The Hired Wife

Hello everyone... Thank you so much for the comments and vote for the previous story. This was supposed to be a small story, that I thought I will finish in half a day, but this got so long that it took me 4 days to finish it. I hope you guys will like it.

Warning: I have not much medical and legal knowledge. All the blunders in this story, please consider it creative liberty hehehe.

"1 lakh for one year." Tej tells Gauri.

"Dad!" Omkara calls him in anger.

"Keep quiet, Omkara." Tej tells him sternly. Then turning to Gauri, he tells her, "Even if you wish you can't see this much money in this short span. It's a good deal."

Gauri nervously looks at Tej and then Omkara, the man she loved.

"Just stop it, Dad." Omkara requests him.

"Your fiancé refused to marry you, Omkara! As she doesn't want to marry a man like you! Where am I to find a replacement in this last minute?" Tej asks him furiously.

"I just don't want to marry!"

"Already people look at you like an animal in zoo. And add to that, a broken marriage! I won't have our family be humiliated like that." Tej tells him. Then turning to Gauri, he says "Do you agree?"

Gauri turns to look at Omkara and sees him helplessly looking down, he would be humiliated. She couldn't see him like that.

"Fine!5 lakhs." Tej says.

"Okay." Gauri whispers as she looked at Omkara.

Hearing her, Omkara turns to her in shock, then it turned into pain and finally anger.

"My lawyer is bringing the contract marriage paper. You need to sign the prenup too." Tej tells her getting to business. "And don't even think that you will be his wife. This is just to save face. You are chosen because you are young and you joined only recently, so no one here knows that you are a maid here."

Gauri nods as she looked away from Omkara's face as her eyes filled up.

"You are a maid here and you'll remain a maid here. Just think of yourself as Omkara's personal maid. From now on, you'll take care him. Got it?"

Omkara mutters furiously under his breath and walks out in anger.

Gauri nods.

"You won't tell your family that I hired you as my son's wife for a year. Don't want those people coming to claim relation to us. got it?"

Gauri nods.

"I'll send your salary every month so they don't come here asking for your salary."

Tej steps close to Gauri and stares down at her, "My son is not desperate, but if you get pregnant, then let me make it clear to you, that neither you nor your child will have any rights on our property. It is going to be on the contract so don't think you can claim rights on my son with a baby."

After signing tons of papers, Gauri was dressed up as a bride and took to the mandap. She had sat there with her head down.

The moment all the guests left, Omkara had walked off to his room while Gauri went to the kitchen. She changed her clothes and not knowing what to do, she started cleaning up the kitchen. The rest of the servants were giving her curious and sympathetic looks. Gauri ignores everyone and continued to do her job. Hearing someone walk in, Gauri turns around and sees Tej behind her.

"What are you doing here?" Tej asks her.

Gauri worriedly looks at him.

"Take your things and go sleep in Omkara's room."

"Why?" Gauri asks shocked.

Tej furiously glares at her, "Did you think that I am giving you five lakhs for just sitting in the mandap? You are a slave that I purchased for a year. Now, your duty is to take care of Omkara."

Gauri nods and goes to get her trunk and her things.

Gauri nervously knocks on the door. When he didn't bid her in, Gauri slowly opens the door. She sees him sitting on the couch holding his head. He looks up at her in anger.

"Don't you dare, step into my room Gauri!" Omkara furiously says as he stood up.

Gauri gulps as she stopped. It was killing her to see him like this, and she realized that she was also a reason for his pain.

"What the hell are you waiting for? Go inside." Tej says as he walked in behind Gauri.

Gauri steps in and Omkara furiously says, "I don't want her in my room."

"She is here to take care of you."

"I don't need a caretaker!"

"Did you forget the tamasha you created last night? You had humiliated me!"

"It was an accident, Dad!" Omkara furiously reminds him.

"All you had to do was just stand there. But no you had to go around the party."

"I was feeling suffocated there!"

"I don't want you tripping around again. So, she is going to be there with you all the time. I'm paying her for that too." Tej tells Gauri and turning to Gauri he gives her a bundle of notes. "As per the contract, 2 lakhs now, and 3 lakhs when you leave the house at the end of the contract."

When Gauri hesitated to take the money, Tej drops it at her feet and walks off slamming the door shut. Gauri turns to look at Omkara and sees that he was furiously glaring at her, then without a word, Omkara gets on his bed and turning his back on her, he closes his eyes.

Gauri takes the money and keeps it in the trunk. When her trunk starts creaking, she turns around to see if she disturbed him but he was lying still on the bed. Gauri spreads out the sheet on the floor, then turning off the lights, she lies on the floor. She wanted to cry but she knew that he would hear her and she didn't want him to hear her. closing her eyes and hugging herself tight, she thought of the good memories like the first time she had met him.

********

Gauri was getting acquainted with the new kitchen as the maid gave her the orientation. As the maid showed her the pantry, Gauri hears someone walk in. Gauri quickly turns around and sucks in her breath seeing the handsome man standing behind her. He was staring right at her. he had a frown on his face.

"Who is there?" he asks.

Gauri gulps not knowing how to react.

The maid quickly moves near Gauri and replies, "Sir, it's Leela. Did you want something?"

The man turns to look at Leela for a second then his gaze drifts back to Gauri and he stares into her face making Gauri very nervous.

"Who is with you?" he finally asks.

"This is the new maid, Gauri." Leela informs him.

Gauri folds her hands in Namaste.

"Leela, coffee?" He asks her.

"At once, sir."

Once he had left, Leela turns to Gauri and sees her hands still folded.

"You don't have to do that." Leela says as she walked to the coffee maker. "He is blind."

"Oh." Gauri says in shock as she turned to look at the empty doorway he had left. "Who is he?"

"Bade Saheb's son, Omkara Singh Oberoi. He was 17 years old when he had an accident and lost his sight."

"Oh that is so sad." Gauri says.

"Treatments are going on. Some complications otherwise he could have got the surgery done already." Leela tells her as she got the coffee ready.

"Go, give this to him. He would be in the living room." Leela tells her as she handed Gauri the coffee mug.

Nervously Gauri starts walking towards the living room. She didn't know why she was nervous.

She spots him sitting on one of the single seaters. Then she stops in shock when he turned and looked at her.

He frowns and lifts up his hand as he asked, "Do you have my coffee?"

Gauri nods and quickly hurries to him and places the mug in his outstretched hand.

Omkara takes the coffee mug from her. Gauri quickly turns to hurry back to the kitchen.

"Thank you, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

Gauri gasps and turns around, "How did you know it was me, saabji?"

"Why wouldn't I know it was you?" he asks back as he stared at her.

Gauri nervously gulps as she realized that he was offended. She had managed to piss off her boss on the first day itself.

"I am waiting." He says in an angry tone.

"Woh... Leela didi.... Actually... she said... that you are... that you are..." Gauri nervously stammers.

Then his face breaks out into a lovely smile. "Blind, Gauri. You can say the word." Then he starts chuckling.

Gauri gapes at him in shock seeing him laugh about his disability.

"Sorry, saabji." Gauri tells him softly though feeling relaxed.

Omkara frowns a little curiously, "Exactly how old are you, Gauri?"

"23."

"Ahaan." He cheekily grins.

"Huh?"

"You smell good." Omkara tells her with a wink.

Gauri gasps out loud and couldn't control her blush seeing him flirt with her.

Omkara starts chuckling, "I smelled you when I walked into the kitchen and when you came here also I got your smell. So, I knew it was you."

"Oh." Gauri smiles blushing.

"Can I go, saabji?"

"No, Gauri. Please sit with me." Omkara pats the armrest of his chair.

"Whaat?" Gauri asks shocked.

Omkara starts laughing, "Of course you can go. You don't need my permission."

Blushing uncontrollably Gauri runs off.

And that was the start to their friendship.

**********

"Saabji is home full day?" Gauri asks Leela curiously.

"He used to go to office but then he stopped as he couldn't work much. So, he only goes when he has some work or meeting." Leela tells her. "He will be home most of the time, so stay away."

Gauri nods hearing that.

"Bade Saheb doesn't like if we step out of the kitchen unnecessarily. He is very strict about these things. And Sir is very friendly, but Bade Saheb will scream at us if he finds us talking to him."

Gauri nods.

********

"Gauri..." Leela calls her one day.

"Yes?"

"Sir has gone with Bade Saheb to office. So you go and clean Sir's room now."

Gauri nods and hurries to gather the cleaning supplies.

********

Gauri had finished cleaning and moping the floor. Then she was dusting the things in the room, he had very minimal things unlike the rest of the house. His books and papers were different; they were the ones the blind people read.

"What are you doing here, Gauri?" Omkara asks her as he stood at the door.

Gauri jumps up hearing him. "Saabji, I was cleaning." Gauri says as she willed her heart to calm down.

"Did I scare you?" Omkara asks curiously.

"I didn't see you come." Gauri says then she hits her head realizing exactly who she had said it to.

"Why, Gauri? Are you also blind like me?" Omkara asks her with a teasing smile.

"Erm... erm... no."

Omkara chuckles then he tells her politely, "Sorry, I scared you."

"You don't have to say sorry, saabji." Gauri quickly tells him.

"Are you done?"

"I have to do your bed."

"You want to do me in bed?" Omkara asks scandalized.

"WHAT? NO! I have to change your bedsheet." Gauri says turning completely pink then she notices his eyes twinkling. She gasps in shock.

"I know, Gauri. I was joking. Do you need my help?"

"No, saabji. I'll do it." Gauri says as she pulled the sheet off.

Gauri spread out the fresh sheet on the bed. Then to tuck the ends in, she gets on the bed.

"Gauri..." Omkara softly calls her.

Hearing him call her like that, Gauri turns to look at him.

"Are you on my bed?" Omkara asks in a nervous whisper.

Gauri turns completely pink hearing his question. She was truly on his bed.

"Gauri?"

It felt like a caress.

"No, saabji." Gauri says as she remained still knowing the sound that the bed made when she got on the bed gave her away.

"No?" Omkara asks her as he walked to the bed.

Gauri's eyes follows his as he stood by his bed, his knees touching his bed.

"No, saabji."

"So, if I were to jump on my bed right now, would I find my mattress under me or..." Omkara left the rest hang.

Gauri sucks in her breath as her heart slammed against her chest. Images were filling her mind and none of it were innocent.

"Gauri?"

Breaking her out of her day dream, Gauri looks at Omkara.

"Gauri?" he calls her again.

"Please don't jump, saabji." Gauri tells him in a bare whisper.

Omkara's face breaks out into a smile then he starts laughing out loudly. "I was just joking, Gauri. And you shouldn't lie."

Seeing him walk back to the couch, Gauri smiles.

"By the way, Dad doesn't like it. You know... you getting on the bed like that."

"Oh, sorry I didn't know." Gauri says as she scrammed to get out of the bed.

"I don't mind you on my bed though." Omkara says as he winked at her.

Gauri gasps loudly making Omkara chuckle.

"Are you like this with everyone?" Gauri asks him remembering that Leela had told her that he was very friendly.

"Everyone?" Omkara asks confused.

"Like Leela didi?" Gauri asks feeling a little jealous.

"Oh no... she is too old for me." Omkara tells her cheekily.

"Huh?"

"Truth be told; all the helpers here are oldies." Omkara tells her in a whisper. "Only you are the young babe here." He finishes with a wink.

Gauri blushes hearing that. "You are too bad." Gauri says blushing uncontrollably.

Omkara chuckles softly.

Then they remained silent as she made the bed.

"I am done, saabji." Gauri tells him as she grabbed everything to leave.

"You were still here?" Omkara asks with a teasing smile.

Gauri grins, "I know you knew I was here."

Omkara happily smiles at her.

Gauri starts to walk out and then she stops to ask him, "Do you want anything, saabji?"

"I wouldn't mind a coffee, Gauri."

"I'll get it now." Gauri tells him happily and hurries out.

Few minutes later, Gauri walks back with the coffee mug.

"Saabji," Gauri calls him as she stopped near him.

Omkara puts out his hand towards her and Gauri places the mug on his hand. Sniffing the smell in, Omkara curiously takes a sip. "Tastes different."

"I didn't know how to use the machine, so I made the coffee." Gauri hesitantly tells him.

"This tastes good." Omkara tells her. "You give me this coffee from now on."

"Okay, saabji." Gauri tells him happily.

"Smells good."

"There was fresh coffee beans, I used those." Gauri tells him excitedly.

