​Hello everyone,

Thanks to all for voting and commenting on the previous story. Bhabhi (Posted on 26 - Sep - 2022)

Just wanted to clarify, I am against child marriage, but I just keep getting ideas like these. I am not glorifying it or supporting it. My true feelings for child marriage was expressed in Wedding Vows and Balika Vadhu. Have categorized these into a series.

Child Marriage 1 – Jab Miya Biwi...

Child Marriage 2 – Balika Vadhu

In this story, they are not children, but since they are under age, I'm putting it in the category of "Child Marriage."

Please note

Couple of times, I kept changing the back story and going back and editing out what I had rewritten, and tried my best to keep the story correct and organized. please forgive if there are any inconsistency.

Omkara stops the car in front of his mother's childhood home. He gets out of the car and walking around the car, he opens the boot and take out his bag. He puts his bag on his shoulder and picks his laptop bag. He closes the boot and walks to the house.

He takes out his mobile and calls his mother as he waited for someone to open the door.

"Hello Omkara... Did you reach?" Jhanvi asks as she answered the call.

"Yeah, Mom. Have you guys decided when you will come?" Omkara asks as Gauri opened the door for him.

"We'll come soon. you let me know how Papa is doing." Jhanvi tells him.

"Okay."

"Remember to submit all the documents for your course. your class is starting in a week, so don't forget."

"But Mom, when Nanu is like this, how can I go to UK?" Omkara asks her sadly.

Jhanvi didn't say anything for a while. "Let's see, Omkara. even Nanu would want you to go. Anyway, let me know what is the situation there."

"Okay. talk to you later." Omkara replies hanging up and turns to Gauri. "Where is Nanu and Nani?"

"In their room." Gauri replies to him.

Nodding Omkara walks to his nanu's room while Gauri closed the door.

***********

He sees his Nani sitting next to his Nanu who was sleeping. Leaving his bag at the bedroom door, Omkara walks into the bedroom.

"Nani..." Omkara softly whispers to her.

Nani turns to him and asks with a gentle smile. "Om... you reached?"

Omkara walks to her and takes her extended hand in his. Then he leans down and hugs her. Omkara looks at his grandfather who was in his deathbed now. "How is he?"

"Not good." Nani says sadly. "He was crying till now."

"Is he in pain?" Omkara asks her in concern.

"It's not that." Nani replies shaking her head sadly as she looked at her husband.

"Then?" Omkara asks confused.

"He is filled with guilt."

"Guilt?"

"Unfulfilled promise." Nani replies as she looked beyond Omkara.

Curious, Omkara turns back and looks behind him to see Gauri at the door. seeing him looking at her, Gauri turns around and leaves the room. Omkara curiously looks back at his grandmother. "Gauri?"

Nani sighs tired. "Yes."

"What about her?" Omkara asks curiously. He has kind of known or rather seen Gauri in his grandparents' home for as long as he could remember.

His Nanu was a powerful man in the village. He was the, THE power there at one point of time. and Gauri's father was his right hand man. He had many enemies and there were many attempts made on him. the last being the one, where Gauri's father had taken a bullet meant for him. after that, he had stopped all of his political and social activities and started leading a peaceful and quiet life. ever since her father's death, Gauri had come to live in their house.

"What promise regarding Gauri?" Omkara asks her.

"On Harsh's deathbed, Jhanvi's Papa promised him that he will take care of Gauri and get her married to a good man. Now, he is worried that when he dies and meets Harsh, he wouldn't have fulfilled his promise." Nani replies.

Omkara frowns and asks in shock. "How old is Gauri?" he could swear that she was at least 3 years younger to him.

"17."

He was right. "She can't get married now." Omkara tells her in shock.

"I know but he feels he had been lax in his responsibility. He should have found someone for Gauri. So, he is filled with guilt."

"But that is not right." Omkara tells her in shock. "What is Gauri saying?"

"She told him that she is freeing him from that promise. But for him, he made that promise to her father, not her. seeing him like this, she told him that if it would ease him then she will marry whoever he chose this instant."

Omkara stares at her in shock. That would be illegal.

"I've asked the marriage broker to come."

What the hell is happening here?

***********

Omkara comes out of the bedroom and stops in surprise seeing his bags missing.

"Where is my bag?" Omkara asks his grandmother.

"Gauri might have took it to your room."

"She didn't have to." Omkara whispers shaking his head.

He walks down the corridor to the last room that he usually used whenever he visited his grandparents, that was his room. he was about to walk in when Gauri comes out. She stops in shock seeing him.

"I've kept water in a pitcher on the table." Gauri informs him.

Omkara nods.

"If you need anything, just shout out for me." Gauri tells him as she walked around him to leave the room.

"Are you okay with what is happening?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri stops and turns to him. "He gave me this life, I'll do anything for him."

"Your father gave his life because of that he is alive even today." Omkara points out exasperated.

Gauri just looks at Omkara without saying anything for a few seconds then she walks off.

***********

Omkara walks into his grandfather's room some time later and finds him awake and talking to a man. Omkara steps into the room. hearing him, his grandfather looks at him.

"Om, when did you come?" Nanu asks feebly as he lifted his hand up a little.

Seeing that, Omkara walks to him and takes his hand as he knelt down next to him. "How are you Nanu?"

"I'm ready to meet my maker but not my friend." Nanu replies weekly.

Omkara couldn't believe that the man in front of him was his Nanu, he was the most active man he had seen in his life, and now, he was all skin and bones. The cancer ate him alive. It had been so sudden and so fast in taking the man away.

Omkara turns to the other man and asks his grandfather, "Is he the broker?"

"Yes."

Omkara doesn't say anything as he just looked at them to continue their conversation.

"I want the best man for Gauri." Nanu tells him.

"I've the best of the best. You just tell me your demands and I'll bring the boy and his family here tomorrow." The man confidently says.

"A good family and an educated good man who will take care of her well."

"I've many like that." the man says smiling. "Can you give me the details of the girl and a photo?"

Nanu nods and gestures to the table. "Om, give Gauri's photo."

Omkara picks up the photo and sees Gauri shyly smiling at the camera. God, she was so young.

"Gauri... she is my friend's daughter. we are all she has. She will finish her 12th in a few months."

"12th? How old is the girl?" the broker asks confused.

"17."

"Are you trying to send me to jail?" he asks shocked as he stood up.

***********

Omkara walks back to his grandparents' room after escorting the broker out. The broker had freaked out and Omkara had to take him away from there.

As he reached the room, he could hear his grandfather lamenting regretfully. He looks in and sees Gauri kneeling next to his grandfather and his grandmother sitting near him and crying.

"What am I going to tell Harsh?" Nanu cries as he lay on the bed.

"That you took care of me." Gauri tells him.

"All these years, you took care of us, working like a servant here. Is that what I should tell him?"

"I was happy here, Papa." Gauri argues to him, her eyes filling up.

"I thought I had time, but I should have fulfilled my promise. I kept procrastinating thinking you are young and there is time."

"There is still time." Gauri tells him gently.

"No..." nanu shakes his head. "How will I face him? I'll never have peace because I didn't clear my debt."

Omkara walks to his grandfather, kneels next to him. "Nanu..."

"What will I tell him, Om? He had given me his most prized daughter and I couldn't treat her well. I was her guardian and still everyone considered her a servant here. How am I to answer him when he asks about his daughter?"

Omkara looks at Gauri, and sees her looking at his grandfather in pure misery. He looks at his grandparents and sees them equally miserable. He takes his grandfather's hand in his and tells him, "You tell your friend that your grandson will marry his daughter in a few years."

"What?" Nanu asks in shock.

He looks at his grandmother and sees her also looking at him in shock. He turns to Gauri and sees her staring at him as if he was a ghost.

"You will marry my Gauri?" Nanu asks hopefully.

"Yes." Omkara promises.

"But..." Gauri starts to whisper in shock.

"You told him you will marry whoever he chose." Omkara reminds her.

Gauri speechlessly looks at Omkara.

"Your father will never agree. I know my daughter; they will never agree." Nanu laments.

Omkara doesn't say anything because he knew his parents.

"They will never agree, Om. They will never let you marry Gauri. I can't lie to my friend knowing that. I don't know what to tell my friend." Nanu cries out loud.

Omkara cups his face, "Nanu... I'll marry Gauri now."

"You'll?" Nanu asks hopefully.

"Yes."

"Even you are not marriageable age, Om." Nani gently reminds him.

Omkara looks at his grandmother and tells her, "Let him go peacefully, Nani."

***********

There wasn't much to prepare. All they had to do was wait for the pundit to reach. There was no celebration or wedding rituals or wedding attires. He was still in his jeans and tshirt and she was still in the salwar she wears at home.

Omkara was walking out of his bedroom when Gauri comes against him. he stops seeing her.

"Why?" Gauri asks him softly.

"For Nanu. Isn't that why you also agreed to marry?" Omkara asks her.

"You didn't have to. You could have found someone else." Gauri points out.

"They don't owe a debt. My family owes the debt to you and your father." Omkara reminds her.

They didn't have anything more to say to each other. And in half an hour, they were married.

***********

After his grandfather had gone to sleep, Omkara went to his bedroom. He got busy with submitting the documents for his university. Hearing the door softly opening and a gentle knock, he curiously looks up from his study table and sees Gauri at the door.

"Is Nanu okay?" Omkara asks her.

"Yes. He is sleeping." Gauri replies.

Omkara nods and waits for her to tell him what she wanted.

Seeing him waiting for her to speak, Gauri nervously says, "Badi Ma told me to sleep here."

Omkara's heart skips a beat hearing that then he nods his head.

Seeing that, Gauri enters the room and slightly closes the door. she turns to look at Omkara.

"You can sleep. I've some work." Omkara tells her.

Omkara turns back to his laptop but when she didn't walk to the bed, he curiously looks and sees her walk to a corner of the room.

"Gauri?"

Gauri jumps in shock and turns to him nervously.

"Bed is here." He gestures to her.

"I will..." Gauri starts then she stops. "You be comfortable on the bed."

"Just sleep on the bed, Gauri." Omkara tells her shaking his head.

Gauri walks to the bed then she stops and looks at him. "What about you?"

Sighing, irately he says. "I've lot of work, Gauri. please don't disturb me. I need to submit these for my university."

Gauri nods and gets on the bed realizing he wasn't planning to sleep.

Gauri gets on the bed and was about to close her eyes when Omkara calls her. she quickly looks up at him and sees him looking at her. "Yes?"

"It's not Badi Ma, it is nani." Omkara tells her.

Gauri nods in shock.

Then Omkara turned his attention back to his laptop and ignore her completely.

Maybe the stress of last few weeks, Gauri slept off immediately. She had opened her eyes at her usual wake up time of 4:30 and the moment she opened her eyes, she had a mini heart attack. Because her brand new husband was sleeping right next to her.

***********

"Where is Om?" Nani asks seeing Gauri in the kitchen.

"He is sleeping." Gauri tells her. "How is Papa?"

"Sleeping peacefully." Nani replies with a relieved smile. "You and Om has given him peace."

Gauri hesitates then she gently informs her, "He told me to call you Nani."

Nani stops in surprise for a second then smiling, she tells her, "You should. You're my bahu."

Gauri gently smiles.

Nani walks to her and keeps her hand on Gauri's shoulder. "Did you talk to him?"

"Not much. He was busy with his university some work." Gauri informs her.

Nani nods then smiling proudly she says, "He has his Nanu's heart. he will treat you well."

***********

"Om..."

Hearing his Nani's voice, Omkara curiously look up from his phone and sees Nani and Gauri. "Yeah, nani?"

"When should I call Jhanvi and tell her about Gauri?"

"Not now, Nani." Omkara replies shocked.

"What?" Nani and Gauri look at him in shock.

"They will not accept Gauri." Omkara tells her. "You know that."

