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"Gauri... please have a look at this profile." Pinky gently tells her as she tried to pass the laptop to her.

"You just tell me the details, Maa." Gauri replies disinterested as she changed the channel.

"His name is Omkara Singh Oberoi, he is 32 years old, and he is working as a Finance Director."

"At 32?" Gauri asks suspiciously. "Maa, you know how people lie over the matrimony site, right?"

"You think we would just decide on anyone?" Pinky asks her frowning. "I've been talking to him and Shakti did inquire about him."

"You have been talking to him?" Gauri asks surprised.

"Yes. He seems like a nice man. Will you meet him?"

"Did you tell him everything?"

"I did."

"And he has no problem?"

"He has a 4-year-old daughter, Gauri." Pinky gently tells her.

"Hmmm. What happened to his first wife?"

"Divorced. Will you meet him?" Pinky asks her again.

Gauri nods her head, not happy or sad over the prospect.

Today, Omkara Singh Oberoi was coming to meet her and Gauri was still trying to come to terms with the idea of a remarriage. If few years back someone might have told her that Daksh and she would be getting a divorce and that she would be thinking of marrying someone else she would have laughed over that with Daksh. They had been so madly in love then the desire for an child had toppled down everything and her perfect marriage had turned into a nightmare. Today, she didn't particularly want to get married but seeing that her aging parents were worrying about her future she had decided to get married for them, not for her, for them. She had loved once and lost; now she didn't have the courage to love again.

Hearing the door bell, Gauri looks up just as her parents opened the door to welcome a handsome man. She watches him curiously as he talked to her parents with a polite smile.

"Please come inside." Shakti tells him.

Nodding, Om starts walking in and Gauri notices a small girl wearing a short skirt and top with ponytail was holding his hand and looking around curiously. Her curious eyes lands on her and she smiles at Gauri. Gauri smile back at her.

"This is my daughter, Gauri." Shakti tells Om.

Om turns to look at her and gently nods his head. "Hello."

"Hello." Gauri replies.

"This is my daughter, Ruhi." Om tells her as he gently caressed Ruhi's hair.

Gauri smiles at Ruhi and Ruhi smiles back at her, "This is my Papa, Omkara Singh Oberoi." Ruhi tells Gauri since everyone had failed to introduce her father to anyone.

"They know, darling." Om gently whispers to her.

"Oh." Ruhi nods.

Shakti chuckles softly, "Please sit."

Om and Ruhi sit next to each other as Shakti, Pinky and Gauri sat opposite to them.

Shakti, Pinky and Om talked to each other while Gauri and Ruhi remained silent.

"I understand you don't have any immediate family... what about other relatives?" Shakti asks Om.

"My parents passed away few years back. I am an only son. I don't have any close family as such, just some distant relation that I meet for functions or festivals over the years." Om explains to them. "It is just Rooh and me."

Shakti nods and then says, "You both might want to talk to each other. Gauri, why don't you take Omkara to your room?"

Gauri nods and slowly gets.
Om also gets up. "Come, Rooh."

"Ruhi can stay here." Pinky tells him gently thinking that Ruhi might disturb their conversation.

"Erm... please don't take it in the wrong way." Om politely tells her, "Marriage is for both Ruhi and me, so even she needs to get to know Gauri before we decide anything."

Pinky nods her head not knowing what to say to that.

Gauri opens the door for Om and Ruhi, and they both walk in. Gauri notices how Omkara had never left Ruhi's hand all this while. He looked very protective of his daughter.

"Please sit." Gauri tells him as she pointed at the couch and sits opposite him.

"Papa... Papa." Ruhi calls Om and cupping his ear she starts to whisper something to him.

"Rooh... what have I told you about whispering in public?" Om asks in a gentle disapproving tone.

Ruhi bites her tongue and eyes going wide then turning to Gauri she apologetically tells her, "Sorry."

"It's okay." Gauri says smiling not able to be offended with such a cute girl.

Ruhi smiles at her then turning back to her father, she again cups his ears. "Papa, listen."

"Rooh..." Om starts then frowning he looks at Gauri. Gauri gives him a curious look realizing that Ruhi was talking about her. "What? No!" Om whispers to her embarrassed.

"Please, Papa."

"I said no."

"Is there a problem?" Gauri asks curiously.

"No." Om replies while Ruhi nodded in yes.

"Ask, Papa."

"You ask." Om growls at her.

"I'll ask?" Ruhi asks smiling.

"Yeah!" Om replies and mutters under his breath, "Better you than me."

Ruhi smiling shyly walks towards Gauri.

"What is it?" Gauri asks unable to hold her smile seeing her smiling shyly at her.

Ruhi takes her hand towards Gauri's ears and gently cups the earring Gauri is wearing. "This is so pretty. Where did you get this from?" Ruhi asks her shyly.

"You like my earrings?" Gauri asks chuckling loudly.

Ruhi nods her head in yes.

"She likes these girlie things." Om explains to her embarrassed.

"She is a girl." Gauri reminds him.

Om looks away embarrassed.

"Where did you get it?"

"I don't remember. This has been with me for many years now." Gauri tells her upset.

"Oh!"

"One minute." Gauri tells her excitedly as she got up and walked to the bathroom.

"Come here." Om gently tells her. Ruhi walks towards him and gets on his lap. "I will get you some other earring." Om promises her.

"You know the difference between earrings and nose rings?" Ruhi asks him teasingly.

"Where do you learn all these from?" Om asks her exasperated and hearing that Ruhi starts laughing. Smiling at his daughter, Om leans down and softly kisses her on her cheek.

"Ruhi... come." Gauri comes back from the bathroom as she offered her hand to Ruhi.

Ruhi turns to look at Om curiously and Om nods his head. Getting his permission, Ruhi smiles and takes Gauri's hand as she got down from Om's lap. Gauri takes her to the dressing table and lifting her up, she makes her sit on the table. Then taking a tissue she wipes off the water from the earrings she had just washed. Then leaving it on the table, she removes Ruhi's earrings. Then wiping her ears, she puts her earrings on Ruhi.

"Wow... Ruhi looks so beautiful." Gauri says as she leaned back to look at her.

"Really?" Ruhi asks excited and turning around she looks at the mirror. "This is for me?" Ruhi asks her excitedly.

"Yes."

"Papa... see." Ruhi shouts out to her father. Om who had been watching Gauri and Ruhi together amazed, gently smiles at Ruhi while Gauri put her earrings in a small pouch securely.

"Can you tie my hair like yours?" Ruhi asks her smiling as she touched Gauri's hair lovingly.

Seeing the twinkle in her eyes, Gauri smiles and gently turns her around. Gauri removes her hair band and gently brushes her hair.

"You like french braids?" Gauri asks her as she brushed her hair.

"Is that what you did?"

"Yes."

"I like that but I know to tie a pony only. Even Papa." Ruhi tells her sadly.

"It is not difficult, Ruhi."

"Will you teach me?" Ruhi asks her excitedly.

"Yes." Gauri promises her smiling.

"You know to put nail polish?" Ruhi asks her.

"I do." Gauri replies smiling.

"You do?" Ruhi asks in a worshipping tone.

Gauri smiles at her in reply.

Ruhi quickly looks at her father who was still watching everything amazed and leaning towards Gauri, she whispers, "Papa doesn't know." And to prove her point she shows her nails. Gauri looks at the nails and sees nail polish applied on it in a very messy way... most of the fingers had nail polish outside the nails and the coting wasn't even in any nails.

"Awww." Gauri says with a sad face.

Ruhi nods understanding the sadness.

"Let me finish your hair and then we will take care of that." Gauri tells her smiling.

"Yaay."

Om watched as Gauri did his daughter's hair and then removing the nail polish he had put for Ruhi, they bend over the table their heads put together they start looking through Gauri's nail polishes to decide on which color to put.

"And done." Gauri says smiling as she put on the last nail.

"Wow. So pretty." Ruhi says amazed. "Did you see Papa?" Ruhi asks Om who was leaning on the window watching them.

"Show me."

Ruhi turns to Gauri excitedly and Gauri gently lifts her from the table and helps her on to her feet. Ruhi runs to her father and shows him her hands.

"Do I look pretty, Papa?" Ruhi asks him happily.

"You look beautiful, Rooh." Om tells her as he kissed her lovingly.

"Do I look as beautiful as her?" Ruhi asks as she pointed at Gauri.

Om turns to look at Gauri and sees Gauri getting flustered. Om turns back to Ruhi and tells her "Yes."

Smiling happily, Ruhi hugs her father. Om hugs her and looks at Gauri. Gauri walks towards them and hands him the pouch with Ruhi's earrings and says, "I hope you didn't get bored... woh..."

Om shakes his head in negative as he took the pouch and put it in his pocket. He lifts up Ruhi and sits on the couch, gesturing Gauri to sit too. Gauri sits opposite to him. "Ruhi never had any women around her for all this. So..."

"I understand." Gauri tells him gently. "She is a very sweet girl."

Om smiles at her.

"Papa..." Ruhi gently shakes him.

"What, Rooh?" Om asks her softly.

"I want to sleep."

"You go to sleep." Om tells her as he hugged her close to his chest.

"You can put her on the bed." Gauri tells him.

"Would you like to sleep on the bed, Rooh?"Om gently asks her.

