Note: chapter not edited... mistakes to be spared...I will correct them later... its already late and I planned to update today.

Omkara looked at the phone in his hand contemplating whether or not to call his dad. It was merely an hour after he talked to his mother and walked straight to Gauri's room only to find it empty. He tried calling her but her mobile rang within the room. On asking her mother, he was informed that Gauri had to go out with her grandfather regarding Priyanka's wedding rituals and that she must have left her phone behind by mistake.

He returned to his room and tried to think of other things...other happy things... patients, cases, his time with Gauri and her family... yet every single thought zeroed onto his mother and father.

He found himself in the clutches of guilt he had been avoiding to feel since the time he knew of his mother's truth. That she was a selfish woman, manipulative enough to corrupt his mind against his father and he chose to believe her. He chose to believe her over his father... whose world centered around his son and no one else... his future, his career...his love life with Gauri..... every thought and every worry of his father pertained to Omkara alone.

How could he commit such a huge mistake...

Had he believed his father that his mother was not what she showed herself to be, he wouldn't have hurt the only woman he ever loved.

In between cursing himself for the past mistakes and vowing himself to never commit them again, his phone rang and his father's name flashed before him.

"Hello Om? Are you alright? I have been feeling uneasy since sometime now... is everything going well? What did Gauri's parents say? Did they forgive you? Should I come over to talk to them?" Kaali asked in one go.

That... further added to his guilt and he tried not to wither into tears of self-depreciation.

"Dad" he managed not to croak his voice but obviously failed "take a break will you...? Everything is going absolutely fine.. I was just about to call you"

Kaali frowned at his son's voice "Really? When were you going to call? After your marriage or after you had your first child? Sasural jaake ghar bhul gaya hai tu (staying with your in laws, you forgot your home)" he said in jest and was relieved when he heard his son chuckle.

"I am not having a child anytime soon dad" replied Omkara smiling and Kaali guffawed "Ohh... so you started planning future... of course my son always thinks a step ahead... now before we get deviated with the topic of your future kids, tell me what happened with that talk with Gauri's parents... You asked me to come the day after right?"

"They forgave me dad... I am now officially their 'daamad ji' as they put it"

"Awww.... Mera bacha..kitna bada hogaya" sniffed Kaali dramatically making Omkara roll his eyes.

"Acha... I need to talk to my bahu too then... where is she... make me talk to her"

"Gauri went out with daadu... I will ask her to call you once she returns"

"No... you will forget once you put down your phone... I want to talk right now..... put her on a conference call"

"No dad... she left her phone behind" he said in a low voice remembering why he went her room in the first place.

Kaali misinterpreted the sad tone "Ohh..... so you are sulking"

"Nothing like that dad"

"Hota hai hota hain... it happens... you can sulk all you want only before marriage Om... make good use of it... after marriage no one is going to humor you" he said making his son frown.

"Why? What changes after marriage?"

"Everything changes my dear son... your life's remote control will land in your wife's hand... you just have to change the channel of your emotions according to her wish" Kaali said slyly.

"Dad... don't joke"

"I am very serious Om... your life is going to take a three hundred and sixty degree turn... your game is going to start soon and you just have to play smart with caution" said Kaali.

"Dad!! You are scaring me now" Omkara complained making his father laugh.

"Okay... I won't... but seriously... your life will change... unlike what people say that a girl's life changes most that she leaves her family to come into an entirely different one, while the boy's life remains the same......a boy's life also has to change... his priorities, his responsibilities towards her and their future together will change... trouble arises only when the guy doesn't change... that's what I said... play smart... and I know my son is smart"

"What is with all this advise today? you are acting like a typical mother advising her daughter the night before marriage"

"I always held back these words from you because you didn't consider me a good husband Omkara" said Kaali making him go numb.

