Hello everyone...

Thanks to all for voting and commenting on the previous story. Chajje Chajje Ka Pyaar (posted on 5. Jun. 2023)

The character of Omkara and a little bit of story is heavily inspired from the character Arjun Punj and the serial Kitani Mohabbat Hai.

This story is the cliche story I mentioned in Bhabhi where the hero and heroine are married, and hero thinks the heroine cheated on him and they are separated and the heroine is raising their baby.

Since, this is a part of abandoned series, it is safe for you all to assume that there won't be much of redemption and groveling.

I actually had plans of writing this story as a short story, but then decided against it. Already, this is a cliched tv serial story, and I didn't want to drag it like a serial.

Haven't been able to reply to PMs... will do it soon. Sorry for the delay.

Warning

There is something here, that some might consider it rape. If you felt Mistress of My Heart was rape/coercion/manipulation/trapping and not a deal between Omkara and Gauri then, please enter at your own risk.

Haven't proofread.

Women can never be trusted!

He was so right!

Omkara fumed as he sat with his best friend, Arjun and his lawyer. His personal assistant, Gauri, sat in a corner silently.

"Her phone is still switched off." Arjun says agitatedly as he hung up the phone.

"Stop calling her! She already proved that she can't be trusted!" Omkara says irately.

"But Omkara, what about the guests that would be coming in the evening for the wedding reception?" Arjun asks him.

"And the contract Ridhima signed." Lawyer points out.

"It doesn't matter!" Omkara says fed up.

"You father will disown you if you are not married by tonight." Lawyer reminds him.

Omkara sighs. "Maybe this is my punishment for trying to fool Dad with a contract marriage." Omkara says sadly.

"I'll call Ridhima. I'll bring her back." Arjun promises her. "She just needs to be here before the wedding reception. Marriage registration, we can do it later also."

"She has ran away to act in movie! She is not coming back!" Omkara reminds his best friend.

"That stupid girl!" Arjun says fed up. "You already promised to fund her movie in return for this one year contract marriage. Why did she do this?"

"An unmarried heroine has more market value than a married one." Omkara quotes from the letter that Ridhima left for him and her brother, Arjun.

"What do you want me to do?" Lawyer asks him.

Tired, Omkara stands up. "I'm going to tell Dad the truth. I can't let him handle the guests alone." Omkara says angry.

Omkara hated women. Ever since, his mother had ran off with another man, leaving behind his father and him, he hated women and knew they can't be trusted. Seeing that he was going to live his life as a bachelor, his father had been pestering him to get married. And he had always refused.

His nightmare had started when his father had declared last month that on this day, he has invited all the people they knew for his wedding reception, and he was to bring his wife, if not, then he would be disowned and his father would be humiliated in front of the world.

He didn't care about being disowned, but he couldn't have his father be humiliated, So, he had decided to get a contract wife for a year, and the obvious candidate was his best friend's sister, Ridhima.

Ridhima was trying to act in a movie since her teenage, and he promised to fund her movie if she agreed to be his wife for a year. And today, they were supposed to register their marriage and go for the wedding reception.

Sighing, Omkara starts to leave the room.

"Sir." Gauri calls him as she stepped in his way.

"Yeah?" Omkara turns to her.

"I'll marry you." Gauri tells him.

"What?" Omkara asks shocked.

"You just need a wife. I will marry you." Gauri tells him.

"Why would you do that?" Arjun asks immediately, frowning at her.

Gauri looks at Omkara and sees his watching her.

"I'll do anything for you." Gauri tells him as she looked at his eyes.

"Why?" Omkara asks frowning.

"Because I love you." Gauri tells him.

"What nonsense?" Omkara mutters and starts to walk off.

"What are you going to tell your father? The guests?" Gauri asks him. "You and your father will be humiliated."

Omkara stops and turns to her.

"Trust me, sir. When you ask me to leave, I'll leave. I'll sign any paper you want." Gauri tells him.

Omkara stops helplessly. He didn't particularly like any girl. Gauri wasn't an exception. It was only because of the company policy and the assistant he had chosen had left for better prospect that he had agreed to go with a female assistant. But she was one of the few person from the female species, who hasn't pissed him off. She was dedicated in her work and eager to do her job. On a professional level, maybe he trusted her.

"Your dad will never accept her." Arjun warns Omkara.

Omkara knew that was true. How much ever he loved his father, he knew his father was classist. So, Gauri, who was from a lower middle class background would never be accepted. But did he have a choice?

Omkara turns to his lawyer, and asks him, "How soon can you get the contract papers in her name ready?"

"You gotta be kidding me!" Arjun says exasperated.

"The one you suggested betrayed us! So, I've no options!" Omkara reminds him.

"I'll try calling Ridhima." Arjun says determined.

"She hasn't picked the call in the last four hours, she is not going to do it now." Omkara tells him.

"At the registrar's office, everything is set for Ridhima. You can't marry her there at such short notice. We need to submit a fresh application." Lawyer informs them.

"We'll just go to some temple or whatever and get married." Omkara declares.

"But for that also there are some requirements." Lawyer says then he adds as a solution, "for the time being we can get some witnesses and get the rituals done. Register the marriage later."

Omkara nods.

"Is the contract same? If so, I'll just have to change the name from Ridhima to hers and the address, id proof, etc." lawyer informs him.

Omkara nods. Then he turns to Gauri and tells her, "Read the contract and sign it."

Gauri nods and walks to the lawyer.

"What is your name? And ID proof."

"Gauri Kumari Sharma." Gauri says as she took her ID card from her bag and passed it to him.

The lawyer, opens the word document he had, and goes to the Find and Replace option, and just like that, he changed Ridhima Kapoor to Gauri Kumari Sharma.

As she sat next to the lawyer, Gauri could hear Arjun arguing with Omkara, and Omkara was adamant on his decision.

"Erm.. sir?" Gauri calls him.

"Signed?" Omkara asks her as he walked to her.

"No..." Gauri says shaking her head. "There is no mention of babies."

"What?" Omkara shouts in shock.

"Babies." Gauri repeats.

"You think we are going to have children?" Omkara asks outraged and embarrassed.

Gauri shrugs. "We can't predict the future."

"I can regarding this!" Omkara tells her sternly. "We won't be having children!"

"But..."

"We are going to be married in just name. Nothing is going to happen between us." Omkara says, as he turned pink in embarrassment.

"These contract marriages and prenup are not legally binding. But we can still work around it. But child support, you'll have to give whether you keep the clause or not." Lawyer tells Omkara.

"We are not going to have children!" Omkara repeats pissed.

"Then why are you scared to add the baby clause?" Gauri asks him.

"Fine! Add then!" Omkara says fed up.

Gauri turns to the lawyer and tells him. "I get full custody of the baby."

"What?" Omkara asks shocked. "You get full custody? And you decide that?"

"But you said we won't be having kids." Gauri reminds him.

"That we won't!"

"Then why are you getting worried about this clause?"

"See, she is already being so manipulative!" Arjun says.

Gauri looks at Omkara and explains. "You believe we won't have babies. But I just can't have that confidence. So, I just want to be sure that no one separates me from my baby."

Hearing that, Omkara immediately thought of his mother who had abandoned him. And he couldn't help compare Gauri to his mother. His mother left him, while Gauri was fighting for a baby she might never have. He looks at the lawyer, he says, "Whatever she says."

"Thank you, sir." Gauri says smiling.

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

After marriage, Omkara takes Gauri to his house and finds his father waiting for him.

"HER?" Tej asks furiously. "Isn't she your assistant?"

"She is my wife now, Dad. Just like how you wanted, I'm married." Omkara tells him.

"How can you bring this lowlife into our family?" Tej asks furiously.

Omkara stops in shock hearing that. His father, when furious could be very insulting, but something so cruel was just too shocking.

"Dad, Gauri is my wife now." Omkara gently tells him. "You shouldn't insult her."

Tej stops in fury as he looked at Omkara. Omkara has never back answered him till that moment in life.

Omkara turns to Gauri and says regretfully. "Dad is just angry. I apologize for him."

"No, it's okay. I didn't feel bad. I know how your father is." Gauri tells him with a reassuring smile.

Omkara nods and turns to his father. "We've to get ready for the reception."

**********

Omkara and Gauri stood together, greeting guests and taking photos on the stage with them. They hadn't spoken to each other since he had got home. Both lost in their own world.

"You don't have many relatives?" Gauri asks Omkara.

Omkara turns to her and shakes his head. "Why do you ask?"

"Only business associates and friends have come so far. So, I was just curious."

"It's just Dad and me." Omkara tells her then curiously he asks her. "Your family?"

"I told my father. He was angry when he found out that it is a contract marriage. Don't know if he will come." Gauri says a little sadly.

"You told him?" Omkara asks shocked.

Gauri nods.

"It's supposed to be a secret!" Omkara reminds her getting angry.

"I can't hide anything from him. He raised me with so much love after my mother passed away giving birth to me." Gauri tells him then she quickly says, "Smile, Omkara, people are looking."

"Omkara?" Omkara asks shocked.

"You're my husband now." Gauri reminds him.

"For a year." Omkara reminds her as he looked away.

"I know." Gauri nods.

They remained silent after that.

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

"Oh my God!" Omkara whispers in surprise.

"What happened?" Gauri asks him.

"That's Harshvardhan Trivedi." Omkara says as he gestured to the man entering the hall. "Dad and I've been trying to get a meeting with him for a while now."

"For what?" Gauri asks as she looked at Harsh happily.

"He has hotel chain, and we wanted to start a joined venture."

"You want him to fund?" Gauri asks him.

Omkara nods. "But we haven't been able to get even a meeting."

Gauri turns to him and tells him. "He is here now, ask him for an appointment!"

"He never showed any interest all these while and you think he'll give us an appointment now? I'm sure, he sees us like how Dad sees..." Omkara stops as he was going to say 'you'.

"There is no harm in trying your luck."

"No. I'm surprised he came today." Omkara says surprised.

"If I get you an appointment, what will you give me in return?" Gauri asks him excited.

"I'm already paying you for marrying me!" Omkara reminds her exasperated.

"That is for marrying you. Which technically, I didn't ask you also."

"Then why did you marry me?"

"I told you, because I love you."

Omkara scoffs loudly.

Gauri rolls her eyes. He and his hatred for women! "What will you give me in return if I get you an appointment?"

"You are never going to get it!"

"What if I can?"

"What do you want?" Omkara asks, knowing too well, that where he and his father failed, Gauri was not going to succeed.

Gauri looks around then stepping closer to him, she says in a whisper as she blushed. "A wedding night."

"What?" Omkara jumps back in shock.

Gauri nods.

"You mean... we..." Omkara stops turning pink.

Gauri nods.

"Have you gone crazy?"

Gauri shrugs. "You can say no."

Omkara felt as if she was challenging him, and he never backed out of a challenge. "Fine!" Omkara says and mutters, "Women are all the same."

"A woman can't do it alone. She always need a man to do the tango." Gauri points out.

Omkara looks away, outraged and shocked at her shameless behavior. He never imagined her to be like this.

"Don't worry, I won't be asking for repeats." Gauri cheekily tells him.

"You won't be getting any!"

Just then Harsh walks to the stage with another man, tagging behind him.

"Hello, Sir. Thank you for coming." Omkara tells him politely smiling.

Harsh nods as he looked at Gauri.

"All my years, I've never heard of something called contract marriage." The man behind him, says in a furious whisper.

Omkara's eyes widen in shock hearing that. He looks at the man then Harsh and then Gauri.

"That is Papa. Shakti Sharma." Gauri introduces him. "This is Omkara." Gauri says as she kept her hand on Omkara's arm.

Realizing that was Gauri's father, Omkara quickly steps forward and extends his hand, "I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you."

Shakti looks at Gauri and sees her make pleading faces at him, giving up, he shakes Omkara's hand.

Gauri smiles happily seeing that.

"Congratulations." Harsh says.

"Only wishes, no gift?" Gauri asks him.

"Gauri..." Shakti calls her in a warning tone.

Gauri smiles at him then she looks at Harsh.

"What are you doing?" Omkara asks her in shock.

Ignoring both Omkara and Shakti, Gauri tells Harsh. "As a wedding gift, please give one hour of your time to Omkara."

"What are you doing?" Omkara asks her embarrassed then turning to Harsh, he quickly says, "I'm sorry. Please ignore her."

"No!" Gauri says quickly then she looks at Harsh. "Today is my wedding. As a blessing please gift my husband one hour of your time. Omkara is going to impress you. He is amazing."

"Gauri, stop it." Omkara whispers to her, fighting the urge to shout at her for behaving like that with one of their prospective investor and business partner.

"Fine. Just one hour. Only as a wedding gift." Harsh says.

"Thank you." Gauri says excitedly while Omkara stops in shock. "When?"

"My secretary will get in touch." Harsh informs Omkara.

Omkara nods in shock, not able to believe how so easily Gauri had got the appointment.

"No, do it now. Take your phone and check." Gauri insists.

"You're pushing it, Gauri." Shakti warns her.

Gauri grins at him and turns to Harsh. "Please? It's my wedding day." Gauri cutely pleads.

Harsh takes his mobile and looks through his calendar. "5th September, at 10." Harsh finally declares.

"That is 3 months away." Gauri tells him shocked.

"That is good. Thank you. I promise, you won't regret it." Omkara quickly says, he didn't like that he got the appointment like this, but this was his father's dream project and he was willing to be desperate and shameless. It was all worth it for his father.

Harsh nods.

"Mr. Trivedi, it is so nice of you to come." Tej says excitedly as he walked to them.