"Oh... I meant you, Gauri." Omkara tells her as he looked at her.

Gauri's mouth drops open hearing him.

Chuckling Omkara tells her, "I was joking."

"You're always joking!" Gauri complains softly.

"Oh you want me to be serious when I tell you that you smell nice?" Omkara asks her.

Seeing the glint in his eyes, Gauri tells him, "CHUP!" then she runs off blushing making him laugh out loud.

Gauri and Omkara slowly started being more friendly with each other.

********

"Who all are there in your family, Gauri?" Omkara asks her as he sat by the living room while Gauri dusted.

"Ma and Bhavya."

"Who is Bhavya?"

"My sister. She is studying in 12th standard." Gauri tells him happily.

"And your father?"

"He died." Gauri tells him a little sadly.

"Are you okay?" Omkara asks worriedly.

"Yes." Gauri smiles seeing his concern.

Omkara smiles hearing her.

"Bhavya studies really well." Gauri tells him excitedly. "I want her to go to college."

"Have you gone to college?" Omkara asks her.

"I did." Gauri tells him a little sadly. "Then my father passed away. So..."

"Don't you want to complete to your studies?"

"Not anymore."

"Why, Gauri?"

"I don't know, Saabji." Gauri replies confused.

"If you want I can help you continue your studies."

Gauri was elated hearing that. "No, Saabji. Thank you."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"Let me know if you change your mind."

"Okay." Gauri says smiling happily. "But for now I have to stay me."

"Why? You don't want to go away from me?" Omkara asks with a flirty smile.

"WHAT? NO! For Bhavya's studies." Gauri says getting flustered.

"I know." Omkara grins then he adds as he stood up to walk off to his room, and says in a sexy tone. "Till then you can study me."

Gauri gapes at him in shock.

********

"Saabji!" Gauri excitedly calls him as she ran into his room.

"Yeah, Gauri?" Omkara turns to her with a soft smile.

"It's raining." Gauri tells him excitedly.

"Really?" Omkara asks with a sad smile. "I used to love the rain."

Seeing him looking so nostalgic, Gauri asks him, "Do you want to go out in the rain?"

Omkara thinks for a few minutes then an excitedly smile spreads through his face. "Let's go."

Gauri excitedly takes his hand in both her hands to lead him out.

"Gauri..." Omkara gently calls her.

"Yes?" Gauri turns to him happily.

"I know the way around my house." He reminds her gently.

"Oops." Gauri gasps as she quickly let go of his hand. "Sorry."

"I didn't mind though." Omkara tells her as he moved closer to her. "If you want you can hold my hand."

"Saabji, you are too much!" Gauri complains as she walked out.

Grinning happily, Omkara follows her out.

Omkara was about to step out the back door when Gauri tells him. "Saabji, the floor is slippery."

"I told you already, Gauri. You can hold my hand." Omkara tells her grinning cheekily.

Blushing, Gauri takes his hand in hers.

Feeling her take his hand in hers, Omkara stops, "One minute, Gauri."

Gauri stops and let go of his hand.

Omkara stretches his hand out to her, "May I?"

Seeing his palm out, nervously Gauri keeps her hand in his. Omkara covers her hand with his other hand. Then slowly starts feeling her hand, fingers and wrist.

Gauri realized that he was getting acquainted with her hand. That is what a blind person did, but she still felt her whole body come awake. Her breathing became erratic. It was in those moments that Gauri realized that she was falling in love with her saabji.

"You've beautiful hand." Omkara tells her softly.

Blushing happily, Gauri takes his hand and leads him out into the rain.

The moment the rain drops fell on him, Omkara face breaks out into a smile. Seeing him so happy, Gauri breaks out into happy laughter as she excitedly played in the rain.

Gauri turns around and sees that Omkara was simply standing in the rain with his face raised up at the sky and his eyes closed. It took her a few seconds to realize that not all the water droplets on his face were rain water. Gauri gently wipes the tears that were rolling down his face.

Omkara looks down at Gauri and tells her, "Thank you, Gauri. I had forgot how it had felt."

Seeing a man step out of the house through the back door, Gauri informs Omkara. "Someone is here."

Omkara curiously turns around.

"What are you doing in the rain?"

"Dandi." Omkara says smiling. "Haven't you met Dandi, Gauri?"

"No."

"That is strange." Omkara tells her. "Come, let's go in."

Gauri takes his hand and starts to walk in when Dandi turns around and hurries in.

They were about to step into the house when Dandi comes there with a towel.

"Here, towel." Dandi says as he offered the towel.

Omkara takes the towel and feels it. "You didn't get one for Gauri?"

"Do you want your father to fire me?" Dandi asks him shocked.

Omkara rolls his eyes. "He is not here." Then turning around, he offers the towel to Gauri. "Here, Gauri."

"No, saabji." Gauri says scandalized. "You wipe your head." Saying that Gauri puts the towel over his head and stars wiping his hair and face.

After wiping his hair, Gauri starts patting his torso.

"Gauri." Omkara gently calls her.

"Yes, saabji?"

"I'll manage."

Realizing what she had done, Gauri quickly keeps the towel in his hand. "Sorry, saabji."

"I didn't mind. I had fun." Omkara tells her with a flirty smile.

Turning pink, Gauri turns to look at Dandi and sees him gaping at Omkara.

"You should change, saabji. I'll also change."

"With me?" Omkara asks her shocked.

"NO!" Gauri replies scandalized as she darted quick glances at Dandi. Dandi was staring at Omkara in shock.

Chuckling, Omkara tells her. "You will fall sick, go change."

Gauri was about to go to the kitchen entrance when Omkara stops her. "Wait, Gauri. Meet Dandi. And Dandi this is Gauri."

"I've seen her around." Dandi tells Omkara. "Hello, Gauri."

"Hello."

"Strangely she hasn't seen you." Omkara tells him surprised.

"I am not allowed in the kitchen. Maybe that is why." Dandi tells him.

"Ah." Omkara nods. Then turning to Gauri, Omkara tells her, "Dandi is... what do I say? My charioteer. Wherever I want to go, he takes me. Ever since I lost my eyes, he has been with me. he is my best friend, my brother."

Gauri smiles at Dandi and Dandi smiles back at her.

"You wanted something, Dandi?" Omkara asks him.

"You forgot? You have your doctor's appointment."

"Oh I forgot. I'll go get ready now." Omkara tells him.

********

"Saabji." Gauri offers Omkara his coffee.

Omkara takes the coffee and asks her, "Gauri... Dandi and I are planning to go the beach. Do you want to come?"

"Bade Saheb will kill me."

"Dad is not going to know." Omkara tells her.

"What if someone tells him?" Gauri asks worriedly.

Omkara smiles hearing that. "You want to come."

"That..."

"Come with me, Gauri."

"I am scared, saabji."

"Tell Leela you are going somewhere and come out, we will wait there for you."

Dandi stops the car. "We reached." Dandi informs Omkara.

Then turning to the back, he tells Gauri. "Gauri, you take Omkara. I'll park the car and come."

Gauri nods and quickly gets out of the car. By the time, she got out, even Omkara had got out.

"Come, saabji." Gauri tells him.

Omkara moves his hand around the air, till his hand brushed against her head. He moves his hand and keeps it on her shoulder.

Gauri felt a blush creep up her cheek feeling his hand on her shoulder. They start walking.

"Dandi and I come here often. I like the sound of the waves and beach. And the feel of the waves." Omkara tells Gauri as they walked.

Gauri smiles hearing that then she notices that some people were looking at Omkara.

Some people just had to stare when someone with a disability came in front of them. Gauri thought irately. She takes his hand off her shoulder and wraps her hand around his arms as she slyly led him.

"Gauri?" Omkara calls her softly.

"Some people were staring." Gauri whispers to him.

"I am used to it." Omkara shrugs. "And I don't see them staring at me."

"But I see them." Gauri tells him softly.

"And does that bother you? are you embarrassed?"

"You are not a show piece." Gauri tells him feeling sad.

Omkara smiles hearing that. "Don't bother about them."

Gauri nods.

"But you can hold me like this." Omkara tells her. "I like it."

"Saabji! You are too much."

"Omkara." Omkara softly whispers to her.

"What?" Gauri asks softly.

"Say my name."

"I can't call you by your name."

"Why?"

"You are my boss."

"You are my friend. Call me by my name."

"No." Gauri shakes her head in negative.

"Why?"

"It is not allowed."

"I am allowing it."

"Bade Saheb won't like it."

"I like it."

"No." Gauri tells him. "Come." Gauri says as she led him to the waves.

********

Gauri wakes up early in the morning and looks up at Omkara. He was sleeping. Gauri quietly folds her sheet and puts it under his bed along with her trunk. Since Tej had asked her to take her things and shift to Omkara's room, Gauri takes her clothes and went to take a shower in Omkara's bathroom as now she was to use his room and bathroom.

Gauri comes out of the bathroom and finds Omkara sitting up on his bed. She was surprised to see him awake so early.

"Are you done?" Omkara asks her without looking at her.

"Yes." Gauri replies softly.

Omkara gets up and walks to his cupboard. He opens the door, Gauri quickly hurries to him.

"Saabji, I'll help you."

"Step away, Gauri." Omkara tells her in anger.

Gauri quickly moves back.

"Close the door on your way out." Omkara tells her.

Realizing that he was asking her to get out, Gauri turns around and walks out of the room. She closes the door.

"What are you doing here?" Tej asks Gauri as she walked to the kitchen.

"I was going to the kitchen." Gauri hesitantly tells him.

"For what?"

"To help Leela didi to make breakfast."

Tej turns furious and asks her, "Didn't I tell you that you are to take care of Omkara from now on? That is your only job now."

"But saabji asked me to go out." Gauri worriedly tells him.

"And he is going to fall like he did at the party! I have told him a thousand times that he need a care taker but he is too stubborn and wants to be independent. I don't care what he says. You stay with him all the time. Got it?"

Gauri nods worriedly.

Omkara steps out of the bathroom in his towel. He stops as he sniffed in the scent.

"What are you doing here, Gauri?"

"Bade Saheb told me to stay with you."

"I don't need a care taker!"

"Bade Saheb told me I need to do as he says."

"Oh yeah! He gave you the money after all." Omkara sneers at her. "So you have to do as he says."

His words were like daggers to her heart. But she remained still.

"Can you at least turn around so I can dress?" Omkara asks her rudely.

"I am not looking at you, saabji. I am facing the door." Gauri hesitantly tells him. "I saw your clothes on the bed, so..."

Without saying anything else, Omkara starts wearing his clothes.

********

Omkara walks out of the bedroom and Gauri follows him.

"I'll get your coffee, saabji?" Gauri asks him as she followed him.

Without replying to her Omkara walks to the kitchen.

"Leela? Can you please give me coffee?" Omkara asks her.

"Yes, sir." Leela replies quickly as she looked at Gauri.

"Please make it in the coffee maker." Omkara tells her and walks out.

Gauri quickly follows him out.

********

Omkara joins Tej for breakfast.

Gauri starts to serve for Omkara when he puts up his hand to stop her.

Gauri steps back as she worriedly looks at Tej. Tej furiously glares at Omkara but doesn't say anything.

Omkara was about to start eating when he stops and asks hesitantly. "Are you not eating?"

Tej looks up curiously and sees that Omkara had addressed the question at Gauri, and Gauri was looking at him for instructions.

"Go have your food from the kitchen." Tej instructs her.

Gauri nods and starts to walk off when Omkara's voice stops her. "I thought she is supposed to be my wife."

"She is your personal maid. That's it!"

"So, she is to stick by my side 24x7 looking after me?" Omkara asks him.

"Yes! That is all. She is no wife."

"In that case, Gauri sit here." Omkara tells her. "Even when I eat you should stick by my side."

"You think she will sit on the same table as you and me?" Tej asks furiously.

Gauri panics realizing that Omkara was using her to win against his father.

"Saabji, please don't do this." Gauri worriedly whispers to him.

Omkara sighs in defeat and without saying anything, he starts eating. Gauri hurriedly leaves the dining room.

********

Rest of the day, Gauri followed Omkara around. Without their usual talks, flirting or friendship. Most of the time, Omkara sat in his room as he either read a book or listened to music, while Gauri sat on the floor across from him.

********

Next day, Gauri watched as Omkara got dressed and picking his mobile he dials Dandi.

"Dandi... bring the car around." Omkara instructs on the phone.

