Eid mubaarak to all my muslim readers...🥳

May you enjoy the day with your family and friends.

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"You know what Gauri, I hate to admit it but your husband surely has magic in his hands," Karan spoke, as he admired one of the paintings in the exhibition he was invited to, along with the Oberoi family.

"I agree Karan ji. Probably, that is the only thing he is good at, other than insulting my sister," Dandi muttered making the former chuckle.

"I can't put into words how much I love your sarcasm Dandi. You are a chill dude," Karan said and got a genuine smile in return.

In the past month, the two have mixed so well that Gauri began to doubt if they really did not know each other until she made the introductions.

Perhaps, their common dislike towards her husband formed the foundation of their bond which only grew stronger by the day.

No need to say, they always had fun bitching about Omkara in every way possible until she rebuked them for the same. Then, they would pretend to be obedient students for a short while before they find a new fault in him to talk bad of him.

"Just see him talk as a perfect gentleman to the media while being a monster at home," Dandi continued to taunt making Gauri sigh in irritation.

"That is enough Dandi bhaiyya, you are..."

"Yeah, you won't agree to anything I say now. You have become blind in your love Gauri, that you are not seeing things as they are," her brother argued.

Karan noticing Gauri's mood change to sour, tried to diffuse the argument.

"Chill Gauri. Leave about us, you cannot make us like him anyway. Tell me about your excitement for tomorrow's trip. One week alone with your Nandi bail is to be seriously taken. Are you equipped with a belt, whip and a pepper spray? I can give you my gun but you are not supposed to shoot. It is illegal," he rambled making her glare at him.

"Exactly, I don't like the idea of you going alone. Can't one of us accompany you sister?" Dandi asked.

"Fine, you talk amongst yourselves, I have had enough for today," she said in give up and turned around to join the rest of the family when Karan pulled her back holding her wrist.

"Okay sorry, no more talks of your husband. I promise," he said in a placating tone and she gave him a doubtful look.

"Sure?"

"Definitely my dear. Dandi, what about you?"

"If it makes her happy then I will shut up."

"See, we only want your happiness," Karan quoted with a dramatic edge making her shake her head with a small smile.

"Waah, kya smile hai baby... I could die for that literally. Are you sure your father isn't a drug dealer because I am already high on you," he flirted and Dandi gagged at once.

"Even for you, that line is way too cliché and cringe worthy," said the latter.

"I think I heard that in some movie. Am I correct or did I miss some words bro?"

"Actually the line is 'Are your parents drug dealers? Cause I'm definitely addicted to what they made'" Dandi corrected and Karan proudly patted him on the shoulder for his knowledge.

Gauri could only gape at the two men as they continued to talk and search for various interesting google quotes to flirt.

After a while of serious discussion when they concluded that ....'Are you Mc Donald's? Cause I'm loving it', outdated while 'Are you Netflix? Because I could watch you for hours'... a newer version of the same, she has had enough.

"I can't believe that you are discussing pick-up lines forgetting about me altogether," she exclaimed making them sheepishly grin at her.

"Sorry, out of habit."

"Seriously now?"

"Come on Gauri, you are married. How can you know of the struggles we bachelor men need to endure to make a girl fall for us. We need to refresh our memory."

"Exactly," Dandi agreed making her roll her eyes.

"I am married yes, but that didn't stop you from flirting with me Karan ji," she said raising an eyebrow.

"Oh my God!! me flirting with you? Your husband will come with a sickle in hand to chop my head off. Won't he?"

"Yeah, he assumes his normal monsteric self only when he sees someone near you. Otherwise he won't bother talking nice to you. Would he?" Dandi began his taunting again and Karan bit his lip to hold back a laugh.

"You never leave a chance Dandi bhaiyya," Gauri sighed.

"Why would I, if it were in my hands, I would have gotten you away from this manipulative family. You were talking about joining in a college a month ago. What happened to that plan? Since they need you, they conveniently forgot that matter and are sending you for collecting idols?" he mocked when Shivaay called his sister.

"Om's interview is about to begin. Come, he might call you when he is asked about you," her bade bhaiyya said with a bright smile.

Gauri looked at the other two, before giving a smile to Shivaay. She wasn't expecting anything as such but she decided to keep her silence.

Karan noticed Dandi scoff at the statement though he fake smiled at the SSO.

"Were you discussing something Gauri? Dandi seemed to be offended" commented the big brother.

"It is nothing bade bhaiyya. He is not into paintings and he is a bit bored here. Karan ji will keep him company. I will come with you," she said and the later smiled taking her along.

Once Gauri excused herself, Karan turned to his new friend.

"You are worse than me Dandi, colleges don't start at the end of term. She has to join next month I guess," Karan opined.