Ruhi looks at the bed and then at Om, "I'll sleep here."

"Okay, love." Om replies as he settled her properly on his lap. They remained silent as Ruhi dozed off.

"She slept." Om whispers to Gauri after a while. Gauri nods in reply.

"What are your expectations from this marriage?" Om asks her.

Gauri looks at him in shock at the direct question then shrugging she replies, "I've no expectations."

"Hmmm."

"I am happy to live like this but Papa and Mama were getting worried about my future so I decided for them I would get married."

"If you marry like that, would you be sincere to that marriage?" Om asks her curiously.

"I don't know if I ever be able to love again. I loved once and I don't have the courage to love again. I know what married bliss is and I had expected it to last forever but it didn't. Except for love, I'll give everything I have if I get married again."

Om nods his head.

"I can't have children." Gauri tells him. "I don't know how true that is actually."

"What do you mean by that?" Om asks curiously.

"When I didn't get pregnant, I went for treatments. 3 years of treatment and I wasn't pregnant. More than once, the doctor had suggested that Daksh also get his test done but at first, I just refused to even entertain the idea that there could be something wrong with him but years of treatment and the emotional and mental trauma, I just asked him to get his test done. I don't know how everything changed overnight with him and his family accusing me of putting the blame on him for my shortcomings. In the end, he said he wanted divorce as he wanted to have children. We got divorced and he got married two years ago."

"Did he have children?" Om asks her.

"Yes." Gauri replies.

"Hmmm... I don't want any more children." Om tells her.

Gauri nods her head in reply. "Why did your first marriage fail?"

"We were young when we got married. Ruhi was conceived when I was 27 and Svetlana was just 24 then. It was not planned. Svetlana had huge plans and she had got a brilliant offer in Paris, she is a fashion designer. She wanted to abort but I didn't let her. Things went down after that. Svetlana lost the opportunity and she blamed Ruhi and me for that. She started being a little aggressive towards Ruhi and then I had enough and I asked for a divorce. When Ruhi was 1 we got divorced. I got full custody of Ruhi as she didn't want to have anything to do with Rooh or me. Rooh has no memory of her mother."

"Where is she now?"

"Paris. She got that opportunity again after that I've no idea what is happening with her." Om tells her. "I'm totally put off by career oriented women."

Gauri frowns hearing him and tell him, "I was just 19 when I got married. I had finished my college in between all the treatments. Then I sat at home for a year simply going through treatments after treatments. It never occurred to me that I should work. Then when the divorce was filed, I had to ask my father for money for a lawyer. That is when I realized that I couldn't be depended on anyone for anything. I struggled and found a job. I got this job as a Sales Executive, it is a little hectic with targets and competition but it makes me independent and I can't go back to being dependent on anyone."

"You got me wrong, what I meant was that I wanted a wife and a mother for my daughter. When she is home, I just want her to be that. I don't want a wife who brings her work home and has no time for Rooh or me. I understand your need to be independent and I respect that but as long as it doesn't affect the family life."

"I forget work when I leave office." Gauri tells him then was about to ask him about the way he worked being a Finance Director, he would invariably have to be available 24x7 then she notices how he was cradling his daughter in his arms and realized that whatever workload he had, he is a family man first and foremost.

"The way you were with Ruhi today." Om starts to tell her. Gauri curiously looks at him, "That is the closest she ever had to a mother."

Gauri's eyes fill with tears hearing that and then she softly whispers, "That is the closest I have ever had to a daughter."

Om nods though a little uncomfortable with the tears.

"People take their children away from me at times because they think that I am cursed and my bad luck would rub off on them." Gauri whispers to him.

Om looks at her in shock hearing that. He couldn't believe people could be so cruel to her, a woman who was in pain and was craving for a child. Om watches her for a while as she wiped away her tears and then making up his mind, he gently shakes Ruhi awake.

"Rooh.. love... wake up."

Having her sleep disturbed, Ruhi starts to cry.

"Don't cry, love. There is something we have to do." Om tells her.

"What, Papa?" Ruhi asks as she rubbed her eyes.

Wiping off her tears, Om cups her ears whispers into her ears.

"Whispering in public is bad, Papa."

"Sorry... love. But you listen to me now." Om says and whispers to her again.

Ruhi turns to look at Gauri while Gauri watched the drama in front of her utterly confused. Ruhi turns to Om and nods her head in yes. He cups her face and whispers to her again.

"Okay... ready?" Om asks her.

"Yes." Ruhi says smiling.

They both turn to Gauri and with a smile Om says her name, "Gauri."

"Yes?" Gauri curiously replies.

"Mama." Ruhi calls her.

Gauri looks at Ruhi in surprise hearing her call her as tears filled her eyes again, she had somehow given up hope on hearing someone calling her Mama.

Then Ruhi and Om ask her together, "Will you marry us?"

Gauri looks at Omkara then her gaze automatically moves to Ruhi and she nods her head in yes.

They had a quiet wedding with just Ruhi, Shakti and Pinky. After that, Gauri went with Ruhi and Om to her new home.

"Mama... come... I'll show you my room." Ruhi says excitedly as she held Gauri's hand and ran to her bedroom.

Ruhi opens the door and shows Gauri a very cute room in pink with Princesses, Cindrella, Snow white, Sleeping Beauty and all painted all over the wall.

"Ruhi's room is so pretty." Gauri says as she looked around the room.

"Papa's room is not this pretty. Come, I will show you." Ruhi tells Gauri and taking her hand leads her to Om's room.

Gauri walks in to find a big bedroom with a king size bed. She sees her luggage already kept in one corner of the room.

"There is no Snow white here." Ruhi tells Gauri.

Gauri smiles at Ruhi and then she looks around as she looked at all the photos of Omkara and Ruhi all around the room.

"These are Papa and Ruhi's photos." Ruhi tells her as she showed her the photos. "But your photo is not there." Ruhi pouts sadly.

"That's okay, Ruhi."

"No... we will tell Papa to take your photo tomorrow." Ruhi tells her excitedly.

"No, Ruhi." Gauri says uncomfortably.

"Please Mama... we will keep your photo too," Ruhi cutely makes pleading faces at Gauri and she couldn't resist it anymore and pulling Ruhi close to her, she kisses her on her cheeks soundly.

"We will take photo, Mama?"

"Okay, my Rooh darling." Gauri tells her.

Ruhi starts giggling hearing that "That is what Papa calls me."

"I know." Gauri replies then hearing the bathroom door opening she looks up curiously to see Om come out wiping his hair as he hung his towel on his shoulders.

"Papa, tomorrow we will take Mama's photos and put it here." Ruhi excitedly tells Om.

Om looks at Gauri and sees her looking at him uncomfortably and she explains, "She is insisting."

Om gently smiles at her and tells her, "I'm sure your photo will come out really good."

Gauri's eyes widen in shock hearing the compliment and she had no idea how to react to that and Ruhi worsens it even more. "Mama is so beautiful na, Papa?"

Gauri softly gasps at the question and turns to look at Omkara and sees him equally uncomfortable with the question.

"Papa?" Ruhi calls him to gain his attention. Om turns to look at Ruhi. "You don't think Mama is beautiful?" Ruhi asks worried.

Om turns to look at Gauri and sees her looking at Ruhi and her cheeks were slightly pink accentuating her beauty. Then turning to Ruhi he replies. "She is."

Ruhi smiles happily satisfied while Gauri couldn't control her blush.

"Now, come and have your dinner." Om tells her as he picked her up and threw her in the air and caught her while Ruhi laughed out loudly. Om then settles her on his chest and turning to Gauri, he tells her "Dinner should be ready."

"I need to take a shower." Gauri tells him.

"Yeah... please go ahead. Everything is there if you need anything let me know."

Gauri nods. Om leaves with Ruhi to give her privacy.

After her bath, Gauri goes to the living room to find her husband and her daughter waiting for her.

"Dinner?" Om asks her.

Gauri nods her head and walk with Om and Ruhi towards the dining table.

"Mama, you sit here." Ruhi tells her as she pulled up a chair for Gauri while Om took the head of the table. Gauri sits there on Om's right while Ruhi ran around to sit on his left opposite to Gauri.

A man walks in with the food.

"Gauri... this is the cook, Khanna and Khanna this is my wife, Gauri." Om introduces them. Gauri smiles at the man and he also smiles back at her. After the man had gone back to the kitchen Om notices that Ruhi was sitting with her head on the table disinterested. "Rooh... eat, sweetheart."

Ruhi makes a disgusted face. "I don't like it."

Om smiles at her and leaning down he whispers to her, "Since it is Mama's first day here. I got food from a restaurant. Khanna didn't cook today."

Ruhi sits up excitedly. "Really? Then I'll eat." Om serves for her while Gauri watched curiously.

Seeing Gauri watching him, Om explains to her in a soft whisper, "Khanna is a terrible cook."

"Oh... then why have you..."

"Ruhi is very comfortable with him. When she comes back from her school, Khanna takes care of her till I get home and he keeps the house unbelievably neat. And I have been looking for a good cook but not found anyone."

Gauri nods her head understanding.

After dinner, Om takes Ruhi to bed and Gauri joins them as Ruhi wanted her to. Om sits next to Ruhi and reads out to her a story while Gauri sat next to Ruhi and listened to her husband softly mummers a story of a Prince and Princess. The way he said the story even she was dozing off.

