Her eyes filled with tears, her hands trembling, her heartbeat rising, she looked at him again.

"What do you mean?" She asked not able to believe what he said.

"I started liking this Gauri. I tried hard not to give you any place in my heart. But you became my friend. When we three are together, I can't help it but..... bohoth acha lagtha hai! My family just feels complete." Om said looking into her eyes making her heart skip a beat.

For the first time he found the comfort which he was searching all these years in her eyes. He felt relaxed, an unknown emotion filling up his heart.

"You accept me? As your daughters mother?" Gauri asked.

She didn't want to have any misinterpretation this time. She wanted to clear it. She wanted to know that he wanted her as his wife or his daughters mother.

"I want you as my friend! Not just as my daughters mother." Om revealed.

"I wish I could tell you the feelings revolving inside me! But i myself is confused about it. Then how can I tell you?" Om thought.

Gauri wiped her tears and smiled at him.

"As I promised I will try to understand you Omkara ji! I will!" Gauri thought.

"Why are you crying?" Om asked.

"Those are just happy tears!" Gauri said wiping them.

...

Rudy was sitting in front of Om.

"What were you saying? She is just my daughters mother.... She won't have any place in my heart." Rudy asked mimicking him.

Om glared at him.

"Kithna din hua? Dho ya theen? Within few days! Just few days! You changed your stand. Waah!" Rudy said trying hard to tease him more.

"Shut up Rudy." Om said angrily.

"Don't try to shut me up. I was trying to make you realise the same thing and you were like, no! Gauri is no one to me. She won't have any place in my heart. And now what?" Rudy asked.

Om looked down not able to answer him.

"Ok ok! Don't continue with your teasing session. It's not like how you think. We are like friends." Om said.

"Exactly! That my point you both are LIKE FRIENDS! Because you are not not just friends, but something more than friends." Rudy said.

"Oh come on Rudy. What makes you think so?" Om asked.

"The facts! The facts which I know makes me think so. And same facts which is in front of you but you are not clever enough to realise that. I still don't understand, with this small pea sized brain how did you run this company for so long?" Rudy asked.

Om glared at him.

"There is no use in glaring at me." Rudy said.

"If you want to tell something. Tell that straight on my face. Not like this. I am not understanding anything." Om said making faces.

"O! The thing which I want to tell you is that.... YOU ARE AN IDIOT!" Rudy said angrily.

...

"Bhai said so?" Bhavya asked.

Gauri nodded.

"Don't you realise you are not really happy or excited because of this?" Bhavya asked.

"Aisa kuch nah-"

"No Gauri! I know you very well. Don't act in front of me. Atleast not today. And the sad fact is that you are aware of the reason due to which you are not happy. And still you are not trying to go and reach your happiness." Bhavya said.

"I am helpless Bhavya." Gauri said.

"NO! YOU ARE NOT! Just stop being a cliche drama heroine Gauri. You were never like this. Just try to understand, what you are doing is not good for you. Don't you feel you are actually cheating Bhai, hiding the truth from him? Aren't you feeling bad? Aren't you feeling guilty?" Bhavya asked.

"I... I.... I don't know!" Gauri said helpless.

"It makes sense! That's why you don't know. Right?" Bhavya asked.

Gauri stayed quiet.

"It's just because of the promise which I gave you. Otherwise I would have told everything to Bhai on that day itself. Nothing like this would have happened. You both would have lived a normal, happy life!" Bhavya said.

"A normal, happy life!" Gauri repeated after her with a sad smile.

...

Anika was sitting on the couch looking around her.

"Is he mad or what? Who will bring these many gifts to make a child happy? Oh god! Where will we keep all these gifts?" Anika wondered.

"I am surprised that Rudy bought these many gifts." Shivaay said.

"Mumma! Can I play with thish?" Vani asked.

"Do whatever you want. Why are you asking me?" Anika asked irritated.

"Why are you getting angry at her? She just asked you for permission." Shivaay said.

"If I say no, she will ask the same again and again and you will also come taking her side." Anika said angrily.

"Papa! Why ish mumma angly?" Vani asked.