"Not you too Karan ji. This family will make sure she stays married to him. All this is a plan. I am hundred percent sure of it," Dandi said defensively.

"Also for whatever reason Shivaay singh Oberoi took her, it is not going to happen. Sahab ji  will never take her name... just see for yourself."

"I think you are turning more bitter towards the Oberois bro," he commented and Dandi sighed.

"I was always against them Karan ji. They imposed so much responsibility on the poor girl giving her the bait of love. You do not know what all insults that man did to her. Still, she forgive him."

"They aren't baiting her man. They really love her."

 "So? Koi meharbaani nahi kar rahe hai... For what she has done to them, they ought to love her. For that pure soul she posseses, I think she deserves more."

"Agreed, but she loves him Dandi. Furthermore, you said this family is imposing their wants on her. You cannot be the same. Don't you think?"

"Me? Do you think I am imposing on her?"

"Yes. Not directly but by being taunting and disliking Omkara, you are hinting that she is not supposed to decide in favor of him. Your opinion will matter to her you know," he explained.

"But..."

"I understand you are concerned but it is her life, her choice and we should respect it."

"You are saying that we should stop taunting that man?"

"Of course not. It is my favorite pass-time. We just need to make sure that stays comedic and not serious."

"Why couldn't she love someone like you?" Dandi wondered aloud and Karan chuckled.

"Well bro, marriages are made in heaven they say."

"No they aren't. This one is made in hell. Whoever put that rule that one needs to stay married to a husband who cared less, should be burnt alive," the later muttered in irritation, earning a hearty laugh from the other.

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Omkara tried to focus on answering the questions put forth to him but his focus shifted time and again to the trio at the far end of the hall.

His wife talking with two of his opponents fretted him. He feared they spoiled her mind against him.

It wasn't surprising when he noticed Dandi's open love for Karan. Omkara knew the man hated him and since Karan got fun in irritating him, Dandi at once took interest in his adversary.

He couldn't help but fist his hands helplessly as he saw his nemesis pull at his wife's wrist, a few moments earlier.

In what language did he needed to be told to stay away from Gauri? he thought angrily.

Does the man have no shame?

"Mr. Oberoi, this time your paintings give a different feel. Unlike your earlier ones which seem to have a dark theme, these are colorful, bright and lively. Could you tell us what are your thoughts on it?" one of the reports initiated the questionnaire.

Omkara's gaze flickered to Gauri who was smiling while talking to his brother.

"The theme of a painting depends on the artist's state of mind. I was in a peaceful harbor when I painted them, hence the bright colors."

"Does that mean you were not happy before?"

"Need not be. Let us just say that I am more content now."

"Good to hear that sir. What is your inspiration behind this exhibition? We heard Mrs. Jhanvi Oberoi is one of the sponsor."

Omkara smiled as he answered the question.

"Mom has always been the encouraging parent, but she isn't the one you asked about."

"Ohh, can we know who it is?"

Shivaay put an arm around Gauri's shoulder, making her turn to him with a small smile.

"Thanks for everything Gauri. I know what my brother is talking about," he said and she looked away for a second, glancing at her husband on stage.

Their eyes locked in a nano second before she turned away and gave her brother in law a hopeful smile.

Her sane mind was sure he wouldn't take her name but her traitorous heart did long for fantasy.

"Sir?" the reporter urged Omkara who was busy in trying to gauge his wife's reaction.

"Huh?"

"You were talking about your inspiration."

"Umm.. yeah how about I show you," he said and earned a chorus enthusiastic agreements.

Gauri widened her eyes at the answer, as Shivaay squeezed her shoulder in encouragement. When she still looked unsure, taking her hand, he started to lead her towards his brother, when the later clapped his hands signaling his subordinate.

The duo stopped a few feet from the dais ready to hear the name, when they saw a worker step on to the stage with a painting in hand.

Giving a charming smile to the audience, Omkara raised from his seat and walked towards the painting. As everyone waited patiently for the artist to reveal his muse, Gauri struggled to keep her heart in check.

Do not expect more... she warned it, sensing it doing a somersault within her chest.

In no time, the cover was taken off the portrait and the reporters eagerly clicked their cameras.

A young woman, dressed in her bridal attire greeted them looking through the netted chunri which half covered her face. Her blouse was painted a dark blue while her lehenga was colored in a contrasting orange. Heavy jewelry adorned her which shined through the canvas, completing the ethnic look.

Despite the veil, the beauty of the woman was hard to miss if one took note of the details. She had big hazel eyes, carved eyebrows, high cheek bones with blushed cheeks, a buttoned nose and petal like lips.

The lady held the transparent veil with her bangle embellished delicate hands as her pink tinted lips smiled through it. Contrarily, her eyes showed pain, a drop of water just ready to escape her lower lash, giving the impression of concealed agony.