Harsh nods.

Seeing his father speaking to Harsh while Gauri's father stood behind, Omkara quickly says, "Sorry to interrupt. Dad, this is Shakti Sharma, Gauri's father. This is my father, Tej Singh Oberoi."

"Yeah, okay, whatever." Tej says ignoring Shakti and turns to Harsh.

Harsh and Shakti look at each other seeing that while Omkara and Gauri stopped in shock.

"We should take a photo." Tej says as he invited Harsh to take a photo with the bride and groom.

Unable to say anything else, Omkara and Gauri get ready for the photo. Seeing Shakti also standing near Gauri, Tej says, "Hey, you, stay back."

"No!" Gauri shouts in outrage.

"Dad, he is Gauri's father!" Omkara reminds him. "I won't like if anyone insults you. Please don't insult Gauri's father."

"I'm not insulting him. Right now, we'll take the photo. Bride's family can take the photo after that." Tej says.

"Okay." Harsh agrees and steps out of the frame before Gauri or Omkara could say anything.

"Where are you going?" Tej asks him shocked.

"You said bride's family later." Harsh reminds him.

Tej looks at him confused. "bride's family?"

"He is Papa's guest." Gauri informs him. "Papa is his driver and best friend."

"What?" Omkara turns to Gauri in shock.

"Gauri grew up in my house. I am a part of the bride's family." Harsh clarifies. "Gauri is nothing less than a daughter to me."

"Daughter?" Omkara asks Gauri in shock.

Gauri was looking at Shakti sadly for the insult by Tej. Hearing him, Gauri turns to him and nods. "They both are the same for me. Both are my fathers." Gauri informs him, still hurt.

Omkara nods. Feeling guilty seeing her hurt. He turns to Shakti and says. "I'm sorry. I apologize for my father."

Shakti looks at Harsh in surprise and Harsh was looking at Omkara, then he turns to Shakti, waiting for him to say whatever he wanted.

"I accept your apology." Shakti says. "Let's take the photo."

As they stood for the photo, Gauri asks Harsh in a whisper, "Why didn't Gauri come?"

"She missed her flight." Harsh informs her.

"Gauri?" Omkara asks confused.

"His daughter. She is my sister and best friend. She has gone to New Zealand to meet her fiancé's family."

Omkara nods and asks confused. "You both are named Gauri?"

Gauri smiles. "That is how they met in the hospital when we were born. She is elder to me by 1 day."

Omkara nods.

They take the photo and Harsh, Shakti and Tej leave the stage.

"You knew Mr. Trivedi." Omkara says to Gauri.

Gauri nods.

"So you cheated." Omkara whispers in shock.

"You didn't ask me why I was so confident that I would win." Gauri whispers to him.

Omkara turns to Gauri in shock, as realization hit him hard, Gauri won.

Now, he had to hold his end of the bargain and give her the wedding night!

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

After the function, Omkara walks into his bedroom determined to tell Gauri the deal was off. She had cheated!!!!

"I'm sorry, Papa. Omkara's Dad shouldn't have behaved like that with you. I'm so sorry." Gauri says sniffing on the phone. "He is not a bad man, he is a little like that."

Omkara stops hearing that. Feeling guilty for the pain that Gauri and her father went through. If someone so much as looks at his father with disrespect, he would bloody murder them, and he couldn't imagine what Gauri and her father would be going through. Dad shouldn't have behaved like that.

"No, I'm not crying." Gauri says as she wiped her tears. "I'm not."

Omkara's heart went out to her witnessing that.

"Hmmm... okay... okay, bye. Love you, Papa." Gauri says and hangs up the call.

She turns back and sees Omkara standing behind her. Seeing him watching her, she goes to him and says sadly. "I felt bad when your father insulted my Papa."

Omkara guiltily looks at her.

"I know he is not a bad person. He is like this because whatever happened in his past but my Papa didn't do anything wrong." Gauri says.

"I'm sorry, Gauri." Omkara tells her and without thinking, he wipes her tears.

When he wiped her tears, Gauri moves towards him and hugs him.

Shocked and surprised, Omkara stands still.

"He can be rude to me, it is okay. But not to my Papa... okay? Will you tell him?" Gauri asks him.

Hearing that, Omkara couldn't help himself and he hugs her. "I'll tell him. Don't be sad."

"Thank you." Gauri tells him as she looked at his face.

Omkara looks at her and gently wipes her tears. Seeing him looking at her, Gauri leans up and gently touches her lips to his.

Omkara stops breathing, and Gauri takes his lips in hers.

Omkara's heart starts slamming against his chest, realizing how his body was reacting and getting tempted with her touch.

His blood to his brain turned direction, and started flowing south.

Omkara holds Gauri by her waist and pulls her close to him, as he followed her lead.

**********

Omkara stares at his wife of less than a day in shock, as she slept peacefully.

He couldn't believe that he had sex!!!

And that too with his secretary cum wife!!!

And he wanted repeats!!!

Omkara clutches his hand as he fought the urge to touch her again.

Now, he understood why people went gaga over sex.

It was because sex was so bloody addictive!

He better stay away from Gauri! Otherwise, she would be making him dance to her tune!

**********

"Good morning." Gauri cheerfully wishes as she came out of their bedroom.

Omkara looks up and seeing her in broad daylight, he felt his cheeks heat up, he quickly looks away.

"Good morning." Tej wishes her with a smile.

Surprised, Omkara looks at his father, and sees him keep his newspaper on the side and he gets up and walks to Gauri.

Gauri smiles happily seeing him smile.

"Why didn't you ever say that Harshvardhan was close to you?" Tej asks her.

"Nobody asked me." Gauri replies.

Realizing why his father had a change of heart, Omkara felt a little disappointed. As much as he loved his father, he hated his classist behavior. Gauri and her father shouldn't be shown respect because they were close to Harshvardhan Trivedi.

"Omkara told me that you got us an appointment with him. That was excellent." Tej says appreciatively.

"It's my wedding gift to Omkara." Gauri tells him as she smiled at Omkara.

"And did Omkara give you a wedding gift in return?" Tej asks then turning to Omkara, he says, "Why don't you take her shopping, Omkara?"

"Huh?" Omkara looks at his father in shock.

"Omkara already gave me my gift." Gauri tells him smiling.

Omkara turns red hearing that.

"Oh what gift?" Tej asks as he turned to Gauri curiously.

Gauri looks at Omkara and sees him, staring at her panicking.

She was so shameless, he couldn't trust her not to reveal what happened between them.

"He married me." Gauri tells Tej happily.

Omkara sighs in relief.

Tej chuckles as he nodded.

**********

Gauri watches Omkara as he got ready to sleep that night. He hadn't said a word to her the whole day, but every time she looked at him, she had caught him staring at her, and when she catches him, he quickly looks away.

Sighing loudly, she stretches her arms, leaning back, her chest arching forward.

Omkara gulps and couldn't look away.

"Good night, husband." Gauri says as she walked by her husband, gently rubbing her arms on his.

Omkara fought the temptation to touch her. He turns to face her, even as his mind told him not to turn.

Seeing that, Gauri smiles seductively at him. "What?"

"Nothing." Omkara growls as he looked away.

"I'm not going to judge if you say you want repeats, husband." Gauri huskily whispers to him.

Hearing that, Omkara turns around and holds Gauri and pulls her close to him as he slammed his lips on hers.

**********

"Omkara..." Gauri softly calls him as she lay on his chest.

"Hmmm?"

It's been a week since their wedding. For most of the time, he stayed away from her. She had resigned her job, so they didn't speak to each other on a professional capacity also. The only time they were together is when they have sex at night.

"I love you. I love you so much." Gauri tells him as she looked at him.

Omkara felt like getting up and walking off. He was feeling trapped and uncomfortable.

"I don't want anything from you." Gauri tells him as her eyes filled up.

Omkara stops seeing her tear filled eyes.

"I just want to be your wife. I don't want anything else from life. I swear."

Omkara gulps hearing that, feeling restless and his heart slamming against his chest. Because Gauri didn't ask him for anything. No money, no gold, nothing. And even when he ignored her, Gauri would wait for him for everything. She took care of his father also well. And now, his father, dotted on her.

"At the end of one year, I will leave. I promise. But as long as we are together, please let me be your wife."

He didn't know what power she held over him, but he was finding it difficult to refuse her anything.

"Please, Omkara?"

Omkara nods in reply, again unable to refuse her.

Gauri smiles happily and hugs him tight. "I love you, Omkara."

"I know." Omkara whispers and he stops in shock realizing what he had said. How did he believe that? Of all the people, the one who he knew was manipulating him and he was unable to fight her manipulations... and he believed her love?

He was losing his mind! Omkara decided.

**********

Hearing his mobile ring, Omkara checks his phone and sees that it was Gauri calling.

"Just a sec." Omkara tells Arjun as he answered the call. "Yeah, Gauri?"

"Omkara, are you going to be late?" Gauri asks him from the other end.

"Arjun came. So, I stepped out with him for drinks."

"Okay. When will you come?"

"I'll take a while. You have dinner."

"No, I'll wait for you."

"I might have something from here. You have dinner."

"Okay."

"Dad reached?"

"Yeah, he is having dinner now." Gauri informs him.

"Okay then."

"Bye. Say hi to Arjun."

"Okay." Omkara says and hangs up the phone. "Gauri says hi." Omkara informs him.

"You seem to be getting along well with her." Arjun says with a slight frown.

Omkara shrugs because even he had no explanation to why he was behaving like this with Gauri.

"Just keep an eye out on her. She did take advantage of the situation when you were in trouble." Arjun warns him.

"She loves me." Omkara tells him.

"And you believe it?" Arjun scoffs with a chuckle.

Omkara felt uncomfortable hearing that, because he believed it and didn't believe it at the same time.

"Do you?" Arjun asks him again.

"It doesn't matter whether I believe it or not. At the end of one year, we are going to get divorced." Omkara replies with a shrug.

Arjun nods and gently informs him, "Ridhima is back."

Omkara nods.

"She didn't get the part." Arjun says pissed. "I get so furious when I think of what she did."

Omkara shrugs. "It doesn't matter. I needed a wife and Gauri stepped in. Dad wasn't humiliated and that is all that matters to me. And Dad is very happy with her."

"Yeah, Tej Uncle told me that she is close to Harshvardhan. And she got us an appointment."

"Yeah, we need to start preparing for that. I'll talk to Dad and fix a date and time. We three can sit and finalize about the pitch." Omkara tells him.

Arjun nods.

**********

Omkara stops seeing Gauri with his father. She was checking his blood sugar level. His father had high diabetes.

"All good?" Omkara asks Gauri as he walked to them.

"Yeah." Gauri replies smiling as she turned the apparatus to show him the reading.

Omkara smiles happily. Ever since Gauri came, his father's blood sugar level was getting better. Gauri had changed his diet and took his father for morning walks everyday and that was showing in his health.

Gauri brought good changes in their life.

"Omkara... I'm thinking of going home today. Do you want to come with me? You haven't met Gauri. She is back." Gauri asks him.

"I'm busy today, Gauri." Omkara informs her.

"Oh." Gauri pouts.

"Don't make faces. I'll come and pick you up. That time I'll meet your soul sister." Omkara tells her smiling.

"Don't add the word soul and make distance in relation. She is my sister, period."

"Okay, madam." Omkara says, rolling his eyes.

Gauri chuckles seeing that.

"Who all will be home?" Tej asks curiously.

"Papa and Gauri. Would you like to come?" Gauri asks him eagerly.

"Er no... I've some meetings." Tej quickly says.

Gauri nods a little disappointed.

Seeing that Omkara felt bad.

**********

"You said you are going to be busy." Gauri says happily as Omkara walked in with a servant.

Omkara shrugs.

Gauri happily walks to him and taking his hand, she leads him to where Shakti and another girl were sitting.

"I'm so excited for you to meet Gauri." Gauri tells him happily.

Omkara smiles as he looked at the girl. He politely smiles at the beautiful girl. "Hello."

"Hi jeeju... I've been hearing so much about you." Gauri says as she walked to him.

Then surprising him, she hugs him. Omkara was shocked. If it was the old Omkara, he would have blasted the girl for being so forward with him. Hell, the old Omkara wouldn't have even smiled at her! But now, all he saw was Gauri's sister.

Omkara looks at Gauri and sees her smiling at them.

Gauri steps back and tells him. "I'm sorry, I missed your reception. I got my tickets and everything ready, but then I missed the flight. Since, I missed the flight and reception, Papa and Daddy told me to come back only on the day I had planned earlier. I had gone to meet Darshan's family. Darshan is my fiancé."

"I know, Gauri told me." Omkara tells her politely smiling.

Omkara then walks to Shakti and politely smiles at him. "How are you?"

"I'm good." Shakti replies without a smile. "You?"

"Good."

Cheekily grinning, Gauri informs him in a loud whisper, "He is still upset about the contract marriage, jeeju."

Omkara awkwardly nods then noticing a few people peeping at him, he looks curiously.

Everybody follows his gaze and notices the servants looking at him.

"Why are they looking at me?" Omkara asks his wife.

"Younger son-in-law of the family is here. They are curious." The other Gauri informs him.

"Younger son-in-law?" Omkara asks surprised.

"Darshan is elder son-in-law." She tells him. "You know, I'm the elder one, right?"

"For all of 1 day. And you've bullied me all my life because of that seniority." Gauri says rolling her eyes. Then noticing one of the servant calling her, Gauri tells Omkara. "Omkara, sit. I'll get you something to drink."

Omkara nods and sits down.