Nani looks at Gauri and sees her looking at her in confusion. Turning to Omkara, she asks him. "Then how will you take Gauri with you?"

Omkara looks at his grandmother in shock. "Nani, you know, I can't take Gauri's responsibility right now. she will stay here."

Omkara looks at Gauri and tells her. "You've your school and I'm going to UK next week for my studies. last night, we had to get married for Nanu and we can't legalize our marriage for another year."

Gauri nods.

Omkara turns to his grandmother and tells her, "When the time is right, I'll tell Dad and Mom about Gauri."

"Okay." Nani agrees.

"I need time, Nani." Omkara tells her then looking at Gauri, he tells his grandmother, "Till that time, Gauri is your responsibility, Nani."

***********

At night, Gauri walks into Omkara's bedroom and sees him fast asleep. Since afternoon, he had been taking care of his grandfather and it might have tired him out. She walks to the bed and sees that he had taken three-fourth of the bed. She had no idea what she was supposed to do. Squeeze herself into the bed or sleep on the floor? Remembering how Omkara had asked her to sleep on the bed, she was confused so, she lightly kept her hand on his shoulder.

Omkara comes awake with a start. Seeing Gauri, he asks worriedly. "Is it Nanu?"

"No." Gauri quickly replies. Seeing him looking at her confused, she nervously tells him, "I came to sleep."

Confused Omkara looks around the bed and realized that he was sleeping in the middle. "Oh, sorry." Omkara says as he quickly moved to the side to give her space. "I didn't realize."

Gauri nods and she gets on the bed, feeling nervous and very conscious.

She sees him extending the one end of the blanket to her. she takes it nervously and got under the blanket.

"Good night." Omkara mumbles and promptly went back to sleep.

***********

Gauri runs into Omkara's room pushing the door open loudly.

"What happened?" Omkara asks her knowing it was bad news from her face.

"It's Papa. You've to go get the doctor." Gauri tells him.

Hearing that, Omkara runs out of the room, his heart slamming against his chest.

Once the doctor had checked his grandfather, he called his mother.

"Hello, Omkara."

"Mom... It's Nanu... Doctor said to inform all close relatives. He doesn't have much time. You and Dad have to get here as soon as you can." Omkara tells her.

But by the time they got there, he was gone.

***********

"He asked for you." Nani informs Jhanvi.

After the funeral, the family was sitting together after the guests had left.

Omkara looks at his mother and sees her sadly nodding. He sighs seeing that. once his worry for Gauri was put to rest, Nanu had asked for his only daughter.

"I tried to come sooner Ma but I just couldn't get here sooner." Jhanvi says sadly.

Omkara looks away. his parents could have come if they had put aside their business for five minutes.

"Why is she wearing mangal sutra and sindoor?" Tej asks shocked. "She got married?"

Omkara, Gauri and Nani stop in shock as they looked at each other. Due to the death, mourning and funeral, they had completely forgot to remove the symbols of marriage.

"Oh you finally found a man for her?" Jhanvi asks surprised then turning to her husband, she reminds him. "I told you about that promise Papa made to her father. Papa was worried about that the last few days."

"Oh yeah." Tej nods.

"When did she get married? Why didn't you tell me, Ma?" Jhanvi asks curiously.

"Yeah... it happened suddenly." Nani says.

"Who is it?" Jhanvi asks as she looked Gauri up and down.

Nani looks at Omkara for a second then looking at Jhanvi, she replies. "The broker had come."

"Hmmm... so, she is going? Who will be with you?" Jhanvi asks.

"No... Gauri will be here." Omkara quickly says.

"Why?" Jhanvi asks confused.

Omkara looks at Gauri and sees her nervously looking at him, he looks at his mother and as casually as he could, he tells her. "He has to go away for some time, so he asked to keep Gauri here."

"Go away? where?" Jhanvi asks confused.

"Outside." Omkara says hoping they won't ask any more questions.

"outside where?" Tej asks frowning.

Omkara helplessly looks at Nani and Gauri.

Seeing Omkara looking trapped, Gauri quickly says, "Gulf. He is a laborer."

"When is he coming back?" Jhanvi asks.

Gauri looks at Omkara for answer.

"Next leave is in 3-4 years." Omkara replies as he looked at Gauri.

"Till then we are supposed to look after her?" Jhanvi asks offended.

"Nanu promised him that he will take care of Gauri's education." Omkara lies.

"Are you sure he is going to come back?" Tej asks shocked.

"I doubt it." Jhanvi says shaking her head then turning to her mother, she asks in a whisper, though it was audible for everyone present there. "Did they stay together?"

Omkara immediately looks at Gauri and sees her red in humiliation. "She is his wife, Mom!!!" Omkara angrily reminds her.

"You don't know how these people are." Jhanvi tells him shaking her head. "And he knows we won't do anything because she is underage. We will be the first one to go to jail. You should have made him take her to his house."

"Take it from me, he is not going to come for her. He got what he wanted." Tej says in a worldly tone.

Gauri couldn't take it anymore, she turns to leave when she hears Omkara's voice.

"Gauri..."

Gauri turns to look at him and sees him looking at her.

"Gauri's husband cannot take her responsibility right now but he has promised that the moment he can, he is going to come for her."

Gauri stares at Omkara, feeling relieved, but at the same time wanting to cry and run away.

Tej scoffs and Jhanvi rolls her eyes.

Omkara looks at his mother and asks. "You know your father, Mom. do you think he would have let Gauri marry someone that he didn't trust?"

Hearing that, Jhanvi sobers down a little.

"He was so desperate. He was delirious with sickness. I don't know." Tej says shrugging.

"Enough, Jhanvi and Tej. What is the use about talking about this? For now, Gauri is going to stay with me and that is the end of discussion." Nani says.

"Yeah... anyway, you need someone here with you." Jhanvi says shrugging.

"We were just saying. We know people." Tej justifies.

Seeing how uncomfortable and worried Gauri was looking, Omkara tells her, "Have faith, Gauri."

Gauri nods, hearing him say that.

"You are his wife. he is not going to abandon you." Omkara vows to her.

********

Omkara was sitting outside his grandmother's room on the pretense of checking his mobile. The moment his mother left the room, he hurries to the bedroom.

"Nani..." Omkara calls her.

Nani, who was lying on the bed looks at him and Gauri, who was sorting out Nanu's stuff also curiously look at him.

Checking that his mother wasn't around, he steps into the bedroom. He looks at Gauri and tells her. "You'll have to stay here tonight. they can't see us."

Gauri nods.

Omkara turns to his grandmother and tells her, "Gauri will sleep with you, Nani. If Mom asks give some excuse of you needing her at night."

"I've a room." Gauri informs him.

Omkara shakes his head and tells his grandmother in finality, "Gauri will not stay in the servant's room."

Nani looks at Omkara in confusion. "There is no servant's room here, Om. And Gauri stays in her own bedroom."

Omkara looks at her in shock. He could have sworn that he had heard his mother call Gauri's room a servant's room. Then he stops in shock. It was not because it was the servant's room, it was called so because Gauri was staying there.

Omkara looks at Gauri and tells her, "Once Dad and Mom leave, you shift to my room. whether I'm here or not, you'll use that room from then on."

Gauri nods.

"Till then sleep with Nani."

********

Two days later, at night, Gauri was walking to her room when Omkara steps in front of her. seeing him, Gauri stops.

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning." Omkara whispers to her.

"Nani told me." Gauri replies.

"Do you want me to take care of something, do something before I leave?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri shakes her head in negative.

"This is my number. I'll go to UK day after. Once I get a sim there, I'll send you my number." Omkara tells her as he extended a piece of paper for her.

Gauri takes the paper and nods.

"Bye." Omkara tells her and he walks off.

********

Few days later, Gauri was taking tea to Nani's room for Nani and Jhanvi when she hears Jhanvi talking on the phone.

"Then what else, Omkara... did you sort out your classes?"

Gauri stops hearing that it was Omkara on the other line.

"Ah okay good... no, we will leave after lunch." Jhanvi replies to him.

Gauri walks to Nani and Jhanvi and offers them tea. Seeing her, Nani silently looks at her.

"Yeah, nani is here. Say hello to her." Jhanvi says as she passed the phone to her.

"Hello, Om..." Nani takes the phone with a smile. "How are you?... yeah, I am fine.... Hmmm fine."

Jhanvi takes the tea and whispers to her mother. "I'll just go tell Tej and come." saying that she leaves the room.

The moment she left, Nani hurriedly says, "Here, I'll give the phone to Gauri."

Gauri stops in shock when Nani offered the phone to her. she had no idea, what she was supposed to talk to him.

"Take fast before Jhanvi comes back."

Gauri takes the phone. "He...hello?"

"Are you okay there?" Omkara asks her.

"I am fine." Gauri replies then she asks. "Are you okay there?"

"Yeah, all settled here. Listen, my friends are calling me... I've to go." Omkara tells her.

"Okay."

"This is my number. ask Nani to get it from Mom. then give me a missed call or whatsapp me your number, so if there is anything we can contact each other." Omkara hurriedly says.

"but I..." before Gauri could tell him, he had cut the call.

"What happened?" Nani asks seeing Gauri handing the phone to her.

Gauri tells her what Omkara had told her.

"Before I could tell him that I don't have a phone, he cut the call." Gauri tells her.

"Don't worry. We'll buy a phone." Dadi tells her in a consoling tone.

"Phone?" Jhanvi asks curiously as she walked in. "Omkara kept the phone?"

"Yes." Nani replies.

"Nani, I'll be in the kitchen." Gauri tells her wanting to escape, she never stayed around Jhanvi or Tej.

"Why is she calling you Nani?" Jhanvi asks frowning in displeasure.

Gauri looks at Nani for help.

"Erm... your Papa told her that before he died." Nani lies.

"Why?" Jhanvi asks in anger.

"Because you didn't want her to call me Ma. Don't argue on it Jhanvi, this is what your father wanted."

Jhanvi makes a face. "Anyway what is this about a phone? Are you getting a phone?" Jhanvi asks confused.

"No, I was talking to Gauri about her husband. Gauri doesn't have a phone. Her husband had told her to get a phone. I forgot." Nani informs her.

"Ah."

Gauri was about to walk out of the room when Jhanvi stops her. "Listen, I think I have one of the staff sims lying in my bag. I'll give it to you."

Gauri nods.

"You can use Jhanvi's Papa's mobile." Nani tells her.

"What is the need for that?" Jhanvi asks frowning. "I'll send my driver and ask him to get a phone for her."

********

At night, Gauri switches on her new phone. It wasn't a smart phone, just a normal base model nokia phone. she dials the number Nani had given her. hearing the ring, she cuts the call as he had asked her to give a missed call and it was a postpaid sim and the bill would be going to Omkara's parents, and if they see that she had called Omkara then their secret would be out.

She keeps her mobile on the side, expecting it to ring. but it didn't ring.

And he never called.

********

Three years later

Gauri was nervous because Omkara was back home. she rarely spoke to him, it was when he had called Nani and he just asked whether she was fine and she asked the same of him, then there wasn't anything more.

A month back, Nani and she had moved to his house. Nani was getting old and her husband's death was making her feel a little lonely and yearn for her daughter. so, after her degree was over, they had shifted to Oberoi Mansion.

He had reached the previous night but she hadn't seen him yet. She didn't want his parents to get suspicious, so she had stayed away. Morning, she had to go to her new college to sort her admission for post-graduation.

As she walked into Oberoi Mansion, she takes in a deep breath. The anticipation of meeting Omkara was making her nervous and slightly excited. Though, they hadn't spoken much over the years, like he had asked of her, she had kept faith in him.

Gauri was about to walk to the bedroom that she shared with Nani when she notices Omkara walking towards her side. He hadn't noticed her; he was busy on his phone.

Seeing him, her breath gets caught in her throat. He was no longer the scrawny boy, he was a man. He is a man now.