"Breathtaking!!" one of the reporters praised the piece of art which was followed by many other appreciative comments.

"Is she even real?" wondered another earning a chuckle from the artist.

"Mr. Oberoi, does she exist? What is her name?"

Omkara looked at a stupefied Gauri before he uttered, "Maaya."

"Sorry sir?"

"Let us name her Maaya for now. She is real and she is someone especially important to me," he said illusively and a round of hushed murmurs sounded in the hall.

Shivaay and his family who had been waiting for Omkara to reveal his wife's name frowned when he spoke about a fictional one.

"Thanks for your patience while answering the questions sir. We wish you all the best for your future endeavors and hope that you will introduce us to the mystery girl soon or at least tell us the real name."

"Thanks for coming. Everyone please help yourselves to some refreshments," he smiled formally.

As the crowd began to disperse, the brother in law turned to his side to watch Gauri silently looking at the painting, the pain of the woman reflecting in her eyes.

"Are you alright Gauri?" he asked in concern and she broke away from her trance nodding in reassurance.

"The painting, is it...?"

"Yeah, it is me," she answered him and he nodded.

"He was supposed to display another picture right? Did he change it at the last minute?"

"I...I don't know bade bhaiyya."

"But..." he started when his mother approached him.

"Shivaay, I need to talk.."

"Mom, please go from here, I don't want to talk to you now," he dismissed.

"How can you do this Shivaay, you won't talk to me at home and you wont listen to me here a well?"

"What is there to know mom? I really don't need this now. Please move from here before the media gets a whiff of the tensions in the family."

"But..."

"Choti maaji, bade bhaiyya is right. Please, for now.."

"I don't want to know what is right to you girl. I am talking to my son," she spat.

"Mom!!" her son uttered in a whisper yell when Gauri held his hand in a plea.

"Bade bhaiyya, maa ji might need your help. Please go and check if the arrangements are adequately done," she said pushing him away and he begrudgingly obliged to avoid a scene.

“Who are you to even talk between us you girl? I don’t understand the confidence behind your lectures," Pinky Oberoi continued.

“Choti maaji, we both know what Shivaay bhaiyya means to me and what I mean to him so, let us just stop acting dumb.”

“Oh my maata…You think you mean something to him?” the elder woman asked amused.

“Let me clear your illusion my dear before you drown into the well you dug for yourself. Shivaay loves his brothers and whatever he does is for them. So, if he is being nice to you, it is only because he wants you to serve Omkara.”

“The moment Omkara throws you out of the house after coming to his senses, no one from the family will side you. Get that into you head,” Pinky taunted.

“And considering how unmatchable you both are, that won’t take much time. Meine pehle bhi yahi bola tha aur ab bhi bol rahi huun. Omkara will never give you the position of his wife and today is the best example.”

“I will not correct you maa ji. You can think whatever you like and it wouldn’t make any difference to me,” Gauri replied in a calm tone further infuriating the other.

“Well, your husband as you believe him to be, had the oppurtunity to introduce you to everyone today. Then why did he not?” she mocked.

“As I said before, I am not answerable to you maa ji. I will take your leave,” said Gauri turning to leave when Pinky spoke again.

“You think I don’t connect to you but believe me I do Gauri," she said and the former stopped, turning to her with knitted brows.

"Thirty five years ago, I was in the same place as you. Coming from a village and waiting to be accepted into this family. And you know I am still struggling for it,” she said and Gauri mutely stared at her.

“I wasn’t sent to college and I couldn’t speak proper English. Shakti ji was not as supportive as he seems to be.  Affairs ran in the family as commonly as coffee and I know the heart breaks I went through in my life,” she said with pain.

“It was only my Shivaay who gave me the recognition and respect as the Oberoi heir's mother and that is why I love him more than anything. Whatever I do is for him and I do not have any regret about it.”

“Shakti ji might be secretive about his extra business but Jeth ji is not that kind. We all know about the circus he creates whenever he came home. Omkara is his son Gauri and you should know that genes and personality will be passed on. I only ask you to be careful,” she finished, acting concerned.

“You are unnecessarily worrying over me Choti maa ji. I have no intentions to stay here permanently. Omkara ji needs me now and once I am assured that he is good on his own, I will leave the house," said Gauri truthfully.

"That day, no one can stop me. Neither Shivaay bhaiyya nor Jhanvi maaji and not Omkara ji himself,” she replied holding her head high, walking away from her.

She did not notice the heart broken look of Omkara who listened to the last part of the conversation, nor the look of sympathy passed by Karan who stopped a few paces away from them.

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Everything can't go smoothly right...🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Let us see what more is to happen.

See you until later... yours Soujanya.

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