Omkara sat on the altar, with his son, Aryan, waiting for his to be wife and simultaneously making sure that his son did not burn himself. His to be wife was taking too much time to come down. His bhabhi, Anika, had gone to call her. But she had also disappeared. "where did she go?" he wondered. Suddenly a thought struck him "did she run away? Is she not happy with this wedding?" of course she was not happy with the wedding. Just like him, even she was forced by her mother. He didn't want to marry. But his mother had forced him by saying that his son needs a mother. At first he wasn't ready. Then later he eventually agreed but he had clearly stated that he would marry only for his son. He had loved once. He had been in a relationship once. Things didn't go as per their plan and she left to some far away place, leaving him stranded and heart broken. He still loved her. He couldn't forget her and he wouldn't ever forget her. She will be his one and only love. But that didn't mean he would cheat his to be wife. No he wouldn't. He would fulfill all his duties as a husband. But there will be no love from his side.

He came out of his musings when he felt his son cling closer to him. He smiled. Aryan was the only best thing that had happened to him in the past few years. He heard his mother call out to his son. "Aryan, come to dadi. Let papa do the rituals" jhanvi said in coaxing tone. "papa" aryan mumbled and tried to get more closer to him, if that was possible. "Arya, papa yahin hain bacha... Aap thodi der dadi ke paas jao... Please" om said in a fatherly tone and his son immediately obeyed him. He carefully handed Aryan to Jhanvi and sat back. As soon as he sat back he heard loud murmurs.

He looked up to see the cause of commotion and saw his bride descending the stairs like a fairy. It was weird that he didn't know her name and he doubted her to know his, either. Though she was heavily veiled she reminded him of certain some.

The wedding proceeded with all the rituals. And to seal the relation, the priest asked Omkara to fill the bride's hairline with vermilion. Omkara obliged and waited for his mother to lift her veil.

As the veil was lifted Omkara suckled in his breath. There sat Gauri. In the place of his bride.

The air was thick with tension as they gazed at each other in shock. Omkara's eyes widened in disbelief, while Gauri's face paled, her eyes filled with disgust. For him. It was as if they were staring at ghosts from their past, which have come back to haunt them.

Omkara's mind raced with questions. What was Gauri doing here? Why was she wearing a bridal veil? And why did she look at him with such disgust in her eyes?

Gauri's thoughts were equally chaotic. She had thought she was marrying a stranger, but the man standing before her was the one person she had hoped to never see again. The one person who had shattered her heart into a million pieces.

As they stood there, frozen in shock, the room around them seemed to melt away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in a nightmare from which they couldn't awaken.

Suddenly, Omkara's voice broke the silence, husky with emotions he whispered "Gauri... what are you doing here?"

Gauri's voice was barely audible, her words laced with pain. "I could ask you the same thing, Omkara."

Before Omkara could respond to it, he was asked to complete the rituals. With no other option left, they both completed the rituals and were declared husband and wife.
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After all the rituals and sending away all the guests, Omkara walked into his bedroom.

He waited patiently for his bride to walk out of the washroom. Gauri walked out of the washroom, her face flushed and tears still streaming.

Omakara was mesmerized. She looked even more beautiful than the last time he saw her. He continued to admire her when their gazes locked. And he was quick to read the accusations in her eyes.

"Where were you all these years, Gauri? I tried searching for you. You. You just vanished Gauri. Without any trace. Just leaving behind a letter and the ring. Without a closure. Why Gauri?" He asked, his voice turning into a mere whisper.

Something snapped in Gauri at the way he had asked her the questions. "How dare you ask me Why? After cheating on me, you have the audacity to ask me Why?" She lashed with tears freely streaming down her cheeks.

Omkara's face contorted in shock and disbelief. "Gauri, what are you talking about? I didn't cheat on you!"

"Don't lie to me! I saw you with my own eyes! You were kissing her, that...that..." Gauri's voice cracked as she struggled to hold back tears.

There was prolonged dense silence with Gauri reliving the past, and Omkara reeling in the shock of the revelation. Omkara's expression changed from shock to realization, "Gauri, you have misunderstood the whole situation. Please listen-"

"No! I don't want to hear your excuses! You've broken my trust, Omkara." Gauri's voice trembled as she turned to face away from Omkara.

"Was I not enough for you, Omkara? Was our love not enough for you to keep you faithful and true?" Her voice cracked.

The question, or rather, the way the question was framed shook Omkara to the core. He wanted to clarify everything. Erase all her accusations. Make her his forever, without any misunderstandings.

Determined he called out to her "Gauri". But before he could continue he heard a shrill cry from outside. The intensity of the cry increasing with every second.

He turned towards the door, looked back at Gauri and again turned towards the door and went to open it. As soon as he opened the door, his son lept into his arms and his cries subsided to sobs.

Omkara's mother gave him a sorry look and said "I tried Om. But you know how stubborn your son can be". "It's Okay mom. I'll take care of him. You rest" he said and locked the door behind.