"Uh.... Anika... Kya hua? Are you Ok? Why are you getting angry for such a small thing?" Shivaay asked.

"I am getting angry for small issue?" Anika asked angrily coming close to him dangerously.

Shivaay moves back scared.

"No! No! Galthi mera hai. I... Uh... Your anger is reasonable." Shivaay tells scared.

Suddenly Anika started crying.

"Ab kya hua? Why are you crying?" Shivaay asked tensed.

"Papa! Why ish Mumma crying? Did you scold her?" Vani asked.

"Meine? Why will I scold her? Anika! Why are you crying?" Shivaay asked.

"I was simply getting angry on both of you! You were scared of me." Anika said sniffling.

"Hua kya hai thumhe?" Shivaay asked.

Anika sobbed more.

"Umm... Anika! Are your periods regular?" Shivaay asked.

Anikas eyes widened.

"Actually.... I.... Uh... No!"

***

Gauris POV

Looking back through the memory lane, I remembered how happy I was during all these days. Omkara and I am pretty close.... As good friends! That's what I keep reminding myself. We got to know more about each other. Sometimes I get scared thinking if something comes out of my mouth. As time passed, the awkwardness slowly disappeared. But my heart still skips a beat when he looks into my eyes.

"Gauri! Are the arrangements over?" Maa asked.

I looked at the flowers which were arranged beautifully.

"Haa Maa. Everything looks fine na?" I asked.

She looked around and smiled at me.

"Thank god you are here looking after all these. If you were not there, what would I have done?" Maa asked.

"Maa! Don't take any stress. Mein hoon na? Let me go and check the food and sweets." I said.

"Not before having this! For sometime, care for yourself. How much will you run and take care of everything. You must have something beta."

It was Papa, standing there with a plate of food in his hand. This marriage gave me three valuable gifts, which I could love and care for this whole life.

Riya! My cutie pie. She made my life more beautiful. She made me feel like a mother. She gave me immense love. She is the one who always gives me the hope to move on.

Maa! The one who took the void place of my mother. The one who loves me, cares for me, scolds me, teases me. I don't know how she can love me like this. I feel that sometimes she loves me more than Bhavya. She is just so real with me. And I am so so so happy.

The last one is Papa. Maa asked me to call her so. But Papa didn't have to ask that. It was invoulantary. I don't remember when I started calling him so. He is the kindest human being I have ever seen. He is the one who understand me the most. I know he isn't aware my and Omkara jis past. But he knows my feelings for him. And he gives the most valuable and best advice for me. And that might be the main reason that I don't feel that sadness now.

"You didn't have anything Gauri!?" Maa asked angrily.

Oh god! Her tone! I looked at Papa actioning him to save me.

"Pinky vo-"

"Shakthi Ji! Don't speak in between. You are the one who is spoiling her. Why can't she have food on time? Isko sabki fikr hai lekin khud ki nahi! Why can't you have your food on time?" Maa asked.

"Vo Ma... The arrangements-"

"What arrangements? You need energy for checking all these! If you don't have food, will you get energy? Riya is better than you in eating food." Maa scolded.

"Pinky! Bas karo. She won't repeat it. Hai na Gauri?" Papa said.

I nodded like an obedient child. Maa glared at both of us and went out.

"Why can't you have food on time?" Papa asked.

"Why can't you bring it when Maa is not around?" I asked.

He made faces and gave me the plate.

"I will have it later." I said smiling sheepishly.

"Pinky is right! I am the one who is spoiling you. Now have it or else I will call her." He said.

I pouted and started having the food.

End of Gauris POV

Om was sitting on the couch with Riya on his lap.

Omkaras POV

I feel so happy to see Riya like this. If it wasn't Gauri, Riya must not have been this happy. I just want to thank her for taking care of me and my daughter. But thanking will make the things which she does less valuable. She is doing this out of love. And that's the main thing which attracts me towards her.

"Dada! Why is Bhavya aunty taking this long to get ready?" Riya asked.

"It's her special day na? Issliye she will take more time to get ready." I said.