"She slept." Om informs her softly and Gauri comes awake with a start. Gauri sits up as Om covered up Ruhi. Gently kissing her on her forehead, Om stands up from the bed. "Shall we?" he asks her gently.

Gulping at the idea of sleeping with him in the same room and bed, Gauri nervously nods her head. She lovingly caresses Ruhi's hair. "She is going to be fine here alone?"

"She is. She sleeps through the night without any problem." Om tells her.

"Why is she sleeping alone?" Gauri asks him curiously as she walked out with him, with the way they clung to each other she had assumed that Ruhi and Omkara slept together.

"Ruhi likes to sleep alone. And she doesn't like my room too as it is not pretty like hers." Om tells her.

Hearing that, Gauri couldn't help the soft chuckle that escaped her lips. Om smiles hearing her and tells her, "She has set of likes and dislikes."

Gauri smiles hearing that, "I find her very sorted out."

Om smiles in reply as he opened the bedroom door for her to enter. Gauri enters the room and Om follows her in. then he closes the door and locks it. Gauri nervously looks at him worried about what is going to happen next. She had decided to give her 100% for this marriage and for Ruhi but was she ready to be intimate with him so soon? She was not.

Seeing him watching her, she tells him hesitantly "I'm not ready for..."

"I know." Om calmly replies to her. "Relax and take your time."

"Thank you." Gauri replies relieved.

"Why don't you sleep? Ruhi wakes up early and she would come running into the room the moment she wakes up."

Gauri nods and walks towards the dressing table to remove her earrings. As she kept her earrings, she notices a wide range of hair clips, lipsticks, nail polish and few other items.

"Ruhi got those for you." Om tells her. "She insisted that you would need all those."

Gauri smiles hearing that and tells him "That was very thoughtful of her. And she seems to know all the good brands."

Om with an embarrassed smile scratches his forehead and says "I remembered Svetlana saying that one should always use good quality make-ups which doesn't damage the skin. So when Rooh said... I kind of researched..."

Gauri looks at him surprised that he would sit and research on make-ups for her. Then she politely tells him, "That was very thoughtful of you."

Om smiles at her. Then they both go to bed to sleep on two ends of the bed.

"PAPA!" Ruhi calls him loudly as she banged on the door.

Gauri opens her eyes quickly hearing the noise fearing that Ruhi might be in trouble. She turns to look at her husband and sees him frowning in his sleep.

"PAPA! Open!"

"Go and sleep, ROOH!" Om shouts back at her then with his eyes closed, he grabs the pillow under Gauri's head and snatches it and keeps it over his head covering his ears. Gauri's head falls back on the bed having the pillow snatched from right under her. She turns to her husband in shock and sees him turning over to the other side sleepily.

"PAPA, it's morning. WAKE UP!"

"I AM SLEEPING!"

"Good boys don't sleep late, Papa."

"I AM A BAD BOY! Happy? Now GO!"

Gauri sits up as she tied her hair into a bun and decided to open the door for Ruhi.

"MAMA... open the door."Ruhi screams at her.

"Coming, Rooh." Gauri shouts back as she got up from bed and sees her husband sit up in shock.

"You sleep. I'll take care of her." Gauri tells him.

Om looks at her confused then he looks at her side of the bed. "Where you lying down when I took your pillow?" Om asks her in shock.

Seeing him looking so lost, she smiles at him as she nodded her head in yes.

"MAMA!"

"Just a sec, Rooh." Om shouts at her then turning to Gauri he tells her, "She always comes in the morning like this, out of habit I..."

"It's okay." Gauri tells him as she walked to the door and opens the door. "What time is it?"

"A little past 5." Om tells her.

"5?" Gauri gasps in shock.

Seeing her shock he cheekily grins at her, "You said you will take care of her, right?"

"Yeah... i..." Gauri starts to stammer.

"Good night, Gauri." Om happily tells her and pulling his blanket over his head he falls back on bed while Gauri gaped at him.

"Good morning, Mama." Ruhi wishes her happily as she hugged her.

"Good morning, Ruhi." Gauri says smiling as she hugs her.

"Papa is still sleeping?" Ruhi asks frowning.

"Let him sleep for some more time."

After giving Ruhi her bath, Gauri takes a shower while she put the TV for Ruhi. Then after that, Gauri decides to cook breakfast for everyone since they didn't like Khanna's cooking.

"MAMA! What are you doing here?" Ruhi asks her as she came running into the kitchen.

"I am making breakfast." Gauri tells her smiling as she looked around the kitchen looking for things.

"Reaaally?" Ruhi asks excited.

"Yes." Gauri smiles seeing her excitement.

Ruhi tugs on her hand and gestures her to come down. Gauri kneels down next to her and Ruhi looks around the kitchen curiously and then tells her in a whisper, "Khanna Uncle doesn't know to cook."

Gauri smiles hearing that and whispers to her, "I know."

"Papa also doesn't know."

"Really?" Gauri asks smiling.

"All he knows is to make noodles but that is yuck."

Gauri chuckles hearing that and kisses Ruhi happily. Ruhi was just too too too cute according to Gauri.

"What do you and Papa like to eat, Ruhi?" Gauri asks her.

Ruhi thinks for a while as she cutely frowned thoughtfully, "Chocolate cake."

Gauri chuckles hearing that, "Papa and Rooh like chocolate cake?"

"Yes."

"But what does Papa and Rooh like to eat for breakfast?"

"Hmmm... Bread, jam, butter, eggs, orange juice and mashed potato." Ruhi tells her smiling.

"What kind of eggs?"

"That one..." Ruhi struggles as she tried to remember the name.

"Omelette?"

"No..."

"Scrambled eggs?"

"Yes that one." Ruhi says smiling.

"Okay... now my Rooh sit here while I cook." Gauri tells her as she picked her up and put her on the counter.

"Do you drink milk in the morning, Ruhi?"

"Yes. That is my mug." Ruhi tells her as she pointed excitedly at a mug with a protruding Snow white.

"Is Snow white your favorite?" Gauri asks her as she grabbed the mug and washed it.

"YES!!!"

Then she quickly fixes her milk for her and passes it to Ruhi.

Gauri starts preparing for breakfast while Ruhi chatted away on everything under the sun. Gauri listens to everything with a small smile on her face. By then Khanna wakes up and comes to prepare breakfast.

Gauri decides to make steamed vegetables too with the breakfast.

"Khanna, can you cut some vegetables?"

"Which ones?"

"Hmmm... what all you have?" Gauri asks him as she walked to the fridge and checked. Realizing that the vegetables were low in stock, she decides to make do with beans and carrots.

"There aren't any vegetables." Gauri informs Khanna as she passed the vegetables to him.

"Saab and Ruhi doesn't eat vegetables." Khanna informs her.

"Oh." Gauri turns to look at Ruhi and sees her playing with oranges. Gauri smiles seeing her lost in her world.

Gauri finishes making everything except for eggs and bread toast, and decides to do that just before breakfast.

"Ruhi... go wake up Papa." Gauri tells her as she lifted her up and helped her down.

"Okay." Ruhi runs off to call her father.

"What does he have? Tea or coffee?" Gauri asks Khanna.

"Tea."

Nodding her head, Gauri starts to prepare tea for her husband and her.

"Papa, wake up." Ruhi shakes Om vigorously.

"What, Rooh?" Om moans sleepily.

"Wake up, Papa."

Om lifts her up and makes her lie next to him. "You sleep with me."

"Mama is calling you down." Ruhi tells him giggling as she hugged him and swung her leg over him.

"Why is your Mama calling me?" Om asks curiously.

"To have breakfast."

Om snorts loudly.

Ruhi giggles and informs him, "Not Khanna Uncle, Mama made breakfast."

"Ah ha." Om says smiling as he opened his eyes to look at her.

"She made our favorite breakfast."

"Really?" Om asks smiling.

"Yes. Now, come faaast."

Sighing loudly Om gets up from the bed.

"Papa is awake." Ruhi informs Gauri as she ran into the kitchen.

"Ah good. Khanna, Please give this to him." Gauri tells him as she passed the cup to him after pouring the tea. Khanna takes the tea for Om while Gauri starts making eggs and toasting the bread.

Few minutes later, Om and Ruhi were talking when Om notices Gauri coming with the food and setting the table. She had her pallu tuck into her saree and he could clearly see her stomach as she turned and twisted while she set the table. Om gulps seeing her beautiful stomach. He had the uncontrollable urge to hold her waist and squeeze it. He wanted to squeeze it till she moaned his name in passion. Then he would... Om shakes his head realizing where his thoughts were going. She said she is not ready yet. Stop thinking about that!!!

"Erm... Ruhi... food is ready." Gauri calls out.

"Ruhi, come sit next to me." Gauri gently orders Ruhi when Ruhi was about to sit opposite to her. Without a question, Ruhi runs around the table towards Gauri and sits on the seat next to her. Gauri spreads jam and butter on bread and passes it to Ruhi. Ruhi takes it from her and bites into it while Gauri serves her mashed potatoes and then steamed vegetables.

"I don't like that." Ruhi informs her.

"Still you have to eat it." Gauri tells her gently.

"I don't like the taste." Ruhi insists.

"Don't you want to grow up fast?"

Ruhi nods her head in yes.