Gauri nervously stops as he neared her.

Omkara walks past her, then noticing someone near him, he casually looks up at her from his phone and almost takes a step before he came to a dead stop.

Omkara turns to her and he looked awe-struck. "Gauri?" He asks softly.

Gauri nods as she gently smiled at him.

"You look so different; I almost didn't recognize you." Omkara tells her amazed as he looked her top to bottom.

Gauri's eyes widen hearing him, she had almost fainted that he had recognized her by half a glance.

"Even you look different." Gauri tells him wanting to check him out properly but was too shy and conscious to do it.

"Yeah?" Omkara asks surprised. Then shrugging he asks, "admission sorted?"

"Yes." Gauri replies surprised. "How did you know?"

"Nani tod me." Omkara replies then noticing one of the servants coming, he quickly tells her, "I will see you later."

"Okay."

Omkara walks off and Gauri goes to Nani's room.

"Ah you are back?" Nani asks smiling. "Got admission?"

"Yes." Gauri replies smiling happily.

"That is nice. Om was asking for you." Nani informs her. "He had said that he will come later to meet you when I told him that you went to college."

"I saw him outside." Gauri informs her as she walked to the table, to hide her blush though she wondered why she was blushing.

*********

Late evening, Gauri was with Nani in their room when Omkara knocks on the door. Gauri opens the door for him.

"Hey... I looked for you everywhere." Omkara tells her as he sneaked in and quietly closed the door.

"What happened?" Gauri asks feeling excited and nervous at once.

"Nani slept so early?" Omkara asks surprised seeing her sleep.

Gauri shakes her head. "Napping."

"Oh." Omkara nods. "Here, fill this up." Omkara tells her as he extended some papers.

Gauri curiously takes the papers and stops in shock realizing that it was register marriage form. "We are not telling your parents?" Gauri asks him in shock and confusion.

"I need some more time, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

Gauri nods.

"But we have to legally get married before my parents find out." Omkara tells her.

Gauri nods agreeing and she walks to the table to fill the form.

Omkara follows her. "I need your Address proof, age proof, passport size photo..." Omkara lists out the things that was needed.

Gauri nods as she continued to fill her details. They were silent as she filled out the form.

Gauri felt a tingling behind her neck. It felt like someone's eyes were on her. And she knew who that could be. as realization dawned, Gauri felt the tingling all through her body and her breathing increasing rapidly. Gulping she nervously looks at Omkara and sees him watching her.

"Why are you staring?" Gauri nervously asks him.

Breaking out of his stupor, he nervously looks down. "Sorry... I think I was lost in thoughts."

Gauri turns her attention back to the form though her cheeks were heated up.

Luckily she had taken passport size photo for her admission and other ID proof, she could use the printer at Oberoi Mansion. After gathering everything, Gauri gives it to Omkara.

Omkara takes them from her and double checks everything. "Tomorrow at sharp 10:30, come outside, I'll wait for you there. we need to go to the registrar's office."

"Okay."

*********

Sharp 10:30 Gauri comes out of the house and sees Omkara waiting in his car a little further away. she quickly runs to the car and gets in.

Till the moment she got in the car, she was nervous of people seeing them together but the moment she sat in, she was nervous about being in an enclosed space with him. and she had no idea why she was feeling this new nervous energy.

It was strange, she had slept with him on the same bed twice but that time, she hadn't felt this kind of nervousness. Then she secretly admitted to herself, maybe it was because that time, she was not tempted to touch him. but ever since she saw him yesterday, she had to fight herself from touching him.

*********

"This is Shivaay, Rudra, Bhavya and Anika. They are my friends and they will be the witness. And guys, this is Gauri." Omkara introduces them.

"It's so great to finally meet you, Gauri. Omkara has always been so tight lipped about you." Anika tells her as she hugged her happily.

"We wanted to come to the temple but Omkara insisted that you guys will meet us here."

For a few minutes, Gauri spoke to them.

"Everything is ready." Shivaay finally informs Omkara.

"Yeah, let's go." Omkara gestures to them to walk ahead.

"They know me?" Gauri asks him softly.

Omkara turns to her and guiltily says. "yeah... they think you are my girlfriend."

"Oh." Gauri nods then remembering she asks, "What temple?"

Omkara gestures to her sindoor and mangal sutra. "I had to explain that. so told them that we would get married in temple and come."

"if you wanted then I would have hidden it." Gauri tells him.

"You would?" Omkara asks surprised.

"In school, I had to." Gauri tells him.

"Oh yeah." Omkara realizes then he asks curiously. "You never took it off?"

Gauri shakes her head in negative. Omkara gently smiles hearing that.

They walked in and finished all the formalities.

Gauri was talking to Bhavya and Anika while Omkara, Rudra and Shivaay were speaking to a man secretively. Gauri then notices Omkara giving him money. Omkara turns to walk back and sees Gauri noticing him.

"Let's go?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri nods.

"So, once again, congratulations, you two." Bhavya says as she hugged them.

They quickly hugged his friends and bid their byes.

Omkara and Gauri got in the car and headed back home.

"They have to put our application on the notice board, so if anyone has objection for our wedding they have a month's time. I bribed that guy to not put the application on the board. So, there is no chance my parents will find out." Omkara explains to her.

"So, one month later, we will get our marriage certificate?" Gauri asks him.

"Yes."

*********

Before he went to UK, he used to have his food in the TV room while watching TV. After coming back, due to the time difference, he still hadn't got into pattern of eating at the right time. but today, he felt like taking his meal at the dining table. He wasn't used to eating with his parents. he never enjoyed it.

But today, he decided to eat breakfast with his family. He knew it was not because of anything else but Gauri would be there. ever since he saw her after he got back, he had this eagerness to meet her. she was not the school kid that he had last met. She was a woman now. Omkara chuckles, did he have a crush on his own wife?

Tej and Jhanvi looks at Omkara in surprise seeing him but they don't say anything.

"Where is Nani?" Omkara asks curiously as he pulled out a chair.

"She has her breakfast early. She has medicines and all." Jhanvi informs him.

Omkara nods as he hid his disappointment. Gauri would have eaten with Nani. He had been quick to notice that Gauri stuck to Nani like glue here, and if Nani's meal timings were different then Gauri was likely to follow that.

He was eating his food when he hears "Erm..." he quickly looks up excited and sees Gauri there and she was looking at him.

"What?" Jhanvi asks irately.

"Erm... Nani's one medicine got over. I just noticed it now." Gauri quickly tells her as she extended a medicine bottle.

"You just noticed it now?" Jhanvi asks angrily.

Frowning, Omkara quickly says, "It happens, Mom."

"That is her job!"

"Job?" Omkara asks confused.

"I told Ma not to bring her here. That we will hire an experienced nurse for her, but she was adamant." Jhanvi says.

Omkara looks at her confused. "Yeah, so hire."

"Then what about her?" Jhanvi asks.

"Gauri?" Omkara asks feeling so confused, he looks at Gauri and then his mother.

"Maa wants to keep her." Jhanvi tells him irately then she tells Gauri. "You go. Next time something like this happen, you will be fired."

Gauri quickly leaves from there while Omkara looks on in confused. "I don't understand. What do you mean by fire? Gauri is not..."

Tej gives out a snort and a laugh cutting Omkara off. "I told you not to send him to your parents' house for vacation. See, like them, even he thinks that charity case is family."

"She is an unpaid servant, Omkara. The only reason she is still here is because Ma insisted otherwise, I wouldn't even hire her as a servant here. don't give her more importance." Jhanvi tells him.

"Unpaid? Your mother is paying her college fees. That is her salary!" Tej reminds her.

Omkara stares at his mother incredulously. "Mom, him, I understand. Why are you behaving like a selfish, ungrateful snob? Did you forget that Gauri's father sacrificed his life to save Nanu's life?"

"That debt was paid off when he got her married off." Jhanvi reminds him.

"Now, if anything, she and her husband is in our debt because she is still living off us." Tej points out.

"I just hope her husband would come and get her!" Jhanvi says in a dismissing tone.

Angry, Omkara pushes his plate away and gets up and walks off.

"See how your father brainwashed him!" Tej complains to Jhanvi angrily. "Bloody communist."

*********

Gauri was walking towards Nani's room when she felt someone grab her hand. Before she could look up, Omkara was walking ahead of her, making her run behind him. she worriedly looks around to see if anyone was noticing them.

"Someone will see." Gauri worriedly tells him.

Omkara ignores her and walks into Nani's room furiously.

"Om..." Nani says with a smile and noticing him so furious she asks in concern. "What happened, Om?"

Fighting back his furious tears, Omkara furiously asks his grandmother, "Did you bring my wife into my own home as a servant?"

"Om... what?" Nani asks shocked.

Omkara pulls Gauri closer to him and asks his grandmother. "You remember that she is my wife?"

"I know, Om... When I told Jhanvi that I wanted Gauri to come with me, she had refused so..."

"So, you brought my wife as a servant?" Omkara asks her furiously.

"It is not like that. Jhanvi had insisted that I ask Gauri's husband to come and get her, but I told her that I wanted Gauri with me till she finished her studies."

"Choti Malkin just assumed that I am her servant." Gauri tells Omkara.

Omkara turns to Gauri and pleads to her. "It is true that you can't call her Mom but please don't call her choti malkin."

Seeing him so sad and helpless Gauri didn't know what to say, she looks at Nani for help.

"Why did you let this happen, Nani?" Omkara asks her helplessly. "I trusted you. I gave you Gauri's responsibility then how could you humiliate her like this?"

"Nani doesn't treat me like a servant." Gauri quickly reassures him.

Omkara looks at Gauri helplessly.

"She knew that you don't like me staying in the servants' quarters. So, she insisted that I stay with her in this room." Gauri tells him.

"This room?" Omkara asks confused as he looked at the bed. It was a custom made medicated single cot bed for Nani's back problem, two people couldn't fit in that bed. Eyes widening in shock, Omkara turns around to the corner and sees the mattress rolled and kept to the side. He had noticed it the first time he had come into the room and had assumed that one of the servants stayed with Nani at night. He turns to Nani and asks her in shock. "Gauri sleeps on the floor?"

Hearing him ask that, Nani guiltily looks down.

"She is my wife, Nani." Omkara tells her in a defeated tone.

Gauri's heart filled up hearing the heartbreak in his voice. She had the urge to hug him and tell him that everything was fine. He was thinking too much over a small issue.

"I promised to protect her, respect her and take care of her and her needs, Nani." Omkara helplessly tells her.

"Om, Jhanvi..." Nani starts.

Omkara cuts her off. "Nanu used to say that Gauri is his daughter. she was your adoptive daughter. then how did you get scared of Mom so much that you humiliated her like this? she might no longer be your daughter for you, but she is still my wife and the bahu of this house!"

"Gauri is still my daughter, Om." Nani argues.

"now I understand why Nanu was so worried for Gauri." Omkara tells Nani. "He knew that after he is gone, then you would listen to Mom and do whatever she wanted. You would let Mom treat Gauri in whatever way she wanted!"

"There was no other option." Gauri gently interjects. "Nani was missing Choti...your mother." Gauri quickly corrects herself. "When she said that she didn't want me to come... Nani had to make up this excuse. She couldn't leave me alone there." Gauri explains to him.

Omkara looks at his grandmother for a long minute then he tells her in an unforgiving tone. "You knew my wife would be disrespected here, so you shouldn't have come here!"

*********

"I am sorry, Gauri." Nani tells her regretfully.

Gauri hugs her. ever since Omkara had walked out in the morning, Nani had been apologizing and crying. "You don't have to say sorry, Nani."

"I was selfish." Nani tells her guiltily. "We'll go back, Gauri."

"No!" Gauri shouts in shock then calming down, she says. "I'm fine here, Nani. We'll stay here." Ever since she met her husband again, she couldn't think of going away from him.

