radhika... my one wrong decision not only broke my life but I fear it will break my son's heart too... now.... before I lose my temper and kill you... leave from here and don't show your face to us or even think of contacting my son ever again" he said coldly.

"I will go ... but let me look at him once... talk to him once and apologize... I realized how wrong I was, how selfish I was when I was a successful businesswoman but didn't have anyone to love Kaali. I thought I couldn't love children but I was wrong... I love Omkara... I really do... please just let me talk to him once" she said and Kaali lost his cool raising his hand to strike her.

"Dad!! No" said Omkara stopping his father.

Both of them looked in the direction of the voice to see Omkara walk into the house looking lifeless.

"Om..!" Kaali rushed to his son hugging him "When did you come... I missed you so much" he said while Omkara looked at his mother.

Not getting a response from him, Kaali parted from the hug and looked at his son who stared at Radhika.

"I can't believe I trusted you" said Omkara with a pained look betrayed by his own mother and Radhika hung her head low in shame.

"Do you know why I believed you?... because I was misguided by the belief that a mother can never not love her children... a mother can never be wrong... they say" he said feeling ashamed.

"Now... I am calmly asking you to leave and never come back because this man here" he said pointing to his father "taught me to respect women irrespective of the fact that some might not deserve it"

Radhika left the place too ashamed to apologize and too numb to talk seeing the look of disgust in her son's eyes.

Once the door closed, Omkara turned around and hugged his father tight, tears not stopping to flow from his eyes.

"I am so sorry dad... sorry for everything" he apologized and Kaali rubbed his son's back.

"It's alright Om... I know it is not your fault"

"No... I should have known better... I should have believed your words over anyone else" he said cursing himself.

Kaali cupped his son's face "I love you enough to forgive all your faults Om" he said making his son more burdened with guilt.

"When did you come back... did anything go wrong?" asked Kaali and Omkara gave a nod indicating no, too exhausted to speak.

"Go... freshen up and come... We will have lunch together... it has been a year" he said kissing his forehead and Omkara pulled the luggage into his room.

He looked battered and bruised... what happened now that he rushed back... must have been something to do with Gauri... thought Kaali.

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Omkara had his food without uttering a word...either he was too hungry that he enjoyed his food or he was too tired to comment on his father's cooking skills.

"Om" called Kaali after his son finished his meal and sat on the living room couch, watching a sports channel.

"Yes dad" he answered his gaze fixed on the screen.

"The match seems to be interesting" commented Kaali and Omkara smiled.

"How much did Australia score... did they bat first or took the ball?" Kaali asked and Omkara shook his head uttering "I don't know dad...I just started watching the game" he said.

"Hmm.... You are watching it since fifteen minutes" Kaali pointed out and Omkara looked at him confused "So?"

"So, you must realize that you are watching football...not cricket" said his father and Omkara closed his eyes giving up.

Kaali sat beside him and urged "What happened Om... ab batayega bhi?"

The next twenty minutes were spent in Omkara explaining what made him take the next flight back home and what he went through the torturous last twenty four hours.

"I messed up dad" he said, "I lost her I guess" making Kaali was disappointed.

"What happened to my son who relentlessly fought for whatever he wanted in his life? Giving up too early?"

"Shivaay is a good man dad...I don't know him in and out but from what I know, he is respectable, rich, friendly and a non-orthodox person... Priyanka was my patient who I operated eight months back... she is a fun girl. Gauri will be happy with him" he said though his heart argued with him.

"Really? Then why did you rush back? You knew that Gauri is his fiancé and Shivaay wouldn't lie about it. You also have a good opinion on him as you stated a minute back then why did you go to Rudra to confirm the fact?"

Omkara was silent for a moment and then spoke "I couldn't believe that she could move on that easily. I know she loved me. If I missed her so much, she must have missed me too. I thought her family must have pressurized her into it and wanted to confirm it with Rudra"

"Rudra said she loves him and you believed him?"

"I don't want to hope dad... I stopped expecting that something good might happen in life long time back...Gauri gave me that hope and I now feel betrayed... I don't want to blame her but I feel helpless" said Omkara openly stating his insecurities for the first time.

"You are doing the same mistake again... you Shivaay is a good man and she will be happy with him... you Omkara are again deciding her life" said Kaali and Omkara gave a questioning look.

"Last time you decided that she will be happy if her dream comes true now you are again deciding for yourself that she will be happy with Shivaay... but you never asked her what she wanted... Will she be happy... Don't you think you should check if she wanted this?"

"Should I meet her?" asked Omkara and Kaali smiled "Depends... is she worth the effort?"

"Come on dad... She is worth my every effort" replied Omkara and Kaali hugged him "Thank God... I thought you lost our marbles... some sense is left I see" he said and Omkara laughed.

"Go get her then... all the best"

Omkara sighed "Will she agree?" he asked doubtfully

"You give your best... if nothing works I will make a grand entry.. I know Gauri will not refuse me" he said winking and Omkara gave a look which said 'really?'

"Why don't you come with me tomorrow then dad"

"Haaaw... galati tum karo aur manau mein? (You make a mistake and I grovel?)... naah...not fair... You have become lazy after going abroad... stop wasting time talking to me and go plan your travel" he said pushing his son out of the couch.

As Omkara got ready for the journey, his father asked him to take blessings from the temple nearby and he silently obeyed. Entering the temple, he rang the hanging bell and kneeled before the idol. Closing his eyes he prayed to his Gauri's Shankarji "Please... Let Gauri get what she wants in her life...If I am a part of it then I will only be happy... All I ever want is her happiness"

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I couldn't stop myself from writing this......

Any thought's on Radhika?

How many of you expected Shivaay's entry?

Let me know your thoughts...

Till the next update... Signing off... yours Soujanya.

Not edited... sorry for any mistakes.