"Then have this." Gauri tells her and turns to Om and serves him vegetables.

"Actually... I don't..." Om starts to protest and Gauri calmly but in a threatening voice asks him, "Do you want more?"

"No... no... this is fine." Om tells her quickly and Gauri smiles at him sweetly.

"See Rooh... Papa is eating now you also eat."

Ruhi looks at Om and Om quickly starts eating. Seeing her father eat, Ruhi with a pout starts eating.

"That's like my Chipmunk." Gauri says happily as she kissed her. Ruhi starts giggling hearing the cute name while Om with disgust stabs the vegetable with his fork.

"Gauri... there is good light now... can we take your photos now?" Om asks Gauri after breakfast.

"Now?" Gauri asks getting nervous.

"Yes."

"We'll take." Ruhi says excitedly deciding for Gauri. Sighing Gauri agrees.

Seeing Gauri uncomfortable, Om decides to take Gauri's and Ruhi's photo together first. Gauri slowly starts relaxing and even enjoy taking the photos with Ruhi.

"Nice shots." Gauri tells Om as three of them looked at the photos on the camera display.

"Thank you." Om tells her smiling.

"You like photography?" Gauri asks him curiously seeing the beautiful pictures.

"It's my passion." Om tells her and then he tells her in a soft tone, "You are very beautiful on camera."

"Erm." Gauri turns completely pink hearing that and she looks away as she softly murmured, "Thank you."

"Thanks to you for letting me photograph you." Om tells her smiling.

Seeing her turning even pinker, he steps back and quickly clicks a photo of her. Gauri looks at him in shock while Om checks the photo and says with a small smile, "Pretty."

"Rooh." Gauri calls Ruhi as she walked towards her getting nervous at the way Omkara was flirting with her.

"Gauri... can we take your singles, now?" Om asks her.

"Solo?" Gauri panics. "No, these are fine."

"No, Mama. Take." Ruhi says making cute faces at her.

Sighing Gauri says, "Okay."

"Mama... change your dress."

"This is fine, Rooh."

"All the photos you are wearing the same saree." Om tells her.

"Come, Mama... I'll tell you what to wear." Ruhi says as she excitedly held Gauri's hand and dragged her towards their bedroom.

"This so pretty, Mama." Ruhi gushes as she held the sleeveless top in her hand. They both were bend over Gauri's suitcase.

"Thank you, Ruhi. I'll wear this saree?" Gauri asks as she held up a saree from the suitcase.

"No, Mama... wear this."

"No, Ruhi... I'll wear saree." Gauri says a little uncomfortable thinking of wearing that in front of Omkara. It was strange, she usually wears that outside then why was she feeling nervous thinking of wearing it in front of Omkara?

"Please Mama. Wear this. You will look so so so pretty." Ruhi tells her making cute faces.

Gauri wears it as she realized that it was mighty impossible for her to say no to Ruhi when she made such cute faces at her.

Om looks up hearing Ruhi and Gauri coming and stops in shock seeing Gauri wearing a sleeveless top and short skirt. He had thought she looked beautiful in saree and this was just making her all the more gorgeous and her legs were... Aaah...

"Ready?" Gauri asks hesitantly seeing him ogling at her.

"Yeah." Om replies coughing as he looked away.

"Chin up." Om tells Gauri.

Gauri slightly lifts her face up.

"A little down."

Gauri moves it down. Sighing, Om walks towards her and gently holds her chin and slowly lifts her face up. Feeling his touch on her, Gauri's cheek slightly heat up. Then Om starts readjusting her curls. "Thanks for the breakfast." Om tells her as he studied her curls. Gauri looks at him and he continues as he looked at her eyes, "After a long time, Ruhi and I are starting our day with good food."

Gauri smiles hearing that and seeing her smile, he too smiles.

"Group photo!" Ruhi shouts excitedly.

"Okay." Om says as he set his camera aside and looked for the proper spot.

Finally, he pulls a Divan towards the area the light was best. "Rooh... Gauri... you both sit here." Om tells them as he went to adjust the camera. He keeps the camera on a high stool then leaning next to it, he starts changing the mode and then setting the frame. "Leave space for me." Om reminds them.

Gauri sits on the Divan and pulls Ruhi next to her, wrapping her hand around her, she holds her close.

"Are you both ready?"

"Yes." Gauri replies.

"Okay, then... smile." Om says as he pressed the self-timer and ran towards them. he sits next to Ruhi and quickly wraps his arms around Gauri and Ruhi.

Surprised at his action, Gauri quickly turns to look at him.

"What?" Om asks and Gauri shakes her head.

"Look straight." Om tells her and Gauri turns to look at the camera. Just as she smiles the camera flashes on them.

Om hurries to the camera to check the photo while Gauri sighs in relief. She couldn't take this closeness anymore. She actually felt a little jealous that he was feeling so relaxed next to her while she was on her nerves.

"I'm going to cook lunch." Gauri announces.

"You'll cook lunch too?" Ruhi asks surprised.

"Yes. My Rooh Pooh." Gauri says as she cupped her face making Ruhi giggle.

Lunch was again a challenge due to lack of ingredients. Searching the fridge and freezer, Gauri found some frozen peas and decided to make pulao and chicken curry. The peas were bought for Ruhi's school project, Khanna told her in between. Gauri mentally thanks Ruhi's school for their project not realizing that these kinds of projects in the coming years are going to drive her husband and her mad.

"Tastes good." Om tells Gauri as he took a second serving.

"Thank you." Gauri says with a soft smile.

"Very nice, Mama." Ruhi tells her as she picked out the peas and put it on the side.

"Have your peas, Rooh."

"I don't want that, Mama."

"But you have to eat it, Rooh." Gauri tells her smiling. "It's good for you."

"Okay." Ruhi says as she mixed up peas with the rice without any enthusiasm.

"Erm... we need to buy grocery." Gauri tells Om.

"Just tell Khanna whatever you want to buy." Om tells her.

"No, I want to go." Gauri tells Om.

"Okay then... evening we will go out."

Gauri nods in reply.

Since both Om and Gauri had took a week off, they spend the time with Ruhi and slowly started to get to know one another better. A week later, it was time to get back to school and work.

"What time does Ruhi get back home?" Gauri asks Om as she got ready for work.

"Her school is till 1:30 but she stays in her school till 5:30. They have day boarding."

"Oh."

"From school itself, they make her do her homework and revise the lessons of that day. So after she gets home, she is free to play around." Om explains to her.

"So, what about her lunch?"

"They give it in her school."

"Okay. How is she going to school?"

"I drop her and pick her up." Om tells her. "How do you go to work?"

"I'll take an auto."

"I'll drop you then." Om tells her.

"Would that be a problem?" Gauri asks hesitantly not wanting to trouble him.

"No... I might drop you off a little early." Om tells her.

"That is fine." Gauri tells him. "What time do we leave from here?"

"8. Ruhi's class starts at 8:30."

"Okay."

As usual, Ruhi wakes up Gauri early in the morning and Gauri after quickly fixing their breakfast and lunch, gives Ruhi a bath and takes a shower. While she and Ruhi got dressed, Gauri asked Ruhi to wake up Om to go to office. After breakfast they were about to leave, when Gauri gives Om his packed lunch. Om was surprised to see lunch packed for him.

Om takes the packed lunch from her and smiles, "Thank you."

Gauri shakes her head at him, and asks him, "Have you paid Ruhi's canteen fee for this whole year?"

"Whole term." Om tells her.

"Okay... I was thinking of packing her lunch for her."

"The school lunch is good."

"Yes, but that I won't know if she is eating her vegetables."

"Okay... whatever you feel is good for her." Om tells her smiling.

"Can I ask Khanna to clean our room or do you want me to supervise while he cleans?" Gauri asks Om in a whisper.

"No, there is nothing of value outside and he is trustworthy. You can tell him."

"Okay." Gauri says smiling and goes back in to give Khanna his instructions for the day.

"Why are we not leaving?" Ruhi asks curiously as she looked up at her father.

"Because Mama is making sure everything is perfect."

"Oh." Ruhi nods understanding. "You like my hair?" Ruhi asks Om as she turned around to show her hair style.

"Yes." Om says smiling as he knelt down next to her and kissed her.

"Is that French braid?" Om asks remembering Ruhi's talk when he had met Gauri for the first time.

"Uffo Papa, you don't know anything. This is dutch braid. Mama did it. Mama knows everything."

"Oh ho... Now you have become Mama's girl and no more Papa's princess?" Om asks not feeling jealous or insecure for even a bit because finally, Ruhi was getting a mother's love.

"I am Mama's girl and Papa's Princess too." Ruhi tells Om as she hugged him.

"I know my Rooh." Om says as he hugged her.

"Let's go?" Gauri asks as she hurried towards them.

"Yes."

"Is there anything either of you want done at home when you get back?" Gauri asks them.

While Ruhi gives a confused look, Om shakes his head with a smile. His house had badly needed a mother, a wife and a homemaker.

That night after Om and Gauri puts Ruhi to sleep, Om asks Gauri. "Would you like to go out for a walk?"

"Now?" Gauri asks shocked.

"Yes. Just down, near the pool."

"What about Ruhi?" Gauri asks.

"She won't wake up till morning."

"Okay."

