Hope is a myth, bought to life by simple beliefs.

Rishi smiled at his mother as she kept the glass of milk for him on the table. "Mama, don't you think it's time to stop drinking milk? I'm no more a baby." He said to which Gauri turns and pointedly looks at him.

"You're drinking that milk. End of discussion." She said to which he makes faces. Grudgingly he gulps down the whole glass before looking at her again.

"Mama, why don't you resume working?"

"Your exams are nearing Rishi. I don't think it's a good idea to start working." She said and shook her head making Rishi sigh. "Mama, I'm fifteen. I'll study. Don't worry. I think you should start working again." He said while solving something.

"We'll talk about this later okay? Now pay attention to what you are doing."

Rishi sighed at the sight of his mother walking away. How long was she going to be like this! He looks to his side and actions his Badi Ma to come out from behind the pillar as Gauri went out of his sight.

"Did she agree?"

"No. Badi Ma why did she quit in the first place?"

"After you were born, it was getting difficult to juggle between work and home. She had no other option."

"Dada could've helped right? I mean, he can manage office easily."

Anika chose not to reply to that. From what she has observed, the first and last time she saw them having a proper conversation was on their engagement; which was way too formal for a couple-to-be.

"Rishi, what makes you think that your Dada will do something on his own for your Mama without her asking?" Shivaay, who was listening to their conversation from behind asked making Rishi roll his eyes.

"Bade Papa, Dada did get her a ring on their anniversary."

"Okay. But it was you who reminded both of them that it was their anniversary."

Rishi sighed and continued doing his work when he heard someone walking inside. He looks towards the entrance and saw Omkara entering. Smiling, he stood up and walked towards his father.

"Dada! How are you?"

He asked and hugged him while Omkara ruffled his hair. "I'm fine. How's my boy?" Rishi smiled in reply and walked back to his place.

Three of them waited for Omkara to ask something about Gauri. Even after three minutes, when he didn't talk, Rishi sighed in frustration and looked at Anika who shrugged.

"How was your trip Om?"

"Oh nothing much! Just the usual business stuff. You know how business trips are, Shivaay."

"Dada I want to say something."

Omkara curiously looked at his son with a smile.

"Mama is going to start working again."

"Okay."

Rishi stared at his father who walked away. He looked at Shivaay who sighed and Anika who had the same expression. Rishi shook his head and walked away with his books while Shivaay whispered to Anika.

"At times I wonder, how they ended up with Rishi!"

------------------

"Dada!"

Omkara walked towards Rishi who was busy with his homework. Rishi, who had a pretty good plan ready in his mind, stealthily makes an intentional mistake and waits for his father.

"What happened?"

"Dada I think I made some mistake. Can you call Mama? I need help."

"Why? I'll help you with that."

Rishi, who didn't think of this possibility, wanted to bang himself on the wall. He smiled awkwardly and let Omkara explain the problem.

"Thank you Dada. Now, can you please call Mama?"

"What happened?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to see her."

Omkara looked away and to his utter luck, entered Gauri. Rishi's smile turned more awkward as he saw his mother.

"She's here. Bye Rishi. See you in the evening."

"But-"

Before Rishi could speak further, Omkara had walked away leaving the mother-son duo. "Where is he off to Mama?" Rishi inquires to which Gauri shrugged.

"Work, may be."

"On Sunday?"

"Rishi, your father is a busy man. Now, chup chaap do your work."

"But Mama, what about you?"

She had walked away without listening to his question. Rishi heavily sighed and looked at the photograph placed on the table.

The wedding photo of his parents. They looked genuinely happy in that. They had their foreheads joined and faces lit up in bright smiles. When will he see them like that again?

------------------

Rishi threw his bag on the couch and slumped down switching on the TV. He kept on changing channels until Gauri's voice reached his ears.

"Rishi! Go and change. I'll set something to eat."

Rishi made faces before before going to his room. An hour later, when he walked back, he saw his father walking inside. Automatically, Gauri had emerged from nowhere, gave him his tea and disappeared.

No words, no exchanges, not even a 'hi'. Rishi was now feeling awful about this. His parents weren't even exchanging smiles. Were they too busy for each other?

He walked back to his room, falling deaf to Gauri's calls. By the time he reached his room, he had tears running down his cheeks. It never hurt before. But right now, seeing them grow distant with each passing second was heartbreaking.

Later that night, Rishi knocks on his parents' bedroom door. Gauri opened the door rubbing her eyes. As soon as she came to his vision, he hugged her as tears soaked his face.

"Rishi!"

