Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim readers.😇😇

Note: unedited... will correct later.

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Jhanvi was hurrying towards her son's room wondering why her daughter in law did not come downstairs.

Did they fight?

Did he even talk to her as promised?

She just reached the door when Gauri stepped out looking like an angry, broody hen. The latter looked so irritated and lost that she turned the other way to walk down the stairs not noticing Jhanvi who stood right beside the door.

Oh God, did her son mess up again?

"Gauri?" she called and got her attention.

"What happened Gauri, why didn't you come for breakfast yet? Is everything alright? Did Omkara talk to you? If he said anything wrong I apologize on his behalf beta, please forgive..."

"Maa ji, ..." her daughter in law started but she didn't let her talk.

"No, if you are angry then he must have definitely done something wrong. I assure you I will talk to him."

"No Maa ji," Gauri shook her head and held the former's shoulders in assurance.

"You don't need to worry. We talked it out and I forgave him already. It is not his fault that Svetlana is a sick woman.

Jhanvi heaved a sigh of relief that things are okay.

"Thank God," she said with a smile and caressed her cheek.

"Then why are you late?" she questioned.

"Ummm, vo... nothing actually. I overslept I guess...uhh... with the stressful events yesterday..." Jhanvi heard her daughter in law stammer and frowned.

Her watchful eyes assessed her carefully and widened in shock looking at an obvious bruise on her neck.

"What is this?" she asked at once touching the area when Gauri moved back in reflex and tried to cover it.

Damn!! the younger one cursed herself. In anger, she left the room without taking measures to hide the visible mark her husband so lovingly gave her the previous night.

How is she to explain it?

"Let me see Gauri, it looked..." Jhanvi started and stopped short seeing her daughter in law blush profusely.

It clicked in late but when it did, she stared at her dumbstruck, unable to believe her eyes.

"Ohh," she uttered loudly before she could stop herself.

Omkara's wife looked away in embarrassment and Jhanvi bit her lip not wanting to add on to the discomfort.

"Umm, if you cover it like that, you will attract more attention," Gauri heard her husband's mother say and wished she never came out of the room that day.

Can I disappear, please Shankar ji?

"Okay, don't turn more red. Come with me," said Jhanvi and dragged her along.

********************************

Gauri leaned forwards to look at herself in the full length mirror in her mother in law's dressing room.

"Perfect," she smiled and Jhanvi joined her.

"This is a new piece that I bought a few days back. You can keep this, it will come in handy," the elder one said, handing over the concealer.

Gauri nodded accepting it and remained silent just like she did through the whole time that her mother in law expertly covered the mark.

"You don't need to be embarrassed about it Gauri. It is just me," Jhanvi tried again.

"Uhhh... I think it is even more embarrassing since it is you maa ji," she confessed and this time the former didn't hold back the laughter.

A few happy and peaceful minutes later, Gauri locked her gaze with her mother in law and asked the question which has been bothering her since last night.

"Why did you lie to me about the video maa ji?"

Shocked for the second time since morning, Jhanvi took her time in preparing her answer.

"Did you think that I would believe it?"

"I didn't want you to see it in the first place Gauri. I know what it feels to see your husband in such an ugly situation and I didn't want you to even know of the existence of such a video."

"I accept I was worried what you would think bad of it but that is because I don't want either you or Om getting hurt."

"I would never believe him doing such a thing maa ji."

Jhanvi nodded her head and patted her cheek, "My son got lucky after years."

"In all this time, I never asked why Svetlana was with Papa ji. I thought it was a sour topic that is better not discussed. Now I think Svetlana isn't just a loose woman maa ji. She wants something more than just money."

"For the time I had known her, she is this woman who desperately wanted to be a part of the family. I convinced myself that it was my ill fate that I got a husband who could be lured by a woman like her. I think you are right Gauri; she wants more than what she says she needs."

"When did she join as Papa ji's secretary?"

"I think roughly three years back."

"Is she the first one whom Papa ji,..." she hesitated but the other one understood.

"No, I lost Tej way before. Our relationship took a dent when I had my first miscarriage. I had difficulties but we continued to try. The fact that Shivaay was born months before Omkara had irked him to no end. He called me an irresponsible and incapable mother reminding me of the child I lost time and again," Jhanvi reminisced.

Gauri noted melancholy replace the earlier happiness and silently listened to her, feeling bad for her mother in law.

"I should have woken up then. I should have taken a stand for myself then but I hung to him until it was too late."

"Maa ji," she squeezed her shoulder making her sigh.

"Well, the point is, Svetlana is not the first woman but she lasted long. She had been the constant one since she joined. That is it."