"Come, Gauri." Gauri pulls her and goes to talk to the servant.

Omkara watches both the Gauri-s leave. He looks at Shakti and sees him watching him. Uncomfortable with the silence, he asks. "You would have had a hard time with both of their names being the same, right?"

"We call Harsh's Gauri, baby. And my Gauri, we call her Bachcha."

"Bachcha?" Omkara asks with a smile. He had a hard time imagining his Gauri as Bachcha.

HIS GAURI????

"They are preparing a feast for you, Omkara." Gauri tells him as she brought juice for him.

"Why trouble them, Gauri?" Omkara asks her. "We'll have dinner from home."

"Damad is home for the first time and they are the most excited." Gauri tells him.

"Technically, jeeju, this is also your home." Gauri points out to him.

Omkara looks at his wife and sees her smiling hearing that. He couldn't help smile seeing her so happy.

**********

"Everyone loves you there." Omkara says as they drove home. Gauri had introduced him to the servants too, and they all had fussed over him. And he realized, it was because of their love for Gauri.

Gauri smiles hearing that. "I'm the sweet sister."

Omkara chuckles hearing that. "Your sister, Gauri is also sweet."

"She was the brat because she was the elder one." Gauri tells him grinning.

Omkara chuckles. "Are you close to Mr. Trivedi like Gauri is to your Papa?"

"Papa and Daddy are the same for us. They haven't differentiated us and we haven't differentiated them." Gauri tells him smiling with love.

"That is sweet." Omkara says smiling. Even though, Gauri didn't have her mother, she had two fathers. For a second, he wondered where his mother was. Did she think of him? Then he quickly squashes the thoughts of his mother.

"Papa is the strict one while Daddy pampers us."

"I guessed as much." Omkara cheekily says remembering how stuck up Shakti was with him.

**********

"You know, what day is today?" Gauri asks Omkara as she put his tie for him.

"Your birthday?" Omkara asks her curiously.

"No."

"Hmmm then what day is it?"

"It's our one month anniversary." Gauri tells as she tightened the knot.

"One month?" Omkara asks surprised.

"We've been married for a month now. Surprised?"

"It feels longer than that." Omkara says surprised.

Gauri cutely frowns and asks him. "Is that a good thing or bad?"

Omkara shrugs with a grin.

Gauri cutely scowls at him.

Grinning Omkara pinches her cheek. "I'll come early. You be ready. We'll go for dinner."

"Okay." Gauri shakes her head excitedly.

Omkara smiles at her and kisses her forehead lovingly. "I'll see you in the evening."

**********

Seeing Omkara ordering whiskey, Gauri says. "I'll have beer." And proceeds to say her preference.

Omkara looks at her surprised. After the waiter left, he says. "I didn't know you drink."

"Why?" Gauri asks surprised.

"Your Papa is very strict."

"Call him Papa, Om." Gauri tells him then she continues on. "Gauri and I once went to a pub and tried drinks for the first time. We came home so sloshed."

"And?"

"Daddy was furious and he lectured us for a full day. One of the few times, Daddy screamed at us."

"Aww."

"Then at night, Papa called us."

"To lecture again?" Omkara asks her curiously.

Gauri shakes her head. "He said, if we are determined to try out alcohol then how much ever they scold us, we are going to sneak out and do it. So, it is better that he teaches us how to handle drinks before we got into any serious trouble."

"Wow." Omkara says amazed.

"Once in a while, we drink with them."

"That's nice." Omkara says impressed. How much ever he loved his father, there was an invisible boundary around them, and these kind of things were on it. He can never imagine sharing a drink with his father. Even when he knew Dad drinks and his father knew that even he drinks.

"We go out with our friends for clubbing. They all get drunk. We don't. We know, when to stop. Papa taught us when it stops being fun and starts being stupid and careless."

"Your... I mean, Papa was very smart." Omkara says.

Gauri smiles hearing that.

"What a surprise!" Arjun says as he stopped near their table.

"Hey." Omkara says smiling seeing him.

"Hello." Gauri smiles at him.

"Hello."

"How come you're here?" Omkara asks.

"I've a date. She is running late."

"Oh. Come, join us." Omkara tells him.

"I don't want to intrude."

"Of course not, you're Om's best friend. Please join us." Gauri tells him smiling.

Arjun pulls the chair next to him, which happened to be the one near Gauri. He sits down, while Gauri, moved to the chair next to Omkara's.

Both Arjun and Omkara noticed it, but neither says anything.

"How come you guys are here?" Arjun asks them.

"It's our one month anniversary." Gauri informs him as she kept her hand over Omkara's with a smile.

"One month anniversary?" Arjun asks surprised.

"Yeah."

"You guys are behaving like a real couple."

Omkara and Gauri stop as they looked at each other.

Gauri shrugs and says, "For the next 11 months, we are a real couple."

Shaking his head with a teasing grin, Arjun warns, "Watch out, Omkara. I don't think she is going to leave after 11 months."

Gauri wasn't sure whether Arjun was joking or being serious. Still she felt obliged to answer him. She looks at Omkara and says. "If Om wants me to leave, I'll leave. if he wants me to stay then I'll stay."

Omkara breath gets caught in his throat hearing that. He without a word stares at Gauri.

Gauri looks at Arjun and tells him, "It's his decision. Not mine."

**********

One month later

Omkara hugs Gauri from behind and asks her lovingly. "You've been silent since the party last night. What happened?"

Gauri looks down upset.

Omkara turns her around and cups her face. "What happened?"

They had attended an official party the night before. Gauri had been fine when they had went for the party, but by the time they got back, Gauri has been silent.

Gauri sadly looks at Omkara.

"What is it?"

"Yesterday, Arjun misbehaved with me." Gauri tells him.

"What?" Omkara asks in anger.

"He is your best friend. I didn't know how to tell you."

"What did he do?" Omkara asks frowning.

"He was touching my arms and all." Gauri tells him uncomfortably.

**********

"Gauri said you were misbehaving with her." Omkara confront Arjun.

"What?" Arjun shouts in shock. "She is your wife! And you think I would... how could you even think that, Omkara?"

Omkara stops in shock seeing his outrage. "Gauri said..."

"I was just talking to her."

"She said you were touching her."

"Maybe." Arjun admits. "It was all friendly. Not in any other sense."

Omkara stops confused. Arjun was his best friend and he trusted him. But what reason would Gauri have to lie?

"If she feels that I misbehaved with her then I'll apologize to her."

"No need." Omkara says sighing as he rubbed his forehead. "Gauri might have misunderstood you."

"You know she is not my type."

Omkara nods agreeing. He didn't know what Arjun's type was, but Gauri was not like those girls that Arjun dated.

"Anyway, it is better if you stayed away from her. Gauri is no longer comfortable with you." Omkara tells him.

**********

"It was not friendly." Gauri mumbles upset.

Omkara sighs. "Gauri, he is like that. I trust him."

"You don't trust me?" Gauri asks, her eyes filling up.

Omkara looks away hearing that.

"Om?" Gauri calls him when he remained silent.

Omkara could hear the sadness in her voice. "I think you misunderstood him, Gauri."

"I didn't." Gauri insists.

"Just leave it, Gauri. I already told him to stay away from you." Omkara tells her.

Hurt, Gauri nods.

**********

After that, Gauri didn't mention Arjun to Omkara. Though Gauri ran into Arjun a few times, she never mentioned it to Omkara.

One more month went by, and Omkara had to go away for a few days for an official trip.

"Are you going to be here or going to your place?" Omkara asks Gauri as he packed his bag.

"If I go then Dad will be alone, I'll stay here." Gauri tells him as she sat next to his bag and watched him pack.

Omkara smiles hearing that. "Why don't you ask Gauri to come and stay here then?"

"She is busy. Daddy is training her, so she can take over New Zealand office after marriage."

Omkara stops realizing and asks her gently. "You're going to miss her when she goes to New Zealand."

Gauri sadly nods. "I won't be able to meet her for months. Maybe a year."

Omkara smiles at her and tells her. "I'll take you to meet her."

"Really?" Gauri asks excitedly as she jumped up and hugged him.

"Yeah." Omkara promises her chuckling.

"You're the best, Om. I love you." Gauri tells him as she hugged him tight.

Omkara hugs her happily.

"I will miss you." Gauri tells him as she looked at him.

Omkara tightens his hold on her.

"Will you miss me?" Gauri asks him softly.

And he realized that he will miss her.

"I'll call you." Omkara says instead of answering.

**********

Omkara was having breakfast with Arjun before they headed for the conference when Omkara's phone rings. Seeing it was Gauri, he couldn't help smile. God, he miss her. He had gotten so used to having her around.

"Hello?"

"Om..." Gauri nervously says.

Omkara frowns and asks her in concern. "What happened, Gauri? All okay?"

"I wasn't feeling well the last two days." Gauri nervously starts.

Omkara's heart starts beating fast in worry. "Are you alright?" He asks worriedly.

"I'm fine." Gauri informs him.

Omkara sighs in relief. "Then what happened?"

"I went to the doctor yesterday. She told me to take pregnancy test."

"What?" Omkara shouts in shock. Noticing Arjun curiously looking at him, he gets up and walks away for privacy. "What are you saying?" His heart slamming against his chest.

"I just got the result. I'm pregnant, Om."

"We used condoms." Omkara reminds her.

"Not the first two days." Gauri reminds him.

"But its been almost three months since then."

"I'm 11 weeks pregnant, Om."

God, a baby!

He was going to be a father.

They were going to be parents.

"Omkara, I won't go back on my word. I won't force this baby on you. You can be as involved with the baby as you like." Gauri tells him.

Hearing that, Omkara got restless. "I've to go." Omkara says.

"Om?"

"I'll call you back." Omkara says and hangs up.

**********

"All okay?" Arjun asks seeing Omkara walk back and he looked white as a ghost.

Omkara without a word, sits down as he let the news sink in.

A baby.

He felt blank.

This was so unexpected. He didn't imagine they would have a baby so soon.

A baby.

Was he ready?

"Omkara?" Arjun calls him again.

Omkara looks up at his best friend and says in a dazed tone. "Babies are a big responsibility."

"Babies?" Arjun asks confused. "What do you mean?"

Still dazed, Omkara informs Arjun, "I'm going to be a father." As he said it, he chuckles softly. "I'm going to be a father."

"What? Gauri is pregnant?" Arjun asks shocked. "You slept with her?"

Omkara stops smiling and turning offended he looks at Arjun. "Gauri is my wife, Arjun. Watch what you say about her."

"No... I meant... you ran away from women. I thought you would die a virgin." Arjun says realizing Omkara got angry.

Omkara chuckles. "Even me."

"My God, you're going to be a father?" Arjun asks faking a smile.

"Yeah." Omkara says chuckling, starting to feel joyous.

"And you are okay with it?"

Omkara without thinking says, "I hope it is a girl." Just like Gauri.

"Wow."

Realizing what he said, Omkara chuckles. "Wow!"

"But what about the contract? Gauri gets full rights of the baby." Arjun reminds him.

Omkara softly smiles as he got lost in thoughts. "These 4 days away from her, I was miserable. I don't think I can stay without her."

"What?" Arjun asks shocked out of his wits.

Omkara gets up excitedly. "I'm going home." Omkara declares.

"You are going home?"

"Gauri is going to be surprised." Omkara says happily.

"What about the conference?"

"You handle it. I want to see Gauri. We've to tell Dad. We've to tell her family." Omkara says excitedly then stopping, he jokes. "Maybe Papa will even smile at me."

**********

"Hello, Dad." Omkara answers the call as he walked to the check-in counter.

"Omkara, there is something I want to talk to you. Come home immediately." Tej tells him.

"What happened, Dad? Is there any issue at the office?"

"No, you come home. I'll tell you everything. I have asked Arjun also to come."

"Okay. I'm actually at the airport. I was coming home only."

"Okay. Meet me first when you come home."

"Okay, Dad."

Since, there was time, Arjun was also able to take the same flight home.

**********

When Omkara reached, Tej was waiting for him.

Seeing his father agitated, Omkara walks to him in concern. "What happened, Dad? Is there a problem?"

"Come to my study."

Omkara nods and stops as he looked around. "Where is Gauri?"

"In your room. But you come with me now."

Omkara follows his father, wanting to sort out whatever the issue that was upsetting his father.

Tej closes the study door after Omkara and Arjun entered. He turns to Omkara and tells him. "I think Gauri is having an affair."

"What?" Omkara stops in shock. "No, Dad. Gauri loves me." Omkara argues vehemently.

"Yesterday, I came early since Gauri was alone. When I went to your room, I could hear her speaking to a man. He was saying that he changed his mind. He was saying he made a mistake refusing to accept his baby and now he wants his baby. He will leave his wife and wants Gauri to go with him." Tej says agitatedly.

"What?" Omkara asks in shock, his heart skipping a beat.

"After he left, I asked Gauri if anyone had come and she lied to me that no one came." Tej says.

"There might be a mistake." Omkara says shaking his head.

"That is what I am hoping. But I heard with my own ears, Omkara." Tej says sadly.

"This is why, she insisted on the baby clause." Arjun whispers in shock.

Omkara stops remembering how Gauri had insisted about the clause and she said she was 11 weeks pregnant. What if she had been already pregnant when they got married?

Omkara's eyes fill up, his heart breaking.

"What clause?" Tej asks confused.

Arjun looks at Omkara and sees him lost in thoughts. He turns to Tej and informs him. "Omkara married Gauri for a year. It is a contract marriage."

"What? Why would you do that?" Tej asks shocked.