Gauri led him to the room and made him sit before worriedly running her hands over his face. "Kya hua Rishi? Don't cry. Please, tell Mama what happened?" Rishi's tears only increased seeing his mother.

His eyes roam around the room searching for Omkara but failed to do so. He looked at the balcony but no traces of his father.

"Where's Dada?"

"Dada is in the study. He got some work to-"

"Work work work! Is that all he care about Mama!?"

Gauri was taken aback by Rishi's question. He never talked like this before.

"Rishi, what are you-"

"I'm talking about you both! Are you both too busy for each other?"

Gauri stared at Rishi as he spoke between his sobs.

"I've never seen my parents have a normal conversation. Why Mama? Why is it that you get awkward around eachother? Why don't you have time for each other? Why Mama? Why are you growing distant with each passing second?"

Rishi couldn't speak further as he choked on his breathe. Gauri was too shocked to speak something. She embraced Rishi and patted his hairs till he slept.

Once he slept, Gauri tucked him to bed and walked to the balcony. Rishi's words kept ringing in her ears. Was it true? Were they growing distant?

------------------

The next morning, Rishi had left earlier than usual earning questions from everyone. And with Ansh, Shivaay and Anika's son coming back, it was hard to believe that Rishi wasn't excited.

"What happened to him?"

Anika's question made Gauri blink away from her thoughts. She stared at her sister-in-law for a few seconds before answering.

"Nothing Bhabhi. Have you seen Omkara?"

The surprise on Anika's face hurt Gauri. It was obvious to everyone except them. What happened? When did they forget each other?

"I think he's with Shivaay."

"Thanks Bhabhi!"

Anika was more surprised when she saw Gauri hurry to the study. Gauri wanted to speak with Omkara; the thought itself was surprising.

------------------

Omkara was looking through some files Shivaay left with him to check. He was about flip the page when the door opened quite loudly.

"Gauri?"

He was surprised to see her. Basically, he was seeing her in a closer view after long. She looked tired than before. She had drastically lost weight. And her long hair was not long like it used to be. The only thing that remained as such were her eyes. Honey brown and full of emotions!

"Omkara! I want to talk."

Gauri watched as his brows arched in surprise and confusion. That increased her pain more. Ofcourse, even she would've been surprised if it was him who wanted to talk with her.

His stubble has grown over the years. Apart from his facial features, what she noticed was his eyes. They were pitch black the last time she remembered. Right now, they had a chocolate brown shade with hues of black towards the centre. Or may be, she was making a mistake.

"Gauri?"

"Yeah! Last night, Rishi came to our room."

Omkara nodded prompting her to continue. Gauri sighed, not knowing how to go further. How was she going to voice out what that was in her heart?

"He- he thinks his parents are not normal."

"What?"

They stood facing each other. One in pure distress while the other in confusion. Both could suddenly feel the tension in the room growing strong.

"Rishi feels that we both don't have time for each other. That we're awkward around eachother."

"But Gauri-"

"Isn't it true? When was the last time we sat and talked?"

Omkara stared at her question. When was the last time they talked? He didn't remember. Heck! When did he even get her this close after Rishi's birth!

"Are we falling apart Omkara?"

Her question rang more than a million times in his head. Were they? No, how could they? They loved each other. They promised a life together. It couldn't end just like that!

"We have to clear it Omkara!"

Her voice broke at the end as her eyes teared up. She could now feel the pain engulfing her completely.

"Gauri! It's fine. We'll clear this together!"

Omkara had wrapped his arms around her seeing salty water run down her cheeks. After a long time, they could feel each other's heartbeats. After a long time, they felt home.

"I just can't take it Om!"

"It's fine. I'm with you!"

------------------

That evening, everyone was seated in the hall. Ansh, who came home for holidays, was having a gala-time with his family.

"Bhaiyya!"

"Hey Champ!"

All the four smiled at the brothers hugging each other with all their might. Being brought up together, Ansh and Rishi shared a close bond.

"I heard that you were sulking in the morning. Why?"

Rishi had gone silent at that. He was soon to plaster a smile on his face. "Nothing Bhaiyya. You tell me, how's college?" With that, the brothers had walked away with their own conversations.

"We're sitting like this after a long time!"

Shivaay said pointing to the four of them. Anika and Gauri smiled while Omkara sighed. "Well, it's not us who go on business trips and have no time to sit after work." Anika joked to which Shivaay chuckled.

"Now, with Gauri getting back to work, the schedule is going to be packed up!" Shivaay's words caused Gauri to frown. "She won't come back to the company now Shivaay. Until Rishi clears his boards, she will be here."