They were walking silent around the pool lost in thoughts. Gauri softly yawns feeling sleepy.

"You are sleepy?"

"A little. I wake up early, right?" Gauri reminds him with a smile.

"Do you want to go back up?"

"Maybe after 10 minutes, the climate is nice." Gauri says as she rubbed her hand feeling the chill.

"She wakes you up very early, right?" Om asks feeling guilty for sleeping happily while Gauri had to wake up early.

"I get to do a lot of work in the morning. If not for her, I would have kept an alarm."

Om smiles in relief and tells her, "After you came here, it has become a home."

Gauri turns to Om and sees the smile on his face and couldn't help but ask him, "You love me, don't you?"

Om chuckles hearing her as he looked away. Then going silent he says, "Yes."

Gauri nods her head.

Om turns to look at her and tells her, "You were talking to Ruhi that day, giving her ear ring, dressing her up. First time, I saw Ruhi with her mother, and I fell in love with my daughter's mother."

"That is why you married me?"

"I could see that Ruhi also loved you and you also loved Ruhi."

Gauri nods and starts to walk when his voice reaches her, "You don't love me."

Gauri turns to him and softly shakes her head.

"Unlike my situation, the love you shared with your ex-husband didn't fizzle out, you were betrayed when he turned against you. You would need time to love again."

"What if I am not able to love you ever? What if I never have the courage to love again?"

"You already showed courage in loving Ruhi, Gauri." Om gently reminds her. "Still, even if you can never love me, it is okay, Gauri. The love you shower on my daughter, is love enough for me."

"Our daughter." Gauri possessively corrects him.

"Our daughter." Om agrees with a smile.

Gauri couldn't help it, she moves towards him and hesitantly hugs him. Om hugs her back happily.

Om and Gauri had taken Ruhi to the park on the weekend. Weekends they tried to take Ruhi either to the beach or park. They sat back and watched Ruhi playing on the slides while they chatted. Gauri was getting comfortable with Om and now she was no longer nervous or hesitant with him.

"I have to go to Allahabad next week." Om tells her.

"Oh... for how many days?" Gauri asks unable to realize why she was suddenly feeling sad that he was going away. She was getting used to him?

"I'll be going on Thursday. Will be back by Sunday night."

"Hmmm."

"Usually when I go, I take Khanna and Ruhi with me. Khanna will take care of Ruhi while I work there."

"Oh." Gauri turns to Om panicking. Was he going to take Ruhi?

"Can you take leave and come with me?" Om asks her.

"I can't. I took leave for our wedding and now it is quarterly closing time and I haven't achieved my target yet." Gauri tells Om worriedly.

"Hmmm... So you and Ruhi will manage alone without me?"

"You would leave Ruhi with me?" Gauri asks surprised and smiling.

"Yes." Om says surprised. "Isn't that how it should be?"

"Yes, it is." Gauri replies smiling.

Om shakes his head at her smiling.

They were on their way back home when Gauri gets a call from a client.

"Can you mail me your requirements? I'll send you the quotation in 2 hours."

Gauri reaches home and quickly picks her laptop to work. Ruhi runs to her and sits next to her curiously.

"Rooh... come here, don't disturb Mama, she has work." Om tells her.

"What work?" Ruhi asks Gauri curiously.

"Mama sells telephones, baby. So this client told me he wants 200 phones, so I will send him a quotation telling him how much it would cost him." Gauri explains to her.

"Oh."

"I know; you didn't want a wife who works at home." Gauri tells Om at night in bed. "I haven't achieved my target and I was under a little pressure. I am..."

"Gauri..." Om cuts her off as he turned to her.

"Hmmm?"

"When I look at you, I see Ruhi's mother first then my wife. That's all I wanted in my wife. You would never ignore Rooh for your work, rest doesn't matter."

Gauri smiles at him happily. He was so understanding.

"How are you going to the airport?" Gauri asks Om as she helped him pack his bag.

"I'll take a taxi."

"I can drop you." Gauri tells him as she brought out two suits. "Which one?"

"You drive?" Om asks surprised. "Black."

"Yes."

"You never told me."

"you never asked me." Gauri counters. "Rooh, are you done polishing Papa's shoes?"

"Almost." Ruhi says as she brushed Om's shoes with the shiner.

"You should have told me." Om tells her. "That's enough Rooh. Pass."

"Well... I can drive, husband." Gauri tells him rolling her eyes as she passed him his shirts.

Om keeps his shirts and then putting his shoes in shoe bags, keeps it in his bag. "Then, I will cancel the taxi? Should I cancel tomorrow's also? Will you drop Ruhi and go by car?"

"Of course." Gauri says making a face making Ruhi giggle.

"Bye, Rooh... take care of Mama." Om says as he knelt down next to Ruhi and kissed her. first time, he was going away from Ruhi, though he was sad about the separation there was no fear because he knew Gauri would take good care of her.

"Yes, Papa. We are planning to go see Nanu and Nani." Ruhi informs him.

"I know, baby." Om says smiling as he hugged her tight and kissed her.

Om turns to look at Gauri and sees her hesitantly smile. He could tell that she was a little upset, good! It meant she was feeling for him.

"Bye." Om tells her as he walked towards her.

"Take care." Gauri tells her.

Om nods as he moved towards her and hugs her.

"Call me when you reach."

"Will do." Om tells her as he hugged her tight. He was going to miss her. then he couldn't help it, he kisses her on her cheek, making her gasp in shock.

"bye."

Gauri blushes in reply making him grin. "I'll see you when I come back then." Om tells her and Gauri very well understood the hidden promise making her blush.

They wave off Om and Gauri happily picks up Ruhi and walks towards their car, his kiss still tingling her cheek.

Om was going mad with worry. Since morning, he had been trying to call Gauri. It's Saturday evening, and Friday night, she had called saying that she had reached her house. After that, she hasn't picked his call and their landline was faulty. He had been missing his wife and daughter like mad these two days and now he wasn't even getting them on the phone. This is crazy. He decided to skip the meeting tomorrow and go back home. He was about to call his secretary to change his tickets when he hears the doorbell ring. Feeling that something bad was about to happen, he runs to the door. He wasn't expecting anyone. He looks through the keyhole and sees a room boy and he quickly opens the door.

"yes?"

"SURPRISE!" Gauri and Ruhi shouts as they jumped from both the sides in front of him.

"Wha.." Om stops in shock seeing them. "How did you two?" Om asks in relief and surprise as he happily smiled.

"We came to surprise you." Ruhi informs him as she jumped on him happily. "Did you get surprised?"

"Yes. I was going crazy here as I couldn't get you online." Om tells Gauri as he hugged Ruhi tight.

Gauri grins hearing him and taking their luggage from the room boy she asks him to leave.

"You scared me." Om tells Gauri as he hugged her.

Gauri giggles hearing him.

"Oh Papa... Mama and I had so much fun in the plane. You know, there was this movie in the plane..." Ruhi starts excitedly narrating her travel experience while Om listened happily to her.

Much later, while Gauri gave Ruhi her bath, Om ordered an extra bed for Ruhi. Om was just too excited to have Gauri and Ruhi with him. He hadn't even the slightest idea that Gauri would pull something off like this. He watches as Gauri got Ruhi ready for bed. He hadn't been able to talk to her since they arrived. He had been listening to Ruhi's excited chattering. She was still reeling from her joy of her first surprise visit. Finally, they put Ruhi on bed and Om tells her the story of The Princess And The Pea while Gauri sat back and listened.

Once, Ruhi had slept, Gauri slowly get up a little nervous as now her husband and she had some privacy.

"So, when did you plan this?" Om asks her as he got up and walked towards her.

"Ruhi was missing you badly." Gauri tells him nervously as a blush crept her cheeks.

"And you?" Om asks her as he held her hand and pulled her towards him.

"Me?" Gauri blushes.

"That much?" Om asks grinning.

Gauri nods her head shyly.

"Even I missed you." Om tells her in a whisper as he leaned down.

Gauri happily looks up at him and Om leans down and takes her lips in his. Gauri shyly pushes him away. "Ruhi."

"She is sleeping." Om tells her and again leans down to kiss her and Gauri pushes him away and runs to the dressing room.

She stops at the door and turns to look at him. Seeing him watching her, Gauri with a sexy smile crooks her finger at him. Om's face breaks out into a surprised smile and starts walking towards her and Gauri runs inside.

Om walks into the dressing area to find Gauri leaning on the wall watching him. She again crooks her finger at him. Seeing the smile on her lips as she bit her lower lip, nothing was more arousing than that for Om. Om with a lazy smile walks towards her taking his time to tease her. losing her patience, when he was at arms distance, Gauri quickly grabs his collar and pulls him forcefully towards her.

"Tigress." Om says impressed.

"Stop talking." Gauri tells him as she pulled him close to her silently telling him to kiss her.

"Now, you understand what I have been going through all this while?" Om asks her with a teasing smile. Losing her patience, Gauri pulls Om towards her and slams her lips on his.

As their tongues mated for the first time, they experienced passion, hunger, lust and love they had never experienced before. Gauri slithers in his arms as they hungrily kissed.

"I missed you so much." Gauri whispers as she kissed him.

"I missed you too. I love you, Gauri." Om whispers as he kissed her neck.

Feeling his hand sliding up her night shirt, Gauri stops him. "No."