"But Om..."

"My college is here, Nani." Gauri interjects to end the conversation.

Nani nods. Hearing the knock, Gauri curiously opens the door and sees Omkara at the door.

"Everyone slept." Omkara informs her.

Gauri nods confused as she stepped aside for him to enter.

"You'll sleep in our room from now on, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

Gauri's heart skips a beat. "What if someone..."

"You leave before anyone wakes up." Omkara tells her.

"But..."

"You'll not sleep on the floor one more night, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

Gauri turns to look at Nani and Nani gestures her to go. Nodding nervously Gauri, steps out of the room and close the door.

Heart slamming against their chests, they quietly walked to their bedroom.

Omkara opens the door for her, and Gauri nervously walk in. when three years ago, when she had shared a room with him, she hadn't really thought of anything beyond staying in a room with Omkara but now, there were a lot more things that she thought of and it was scaring her.

"I'm sorry. I should have realized it sooner." Omkara apologize.

Gauri shakes her head and turns to him. "I am fine. You blew it out of proportion."

"It is not easy for me, Gauri. Hiding my wife like this. treating my wife like this." Omkara tells her.

"You hurt Nani with your words. Whatever happened, it was both our decision." Gauri tells him.

Omkara looks away. "I just need some more time." Omkara requests her.

Gauri nods.

Omkara walks to the window and looks out.

"You asked me to keep faith in you, and I've faith in you." Gauri tells him seeing him getting so worked up.

Omkara turns to her and leaning against the window, he tells her. "The first thing my parents are going to do when they find out of our marriage is threaten to throw us out."

Gauri nods, even she expected that.

"I'm trying to find a job. I'm not going to join Dad's business." Omkara tells her.

"What?" Gauri asks shocked.

"When I get a job, I will tell my parents about us. I just want to stand on my feet before I put you in any kind of unstable situation." Omkara explains to her.

"I've no hurry." Gauri tells him.

Hearing her, Omkara lightly smiles. Seeing him smile, Gauri also smiles.

"You sleep. you'll have to wake up early." Omkara tells her.

Gauri nods and walks to the bed.

"You never gave me your number." Omkara softly states.

"I did." Gauri turns to him in shock.

Omkara looks at her in shock. "No, you didn't. I waited the whole day and next few." Omkara tells her as he walked to her.

"I gave you a missed call that night itself." Gauri argues.

"I didn't get it. maybe you cut the call before the ring went through." Omkara tells her.

"Oh." Gauri says disappointed then she asks confused. "When you used to call Nani why didn't you tell me that?"

"I thought you were not comfortable. And then scared of my parents." Omkara tells her confused. "Why you never asked me?"

"You said if we have to contact each other, so I just thought you didn't call because there was anything important." Gauri explain.

"It was not that there was anything important..." Omkara hesitantly says. "At times, I just thought I should check on you."

Gauri nods, at times, even she had hoped that he would call her.

"Give me your number." Omkara tells her as he took his phone.

"I'll call you." Gauri dials his number on her phone.

Omkara's phone rings. "Why is he calling now?" Omkara asks cutting the call.

"What happened?" Gauri asks curiously.

"Our old driver. I'll call him back after this. call me."

Gauri calls again.

"Oh my God! Wait, let me take this." Omkara tells her.

"But it's ringing." Gauri replies confused.

"Hello?" Omkara hurriedly says.

"Omkara... it's my call." Gauri tells him confused.

Omkara looks at her confused and clueless. "But this was our old driver's number. I've it saved."

"Oh!" Gauri says realizing. "Your mother gave this sim. She said it is staff sim."

Omkara looks at her in shock and he distinctively remembered. "I was waiting for your number and I got a missed call. It was just one ring and I thought the driver might have missed dialed."

"Oh."

"I didn't even think why he would have my UK number." Omkara replies in shock.

Gauri nods realizing how a small misunderstanding had caused this.

"Sorry." Omkara tells her seeing her disappointed.

"It's okay." Gauri replies shrugging.

Omkara watches her for a second and then asks her softly. "Did you wait for my call?"

Gauri looks at him, then hesitating and nervous, she lightly nods.

"My every waking hour, I thought of you. only of you." Omkara confesses to her.

Gauri's eyes shine in joy.

"Did you think of me?" Omkara asks her.

"Always." Gauri confesses.

Omkara watches her for a few seconds, then he steps closer to her. Omkara gently cups her face.

Gauri nervously raises her eyes to look into his. Omkara gives her a few seconds to reject him, when she didn't, he leans down and lovingly kisses her forehead.

Gauri shyly closes her eyes savoring the kiss. Omkara ends the kiss and was about to move back when he couldn't help it and he kisses her forehead again.

Blushing and unable to control the emotions and feelings he was causing in her, Gauri hugs him. Omkara hugs her tight and kisses her on top of her head.

They shyly part. Omkara smiles seeing Gauri blush, even he had lightly turned pink.

Omkara lovingly pats her cheek with a chuckle. "You sleep."

Blushing Gauri walks to one side of the bed and gets on it. after she got settled, Omkara gets on the bed and lies on his side facing her.

After a few minutes of silence, Gauri asks him, "Do you want to talk?"

"Yes." Omkara replies smiling.

"Then tell me." Gauri tells him.

"What?" Omkara asks chuckling.

"Anything... hmmm about your friends that we met that day." Gauri tells him.

"Hmmm I met Anika and Rudra in school. We have been friends since then. Shivaay is Anika's fiancé and Bhavya is Rudra's girlfriend." Omkara tells her.

They spent half the night talking.

********

Few days later, Gauri hears a loud argument. She stops realizing that it was Omkara's voice and the other was his father's. Gauri hesitates as she worriedly waited.

Few minutes later, Omkara opens the door and comes out. Seeing her, he stops and looks at her for a few seconds then he walks off. she understood that he wanted to talk to her but couldn't because people were around.

Few minutes later, she knocks on his bedroom door. she nervously looks around to see if anyone was coming.

When he didn't open, Gauri whispers to the door. "It's me."

She hears footsteps and then Omkara opens the door. Gauri quickly runs in and he closes the door.

"What happened?" Gauri asks him.

Omkara takes a long breath as he shook his head fed up. "I told Dad that I am not joining his business. He was screaming."

Gauri gently keeps her hand on his shoulder and rubs.

"Mom was also there. they were just arguing. I got so fed up. I just need some space." Omkara tells her tiredly. Then turning around, he wraps his hand around her waist and hugs her.

Gauri hugs him. "They will come around."

Omkara sighs.

*********

Gauri was coming outside her college when she notices Omkara waiting for her. surprised and happy, she walks to him.

"How come you are here?" Gauri asks him happily.

"I thought, I will take my wife for a date." Omkara tells her as he opened the car door for her.

Smiling excitedly, Gauri slides in.

They went for a drive and then later for dinner.

"Will Mom realize that you are not home?" Omkara asks her.

"I rarely see her." Gauri tells him. "And if in case she asks for me then Nani will cover for me. I told her that I am with you."

Omkara nods as he smiled and took her hand in his.

"You haven't visited Nani since that day." Gauri gently broaches the topic.

Omkara sighs as he looked away.

"Ever since Papa passed away, she wants to be closer to her family. I think that Papa died without seeing your mother has affected her. she never mentioned it, but I feel like that. she is scared that she will also be away from everyone when she..." Gauri tells him.

Omkara regretfully sighs hearing that.

"Come and see her. she misses you."

Omkara nods.

*********

Next morning, Gauri was walking to Nani's room with her tea.

"Gauri!"

Hearing Omkara call her, Gauri turns to look at him and was surprised to see Jhanvi also nearby. She worriedly looks at him wondering whether he didn't see his mother.

"Give it here." Omkara tells her as he walked to her.

"This is Nani's. it has no sugar." Gauri tells him.

"I know." Omkara rolls his eyes. "I'll take it to her."

Gauri's face breaks into a big smile hearing that. she starts to give it to him. seeing him smiling so happily at her and he doing what she had asked him, Gauri winks at him and kisses him in the air.

Omkara stops in shock and the tray falls off his hand.

"You, stupid useless girl!!!" Jhanvi furiously shouts.

"Mom! I dropped it." Omkara turns to her in shock.

"She should have made sure that you had taken it." Jhanvi says as she angrily walked to her. "You good for nothing..."

"Will you shut it, Mom?" Omkara furiously asks her.

"Why are you defending her?" Jhanvi asks him furiously.

"Because you might forget who she is, I will never." Omkara furiously tells her. then he turns to Gauri and sees her picking up the broken pieces.

"Gauri..." Omkara sternly calls her.

Gauri looks up at him.

"I dropped it. I'll clean it. you go."

"No, I'll do it." Gauri tells him.

"I SAID GO, GAURI." Omkara angrily tells her.

Gauri looks up at him in shock then seeing him angry and his mother also angry, she quickly leaves from there.

*********

Seeing Omkara silent, Gauri gently keeps her hand on his shoulder.

Omkara moves away in frustration.

"Please don't be upset." Gauri tells him as she moved closer to him.

"My parents treat you like shit." Omkara says in frustration.

"They never liked me." Gauri tells him gently. "It doesn't affect me."

Omkara looks at her and asks her, "I'll put you in a hostel?"

Gauri looks away and asks him, "Can you afford it?"

"I'll manage." Omkara tells her.

"You used to do part time job in UK and send money for my college, right. even now, you are paying for my college. I know."

"Nani told you?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri nods. "You were scared that your parents would notice the transaction from your bank and credit card. So you used to do part time job and send money to Nani's account."

Omkara shrugs. "Last year, I worked there. I told Dad that I need the work experience. I've money saved up. I thought I would need it for the worst case scenario. If we have to leave home and I have no job that time."

"When I turn 21, I'll get the money Papa kept aside for me." Gauri tells him.

Omkara shrugs it off. "I can manage, Gauri. I'll put you in a hostel? You'll have peace."

"But I won't get you see you. here I can." Gauri tells him as she looked at him.

Omkara's heart skips a beat hearing that. he steps closer to her and takes her lips in his. Gauri nervously kisses him back.

*********

Hearing another argument, Gauri sighs and looks at Nani.

"This Tej and Jhanvi, why can't they let that boy live in peace?" Nani ask sadly.

Gauri wanted to go to Omkara but she knew she couldn't. she sadly sat by as she tried to make out what the argument was about. They were loud but she couldn't make out much.

Even after the house had gone silent, Gauri and Nani just remained where they were lost in thoughts.

Hearing her mobile buzz, Gauri curiously takes it and sees it is a message from Omkara. she quickly opens it.

I need you.

Gauri without thinking anything else, runs to Omkara's room. she opens the door and sees Omkara sitting on the foot of the bed. She closes the door and locks it.

He looks up at her and she could see that he was very sad and miserable. She walks to him and the moment she reached him, Omkara wraps his hand around her waist and hugs her. Gauri hugs him and gently runs her hand on his shoulder to console him.

"I told you about the interview." Omkara starts as he rested his face on her stomach.

"Hmmm."

"I was about to get it. the boss was Dad's friend and he had called Dad to tell him that he was going to hire me and Dad told him not to." Omkara tells her.

Gauri hugs him tight not knowing how to console him.

"Why is it embarrassing for him if I work for someone else? I'm not doing anything illegal or demeaning then why he is feeling humiliated about it?" Omkara asks her.

"Omkara?"

"Hmmm?"

"Is it for us that you are not joining business or you never wanted to join?" Gauri asks him worriedly.

"I always knew that I have to join business, I didn't think of any other career option."

"And now?"

"What now?"

"If it was not for our marriage, would you still want to join business?"

After a long thoughtful pause, Omkara confesses. "Maybe."

"Then you should join." Gauri tells him.

"No." Omkara stubbornly says. "I can't be depended on him."