All the three were surprised by Omkara's statement. "Yeah." Gauri said increasing Shivaay and Anika's surprise. Seeing the atmosphere suddenly grow awkward, Shivaay changed the topic.

"Well, that's okay. As long as you're coming back, it's fine. You taking this break is a big loss to our company Gauri." Gauri just smiled at his words. She could feel Omkara hold her hand tightly, as if in a trance. She smiled wider, turning her head back to the conversation.

------------------

"Favorites?"

"Check!"

"Hobbies?"

"Check!"

"Medical conditions?"

"Nope."

Gauri looked up from her list to Omkara who was already looking at her. They were checking their compatibility, and right now cross checking.

"This is weird."

"It is."

They chuckled looking at their respective papers. They had everything noted down. It pained both of them for some reason.

"Any medical conditions I'm unaware of?"

"Allergies may be."

"Oh, I know that you're allergic to paint smell Omkara."

He was surprised to hear that. Did they talk about this in the past?

"Yours, I think you don't have any."

Gauri nodded and both of them looked back to their papers. Small smiles bloomed on their lips at their little conversation of comfort.

------------------

Rishi was observing his parents closely these days. Ever since that night, they were acting weird. Well, they were acting like a normal couple but here normal was weird.

Right now, seeing them talk was a pleasing sight. He smiled as he saw his mother smile. "Feeling good?" Ansh's voice broke his trance and he nodded. "But weird at the same time. I've never seen them interact like this before." Ansh chuckled at that. "May be, they just needed a little push."

While on the other side, Omkara had his eyes sharply and stealthily observing Rishi. "Is he still watching us?" He heard Gauri ask as he saw Rishi and Ansh walk away. He nodded in a no and both of them sighed in relief.

"So, what next?"

"I don't know."

Both of them stared at eachother as they felt what the other was feeling. Pain; may be, it was always there. The possibility of falling apart. Unknowingly, their eyes were turning teary with the overwhelming feelings.

------------------

Rishi was excited to go on a short vacation with his brother. "Chachu himself suggested this. He also added that he and Chachi may go for a small trip so it would be better if Rishi and I go together." Ansh said to Shivaay who was shocked to hear that.

"Om said that he wants to go out with Gauri?" Ansh nodded, done with his packing. "Papa, I've seen a pretty good part of their marital life. And let me be frank, you all are wrong about them. They both know each other really well. It's just that, life got them busy." Shivaay stared at the retreating figure of his son with a frown.

May be. Who knows!

------------------

Omkara waved one last time at Rishi who put his head in the car as soon as it crossed the gate. He sighed and walked inside only to bump with Shivaay who was rushing outside.

"Hey Om! You're not coming to work?"

"No Shivaay. I've taken an off till of the end of this week."

He said and walked inside leaving behind a dumbstruck Shivaay. Shivaay shook his head and walked away. On the other side, Omkara was about to go to the kitchen when he saw Anika speaking with one of her clients.

"Hey Om! Shivaay already left. You better hurry."

"I've taken a week off Bhabhi."

Anika wouldn't be this shocked even if her client cancelled the event. Her shock increased as she saw Omkara rush towards the kitchen.

What was happening?

------------------

A heavy sigh escaped Gauri's lips as she tried lifting up the vessel. It was too big for her to handle. She was about to try once more when she felt a hand over hers.

"Let me help." She looked up and saw her husband bending down and holding the vessel. Together, they lift it and keep it on place.

Once done, Gauri was going to walk away when she felt Omkara's fingers brushing the length of her elbow. She stops and looks at him and finds him already looking at her.

She felt herself going close to him. Her eyes closed in anticipation as she saw him nearing her face. His lips touched her forehead in a tender kiss. The warmth lingered there for a few seconds before he pulled away and looked straight into her eyes.

They stood like that, not knowing what to talk. His grip on her eventually went loose and he walked away. She stood there watching him slowly fade away from her line of sight.

It was getting complicated with each passing second!

------------------

"Gauri." Gauri turned as she heard Shivaay call her. She walked towards him with a questioning gaze.

"Can you tell me Omkara's second phone number? I lost it actually!"

"Sure."

She searched for her phone around but couldn't find it. She gulped as she tried to memorize the digits of his number.

"Gauri?"

Shivaay once again called, increasing her nervousness. She knew Omkara's number! What happened suddenly! Sweat beads rolled down her forehead as she tried hard to remember.

"I can't-"

"Gauri!"

Her sentence stopped midway as Omkara's voice rang in the hall. She breathed in relief as he approached. Omkara was about to ask Shivaay what the matter was, when Gauri crashed onto him.