He then walks out of the room with Gauri following him.

Gauri walks behind Omkara as he walked out of the house. She sees that Dandi was waiting with the car. Seeing them, he walks happily to them.

"After all, you got what you wished for." Dandi tells Omkara smiling happily.

"This is not what I wished for and this is not what I wanted." Omkara tells Dandi in an angry tone as he turned his head to face Gauri.

Gauri quickly looks down as her eyes had filled up hearing that. She was not what he had wanted.

Dandi curiously looks at Omkara and then he turns to Gauri confused. "What happened?"

"Let's go." Omkara tells him.

Dandi nods and starts to open the car. "Are you coming?" Dandi asks Gauri.

"No." Omkara replies.

"Saabji, please Bade Saheb will scream at me."

Sighing furiously, Omkara gets inside the car. Gauri quickly opens the backdoor and sits.

"Where to?" Dandi asks him.

"Anywhere. Just get me the hell out of this place." Omkara says in irritation.

Dandi curiously looks at Gauri and Gauri quickly looks away. Without a word Dandi starts the car.

********

They finally went to a café. Dandi guides Omkara to a table with Gauri following them behind. Gauri and Dandi take their seats.

"Dandi, Is there an empty table?" Omkara asks him after a few minutes.

"Yes."

"Just take me there." Omkara tells him as he stood up.

Hearing both Dandi and Gauri get up, Omkara says. "I want to be alone for some time."

"What happened?" Dandi asks as he curiously looked at Omkara and Gauri.

"I just want to sit somewhere alone for a few minutes without having anyone breathing down my neck!" Omkara tells him. "Can you take me there or do I have to find that table myself?"

"No. come." Dandi says as he took Omkara's hand and led him to another table.

Gauri sits back in her seat as she tried to fight her tears. He hated her.

After settling Omkara in his chair, Dandi comes back to the table.

"What happened? Why is he upset like this?" Dandi asks Gauri worriedly.

"Please don't ask me anything." Gauri whispers as she looked down trying her best to control her tears.

Gauri kept watching Omkara as she sat there. His back was to her, so she didn't know what he was doing.

After a long time, Gauri notices Omkara standing up. She quickly hurries and runs to him.

As Omkara turned around, Gauri held his hand. Her heart breaks seeing his eyes filled with tears.

"Saabji." Gauri softly says his name.

Omkara quickly puts his sunglass on his face. "Dandi?" Omkara calls out to him as he extended his hand out to him.

Dandi quickly grabs his hand and says, "I'll pay the bill and come. Let Gauri Madam take you to the car."

"You can take me. Gauri will pay." Omkara tells him as he gently tried to free his hand from Gauri's hold.

Gauri let go off his hand. Dandi takes his wallet and hands her the credit card. Gauri takes it and walks to the counter to get the bill.

After paying the bill, Gauri walks out to find Omkara in the car and Dandi opening the door for her. Gauri gets in the car.

Dandi was about to start the car, when Gauri leans forward and hands him the card.

"Dandi bhaiyya... here is your card." Gauri tells him as she offered him the card.

"It is Omkara's card." Dandi informs her. then turning to Omkara, he asks "Should I keep it or should Gauri Madam keep it?"

Omkara shrugs in reply.

"You keep it." Dandi tells her.

"Why are you calling me Gauri Madam?" Gauri asks him as she took the card.

"You're now my boss's wife." Dandi tells her.

"Please don't call me Madam." Gauri requests him.

"Then? Bhabhi?" Dandi asks her.

"Gauri will do."

"You sure?" Dandi asks.

"Yes. Please." Gauri tells him.

"Okay."

They reach back home. Gauri gets out of the car and closes the door. Omkara remained in the car as he spoke to Dandi. Gauri couldn't hear what they were saying, for a second she was worried whether Omkara was asking Dandi to drive, then she chided herself, if he wanted to leave her behind then he could have done that when they went out at first itself.

Omkara gets out of the car and walks off. Gauri quickly follows him. He goes to his room and then quickly taking change of clothes he goes to the bathroom. Gauri closes the door and waits for him to come out.

She hears a knock at the door and opens the door. She sees Dandi at the door carrying a chair. Seeing that he was waiting for her to move, Gauri quickly moves. He places the chair by the wall near the door.

"Omkara asked me to put the chair here." Dandi tells her. "He doesn't want you sitting on the floor."

Gauri nods as her eyes filled with happy tears. Even though he hated her, he was still kind to her.

"Thank you."

"I don't know what is happening between you two. But please don't ever hurt him, Gauri." Dandi requests her.

Gauri nods her head.

********

The next couple of days went like that. Gauri remained like a shadow to Omkara while he ignored her.

One day, Omkara was sitting in his room and reading while Gauri sat on the chair away from him near the door. They hear insistent knocking. Gauri quickly gets up and opens the door while Omkara curiously looks up. Seeing Leela at the door, Gauri quickly steps out.

"Leela didi," Gauri informs Omkara as she slightly closed the door.

Omkara was about to get back to reading but since she had left the door slightly ajar Omkara hears Leela's frantic voice.

"Gauri, my husband just called. My son met with an accident. They are saying he needs a surgery. I don't know what to do." Leela says as she wiped her tears. "Bade Saheb is not here. Can you ask Sir to give me some money? I am really worried."

"Okay." Gauri says and she quickly goes back into the room.

Omkara was about to take his phone to call Dandi to get money for Leela when Omkara hears a creaking sound. He was very familiar with that sound; it was the sound of Gauri's trunk. Then he hears her run out of the room then she closes the door. Omkara quickly walks to the door in confusion wondering why Gauri didn't tell him what Leela had told her. he was about to open the door when he hears her voice.

"Saabji gave this. 2 lakhs. You go quickly." Gauri tells her.

"But this much?" Leela asks shocked.

"You might need it."

"Thank you. where is sir?" Leela asks wanting to thank him.

"He is there inside. I'll tell him." Gauri tells her. "You go. I'll manage everything here. Call me from the hospital."

Omkara opens the door and steps out shocking Gauri. "Leela, tell Dandi to take you."

"Thank you, Sir." Leela tells him as she folded her hands in relief.

Omkara walks back to the room. After Leela left, Gauri walks back into the room to find Omkara standing by the bed with his back to her. Gauri without a word closes the door and was about to walk to her chair.

"You know that I would have given Leela how much ever money she needed, right?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri gulps in fear realizing he had heard them and knew she gave the money.

"I know you know that!"

Gauri remains silent.

"Answer me, Gauri!"

"Yes."

Omkara turns around to face her. "Why did you give her that money?" Omkara asks her.

"Saabji..."

"Dad gave you that money for marrying me then why did you give it to her?" Omkara asks her.

"Gauri!" Omkara furiously screams. "Why did you give her that money?"

"It was my money." Gauri whispers. "So I gave it."

"You agreed to marry me for money and you just gave it away?"

"Yes."

"You married me for money." Omkara reminds her as his eyes filled with tears.

Gauri's eyes fill with tears as she felt panicked and seeing his tears.

"It took me years to convince myself that I am not useless. Even if I can't see that I am not less than anyone. After my studies, Dad wouldn't let me go for work. I am sitting at home full day. Just for namesake he lets me go to his office to do some unimportant work or meetings. In spite of all that I told myself, made myself believe that I am not a waste of space. I taught myself to laugh at my disability." Omkara says as tears spilled from his eyes. "And you Gauri... Dad said 5 lakhs and you said okay. In that one second you wiped out everything. My self-confidence, my faith, my courage... you proved to me that I am a loser. I am good for nothing. I am a waste of space. I am nothing. I am incapable of anything that my father had to buy me a wife. You destroyed me, Gauri."

Hearing him say that bursting out into tears Gauri runs to him and cups his face. "I didn't marry you for money, saabji. Please trust me, I didn't marry you for money. I didn't want that money. I was going to burn that money. When Leela didi asked for money, I thought that money was a burden for me but for Leela didi it could save her son's life, so I gave it to her."

"Then why did you marry me?" Omkara asks her.

Hearing the question, Gauri steps back nervously. Omkara quickly holds her arms and pulls her close to him. "Tell me, Gauri."

"Bade Saheb said you would be humiliated." Gauri whispers softly.

Omkara lets go off her hand, and asks in an accusing tone "So you were doing me a favor?"

"You pitied the blind man and decided to marry him for a year?" Omkara asks hurt.

"No, saabji." Gauri says crying realizing that it was hurting him. "I would never pity you."

"Then why did you marry me, Gauri?"

"I couldn't see you be humiliated." Gauri whispers as she cried.

"Why, Gauri?" Omkara asks as he stepped back.

"I just couldn't." Gauri whispers as she cried her heart out.

Omkara stops breathing as he finally realized and asks her in a soft voice, "Are you in love with me, Gauri?"

Hearing his question, Gauri falls to her knees and burst into loud sob. "I am sorry, saabji. I am sorry."

Realizing that she was kneeling on the floor, Omkara kneels next to her.

"Gauri?"

"You called me your friend. You treated me with kindness and I..." Gauri continues to cry loudly. "I didn't even deserve to look at your face... and I... I am sorry, saabji. But I never wanted you for myself. I know I don't deserve you. all I wanted was for you to be happy. I only prayed for your happiness. I am sorry, saabji."

Omkara cups her face and asks her as fresh tears fell from his eyes, "Why didn't you tell me, Gauri? I was so rude to you and you never said anything. Why, Gauri?"

"You already hated me, I didn't want you to hate me more. I am sorry, saabji."

Omkara wipes her tears, "I never hated you, Gauri. And I can never hate you."

Gauri closes her eyes in relief as fresh tears fell from her eyes.

Omkara cups her face. "Listen to me, Gauri."

Gauri nods her head. "Hmmm."

"I accept you as my wife and I accept your love. I promise to cherish it for as long as I live." Omkara vows to her.

"No saabji, no." Gauri says frantically shaking her head. "You deserve someone much better. Someone good. I don't deserve you. you deserve the best."

"You are the best, Gauri." Omkara tells her as he cupped her face tightly to stop her frantically shaking.

"No." Gauri says forcefully.

"How do I make you understand, Gauri? That you are the one I always wanted to marry." Omkara asks her.

"What?" Gauri asks in shocked whisper as her heart skipped a beat.

"Dad chose that girl. He forced me to agree for the wedding. At the party... it was not an accident. I purposely tripped and made that scene." Omkara tells her. "I didn't want to marry that girl. So, I did that to scare her. that her life might be like that with me."

"Why, saabji? Ridhima Madam was perfect." Gauri asks in shock.

"She was not you." Omkara says as he lovingly cupped her face.

"Me?" Gauri asks in shock as her heart slammed against her chest.

Omkara tells her about a conversation he had with Dandi a month back. They were at the beach, sitting as Dandi watched the waves while Omkara listened to them.

"Last night, Dad was telling me that it is time I got married."

"Yeah... even I feel it is about time you got married."

"He has selected a girl also." Omkara tells Dandi.

"Really? That also he is going to decide?" Dandi asks in irritation.

"When I think of marriage, Gauri comes to my mind." Omkara tells him as he took some sand in his hand and let it slip through.

"Gauri?" Dandi asks shocked.

"She is the type of companion I always wanted. Whenever she is around me, I feel happy. I feel as if I am getting back so many things I lost."

"What about her?" Dandi asks him.

"I didn't ask her. but I know she thinks me as her boss."

"What are you going to do?"

"Nothing."

"Why?"

"Dad would never agree. If he finds out that I like Gauri, he is going to fire her and throw her out of the house. I don't want Gauri to suffer because of me."

"How long are you going to live under the thumb of your father?"

"Till I get my sight back and I get my trust money."

Dandi gently keeps his hand on Omkara to show his support.

"Till then I just somehow have to push these marriage topics away."

Omkara cups Gauri's face and tells her, "And somehow fate brought us together. I love you, Gauri. And when I thought you married me for money, I just... I lost my way and I didn't know what I was doing."

Gauri closes her eyes as she cried, both in joy and panic. He loved her and she didn't deserve him.

"Saabji..."

Omkara keeps his finger on her lips. "I have never wanted anything more in life, Gauri. If I was asked to choose between getting my sight back or having you in my life, I would choose you, Gauri."

Gauri hugs him and bursts into tears. Omkara happily hugs her.

********

Gauri serves dinner for Omkara.

"Sit with me." Omkara tells her.

"Bade Saheb won't like it."