"You forced him to get married." Arjun tells him. "He didn't want to get married. So, I suggested that he have a contract marriage. Since, we couldn't trust anyone, I told him to marry Ridhima for the time being. Then divorce her after a year. But Ridhima got a casting call and ran off on the day of the wedding. We were stuck and the reception was on the same day, that time, Gauri proposed Omkara and agreed for the contract marriage."

"I wanted you to get married. Have a life partner, Omkara. If I realized you would do this, then I would have never forced you." Tej says regretfully.

"What if she was pregnant and her boyfriend refused to accept her and the baby. When she saw an opportunity with Omkara, then she decided to make use of it. This way, she will get money, and nobody will think the baby is illegitimate. Everybody will assume the baby is Omkara's."

Seeing Omkara lost in thoughts, Tej tells him gently, "Omkara, find out if she is pregnant."

"She is, Dad." Omkara replies, his eyes filled with unshed tears.

Gauri turned out to be just like his mother.

"Oh no." Tej says heartbrokenly.

"What should we do?" Arjun asks as he looked at Tej and Omkara.

Tej takes his mobile and shows him a photo. "This is from the CCTV from yesterday. This was the man, find out who he is."

Omkara looks at the photo and sees a man walking out the gate. His heart breaking seeing the man.

"I've seen him." Arjun says shocked.

Omkara turns to look at Arjun. "Where?" Omkara asks as he took the phone to look at the man closely.

"With Gauri."

"What?"

"Yeah, I saw her with him at that party. Speaking to him."

"Which party?" Omkara asks him. Never haven't seen that man in his life.

Arjun uncomfortably looks at Tej then looking at Omkara he says, hesitantly. "The next day, she told you I misbehaved with her."

"You misbehaved with her?" Tej asks shocked.

"No... she misunderstood." Arjun vehemently says then he adds thoughtfully. "Maybe she thought I heard them speak and had lied hoping to cause a fight between us."

Omkara closes his eyes, realizing that Gauri had lied about that also.

"I thought she was different from those lower class girls. After all she was raised by Harshvardhan Trivedi but she proved me wrong." Tej says sadly. "I loved her like a daughter, Omkara."

Hearing that, Omkara walks off furiously.

**********

Hearing the door open and slam against the wall, Gauri turns in shock. Seeing Omkara at the door, Gauri hurries to him.

"Om, I've been trying your phone for so long. It had come switched off. I was getting worried." Gauri tells him as she hugged him. "But you're home now."

Omkara asks her, "Whose baby is this?"

"What?" Gauri asks in shock as she stepped back.

"Whose baby is this?" Omkara asks her furiously.

"What are you saying, Omkara? This is our baby." Gauri tells him in shock.

"This is not my baby." Omkara tells her furiously.

"How can you say that, Om?" Gauri asks him, her eyes filling up.

"Who is this?" Omkara asks turning the phone to show her the photo.

Gauri looks at the photo and shakes her head. "I don't know. I've never seen him before."

"You think I'll believe you?" Omkara asks her. "Dad heard you speak to him."

"What? When? I swear I haven't seen him in my life."

"He had come home yesterday!"

"Maybe he had come to see Dad."

"Dad doesn't know him."

"Even I don't!"

"Stop lying." Omkara furiously shouts.

"I'm not lying. I was in my room the whole evening after I got back from hospital. I didn't meet anyone. Why won't you believe me?"

"Dad heard you!"

"He is lying then!" Gauri shouts furiously.

"You're the bloody liar, Gauri. Not my Dad!" Omkara furiously shouts at her.

Gauri looks away, as she fought her tears. Then looking at Omkara, she pleads. "I know you don't trust women because of what your mother did. But I haven't cheated you, Omkara. I can never dream of anyone other than you. I've only loved you and I'll only love you."

Hearing her words, Omkara looks away feeling conflicted. His heart urging him to believe her but his brains telling him that all this is a lie.

"Were you pregnant when you married me?" Omkara asks her as his eyes filled up. "Or did you continue your affair after our marriage?"

Gauri looks at Omkara hurtfully, her heart breaking into million pieces. "How could you ask me that?"

"Answer me."

"What proof do you've that there is another man in my life?" Gauri asks him furiously.

Omkara looks at her and says in disgust. "You were pregnant when you married me. That was why you were so eager to have sex. The way you kept saying you love me. You did mislead me, Gauri. I did believe you."

Gauri looks at him in outrage and asks. "Your proof against me is that I loved and desired my husband?" Then she furiously accuses him, "You never believed me, Omkara. If you did then you would have believed that I'm loyal to you."

"Get out of my house, Gauri. I don't want you anywhere near me or my Dad or my house."

**********

Omkara stops seeing Harshvardhan and Shakti sitting with his father.

"They came to see you." Tej informs him.

"I don't have anything to say to you." Omkara tells them as he turned to walk off.

"Omkara, Gauri really loves you. That is why she did all this." Harsh says as he stood up.

"We understood that, and that is the only reason, even though we had been against it, we didn't interfere when she decided to marry you on a contract." Shakti tells him.

"Love?" Omkara scoffs. "She wanted a father for her baby. That is why she married me. She never loved me."

"Baby? What baby?" Shakti asks confused.

"She didn't tell you?" Omkara asks them.

"What?" Harsh asks him.

"She is pregnant." Tej answers seeing Omkara look away hurt. "And she married Omkara so she will have a father for her baby."

"Pregnant?" Harsh asks in a whisper.

"And still you kicked her out of the house?" Shakti asks furiously.

"I do charity that doesn't mean I will take up paternity of any kid."

Shakti furiously slaps him.

"You proved it. You proved that you don't deserve her." Harsh says furiously. "She was the fool who trusted you. Believed in you. Went against us for you."

"How dare you touch my son?" Tej furiously asks as he stood up. "In spite of being a driver's daughter, we accepted her. But she proved that she belongs to the filth that she came from."

"You're the filth, you bloody money-minded bastard." Shakti furiously starts.

"Let's go, Shakti." Harsh says furiously. "Thank God, Gauri escaped from this hell."

**********

Omkara furiously answers the call. "What the hell do you want?"

"Why won't you believe me, Om? I don't know that man. This is our baby." Gauri tells him as she broke down crying.

Omkara closes his eyes tight, his heart breaking at her tears while his brain screamed in fury. "Will you stop torturing me? Why don't you call the father of your baby?"

"This is your baby, Omkara!" Gauri furiously tells him.

"I'm going to meet my lawyer to file for divorce."

"Please Om, don't do that. I'll die without you." Gauri pleads.

Omkara closes his eyes as he fought his pain, he tells her sternly. "I'm filing divorce on mutual petition stating inconceivable difference. You better sign the petition other wise, I'll file divorce saying that the baby is not mine. I don't give a damn about you. But I don't want your baby to go through what I went through. I know what it is to have a trollop for a mother."

"Our baby is legitimate, Omkara. Don't do that to our baby. I'm begging you." Gauri cries pleading.

"Then you better sign the petition."

**********

Omkara sat alone in his room as he thought of Gauri and her betrayal. Tears fell through his eyes as he thought of the few months they spent together.

He always knew women couldn't be trusted. Then why did he start trusting Gauri. Why did he give her so much power over him?

He wanted to scream. He wanted to cry out loud. Wail.

Hearing his mobile ring, he starts to ignore when he realized that it was the ringtone he had set for Gauri.

"Stop calling me!" Omkara furiously tells her.

"Daddy is furious, Om. Daddy told me never to speak to you even." Gauri tells him helplessly.

"Then stop calling me!"

"Papa spoke to Daddy. They agreed that till the time divorce is finalized you've time. If we get divorced then they will never accept you again. They told me that I'll have to do what they say. Even if it is to marry someone else. Please, Omkara, come and take me home."

Omkara closes his eyes hearing that. His heart panicking thinking about Gauri marrying someone else.

"I swear Omkara, this baby and I'm only yours."

"Try this on someone else, Gauri. I know your truth!"

**********

They only met in court during the hearing and the court ordered counselling sessions. Even though Gauri tried speaking to him, Omkara had refused to speak to her.

Finally, it was the day for the final court date. Omkara was getting ready with a heavy heart when his phone rings.

He closes his eyes as he answers fed up. "What?"

"Om, Papa and Daddy have decided something. They are not telling me what. I am getting scared, Om. Please at the court say that you don't want divorce, Om. Please? If we get divorced today then we can never be together. Please, Om?"

"I don't want to be with you ever!"

**********

"Where did you find him?" Tej asks seeing Arjun bring a drunk Omkara.

Omkara had gone off without a word after the Judge had granted them the divorce.

"Bar." Arjun tells him as he helped Omkara.

Tej holds Omkara from the other side.

"Why did she do this to me, Dad?" Omkara asks him helplessly as tears fell from his eyes.

"Forget her, Omkara. She doesn't deserve you."

"I can't, Dad. I love her." Omkara tells him as he broke down.

Arjun and Tej look at each other as they led him to his bedroom.

"She wanted to use me for her baby, why didn't she just do that? Why did she make me fall in love with her?" Omkara asks him.

"We'll talk in the morning, Omkara. You sleep now." Tej tells him as he put him to bed.

**********

"Om."

Omkara wakes up with a start. "Gauri." He looks around and stops realizing it was just a dream. He sighs.

He stops in confusion wondering how he got there. Then remembers Arjun bringing him home. He stops remembering his father seeing him like that. Guilty for coming home in that state, Omkara gets off his bed. He comes out of his bedroom, looking for his father, wanting to apologize to him for his behavior. Finding his bedroom empty, Omkara curiously goes to Tej's study.

As he neared he could hear voices, the door was ajar.

"Ridhima has given up her movie dreams. She accepted that she can't act to save her life and has decided to join fashion designing." Arjun tells Tej.

"Hmmm."

"I spoke to her about Omkara, she is asking what is she lacking that I think she has to settle for a divorcee. That girl has no brains!" Arjun mutters pissed.

"We can handle her. It is Omkara who is going to be a problem. He is not going to agree for a marriage." Tej mutters furiously.

Omkara was about to go in to tell his father that he will never get married again when he stops hearing Arjun.

"If you hadn't got blinded by Gauri's connection to Harshvardhan Trivedi then this wouldn't have come to this. We could have kicked Gauri out earlier itself."

Omkara frowns hearing that, his heart starts beating fast, an unknown fear gripping him.

"Omkara hated women, I was sure that he would divorce her at the end of the year. By then, we would have signed the deal with Harshvardhan. They already knew it was a contract marriage, so Harshvardhan won't be able to hold it against us. They would have got divorced. I would have convinced Omkara to get married to Ridhima after that. It would have all worked out perfectly. Only if that idiot hadn't got her pregnant!" Tej fumes furiously.

Omkara's heart stops hearing that.

"Can't believe she managed to seduce him." Arjun says still in shock.

"Omkara answered back at me for the first time for her." Tej says in hatred.

"She knew how to control him."

"That reminds me." Tej looks at Arjun. "Did you misbehave with her?"

"Of course not. She is not my type."

Tej laughs hearing that. "You think I am Omkara?"

"What do you mean?"

"He might get fooled by that. I won't."

Arjun awkwardly looks at Tej.

"Gauri is exactly your type." Tej says smirking. "Your type, your kick is seducing those girls who are loyal to her husband or boyfriend. You like chasing them and winning over them. And that girl was devoted to Omkara."

"If I had a little more time, I would have got her." Arjun boasts.

"In your dreams." Tej scoffs. "She didn't see anything beyond Omkara. Her world revolved around him."

Omkara's eyes fill up hearing that. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had believed that Dad had started loving Gauri and the way he was speaking of her now.

"What if Omkara had chose to trust Gauri?" Arjun asks curiously.

"He trusts me the most." Tej smirks.

"Who was that guy?"

"He had come asking for a job. If in case Omkara hadn't believed me then I would have got him to come and tell him the same thing that we told him. But I knew, it won't be needed because he believes whatever I tell him." Tej boasts. "And I feel, even though he loves her, the distrust of women from childhood, he deep down expected Gauri to cheat on him."

Omkara opens the door and steps in. His eyes blood shot as he looked at his father and best friend.

"Omkara..." Tej says in shock as he stood up.

Arjun also stands up seeing him. Both worriedly wondering if he heard what they were speaking.

"How could you do this, Dad?" Omkara asks him hurt and heart broken.

"Omkara... listen to me..."

"I thought you loved Gauri. She cared for you like a daughter." Omkara furiously accuses him.

"She is a driver's daughter." Tej reminds him.

"She is my wife!" Omkara furiously remind him.

"Was." Tej reminds him. "She is no longer your wife!"

Omkara stops hearing that. His heart filled with guilt.

"I'm going to find you the perfect girl, Omkara."

"Gauri was perfect, Dad!" Omkara furiously says then he asks helplessly. "You hated a driver's daughter. Why did you hate my baby?"

Tej stops hearing his question.

"Gauri begged me. She kept telling me. She swore to me. She begged me for our baby. But I chose to believe you! Because I trusted you the most in this world." Omkara furiously screams in anguish.

"Omkara, she was the first girl in your life. You got besotted with her. There was nothing special about her. I'll find you the best girl."

Omkara turns to Arjun and slaps him hard.

Arjun keeps his hand on his cheek, his eyes filled up due to the pain. Tej stops in shock realizing the slap had been for him and not Arjun.

"Shut the fuck up. Not another word." Omkara tells Arjun furiously and he turns around and walks off.

**********

On the fifth ring, Gauri answers the call. "Hello?"

From her voice, Omkara realized that she had been crying. "Gauri..." Omkara says breaking down. "I'm so sorry, Gauri. Please forgive me."