"Remember... I always was against your choice of girl for your marriage? That was because I feared... fear that you will end up committing the same mistake I made... Life is a game Omkara, your family being your team...to win it we need to chose the right people as the team mates... your children will not be your choice and neither will your parents be so, life partner is all you can chose. I failed because I chose the wrong partner not because I was a bad player" he explained.

There was a tense silence of few minutes before Omkara gathered courage to ask his father "You still love her... don't you?"

That again stretched the silence between the father and son.

"Dad... if ever she comes to you genuinely apologizing for her mistakes...will you ever forgive her?"

"No!!" said Kaali a bit too loud "things are good as they are" he said, the refusal in his tone sounding unconvincing and Omkara smiled.

His father was too full of love to deny it to the people truly asking for it.

"I am sorry dad" said Omkara unable to say anything more.

"No... you were just a child when you got into her words... Don't worry I will extract my revenge soon" said Kaali joking "I just need to get you married soon for it... why do you think I was after you all this time?"

"Dad!!" Omkara said in a shocked tone though he was smiling "Really, I am sorry again...I know I should have stood on your side... thanks for not leaving my side ever dad."

"Apne baap ko thank you bolega tu? Itna bada ho gaya hai? Not only in friendship... even in love... there should be no sorry and no thank you" his father scolded.

"Of course that doesn't apply to your wife Om... you need to get down and beg for forgiveness if needed" he said and Omkara laughed aloud.

"I will see you soon... be happy...ask Gauri to call me"

"I love you and I miss you dad" said Omkara biting back tears.

"Haaawww... you miss me... now that is new" said Kaali being dramatic as usual.

"I miss you more than you can ever imagine dad... bye... see you soon" said Omkara and hurriedly ended the call lest his father recognized the change in his tone.

Kaali looked at his phone and smiled before dialing his friends number.

"Tej... do you know... today Om said he misses me" he happily informed his friend earning an "Is this so important? I know he loves you" from the later.

Kaali however refused to back down and continued to narrate the entire colloquy which lead to his son's confession.

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It was a bit past dinner time when Gauri reached home and rushed to her room to grab her phone.

"Hey Shankarji... why isn't he not lifting my calls" she thought dialing Omkara's number for the third time after seeing his missed calls.

"Is he angry?" she thought "Let us test the environment before she barges into his room"

She freshened up in record time and changed into a simple saree... just in case he proved hard to melt.. she never has seen his anger yet... thank God for that.. she just needs a perfect armor to face it... she concluded before she left her room.

"Maa" she called her mother.

"Gauri... haven't you informed Omkara that you are going out beta? He was asking for you" her mother gushed.

"I forgot maa... sorry"

"Bechara... he might have felt bad.. he didn't come down for dinner yet" her mother said and Gauri raised her eyebrows.

"Didn't come down for dinner?" she asked and Pinky nodded her head in a yes.... is it anger or something else...thought Gauri.

Must be about his mother... he was to talk to her today... how unempathetic of her... he must have come to her to seek comfort and she was not home... she scolded herself.

"Gauri... where are you lost... ask him to come down" said Pinky and Gauri smiled "Where is daadi?" she asked.

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Omkara took his father's words rather seriously... He should sulk only before marriage... it might not work after it... Now that Gauri is the wrong party and he in the wronged,.... He was to act all angry and upset to see if she cajoled him.

Drama... never was his genre but seems like his girl brings out the worst of his shades... he mused with a smile looking at his phone which rand for the fifth time.

"I am not lifting the call... you will have to come to me see me Gauri" he whispered smiling.

As if granting his wish, he heard a knock on his door and grinned before composing himself. Should act upset he reminded himself making an appropriate face before opening the door.

"Gauri... don't call me again..." he started and stopped when he saw that his girl was not alone...she brought her mom and daadi with her.

Little minx.... Came well prepared...he thought now really in a sulking mode.

He however faked a smile at his mother in law and the elderly lady "Maa...daadi... what happened?" he asked letting them inside the room.

"We should be asking you that Omkara... why didn't you come down for dinner?" asked Kalyani.