I very well knew what Riya was feeling. She is a matured child and understands everything so easily. And she scared that Bhavya will go to another house one day. If Gauri wasn't there to console her, I don't know how I would have handled her.

And about Gauri! I just realised something! Love can happen twice. It's not just that I got habitual to her presence. I feel like I can't live anymore without her. I feel different around her. I just feel the same way when I used to talk to Ishaana though phone around her.

But, even when I try to be more close, she takes it in a friendly manner. It's not easy for me to tell her about it. But why can't she understand it through my actions? If she gives one positive sign... That is enough for me to take this forward. I will begin to start a new life with her. I feel like she deliberately making herself take everything in a friendly way. I feel like she is scared.

End of Oms POV.

...

Bhavya was sitting in front of the mirror with a grumpy face.

"Ab baath kya hai? Don't you want this engagement?" Pinky asked irritated due her daughters unlimited tantrums.

"Meine aisa kab kaha? Offcourse I want it to happen. It's just that, I was thinking about Bhai and Gauri. Nothing is improving between them. When I saw them growing close I thought, this boundary of friendship will be broken but it's still the same." Bhavya said.

"You will be the first girl on this earth who will be thinking about her Bhai and Bhabhis love life instead of getting tensed as it is her engagement." Pinky said.

"Mummy please! You may not be worried. But I am! Gauri is my best friend! I can't see her suffering. And Bhai! I don't want him to be kept in the dark. He is the only person who doesn't know about the past." Bhavya said.

"First of all Gauri is not suffering now. She is not sad. She is kind of happy. And about Om, he is not the only one who doesn't know about it, your papa and Riya also doesn't know. So now get that thing out of your head." Pinky said.

Soon the door was open and Gauri came in with a jewellery box.

"Did you have food?" Pinky asked narrowing the eyebrows.

"Haa! I had. I even licked the plate." Gauri said chuckling.

Pinky smiled.

"Bhavya! Is this the one you were asking for?" Gauri asked showing the jewellery box.

Bhavya nodded and started wearing it.

"Finally I am ready!" Bhavya said wearing the last bangle left.

She went outside to the hall. Shakthi, Riya and Om were sitting there. Bhavya went infront of them.

"How am I looking?" Bhavya asked excited.

Om stood up and walked towards her with a sad face.

"Bhai! Why are you getting emotional? Aaj meri shaadi thodi na hai. It's just my engagement. I won't go away." Bhavya said.

"How ugly you are looking today?! Who did your make up? Oh god! I can't see you like this! That too on your engagement day. I am sure Gauri must have done your make up. Right?" Om asked pulling both Bhavya and Gauris leg.

"What do you mean by that? I do bad make up?" Gauri asked.

"That means the make up really looks bad?" Bhavya asked getting emotional.

"Didn't you look at the mirror?" Om asked.

"Hey! You lambe baal waala praani, she looks good and I didn't do the make up. Aur! I do good make up." Gauri said angrily.

Om looked at Bhavya who was about to cry.

"Arrey! I was just pulling your leg. Why are you crying?" Om asked.

"Dada! Why did you make Bhavya aunty cry? Your cholate milk shake cut for two weeks." Riya said to which Bhavya smiled.

Soon they heard the car horn.

"They reached! Gauri, take the arthy thaal." Pinky said.

Everyone except Rikara walked towards the entrance.

"I do bad make up huh?" Gauri asked.

"You look good without make up." Om said coming more close to her.

Gauri gulped seeing him coming closer.

"I... I have to take the Aarthy thaal." Gauri said stammering a bit.

"Go and take. Who is stopping you?" Om asked smirking.

"Move" She said.

Om took a step back. Gauri smiled and walked towards the pooja room.

"If you had done her make up, it would have been better." Om said smiling.

Gauri laughed.

"You look good while laughing." Om said.

"My laugh was always good." Gauri said smiling proudly.

"Not that good! Don't fly too high. And for your kind information, when someone praises you, don't show attitude, you must be polite." Om said making faces.

Gauri laughed again.

"You are still the same! KHADOOS!!!" Gauri said laughing and walked towards the pooja room making Om numb.

#OkThanksBye