As Omkara turned with Aryan in his arms, he saw Gauri staring at him in utter shock. "You knew about him, didn't you?" Omkara asked perplexed as he rocked Aryan to sleep.

"I knew... I knew about him but" Gauri said and took a small pause. She locked her gaze with Omkara's and continued "I didn't know it was you"
___

With Omkara in the washroom, Gauri was left alone in the room with Aryan sleeping on the bed. Gauri looked at Aryan and let out a small smile at how he was sleeping without careing for the world.

When she had agreed for the marriage, she knew that she would not only become someone's wife but also become the mother of someone's child. The only thing she didn't know was that, that someone was Omkara. But now as she admired Aryan, She could see the resemblance. He was a carbon copy of his Father.

Omkara walked out of the washroom and saw Gauri looking at Aryan with mixed emotions on her face. "Gauri" he called out breaking her thoughts.

"Gauri, Aryan was 1 day old when I first saw him. And I saw myself in him Gauri. That is when I decided that I would be his gaurdian for life. I would be his father" Omkara said.

"You're still lying to me, aren't you? This child, Aryan... he's yours, isn't he? Yours and that girlfriend I saw you with!" Gauri accused

Omkara's expression remained calm, but his eyes betrayed a deep sadness. "Gauri, I just told you Aryan is not my biological child. But I am his guardian, and I will do everything in my power to protect and raise him."

Gauri's anger and hurt boiled over. "Don't lie to me! I know what I saw! You cheated on me, and now you're trying to pass off your mistress's child as your own!"

Omkara's face twisted in pain, "Gauri" he began but was cut off "you know what. I don't care. And I do not want to listen any more of your lies" she said.

Turning away from him "I agreed to this marriage for my parents' happiness and I'll stay bound to it only for them. You do not matter to me. Neither does your son."

He felt as if someone was crushing his heart. The hurt Omkara felt when he heard that their marriage didn't matter was quickly washed away when he heard that his son didn't matter. "But I married only for Aryan, Gauri. How can you say that he doesn't matter?" He asked.

"Until you admit that he's your son, I'm not accepting him. And I will never accept you even after that" Gauri said and turned off the lights marking the end of the conversation.
__

The accusations hung like a cloud over their relationship, casting a shadow on their every interaction. Gauri and Omkara began to drift apart, the distance between them growing with each passing day.

They lived in the same house, shared the same bed, but the emotional chasm between them seemed insurmountable. Aryan's presence only served as a reminder of the misunderstandings that had destroyed their trust.

Gauri threw herself into her work, using it as a distraction from the pain and anger she felt. Omkara, meanwhile, devoted himself to Aryan, pouring all his love and attention into the child.

The silence between them grew thicker, a palpable tension that suffocated them both. It seemed as though they were living separate lives, their marriage reduced to a mere facade.

One day, as Gauri was working from home, Aryan wandered into the room, his curious eyes fixed on her. Omkara was busy in the kitchen, and Gauri was alone with the little boy.

At first, she was hesitant, unsure of how to connect with this child who was a constant reminder of Omkara's perceived betrayal. But as Aryan approached her, his tiny hands reaching out, something inside Gauri melted.

She scooped him up, and Aryan nestled into her arms, his head on her shoulder. Gauri felt a surge of maternal love, her heart overflowing with emotion.

As she held him close, Aryan began to giggle, his tiny hands playing with her hair. Gauri laughed too, feeling a sense of joy she hadn't experienced in a long time.

In that moment, she realized that this child was innocent, a victim of their adult conflicts.

As the days passed, Gauri and Aryan grew closer, their bond strengthening. She began to see the world through his eyes, finding joy in the simple things.

Omkara watched, his heart full of gratitude, as Gauri and Aryan connected. He saw the love in her eyes, the way she smiled at the little boy, and he knew that the ice around her heart was finally starting to thaw.
__

One night, Gauri woke up at the sensation of a pair of hot palms clung to her neck. She could hear soft whimpers too. She turned on the bedside light to get a clear view.

She saw that Aryan was whimpering and shivering and trying to cling on to her for her heat. She immediately turned off the AC and checked Aryan's temperature. His mild coughs from the previous evening had turned into a full blown fever.

She saw Omkara waking up to Aryan's whimpers and told him about his fever. Worried Omkara called for a doctor. As the doctor arrived, he gave Aryan an injection and prescribed a few medicines.

Upon recieving the injection, Aryan's whimpers turned into loud wails. The night turned into day but Aryan's cries were not subsiding. He hadn't eaten a morsel or slept a wink. He continued to whimper and cry.

Seeing his baby in such a condition and on not being able to sooth his pain Omkara's eyes started to fill up. Seeing this Gauri decided to take matters in her hand and took Aryan in her arms and cradled him to comfort.

As the night came in, Aryan's fever broke, Gauri cradled him in her arms, his tiny body relaxed in her embrace. Omkara watched, his eyes filled with emotion, as Gauri tenderly nursed Aryan back to health.