"God, Gauri, I will go crazy." Om whispers to her urgently.

"Ruhi is here." Gauri says as she gently pushed him away.

"She is sleeping. In the other room."

Gauri shakes her head with a smile.

"You are right." Om says sighing, as he leans on her defeated. "We will make love on our bed."

Gauri hugs Om happily.

They walk back into the room. After making sure Ruhi was fine, they get on bed. Om rolls towards Gauri and hugs her.

"This is going to be the longest night in my life." Om tells her making Gauri giggle.

Gauri kisses him on his cheek and tells him, "Close your eyes and go to sleep. Very soon, she will be waking us up."

Next night, they reach home. By the time they reach home, Ruhi had slept off. While Om put her in bed, Gauri went to shower and after she had her shower while Om took his shower, Gauri went to check in on Khanna and discussed about the next day's meal and all the work for next day. After that she walks back to their room knowing her husband would be waiting for her.

Gauri walks in and finds Om waiting in their room in his boxers. Gauri couldn't help chuckle. Her husband clearly didn't believe in wasting time.

Understanding why she was chuckling he tells her, "Look at you all prim and proper."

Gauri looks down at herself. She was wearing a full sleeve night dress, and she couldn't help laugh out loud. She looks up at her husband and gets surprised to find him standing right next to her. she couldn't help the blush that crept up at her cheek. Om leans down and takes her lips in his. As they kissed, he started tugging at her clothes. Slowly, she was out of her last piece of garment. Om steps back to look at her. though Gauri was feeling shy, she felt confident too. Her experience with him was so different. With Daksh, it had been all too innocent and more like a teenage love. Young and carefree love. But with him, it was more mature and deep. She wasn't ashamed of baring herself to him. Somehow she knew, he would like it. he wouldn't think badly of her for expressing her desire for him. And she had never desired anyone like she desired him. He had filled her life with joy, laughter and a daughter. She loved him. How could she not? But she couldn't tell him that. She was scared. She didn't have the courage. She might have loved before, but now, after him, she can never love again.

Om with a groan takes her lips in his unable to hide his desire for her. she ignited a fire in him that no one ever could. He burned for her. he loved her. he had loved before but his love for her was something he had experienced only once in his life. The kind of love he felt for his daughter, unadulterated and pure. His love for Gauri ran deeper than whatever he could have felt for Svetlana. Gauri had filled that void in his and Ruhi's life with love and care. Ruhi and Gauri were his life, there was nothing more he wanted from his life.

Gauri nervously runs her hand over his chest. God! She loved touching him. And she knew he loved touching her, he always looked for reasons to touch her. Gauri nervously drags her hand down, wanting him to be as naked as her. but her hand wouldn't move any further down than his navel. Then somehow understanding her, Om takes her hand and keeps it on the waistband of his boxer. With his help, Gauri pulls down his boxer.

"That was the first time you said my name." Om whispers to her as he hugged her.

"I did? When?" Gauri asks curiously. She was never sure what to call him and had never called him anything. She never realized that he had noticed it.

"You called me Omkara."

Gauri smiles at him. "I did?" she had gone crazy in between. Such passion was new to her that she forgot herself. When he remained silent, Gauri curiously look at his face and finds him watching her with pure male satisfaction. And she knew when she had said his name. she had moaned his name when they had found fulfillment.

"Omkara." Gauri calls his name as she caressed his cheek lovingly.

"I never thought, love making could be so..." Om starts to say then stops not finding the exact phrase. Moving?

"I know." Gauri tells him smiling happily, knowing it was the same for him.

"It's time for bed, Ruhi." Om tells her making Gauri cover her mouth lest she burst out laughing.

"But I am not feeling sleepy." Ruhi informs him confused.

"But it is bed time." Om tells her.

"So soon?" Ruhi asks thoroughly confused.

"Yes."

"But I always watch Dora before sleeping. Dora didn't start only."

"Maybe they are not telecasting Dora today." Om lies through his teeth.

"Why?"

"I don't know." Om shrugs then glaring at Gauri for being no help.

"We will wait for some time and see."

"It's already 9:30 look." Om casually flicks his wrist at her.

Ruhi quickly grabs his hand and looks at the time. "Oh Papa! It is only 8!"

"When did you learn to tell the time?" Om asks confused.

"Mama taught me today."

"Oh Did you?" Om turns to Gauri to glare at her making Gauri chuckle and blush at the same time.

"Mama, you should teach Papa also to check time." Ruhi tells Gauri as she grabbed the remote and put on cartoon.

Sighing loudly, Om sits next to Gauri. Gauri giggles happily seeing his impatience. Even she was feeling impatient, she couldn't wait to touch him and have him touch her but then for that they had to put Ruhi to bed.

"Why didn't you tell me that you taught her to tell the time?"

"I would have if you hadn't mouth-attacked me the moment you saw me."

"I attacked you? You attacked me." Om tells her.

"You started it."

"Let's finish it then," Om hotly whispers to her.

"What about her?"

"Hmmm... then let's go in for a quickie and come back." Om tells her.

Gauri looks at him with that excited smile of hers as she bit her lower lip that he found so arousing. She contemplated it for a while and then shook her head in negative.

"Rooh... Papa is feeling sleepy. Let's sleep baby." Om tells her and even fakes a yawn too.

"You sleep, Papa. Mama will tell me a story today."

Gauri couldn't help chuckling. Om had enough. He puts his hand around Gauri and slowly slides his finger inside her night shirt while his other hand, he started caressing her thighs. He had been surprised when she wore a short night shirt. Now that they were close and Khanna had gone to his village for a few days, she was relaxed in her dressing at home.

Feeling his teasing gentle caress, Gauri started getting turned on.

"Stop it."

"No."

"Omkara... I am serious." Gauri tells him as she grabbed his hand.

He quickly shakes her hand off and goes further up.

"Omkara..." Gauri whispers in a warning tone.

Om got even more determined.

"RUHI!"

"Haan Mama?"

"Baby, I'm feeling sleepy... can we sleep?" Gauri asks her urgently.

"So soon?"

"We travelled yesterday, right? Maybe because of that."

Ruhi looks at her parents pouting and then says, "Okay. But can I read the book Nanu got me? I don't want to sleep."

"Okay. But only read for a little while." Gauri tells her deciding to check in on her around her sleeping time to make sure that she slept.

"Okay." Ruhi says smiling.

Seven months later, Gauri sat in her bathroom looking at the big fat positive on her home pregnancy kit. She had been staring at it for more than half hour now and now it was all messed up. She had been nauseous the last couple of weeks and she had thought it to be indigestion. Then she had noticed the changes, those changes which had been her life's mission once upon a time. She had researched about each and every sign of pregnancy while she had tried to conceive. And now? When she had given up hope. Neither Omkara nor she had talked about a baby. Oh God! Could she be really pregnant? Gauri clutches the home pregnancy kit in her hand as tears slipped down her eyes.

"Gauri?" Om knocks on the door.

"yes?" Gauri replies quickly wiping her tears.

"What happened? Is everything alright? Ruhi is calling you."

"Mama?"

"I'm just coming, baby." Gauri replies as she washed her face and quickly hid her test. She couldn't tell either of them before she got it confirmed by a doctor.

"What happened?" Om asks curiously as she stepped out.

"Nothing." Gauri shakes her head.

"are you sick?" Om asks as he kept his palm on her forehead. "you are hot but it doesn't feel like fever."

"Are you sick, Mama?" Ruhi asks her as she hugged her.

"No, my chipmunk." Gauri tells her as she hugged her.

"Why don't you take an off today?" Om asks her in concern.

"I am fine, Omkara." Gauri tells him smiling. "I'm going to make breakfast else we will be late. Don't sleep now. Get ready."

Om nods.

The moment she reached her office, Gauri called up her old gynecologist and asked for an appointment. During office time in the evening, she went to the clinic and gave her blood for testing after meeting her gynecologist. Rest of the day and the next day morning, Gauri nervously spend as she wondered and worried about her result. Omkara had never mentioned a need for another baby but she knew he would only be happy.

Gauri was in her office when she got a call from her gynec.

"Hello Gauri?"

"Hello doctor... Did you get the results?"

"Congratulations, you are pregnant."

For the next ten minutes, Gauri didn't know or realize what was happening around her. she just sat there caressing her stomach as tears fell from her eyes.

After meeting her gynec, Gauri went to Ruhi's school to pick her up.

"What happened, Mama?" Ruhi asks curiously as she walked with Gauri towards the gate.

"We are going to give Papa a surprise." Gauri tells her happily then she couldn't control herself and leans down and kisses Ruhi soundly. Ruhi had brought happiness into her life. She gave her, Omkara, herself and now a new baby.

"Surprise? I LOVE giving surprise." Ruhi tells her excitedly. "What is the surprise?"

"Would you like to have a baby sister or baby brother?"

"YES!" Ruhi says excitedly as she clapped her hands.

"Then my Rooh baby is going to be a big sister soon."

"Really? A baby is coming?" Ruhi asks happily.

"Yes."

"When?"

"In 7 months."

"7 months?" Ruhi asks pouting.

"Time will go like that." Gauri tells her as she snapped her fingers.

"we will tell Papa then?"