He hears her sob.

"I'm sorry, I didn't believe you, Gauri. Dad lied to me. Arjun and him, they planned it and I believed them." Omkara tells her crying.

"What's the use, Omkara?" Gauri asks him sadly. "It's too late now."

"Please don't say that, Gauri. I can't live without you. I love you." Omkara tells her. "You're all I have."

Gauri cries hearing that.

"I'm coming, Gauri. I'm coming to bring you home. Will you take me back?" Omkara asks her.

"I can't." Gauri tells him as she cried. "I promised Papa and Daddy. You're too late, Omkara. Please don't call me again." Gauri hangs up.

"Gauri... Gauri..." Omkara says on the phone and realizing she hung up, he breaks down.

Omkara tries her number again and it was switched off.

**********

"Yes? Who are you?" The security asks.

Realizing this was a new security, Omkara stops and asks him. "I'm here to meet Gauri."

"Nobody is home."

"Where did they go?" Omkara asks helplessly.

"They all went to Shakti Sir's home town for Gauri Madam's wedding."

"Gauri is getting married?" Omkara asks in shock.

"It was today morning."

They told me that I'll have to do what they say. Even if it is to marry someone else.

Gauri's words rings in his ears.

It's too late now.

"You can't be here." Another security says.

Omkara looks at the security, he had met earlier. He comes hurrying out.

"You are not allowed here. You should leave." The security tells him then turning to the other man, he scolds him. "Didn't you get the orders?"

"This is Omkara? I didn't know..."

"Please leave." Security tells Omkara. "We'll be in trouble if Sir finds out that you had come."

Helpless, Omkara walks off.

**********

Few months later

"All looks great. We should be able to start the dry run of the hotel in time." Abhay says as he walked with Omkara, Tej and Arjun, inspecting everything.

Tej smiles proudly while Omkara simply walked with them.

"I told you that you will not regret collaborating with us." Tej says.

Omkara scoffs as he looked away. His father's dream of venturing into hotel business had finally come true. A new hotel had come up in a prime location but due to certain issues they had decided to look partners for the running of the hotel. They had pitched and had won the contract.

"By the way you all have to stay here for the dry run." Abhay informs them.

"Why?" Omkara asks frowning. "We never discussed that."

"Our funding partner were saying, if you stay here, then you can review the dry run and rectify any issues as and when they arise." Abhay tells him.

"Funding partner?" Omkara asks confused.

"We had financial issues, so, we have investors. You've to stay here. They will also be staying here." Abhay informs him.

"We can't just leave everything and come and stay here." Omkara says.

"You've no choice. It's there in the contract." Abhay says.

"We'll stay." Tej says.

Omkara was going to refuse when he hears Arjun's soft voice. "Fuck."

Omkara turns to him and sees him staring ahead, Omkara curiously turns to look.

The staff were removing the covering of the logo. The Hotel's name was written in bold. Nothing was out of ordinary, confused Omkara starts to look back at Abhay when his eyes catches the new logo near the Hotel's name.

TRIVEDI GROUP

Omkara's heart skips a beat. Harshvardhan Trivedi was the investor.

"We can't stay. We've other business also.. so can't..." Tej starts making excuses.

"We'll be staying." Omkara declares.

**********

Omkara spend a sleepless night, tossing and turning in his bed as he thought of meeting Harshvardhan. He had no idea where Gauri was. He didn't know whether she got married. They didn't come back to their house. She never switched on her phone again.

She would have given birth too.

Omkara squeezes his eyes tight, tears rolling down his face, as he thought of Gauri and their baby, in some corner of the world.

**********

By the time they reached, the hotel was in hustle bustle. Omkara gulps realizing that they have reached.

"When he realize it is us, he is going to cancel the contract. We'll be neck deep in depth." Tej worriedly says.

"Should have thought of all that before attacking the girl he loves like a daughter." Omkara tells him.

Tej looks at him irately.

"We should be sticking together, Omkara." Arjun tells him.

"He is my father, that is the only reason, I am barely tolerating him. I've no such obligations with you. So, like I've told you before, keep to yourself. Don't try to be my friend." Omkara warns him.

"You are late." Harsh says.

They turn and sees Harsh and Shakti standing with Abhay.

"This is Tej Singh Oberoi, his son Omkara Singh Oberoi and their partner Arjun Kapoor." Abhay makes the introductions. "And I'm sure, you all will be knowing Harshvardhan Trivedi. And this is Shakti Sharma."

Omkara guiltily looks at Harsh and Shakti as they stared at him.

"Sir?" Abhay calls him confused noticing the way they were staring at Omkara.

"Abhay has good things to say about you but I hope you all are as good as his words." Harsh says.

Omkara was surprised hearing him speak like that.

"We are all professionals here. And we'll be 100% professional." Tej says. "And we expect everyone will be like that."

Harsh looks at Shakti and they both smirk.

Omkara wanted to ask them about Gauri but he knew they will never tell him anything. He had hurt them also. He wondered whether they were here to destroy them. He hoped they were, being destroyed maybe would ease a little bit of his guilt and pain.

"Anyway, you will be liaising with my daughter." Harsh says as he looks at Abhay, "Would you mind calling my daughter?"

As Abhay went to call her, Omkara prepared himself to face his ex-sister-in-law. She had been the one, who was most friendly with him, and he didn't know how to face her.

The door opens and Omkara sees the other Gauri step out. Her eyes scan the area and it locks with his. Omkara guiltily looks at her while she glared at him in hatred.

His only hope was her in finding Gauri, she had been the one who had treated him like a brother and he hoped maybe, some of that care and concern was still left.

Hearing the door open, Harsh turns back and seeing Gauri, he smiles. "Bachcha, not you."

Gauri points at the door, signaling Gauri was coming.

Omkara's heart skips a beat realizing that his Gauri was here. He eagerly looks at the door.

Few seconds later, the door opens and his Gauri walks out. Beautiful as ever, in a formal wear.

Omkara's eyes fill up seeing her. He was about to run to her when Harsh says.

"That's my daughter, Gauri Trivedi. She is heading this project and all communication would be through her."

"Gauri Trivedi?" Omkara asks confused as he looked at Gauri.

Gauri was looking at him with a straight face.

"She is Gauri Kumari Sharma." Tej says.

"That would be me." Other Gauri says.

"She is my daughter." Shakti confirms as he kept his hand over her shoulder.

"No, that is your daughter and she was married to my son." Tej argues.

Harsh walks to Gauri and pulls her close to him. "This is my daughter, Gauri Trivedi. And my daughter is not married."

Hearing a baby crying, Gauri quickly turns around and runs to the office room.

Omkara starts to go after her when Gauri closes the door and he stops midway.

**********

Gauri was not Papa's daughter? She was Harshvardhan Trivedi's daughter? But why did she lie? What was she doing as his secretary then?

"Did you know that she was Harshvardhan's daughter?" Tej asks Omkara as they walked away in shock.

Omkara looks at his father and asks him, "Why? If you knew she was the richest man's daughter then you would have treated her better?"

"For how long are you going to behave like this?" Tej asks him angrily. "Grow up! And that Gauri is also not as innocent as you think. She is also a liar. Don't know what else she lied about."

Omkara slaps Arjun hard. "How many times do I have to ask you to shut your fucking mouth?" Omkara asks furiously.

Tej quickly stops. Omkara glares at Tej and walks off.

"Can you stop trying to talk to him when I am next to you?" Arjun asks Tej furiously.

**********

Omkara couldn't take his eyes off Gauri as she spoke to them. She hadn't looked at him even for a second during the meeting.

Everyone was present there as Gauri headed the meeting. As he watched her be so professional and assertive, he felt proud, happy, regret, guilt and sense of longing. He wished she would look at him for even a fleeting second. He prayed for that. But she never looked at him.

As the meeting was wrapping up, the door opens and everyone curiously look.

Omkara's heart stopped beating seeing the other Gauri carrying a baby.

His baby.

Omkara's eyes fill up seeing the bundle in her arms.

"Slept." Gauri mouths as she walked to the crib kept in the room, and gently places the baby in it.

Omkara's eyes follows her as he tried to catch a glimpse of their baby. Omkara gulps as he watched his baby disappear inside the crib, away from his view.

He turns to look at Gauri and sees her watching him.

There was no tears in her eyes, but he could see the pain in her eyes.

He opens his mouth to say her name when she quickly looks back at everyone. "That's a wrap for today. We'll meet same time tomorrow. Thank you." Gauri says as she closed the laptop.

Everyone slowly starts getting up to leave.

Helpless, Omkara gets up and starts to leave as he again looked at the crib. He watches the crib as he helplessly wondered whether they have a son or a daughter.

Cursing himself and his fate, Omkara starts to leave as he kept looking at the crib.

"Did Ekansh have his milk?" Gauri asks as she walked to the crib.

Omkara stops hearing that. He couldn't control his joy and smile. They have a son. Their Ekansh.

Omkara looks at Gauri and she quickly looks away as she looked at their son in the crib.

"Yeah." Her sister replies. Then noticing Omkara she says, "You can close the door on your way out."

Omkara leaves the room and closes the door.

**********

Omkara knocks on Gauri's door.

"Who is it?"

He hears Gauri ask from inside her office. He opens the door and sees Gauri facing the other side, her back to him.

"Gauri..."

Gauri stiffens hearing his voice.

"There are some issues with the housekeeping. We need to discuss that." Omkara tells her.

Gauri turns her face to the side and informs him. "I'm feeding my son. Give me sometime. I'll call you once I'm done."

Omkara stops and notices the tiny legs that were dangling near her side. He looks at them for a few seconds then he walks off.

**********

After almost a week, he found Gauri alone, without any of her family members with her. She was walking in the garden with Ekansh. Omkara runs to her.

"Gauri...." Omkara calls her as he stopped behind her.

Gauri stiffens in shock hearing him, then taking a deep breath, she turns around to face him though Ekansh was facing the other side.

"Yes?"

"Where did you go? I looked for you everywhere." Omkara tells her as his eyes filled up.

"Just came out for a walk. Is there an issue?" Gauri asks him.

Omkara stops taken back hearing that, then he says sadly, "You know that is not what I meant."

"If this doesn't have anything to do with our work then I have nothing to say to you." Gauri tells him.

"Gauri, please forgive me. I know, I committed a sin. I should have trusted you. Believed in you." Omkara says as he cried. "I'm so sorry, Gauri. Please forgive me."

Gauri takes a deep breath and she says. "I've forgiven you. Now, please don't come speaking about the past."

Feeling defeated, he helplessly looks at her. "I love you, Gauri."

Gauri looks away hearing that.

"Don't you love me anymore, Gauri?" Omkara asks her helplessly.

Gauri looks at him, as her eyes filled with tears full of pain and accusations.

Ekansh bored with the sight, turns around curiously and he sees Omkara.

Omkara stops in shock seeing his son look at him. He gasps softly, their Ekansh looked exactly like him.

His eyes fill up, remembering how he had refused to accept their baby. Accused Gauri of deceit. Called their son illegitimate.

Seeing Omkara and Ekansh look at each other, Gauri's eyes fill up and she quickly walk off.

**********

After that, Omkara never tried to speak to her about their relation. They only spoke to each other on a professional level. Though, wherever Gauri went, he followed her from a distance.

One day, Omkara, Gauri, Arjun and Harsh were sitting for a meeting when the door opens and they hear Ekansh crying sound.

Gauri, Omkara and Harsh immediately turns to check.

Gauri walks in holding Ekansh. "Gauri, are you free? He wants to go outside."

"I've a meeting." Gauri tells her hesitantly.

"Okay, I've a con call in 5 mins with New Zealand office. Let me check with Papa." Gauri says as she rocked Ekansh in her arms.

Omkara's heart breaks seeing his little boy cry. He wished he could take him out and pamper him. But he also knew, he didn't deserve to be near Ekansh.

"I'll take him." Harsh says as he stood up.

"What about the meeting?" Gauri asks him.

"You can brief me later." Harsh tells Gauri and walking to Ekansh, he picks him up. "Nanu will take you out, Ekansh." Harsh tells him gently as he walked out.

Realizing they were going out, Ekansh stops crying and curiously look where they were going.

Gauri sighs in relief hearing him stop. She looks at Omkara and sees him also relax.

"Sorry for the interruption. Let's continue." Gauri says.

"It was not a problem." Arjun says in a flirty tone.

Omkara and Gauri stops and looks at Arjun with a frown.

Then Gauri, ignoring him, resumes what she was saying.

They were discussing when Gauri furiously slams her hands on the table. "Whoever it is, taking your bloody foot off my leg."

Omkara stops in confusion then he looks at Arjun.

Seeing Omkara looking at him, Arjun worriedly says, "It was an accident."

Screaming in fury, Omkara grabs Arjun by his throat and pulls him up. "That's my wife, asshole!"

"Stop it!" Gauri shouts in fury.

Omkara stops and turns to Gauri in concern, "Are you okay?" He asks her worriedly.

Gauri looks at him angrily and tells him, "When I wanted you to defend and protect me, you didn't. Now, I know to take care of myself. You don't have to do anything for me."

"Gauri... I'm sorry that time I thought you had misunderstood..."

"Both of you, get out." Gauri orders them.

**********

The moment they stepped out of the room, Arjun quickly runs out. Seeing that, Omkara runs behind him. Omkara grabs his shirt and pulls him back as they reached the porch. Omkara starts bashing up Arjun.

His anguish, his guilt, his regret, his pain, his hatred, his self loathing, all taking Arjun as an outlet, he starts beating him up.