Gauri nodded understandingly.

"You don't worry about her Gauri. Shivaay said he is onto something regarding Kalyani mills incident. The boys will work it out. You concentrate on your upcoming college admission."

"What about it maa ji?"

"Oh, didn't Shivaay inform you about the admission test?"

Gauri widened her eyes and asked in worry.

"Admission test? Means?"

"You have to pass it to get the admission Gauri."

"Maa ji, I did not know about this. What if I don't make it? I also don't have much time left. I have to take maa to the hospital today."

"Don't worry we have a week to prepare. I will help you. Let us have breakfast first. Sharada ji was also worried and has been waiting for you. After the meal I will accompany you to the hospital," Jhanvi offered and Gauri nodded gratefully.

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Omkara got out of the bathroom fresh and changed when he saw his elder brother waiting for him in the room.

"Shivaay?" he called in question and his brother directed his attention from his paintings on the wall to him.

"Hi," he greeted unsurely and received a smile in return.

"Everything is okay Shivaay," Omkara assured making him sigh in relief.

"Great," Shivaay grinned happily and his brother gave him a jubilant smile.

"You look happy."

"I guess I am."

Shivaay raised an eyebrow at the open confession. He didn't find the insecurity in his brother's voice which prevented him to stay happy in the moment rather than stubbornly clinging on to fear of future.

Things must more than just okay and he was extremely happy for that... he thought.

"That is.... a first."

"I didn't have to explain it to her that the video isn't true."

"My sister-in-law is smart and she loves you Om," the elder one said with a proud smile.

Omkara nodded his head with a fond smile and remained silent for a few seconds before he said his next words shocking the great SSO.

"I love her too Shivaay."

"Oh.my.God." gasped the blue-eyed Oberoi.

"What? You weren't expecting it."

"Obviously, man we have been telling you that since forever. I did not expect you to acknowledge it."

Omkara rolled his eyes at that and his brother continued.

"After all, one can even make an idiot understand things but cannot make a person who acts like an idiot, understand something."

"Shivaay!"

"What? That's the truth, I am still finding it hard to believe that you uttered those three words... ummm should I faint or something, for effect?"

"Stop being Rudy, will you?" the younger one exclaimed.

"Ahh, he missed your confession Om. Poor thing."

Omkara smiled shaking his head.

"Where is he by the way?"

"No idea. He is not at home and Khanna informed me that he took the car early today. He went to meet Bhavya."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I didn't call him yet because I was more worried about you. I guess we should call him," said Shivaay and Omkara nodded his head.

A few attempts later, Shivaay left his younger brother a message asking him to call back once he gets free.

"Did you come only to check on me or do you have something else to say?" Omkara asked.

"I also wanted to talk to you about Svetlana but I guess I will leave it for today. You are in a good mood and I do not want to spoil it by taking her name."

"I will be okay. Tell me what it is. Did the police find her whereabouts?"

"No, they didn't yet."

"Then?"

"Do you remember the list of survivors of the Kalyani mills accident? The one that we gave to dad and Bade papa to check if the names rang a bell of suspicion?"

"Yes."

"Girish Goenka, assistant manager of Kalyani mills. He is currently located in Mumbai and from his call records, the police came to know that he contacted one number frequently. Guess what, the number is Svetlana's secret contact. The one from which the henchmen said they received instructions to kidnap Sahil."

"What? How are the two connected?"

"That is yet to be known but it is some link. Everything is zeroed onto that ominous fire accident Om. We have a long way to go," Shivaay said and his brother nodded thoughtfully.

"Whatever might be the reason Shivaay, I want Svetlana behind the bars at any cost. She tested my patience way too much."

"She will be Om. Let us hope that day comes sooner," said Shivaay and the former nodded, wishing for the same.

"Besides, there is this Harshvardhan Trivedi who had two daughters on whom no records are available. If anybody can harbour hate to crumble our family, it must be Trivedi's successors or friends. They lost their very identity in the whole ordeal. They have a motive, far valid than anyone," Shivaay let out his thoughts.

"Is this Goenka by any chance Trivedi's friend?"

"I thought of that too," explained Shivaay.

"The problem is that the case was closed years ago and we cannot ask for an official enquiry on it without reopening it. So, whatever help we get is unofficial. That way, things are going to take time. We have to ask the other factory workers if the two had a connection and that might require secrecy to not cause suspicion."

"Suspicion?"

"Bade papa confessed that the investigation was compromised Om. If any of them got an inkling of it, they might get a chance to sue him. Karan threatened me with the same point. His father is in coma and he doesn't have a solid proof to attack us legally. That is our only blessing. Otherwise, Bade papa would have been in the wrong light before law."