"Do you want to start your own business?" Gauri asks him gently.

"You need lot of money for that, Gauri. and Dad would throttle all my efforts for a loan." Omkara dejectedly says. "Worst comes to worst, Shivaay has offered me a job. I didn't take it. he said to just tell him if I change my mind."

"Will 1 crore be enough to start business?" Gauri asks him nervously.

Omkara leans back and looks at her in shock. "You are asking as if you have it."

"Not yet, next month." Gauri tells him.

"What?" Omkara asks confused.

"Papa had started a FD in my name. then he used to give me pocket money, but I never needed any money because Papa and Nani used to take care of all my needs. When Papa found out of his cancer, he had a FD, he made me the nominee. when I turn 21 I will get all that money." Gauri explains to him.

Omkara looks at her in shock.

"Everything together, more or less... actually more than 1 crore. You can start a small business with that."

"Nanu left that for you, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

"For us." Gauri tells him.

"It's yours, Gauri." Omkara argues.

"You spend money for my college, my studies, the clothes I wear. And I can't give you money?" Gauri asks him in shock.

"It's not that."

"Then?"

"because I want to achieve whatever it is on my own." Omkara tells her.

Though Gauri didn't agree with it, she accepts it as it is his career and wish.

*********

Gauri smiles at Omkara as they sneaked into their room at night. The moment the door was closed, they turned to each other and started hungrily kissing each other.

They part breathless and Omkara smiles. Smiling happily, Gauri walk to the window, he sits on the foot of the bed as he watched her.

Gauri watches the rain feeling a peace engulf her. As Gauri watched the rain, she starts to blush feeling the tingling sensation on her neck. "You are staring." Gauri shyly tells him without looking at him.

Gauri hears him chuckle. She turns to look at him and sees him lightly blushing as he stood up and walked to her.

"Why do you stare like this?" Gauri asks him smiling and blushing.

"it still amazes me. you look so different now." Omkara explains as he stood next to her. "At times, I find it so hard to believe."

"How different?" Gauri asks him.

"You used to be a kid. A typical school girl." Omkara tells her chuckling.

"And now?" Gauri asks smiling.

Omkara's smile drops and an intense looks come into his eyes.

Seeing the change in him, Gauri's breathing get hard. "Now? How do I look like?"

Looking into her eyes, Omkara steps closer to her and replies. "My wife."

Gauri felt as if his gaze was piercing her soul.

"Did I change?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri nods.

"How?"

"You used to be Papa's soft spoken grandson."

"And now?"

Looking into his eyes, Gauri replies, her voice was a bare whisper. "My man."

Next second, Omkara's lips was on hers. Gauri wraps her hand around him and pull him close as she hungrily kissed him back.

"Gauri?" Omkara gasps against her lips.

She knew what he was asking. "Yes."

Omkara hungrily kisses her as his hands went to remove her clothes.

*********

A week later, Omkara was in Nani's room with her and Gauri. Omkara was lying next to Nani while Gauri sat at the foot of the bed.

Hearing his mobile ring, he picks it up. "It's Rudra." Omkara informs as he answered the call.

As he spoke on the phone, Gauri checked her phone. as she was scrolling through her phone, she feels his toe brushing against her stomach. Curious, Gauri looks up and sees Omkara cheekily grin at her as he spoke on the phone. she blushes as she glared at him. then she feels his foot trying to slide inside her kurta through the slit. She hits his foot as she worriedly looked at Nani and sees her busy looking for the TV remote.

When he kept doing it, Gauri tickles his foot and he pulls back immediately. Gauri silently laughs at him. Omkara grins at her, silently promising her to take revenge at night.

"It's Bhavya's birthday." Omkara says out loud as he hung up the call. "Rudra has a small get together tomorrow late night at their place. Shivaay and Anika will come. he invited you also."

"Me?" Gauri asks surprised.

"It will be just the six of us."

"But how can I come?"

"it is at 11 in the night. We'll leave after everyone has gone to sleep and come back before everyone wakes up."

*********

They all were chatting, when Anika turns to Gauri. "Gauri, you tell us your love story. this guy, just doesn't say a word when we ask."

"Yeah... we know that you guys have known each other forever. Gauri's father was like your Nanu's best friend and right hand man. That is all he says." Rudra tells her.

"Yeah, I am so curious, how and when you fell in love. For Rudra and me, it was love at first sight. Anika and Shivaay it was an arranged marriage. you guys have practically known each other since you were babies. So, when was the turning point." Bhavya asks curiously.

"There is nothing to tell. Just a mundane story." Omkara brushes it off.

"You know... when you refuse to say, it makes me wonder whether you did something very embarrassing or very naughty to make Gauri say yes." Shivaay thoughtfully says.

"Nothing, guys." Omkara says brushing off.

"You should tell them." Gauri tells Omkara.

Omkara looks at her surprised. "You serious."

"They are our friends. They were there for us." Gauri tells him.

"Okay... now, I am very curious." Anika says hearing that.

"Me too." Rudra declares eagerly.

Omkara looks at Gauri and she nods. "Okay!" Omkara says loudly. "Wife insists."

*********

Seeing the shocked expression on their friends, Omkara looks at Gauri wondering whether they did right by telling them.

"Okay... *phew*... so criminals... huh?" Shivaay asks trying to break the ice.

Omkara and Gauri laughs hearing that.

"You shouldn't have married Omkara, Gauri." Rudra tells her shaking his head.

"Why?" Omkara asks frowning.

"It is practically incest." Rudra tells him.

"What?" Omkara shouts in shock.

"She is your grandparents adopted daughter which makes her your mother's sister. Which makes her your aunt." Rudra points out.

"Dog!" Omkara chuckles as he threw the cushion at him.

"Oh yeah!" Anika laughs. "Seriously, when you said you would marry her, Gauri would have thought, what is this kid thinking!"

"So, did you use to call her Masi before?" Bhavya asks laughing.

"Masi Ma." Gauri replies.

For a second everyone looks at her in shock. Seeing their shock, Gauri laughs out loud. "He used to call me Gauri."

"And you? Considering he was your nephew." Shivaay asks teasingly.

"She also used to call me..." Omkara stops in shock. He looks at Gauri in astonishment. "How the hell didn't I realize that?"

Gauri laughs hearing that.

"What?" Everyone asks curiously.

Omkara turns to them in amazement. "Nanu told her to call me Omkara Bhaiyya. I didn't like being called that, so I told her to call me Omkara. and you know my Mom." Omkara stops uncomfortably then shrugging he says, "She wanted Gauri to call me Omkara Sir. Nanu and I didn't want that. Nanu and Mom had an argument."

"Then?" Anika asks.

"They were arguing and Gauri just ups and walks out saying she promised to visit a friend, so she is going to meet her." Omkara says with a grin.

"What?" Rudra asks shocked and confused.

"Once she left, Nanu knew the argument would be a waste of time and energy because Gauri was not there to finalize a decision. I didn't hang around. So, he also walked off, and Mom didn't have anyone to argue with and that ended the argument."

"Very smart." Shivaay tells Gauri impressed. "Not picking a side and silently showed your view on the whole issue."

Gauri slightly blushes. "Not very fond of confrontations. I rather have peace."

"Then what did she call you in the end?" Bhavya asks curiously.

Omkara turns to Gauri and says. "Nothing. She never called me anything."

Gauri cheekily grins.

"How did she manage all this time?" Shivaay asks confused.

Gauri smugly shrugs.

"Sneaky you!" Omkara tells her amazed.

Gauri chuckles heartily.

Hearing the mobile ring, Bhavya excitedly picks it up. "It's my parents calling to wish." Bhavya informs them.

Bhavya answers the call. After parents wished her, Bhavya introduced Gauri to them and they spoke to all the friends. After that, Rudra and Bhavya were talking to her parents. Shivaay got busy on his mobile. Seeing that Anika and Omkara were talking, Gauri steps out into the balcony.

*********

Gauri was lost in thoughts when she feels a pair of hands snaking on her waist. She smiles and leans back as she turned her face to look at Omkara.

"What's my sneaky wife doing here?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri smiles hearing that. then she leans towards him and he bends down and takes her lips in his. They lovingly kiss.

Gauri leans back and smiles at him. she lovingly keeps her hand on his left cheek then she kisses his right cheek. "Om." Gauri softly calls him.

Omkara smiles hearing her call him that. he hugs her tight and rests his head on the crook of her neck. Gauri smiles and leans back on him.

"Anika has gone to get the cake. It is time to cut the cake. We'll go in?" Omkara asks her.

"I was thinking." Gauri replies.

"What?"

"Sometimes life is so unfair and strange." Gauri tells him as she looked ahead at the night sky.

"What do you mean?" Omkara asks her.

"Rudra and Bhavya are in love. They are not married but they are staying together. Their parents are happy for them. and look at us. we are married. We have to hide from the world and spend time together. We are worried of the day your parents will find out about our marriage."

Omkara sighs sadly hearing that.

"Why is that our love is not getting the respect and acceptance that Rudra's and Bhavya's love got?" Gauri asks him.

"Our love?" Omkara asks grinning happily.

Gauri chuckles.

"One day will come when we won't have to hide our love and marriage." Omkara promises her.

Gauri doesn't say anything. When she remained silent, Omkara hugs her tighter.

Lost in thoughts, Gauri tells him. "Papa wanted to legally adopt me. I didn't want it because I thought if he adopts me then my Baba will no longer be my Baba. But Papa explained to me that just because if they adopt me it doesn't make me, not my Baba's daughter. I don't have to change my surname. this was for a sense of belonging. That the house and the people were mine. So, I agreed." Gauri tells him. "But your mother didn't agree. They fought a lot and in the end they didn't adopt me."

Omkara sighs sadly and in anger. "I didn't know. Nanu and nani always called you their daughter, so I thought..."

"It didn't matter, Om. even without adopting me, I never felt that I wasn't their daughter. I felt as I belonged because they loved me like their own. Your mother wanted me to stop calling Papa, Papa and I used to call Nani, Ma that time. she insisted I stop."

"I know that. I was there when that fight happened." Omkara tells her regretfully.

"Papa remained adamant that I call him Papa because he didn't want to differentiate between his two daughters. But Nani gave in to appease your mother and asked me to call her Badi Ma. You know that, right?" Gauri asks him.

"Yes."

"That is why you asked me to call Nani, Nani. But you never asked me to call Papa, Nanu."

"Mom wasn't fair with you." Omkara agrees.

"Whether I call her Badi Ma, Ma or Nani, it won't change anything between us. whatever I call her, she will always be my mother. If it was anyone else who had asked me to do it, I wouldn't have started calling her Nani. It was because you had asked me." Gauri tells him.

"Why?" Omkara asks surprised.

Gauri shrugs. "I don't know."

"Is it because I am your husband?"

"Don't know... maybe... or maybe, I always saw a lot of Papa in you. maybe because that was the moment I realized that you really married me. that you had concern for me."

"I always wanted you to get your rights, Gauri."

Gauri smiles and tells him. "I know you have this need to protect me, Om. but I am not weak."

Omkara grins.

Gauri looks at him and sees him grinning. "Don't forget mister, my father is a man who died fighting for what he believed in and I was raised by a man who didn't fear any, not even his arrogant daughter."

Hearing the last bit, Omkara chuckles. "Really?"

"And unlike them, I don't fight fair." Gauri boasts.

"Oh yeah? I've never seen you fight." Omkara teases her.

Gauri turns thoughtful and says "I've seen life, Om. You might have traveled more than me and met more people but I have seen more of life than you. I've struggled in life. I watched my mother slowly dying. Everyone said she had a weak heart. she did." Then looking at Omkara, Gauri tells him. "She is the bravest person I know. She knew her heart was giving out on her, but she was so strong, hopeful and positive. We all knew, she was dying and she was the one who gave us all courage, till the end."

Omkara sighs and holds Gauri tight.