People come running to push them apart, but Omkara remained strong and continued to beat him up.

"OM!"

Gauri's voice breakthrough his blind fury and he stops. He turns and sees the people that have gathered around, including his father and Gauri's fathers with Ekansh. He looks around and finds Gauri standing at the steps as she looked at him in shock.

Looking at her, Omkara breaks down. "I didn't protect you when I should have, Gauri. I didn't trust you. It kills me that I wasn't there for you. I feel like killing myself when I remember what I did to you."

Gauri softly gasps hearing that. Her eyes fill up.

"But death will not be a punishment for me. It will be a blessing, an escape from this wretched life. But I can't kill myself because I know, if anything happens to me then you will be the most hurt in this world." Omkara says as he cried.

Gauri gulps hearing that.

Tej walks forward and helps Arjun up.

Omkara looks at Tej and asks him in outrage. "He misbehaved with your daughter-in-law and still you are supporting him?"

"She is no longer your wife." Tej reminds him.

Omkara angrily looks at Tej and loudly asks him. "He misbehaved with a woman and you are supporting him?"

Tej awkwardly stops and looks around, and sees everyone watching him.

Scoffing, Omkara accuses him. "You were laughing and sharing stories of how he tried to seduce my wife!" Then hurt Omkara asks him, "Are you so blinded by money and class that you don't see your son also? Don't I mean anything to you?"

"Stop it, Omkara." Tej tells him in a stern voice.

"What does he mean by he trying to seduce you, Gauri?" Shakti asks furiously.

Gauri worriedly looks at him.

"What all happened to you in that house, Gauri?" Harsh asks furiously.

Seeing her fathers furiously looking at her, Gauri hesitantly answers. "He tried flirting with me, tried touching me inappropriately. I told Om and Om told him to stay away from me."

"And did he?" Shakti asks suspiciously.

Gauri stops breathing hearing the question. She turns to look at Omkara and sees him watching her.

"Gauri?" Shakti calls her name for an answer.

Eyes filling up, Gauri whispers. "No."

Omkara falls to his knees hearing that, the shock knowing what Gauri went through because he trusted Arjun blindly.

Gauri looks into Omkara's eyes and says, "He tried flirting with me, being forward with me. He was not scared because he knew you would believe him over me."

"How dare you hurt my daughter?" Harsh asks furiously as he slapped Arjun.

"Just because you had her husband wrapped around your finger, you thought she was alone in this world?" Shakti asks him furiously as he slapped him.

Defeated, Omkara simply watched as Harsh and Shakti slapped Arjun.

Hearing a vehicle sound, everyone stops and curiously looks and sees a police car drive in.

"Who called police?" Harsh asks confused.

"I did." Gauri answers.

Police comes to them. "What is happening here?" The inspector asks.

For a few seconds everyone remained silent.

"They both were fighting." Abhay informs him as he pointed at Omkara and Arjun.

"What are you doing?" Tej asks him in shock.

"It happened in this hotel premise. I'm legally bound to report it." Abhay explains. "I'm sorry."

"Arrest them." Inspector says.

Omkara looks at Gauri and sees her looking at him in shock.

"It's okay." Omkara tells her with a gentle smile.

"He misbehaved with my daughter." Harsh informs the inspector pointing at Arjun.

"What are you doing? If this gets out then it will ruin the hotel reputation." Tej reminds him.

"Gets out? I'll make sure that he won't be able to show his face anywhere." Harsh challenges him.

"And if we see him in this property again, we'll be cancelling the contract with you." Shakti tells him.

"You can't do that." Tej says in shock.

"You need to read the contract again. We can cancel the contract whenever we want without any prior notice." Shakti inform him.

"Tej Uncle..." Arjun worriedly calls him.

"I told you not to do anything that would jeopardize things!" Tej furiously reminds him. "Now, you've left me with no choice."

"So sad for you." Omkara mutters to Tej as he walked to the police car.

**********

"You got bail."

Omkara looks up hearing the constable.

"Only him? What about me?" Arjun asks from the next cell hearing him.

"You're staying here. Yours is a non-bailable offense."

Omkara stops in front of the cell and warns him. "If I see you anywhere near my wife or any girl, I'll kill you."

Arjun gulps hearing him.

"Remember, I lost everything that I hold precious in life. I'm not scared of anything now. So, I'll kill you, if you hurt my Gauri again." Omkara furiously whispers to him.

After the formalities, Omkara walks out with his lawyer.

"Who sent you?" Omkara asks him, as this was not his lawyer.

The lawyer points at the person and walks off.

Seeing his sister-in-law, Omkara walks to her and asks her, "You got my bail?"

Gauri stares at him in anger.

"Gauri sent you, right?" Omkara asks her with a gentle smile.

"She called the police to file a case against Arjun." Gauri tells him.

"I know she didn't call the police to get me arrested." Omkara replies.

"Wow, now, you have faith in her?" Gauri scoffs at him.

Omkara guiltily looks down.

"Have you seen your son?" Gauri asks him furiously.

Omkara nods in yes, his eye filling up.

"God understood her pain. He knew how faithful she was to you. So, he sent your son as proof for her fidelity. God gave your son, your face, so, no one will raise a finger on her. God vouched for her chastity through your son!" Gauri tells him with furious tear filled eyes.

Tears drop from his eyes, hearing that. "I wish, I could go back in time and change everything."

"Change what? That you didn't trust her? You called your son illegitimate? That you blackmailed her?"

"Blackmail?" Omkara asks shocked.

"You threatened her that you would say in court that Ekansh wasn't your son. Did you think she agreed because she got scared that she won't be able to prove that he is your son? A DNA test would have proved it. She knew it. But she still fell prey to your threat because she believed whether it was proved in court that Ekansh is your son or not, people are going to believe what they want. They will say, Daddy used his money to hide her infidelity. Whether she proved in court that Ekansh was legitimate or not, the tag of illegitimacy will hang over Ekansh all his life like a sword." Gauri tells him. "You used her son, so she wouldn't even fight for herself."

"I thought..." Omkara stops and whispers in pain, "I don't deserve her."

"You don't!" Gauri tells him and walks off.

**********

After that Omkara stayed away from Gauri. Only spoke to her when it was absolutely necessary.

One day, they all were meeting in Harsh's office room when the door opens.

"All okay?" Gauri asks her sister seeing her a little upset.

"What happened, bachcha?" Harsh asks her.

"Do you've two minutes?" Gauri asks.

"Yeah. Do you want us to go somewhere else?" Harsh asks.

Gauri shakes her head. "Darshan called Papa."

"Is everything alright?" Gauri asks as she walked to her.

"He was saying it is almost 6 months and he wants me to go to New Zealand." Gauri tells her.

Gauri stops feeling bad for a second then smiling, she says, "You should. Ever since your wedding, you've been staying here. I'm fine now. I can manage work and Ekansh now."

"Gauri is right. You should go. Darshan has been patient for so long. It is natural for him to want his wife to be with him." Harsh tells her as he walked to her.

"I can convince Darshan. He'll listen to me if I insist." Gauri tells them.

"No, you go. Jeeju needs you. And you need him. I know, how much you miss each other." Gauri tells her.

"What did Shakti say?" Harsh asks her.

"He said it is high time." Then crying, she hugs Gauri. "He is not going to miss me."

Gauri and Harsh looks at each other and chuckle softly.

Omkara watches this, his heart worrying for Gauri. Her sister was her biggest support and a relief for her.

He prayed to God to give strength to his Gauri.

**********

Omkara watches as Gauri walked outside to the garden. Seeing her staggering, he follows her curiously.

She walks to the garden, and disappears behind the trees. Omkara runs, worried for her and turns to where she had disappeared and stops in shock, seeing her sit on the ground and drink from a bottle.

"Gauri..."

Gauri looks up at him and says with a smile. "Om."

Omkara's heart fills up seeing her smile at him after so long.

Gauri takes another sip.

"You're drinking?" Omkara asks shocked as he knelt next to her. "Can you drink? You're breastfeeding Ekansh."

"I've filled bottles of milk for him." Gauri tells him. "I'm not a bad mother."

"You're not, love." Omkara tells her.

Gauri looks at Omkara and says sadly, "I just want to get drunk tonight."

Omkara sits next to her. "Is it because Gauri is going?"

Gauri sighs as she looked ahead. "She is so lucky."

"Why do you say that?" Omkara asks her gently as he sat next to her.

"Jeeju loves her. Wants to be with her." Gauri says sadly as she took a sip.

Omkara's eyes fill up hearing that.

"I'm happy for her. Very happy for her. But at times, I feel so jealous. I feel sad." Gauri confesses sadly.

"I love you, Gauri. There is no one more important for me than you." Omkara tells her.

"You left me, Om." Gauri accuses him.

Omkara guiltily looks at her.

"My mummy died giving birth to me. At the hospital, Papa and Daddy met because of a confusion because both of us were named Gauri. When Papa found out Mummy died, and I had weak immunity, he asked Ma to feed me. Ma agreed to breastfeed me. When we were discharged from the hospital, they were going to their home. Papa was a school bus driver. Daddy offered him to be his driver, and said they can stay at his house. so Ma could care for me too. That is how they moved in. But Ma died within a year. It was just Daddy and Papa, Gauri and me. Daddy and Papa promised each other that they would raise us both girls together and as their daughters. And they did. They mean the world to me. And I went against them for you." Gauri says sadly as she looked at him.

Omkara regretfully wipes her tears.

Gauri takes a sip and says as she remembered. "I was in 9th standard."

Omkara curiously listens to her.

"I was into sports but I hated our sports sir. He was a pervert. He used to always look at me lecherously. I've big boobs, he used to lewdly stare at my boobs. He used to make the girls do jumping jacks, and watch our boobs going up and down. He was our sir, so, we couldn't do anything about it." Gauri says. "It never occurred to us that we could have complained against him. He was a teacher and in power, and we were just students."

"You should have broken his nose, Gauri." Omkara tells her angrily.

Gauri smiles fondly. "One day, I went to the sports room to get the football. I tripped and my shirt got stuck on a nail. My shirt tore. I got so scared. I locked myself in the sports room. I was scared that sports sir would come. I got so scared that I started crying. That is when someone had come to the sports room. He heard me cry and insisted that I open the door."

Omkara turns to her in surprise hearing that.

"When he said he was going to get sports sir, I told him what happened and how I was scared of the sports sir. When he found out that my shirt was torn, he gave me his shirt through the window. His name plate was on the shirt. Omkara Singh Oberoi, the head boy." Gauri says as she looked at him as tears fell from her eyes.

"It was you?" Omkara asks in shock, that he had spoken to Gauri years ago.

Gauri nods. "By the time I wore the shirt and came out, he had left. When I reached the ground, there was a huge commotion. Head boy had punched sports sir, and broke his nose. He got suspended and lost his badge. He came back to school after 15 days. And he went to every class and made every girl sign the petition saying how the sport sir was a lecher. He got the sports sir dismissed. I fell in love with him."

"That was years ago, Gauri." Omkara says in shock.

"Everybody told me that Omkara hates girls and he doesn't speak with them. His mother had ran off when he was a toddler and he doesn't trust women. But the Omkara I saw, had fought for a girl he hadn't even met. I had faith in him. I believed in him. I followed him everywhere he went. I joined his college. I knew he hated women, so I loved him from afar."

"That is why you became my secretary."

"Daddy has business in New Zealand, that time he met Darshan jeeju. He was impressed with him, he wanted me to marry him."

"What?" Omkara asks shocked.

"I told Daddy and Papa about you. They enquired about you. They found out how your mother ran away, but they didn't hold that against you. But when they realized how your father was so money minded. They refused. Daddy said that if he sent the proposal then your father would agree because Daddy was rich. He wanted me to marry into a family who would appreciate me and not my money. Then they found out how you hated women, they outright refused. I fought with them for you, but Daddy decided to proceed with Darshan jeeju's proposal."

"I wanted to prove to Daddy that you would accept me even if I was not rich, so I applied for a job in your office. I forged Gauri's documents with my photo. Someone else got it. That time I was working in Daddy's company, so I gave him a job in Daddy's company. And I got the job in yours." Gauri tells him.

Omkara looks at her surprised hearing that.

"Darshan jeeju came to see me. Gauri and I planned. I left home and Gauri went to jeeju to tell him that I loved you." Gauri smiles amazed and says, "Jeeju fell for Gauri. He came home and asked for her hand in marriage."

"Then Dad put that marriage condition to me." Omkara says softly.

"Daddy's friend is a producer. I showed him Ridhima's portfolio. He was impressed, but I told him to call her on the day of the wedding. If she chose you then I would leave, but if she chose movie, then it means God wants us together." Gauri says as she looked at him.

"And I ruined everything." Omkara whispers in guilt.

"When I went back home, Daddy and Papa thought you found out the truth and had fought with me because of my lie. They were so happy that you didn't care whether my father was Harshvardhan or Shakti, in spite of knowing how rich I am, you rejected me. They came to meet you to sort out the issue and you..."

Omkara closes his eyes in guilt. "I don't care who your father is, Gauri. For me, you're my Gauri."

"I know." Gauri replies.

"You know?" Omkara asks her surprised.

"Not even once you tried to find out why I lied that my father is Shakti. You didn't even care about that."

"For me, both of them are your father." Omkara tells her.

Gauri nods and says. "I pleaded and begged. Papa and Daddy gave me time till court granted us divorce. If before that you realized your mistake and came for me then they will not stand in the way."

"I wish I realized the truth a day earlier, Gauri." Omkara says regretfully.