"Great, so this is going to take months. I don't understand if they were innocent, why resort to such means."

"You know the system Om. They needed the insurance money to rebuild everything and the case would have taken forever. Don't worry, I had appointed the best of private investigators to solve this. Hopefully, the wait will be for a few weeks."

Omkara let out a long breath before he put forth his next question.

"Have you ever thought that Mr. Oberoi might be responsible for..."

"No Om, our fathers might be greedy and selfish but they are not cruel," Shivaay said firmly.

"But Karan seemed to be so sure Shivaay. Don't you think it is possible? He was after us due to the Kalyani mills incident. Though we do not have evidence that they both worked together, we know that they did. What else can be the common objective? You just came said Goenka was connected to the incident and Svetlana."

"Many a times what we see might not be entirely true Om. My heart says our parents aren't lying."

Omkara wanted to point out that he might be biased because of the family, blood and lineage issue but decided not to argue with his brother the first thing in the morning.

Veering off the topic, the brothers talked about lighter stuff like women and their tantrums.

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"Rudy stop," Bhavya shouted but it was too late as the youngest Oberoi brother was fast enough to punch Karan as soon as he walked into the cabin.

"What the hell Rudy," Karan yelled ready to fist him back when Bhavya stopped the angry men.

"What are you doing Rudra? Is this the way?" Bhavya rebuked turning to him.

"What more can be expected of him?" Karan snarled.

"Grow up, will you? I can put you in the jail for this. You cannot raise your hand on a police inspector on duty," he added in warning.

"You a police officer? Nice joke. You are supposed to take care of public and not meddle with videos," Rudra shouted back.

"What?" Karan asked completely clueless.

"Don't act like you don't know a thing. You changed the video when I came to talk to you yesterday. Did that make up lomdi send you to do her dirty work or did you do it for your motives?" Rudy asked, his voice carrying disgust and anger.

"What would those motives be, may I ask your highness?"

"To get close to my Bhabhi obviously. You did everything to clear your name off from the list of bad men. Didn't you?"

"Great. Where do you get these ideas from? Is there a separate place where the mighty Oberois gather and cook this weird logic less motives?" Karan bit back.

"Karan, come to the point. Did you or did you not do it?" Bhavya asked in a calm tone.

"Oh please, don't join these guys Bhavya," Karan scolded her.

"Do I look like a vamp from a stupid daily serial? What makes you think that I did this to get Gauri? Do you really think that she would believe that trash video? Okay let us assume for a second that she did think it to be true. Will she leave Omkara and come to me of all the people?"

Bhavya glared at Rudra with an I-told-you look but he wasn't the one to believe Karan's words.

"What did you want to talk to Chulbul Bhabhi then? You came there to distract me while your helping staff meddled with the cassette."

"Believe what you want to Rudra. I am not obligated to answer any of your questions."

"Karan, I agree he is at fault. I am sorry for this," Bhavya apologized ignoring Rudra's glare.

"One good thing that his brother did in his lifetime is to marry that selfless girl," said Karan pointed a finger at Rudra.

"I admire Gauri not because of her outer beauty but because of her character. To even think that she would leave someone she loved over a petty issue is an insult to her Bhavya," he said with so much conviction that the other two exchanged uncomfortable looks.

"I would never do such a thing. All I wanted to tell her is that she will be targeted by some selfish people whom you consider family. I don't want her being hurt."

"Who?" Rudra asked in reflex.

"Get out before I punch you and kick you out," Karan glared at him when Bhavya tried to reduce the tension.

"Rudra, please wait outside the room. I will talk to him and join you in sometime."

"Are you nuts? He is insulting me and you want to plead him?" Rudra asked angrily.

"Rudra, please. I will be with you in no time," she said and he walked out the door shutting it with a bang that the walls rattled.

Bhavya sighed loudly and looked at Karan who was shaking his head in disappointment.

"Don't even consider wasting your feelings over that child," he said.

"Tell me what you wanted Gauri Bhabhi to know," she asked instead.

"I don't think you will believe me or for that anyone else will. Leave it. You can ask Gauri yourself. Dandi called me in the morning saying that he told her."

"Please Karan. I need to know it from you and why you would think so. Who is that person in the family?"

Karan sighed before he let out the name.

"Pinky Oberoi."

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Time for some action an after romance😁😁.

Varna mein plot bhul jaungi..🙄🙄

Let me know of your thoughts.

Eid Mubarak to my Muslim friends...😍❤🤍❤🤍❤

Until the next update,... signing off... your Soujanya.