He frowned confused but it changed to worry as he felt her tears soak his shirt. Seeing Shivaay looking at them awkwardly he was about to take Gauri to their room but she didn't budge.

"Gauri we'll talk-"

"I couldn't remember your number Om!"

Hearing her say that in distress, Omkara sighed. Their relation was hanging on a thread right now.

"It's okay Gauri."

"It's not Om."

She stubbornly punched his chest as more tears made their way down her eyes. Anika too reached the scene and seeing them like that made her frown.

Omkara was hurt seeing everyone's reactions. Here, his wife was leaning onto his chest crying and they were awkward, confused and what not!

Was it so abnormal to see them behave normally?

He slowly pats Gauri's head in an attempt to console her but nothing seemed to work. "Trust me Gauri, it's okay!" He said once again and her grip on his shirt went loose.

"How is it okay Om!" She asked as she pushed him away with force. "How is it okay that your wife cannot remember your number? How is it okay? Tell me?" Gauri was angry by now.

He had no answer to her question. She was right in a way but- He couldn't think further.

"Why can't we be like every other couple Om? Are we that distant?" Her voice was faint and tired. Anika and Shivaay worriedly looked at them seeing it all tensed up.

Omkara stared at her before wrapping his arms around her and taking her to their room. Their talking required privacy.

------------------

"Gauri." He softly called once he bolted the door. She looked at him with teary eyes. "Why Om? What happened to us?" Her question caused his own eyes to water.

He sat on the floor beside her and took her hands in his. They remained silent for a while before Omkara spoke.

"I don't know Gauri." He said and caressed the back of her palm with his thumb. Both of them had their faces wet with tears. "I just know, it's not over. We still have that spark somewhere. Somewhere." His words ended in a whisper and she leaned onto his chest.

"Are you feeling suffocated in our marriage?"

He looked at her hearing that question and saw her breathing slowly. She still had tears in her eyes.

"Are you?"

"No."

"Then why would I?"

She looked at him and saw him already looking at her. He caressed her hairs and wiped away the tears from her face. He slowly kissed her forehead and she closed her eyes.

He then kissed her cheeks and then stopped near her lips. She opened her eyes and saw him staring at her. Her hands slowly cupped his face, tracing the tear stains and wiping them away.

They inched closer as their lips met. He held her close and her arms went around him pulling him closer.

A simple action of assurance. They withdraw from each other and stared. He hugged her and she snuggled into the warmth, feeling home, atleast for a few minutes.

------------------

2 years later

Omkara stared at Rishi expecting him to react to the news. Rishi simply looked at his father with an open mouth. He then looked at his mother who was sitting on the couch.

"Is it true?"

"Yes." Gauri replied, worried of her son's reaction. Slowly, a wide grin appeared on his face as he did a small dance in excitement.

"I can't believe this! We're going to have a baby in the house! Someone to call me Bhaiyya!"

He jumped onto Ansh who was standing beside him smiling. Shivaay and Anika stood near Om, still recovering from the shock of the news.

"It's surprising. And, joyous!" Shivaay finally said and Omkara smiled. He looked at Gauri who was smiling.

He went and sat beside her clasping her hands in his grip. "We never fell apart you see. It was all an illusion. That's what I like to believe." He said and she snuggled to his chest hiding herself in his embrace.

"I'm happy."

"I know."

They smiled as Gauri turned and looked at everyone looking at them in adoration and all smiling. She was happy seeing that. The tension was no longer there.

It was all because of Omkara. He had took it upon himself to mend everything. He took an off from everything contributing his whole time to her and their family.

She too, concentrated more on herself and them. It was difficult in the beginning. They were basically strangers who knew everything about each other. Gradually, the distance had decreased. They had fallen in love with each other all over again.

She had joined back to office as soon as Rishi started his eleventh grade classes. But not so far into joining back, they had found out about her pregnancy. It was shocking, overwhelming and what not!

But they all were happy. And that's all that mattered.

Ansh chuckled as he stood between his father and brother. Anika was with Gauri and Omkara while Shivaay was talking to Rishi.

"So, how do you feel Rishi Singh Oberoi?"

Everyone looked at Rishi anticipating his answer, especially Gauri and Omkara. Rishi smiled and deeply exhaled before replying.

"Home!"

Hey all! Hope you liked the story. This idea is solely inspired from the song "Ek Tukda Dhoop" from the movie "Thappad". The lines 'Hum the likhe deewar pe, baarish hue aur dhul gaye' especially.

Sorry for any errors.

Do tell me your views. Criticisms are openly welcomed.

Thank you for reading ✨.

Stay safe. Be happy ✨.