"But you didn't. They took me from there. Away from you. They wanted me to be strong. They kept molding me. One day they said, I should face you. If I am able to face you then nothing in this world can destroy me again. They planned all this." Gauri says gesturing at the hotel.

"I looked for you everywhere."

"Daddy and Papa had people watching you. Every time you approached a private investigator, Daddy bought him." Gauri says chuckling.

"He did?" Omkara asks shocked, finally realizing why he wasn't able to find Gauri for so long.

"I thought, when we meet, maybe, you'll fight for me." Gauri says as tears spilled from her eyes.

"What?" Omkara whispers in shock as he stared at her.

"But you just gave up. You didn't even fight."

"I don't deserve you, Gauri. I don't deserve Ekansh."

"Still you could have fought for us." Gauri accuses him.

"I thought..."

"You thought I am a liar, you thought Ekansh wasn't yours, you thought your father was a good man, you thought I didn't want you... can you stop thinking? You always think wrong." Gauri says as she slurred.

"Gauri..."

Gauri takes a big sip and accuses Omkara. "You proved again and again, that I am a fool to place my hopes in you." Saying that Gauri passes out.

Omkara quickly holds her. His heart breaking and filling with joy, realizing, Gauri wanted them to be together even now.

**********

Omkara gently places Gauri on his bed. He puts the blanket on her lovingly.

Hearing her mobile ring, Omkara quickly takes out her mobile from her pants pocket. Seeing it was Gauri, he answers the call.

"Hello?"

"Jeeju?" Gauri asks surprised.

Omkara couldn't control his smile hearing that.

"I mean, Omkara." Gauri awkwardly says. "Where is Gauri?"

"She is here in my room. She passed out." Omkara informs her.

"Why did you take her to your room? Bring her to our room." Gauri tells him.

"We were talking. And she passed out. I brought her to my room. Gauri will stay here tonight." Omkara tells her.

"What?" Gauri asks astonished.

"Can you bring Ekansh here? He would need Gauri when he wakes up. Gauri will also get worried when she wakes up and doesn't find him."

"Hmmm okay." Gauri replies, not sure about this turn of events.

**********

Omkara opens the door and Gauri walks in carrying a sleeping Ekansh and bag. She glares at him as she extended Ekansh to him.

"You can put him on bed next to Gauri." Omkara whispers to her as he stepped aside.

Gauri walks to the bed and places Ekansh gently on the bed. Then she walks back to Omkara and opens the bag she was carrying.

"He had his milk. Now, he'll wake up only early in the morning around 5 for his feed. Keep the milk in fridge. Before giving it to him, warm it up in the bottle warmer." Gauri tells him as she handed him everything and showed him how to warm the bottle.

Omkara closes the door after she left, and walks to the bed. He lies next to Ekansh as he watched his wife and baby sleep peacefully. As he watched them sleep, after a long time, he felt peace engulf him.

He didn't sleep that night, just simply watched them sleep.

Seeing it was 5, Omkara decides to warm the milk, so, it would be ready when Ekansh woke up.

He was just getting done when he hears, Ekansh cry. He turns to check

"Sshhh..." Gauri wakes up as she sleepily started unbuttoning her top.

"Gauri." Omkara quickly calls her as he hurried to the bed.

Gauri wakes up in shock. "Om. What are you doing here?" Then hearing Ekansh cry, Gauri gently pats him.

"You were drinking last night." Omkara reminds her as he passed the bottle to her.

Gauri takes the bottle and keeps it to Ekansh's mouth. Ekansh starts suckling on the bottle.

"This is not my room." Gauri replies confused as she looked around.

"It's my room." Omkara tells her. "You passed out last night. And I brought you here."

"Why did you bring me here?" Gauri asks him frowning as she got up from the bed and picked up Ekansh in her arms.

Then without waiting for a reply, she leaves the room.

**********

Gauri didn't see Omkara for the rest of the day. He had gone somewhere, even though she was curious, she didn't ask anyone. Because she knew, if she didn't know then no one would know. He didn't speak to anyone other than her now.

Late afternoon, Gauri was feeding Ekansh when she hears someone open the door.

"Who is it?" Gauri asks immediately as she turned her face to check.

"Me." Omkara replies as he closed the door.

"I'm feeding Ekansh. Come later." Gauri tells him.

Omkara walks around the table, and goes in front of her.

"What are you doing?" Gauri asks panicking as she tried looking for something to cover herself.

"It's not like I haven't seen that before." Omkara says as he sat on the floor opposite to her. "I've been there before him." He says with a flirty smile.

"What?" Gauri whispers in shock as she grabbed her blazer and covered herself. She was outraged though she felt pink remembering the time they were together.

Omkara sighs and says, "I know I don't deserve you or Ekansh. I had hurt you a lot. I was a curse on you and I thought you were better off without me. Last night, I realized that you still wanted us to be together. I hurt you the most because I gave up on us. I'm going to fight for us, Gauri."

Gauri stops in shock hearing that. Feeling pain and relief hearing him.

"You had told me that at the end of one year, if I ask you to leave then you'll leave. If I ask you to stay then you'll stay." Omkara tells her.

"You asked me to leave." Gauri reminds him.

"But we had a deal of one year. And I want you to stay." Omkara says as he stood up and he lovingly kisses her forehead. "Happy Wedding Anniversary, love."

"You remembered?" Gauri asks him in shock, her eyes filling up.

"What else is there left in my life to remember?" Omkara asks her back. "Last night, I thought you were upset about Gauri leaving for New Zealand. But it was because of our anniversary, right?"

Gauri gulps as she looked at him.

"I've asked to meet with our family in 20 mins. Will meet you then."

"Why?" Gauri asks him.

"I'm going to fight for us." Omkara tells her.

Gauri watched him walk off. A sense of hope and pain fill her.

**********

"I wasn't aware we had a meeting now." Tej says confused as he took his seat then noticing Shakti there, he asks confused. "This is not an official meet?"

Shakti and Harsh ignores him.

"Papa... why are you here?" Gauri asks him in a whisper, as her father had refused to join the business and had insisted on being a driver to Harsh.

"Omkara asked me to come." Shakti replies shrugging.

She turns to Gauri and asks her, in shock. "He is really going to fight for you?"

Nervous and unsure, Gauri nods as she held Ekansh in her arms.

Gauri squeezes her hand with a reassuring smile.

"Sorry, I'm late." Omkara says as he walked in carrying a folder.

"Why are we called here?" Tej asks him frowning.

Omkara walks to the head of the table. "I want to tell you all something. It is a little complicated, so try to concentrate and keep us." Omkara tells them.

Gauri frowns hearing that, wondering what he was going to say.

"What do you mean?" Harsh asks him confused.

"In a minute, Daddy." Omkara tells him.

Taken back, Harsh looks at Gauri then he looks at Shakti and sees him also surprised.

"Gauri and I got married in a temple with witnesses. I'm sure you all are aware of that." Omkara says. "Gauri became my wife in a religious ritual."

"You divorced her." Tej reminds him.

Omkara closes his furiously as he tried to bite down his anger. "Damn never thought I will say this. I'm missing that bloody Arjun now!"

Tej quickly shuts his mouth.

"Then only few days later, we registered our marriage." Omkara says.

"We know all that." Harsh reminds him.

"Now, listen careful. I was a married man when I registered my marriage." Omkara tells them.

"What?" Shakti asks confused.

Gauri looks at Omkara, not really grasping what he was saying.

"I registered my marriage with Gauri Kumari Sharma, which is invalid because I was already married to Gauri Trivedi that time." Omkara says as he looked at Gauri.

"What?" Both Gauri shouts in shock.

Omkara smiles at his wife. "And my marriage with Gauri Kumari Sharma was dissolved because of the divorce."

Gauri's mouth drops open.

"Are you all with me?" Omkara asks excitedly.

"Bloody hell." Harsh mutters in shock realizing what Omkara was saying.

"What does that mean?" Tej asks confused.

Smiling happily, Omkara declares, "It means, Gauri is still my wife."

Gauri's heart skips a beat and she asks him in shock. "For how long have you known that?"

"I guess, pretty much from the moment, I found out that you are Gauri Trivedi." Omkara tells her.

"You didn't say anything." Gauri reminds him in shock.

"I thought being with me would hurt you more." Omkara says.

Not knowing what to say, everyone sat there in shock.

"Just so, it is clear." Omkara says as he took out a bunch of papers. "This contract is not valid. Because it was signed by Gauri Kumari Sharma while I married Gauri Trivedi." Omkara tears up the paper.

"Now, he has equal rights on Ekansh." He hears the other Gauri whisper in shock.

Omkara looks at Gauri and sees her worriedly looking at him. "Gauri has absolute rights on Ekansh and me." Omkara declares.

Gauri sighs in relief.

"What are you planning?" Shakti asks him.

"I want my wife and son back." Omkara declares.

"What?" Tej shouts in shock.

"This time, I won't give up." Omkara vows. Then he looks at Gauri and tells her, "Technically, Gauri, we are not yet divorced. So, that means the time that your fathers gave you, it is not over."

Gauri's heart skips a beat hearing that.

**********

Gauri watched as Omkara walked into her office.

"I won't go against Papa and Daddy. They will have to accept you." Gauri tells him.

"I know, love." Omkara tells her with a loving smile.

He kneels in front of her and lovingly looks at Ekansh who was sleeping in her arms. He nervously looks at Gauri and asks her, "Can I hold him?"

Gauri looks at him, as her eyes filled up.

"Please?" Omkara asks her, his eyes also filled up. "Only if you give me permission, Gauri."

Gauri nods and extends Ekansh to her.

Omkara picks him up and gently cradles him in his arms. He sobs as he kissed his son. "I waited for this moment, for ever." Omkara whispers as he silently cried.

Tears rolling down her face, Gauri watched as Ekansh peacefully slept in his father's arms for the first time.

**********

Things started getting between Omkara and Gauri. Though Gauri wasn't like the old Gauri with him, she no longer ignored him, and never asked him to leave her alone. And Omkara started tagging along with her, every time they had a little bit of free time.

Though Tej wasn't happy about it, Harsh and Shakti didn't say anything about the new development.

Because Gauri mellowed down to Omkara, her sister also was civil with him.

Soon, it was time for Gauri to leave for New Zealand.

Omkara knew Gauri was upset about being separated from sister, so he stood by her like a rock.

"You better come to visit me." Gauri warns her sister.

"I'll." Gauri promises her as she hugged her tight.

Gauri looks at her nephew and picking him, she kisses him. "Ekansh, don't forget that I am your favorite."

Ekansh smiles at her. Gauri kisses him and turns to Gauri and warns her. "This time when you get married, you better give me time to reach."

Gauri looks at Omkara awkwardly. Omkara grins and promises his saali. "We'll finalize a date only after you give us the go ahead."

"Then I might consider forgiving you." Gauri tells him.

Omkara grins hearing that. "Thank you."

"You hurt her again, I'll come and brutally murder you."

"I won't." Omkara promises her and he hugs her.

Soon, Gauri leaves.

**********

"Let's go for a walk." Omkara tells Gauri seeing her upset.

"I don't want to go for a walk." Gauri tells him softly.

"Ekansh wants to go for a walk. Come, Gauri." Omkara pulls her as he held Ekansh in his other arms.

Gauri goes with him, having no other choice.

"I told you, we'll go to meet her." Omkara reminds her.

"I can go alone also." Gauri grumbles.

"You would leave Ekansh and me alone?" Omkara asks acting shocked.

"I'll take my baby with me." Gauri scowls at him.

"I'll follow you wherever you go." Omkara tells her.

Gauri gives him a look.

"I'm your very own hutch dog." Omkara tells her.

Gauri couldn't help it, she smiles hearing that.

**********

The next couple of days went without any issue.

"Ouch..." Omkara shouts as Ekansh pinched his cheek.

"He has sharp nails." Gauri tells him as she gently pulled Ekansh's fist back.

"Something he got from you." Omkara says grinning.

Gauri glares at him as she turned pink.

Omkara chuckles as he threw Ekansh up in the air and caught him. Ekansh starts laughing happily feeling the air brush through his hair.

Gauri smiles as she watched her son laugh happily. She keeps her hand over Omkara's shoulder as she watched them.

Omkara turns to look her hand surprised. Realizing what she did, Gauri starts to take her hand off when Omkara keeps his hand over hers to stop her while he held Ekansh close to his chest.

Gauri and Omkara look at each other, as they got lost in the moment.

Realizing that Omkara had stopped throwing him up in the air, Ekansh starts crying in protest.

Quickly they both look at him, as seeing him trying to jump, they both chuckle and Omkara starts throwing him up in the air. Ekansh laughs happily while Omkara and Gauri smiled.

**********

"I just don't see what she sees in him." Harsh says perplexed as they watched Gauri, Ekansh and Omkara together in the garden.

"I see a few things in him." Shakti replies as he watched them.

"Really?" Harsh asks shocked.

Shakti shrugs. "From the moment he married her, he had treated her family with respect. It was a contract marriage, but consciously or unconsciously he still tried to form a relation with me and Gauri." Shakti tells him.

"For their reception, the moment he realized that I was Gauri's father, he had came forward to meet me, ignoring you." Shakti reminds him.

"Hmmm."

"He did really try to impress me. You would have seen, if you had stayed around to interact with him. You were scared that he was going to realize Gauri is multi billionaire Harshvardhan Trivedi's daughter and accept her for your money."

"His father would have." Harsh replies shrugging.

"That man, I don't understand. From what we know of him, shouldn't he be sucking up to you to forgive him and his son?" Shakti asks confused.

"He is still against them." Harsh replies confused.