"Then one day, Baba didn't come home. Papa came and told me what had happened. Papa said that I've him and Nani. I went with them. Rest you know."

"Life has been so unfair with you." Omkara tells her sadly.

"Life always gave me something worth living for." Gauri corrects him. "So, don't worry, Om. I'm not weak and I'll fight if I've to." Gauri promises him. "You won't have to fight for us alone."

"You hate confrontations, Gauri." Omkara gently points out.

"I do but that doesn't mean I won't fight."

"You never did."

"That is because there was never anything that I felt was worth a fight." Gauri tells him.

"And now?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri turns around and in reply takes his lips in hers and kisses him. Omkara hugs her and hungrily kisses her.

"Let's cut the cake, Omkara an... OH MY GOD!" Anika shouts and runs back in.

**********

Gauri was about to fall asleep when Omkara's words reach her. "I was talking to Shivaay today."

Pulling the blanket to her chest, Gauri turns to face him.

"In 4 days we will get the marriage certificate." Omkara tells her.

"About that?" Gauri asks.

"No..." Omkara replies as he turned to face her. he kisses her on her shoulder then he gently runs his hand over her naked back.

Gauri smiles feeling his touch. "Don't think that is a good idea when you are in the mood to talk."

Omkara chuckles as he leaned back and rested his head on the pillow.

"So, what were you talking with Shivaay?" Gauri asks as she rested her head on her palm.

"I'm taking the job he offered." Omkara tells her.

Gauri frowns hearing that. "You are taking that job?"

"Yeah... I think that is the best. Dad keeps screwing all my chances." Omkara tells her.

"You said you wanted to do something own your own without anyone's help." Gauri reminds him as she pulled up her blanket to her chest and sat up to face him.

"Yeah but Gauri I just wanted to have a stability before..." Omkara says as he sat up.

"You refused to take the money Baba left me." Gauri accuses him. "Yeah, I'll get it only in 3 weeks but till then we can manage."

"Nanu left it for you, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

"It is my money, so it is our money." Gauri argues.

"You should do something with that money."

"Why won't you take it?" Gauri asks angrily.

"It's yours, Gauri."

Gauri furiously gets up from the bed as she pulled the blanket from the bed. "What about you giving my college fee?"

"Gauri... that is different."

"How is that different from you using the money Papa had set aside for us?"

"Erm..." Omkara uncomfortably looks at her.

"You think I have no money to pay my own college fees? Papa has given me more than enough for that." Gauri angrily tells him. "But I still took your money for my studies because Nani said that it would make you happy. That you will feel that you were doing your bit for me. and I shouldn't differentiate it as my money and your money."

"Gauri, you are blowing it out of proportion."

"I wouldn't have said anything if you didn't have an issue working for Shivaay. But you have and still you went ahead with it."

"Because that is the practical solution." Omkara argues.

Gauri stares at him for a long time then she tells him. "Swear to me that you prefer working for Shivaay than having your own business."

Omkara gulps hearing that, he had no answer to that question that would not anger her further. Somewhere in him, he knew that he was not taking the money because he believed it was the husband's duty to provide for his wife, and not the other way around.

Seeing him hesitating, Gauri furiously picks up her clothes and starts wearing it.

"Babes, what are you doing?" Omkara asks her in shock seeing her walking towards the door.

Gauri furiously turns to look at him then without saying anything, she rips open the door and walks off.

Omkara sighs.

********

Next morning, Gauri opens the bedroom door and sees Omkara. she leaves the door open and walks back into the room.

"Come, Om." Nani calls him seeing Omkara standing by the door and watching Gauri. "What happened? Why are you just standing there?"

Omkara walks towards his grandmother. "Nani..." Omkara nervously looks at Gauri and sees her acting as if she was busy with her college books. "I got a job." He sees Gauri's face turn angrier.

"That is nice, Om." Nani says happily.

"I'm going to tell Mom and Dad about our marriage." Omkara informs her and Gauri turns to look at him in shock.

"You should, Om." Nani smiles and tells him though she looked worried.

Omkara walks towards Gauri and extends his hand towards her.

Even though they had a disagreement, Gauri knew it was a time for them to stand together for their marriage. putting aside everything else, she keeps her hand in his.

Omkara holds her hand and squeezes it gently. "Everything is going to be okay." Omkara promises her.

"I am not scared." Gauri tells him.

"You are not?" Omkara asks with a slight proud smile.

Gauri shakes her head. "I've been preparing for this day for 3 years."

*******

Gauri and Omkara walk hand in hand towards his parents with Nani walking behind them.

Jhanvi was the first one to notice them. she frowns seeing them holding hands.

"What is happening?" Jhanvi asks frowning in displeasure.

"You always asked Gauri for her husband." Omkara reminds her.

"Is he coming back?" Tej asks unable to hide his shock.

"For him to come back, he never left her, Dad." Omkara tells him.

"Why are you holding her hand, Omkara?" Jhanvi asks.

Hearing her, Tej looks at their hand and gets angry seeing it. "What are you doing, Omkara?"

Omkara tightens his hold on Gauri's hand and informs his parents. "I am Gauri's husband."

Jhanvi turns furious and asks Gauri. "Your husband left you, so you are trapping my son now?"

"I am Gauri's husband, Mom!" Omkara angrily repeats.

"It was Om who married Gauri." Nani informs them.

"What?" Tej asks shocked. "How the hell is that possible? He wasn't even 21 then."

"That is true but I had married Gauri then."

"HOW DARE YOU, OMKARA?" Tej asks furiously.

"YOU GOT MY SON TO MARRY THIS PARASITE?" Jhanvi furiously asks Nani.

"Mind your tongue, Mom. Gauri is my wife." Omkara angrily tells her.

"That marriage is not legal! That was not a marriage." Tej says furiously.

"We accept that marriage." Omkara informs his parents in finality.

"THIS IS NOT A MARRIAGE!" Tej says furiously.

"YOU WERE TRAPPED BY HER! JUST LIKE HOW SHE TRAPPED PAPA AND MA!" Jhanvi says furiously.

"It was my decision to marry Gauri. I had suggested it." Omkara argues.

"Stop accusing Gauri for everything, Jhanvi. Why do you hate her so much?" Nani asks sadly.

"Because she is a parasite who has been feeding on us since she is born." Jhanvi says angrily.

"How can you forget the sacrifice that Gauri's father made for Nanu?" Omkara asks her in shock.

"Can you stop bringing it up at every instant to glorify her and her father?" Jhanvi asks furiously. "That was his duty! To protect Papa!"

"How can you belittle..." Omkara furiously starts.

"Om..." Gauri gently calls him.

Omkara turns to her.

"I've to go to college. even it is your first day of work. let's not be late." Gauri tells him. "I'm going to get ready. You also get ready. I'll try to come early so I can shift to our room."

Saying that Gauri walked off leaving behind a shocked Omkara, Nani, Jhanvi and Tej. Omkara turns to look at his parents and seeing their shock, he couldn't help the smirk. Smirking, he walks off to his room.

*********

"How could you let this happen right under your nose?" Tej furiously asks Jhanvi.

"It happened even under your nose!" Jhanvi angrily counters.

"Your mother got my son married to that thrash!" Tej says furiously. "And she had the nerve to bring that girl under my roof! I will not forgive her!"

"Even I won't." Jhanvi furiously vows.

"How didn't you know that they had got Omkara to marry that girl?" Tej asks still reeling from his shock.

Jhanvi sighs as she looked away.

"Didn't you even ask her husband's name?" Tej asks her.

"Why should I?"

Tej looks at her confused and says "You gave her that sim card so that you can keep an eye on her husband!"

"She never made any ISD calls!" Jhanvi argues exasperated. "I thought he had absconded after the wedding night! And she didn't have his number to call him!"

"Then why were you keeping her here instead of kicking her out?"

"Because Ma used to fight with me for her!"

Tej scoffs.

"Every time I told her that her husband will not come for her, Ma used to defend him." Jhanvi says furiously. "Now I understand why she had so much faith in him."

"That was why that day Omkara was defending." Tej says remembering.

Jhanvi thoughtfully looks at him. "I thought she had tricked him and gained his sympathy like she did with Papa and Ma." Then stopping in shock, she whispers. "I didn't realize that Omkara was defending himself."

"He wasn't defending himself. He was promising her that he will uphold the marriage." Tej reminds her angrily.

"He'll not uphold that marriage." Jhanvi says angrily.

*********

Gauri was coming out of her college in the evening when she finds Jhanvi waiting for her. Gauri walks to her.

"Get in." Jhanvi orders her.

Without a word, Gauri follows her into the car. As the driver started the car, Gauri waited for Jhanvi to speak.

"I want you out of my son's life." Jhanvi orders Gauri.

"We are married." Gauri tells her.

"that marriage has no validity!!!"

"We love each other."

"Love!" Jhanvi scoffs. "he is with you because he thinks you are married. You emotionally blackmailed him to marry you. you trapped him! just like how you trapped my parents!" Jhanvi accuses her.

"I didn't trap anyone." Gauri tells her then frowning she asks. "Where are we going?" this was not the route to Oberoi Mansion.

"You are not even worthy to be my servant and you think I would take you to my home as my son's wife?" Jhanvi asks furiously.

"Stop the car." Gauri tells the driver.

"The car will stop when it reaches the destination." Jhanvi tells Gauri. "Tell me how much you need to get out of our lives?"

"I don't need your money. I've money. Papa has..." Gauri argues.

"You mean that bheek that my father left you?" Jhanvi asks her furiously.

"Whatever you want to call it, for me, it is Papa's blessings and love."

Jhanvi scoffs. "You think I believe all that rubbish?"

Gauri shakes her head as she looked out the window. She had no idea where Om's mother was taking her. Gauri takes her mobile to call Omkara, just in case she has to inform him where she was.

"If you think that you will have this luxurious life then you are mistaken. If Omkara insists on being with you, Tej will kick him out and cut him out of the will." Jhanvi threatens her. "So, it is better you tell us your prize. You'll have something."

"I'll have Om." Gauri reminds her.

Jhanvi scoffs. "For how long?"

"Always." Gauri tells her then she informs her. "Om knows that you won't accept us and you might ask us to leave home. We are prepared for that."

Jhanvi takes a sharp furious breath. "Prepared for what? he was raised in the lap of luxury. The money that my father left you will last him for what... months? A year? He is the only heir to a fortune that is 500... 1000 times more than that. do you think he is going to be happy or adjust to that life?" Jhanvi asks her.

Gauri stops in shock hearing that. She knew, Om was raised in the lap of luxury and was always meant to lead their business. He was going to work under someone only because of their marriage and it was not what he had wanted or still wants. He was still doing that, because he has no other option. Will he regret having to give up all that he has and all that he is rightful to inherit?

"Get out." Jhanvi tells her.

Gauri looks out and realizes that the car had stopped and that too in front of the railway station. Gauri turns to look at Jhanvi in confusion.

Jhanvi snatches her mobile. "Get out of my son's life." Jhanvi tells her as she shoved a signed blank cheque in her hand.

**********

"Her phone is switched off." Omkara says worriedly.

Tej and Jhanvi slyly smile at each other.

"You should have called me when Gauri didn't reach on time, Nani!" Omkara says as he worriedly tried her number again.

"After what happened in the morning, I thought Gauri and you might have gone somewhere." Nani replies.

"Whenever we go anywhere, Gauri always informs you!" Omkara reminds her.

Jhanvi and Tej share a look hearing that.

"I'll go to her college and check." Omkara tells Nani.

"Call me when you find her." Nani worriedly tells him.

"I will." Omkara replies then seeing her worried, he reassures her. "I will find her."

Nani nods.

Omkara was about to walk off when he notices his parents. He stops in shock and asks suspiciously. "Do you two have anything to do with Gauri being late?"

"I told her to leave." Jhanvi replies.

