"Papa... not you too" exclaimed Jhanvi.

"What else should I say Jhanvi... you were wrong... did you see how angry Kalyani is? I always knew you had anger issues but you are now old enough to have managed to control it... You know Omkara is going to be the son-in-law of the house... how can you talk to him like that?" asked Prithviraaj in a scolding tone.

"I agree he did wrong and I was angry with him too but this is not the way... In fact with your deed, he came into the good books of your mother... The boy is smart... though you threatened to throw him out of this house he didn't speak a word against you"

"We don't know that now... do we? ... maa came screaming at me by the time I even let those words out of my mouth papa and they don't know the whole story like I do... like you do" she defended herself.

"Jhanvi stop denying it... you too know that he wouldn't have talked back... isn't that the reason you were hell bent on torturing him?... that he would stay here for Gauri no matter how much you keep insulting him?"

Jhanvi remained silent when Prithviraaj caressed her cheek "I understand you love Gauri so much to let him go unscathed for what he did Jhanu...but you should realize that hurting him would in turn hurt Gauri... Vo meri bhi jaan hai...(she is dear to me too).... Do you think I would have let him near her if he wasn't good enough?"

"Bache hai... galatiya karte hai....(Kids make mistakes ) we should learn to forgive them... Now Omkara is also part of the family... if you can't love him at least try to be civil... until you start to love him" he advised and Jhanvi nodded her head in a yes.

"That's like my girl... hamesha naak pe chadi rehti hai gussa apne maa ke jaisa (you are like your mom... ready to spit fire when angry)" he said touching her nose with his finger and she laughed with him.

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"I am sorry that I broke her heart Uncle but I promise I will never do that again" said Omkara earnestly looking at Shakti.

They were in the study along with Prithviraaj, Pinky and Kalyani. Omkara told them what exactly happened which made Jhanvi angry at him, apologizing for his mistakes.

Shakti looked at his family for approval and when they smiled and nodded a yes, he turned to Omkara placing a hand on his shoulder "We accept your apologies Omkara... I am happy that you put her wishes before your own happiness. I can't deny the fact that you were her support in having a successful career so far and I trust you to do the same from here on. Welcome to the family" he said smiling and hugged him making Omkara soar in happiness.

"Instill one thing into your mind" said Prithviraaj in a warning tone "You hurt her again and I will not give you another chance... I am watching you young man" he said and Omkara nodded at the elderly man.

"You father and daughter duo should learn how to talk" scolded Kalyani "You are threatening him"

"I understand their concern daadi... It is their love for Gauri and I am happy that she has such a devoted family of which I will be a part of... I promise I will be careful daadu" said Omkara

"One more condition" said Pinky and they turned to her.

"You both should get married as soon as possible and the wedding should be here in Bareilly... no more arguments on that" said Pinky firmly.

"I am willing to marry her tomorrow if you ask me aunty" said Omkara smiling at his mother in law extracting a laugh from all the people present there. "It is Gauri that needs convincing daadi" he added.

"I will take care of that Omkara... you don't worry about her" assured Kalyani winking at him "You start calling Pinky maa and Shakti papa instead of Aunty and Uncle" she instructed and he nodded his head smiling.

"Can I call you Om?" asked Pinky enthusiastically and Omkara couldn't help but say a yes hugging her "You can call me whatever you want maa"

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Gauri sat on the bed in her room tensed and biting her nails off when Omkara entered with a gloomy face. She got up from the bed and ran towards him.

"What happened? Why did your face lose all color?" she asked and he shook his head in a no sighing disappointedly making her groan.

"I told you not to tell them the entire story... what was the need Om?" she said angry at him "Everything was going fine and you had to spoil it... you didn't even allow me to come there to defend you...what did they say... tell me every detail" she ordered.

"They were very angry that I hurt you Gauri" he said sniffing dramatically making her worried.

Looking at her face, he stopped his laugh and instead made a sad face before saying, "They didn't agree to your request ... seems like we have to get married in less than a month's time"

"Ohh no..... then what should we...." she started and stopped realizing. She looked at him grinning at her and hugged him happily.

"This is cheating Om... you got me worried" she said slapping his arm and he laughed "I was putting my own acting skills to test... why? Only you have that right?"

"Were they not angry? How did you manage to make them agree?" she asked him and he tightened the hug moving his hand over her bare back.

"I can be convincing when I want to be" he simply said and she kissed his cheek.

He however wasn't satisfied with a cheek kiss and took her mouth into a searing kiss which lasted longer than necessary.

"Don't you think we should celebrate" he huskily said leaving her mouth for a while to trace his lips to her jaw making her gasp out a no though her response to him told anything but that.

She pulled him closer grabbing the side of his face with the intention of fulfilling his wish, when they stopped hearing a knock on the door.

"Gauri... open the door" called her mother.