The room was dimly lit, the only sound was Aryan's gentle suckling his bottle. Gauri's eyes met Omkara's, and for the first time in months, they saw each other without the veil of anger and hurt.

In that moment, they were just two parents, united in their love for their child. Omkara's gaze softened, his expression filled with gratitude for Gauri's care and compassion.

As Aryan drifted off to sleep, Gauri gently placed him in his crib. Omkara approached her, his eyes locked on hers. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "Thank you for taking care of him... and for giving me another chance."

Gauri's heart skipped a beat as Omkara's words hung in the air. She saw the sincerity in his eyes.

Gauri's eyes searched Omkara's face, her heart still guarded. "Why should I give you another chance, Omkara? Why should I trust you again?"

Omkara's gaze dropped, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know you are hurt, Gauri. I know I broke your trust. But first hear me out Gauri"

Gauri's expression softened, her voice gentle. "I want to believe you, Omkara. I really do. But it's hard to forget the past, to forget the pain you caused me."

Omkara took a deep breath, his eyes locked on Gauri's. "There's something I need to tell you, something that will change everything."

Gauri's heart raced as Omkara's words hung in the air.

"It was my twin brother, Arav, who cheated on you, not me," Omkara said, his voice firm but gentle. "I know you saw me kissing another girl, but it was all a misunderstanding. But it was not me Gauri. It was Arav."

Gauri's eyes widened in shock, her mind reeling with the revelation. She felt like she was living in a dream, a dream that was slowly unraveling.

Omkara continued, his words pouring out like a river. "Gauri, Arav was a spoilt brat. He was trouble maker. As he grew up nobody liked him. He was sent away to my grandmother's village when he turned 20. That is why you had not known about him. Arav had always been jealous of me. When he came to know of our relationship, He wanted to destroy what we had, to prove that he could take everything away from me."

"That day, when we had decided to meet in the club, I was on my way, Gauri when my car broke down. I dropped you a message to inform you that I would be late too. When I reached the club, I saw that you were not there. I tried calling you, searched for you, but what I found was Arav making out with a girl" He said and held Gauri's arms and continued "I didn't realise it then that you might have seen Arav too. I realized it only on the night of our wedding, when you questioned me"

Gauri's voice was firm. "And Aryan? Who is his mother?"

Omkara's eyes dropped, his voice barely audible. "Arav's girlfriend, Ishana, the same girl you say that day. They fell in love and got married. She got pregnant with Aryan. The night Aryan was born, they met with an accident, Gauri. They didn't make it. I took responsibility for the child, Gauri, because I couldn't bear the thought of him growing up without a father."

Gauri's heart went out to Omkara, to the pain and responsibility he had shouldered alone. She saw the sincerity in his eyes.

But she needed more. "Why did you keep this secret for so long, Omkara? Why did you let me believe the worst about you?"

Omkara's eyes locked on hers, his voice filled with remorse. "I didn't know why you left me, Gauri. All I knew was you what was in the letter. You stated that you hated me. I was clueless. If I had known I would have told you the truth earlier. And after marriage I did try to tell you but you never listened"

Gauri's heart ached at Omkara's words, her mind replaying all the moments they had lost, all the moments they could have spent together if only she had not let her anger consume her.

Gauri's eyes locked onto Omkara's, and she saw the pain and regret in his eyes. And in that moment, she had a profound realization.

"Omkara, I've been so blinded by my own hurt and anger," she said, her voice filled with a newfound understanding and regret. "But if I was wronged, you were wronged too. Your brother's betrayal hurt us both."

Gauri's heart went out to Omkara, as she saw the shared pain and hurt that they had both endured. "We've both been hurt, Omkara," she said. "But we don't have to let that hurt define us. We can heal together."

Omkara's face lit up with hope, and he reached out for Gauri's hand. "Together" he repeated, his voice filled with determination.

As they hugged, Gauri felt a glimmer of hope, a sense that they could indeed rebuild their relationship, stronger and more resilient than before.
__

As the days went by, Gauri and Omkara's bond grew stronger. They spent hours playing with Aryan, watching him discover the world around him. They laughed together, cried together, and explored new experiences as a family.

One evening, as they sat on the couch, Aryan sleeping in his crib, Omkara turned to Gauri with a gentle smile. "You know, I've been thinking... maybe we should start a new tradition. A family tradition, just for the three of us."

Gauri's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What kind of tradition?"

Omkara's eyes shone with excitement. "A weekly family night. We could play games, cook dinner together, or just spend quality time together. What do you say?"

Gauri's heart swelled with love. "I say that sounds perfect."

And so, every Friday evening, the three of them would come together, laughing, loving, and creating memories that would last a lifetime.

___

Hi Guys,
How are you all doing?
After a really long time an update.
And a long one as well.
Hope you guys liked.
Any prompts you guys want me to write on. Do let me.