"He is not here."

"He will come any minute." Gauri worriedly tells him.

"You are my wife, Gauri. Sit with me."

"Saabji, please."

"Please, Gauri." Omkara requests her.

Seeing him requesting her so earnestly Gauri worriedly sits.

"Will you call Bade Saheb and ask if he will come now?"

"Why, Gauri?" Omkara asks as he turned to her.

"I am scared."

Hearing the worry in her voice, Omkara calls his father and speaks to him.

"He will be late. He has a dinner party." Omkara tells her.

Gauri smiles in relief.

"Now, will you eat with me?" Omkara asks her.

"Yes." Gauri replies blushing happily.

********

Omkara comes out of the bathroom ready for bed. Gauri had her sheet spread out ready to sleep. Instead of going to his bed, Omkara walks to Gauri and kneels next to her.

"Saabji, you wanted something?"

"Yeah..." Omkara starts and just then his hand brushes on the sheet. "Gauri, you don't have a mattress?" Omkara asks shocked. "Why didn't you tell me you didn't have a mattress?"

"I didn't bring it here." Gauri hesitantly tells him. The day she shifted to his room, she was too worried and preoccupied to bring her mattress over then she just didn't.

"Why, Gauri? And why didn't you tell me?" Omkara asks hurt. "You were sleeping on the floor like this."

"I am used to all this, Saabji. What did you want?"

"You." Omkara tells her.

"What?" Gauri asks confused then she gasps loudly when he lifts her up in his arms. "What are you doing?" Gauri asks shocked.

"My wife's place is by my side." Omkara tells her as he placed her on his bed.

"Saabji, Bade Saheb..." Gauri frantically starts.

"Chup!" Omkara sternly tells her. then in a sensual tone he says, "When you are on bed the only name that should be on your lips should be Omkara."

"Wha... whaat?" Gauri asks forgetting everything else.

Chuckling Omkara tells her, "I was joking." Then he gets on the bed and lies next to her.

Gauri nervously starts breathing fast seeing him lie next to her.

"Saabji, I'll sleep on the floor." Gauri tells him in a nervous whisper.

"Why?"

"I'll sleep on the floor."

"Why you don't want to sleep here with me?"

"Saabji... I'll sleep on the floor." Gauri worriedly replies.

"Is it so difficult for you to sleep next to me?" Omkara asks sounding really hurt. "Do I disgust you, Gauri?"

"No, Saabji." Gauri says as she quickly got up and looked at him. Then she stops seeing him cheekily grinning. "You're smiling!" she accuses him.

"Oh you didn't switch off the lights?" Omkara asks.

"You're so bad!" Gauri says in a fed up tone. Gauri starts to get off the bed.

Realizing she was leaving the bed, Omkara quickly holds her hand. "Wherever you sleep, I am going to sleep with you. if you want to sleep on the floor then I'll sleep there with you."

"You sleep on the bed." Gauri quickly tells him.

"Then sleep here with me."

"Okay." Gauri says giving up realizing he won't give up and she lies next to him.

Gripping her hands together, Gauri tried her best to sleep but knowing that he was sleeping next to her was making her nervous.

"Relax." Omkara whispers to her.

Gauri nods as she tries to relax.

"Give me your hand." Omkara tells her as he put out his hand.

Gauri nervously keeps her hand on his.

"You're my wife, Gauri. Now and forever." Omkara promises her.

Gauri felt her eyes fill up hearing that though she knew their relation was only for a year.

"Gauri?"

"Hmmm."

"Promise me, that you would never leave me. I don't care what you promised Dad or what you signed on. I don't care. you are my wife. Promise me that you would never leave me."

Gauri turns to look at Omkara and sees him looking so worried and she forgets everything else, "I promise."

Omkara smiles and kisses her on her hand.

********

Gauri comes out of her shower and finds Omkara still sleeping. She smiles happily, ever since their marriage he hadn't slept well, and now he was sleeping so well. She walks to him and covers him properly with the blanket. Without making any sound, she leaves the room.

Gauri was making breakfast when Omkara comes to the kitchen.

"Gauri..."

"Saabji? You wanted something?" Gauri asks to him turning to look at him, feeling happy that he was back to his old happy ways.

Omkara walks to her. "When I woke up you were not there in room."

Seeing him extend his hand in the air, Gauri quickly holds his hand. "Leela didi is not here, so I came to make breakfast."

Omkara holds her hand in both his hands, "Did you talk to her?"

"Yes. She called today morning. Her son is out of danger."

"Thank God, shouldn't we go see him?"

Hearing his question, Gauri smiles, it always touched her that he cared for the people that worked in his house.

"You call her and check the visiting hours, we will go then."

"Okay." Gauri says smiling happily.

"Is there no one else to cook here?" Omkara asks. "You don't have to cook. We'll order from out."

"I wanted to cook for you." Gauri tells him shyly.

Omkara's face breaks out into a big smile. Seeing him smile, Gauri's face breaks into a bigger smile. Omkara takes her hand to his lips and kisses it.

"Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me, Saabji." Gauri tells him shyly.

"Omkara." Omkara softly whispers to her.

"No." Gauri shyly replies.

"At times, I like the way you call me Saabji but then sometimes, I want to hear you say my name." Omkara tells her.

Gauri shyly shakes her head as she looked down.

"Gauri... I feel you shaking your head when I am holding you, but since I can't see, I can never make out what you are trying to say. So you need to say it to me."

Gauri nods in yes.

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

"I said yes." Gauri tells him giggling happily.

Omkara smiles, "Now, how about you say my name?"

"No." Gauri whispers softly.

"You drive me mad, Gauri."

Gauri happily laughs hearing that. "Bade Saheb had his breakfast and left for office. I'll serve your breakfast?"

"Only if you'll eat with me."

********

Dandi looks on in shock as he watched Gauri and Omkara walk out hand in hand happily smiling.

"Did he faint?" Omkara asks Gauri grinning cheekily.

"No." Gauri replies laughing.

"How did this happen now?" Dandi asks smiling happily.

Omkara smiles at him, "You were right, I really got what I wished for and more."

"Really?" Dandi asks excitedly. "But how? How Gauri?"

"Call my wife, Bhabhi." Omkara tells him.

"Wife... huh?" Dandi asks with a teasing push at Omkara.

Omkara smiles at him happily. "We are going to meet Leela's son. So, I'll tell you everything on the way."

"Okay, let's go then."

Dandi was about to open the front door for Omkara when notice Omkara looking for the back seat door.

"I've become driver now?" Dandi asks in fake offended tone.

"Where my wife goes, I go." Omkara says with a shrug.

Gauri blushes hearing that and quickly slides in so he can sit.

********

"Do you know what I think?" Dandi asks them as he parked the car at the hospital parking.

"What?" Omkara asks curiously as they got out of the car.

Dandi was about to take Omkara's hand as per habit when he notices Gauri wrapping her arm around his hand. Dandi steps back, and walks behind them.

"For the time being, don't let your father know that you love her." Dandi tells them.

"Why?" Omkara asks curiously.

"You don't know what he is going to do then. He might throw Bhabhi out of the house or create some problems for you both. So, till you get your money, just keep it under wraps." Dandi advices him.

Omkara was about to argue with it when Gauri quickly says, "Yes. It is a good idea."

"You are really scared of him, aren't you?" Omkara asks her softly.

"Yes. Please Saabji, agree." Gauri cutely asks him.

"Okay." Omkara nods.

After meeting Leela and her family, they come back home.

********

"Saabji, Dandi bhaiyya was saying that you should wait till you get money. What did he mean by that?"

Omkara takes her hand in his and moves a little closer to her. Gauri nervously moves away feeling too shy to sit close to him. Realizing she was not comfortable, Omkara doesn't move any closer.

"Mom had a life insurance and I was the nominee. The accident that I lost my eyes... she died in that accident. Since, it was accidental death, I got double the money. Along with that, I got compensation from the man with whose car we had collided. It was his mistake and I lost my eyes. So..." Omkara says.

"Oh."

"Then Mom's dad had some business and after his death, Mom's brothers decided to sell it off. we had gone there for that. after Mom died, they gave me Mom's share. I was a minor that time, plus blind, so Dad put my money in a trust fund and I would get it only when I get my sight."

"But why like that?" Gauri asks shocked.

"At that time, everyone told Dad that I am blind and a minor, if something were to happen to him then there was a chance that people would trick and steal my money. So, he did that."

"Oh okay."

"Few years back I asked him for my money but he refused to let me access it before getting my sight back. If I want, I can challenge in court for my money but Dad would just hire the best of the best lawyer. And whatever money I have now that is what Dad gives me and if he cuts it off then I won't be able to afford a decent lawyer. So, I'm just trying to be patient."

"Don't worry, Saabji. You'll get your sight back soon." Gauri tells him.

"I hope so, Gauri. At my last doctor's visit he said that we can conduct my surgery soon."

Gauri squeezes his hand hearing that. Omkara smiles feeling her squeeze his hand.

Next couple of days went without a hitch as Omkara and Gauri for most of the time stayed out of Tej's sight.

********

Omkara walks to kitchen one night to find Gauri. Leela had come back couple of days ago, so Gauri had stopped cooking but since his father was home for dinner that night, Gauri had gone to the kitchen to have her food. After his father had gone to his study finishing his dinner, Omkara had quickly gone to look for Gauri as he was feeling too sleepy that night.

He hears her talking to Leela. He walks to her and holds Gauri by her waist. She quickly turns back to look at him.

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

"Saabji." Gauri worriedly calls him.

Realization was immediate and his drowsiness clears instantly. "Gauri, this is not you?"

"No."

Omkara instantly takes off his hand and moves back. "I'm sorry, Leela. I thought you were Gauri."

"I understood that, Sir. It is okay." Leela tells him softly.

Omkara gulps as he nervously puts out his hand. "Gauri, can you please take me to our room?"

Seeing how his hand was shaking, Gauri quickly holds his hand. She guides him out of the kitchen.

"I'm sorry, Gauri." Omkara whispers to her.

"It's okay, Saabji."

"I was feeling too sleepy, so I wasn't concentrating." Omkara tells her.

"It happens." Gauri tells him as she opened the bedroom door and guided him in.

Omkara nods as he walked with her. Gauri watches him as he got on the bed. Once he had settled on the bed, she gets on the bed.

She knew this incident had really shaken him because he never needed anyone's help in navigating through his house.

"Saabji, it is okay." Gauri whispers to him. Even though she knew that it was an honest mistake, it had hurt her to see him hold another woman in front of her. and she realized that it had hurt him more. So more than her hurt, she was concerned about his pain.

"Leela didi knows. She will not misunderstand you." Gauri tells him as she lovingly ran her hand through his hair.

"I'm blind, Gauri. This is not the first time it has happened to me. I've mistaken someone for someone else." Omkara tells her.

"Then why are you so upset?" Gauri asks him helplessly.

Omkara turns his head so his face was face to face with hers. "You are my wife, Gauri. And I didn't realize that I was not holding you. that I was holding another woman."

Gauri felt her heart break hearing that.

"It is okay, Saabji."

Omkara sits up and faces her. then he nervously says, "Gauri, the truth is I don't know how you look. I have never seen you or felt you. I want to see you, Gauri. Can I?"

Gauri sits up. Takes his hand and keeps it on her face. "Yes."

Omkara nervously gulps and says, "Not just your face." Omkara nervously breathes and says, "Everywhere."

Hearing him Gauri's heart skipped several beats. She stops breathing.

When she didn't reply, Omkara quickly says, "I am sorry, Gauri. I know you're not comfortable with me like that. I am sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

Omkara was about to move back when Gauri held his hand.

"I want you to see me, Saabji." Gauri tells him in a nervous whisper as her heart slammed against her chest now.

"I know you're not ready, Gauri. I'll wait." Omkara tells her.

"I don't want you to touch anyone else thinking it is me. I want you to know me from another person." Gauri tells him in a soft but confident voice.

Hearing her, Omkara's heart started beating fast. "You sure?"

Hearing his question, in answer Gauri lies back on the bed, then slowly with nervous hand, she drags his hand from her face to her neck. Then she takes her hand off his.

Taking a deep breath, Omkara drags his hand up her face to her forehead.