"She won't leave me." Omkara tells her.

"Gave her a blank Cheque. I think that was a good motivation for her." Jhanvi informs him.

"My wife can't be bought." Omkara informs her furiously.

"Then where is your wife?" Tej asks him.

Omkara stops worriedly.

"I am here." Gauri replies.

Omkara turns to the sound and sees Gauri standing there. He runs to her and hugs her. "You scared me. Where were you?"

"Railway station."

"What?" Omkara asks confused. "What were you doing there?"

"Waiting for an auto or taxi to come home." Gauri replies as she looked at Jhanvi.

Omkara looks at his parents and sees them glaring at Gauri.

"You left Gauri there?" Omkara asks shocked.

"Why don't you leave?" Jhanvi asks her outraged. "I offered you money as much as you need then why didn't you leave?"

Gauri walks to Jhanvi and takes her hand. She keeps the Cheque in her hand. "I don't want your money. My biggest treasure, my wealth is my Om."

"He is not yours!!!" Jhanvi furiously shouts.

"I am." Omkara replies furiously.

Gauri walks back to Omkara. "Your mother said something."

"What?" Omkara asks frowning at his mother.

"That you might leave home for me but later, you will regret giving up all this wealth." Gauri tells him.

Omkara frowns hearing that. "What?"

"Think again, Om. If we have to leave all this behind, then we might never have this kind of luxury in life. So, please think long and hard and make a choice. I'll wait outside. If you want me to come back in, then I will. Or if you think that you might doubt this decision of yours then tell me that. I will leave." Gauri tells him.

She turns to leave when Omkara holds her hand. Gauri turns to look at him.

"More than the wealth or comforts in life, I want you. You are my peace and happiness. I will not regret choosing you ever in life." Omkara vows to her.

Gauri gulps in relief hearing that.

"I choose you, Gauri. I will always choose you." Omkara tells her then he cheekily adds. "Even if you fight with me and walk out of the room in the middle of the night."

Gauri couldn't help smile hearing that. "I choose you, Om. Even if your ego, infuriates me, I will choose you." Gauri replies to him.

Chuckling, Omkara holds her hand tight. "Let's shift your stuff into our room and fight over the cupboard space."

Gauri chuckles hearing that.

**********

"How was your first day of work?" Gauri asks Omkara as she kept her clothes in his cupboard neatly.

"It was good. Just learning the drill." Omkara replies as he arranged her books on his table. He worriedly looks at her and asks, "Are you still angry with me?"

"I am but I can't force you to do what I want." Gauri replies.

Omkara sighs then he tells her. "I'm sorry."

Gauri turns to him confused. "For?"

"For what my parents did."

"You're not responsible for that and I did expect it."

"Are you okay about staying here?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri looks at him. "You want to stay here."

Omkara nods and gently tells her. "I just want to give this a try. A chance. They are my parents. so, before I leave all this behind or they ask me to leave, I just wanted to try my all. so tomorrow, I'll know that I tried my best. So, I won't have regrets regarding leaving my parents. I will have this relief that I didn't abandon them."

Gauri nods understanding. "Once we get our marriage legalized, then they really won't be able to do anything about our marriage. so, I guess, it will be accepting or kicking us out."

Omkara sighs. "Till we get our marriage certificate, they shouldn't find out. I just don't want Dad to cause any kind of issues. He will even bribe and get our marriage application rejected."

"I know. I've told Nani also."

Omkara nods then chuckling Omkara jokes. "We are setting up all your stuff here. If we have to leave home, then it will be double the work for us."

Gauri chuckles then she explains to him. "This is not for me to settle here, this is for your parents to see, how serious we are about our marriage."

Omkara smiles understanding.

They were getting ready to sleep when they hear a knock on the door. Omkara opens the door and finds Tej and Jhanvi.

"What now?" Omkara asks tired. "Gauri and I had a long day, we just want to sleep."

"You think that I would let her stay here?" Tej asks angrily.

"She is my wife, Dad." Omkara tells him fed up.

"You are determined to keep her here?" Tej asks him.

"Yes!"

"Then listen to what I am going to do first thing in the morning." Tej tells them challengingly.

"What?" Omkara asks frowning.

"I'm going to go to the police and file a complaint."

"What complaint?" Omkara asks confused.

"That my mother-in-law got my underage son to marry her underage ward."

"What?" Gauri asks frowning in shock as she walked towards them.

"Have you gone crazy?" Omkara asks his father in shock.

"You leave us no choice, Omkara." Tej tells him.

"Us?" Gauri asks frowning as she turned to Jhanvi. "You're with him on this?"

"Yes." Jhanvi replies furiously. "If I could I would throw you also in jail but I can't."

"So, you would throw Nani to jail?" Omkara asks furiously.

"No, that would be you, Omkara. you choose your Nani then she won't go to jail. But if you choose this leach then Nani will go to jail." Jhanvi warns him.

"That's our mother!" Gauri angrily reminds her.

"She is my mother! Not yours!" Jhanvi furiously reminds her.

"And you would threaten to put her in jail?" Gauri asks her in shock.

"I will. If I have to then I will." Jhanvi stubbornly replies.

"How can you, Mom?" Omkara asks her in shock, his eyes filling up.

"She betrayed me! she made me a fool!"

"So, you'll threaten her like this?" Omkara asks her in shock.

Jhanvi looks at Omkara, a little guilty for this but she adamantly replies, "This girl will never be a part of my family."

Tej turns to Gauri and tells her. "When we wake up, you shouldn't be here. If you are here, then your mother won't be here."

*********

"We've to leave." Omkara tells Gauri hurriedly.

Gauri looks at Omkara still furious at the threat.

"We've to take Nani with us." Omkara tells her as he paced the room. "I don't know how serious they are about the threat but we can't take any chances. We've to leave right this night."

"Nani shouldn't know that they threatened us with that." Gauri tells Omkara.

Omkara nods. "We'll have to leave the city. We can't go to Nani's house, they will look for us there." Omkara says as he planned out loud. "We'll come back after we get our marriage certificate, once we get that, even if they threaten us with this, we can lie that we got married only now and the child marriage was a lie to convince my parents."

"We can lie even now." Gauri points out.

"We can but we can't take a chance. What if they bring the pundit who conducted our wedding? Once our marriage is legalized there isn't anything they can do. Let's just go, Gauri." Omkara urgently tells her.

"Do you know why Papa was so worried about me?" Gauri asks him as she thoughtfully looked at him.

"Because he felt he didn't fulfill his promise to your father." Omkara replies confused at the question.

"The promise was to look after me and to get me married to a good man."

"I know."

"He wasn't worried about the marriage, Om." Gauri tells him as she looked at him in realization.

"Then?" Omkara asks confused.

"It was about who was going to be in charge of me." Gauri explains.

"What?" Omkara asks offended at the phrase of the sentence.

Gauri shakes her head. "I was a minor then."

"Nani was in charge of you." Omkara points out.

"But Nani always fell weak in front of your mother." Gauri reminds him.

"What are you saying, Gauri?" Omkara asks confused.

"I finally understood, Om. Papa's biggest fear was he would have to tell his friend that he left me at the mercy of your mother." Gauri tells him.

Hearing that, Omkara understood that it could be true. The only reason Nani had been strong against Mom was because Gauri was his wife, otherwise, maybe Nani would have broken earlier and let Mom dictate Gauri's life.

"Only after I told him that I would marry if it would ease him, did he decide that I would be able to access my money only when I turn 21. He wanted to be sure that I had financial security but that be available to me only when I was old enough so that no one could manipulate it." Gauri tells him.

"Gauri, that is all true but right now, we have to leave." Omkara tells her. "You take your stuff; I'll go wake up Nani."

Omkara turns to leave the room when Gauri's voice reaches him. "I'm going to sleep."

"What?" Omkara turns to her in shock.

"Good night." Gauri tells him as she walked to the bed.

"Gauri, what are you doing? We have no time." Omkara tells her in exasperation.

Gauri turns to him and tells him in finality. "If you want to leave, we'll leave together, Om. If you don't want to leave, then I'll stay here. Whatever we do, we will do it in front of them, not run away like thieves. If we leave, we'll walk out in front of them."

"Gauri, it is not about us, it is about Nani!" Omkara reminds her fed up.

"Papa didn't want me to be at your mother's mercy and I'll not be at her mercy!" Gauri furiously tells him.

"Do we have a choice?" Omkara asks her understanding her frustration.

"I'm done, Omkara. I'm done respecting them. I'm done keeping quiet." Gauri tells him.

"Gauri..." Omkara tries to hold her to calm her down.

"She belittled my father's death but I didn't say anything. I let it go, for you. but now, she has threatened my mother. I'm not going to take any more of her tantrums."

"I know, Gauri. they have gone too far this time." Omkara agrees.

"They are not going to get any more consideration or respect because they are your parents or Nani's daughter and son-in-law. They won't be getting the respect that their age demands." Gauri tells him in finality.

Omkara nods accepting.

Gauri furiously gets on the bed and lies down to sleep.

"Gauri... what will we do?" Omkara asks her in confusion as he got on the bed. "We both can manage but Nani... please listen to me, Gauri, we'll leave."

Gauri turns to him and tells him. "They threatened us, I'll threaten them back."

"How?" Omkara asks shocked.

"I'll threaten to file a case against them. domestic violence."

"But our marriage..."

"We are living together, Om in your house." Gauri tells him.

"You would do that?" Omkara asks her shocked.

"If I want then I will threaten them that I'll file a habeas corpus that they have kept my fiancé and my mother locked away." Gauri replies shrugging. "It will only be true if they kick me out but still... I can threaten them that I will leave home and file the petition if they threaten me with Nani."

"You really would?" Omkara asks still in shock.

"There is one more that I can threaten them with, but it will be a lie, so..."

"What is that?" Omkara asks her curiously.

*********

Early morning, Omkara and Gauri went to look for his parents. they stop in shock seeing Nani sitting with them.

"How come you are here? You would be in your room at this time." Gauri asks her surprised.

"Jhanvi told me to come and sit here. Said she wants to talk to me." Nani replies as she looked at Jhanvi and Tej.

"I guess; you've come to say your goodbye." Jhaniv asks smirking.

"No." Gauri replies.

"What?" Jhanvi asks her smirk dropping.

"Let's take Nani to her room." Gauri tells Omkara.

Omkara nods and tells his mother. "Nani doesn't have to hear what you said last night."

"She will stay there." Jhanvi says furiously. "You think I won't do that?"

"Enough, Jhanvi!" Gauri tells her angrily.

Everybody stops in shock hearing Gauri. all turn to look at Gauri, including Omkara.

"Gauri?" Nani calls her in shock. "What are you doing? How can you call Jhanvi by her name?"

"Mom had it coming, Nani." Omkara tells her.

"Did you... did you just..." Jhanvi stammers in shock.

"Give respect and take respect. And you never did, Jhanvi." Gauri tells her.

"How dare you?" Tej asks her furiously.

"Dare what, Tej?" Gauri asks him challengingly.

Tej stops in shock.

Jhanvi furiously turns to her mother. "Did you see your darling daughter's true colors?"

"One more time you raise your voice at my mother, I'll slap you, Jhanvi." Gauri warns her.

Omkara's eyes widen in shock.

Jhanvi stops in shock.

"If you value your mother then leave my house!" Tej tells her.

"I'll. But then my husband insists on coming with me and I'm taking my mother with me." Gauri tells him.

"They will not come anywhere with you!" Jhanvi tells her.

"That is not your decision to make." Omkara tells her.

"You would leave us for her?" Jhanvi asks Omkara in shock.

"I'll. I love her."

"After you witness how she is behaving?" Jhanvi asks him.

"She is fighting for us." Omkara tells her.

"Fight?" Jhanvi scoffs.