Om rings on the bell worriedly. Gauri had been hiding something from him for a couple of days and she wasn't telling him what. And today, she had taken half day off from office and picked up Ruhi from school and come back home. He hoped everything was fine. Today come what may, he is going to find out what is worrying his wife and set it right.

"hello Papa." Ruhi excitedly opens the door and wishes him as she stood in front of him hands at her hips, strutting out her chest to show him her tshirt.

"Hi Rooh... where is Gauri?"

"Inside. Papa!"

"What?"

"Papa!" Ruhi calls him again as she stomped her foot and looked at him with her hands on her hips.

"What, Rooh?" Om asks her absentmindedly.

"Can't you see, Papa?" Ruhi asks irately.

"What?" Om looks at her and sees that she was wearing a new tshirt.

"New top?"

"YES!"

"Nice... where is Gauri?"

"In room! PAPA!"

"What, Rooh?" Om asks her turning to her and giving her his full attention.

"My top, PAPA!"

"It is nice, Ruhi... Now I want to talk to Mama."

"Oh Papa!"

"What baby?" Om asks her tiredly.

"Can't you read?" Ruhi asks at her wits end.

"Read what?"

"THIS!!!" Ruhi says as she pointed at her tshirt.

"Big sister." Om reads out loud.

Ruhi smiles out loudly.

"Big sister?" Om asks her confused. "Is that what you wanted me to read?"

"YES!"

"Okay, I read... now can I go talk to Mama?"

"PAPA!"

"What baby?" Om asks sighing out loudly.

Having enough of his stupidity, she declares, "Ruhi is big sister now."

"Big sister?" Om asks as his heart skipped a beat.

"You don't understand anything, Papa. I am tired. You go ask Mama." Ruhi says giving up and walking off. The surprise didn't go off as she had expected.

"Gauri?" Om runs into his room and finds Gauri at the window. "What is Ruhi saying?"

"You are an idiot, husband." Gauri tells him smiling as she walked towards him. She had heard how hard poor Rooh was trying to tell him about the new baby.

"Are you really..." Om asks not wanting to say the word pregnant and if she was not then end up hurting Gauri.

"Yes." Gauri tells him as she took his hand and kept it on her stomach.

"You sure?" Om asks as he gulped the sob that was forcing in his throat. He hadn't given himself permission to dream of another baby fearing that would cause pain to Gauri.

"Yes. Now don't cry. I don't think I can handle that." Gauri teases him as tears filled her eyes. Om pulls her into his arms and hugs her tight and Gauri burst into tears.

Om and Ruhi treated Gauri like a porcelain doll. Pampering and fussing over like a mother. Suddenly, Gauri was the baby in the family and Gauri enjoyed each and every second of it. on her 7th month of her pregnancy, Shakti and Pinky insisted that Gauri go to their place for delivery. Though Om wasn't happy about it, he gave in and wasn't even surprised when Gauri had taken Ruhi with her. he always knew that Gauri was possessive about Ruhi then after she got pregnant he assumed her possessiveness might lessen a little, but nothing like that happened.

"PAPA" Ruhi excitedly calls out to him as he walked into Sharma house.

"Hey Ruhi." Om hugs her happily. There was a time when they couldn't even stay apart for a day, but after their family had extended their that insecurity had lessened considerably.

"How is my Rooh-Pooh? Are you troubling Nanu and Nani?" Om asks as he smiled at his in-laws.

"No, Papa. Nanu is my friend. He always gives me books." Ruhi tells him happily.

Shakti is a voracious reader and according to Gauri, his one regret in life other than marrying her off to Daksh at a young age was that Gauri never got his interest in reading books. Somehow, he was able to cultivate that taste in Ruhi and now Ruhi and Shakti had a book club too.

"What about Nani then?" Pinky asks pouting.

"Even Nani is my friend. She stitches pretty frocks for me." Ruhi tells Om.

"Omkara, you are home?" Gauri asks smiling as he walked into her room.

"How are you?"

"Tired." Gauri says with a sigh and hugs him. "Now, you will go after my delivery only, right?"

"Yes." Om promises her.

"I am really worried." Gauri whispers to him.

"Everything is going to be smooth for you."

"I hope so." Gauri tells him.

Hearing his mobile ring, Om checks the caller ID and quickly cuts the call lest Gauri sees it.

"Who is it? Office?" Gauri asks curiously as he never picked office calls after office hours.

"No one important."

Once, he had put Gauri to sleep, he steps out and calls Svetlana back.

"Hello, Om?"

"Listen, I am at Gauri's place now. How many times do I have to tell you not to call?"

"You act smart with me then I am going to come to your wife's house!" Svetlana threatens him.

"Don't do anything stupid."

"Then don't keep me waiting! My patience is growing thin." Svetlana threatens him and hangs up.

Om crawls into bed next to Gauri and hugs her.

"Who was it?" Gauri asks sleepily.

"Some nuisance." Om whispers.

That night, Gauri went into labor and after, 6 hours of labor, their daughter was born.

"When are you coming home?" Om asks Gauri as he sat next to her as he played with their baby.

"I've been asking Maa, she is asking me to stay for a few more days." Gauri tells Om.

"It's been 2 months, Gauri. I can't stay alone. I want my wife and my daughters home with me." Om tells her.

"Even I am missing home." Gauri tells him.

"Then come home." Om tells her as he leaned to kiss her.

"You tell Maa... she keeps saying that house would be silent when we go."

"Okay... I'll tell her." Om tells her smiling. He kisses her lips happily and tells her, "Love you."

Om walks out to talk to Pinky and just then Om's cell starts ringing. Seeing an ISD unsaved number Gauri curiously answers it. she had noticed that Om getting calls from this number on and off and he always cutting the call. She had assumed it to be some office call.

"hello?"

"Who is this?" a woman asks from the other side.

"Who are you?" Gauri asks back not liking the tone and question.

"Are you Om's new wife?"

Gauri didn't like the word new in the question and tells her irately, "I am Omkara Singh Oberoi's wife."

"And I am his ex-wife."

"Done... we are going home today. Start packing." Om says as he walked back in.

"Svetlana?" Gauri asks looking at Om. She wasn't sure whether she was asking Om or the girl on the phone that question.

Seeing Om's face drain of blood, she realized she was asking him that question.

"Yes. Can I speak to Om now?"

Without a word, Gauri passes Om the phone.

"Gauri..."

"She wants to talk to you." Gauri tells him.

Om cuts the call as he nervously looked at Gauri. "Gauri..."

"How long has she been calling you? Why is she calling you? What does she want?"

"Gauri... calm down... it's not what you think."

"It's not what I think? Really? So why were you hiding it from me? For how long has this been going on?"

"You were pregnant and I didn't want to cause you any kind of worry."

"Rooni is 2 months now. And you didn't think to tell me?"

"You are getting worked up, Gauri... calm down. It is nothing as you fearing."

"Really? Yeah, right!" Gauri says as she furiously stood up. "She wants to take my Ruhi away from me and it is nothing?"

"Do you think I would let her take our daughter away from us?" Om asks her upset at her for having so little faith in him.

"Then why were you hiding it from me?"

"I was just trying to..."

"What, Omkara?"

Taking a deep breath, he says, "She wants Ruhi to know her and wants Ruhi to go to her for her summer holidays."

"NO! My Ruhi is not going anywhere. She is my daughter!"

"Yes, Gauri. She is your daughter. That is why I told her no."

"Then why is she calling again?"

"Because she is adamant, but she can't take Ruhi without my consent. I have sole custody of Ruhi."

Hearing the argument Rooni starts crying and Gauri quickly picks her up and starts rocking her.

"I should start packing." Gauri tells Om. "I want to get home before nightfall."

Om walks into his room to find Gauri breast feeding Rooni while Ruhi slept next to her on the bed. He knew, why Ruhi was sleeping in their room. Sighing, he walks towards their bed and sits opposite to her. Ruhi was sleeping so peacefully and Rooni was happily suckling on Gauri's breast. He leans down and kisses Rooni.

"I love you, Omkara." Gauri tells him as she caressed his cheek. Om was momentarily shocked hearing her love declaration. He always knew she loved him but she saying it suddenly.

"I am not going to let her take Ruhi for even a day." Om tells Gauri. "She used to treat her so badly and you think I would let her take Ruhi?"

"But what right do we have, Omkara?" Gauri asks him with tears in her eyes.

"You are her mother, Gauri."

"But Svetlana gave birth to her. Ruhi is in this world because of Svetlana."

"If it was up to her she would have killed Ruhi before she was born. I don't know from where this motherly love erupted suddenly."

"I was selfish, Omkara. but we can't be selfish. Ruhi has a right to know her birth mother."

"No, Gauri."

"Yes, Omkara. tomorrow, if she asks you why Svetlana is not a part of her life what would you tell her?"

"I will tell her she wasn't worthy enough to be her mother."

"Let her decide that."

"How can you say that, Gauri?" Om asks her shocked. Gauri was possessive about their daughter but then she was her mother too. And a mother could never be selfish.

"I can't think of being separated from Ruhi, and Svetlana gave birth to her."

"What are we going to tell her?"

"Tell her that you and Svetlana had issues and divorced and now Svetlana wants to spend a few days with her. never let her know that she was an unwanted child to her mother."

"She won't go."

"I will make her understand." Gauri tells her.

Three months later, during Ruhi's summer holidays they were at the airport with Svetlana.