"I...I... was just not hungry daadi.. didn't feel like eating" he lied.

Kalyani nodded before calling a servant who entered the room with a huge tray of food.

"Sit" ordered Kalyani and Omkara did as asked.

Kalyani brought the tray of food before him and asked him "Eat"

Omkara looked at the plate filled with delicacies, not an inch of it was left empty and turned to daadi.

"Daadi... this is too much food... I cannot eat everything" he said in his best pleading tone.

Kalyani looked at Pinky who nodded at her mother in law before taking the plate before him and Omkara sighed in relief... his stomach would burst if he ate all that food.

However, his happiness was short lived when Pinky sat before him with the tray of food in her hand and making a morsel she raised her hand to his mouth. Omkara widened his eyes and looked at Kalyani who smiled in return.

"If you cannot eat... we will make you eat...don't worry Omkara... now like a good boy... open your mouth" she said and Omkara again started to protest "Daadi... please this is too much to eat"

"You should have thought of the consequences, before deciding to skip dinner... this is your punishment... now no more arguments.. eat" she ordered and Omkara gave up signing...

Kya...socha tha...aur kya hogaya... why did he decide to do a drama again? ... right... this was all his father's fault... he cursed before opening his mouth and Pinky happily fed him.

Gauri silently watched him sulk and eat with an amused face... trying her best not to laugh out loud.

"Maa... he likes sweets so much... feed him more" she advised earning a glare from him.

"Chup kar... I know he hates sweets... you told us that day when he had kesari right?" scolded Pinky and Gauri bite her tongue.

"But he likes them... if you feed him" she said making Omkara look at her in horror and Pinky smiled "Don't worry... I am not trusting her words Om... eat" she said putting another morsel in his mouth.

After an hour of feeding Omkara felt he would faint with exhaustion. He never thought mother's love could be so tiring... he finally gave up and pleaded again "Maa... enough... please" he said and Pinky nodded her head.

"Maa ji... he ate enough... leave him for today" she asked her mother in law and she complied before asking "will you ever again try to skip meals?"

"No... never" Omkara said making the elderly woman satisfied.

"Now... take rest... we can talk tomorrow... come to the breakfast table on time" she said and Omkara vigorously nodded his head.

"Come... let us leave him alone for the night" said Kalyani turning to the door and Pinky followed her.

Gauri grinned at Omkara wiggling her eyebrows at him while he silently walked near her and not so gently pinched her waist.

"OOUCH!!" She yelled making Kalyani and Pinky turn around and ask what the matter was.

"N...Nothing... a mosquito bit me..." she said looking at her mother making them roll their eyes.

"Come out... let him relax" she said and Gauri complied still rubbing the sore spot.

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Omkara strolled in the garden for more than an hour trying to get his thoughts as well as his guts into place... His stomach was full upto its brim as so was his brain...

Truly speaking he felt nothing for his mother... he isn't even sure she was truly guilty or has some ulterior motive... but what would possibly benefit her now... he also couldn't get that ill look out of his mind... his eyes were experienced enough to distinguish ill from healthy. There was something that was wrong with her more the stomach ailment she told him off...

That paleness of hands and nails if otherwise could have been diagnosed as anaemia...those dark circles beneath her eyes suggest sleeplessness either due to sudden awakening from sleep at night or restlessness through out the day... she looked frail enough to fall and even seemed to have lost weight? Not to forget her frequent stumbling while she walked.

Does Gauri know? Did she hide it from him? why will she... unless it is something that would bother him? No... there ought to be something and he intended to find it out soon....

If no one is ready to tell him, he can very well peep into his mothers room to uncover the truth... he was fed up with people hiding things from him...

Thinking of ways to sneak into his mother's room the next day, he reached his room and locked the door not noticing the presence of another person who hid behind the curtain, seeing him walk in mindlessly.