"Anyway, Omkara is not devoted to him like before. He hardly speaks to him and that too only for official matters. He doesn't stay with Tej now. He has been living in a flat since he found out the truth. Tej shouldn't be an issue." Shakti tells him.

"The way he made my daughter cry." Harsh says helplessly.

"You and I know, he regrets it. And is trying hard to be worthy of her and Ekansh. If it wasn't for us, he would have found her even before Ekansh was born."

"Hmmm." Harsh sees Gauri smiles, he sadly smiles. "Her happiness is with him."

"Now, she is strong enough to handle him and all problems life throws at her. She is no longer that desperately in love girl. She has grown up from that."

Harsh nods and they remained silent as they watched the family, happy and at peace with each other.

Harsh sighs loudly. "I still don't see what she sees in him."

"Tej." Shakti whispers noticing Tej walk in.

Harsh and Shakti turn to face him.

"We all want the same thing. So, why don't we join hands?" Tej asks them.

"Same thing?" Harsh asks confused. "I really don't think we want the same thing as you."

"We do. You don't want them together. Even I don't." Tej tells them.

"Whether we want the same thing or not, we are not fools to join hands with you." Harsh replies to him. "And next time, take appointment before you come barging in here like this."

"After what you did to our baby, be thankful you're still breathing." Shakti tells him. "We let you off because no punishment is bigger than your only son disowning you."

"Don't cross us again. You know what happens to people like that. Arjun might have told you in between all his court cases and jail trips." Harsh tells him.

**********

Harsh walks into Gauri's office room, and smiles seeing Gauri sitting on the play mat and playing with Ekansh.

Gauri smiles seeing her father.

"I'm surprised you are alone." Harsh says as he walked to her and knelt next to her.

Realizing he was hinting at Omkara, Gauri tells him. "Omkara is at his weekly meeting with his company heads."

"Hmmm." Harsh picks up Ekansh and pampers him.

"I forgave him, Daddy." Gauri gently tells him. "But we'll wait till you and Papa give us your blessing."

"You're too easy on him."

"I love him. And he loves me. I understand him, Daddy. More than even he understands himself." Gauri tells him.

"Shakti and I never forced our decision on you. If we did then you wouldn't have remained his personal secretary for more than an hour."

"I know." Gauri replies gently.

"If you want to give him a chance then we won't stand in the way."

Gauri smiles hearing that. "You really mean it?"

Harsh nods. "Your happiness is with him. He has been suffering for months now. You had us. He had no one. That doesn't mean he is forgiven... just that.. your happiness is more important."

Gauri hugs him. "Thank you, Daddy."

"But beware that Tej had come to us." Harsh tells her and tells her what had happened.

Gauri nods.

"I just don't understand what issues he has with you." Harsh tells her.

"I know." Gauri replies softly.

"What is it?" Harsh asks her curiously.

"I can't tell you that." Gauri tells him as she looked at him. "I need to speak with Omkara."

Harsh nods.

**********

"I need to talk to you." Gauri gently tells Omkara as they met walked around the pool.

"Is there a problem?" Omkara asks her in concern.

"I don't know how you'll handle this." Gauri tells him worriedly.

"I lived through hell, Gauri. As long as you are with me, I'll be fine." Omkara tells her as he held her hand.

Gauri nods. "Let's sit here." Gauri points at a bench.

They both sit down.

"What happened, dear?" Omkara asks her as he lovingly cupped her face.

Taking a deep breath, Gauri starts. "I was really hurt when you left me."

Omkara squeezes her hand hearing that.

"I knew it was because of what you went through when you were small. If your mother hadn't ran away then you wouldn't have distrusted women." Gauri tells him.

Omkara looks away thinking of his mother. It was true, if his mother hadn't abandoned him, he wouldn't have hurt Gauri like this.

"I looked for your mother and found her." Gauri tells him gently.

Omkara looks at her in shock, his heart slamming against his chest, worried what he was going to find out now.

"What you know is not the truth, Om." Gauri tells him.

"What do you mean, Gauri?" Omkara asks her confused.

"Your mother didn't run away with another man."

"What?" Omkara asks her in shock. "She ran away, Gauri."

"Did you know that your family is from Bareilly?"

Confused, Omkara shakes his head. "Dad never mentioned Bareilly."

"Your mother was the daughter of the rich landlord there."

"Mom was not rich. She is from a poor family. That is one reason Dad hates poor people." Omkara tells her.

Gauri scoffs. "He was the poor one. Your mom was rich."

"What?" Omkara shouts in shock.

Gauri squeezes his hand and she turns in her seat to face him. "Your mother was in love with another man."

"She ran away with him."

"No, before she married Tej Singh Oberoi."

Omkara nods frowning.

"He was from a lower caste. Your grandfather wouldn't allow his daughter to marry a lower caste man."

Omkara sighs softly. His heart going out to them, he knew how it was to live without one's love.

"She was pregnant."

"What?" Omkara asks in shock, his heart slamming against his heart.

"Even then he didn't let her marry the man she loved. He found a man of his same caste. He was poor. So, he agreed to marry her and accept her unborn child as his for money."

Omkara's eyes fill up hearing that. "Tej Singh Oberoi is not my father." Omkara softly whispers.

Gauri shakes her head in no. her heart going out to him.

"These months, I wondered, why he was not seeing my pain. Why he did that to you and our baby. Why he didn't care for my baby. Why he didn't care for me. Now, I understand. I'm not his son." Omkara says as his eyes filled up.

"Your father turned to alcohol. And he died because of that." Gauri gently tells him.

Omkara sighs sadly.

"You okay?" Gauri asks him gently.

"Why did she leave me with him, Gauri? Why didn't she take me with her?" Omkara asks her sadly.

"Since, many people knew about your parents' relation. Your grandfather sent Tej and your mom here. He started this business for them. Your immersed herself in you and the business. During that time, she heard about your father's affair with a married woman. Your mother informed your grandfather told him about the affair and that she didn't have any relation with Tej, hoping he would let them get divorced. But your grandfather, instead just warned Tej because in their family no divorce happens."

Omkara furiously looks away, his heart going out to his mother.

"Your grandfather passed away. Your mother again asked for divorce but Tej refused. Then a few years later, she found out that the other woman was pregnant and it was Tej's."

"He has another child?" Omkara asks shocked.

Gauri nods. "She told him that they should get divorced. The other woman also had filed for divorce. So, she told him to marry the mother of his child. He refused."

"Why?" Omkara asks shocked.

"Because of your grandfather's will."

"His will?"

"When he found out about the affair, he made a will. You would inherit everything. If your mother has other children then they would inherit it along with you. If anything happens to you, then if your mother is alive, she would get 50% of the wealth, Tej would get 10% and all remaining would go to certain orphanages."

"He would get only 10%?" Omkara asks shocked.

"That is if anything happens to you. When you turned 25, you inherited everything. Now, it is up to whether you want to give him anything or not." Gauri tells him.

"Why did Mom leave?" Omkara asks confused.

"When she realized that, she told him to get out. He threatened that he would tell everyone that you're illegitimate." Gauri tells him.

Omkara gulps remembering what he had told Gauri when he wanted to divorce her.

"Your mother ran away with you."

"What?" Omkara asks shocked.

"Tej found you both. He blackmailed her with your illegitimacy and forced her to leave."

"She should have taken me with her. I would rather be known illegitimate than have hated my mother all my life." Omkara says as his eyes filled up.

"I can understand her, Om." Gauri says as she squeezed his hand.

"Why didn't you tell me all this before? You knew this before our divorce was finalized, right?"

"Our Ekansh is legitimate but I was scared of him being tagged illegitimate. So, how could I do that to a mother and her son?"

"You should have never forgiven me, Gauri." Omkara says as his eyes filled up.

"What you did to Ekansh and me was a cruel crime. But I understand you, Om. You were always a victim. Tej moulded you like that from childhood. With hatred and distrust on women. He made sure, you trusted only him."

"If it was anyone else, I wouldn't have trusted them so blindly, Gauri." Omkara tells her. "He showed me a random man's photo, and I believed it because he said he had heard you speak to that man." Omkara regretfully says.

Gauri nods. "Do you know why he doesn't want me with you?"

Omkara shakes his head in no. "You are far richer than us, he should be joyous. He is so money minded but I don't understand why he is so against you."

"What use is to him if you marry a rich girl? He wants his daughter to marry the millionaire Omkara Singh Oberoi."

"His daughter?" Omkara asks shocked. "You know who it is?"

"Ridhima."

"Ridhima? Arjun's sister?" Omkara asks shocked out of his wits.

"As I think of it, I believe that disowning you if you didn't marry, the contract marriage, it was all his plan. He wanted you to marry Ridhima, so she would get all your wealth. His daughter would be home with him. I am sure, he wouldn't have let you divorce her after a year."

"It was Arjun who gave me the idea, and suggested Ridhima." Omkara tells her in shock.

"I have heard you two talk."

Omkara turns to Gauri and asks her in disgust. "Did Arjun know about his mother and Dad?"

"How did you two become best friends?"

"Arjun's mom was his friend. He used to take me to their house for night outs." Omkara stops in shock and says. "He used to stay there. And they used to come to our house. Even Arjun's mother."

"Arjun might have figured it out long back." Gauri points.

"And Arjun was okay with that?"

Gauri shrugs. "Your father was single. His mother was single. So, he might have not cared. I don't know."

"But he knew Ridhima was Dad's daughter." Omkara says realizing.

"Otherwise why would he suggest his own sister for a contract marriage?"

Omkara sighs hearing that.

**********

Gauri met Omkara at the lobby as he reached back.

"Did you call everyone?" Omkara asks her.

"Yeah. They are waiting for you." Gauri informs him.

"Let's do this." Omkara says as he extended his hand towards her.

Gauri keeps her hand on his and asks him. "You sure you want to do this?"

"Yeah. I've to do this for you and my mom." Omkara tells her.

**********

"Why were you not answering my call?" Tej asks furiously the moment Omkara and Gauri walked in.

"I was busy." Omkara says as he pulled out the folder from his bag.

"What's that?" Tej asks frowning seeing the very familiar folder.

"My grandfather's will. Took me forever to find it."

"How did you..." Tej asks in shock.

"I found it. And according to my grandfather's will, all that you claim as yours is mine. And only mine."

"So? I'm your father and I have equal rights on your...."

"You're not my father."

Harsh and Shakti who had been watching them curiously looks at Omkara in shock.

"I'm the illegitimate son of Jhanvi and Vasmi."

"How...." Tej stops in shock.

"Gauri found my mother." Omkara answers him.

Tej looks at Gauri in shock. "She is a liar just like your..."

"You're speaking of my wife." Omkara furiously reminds him. "And you say one word against my wife or my mother, I'll slap you." Omkara warns him.

Tej stops worriedly.

"I want you out of my house, my company and all that belongs to me."

"What? You can do that. I raised you. That company is my sweat and blood too."

"True, you raised me for all these years. Even though you had filled poison in my mind, you had raised me. For your selfish reasons. I should give you something because you had worked hard and you had raised me. But you threw my mother out of her home and her company. You filled poison against my wife and my mother, in heart. After what you did to my mother and my wife, you expect me to give you anything? You get nothing. Get out." Omkara tells him furiously.

"I'll destroy you." Tej threatens him.

"Let's see you try." Harsh replies.

Omkara turns to look at Harsh and sees him and Shakti glaring at Tej.

Having no choice, Tej walks out.

Omkara turns to Harsh and Shakti, he didn't know what to say to them. After all what he did to their daughter was an unforgivable crime.

"You hurt her again, you'll be dead." Shakti warns him.

"I won't. She means the world to me." Omkara tells them.

"We know." Harsh replies.

**********

"Gauri... Ekansh." Jhanvi says happily as she hugged them. "He has grown so much since last time I saw him."

Then noticing Omkara next to Gauri, she stops in shock. "Om." Jhanvi whispers in shock.

Omkara smiles at his mother with tear filled eyes.

Jhanvi walks to him and lovingly cups his face. "I knew one day you would come."

"Why didn't you come to see me?" Omkara asks her.

"When you ask me the reason why I left... I didn't know how you would handle it." Jhanvi tells him as she cried.

Omkara hugs her. "I would have been happy that my mom didn't leave me because she didn't love me. I'm sorry I hated you for so long, Mom."

Jhanvi hugs him. "I'm so happy you are here. Will you forgive me for going so far away?"

"I have committed worser sins than you." Omkara replies. Then he looks at her. "Come home with me."

Jhanvi looks at him as she smiled.

"I want to take Gauri, Ekansh and you back to that house will full respect." Omkara tells her.

Jhanvi nods happily.

"In three weeks, we are getting married again." Gauri informs Jhanvi.

"You are getting married?" Jhanvi asks excitedly.

Grinning, Omkara informs her, "Technically, we are still married. But people are going to wonder how that is possible. If we tell anyone then, Gauri will have a legal battle for impersonation."

"So, I'm just going to change my surname after marriage to be safe." Gauri jokes.

"Wow what a coincidence, even I'm going to change my surname." Omkara informs her.

"What?" Jhanvi and Gauri asks shocked.

"I'm going to take my father's name." Omkara tells them.

"But Om, that will cause a scandal." Jhanvi worriedly tells him.

"I'm not a baby anymore. You don't have to protect me, I can handle it. And he loved you, he deserves to be remembered."

Proudly, patting Omkara's shoulder, Gauri declares, "My boy has grown up."

*** The End ***

Sorry, if the two Gauri-s had confused you.

Going to be busy, so might won't be updating for a while.

Please vote and comment.

- Lazy