Gauri nervously lies back, as she felt him gently running his finger over her forehead slowly. Then he moves his finger to her eye brows. Gauri closes her eyes, feeling his finger on her eyes. He slowly runs his hand over her eyes, then moving down the bridge of her nose. Both his hand slides down her nose to her either cheeks. Gauri's breathing gets erratic as his hands travels to her lips. As his fingers ran over her lips, Gauri's nervousness was replaced by eagerness. Her breathing became heavy as his hands traveled down her chin to her necks. She grips the bedsheet as she felt turned on by his gentle touch. As his hand moved to her chest, Gauri's toes curl up in sexual desire.

Breathing heavily, Omkara travels up her body once he had touched her everywhere. He cups her face and lovingly kisses her forehead. Overcome with desire, Gauri hugs him tight. Hugging her, Omkara rolls back, pulling her on top of him, then he leaning up, takes her lips in his and kisses her hungrily. Gauri kisses him back in equal vigor.

"I love you so much, Gauri." Omkara says as they parted.

Blushing and smiling happily, Gauri hugs him tight. Hugging tightly, they both went to sleep.

********

"What do you want to buy, Saabji?" Gauri asks Omkara as she guided him to the supermarket.

"Take me to the personal care section." Omkara tells her.

Gauri guides him to the personal care section. "We are here."

"Is there anyone nearby, Gauri?" Omkara asks her.

"No. we are alone. What happened?" Gauri asks curiously.

"Gauri." Omkara takes her hand in his. "Till I get my sight back, I don't want to have any children."

Gauri's heart breaks hearing that, he was so sure about their future while she feared his father. She still had no hope that their relation was for life long.

"Gauri?" Omkara softly calls her name. "I don't know how long it will take, but I don't want to be depended on my Dad when we bring our baby into this world."

Gauri nods her head in yes.

"Gauri?"

"Yes."

"You sure, right?" Omkara asks her.

"Yes, Saabji."

Omkara smiles in relief then in a flirty tone he says, "Let us go to the condoms section."

"WHAAT?" Gauri shouts out in shock.

"What? You didn't think we were going to be celibate till we decide to have babies, right?" Omkara asks her.

The truth was that she never thought about it, as she had believed that she would have to leave him at the end of one year, and spend the rest of her life in his memories.

Omkara gently runs his hand up her arm. Feeling his hand, Gauri's breathing get erratic remembering the previous night and the passion he had evoked in her. Gauri starts blushing remembering how they are kissed.

"Gauri?"

"Ermm." Gauri nervously looks here and there wondering if anyone was hearing their conversation.

"I knew that you were not ready. But last night..." Omkara says passionately, "I know you were as turned on as me."

"Huh?" Gauri looks at him confused. "What did I turn on?"

"Me."

"Huh? Saabji what?" Gauri asks utterly confused.

Omkara was confused for a second then he asks her curiously, "Gauri, haven't you done it before?"

"Done what?" Gauri asks curiously.

"What are we talking about now?" Omkara asks her exasperated.

"That..." Gauri blushing as she looked down. Then realizing what he had asked she looks at him angrily and hits him on his chest. "Done it before? You think I am that kind of girl?"

"You haven't?" Omkara asks a little surprised.

"NO!" Gauri shouts in outrage then gasping she looks around to see if anyone heard them.

"But the Bollywood movie nowadays says that everyone does it." Omkara says thoughtfully.

"Not me!" Gauri says offended.

Omkara couldn't continue on and he laughs, "I was joking, Gauri."

"You're very very bad!" Gauri says as she hits him.

Omkara laughs as she hits him. Then Gauri stops and asks him suspiciously. "What about you?"

"What about me?" Omkara asks grinning happily.

"That only!" Gauri says irritated.

"I'm blind, Gauri. Do you think I would be going around trying to meet women?" Omkara asks her.

"You went to college." Gauri reminds him though feeling a little elated.

"Okay... it was not for lack of women. I didn't want to do it before I got my sight back, so I never interacted with any girl with that intention." Omkara tells her.

"But now you said..." Gauri reminds him blushing.

"I didn't think I would meet you." Omkara says as he pulled her close to him wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Saabji, someone will see." Gauri gasps worriedly as she looks around.

Omkara holds her tightly and says passionately, "And I'll show you what a turn on is when we get home."

Gauri didn't know what he meant, but she knew it was something naughty and she blushes.

Omkara lets go off her and steps back smiling. "Come, let's go get it."

Blushing, Gauri leads Omkara to the shelf. Then she looks around to see if anyone was around. When she was sure there was no one around, she leans up and whispers into his ears, "Which one?"

"Hmmm tell me the names." Omkara tells her.

Gauri looks at the brands. She leans up and cupping his ears, she whispers the name into his ears.

"Next?"

She again whispers to his ears.

Omkara chuckles and asks, "Why are you whispering, Gauri?"

Gauri blushes and leaning up, she whispers the next one.

"Take that." Omkara tells her.

Gauri was about to grab it when she suspiciously turns to him and asks, "Why this? You said you have never..."

"I like that you're jealous and possessive, Gauri." Omkara tells her grinning ear to ear.

"Tell me!"

"I have heard the ad for this. Not the other two."

"Oh." Gauri says relaxing happily.

"Did you take it?" Omkara asks her.

Quickly looking around to see if anyone was nearby, Gauri grabs it and then she puts it in Omkara's hand. "Hide it, hide it."

Omkara laughs. "Gauri, I am your husband. Not a roadside Romeo that you're taking for a one-night stand."

"Saabji, let's go from here quickly." Gauri says urgently as she tried to lead him out.

"Can't wait, huh?" Omkara asks with a naughty smile.

"CHUP!"

Omkara laughs as he walked to the counter with her. as the guy was billing the condom, Gauri moves behind Omkara and hides. Omkara couldn't help smile at her innocence. Hearing the guy say the bill amount, Omkara was about to turn around to ask Gauri to pay, when he feels her pressing his card to his palm.

They were about to leave when Gauri turns to Omkara and says, "Hide it in your pocket. Otherwise Dandi bhaiyya will see."

Chuckling Omkara puts it in his pocket.

********

Excited and nervous, Gauri follows Omkara to their bedroom at night. Once they enter the room, Omkara turns around and locks the door. Gauri blushes profusely when he takes her hand.

"I love you, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

Gauri blushes happily as she looked down.

"Say it, Gauri." Omkara tells her

Blushing Gauri hugs him.

"I just want to hear you say it. I love you so much, more than anything in this world."

"Not even half as much as I love you." Gauri softly whispers to him as she hugged him tight.

Omkara smiles happily. Together they walk to the bed and get on the bed.

The moment she got on the bed, Gauri's heart started slamming against her chest nervously.

Omkara cups Gauri's face and Gauri grips his shirt in nervousness.

"Are you tensed, Gauri?"

Gauri nods her head in yes.

"Gauri?"

"Yes." Gauri nervously replies.

"Why? We are going to love each other. Why do you have to be tensed for that?" Omkara asks her lovingly.

Hearing him say that with so much love, Gauri smiles and lovingly caresses his face. Omkara smiles realizing she was no longer tensed.

Omkara was about to take her lips in his when Gauri shyly tells him, "Saabji, we didn't switch off the lights."

"Do you want it off?" Omkara asks her.

"Yes." Gauri shyly tells him.

"Don't you want to see me?" Omkara asks her softly.

Hearing the question, blushing profusely Gauri hugs him tight.

"Gauri?"

"Yes." Gauri whispers against his chest.

"When are you ever going to call me by my name?" Omkara asks Gauri as he pulled her into his arms.

Happy, satiated and excited, Gauri hugs him. "Never."

Omkara smiles. "At least once, Gauri."

"No." Gauri hugs him tight happily.

********

Couple of months later, the doctor informed Omkara that they could go in for the surgery. The night before Omkara was to be admitted in the hospital, Gauri and Omkara were lying in bed.

Gauri was lying on Omkara's chest. Seeing him lost in thoughts as he lazily caressed her bare back, Gauri asks him, "Are you worried, Saabji?"

"A little." Omkara replies as he hugged her closer.

Gauri kisses him on his cheek lovingly. Smiling, Omkara kisses her on her forehead.

"You should sleep."

"Don't know if I will be able to sleep." Omkara tells her. "I've been waiting for this for a decade now."

Gauri smiles, "Everything is going to go well."

"I hope so." Omkara tells her smiling.

"Will you leave this house when you get your money?"

Omkara thinks for a while. "Depends on how my equation would be with Dad then."

"Hmmm."

"Wherever I am, you'll be with me." Omkara promises her with a smile.

"Even if Bade Saheb opposes?"

"You are my wife. Nothing in this world will be able to change that." Omkara tells her.

Gauri hugs him tight.

"But before we go anywhere, we'll go to Motihari. It is high time, my mother-in-law and my sister know that we are married."

Gauri smiles at the way how Omkara had started addressing Bhavya as his sister ever since they got married. In the last few months, she had started to feel so secure in his love that she had started dreaming of a life with him, Gauri tells him hesitantly, "I was always worried that I would have to go away from you."

"I am scared of Bade Saheb. He won't let me stay with you. He would ask me to leave."

Omkara turns to her and says smiling, "Only if I let you go, right?"

Gauri smiles happily as she hugged him tight. "Don't let anyone separate us. I'll die without you."

"No one will ever come between us, Gauri. I promise."

They remained silent for a while, neither able to sleep.

"What are you thinking?" Gauri asks Omkara.

Omkara smiles as he turned to face her, "Finally, I am going to see you."

Hearing him, Gauri gets a little worried. "What if I am not like you imagine me to be?"

Omkara keeps his hand on her face, "I didn't fall in love with this, Gauri." Then he keeps his hand on her chest over her heart, "I fell in love with this."

Hearing him, Gauri felt her eyes fill with tears. "Why do you love me, Saabji? What is so special about me?"

"Everything about you is special for me, Gauri." Omkara tells her lovingly. "I love you."

"I love you too, Saabji."

********

Omkara was in his hospital room along with Gauri and Tej. They were waiting for Omkara to be taken in to surgery. Hearing a knock at the door, Tej bids the person to enter.

A doctor and nurse walk in. they started taking Omkara's vitals and recording it. After everything was done, the doctor walks to Omkara.

"Mr. Oberoi, I just wanted to go through some formalities with you."

"Yes."

"Can you please confirm your name, date of birth and age?"

Omkara answers him.

"Okay. Can you please confirm what surgery are you in for?"

Omkara answers him.

"I just want to make sure that you are aware of all the risks involved with the surgery." The doctor says and starts to say all that could go wrong during the surgery, and all the risks involved with it.

Omkara nods listening to it while Gauri worriedly grips her hand. Omkara and his doctor had already told her about the risks involved, but when the doctor was pointing it out just before the surgery, she was getting more worried.

"Do you have any questions?" the doctor asks at the end.

"No."

"I need one of you to sign the consent form."

"Dad will do it." Omkara tells him.

Tej quickly signs it. The doctor leaves saying that Omkara would be taken to OT shortly.

"Gauri..."

"Yes Saabji?" Gauri quickly moves near him.

"Can you please wait outside? I want to talk to Dad alone."

"Okay." Gauri replies as she curiously looked at Omkara and Tej. Then she walks out of the room.

"What is it, Omkara?" Tej asks him as he sat on the bed near Omkara.

"Dad." Omkara says as he extended his hand for Tej.

Tej holds Omkara's hand.

"I am a little worried, Dad."

"With what the doctor said?" Tej asks him smiling. "It is normal procedure that they do before every surgery. You don't have to be worried."

"I am not worried about me."

"Then?"

"Gauri."

"Gauri?" Tej asks feeling angry as he tried to free his hand from Omkara. Omkara holds on tight.

"I love her, Dad. More than anything else in this world." Omkara tells him earnestly.

"Have you lost it, Omkara?" Tej asks outraged.

"That doctor said, that there is a very minor chance of cardiac arrest during the surgery." Omkara tells him worriedly. "If anything happens to me, please take care of her, Dad."

"Nothing is going to happen to you."

"I know. But I am worried for her. And I have no one else other than you. please take care of her, Dad. She is very nice. Please accept her as your daughter, Dad. If I am not there, please take care of her, Dad. She has a mother and sister. Please look after them too. Bhavya wants to study, please get her an admission in a good college."

Tears were falling from Omkara's eyes, "I love her so much, Dad. Like how Mom loved you. and she loves me a lot. please Dad, please look after her. if I am not there, don't fire Dandi. He is like a brother to Gauri. He will look after Gauri like he looked after me. Whatever is mine, whatever you wanted to give me, give it all to her. Keep her at home, Dad. Please Dad. I have no one else to trust my Gauri with than you. please love her like how you could never love me."