"Choose your battles wisely. If you are going to fight for every single thing, no one is going to take you seriously and all you'll be is a screaming shrew." Gauri tells Jhanvi. "And this battle, I'm going to fight."

"Let's see." Jhanvi replies then staring challenging at Gauri, she says out loud. "Tej, call the police. Ask them to come and arrest Ma."

"What?" Nani whispers in shock.

"MOM!" Omkara furiously shouts at her.

Gauri turns to look at Nani and sees her staring at Jhanvi in horror and shock. Gauri hurries to her and sitting next to her, she hugs her.

"Gauri, what is she saying?" Nani asks hurt.

"Nothing, Nani... Mom is blabbering." Omkara tells her as he hurried to her.

"You let my son marry her, and you think I would easily forgive you? he was underage, that is enough to send you to prison." Jhanvi tells her.

"Shut up, Mom." Omkara furiously tells her. "How many times do I have to tell you that it was my decision?"

"Jhanvi, you would..." Nani asks her eyes filling with tears.

"I won't. your Gauri will. If she leaves then, I'll forgive you. if you die in jail then Gauri is responsible for it." Jhanvi tells her.

"She is your own mother!" Gauri reminds her furiously.

"How can you forget that in your hatred towards Gauri?" Omkara asks her angrily.

"You don't know?" Nani asks Omkara in shock.

"What?" Omkara asks her confused.

"You never told him?" Nani asks Jhanvi in shock.

"Enough! Not another word." Jhanvi warns her.

Omkara looks at his mother and sees her all pale and nervous.

"What is it?" Omkara asks Nani.

"Don't say a word." Jhanvi warns her.

Nani looks at Jhanvi and informs Omkara. "Jhanvi was adopted."

"What?" Omkara asks in shock.

"You were not supposed to tell that to anyone!" Jhanvi furiously says as she marched to Nani. "How dare you tell them that you old..."

"MOVE AWAY FROM MY MOTHER, JHANVI!" Gauri says furiously as she stood in between them.

"That is my mother!" Jhanvi furiously tells her. "Not yours!"

"I am her mother too." Nani tells her.

Jhanvi furiously looks at her.

"Did you know, Dad?" Omkara asks still reeling from the shock.

Tej furiously looks at Omkara.

"We told him. He said all he cared about was Jhanvi. Just few months before that only Jhanvi found out she was adopted and she had stopped talking to us. that is when Tej had come asking for Jhanvi's hand in marriage. when he said that it didn't matter to him that Jhanvi was adopted and Jhanvi also loved him, so, Jhanvi's Papa agreed for the wedding even though he was neck deep in debt. Jhanvi's Papa gave him money and lands to start business and get back on his feet. Even this land this house is built on, was Jhanvi's Papa's."

"Will you shut up?" Jhanvi asks her furiously.

"This is why you never wanted them to adopt me." Gauri says realizing. "You didn't want both of us to have the same status in front of the society, as their adopted daughters."

"How dare you compare yourself to me?" Jhanvi asks her. "I'm their daughter. you are a servant's daughter!"

"She is Harsh's and Vasundhara's daughter." Nani agrees. "And she is our daughter too."

"I'm your only legal daughter!" Jhanvi reminds her.

"You are not." Nani tells her.

"What?" Gauri asks confused as she turned to Nani.

"Nanu adopted Gauri?" Omkara asks in shocked surprise.

"He wouldn't." Jhanvi argues.

"Then I will say you don't know your father." Nani tells her. "Just because you didn't want it, doesn't mean that he would deny Gauri. for him you both were same and he adopted Gauri legally when she was 8 years old. And even in his will, you both have equal rights and shares on all his properties that he hasn't already given you both."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Gauri asks shocked, her eyes filling up.

"Because you adamantly said that you didn't want to hurt Jhanvi and said that you didn't even want to talk about the adoption. Every time, we tried telling you, you would refuse to listen and walk off."

"You've been fooling me all my life!" Jhanvi says furiously. "You should rot in jail."

"Since we have equal rights on our mother, I'm taking her with me." Gauri declares.

"No." Jhanvi replies furiously. "You'll leave my house ALONE otherwise; our so called mother is going to jail."

"We are leaving, Mom." Omkara declares. "Nani, Gauri and me!"

"Tej, call the police."

Omkara looks at his father and sees him taking his mobile to call. "What the hell are you waiting for Gauri?" Omkara asks her having enough.

Sighing Gauri steps closer to Jhanvi. Then looking into her eyes, Gauri tells her, "I'll leave."

"Good." Jhanvi says with a smirk.

"The first place, I'll go to, is the police station." Gauri tells her.

"For what?" Jhanvi asks chuckling. "If you tell anyone that you are my son's wife then our dear mother will be the first one to go to jail."

"No. I'll file another case."

"What case?" Tej asks frowning.

"How old was Om when he got back? 23? An adult!" Gauri tells them smiling.

"SO?" Tej asks.

"I'll tell them that he promised me that he will marry me and he took advantage of me. And now, he is saying he won't marry me." Gauri tells her.

"What?" Jhanvi asks looking at her in shock.

"It is going to be big news; Om will be taken to court. Oberoi family will be humiliated."

"You are leaving us for this girl?" Tej asks Omkara furiously.

"Yes." Omkara replies confidently. "And in court I will accept that what Gauri said is the truth and even say that it is you both who is against our marriage."

"She is threatening to send you to jail." Jhanvi furiously tells him.

"Didn't you threaten to send my mother to jail? So, I'm threatening to send your son to jail." Gauri tells her.

"You will not do such a thing." Tej tells her angrily. Turning to Omkara he tells him. "Omkara, this vengeful girl will ruin our reputation. Do you know what will happen if she files such a case?"

"Then I suggest you shut up when we leave this house, and let us go peacefully." Omkara tells his father.

Tej and Jhanvi furiously glares at them without saying anything.

Realizing they won, Omkara smiles. "We'll leave soon. And I'll see you in office later today, Dad."

"What? Office?" Tej asks confused.

"I'll be coming to office." Omkara tells him.

"I don't want to see you anywhere near my office." Tej warns him.

"When I turned 18, you made me Director in all your businesses, Dad. You can't just fire me over night." Omkara tells him.

"You said you didn't want to work there." Tej tells him angry, feeling as if he was losing his power.

"Yeah... you see..." Omkara starts as he grinned at Gauri. "I was under the misconception that I need to protect my wife from the world." his smile going even wider, he says, "Now, I realize the truth, I need to protect the world from my wife."

Gauri chuckles with a slight blush.

********

"Where are we going?" Nani asks Omkara slightly worried.

"I told Rudra what happened, Rudra insists that we stay with him." Omkara tells them.

"But Om, they stay in a two-bedroom apartment." Gauri worriedly reminds him. "It will be trouble for them. we will find another place."

"I know, I told him that, he said we will adjust and manage. He is adamant that till we find a permanent place, that we stay with him." Omkara tells them.

Gauri nods.

"I've money saved up, Om. if you need it for house,.." Nani starts to tell him.

"No, Nani. We can manage." Omkara tells her confidently.

"He won't take money, Nani..." Gauri stops and turning to her, she says smiling. "I mean Ma."

Nani's eyes fill with happy tears. "My bacha." Nani says as she cupped her face.

"Are you okay about Omkara's mother?" Gauri asks her worriedly.

Nani gulps and looks away.

Seeing her upset, Omkara quickly changes the topic. "You didn't ask how I am going to manage getting the house."

"How?" Nani asks curiously.

Gauri also looks at him curiously.

"Did you know that I've a very rich wife?" Omkara asks his grandmother cheekily.

"What?" Gauri turns to him surprised.

Seeing them happily smiling, Nani also smiles.

"So, she has these FD. We can keep that as collateral and get housing loan and car loans." Omkara tells them.

"You would use that?" Gauri asks smiling happily.

"I'll pay off the loan." Omkara tells her.

Gauri frowns hearing that.

"Nanu left it for you and your safety. So, like he wanted, you keep that money. once you finish your studies, maybe you can start your own business."

Gauri smiles hearing that. "I like that."

********

Epilogue

Rudra furiously walks to Omkara. "Omkara, can you control your son?" Rudra asks him in a furious whisper.

Omkara who was intently staring turns to Rudra frowning in confusion "What?"

It was Nani's 85th birthday, and Omkara and Gauri had invited their gang for dinner to their place.

"Your son is sitting with my daughter and every time I turn my gaze; he is kissing my poor baby." Rudra tells him.

Shivaay chuckles hearing that.

"So, what? I have more serious things here!" Omkara replies frowning angrily.

"What more serious thing than that?" Rudra asks shocked.

"Anika's boy has been staring at my girl. I tell you, that womanizer hasn't even blinked once." Omkara says as he turned to glare at Anika's son.

Shivaay and Rudra curiously turn to look at Shivaay's son. Shivaay's son was sitting with Omkara's daughter on the play mat and watching cartoon on TV.

Gauri and Omkara have two kids, Rishi and Sneha. Their son was 4 years old and their daughter was just 9 months old. The moment Gauri announced her second pregnancy, Anika and Bhavya had pestered their husbands for babies, and soon they also got pregnant. Their kids, Dev and Anushka, like their parents were just months apart, and already Omkara, Anika and Rudra have plans of putting them in same school and making them best friends like their parents.

"My son is not even looking at your daughter!" Shivaay says defending his son.

"My daughter?" Omkara asks exasperated. "Not my daughter. that Romeo is staring at my wife!"

"What?" Rudra and Shivaay shout and lean down to look.

They follow his line of sight and sees that behind the TV Gauri was sitting with Anika and Bhavya and chatting with them.

Rudra looks at Shivaay and sees Shivaay frowning.

"he is looking at his mother." Shivaay awkwardly says.

Omkara glares at him and shouts out. "Anika, come here!"

Anika gets up and walks to them. "What?"

Ignoring Anika, the three men look at Dev on the floor. Shivaay gulps, Omkara glares and Rudra panics.

"What if he is staring at my wife?" Rudra asks worriedly. "Bhavya, come here!"

Bhavya gets up and walks to them. "What?"

Ignoring Bhavya, the three men look at Dev on the floor. Shivaay worriedly takes a breath, Rudra sighs in relief and Omkara saw red.

"At least my wife and daughter are safe from him!" Rudra sighs in relief. Then remembering, he turns to look at Anushka and sees Rishi hugging her. "You pervert, get off my daughter!" Rudra screams as he ran to them.

"Gauri! Come here!" Shivaay calls her, just to confirm.

Gauri gets up and walks towards them. as she walked around the TV, they see Dev leaning forward as he looked at Gauri walking.

Shivaay worriedly looks at Omkara and Omkara grinds his teeth.

"What is he looking at?" Anika asks curiously watching her son.

"My wife!" Omkara growls at her.

Anika looks at Dev in surprise then smiling excitedly, she asks as she knelt next to her son. "Are you in love, my baby?"

"Control your wife!" Omkara warns Shivaay.

"Who is in love?" Gauri asks curiously as she knelt next to Anika.

"Dev. He is in love with you." Anika tells her chuckling.

"Awww... are you, my baby?" Gauri asks and Dev gives her his best smile. Gauri picks him up and kisses him. "I love you too."

Omkara murderously glares at Gauri and Dev.

Shivaay leans towards Omkara and whispers to him. "I think you should control your wife first."

Omkara turns to glare at him.

"It is like history repeating itself." Shivaay says.

Rudra carrying his daughter joins them while Rishi followed him behind.

"What is?" Omkara asks wanting to murder someone.

"You married your aunt. And, my son fell for his mooh bholi aunt."

*** The End ***

I wasn't making fun of legal matters mentioned in the story. those are serious crimes, I'm sorry if anyone got offended.

I didn't want anyone to find out of their marriage like in my previous stories when there was a hidden marriage. I wanted at least this pair to reveal to people when they felt like it 😉

Please vote and comment.

- Lazy