"Your parents have a great timing Gauri" whispered Omkara pecking her while she pushed him away.

"Hide somewhere before I open the door" she whispered to him and he looked at her amused.

"Why? I am your fiancé... I can be found in your room... at least during daytime" he said and she fake smiled at him.

"Yes... you might be my fiancé doctor ji and you can be found in my room during the day but not with the door locked.. Go hide in the bathroom... Maa ko pata chala ki what we are up to.... Ek jaap se dewar pe sata degi dono ko" she said pushing him into the washroom while he chuckled.

Gauri rushed to open the door using a stool as support.

"Gauri... what took you so much time in opening the door?" asked Pinky entering the room "How did you lock it anyway"

"Uhh... I used a stool maa" lied Gauri smiling.

"Kya baat hai... you are glowing... did Om come here?" she asked making her daughter widen her eyes in shock.

"Om... uhh.. why will he come? Maa..."

"Don't lie.. he must have come to tell you the news that papa agreed for both of you to get married... that must be the reason for your happiness isn't it?"

"Oh... that" said Gauri relieved "Yeah... he did come but he had to attend an important call so he told me he will come later"

"I see... chalo.... Now I can happily inform my friends that my son in law is a busy doctor... officially" she proudly said and Gauri smiled at her mother.

"I can't believe you will be married soon and go away to Mumbai leaving us" her mother said suddenly getting emotional and Gauri hugged her "Maa... you are the one hell bent on getting me married"

"Yes... because I want you settled soon, enjoy life with your husband for a year or two before planning for children... the more you delay the less time you have to enjoy" she said.

"Anyways...Mumbai is just three hours away...Whenever you want to see me give me a call and I will be here in no time" Gauri tried to reassure.

"Yeah... yeah... for that you at least have to lift my phone calls right" Pinky asked tauntingly and her daughter gave her a sheepish smile.

"Sorry maa.. I will call you and talk to you daily... I promise"

"Nope... I don't believe you" said Pinky and Gauri pouted at her.

"Anyways... I will try to get Omkara in my team... mere daamad ji leke aayege tujhe yaha (my son in law will bring you here) whenever I feel like seeing you..." said Pinky making a full proof plan.

"You know I am calling him Om now" she said cutely and Gauri laughed at her shaking her head "He will be so happy to be in your team" she said making her mother grin.

"How was the lehenga I gave you yesterday? Did it fit you?" she asked and Gauri tried hard not to blush thinking of the previous night.

"Umm... no... the blouse was tight maa" she said avoiding her mother's eyes searching for the packet in her cupboard.

"Okay... give it back to me... I will tell Mithali the same... she will give you one size bigger" she said and Gauri nodded her head handing her the clothes.

Once her mother left, she closed the door behind her and tried to reach the lock standing on her toes. In no time Omkara's hand locked the door with one hand while he pulled her back to his body with the other.

Back hugging her, he kissed her neck and uttered "So, about the celebration..."

"Not now Om... anyone can come here" she said smiling and looking at him sideways.

"Hmm... right... I will see you at night then?" he asked and she shook her head in a no.

He let her loose and turned her to him narrowing his eyes "Why?"

"You promised me you will talk to your mother" she said shrugging her shoulders and he raised his eyebrow.

"So, that is the deal? If I talk to her... can we have se..." he started and she closed his mouth gasping.

"You are shameless Om... yes... we can meet at night" she said and he laughed.

"That is not a meeting... that is mate..."

"Urghhh... shut up Om" she closed his mouth again and he rolled his eyes.

He removed her hand "You are adorable Gauri... you don't mind doing it, you don't have a problem writing it but you have a problem in saying it" he said smiling and pulling her up close.

She hid her face in his chest "You read all my books" she stated.

"Of course I have...where do you think I get all the imagination from?" he laughed and she blushed.

"I too imagined that with you" she truthfully said lazily tracing her finger on his cheek.

"Great... you blush, flirt, seduce me and later push me away to meet me at night... not fair Gauri" he huskily said kissing her.

No sooner, the kiss turned hungry and Omkara reached for the dori of her dress when she pulled away making him groan.

"Om... get out... now" she laughed pushing him to the door and he obeyed muttering back "For now"

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Radhika fondly looked at her husband and son smiling into the camera as a tear slid down her face. She was looking at their picture from Tanisha's wedding in her phone

Guilt is perhaps the most painful companion of death. She knew no amount of guilt can solve the past. She also knew the mistakes she committed were far from deserving forgiveness but she had been selfish all her life and the fact that she neared death didn't change it.

All she wanted now is for her husband and son to forgive her and talk to her with love one last time before she gave up her body.