With both hands, Omkara grips Tej's hand. "Please Dad, I am begging you. please promise me that you'll take care of her."

"I promise." Tej softly whispers.

********

After the surgery, Gauri took care of Omkara while Tej had gone for a business tour. Finally, Tej returned on the day Omkara's bandage was supposed to be removed.

"Why are you nervous?" Omkara asks Gauri smiling.

"I don't know." Gauri says as she moved to Omkara's bed.

Omkara holds her and makes her sit on his lap. Gauri wraps her hand around his neck.

"Whatever it is, we will have to live with it, right?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri hugs him tight worriedly.

Hearing the door open, Gauri quickly jumps off Omkara's lap.

"Bade Saheb." Gauri tells Omkara as she moved a little away from the bed.

Omkara smiles. "Hi Dad."

"How are you, Omkara?"

"Good, Dad." Omkara replies happily.

An attender comes rolling in a wheel chair.

"Sir, we have to take you to the doctor's room." The attender informs Omkara.

"Okay." Omkara nods as he stood up.

The attender helps Omkara to the wheel chair while Gauri moved near to Omkara.

"Dad are you coming?" Omkara asks Tej curiously.

"Only the patient is to be taken, sir." The attendant informs Omkara.

"But I want to see Gauri first." Omkara says quickly as he held Gauri's hand.

"Sorry, sir. Doctor has to do tests and all."

"You go, Omkara. Let's see what the doctor says."

Reluctantly Omkara lets go off Gauri's hand.

********

Even after half an hour, Omkara hadn't returned, Tej went to look for him.

Gauri waited with bated breath for Omkara to return. She started pacing in the room nervously wondering what could have happened.

Finally, the door opens and Gauri eagerly looks at the door to find Tej.

"Bade Saheb, how is he?" Gauri worriedly asks him.

"When you are there in his life, how can anything go right?" Tej asks her with hatred.

Gauri's eyes fill with tears realizing that his surgery was not successful.

"How is he? Is he okay?" Gauri asks as tears flowed from her eyes. "Can I please see him?"

"I don't want you anywhere near him! Get the hell out of his life."

"Please Bade Saheb. I just want to see him." Gauri begs him as fear gripped her heart realizing what was going to happen.

"Don't forget your place. You are just a hired wife. You are not his real wife. I paid you to be his wife for a year. Now I am firing you."

"I promised him that I won't leave him." Gauri whispers to him in fear.

"He needs to have 4 to 6 surgeries if we have to save his eyes. If getting his eyes means that he is going to stay with you then I would rather have him remain blind all his life."

"He is your son." Gauri reminds him in shock at his cruel words.

"He was my son before you came into his life. I don't know what he has become after you entered his life." Tej says in disgust. "I want you to leave my son this instant. You better leave before I inform your family how I hired you to be my son's wife."

Gauri gulps in fear hearing that.

"Take your things and get the hell out of my son's life. If you don't then I am going to stop all of Omkara's treatments. And one day he is going to realize that you are the reason he remains blind then he is going to hate you."

********

"I am sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Oberoi." The doctor says as he walked in. "There was an emergency."

"That's okay, doctor." Omkara says as he tried to calm his raising heart. "I was hoping to have my wife with me."

"Let us just take off your bandage and see first? Shall we?" doctor asks him.

"Okay." Omkara nods as he took a deep breath.

The doctor starts removing his bandage.

"Can you please slowly open your eyes?"

Heart in his throat Omkara slowly opens his eyes.

"Can you see anything?"

After years, for the first time he saw light in his eyes. Omkara wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. "I can... but it is all a blur."

"Excellent." Doctor says happily. "Your vision would clear in a couple of days. I'll prescribe you eye drops."

********

"Gauri!" Omkara calls out as he happily walked into his house. "Gauri!"

He opens his bedroom door and looks in. everything was a big blur but he could still make out that Gauri wasn't there in their room. "Gauri!"

"Dad, where is she?" Omkara asks Tej confused. "You said she came home to get everything ready for me then where is she?"

"Omkara you rest. We will talk later." Tej tells him in a dismissing tone.

Finally, realizing Omkara asks him getting angry, "Where is my wife?"

"She is not your wife, Omkara." Tej tells him. "I know you love her a lot. You wanted me to accept her as your wife. But she had married you for money. How could I just accept her? so, I tested her and she failed. I told her that since you got back your sight she no longer had to act as your wife. I agreed to break the contract. At first she didn't agree. I was starting to believe that she might love you. still I just had to make sure and I offered her more money and she agreed. She agreed to leave you for 25 lakhs."

"Where is she?" Omkara asks him furiously. "WHERE IS MY WIFE?"

"I don't know. I told her to leave and she left with the money."

Omkara's eyes fill with tears and he says, "I thought you changed. That day at the hospital, I thought you changed. I thought you started to care for my happiness. love what I love. But no. you'll never change."

"I am telling you the truth, Omkara. She left you for money."

"DANDI!" Omkara shouts as he started to walk to the door.

"He is no longer working for us." Tej informs him.

"what?" Omkara turns to him in shock.

"I hired Dandi because you were blind and you needed someone to take you around. Now that your vision is getting better, it is time you learn to be independent. As long as Dandi is around you are going to depend on him. Once your vision is clear you need to start your driving classes, join office... Dandi is no longer needed."

"You are taking away all the people that I care about." Omkara tells him in shock as he stepped back from his father.

"I don't know how to make you believe me, Gauri went of her own accord. Dandi needed to go for you to be independent."

With no other option, Omkara walks to his room and slams the door shut.

********

The day he had been waiting for years was finally here and instead of being a dream come true, it has turned into a nightmare. What was the use of having his vision if he couldn't see his Gauri? Have her in his arms?

Omkara remained in his room as he thought of what to do. He couldn't go alone to anywhere. Specially to Motihari as he had no idea where Gauri stayed and even though he got his vision it was all a big blur. He had never been so helpless in his life.

Closing his eyes, Omkara walked about his room to find his cell phone.

"Hey Siri, call Gauri."

Omkara keeps the phone to his ears and listening to the phone ring. The phone kept ringing and there was no answer. Dejected he keeps his mobile back.

********

Three days later, Tej watched Gauri's phone ringing on silent mode. It kept flashing Saabji calling.

Omkara kept calling every half an hour. Knowing Omkara would call again, Tej quickly dials his own number on Gauri's phone and kept the call connected for 15 mins. In that time, he noticed many call waiting notifications from Omkara's phone. Finally, he cuts the call and when Omkara called, he let it go on ringing.

Ten minutes later, Tej walks to Omkara's room to find Omkara sitting on his bed holding his head.

"Omkara..." Tej walks to Omkara and gently keeps his hand on his shoulder.

Omkara looks up with tear stained face and hugs his father. He started wailing loudly.

"Omkara... what happened?" Tej asks him acting concerned.

"She left me, Dad. She promised she wouldn't leave me and she left." Omkara cries loudly.

"She didn't deserve you."

"I kept calling her but she never picked the call. I was starting to think you took her mobile from her but just now it was engaged for a long time and when I called she didn't answer. As if, she didn't care about me. As if, it didn't matter to her that I was trying to reach her. didn't she ever love me?" Omkara asks as he broke into loud sobs.

Tej smiles at having his plan worked then he hugs Omkara. "It's okay, Omkara. It's okay. she didn't deserve you."

********

Omkara had stayed in his room for the next couple of days. Though his vision was getting better, it was progressing slowly. Having enough of sitting alone, Omkara goes out to have breakfast one morning and finds his father at the dining table.

"Come Omkara. Let's have breakfast together." Tej tells him smiling happily at him.

Omkara walks to the table and sits next to him.

"How is your eyes now?" Tej asks him smiling at him.

"Better but still not clear."

Tej nods. "Omkara, it is time you start coming to office. You learn everything there by the time your eyes are perfect you can start your work."

"No, Dad. I never enjoyed working in office. I had been doing some research before my surgery. Now that I'll get my trust fund, I want to start a café or pastry shop. My plan is to take the franchise of an international brand that is not yet available in India."

Tej looks on interested. "that sounds interesting."

"When can I get my money?"

"I'll have my lawyer deal with it."

Omkara nods.

"This is the perfect time to restart your life, Omkara."

"Even I have been thinking." Omkara tells him.

"Really?" Tej asks smiling.

"Yeah. I think I should get married. I want to forget Gauri. I want her out of my life completely. If someone new comes into my life, it would be easier for me. now, Dandi is also not there. I feel lonely, Dad."

Tej keeps his hand on Omkara's hand smiling.

"Maybe I'll call back Dandi?"

"No, Omkara. At least till you get on your feet, don't. after that if you want him to be your driver then you can. Till then, don't do it."

Omkara nods.

"I want to file for divorce. On the day, I get my divorce I want to marry again. I want to show Gauri that I don't care about her. that she means nothing to me. How I wanted to make the servant of this house the malkin of this house. She didn't deserve my love. Can your lawyer handle the divorce too? I want it as soon as possible."

"You don't need divorce, Omkara. I never registered your marriage." Tej tells him smiling.

"That doesn't make the marriage invalid." Omkara tells him exasperated. "We had a religious wedding and there were witnesses to the wedding."

"But..."

"Then there is the contract paper as proof of marriage."

"I'll handle all that, Omkara. You don't worry. And she signed the prenup too."

"Dad, you don't understand. I never talk about my accident. So, I never told Gauri in detail about the accident. She doesn't know that my accident happened in US. She might have assumed it was a very minimal amount, like 12 lakhs rupees or so. Otherwise do you think she would have agreed to go away for just 25 lakhs? I need to get the divorce before she finds out that my trust money is 12 million US dollars."

Tej thoughtfully looks at Omkara hearing that.

"We need to get the divorce before she claims for half my money as alimony." Omkara tells Tej in urgency.

"You're right."

"Try for an out of court settlement. I don't want to ever see her face." Omkara tells in anger.

********

Finally, Omkara's vision had cleared and he was able to see properly.

"Omkara, here is your divorce paper. Once you sign it, we can submit it in court. You sign it and give me now." Tej informs Omkara as he handed him the divorce papers.

"What about my money?" Omkara asks curiously.

"Procedures are completed. You should be getting it in a day or two."

Omkara smiles. "Great. I've been talking to some brands regarding franchising."

"That is great. My lawyer will help you draw up the contract papers."

Omkara nods. He takes the divorce paper and looks at it. "Dad! This is not in braille."

"Omkara, you are no longer blind."

"But it's been a decade, Dad. I don't remember the alphabets. This all looks Greek to me."

"It's okay, Omkara. Nobody is going to know that."

"How do I read it? How do I know what is in it?" Omkara asks shocked.

"It's not an issue."

"If at court Gauri or her lawyer asks me to read it, what would I do? Gauri knows very well that I can only read Braille script now." Omkara tells him, then sighing he says, "I'll do one thing. After sometime, I will go to the lawyer. Have him read it out to me. make changes if there is any and I'll sign it and give it to him."

Tej looks at Omkara confused not really understanding.

"Can you send your driver in 2 hours?"

"Yeah. I will." Tej agrees and leave for his office.

********

Half an hour later, hearing the door bell ringing Omkara opens the door.

"Hi."

"No goodbyes. No calls. Nothing." Omkara says as he looked at Dandi.

"Your Dad said it was for your best. He said you were too dependent on me. I should give you a chance to be independent. You have my number so I thought you would call if you needed me." Dandi replies.

Smiling happily, Omkara walks to Dandi with open arms. "You are not as ugly as I thought you to be."

Dandi chuckles as he hugs him, "I hope you realized that you are not as handsome as you thought yourself to be."

Omkara happily grins as he steps back looking at Dandi.

"How is Bhabhi?" Dandi asks him. "She should be so happy."

Omkara offers Dandi the divorce paper he had been holding all these while. Dandi takes it curiously and reads the title.

"Divorce? Have you gone out of your mind?" Dandi asks him angrily.

"I've been doing some researches. This, I suppose is a To address, right?" Omkara asks as he pointed at one section.

"Yes." Dandi replies curiously.

"Motihari address?"

"Yeah. What is happening?"

"Divorce notice needs to be send via registered mail. And Gauri has to receive it. Even if Dad had send her away to some other place. Gauri has to receive it and Dad had to send it to the correct address. I couldn't take the risk and have Dad doubt me. So, I was waiting before I went in search of her in Motihari. Now, I am 100% sure Gauri would be in this address."