"I don't want to go, Mama." Ruhi whispers to Gauri as she hugged her sadly.

"Ruhi baby, didn't we talk about this?"

Ruhi nods her head sadly.

"You are going to stay with your Mom for a few days so you can get to know her."

"What about Rooni? Will she forget me if I go?"

"No baby, we will video chat every day." Gauri promises. Gauri hugs and kisses her.

"Keep this mobile with you all the time and if anything you don't like happens, call Papa immediately." Om tells her.

Ruhi nods and hugs Om.

"Please take care of her." Gauri tells Svetlana.

Svetlana nods though irritated at the melodrama in front of her.

"You remember, what I told you?" Om asks Svetlana in a warning tone.

"God! She is my daughter." Svetlana tells him rolling his eyes.

"Khanna." Om turns to him and Khanna nods in reply.

Since, neither Om nor Gauri could go with them, Om had insisted that Khanna go with them and Svetlana had reluctantly agreed.

"Can't believe you would trust your servant more than me." Svetlana mutters irately.

"I would." Om snaps back at her.

"They boarded." Om informs Gauri as he walked into Ruhi's room. Gauri was cleaning up Ruhi's room.

"We made a mistake, Omkara." Gauri tells Om as she clutched Ruhi's doll.

"Gauri..." Om starts realizing that Gauri was panicking.

"We shouldn't have let her go. What if she takes her away from me?"

"Gauri we are sending Ruhi with her after every legal procedure. Svetlana would become a criminal if she doesn't send Ruhi back in 15 days." Om reminds her.

"No... no... we should call back Ruhi." Gauri tells Om worriedly.

"She will take my daughter away from me!"

"No, Gauri."

"Call her back. I want to see my Ruhi now."

"GOD Gauri! All these days, you were forcing me to send her and now you are asking me to bring her back."

"It was a mistake. I am sorry. I want my Ruhi. Please Omkara... please bring her back."

"No, Gauri! Enough! There is nothing we can do now." Om tells her sternly.

"Why did you let me do this?" Gauri asks Om as she cried.

"Because you were right."

"How was your flight?"

"Boring." Ruhi says.

"Why?"

"There wasn't any good movies. Mom put some stupid movie. I miss you, Mama"

"I miss you too, Baby."

"How is Rooni? Show her."

"How is Paris, Rooh?" Om asks her as Gauri went to get Rooni from the crib.

"Paris is nice." Ruhi says smiling."lots of dresses and shops."

"Ah... you are going shopping?" Om asks her smiling.

"Yes. After sometime."

Just then Gauri comes back with Rooni, and seeing each other, Rooni and Ruhi excitedly starts playing peek-a-boo.

"I am never doing this again." Gauri whispers to Om for the millionth time.

Om who had a good read on his wife knew that the next time Svetlana asks to take Ruhi for a vacation Gauri would again go all Mahantha Ki Murti.

"MAMA... PAPA..." Ruhi screams as she ran out with Khanna running behind her.

Gauri hug her happily while Om stood back with Rooni in his hands.

"Mama missed you so so much." Gauri tells her as she hugged her tight.

"Even I missed you, Mama."

"Rooh." Om calls her as he gently caressed her hair.

"Papa." Ruhi turns to him and hugs him tight. "Rooni... give me... give me.."

Om hands her Rooni and Ruhi quickly holds her.

"Rooni... my sissy..."

"Are you happy now?" Om whispers to Gauri. "Your daughter is back with you."

Gauri nods her head in relief at Om.

"Then let's go home?" Om asks then turning to Ruhi he says dramatically, "Rooh, for 15 days your Mama didn't let me sit peacefully. Can we go home? I want to catch upon my sleep."

Gauri rolls her eyes hearing him.

"Let's go home." Ruhi says excitedly.

"You also, Khanna." Om tells him as he patted him on his back.

10 years later

"Rooh, can I have my laptop back?" Om asks as he walked into the room.

"If you have got me a laptop then I wouldn't be using yours." Ruhi tells him.

"I am using after Rooh di." Rooni informs Om.

"Your mother says that till you turn 18 you are not getting a personal laptop. And Rooni, stop playing games on my laptop, you use up all the memory."

"Then get me a PSP."

"Not before your next birthday. Mama's rules." Om tells her shrugging.

"Then wait in queue for your laptop." Rooni tells him.

"Please don't set pinkvilla as homepage. It's very embarrassing in office when I open laptop and pinkvilla comes on." Om begs her.

"New laptop?" Ruhi asks him.

"Sorry." Om tells her.

"Then I am sorry too."

"What is happening?" Gauri asks as she walked in.

"Your daughters!" Om tells her.

"Is that Svetlana Aunty's Daddy?" Rooni asks curiously catching Gauri's and Om's attention.

"Daddy?" Ruhi asks her shocked. "No Roon, that is her new boyfriend."

Om and Gauri share a look hearing that.

"But you only said that she got a new sugar daddy."

"Rooh... what are you telling her?" Gauri asks shocked.

"What is sugar daddy?" Rooni asks curiously.

"That Roon when..."

"Ruhi!" Om stops her.

"Okay." Ruhi replies.

"You tell me later." Rooni whispers to her.

"Okay."

"So that is her new boyfriend?" Rooni asks curiously.

"These girls." Gauri mutters irately.

"Yes." Ruhi tells her pissed.

"You don't like him?" Rooni asks confused.

"I just wish, like Papa, she would just grow up and get married."

"Ruhi... it's her life." Gauri tells her.

"I don't like her." Rooni declares.

"Rooni... don't say that." Gauri admonishes her.

"because of her, every year Rooh di goes to Paris and we never get to go anywhere for holidays." Rooni complains.

"You tell Svetlana when she calls this time, that I am not coming this time, Papa."

Om nods in reply.

"Ruhi..."

"Don't even tell Mama about it."

"Omkara, you won't do anything like that." Gauri tells him and turning to Ruhi she tells her, "Call her mom, Rooh."

"She only told me to call her Svetlana. She was embarrassed to have a teenage girl call her mom."

"But still..."

"That's their choice, Gauri." Om tells her.

"Anyway, she is no mother india, and you are my mother." Ruhi tells Gauri.

"She gave birth to you."

"Because Papa wouldn't let her abort!" Ruhi tells her irately shocking Gauri and Om.

"How did you know that?" Om asks her in shock.

"Last time when I went, she got me a laptop." Ruhi started.

"You should have brought it." Rooni mutters disappointed.

"I told her that whatever she gets me, she should get the same for Rooni."

"We could have shared." Rooni tells her, not believing how close they were to get a personal laptop.

"yes, you told us that." Gauri tells her gently.

"Well... when I refused to take it, she got irritated and started saying that she is my mother and I told her that Gauri is my mother."

Gauri's eyes fill with tears hearing that. Ruhi was too loyal to her.

"Then?" Om asks her.

"Well, she got irritated and started saying that you two were brainwashing me against you. and asked me whether Papa lied to me that she wanted to abort me and she hated me when I was born."

"oh God."

"I know you both would never say anything like that and I always doubted that Papa would never divorce Svetlana for anything. You love me a lot and I knew you wouldn't selfishly divorce her and separate us. Once she told that, I knew that was the truth."

"Why didn't you ever ask us?" Om asks her feeling emotional that Ruhi understood them so much and she was truly matured.

"because I was angry and upset."

"We were just trying to protect you." Gauri tells her.

"You were wrong, mama. If I don't know the truth, how would I know what all my Papa went through for me and how would I know how blessed I am to have you?"

Realizing she was telling the truth, Gauri tells her regretfully, "Sorry, baby."

"It's okay, Mama." Ruhi tells her as she hugged her. "You are my mother. Now please stop trying to bridge the gap between Svetlana and me. All these years, I tried for you. not anymore. When I have the perfect mother in the world, why should I have any kind of relation with her just because she gave birth to me?"

"Okay, whatever you want." Gauri agrees as she hugged her tight.

"Okay, I am going to get ready." Ruhi tells them getting up.

"Even I will come with you and Nanu." Rooni tells her as she stood up. Ruhi and Shakti met every week to discuss about the book Ruhi read that week.

"What book did you read?" Ruhi asks curiously.

"No, I am coming to have ice-cream. Nanu says after Mama, I am his biggest disappointment as I don't read books."

Gauri couldn't help chuckle hearing that.

"Mama."

"He is up." Gauri says smiling as she hurried to their room and found their little son standing on his crib. She pulls the latch and gets him down. He with his tiny feet, runs out of the room towards the rest of his family.

Rooni was a miracle that Om and Gauri hadn't expected. Then 7 years later, they got their miracle of miracles when Gauri got pregnant with little Nishan.

"You should have told us about it earlier." Om tells Ruhi softly.

"I was angry and I didn't want to discuss it." Ruhi tells him.

"I'm sorry, Rooh."

"It's okay, Papa." Ruhi says as she hugged him.

"Pa." Nishan calls him as he ran towards him.

"Nishan." Om says happily as he picked him up.

"I think we should take a family photo." Ruhi says.

Very soon, Gauri sat on the couch with Nishan on her lap while Ruhi sat on one end Rooni on the other. Setting the camera on auto, Om runs to them and sits next to Gauri and pulls his whole family into his arms.

"Say cheese."

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- Lazy