He took a pair of tracks and entered the washroom to have a nice warm shower shutting the door behind. In mere fifteen minutes he came out freshly showered wiping his hair dry. He walked to the dressing table looking for his leave in conditioner when he noticed a movement in the curtain behind him.

He curiously looked at it and in no time Gauri's head peeped out through the partition. He acted ignorant waiting to know what the little minx of his planned.

She looked pretty in that chiffon saree she wore and he couldn't make a move earlier in presence of her mother and grandmother. Now with the door of his room locked, he has her all for himself... he thought stopping the grin from appearing on his face.

Gauri ogled at Omkara hiding behind the curtains... Haaye... how handsome he looked with his wet hair and light stubble... she hoped she wasn't drooling...

She came to his room with intention of confirming if his mood was okay since he didn't pay her a visit. When he walked in a few minutes later absent minded, she ducked behind the curtains to scare him...alas he entered the bathroom in no time... she tried getting out of the room but he locked it from the top and her height wasn't enough to reach it without difficulty.

She was just about to reach the bolt when she heard the bathroom door unlock and she reflexively ran back to her previous position.

Why are you hiding Gauri? asked her heart

I don't have any idea... may be the thought that if he found her alone in his room, he won't be leaving her unpunished is a tad bit scary? answered her mind unsure...

As if you don't like it... her heart answered back.

Right... let us see if he still is upset... she decided and walked out tiptoeing towards him.

Omkara watched her soundlessly walking towards him and waited patiently... when her hands encircled his waist with her back hugging him, he stopped the huge grin which threatened to break out on his face.

He begrudgingly removed her hold and putting up his best poker face turned around to face her.

Gauri frowned at his reaction... she was expecting him to turn around and hug her... instead he looked unaffected... why?

"Are you upset?" she asked aloud and he ignored her question walking around her to reach the bed.

"Om... what is it... are you angry that I left without informing you... I was in a hurry and thought of texting you but I realized later that I forgot my phone" she said giving him her cutest pout making him mentally swoon.

He managed to turn his face away when she got on the bed to sit beside him "Om... talk something... if it is about the forced dinner earlier... I am not going to apologize... you needed a good class on not to avoid food even if you are upset over something... I used my big gun" she said smiling at him and he fake glared at her.

"Acha okay.. sorry... now talk something... please... please"

"Nope... not so easy"

"Why? Tell me what you want me to do then"

Satisfied with the response, Omkara mentally grinned "Depends... to what extent you are to go to get my forgiveness" he said looking at her.

"What do you want Om" she asked smiling at him caressing his cheek and earned a smile.

"How about a live strip tease?" he asked and she gasped covering her mouth with both hands.

Omkara chuckled at the reaction "Well... will you?" he asked again and she hit his arm recovering from the shock.

"Besharam insaan... hatt.... I am going now... bye...good night" she said as she hurried to get away from him when he pulled her and both of them landed on the bed, she on top of him.

"What... nothing I haven't seen before... you just need to act seductive" he said laughing and she shook her head in a no... hiding her face in his chest.

"Okay... let us keep it for another day" he said and she sighed relieved trying to get up only to be pulled back and rolled over such that she was the one lying below now.

"I never said I am leaving you Gauri..." he said kissing her cheeks and she smiled at him "I only said let us keep the idea of strip teasing for later... how can I let you go when you look beautiful dressed in this saree" he huskily whispered in her ear and kissed it.

He traced his fingers gently over her neck and shoulder getting the saree out of his way before he kissed her collar bone.

She responded with a moan passing her fingers through his hair. He looked at her eyes a moment later to note the same passion in them as his and asked; "Did you take the pill today?"

She nodded her head in a yes after which he took her mouth in a searing kiss... before going ahead to make her his again.

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Hi... sorry for the late update... but I was held up due to some work

I was not in a mood to write something emotional so tried to fill in some family time and romance...

Let us see what tomorrow brings....

Till then... signing off... yours Soujanya.....