"Bhabhi is not here?" Dandi asks shocked. Then realization dawns on him. "Just like me even Bhabhi was kicked out?"

Grinning Omkara shows Dandi the car key. "Are you up for a long drive? We are bringing my wife home."

********

Omkara knocks on the door as his heart slammed against his chest in excitement and worry. A woman opens the door.

"Is this Gauri's house?" Omkara asks trying to calm his restless heart.

"Yes. Who are you?" the lady asks.

Omkara was about to answer when a girl comes behind the woman. Without replying to her, Omkara steps in. he closes his eyes and tries to sniff in the scent. The scent was somewhat familiar but not exact.

"Hey! Who are you? why are you coming inside?"

With his eyes closed, Omkara keeps the tip of his finger on the girl's cheek. Just as quickly he takes off his hand sighing disappointed. "You are not Gauri."

"No."

"Who are you?" the elder lady asks.

"I'm Omkara Singh Oberoi. You are Gauri's mother, right?" then turning to the younger girl, he asks "And you are Bhavya, right?"

"Yes." They reply.

Then he sees, Bhavya frantically waving her hand at Nayantara then pointing at him, she points at her eyes and waves her hand in no.

Grinning Omkara walks to Nayantara and touches her feet. She jumps back in shock.

Then he turns to Bhavya and sees her curiously looking at Nayantara and gesturing at her what does he want?

"You have to stop doing that, Bhavya. I can see." Omkara gently tells her.

Bhavya gasps loudly in shock. "Gauri di said..."

"Where is she? Is she inside?" Omkara asks excitedly.

"She is not here." Bhavya tells him.

Omkara's heart breaks in disappointment. "Where is she?"

"She is working in a nearby house. Their son is getting married. They have a lot of guests over, so they asked Gauri to help there. She will come back only by 10 in the night." Nayantara tells him.

"Where is that house?" Omkara asks urgently unable to bear to be away from Gauri for even a second longer.

"Why are you here?" Nayantara asks him.

"Are you here to hire her back?" Bhavya asks him frowning.

"She won't come. she was very happy when she was working there. But ever since she has come back. She doesn't talk. She doesn't eat anything. Always sitting alone. Sometimes I see her crying. She wouldn't tell us what happened." Nayantara tells him.

Hearing about Gauri's condition, Omkara's heart break "Where is this house? I need to see her now."

"No." Nayantara tells him sternly. "You can't see her. you come back tomorrow. If she wants to meet you then you can meet her otherwise, you can't."

"Gauri di hasn't smiled since she came back." Bhavya tells him as her eyes filled with tears.

Omkara's eyes fill with tears hearing that. "I've come to take her with me."

"No. my daughter is not coming with you." Nayantara tells him angrily. "She will not work there anymore. I am not sending my daughter away again to work like that."

"Sasuma, I've come here to take my wife home and I am not going to leave Motihari without her." Omkara tells her.

"Sasuma?" Nayantara asks in confusion.

"Wife?" Bhavya asks in shock.

Grinning at them, Omkara informs them "Gauri and I have been married for 5 months now."

"What?"

"Can you tell me where that house is?" Omkara asks them.

"You're lying. Gauri wouldn't hide such a big thing from us."

Omkara steps out of the house and sees Dandi waiting for him.

"Bhabhi is not here?" Dandi asks him.

"No. I need to find a house where marriage is happening." Omkara tells Dandi frantically. "Sasuma refuses to tell me where it is."

"Simple." Dandi declares, he turns around and stops a passerby. "Bhai saab, woh shaadhi ka ghar...?"

"Go down this road. First left. The big house. You'll see the decorations."

"Thank you."

********

"I'll come with you. there will be too many people. You won't be able to find her amidst all these people."

"I'll find my Gauri." Omkara tells him confidently.

Omkara walks into the house with the attitude that he belonged there. So pretty much nobody stopped him to ask who he was.

Omkara stops one boy and asks him, "Where is the kitchen."

The boy quickly points it to him and runs off.

Omkara walks into the kitchen as he looked around brushing away the tears that were filing in his eyes. He sees couple of people in the kitchen chatting. He looks around as he tried to find Gauri. The kitchen was filled with food, perfumes and people's smell. Even if he had his eyes closed and he tried, he knew he wouldn't be able to make out Gauri's scent.

As he slowly made his way through the kitchen, he sees a second kitchen. He walks to the kitchen and looks around. He sees a girl standing by the sink and washing the dishes.

Omkara stops as his heart started slamming against his chest and he knew only one person could bring a reaction like this to his heart. Omkara walks towards her as tears started flowing. Shaking off the excess water from the steel bowls, the girl turns around. The moment her eyes fell on him she gasps in shock as the bowls fell from her hand.

"Saabji." Gauri whispers as her eyes filled with tears.

"What happened?" a lady comes hurrying to the kitchen. Then seeing Gauri, she asks "Gauri, what happened?"

Gauri turns to look at her then realizing, Gauri kneels down and picks the bowls. "Madam... it slipped."

"Oh okay. are you okay?"

Gauri nods as she turned to look at Omkara.

"You might be tired. You've been working since morning, right? Why don't you go home early today? Take rest and come in the morning."

"She won't be coming back." Omkara informs the lady.

She turns to look at him curiously. "Who are you? are you a friend of my son's?"

"Omkara Singh Oberoi. I'm Gauri's husbnd." Omkara informs her.

"Husband?" the lady looks at him confused. "Gauri is not married."

"She is." Omkara tells her.

That lady looks at Gauri curiously. "Gauri?"

Gauri nods her head in yes, as she stared at Omkara.

The lady nods, "Okay... whatever it is, make it fast. And don't make a scene here."

Omkara watched as she left then he turns to look at Gauri.

"Saabji, can you see?" Gauri asks him in a shocked whisper.

"You were not there when I was able to see, Gauri." Omkara tells her, his heartbreak evident in his voice.

Gauri silently cries hearing him.

"Do you know how much I had to talk badly about you to make Dad trust me? do you know what all lies I had told about you so Dad won't be suspicious? do you have any idea what all those did to me? it killed me to talk like that about you!" Omkara asks as tears fell from his eyes.

"I'm sorry." Gauri whispers sadly.

"What lies did my Dad tell you that you got so scared that you ran away?"

"He said that the surgery was a failure and he would not pay for your treatments anymore if I stayed with you." Gauri tells him.

"So you left your mobile with Dad and abandoned me?" Omkara asks heartbroken.

"You said you wouldn't let me go away from you." Gauri reminds him. "Why did you take so long to come for me? Do you know what I went through all these days?" Gauri asks as she cried.

Omkara moves towards Gauri and cups her face.

Gauri nervously tries to move back. "I've been working whole day, I am sweating." Gauri says feeling a little insecure and embarrassed as this was the first time he was seeing her and she was in this pitiable condition.

Omkara cheekily grins at her, "How many times have you been beneath me and top of me, all sweaty and going oh Saabji... Saabji."

Gauri quickly covers his mouth as she blushed beetroot red. She looks around to see if anyone heard him.

Omkara gently removes her hand from his mouth. "You promised you wouldn't leave, Gauri."

Gauri cups his face and kisses all over his face, "Sorry. Sorry."

"Let's go home." Omkara tells her.

"Bade Saheb..." Gauri worriedly says.

"I'll handle him." Omkara promises her. "Let's go."

Gauri worriedly steps back and tells him. "I haven't told Ma and Bhavya about our marriage."

Omkara cheekily grins at her in reply.

And Gauri understood immediately, she asks in shock. "You told them?"

Omkara smiles at her happily. "Yes but they didn't believe me."

Gauri smiles hearing that, she had missed her naughty, bratty and bindaas husband so much that she couldn't even be angry on him for dropping that bomb on her family.

Gauri cups his face and leaning up, she takes his lips in hers. they kiss gently. Then cupping his face, Gauri asks him, "Can you really see?"

"I am looking at the most beautiful girl in the world." Omkara tells her.

Blushing Gauri hugs him tight.

Hearing the back kitchen door open, Omkara curiously look and sees Nayantara and Bhavya walk in. realizing Gauri didn't hear them, Omkara hugs her tightly. Then smiling sweetly at them, he waves at them saying hi.

"Gauri?" Nayantara calls her in shock.

Gauri jumps and turns around to the sound as she slightly pushed Omkara away. "Ma..."

"You should have told me you would be coming here, Sasuma. We could have come together." Omkara jovially asks as he pulled Gauri back into his arms.

********

Omkara was back in Gauri's house as he watched Gauri tell her mother and sister about their marriage and all that had happened.

"How could you hide all this from us, Gauri di?" Bhavya asks her upset.

"I am sorry." Gauri tells them regretfully.

"His father hasn't accepted you." Nayantara worriedly points out.

"It doesn't matter. He got us married. Now, he has no say in the matter." Omkara tells her.

"He is still your father."

"And Gauri is my wife."

"He loves me a lot, Ma." Gauri tells Nayantara.

"I know. Otherwise he wouldn't have come here." Nayantara agrees.

Seeing that her mother had accepted their marriage, Gauri happily smiles and hugs her.

"Thank you, Ma. I am very sorry."

Nayantara nods her head.

Gauri turns and smiles at Omkara happily. Omkara smiles back at her.

Then feeling conscious, Gauri quickly gets up. "I'll go shower and come." Gauri whispers to no one in particular. Then without waiting for a reply she runs to the bedroom.

Nayantara and Bhavya looks at Gauri in confusion.

Omkara leans to Bhavya and softly calls her. Bhavya looks at him.

"I am looking good and smelling nice, right?" Omkara asks her smiling at her.

Hearing the weird as hell question from her new brother-in-law, Bhavya nods her head feeling very awkward.

"I am seeing her for the first time." Omkara tells her. "She has always been worried whether I will continue to love her like I did when I can see her. and right now, she is tried and all sweaty."

Bhavya frowns at him hearing him.

"And compared to that when I am looking so good and smelling so nice, she is feeling a little insecure and embarrassed." Omkara explains to her. "That is why she is in a hurry to shower."

"oh- okay." Bhavya replies gaping at him.

"Oh." Omkara says seeing the way Bhavya was gaping at him. Then he casually informs her, "I have no filter."

Dandi walks in.

"Informed your family?" Omkara asks him. Nayantara had asked them to stay there that night and Dandi had gone outside to call his family to inform that he wouldn't be coming back that night.

Dandi nods then turning to Nayantara he tells her, "Auntyji, one lady came and asked me what I was doing here. I told her that Bhabhi is married to my Boss and he had come to take her home. She was wondering why you never told them that Bhabhi got married. I hope that is alright."

Nayantara nods. "We'll have to inform everyone that Gauri got married."

"If it is Kalyani aunty then the whole locality will know in 5 minutes." Bhavya tells Omkara. "She will come now to see you making some excuse."

"Really?" Omkara asks smiling. "Gossip aunty? I don't know anyone here." Omkara says sadly. "Otherwise, I would have got some nice juicy tidbits from her."

Bhavya laughs hearing him. "I like you."

"Awww I like you too, Bhavya." Omkara tells her smiling.

While Nayantara had gone to the kitchen and Dandi had gone out, Omkara was chatting with Bhavya about random things. Bhavya was also starting to feel comfortable with Omkara.

They were talking when Omkara hears the bedroom door open. He quickly turns around and sees Gauri step out. He stops breathing seeing Gauri looking out of the world in a saree. He never thought she would wear a saree she was always wearing salwars. She had her wet hair left open. There was sindoor on her mang and mangalsutr lying on her chest. She had put kajal on her eyes. It was all for him. Omkara looks at Gauri's face and sees her nervously looking at him. Not the beautiful girl, but the way she was looking at him so nervously, made him fall in love with her all the more.

Feeling someone tap on his shoulder, Omkara quickly looks back.

Grinning ear to ear, Bhavya reminds him, "We were talking."

Omkara laughs as he blushed.

Seeing Gauri about to go to the kitchen, Omkara calls her over. "Sit with us, Gauri."

"I'll just see if Ma needs any help." Gauri tells him feeling shy.

Omkara smiles seeing her being so shy. He couldn't wait to have her in his arms.

Few minutes later, Gauri comes back as Nayantara had asked her to sit with Omkara. She nervously sits next to Omkara. Omkara smiles at her lovingly and seeing him smile at her like he always did, Gauri's face breaks out into a big smile as she relaxed.