A wave of nausea hit her and she rushed to the bathroom to evacuate her bowel contents. It is becoming worse day by day... her debilitating headaches, bouts of vomiting and blurred vision. She came out of the bathroom tired and opened her cabinet to pull out a tablet and swallowed it with a glass of water. Closing her eyes to decrease the reeling sensation, she couldn't help but think.... Will she live the day when her husband and son would forgive her?

Shivaay said he will make that possible and she believed in him. He might not be her own but never did he see her not his mother. The only good she ever did in her life was to be his and Priyanka's mother and she cherished every moment spent with them.

A distinct knock on her door, got her out of her few fond memories. She opened the door expecting Shivaay but was surprised to find her other son.

"Can I come in?" he asked doubtfully and she eagerly nodded her head welcoming him.

Omkara looked at his mother who looked paler day by day. He noticed her stumbling with the steps quite a few times but didn't think of it much. Now having a close look, he could recognize the symptoms of some ailment.

"Are you okay?" he asked and she nodded her head.

When he continued to look at her in doubt, she decided to speak a part of the truth... her son was a doctor and it will be surprising if he didn't suspect her weakness on looking close.

"I think I ate too much spice yesterday... I have an upset stomach... and an episode of vomiting just now" she said and he nodded asking her to sit before he checked her pulse.

"Eat something light today... you seem dehydrated... you might need some oral rehydration therapy" he said her hand still in his when she nodded an okay with a smile closing her hand over his.

Awkwardness was what he felt when she gently caressed his hand not speaking a word for the next five minutes.

"Mom..? you... wanted to talk something to me... last time we stopped the discussion midway" he spoke not able to bear the silence.

She looked at him with a smile and he tried to return it with one of his own. Key word tried... because what came out was something which screamed discomfort.

"I regret leaving your father Omkara" she said and he kept quite not knowing how to respond.

"It was childish of me you know... at that time... he loved me so much and suddenly after you were born I was put back... you were his entire world and I never existed in it... I was jealous of my own son" she said truthfully "I never realized that you should be my world too... I should love you too.. I was an awfully bad mother.... I have nothing to defend myself...but I regret every single mistake I made and every moment I was away from you both"

Omkara nodded his head trying to take in the disturbing information.

Why is she telling him all this? A confession? Why now?

"Why now?" he asked out loud and she remained silent for a while.

"You disliked me, left my father, you wanted to get back after a few years but my father did not accept you... you disappeared again only to come back twenty years later asking for forgiveness in the most unexpected ways... I want to know what changed your mind" he asked.

"I saw Gauri with you and your father in Tanisha's wedding pictures. I wanted to know more about her and luckily I met her in Shivaay's engagement. I asked her about you with intention of talking to you but you were not in good terms with her she said. I waited till you came back from UK. Shivaay told me that you were back in Mumbai that day when I came to your house"

"Okay... you adopted Shivaay and you said he changed you for good. Surely that wouldn't have taken twenty years right... Didn't you want to talk to me then? Didn't you regret your decision then? What stopped you at that time?"

"I...I was busy with the company" she reasoned lamely.

"Ohh... so you are free now hence want to reconcile?" he couldn't help the sarcasm in his voice.

"No... I..."

"What do you want from me... mom?"

"I just don't want you to hate me Omkara... I want your forgiveness"

"I don't hate you... and I forgive you" he said without a second thought and she looked at him not believing his words.

"It is true that I craved for your love... true that I wanted you to come back for me but I realized I didn't ever need that...not then and not now. Dad always loved me enough but I was the one who expected more... I was so selfish and couldn't understand that if it were in his hands he would never have denied my wish... he thought you were not correct for me and he didn't let you back into our lives... He lived all his life alone only for me and I was too foolish not to realize the extent of love he had for me" he said his eyes tearful.

"If I should hate anyone, I should be hating myself for hurting him with my words... you were not the one who was with him... you were not the one he lived his life for.. It was me... I should have known better and I should have realized that my father would never wrong anyone especially someone as important as his wife"

"I don't hate you mom... in fact I don't feel anything for you now except sympathy for loosing such a man" he said getting up from his place beside her.

"If you would feel happy with my forgiveness then you have it... If I can forgive myself, I can forgive you too" he said with a small smile and she nodded her head gratefully tears refusing to stop.

Omkara turned around to walk out of the room and saw Shivaay who was just about to enter the room.

"Omkara... I am sorry I asked Gauri to stay away" he apologized and Omkara glared at him.

"You should realize that people and their emotions are not things... they cannot be bought with your money nor can be created all of a sudden by manipulation" he said acidly.

"Just because you promised your mother that you would give me to her doesn't mean you would deprive me of my share of love and manipulate me into loving someone .... I am not a thing Shivaay nor is my love" he said before he left the place without looking back.

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Oops...That ended on an emotional note....

Omkara forgave his mother apparently... what do you think.

Let me know your thoughts.....

One more chapter to go.... Till then...signing off... your Soujanya.