Omkara turns to listen to what Bhavya was saying then he very casually kept his hand on top of Gauri's hand which was resting on her lap. Gauri smiles happily.

Few minutes later, Nayantara also joins them.

"Dinner is ready." Nayantara infoms Omkara.

"Dandi should be coming soon. We'll have once he come back."

"Where did he go?" Gauri asks Omkara.

"Don't know he said he will come soon." Omkara tells her.

"Once your exams are over, you and Sasuma, come and stay with us." Omkara tells Bhavya and Nayantara. "You'll join the best college."

"Really?" Bhavya asks excitedly.

"Yes. Maybe even Gauri will join with you." Omkara tells her as he turned to smile at Gauri.

Gauri looks at him in shock

"Gauri di? College?" Bhavya asks laughing.

"Why?" Omkara asks confused.

"Gauri di is such a bad student." Bhavya tells him laughing. "We were surprised when she passed for her 12th exams."

Omkara chuckles hearing that, "No wonder she said she didn't want to study."

"You are a rank holder that is why you feel I am a bad student." Gauri says turning pink.

"Don't worry, Gauri." Omkara says then turning to Bhavya "We will put Gauri in your class, Bhavya. That way, she can copy from you and be a topper." Omkara tells her grinning.

"Saabji!" Gauri hits Omkara playfully.

"Omkara." Omkara whispers.

"No." Gauri shakes her head blushing.

"Sasuma, can you tell her to call me by my name?" Omkara asks.

"If that is what he wants, call Saab by his name, Gauri."

"SASUMA!" Omkara shouts in shock.

"Sorry... Damadji... call damadji by his name." Nayantara says quickly.

Omkara turns to Gauri while Gauri blushing shakes her head in no.

"So do I call you jeeju or jeejaji?" Bhavya asks him.

"You'll call me bhaiyya." Omkara tells her making Bhavya and Gauri smile happily.

Hearing the knock at the door, Bhavya hurries to open.

"Kalyani aunty!" Bhavya says loudly as she turned to grin at Omkara. Omkara grins and then turning to Kalyani he smiles at her.

"I made some jalebi today. Was meaning to bring it but had been very busy." Kalyani says.

"Oh thank you so much, aunty." Bhavya says with fake excitement as she took the jalebi.

"Okay, I'll go then." Kalyani says and starts to turn when she looks at Omkara. "Oh I didn't know you had guest. Who is he?"

Omkara stands up and folds his hand politely. "Namaste. I am Omkara Singh Oberoi. I'm Gauri's husband."

"Gauri's husband?" Kalyani asks shocked. "When did you get married, Gauri? Why Nayantara? Why didn't you tell us?"

"Actually, aunty. We eloped." Omkara tells her making Gauri gasp.

"Oh."

"Now finally, Sasuma accepted our marriage." Omkara tells her. "So, I have come to take Gauri home."

"Wow... how did you meet each other?" Kalyani asks as she hurried to take a seat.

"Gauri di used to work in bhaiyya's house." Bhavya tells her excitedly.

"Who all are there in your house?"

"Just my Dad."

"Will he accept our Gauri?" Kalyani asks him.

"Dad got us married, aunty." Omkara tells her.

Gauri and Nayantara watched in shock as Omkara and Bhavya talked to her making up stories after stories. as they were talking, another neighbor came with some food, then another came, some came to borrow sugar while some came to give something. And Omkara being Omkara, he had a blast being the center of attention.

Few minutes later, Dandi came back. Nayantara quickly send off the neighbors.

"Where did you go?" Omkara asks Dandi as he bid the last guest off.

"Here." Dandi says as he handed Omkara two covers. "Toiletries and change of clothes."

Omkara smiles feeling so touched. "Thank you." Dandi had always been taking care of him, he did things before Omkara could ask him for it. Omkara felt a little bit of hatred for his father, for trying to pushing away the two people who had genuinely loved him.

After dinner, Omkara was getting excited about spending some alone time with Gauri. That is when he realized that Gauri's house had only one room and Nayantara and Bhavya were planning to sleep in the living room.

"Sasuma, Dandi and I'll sleep here. You three sleep in the room." Omkara tells her.

"No... you sleep in the room." Nayantara quickly tells him.

"No, Sasuma."

"How can we make you sleep here? You and Gauri sleep in the room." Nayantara tells him.

"I understand, Sasuma. Gauri and I have been apart for some time. that is your concern. Anyway Gauri and I are going back tomorrow. So we will do it at home." Omkara tells her. "Right, Gauri?"

Gauri had turned completely white hearing him, Nayantara looked scandalized and Bhavya had her mouth dropped open then she started blushing while Dandi had quickly took out his mobile and was busy doing nothing in it.

"Right, Gauri? We will talk at home?" Omkara asks her then turning to Nayantara he says, "Don't worry, Sasuma we will talk at home. Gauri did leave me and she is still scared of Dad. I know you are worried about all that. I promise, we will talk as soon as possible. For now, Dandi and I sleep here."

Gauri couldn't control herself and she starts hitting Omkara. "You are so bad, Saabji!"

"What? What did I do?" Omkara asks feigning innocence.

Gauri furiously looks at him and sees his eyes twinkling. "I am going to sleep!" Gauri declares and walks off.

********

"Ma..." Gauri turns to her mother in bed.

Nayantara looks at her.

"At times he acts a little outrageous but he is not bad. He is very nice." Gauri worriedly tells her.

Nayantara smiles at her, "I like him, Gauri."

Gauri smiles in relief hearing that.

"I can see how much he loves you. He loves you so much that he even loves your family and considers us his family."

Gauri smiles happily. "He does, Ma."

Nayantara smiles. "I am just sad that you're going tomorrow. I didn't expect to send you off so fast."

"Saabji wants you to come with us after Bhavya's exam."

"I heard him say that. first you settle down in your house. We will think of that later."

Gauri nods.

"But promise me that you won't hide anything from me again."

"I promise, Ma."

"If his father... don't hide from me, Gauri."

"I won't."

********

After making sure, Nayantara and Bhavya had slept. Gauri quietly leaves her room to check in on Omkara.

She finds him sleeping on a mattress on the floor. She walks to him and kneels next to him. She lovingly caresses his hair.

She had missed him so much. Gauri felt her eyes fill up realizing that he was really here. He had come for her. and now they were going to be together for the rest of their lives.

Gauri pulls up the blanket and covers him properly. Then leaning down, she lovingly kisses him on his forehead. She was about to go back to her room when Omkara holds her hand.

"You didn't sleep?" Gauri asks him in a whisper so Dandi who was sleeping a little away from them isn't disturbed.

"I was waiting for you." Omkara tells her smiling as he took her hand to his lips and kissed it.

"I know you are not comfortable here." Gauri tells him regretfully.

"You're here and that is all the comfort I need." Omkara tells her lovingly.

Gauri smiles hearing that.

"Why do you behave so outrageously? Do you know how embarrassed I was when you said that?" Gauri complains softly.

Omkara smiles at her a little embarrassed. "I am seeing people after a long time. So, I just want to see the different types of expressions and how everyone reacts."

Gauri gives Omkara a warning look making him grin.

"Why did you lie to Kalyani aunty?"

"I don't want anyone to know how we got married. I don't want people to think you married me for money or that they think you trapped a rich guy."

"I don't care what they think."

"I care."

Gauri grips his hand feeling touched.

"I missed you." Omkara tells her as he lovingly looked at her face.

"We will be together from now on, right?" Gauri asks him a little worriedly.

"Yes." Omkara promises her.

"What about Bade Saheb?"

"If he can't accept you then we will move out, Gauri."

Gauri nods thoughtfully.

"Are you worried about where will we go?" Omkara asks her.

"You're there then why should I worry?" Gauri asks him lovingly.

Omkara smiles hearing that. "I should be getting my money soon."

"What if Bade Saheb refuse to release it?"

"All the paperwork is done. He can't do anything now. But even if he tries to create a problem it is okay. I will find the best lawyer, will tell him to get my 12 million released and I will give him five hundred thousand. I guess Dad's lawyer won't stand a chance."

"Why didn't you do like that earlier?" Gauri asks curiously.

"Because that time I didn't have a family." Omkara tells her smiling.

Gauri smiles hearing that.

"that time all I had was Dad. So I was scared what will I do if he disowns me. but now I have you." Omkara says as he lovingly caressed her cheek.

Gauri lovingly kisses his palm. "I am no longer scared of Bade Saheb."

Omkara smiles hearing that. "How come?"

"Because he can't hurt you anymore."

Omkara smiles lovingly at her.

"Are you still angry with me?" Gauri asks him worriedly.

"I wasn't angry, Gauri. I know you, so I was worried about what Dad did and said."

"I really believed him. I am sorry." Gauri tells him sadly. "I should have at least tried to find out what he said was true or not. At least called Dandi Bhaiyya and find out the truth."

"He had fired Dandi."

"What?"

Omkara tells her what all had happened.

Gauri's eyes fill with tears. "I'm sorry, I wasn't there with you when you needed me the most."

"You're with me and that is all that matters."

********

"Omkara, where did you go? I have been calling you since yesterday." Tej asks him worriedly the moment Omkara walked into his house.

Omkara keeps the door open so Gauri could enter.

"What is she doing here?" Tej asks furiously.

"My wife's place is with me." Omkara tells him.

"You were going to..." Tej starts and then he realizes, "You were not going to divorce her!"

"Right. You played your dirty game, so I played you." Omkara tells him then turning furious he asks, "Did you think that you would tell me Gauri left me for money and I would believe you? You only think in terms of money so you thought everyone was like that?"

"I will not accept her as your wife."

"You made us get married."

"For a year. She was hired to be your wife!"

"Gauri is my wife. I am her husband. We are married. I don't give a damn about anything else!"

"I will not allow this."

"I don't care what you want, Dad." Omkara tells him then turning emotional Omkara says, "I can't believe I trusted you, Dad. I entrusted my Gauri in your care. I thought you would look after her. I told you not to fire Dandi and you fired him. You promised and I thought you did love me. but you never did!"

"You're my son. Of course I love you. and that is why I am protecting you from these people." Tej says offended.

"You love me?" Omkara asks surprised. "Dad, the doctor told me not to strain my eyes. I was crying my heart out here because Gauri wasn't here and you didn't say anything. And you expect me to believe that you love me?"

"She is not good enough to be the daughter-in-law of this house."

"You are not good enough to be Gauri's father-in-law." Omkara tells him. Then he says sadly, "You know, I just met Gauri's mother and sister last night. But the love, care and respect they showered me in just 1 night, you couldn't show that to Gauri in all these months. The joy I got from their love, it kills me that Gauri will never know the joy of acceptance from her in-law."

"Say what you want, she will not be a part of my family. She will not stay here."

"Till I get my money, we are staying here. And you didn't build this house. Daddaji did. He never made any will before his death, so I have as much right to this house as you!" Omkara tells him. Then taking Gauri's hand he walks off to his room.

**********

"Do we really have to stay here?" Gauri asks Omkara as they walked into their bedroom.

"That I simply said. We will leave tomorrow." Omkara tells her cheekily as he closed the door and locked it.

Gauri smiles in relief.

"And like I said, your family will stay with us from now on. So, before Bhavya finishes her school we should get our house ready. I've to get my business running." Omkara tells her.

"When will you decide about the franchising?" Gauri asks him, as she knew about his plans, they had discussed in depth about it a lot of times.

"I already did." Omkara says.

Gauri smiles hearing that. Then seeing the way, he was looking at her, Gauri move towards him and hugs him. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Omkara whispers as he took her lips in his.

Omkara was leading her to the bed, when Gauri gently pushes him.

"Saabji, switch off the light."

"But you always liked the light on." Omkara says confused.

"Yes... but..." Gauri blushes as she looked down.

Realizing, Omkara leans towards her and says hotly, "I want to see you, Gauri. I've been dying to see you."

Hearing him, Gauri blushing happily hugs him.

"Saabji..." Gauri softly moans as she moved against him.

"Say my name, Gauri." Omkara whispers to her as he looked at her.

Blushing Gauri shakes her head in negative.

"Please I just want to hear it." Omkara requests her.

Blushing, Gauri pulls Omkara towards herself. Then keeping her cheek on his, she whispers into his ears, "Om."

*** The End ***

I hope you guys liked this story. Please do leave your comments and vote.

- Lazy