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"Darkness watches me from every angle. My only friend. From its own place within the silence, it speaks to me in a strange way."

 - T. L. Martin

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"...why?...let her stay here...I mean...even Anand can take care of her..." Siddarth narrated his opposition to take back Gauri with them to the city, making Vyjanthi question his existence as a father.

"...what are you talking about?!...a maturing girl?!!...alone?!!...with a man...no way!...I won't allow this...?!!" Vyjanthi got angered for the first time and tried to move out when

"...then both you and your cursed daughter can stay away from our family...once and for all!!..." her eyes widened at his warning which meant him to abandoned her.

"...what?!!..." she whispered with a tearful gaze at the stubborn man and saw the way Siddarth was adamant on his decision and walked away from the useless conversation.

Vyjanthi was in a fix, when she remembered something crucial and ran after her husband.

Gauri again packed her bag to move in another village in Jaisalmer. Her maternal uncle's house. She hated it.

Vishal Rajput was a small-time shopkeeper in the village. Being a public pleaser, Vishal always had a smile on his face which would be sufficient enough to wring his admirers all the time. 

(Vishal Rajput)

Vyjanthi thanked her brother to help her out in her distress and agreed to pay for all of Gauri's expense with not much burden on her brother and his family of three.

Just as how Vishal was a timeless gem, the right opposite was his wife – Savitri and daughter – Sonal. 

(Savitri Rajput)

Little did Vyjanthi knew that she was offering her lamb of a daughter right inside the lion's cave, with the lioness and her cub ready to pounce on the innocent baby lamb.

After few days, Gauri was sitting on the house veranda when...

"...you!...come here!..." Gauri looked back to find her aunt standing with some clothes in her hand and her cousin Sonal standing beside her.

"...wash them!..." saying so Savitri dumped the clothes on the little ones hands who looked perplexed and shouted back.

"...I am not your maid!..." as the girl turned to move out, her aunt's words made her halt.

"... then I guess...I can always call up your Baba and tell him about your bad behaviour...let's see how you and your mother come out of this situation, hm?"

Gauri marched back to her aunt with her fiery eyes and replied "...you wouldn't dare!..."

Then she saw Sonal wiggle the hand phone with an evil smile replying "...oh we will!..."

"...do as I tell you, useless wretch!...or face your father's anger on .... *whisper*...your mom!..." the words widened Gauri's eyes which filled with tears. But the smart child composed herself answering boldly "...keep your false threats for the weak.... not me!..."

"...ha, Sonal...Tell child...what is it that you wanted to tell me about Bunki!...hello?!!..." the voice boomed from the other side of the handsfree phone, held by the cunning Sonal. Savitri saw the hapless child scared at hearing the voice and shaked her head.

"...Nothing much Kakoo-sa...she was just shying away to play with my dolls...that's all...I will call you later...bye..." Saying so Sonal cut the call, seeing the way Gauri zoned out thinking about her mother.

"...So?!...what is your take on this?!!...Bunki?" Sonal teased whispering near her ears. Gauri blinked her eyes and gulped her harsh words down the throat replying "...where is the wash area?..."

Savitri showed her the pathway which would lead the helpless child to her next stage of the ordeal.

She knew that her silent mother would take the wrath of her hot-headed father, if her haughty daughter would continue her anger streak even far away from them.

If washing clothes would help her mother to live peacefully, then so be it.

Just like that, Savitri and Sonal were able to wring the child in their finger without letting Vishal know about their wicked ways.

Two months passed with a blink of an eye.

Ahuja perfume business boomed with line of clients waiting years together to get their order from the famous perfume maker – Mr. Siddarth Ahuja. The proud man owed his entire success to his daughter – as was the case of her away would always bring prosperity to him and his business.

"...So, Lina...understood?...the next order should not face any hindrances like the last time, ok?" saying so Siddarth went back to his computer to confirm the next huge order to Japan.

Yes. Ahuja perfumes were growing towards the international borders, taking in many satisfied clients in its grasps. Unbeknownst to Siddarth, the progressive growth of his business should be credited to Pratap Singh.

Karthika had suggested her husband to promote the Ahuja perfume to his international friends who were mesmerised by the uniqueness of the perfume and had approached the Ahuja business with its first international order.

Vyjanthi was deeply thankful to Karthika for her immense help and did communicate it to her husband – Siddarth. Being the arrogant man, Siddarth retaliated that if it was not for the distinct quality of the perfume, the client would have not approached them.

In the late afternoon,

Ahuja Perfumes

"...Baba?...the invoice is ready...if you could just check it!..." Vashishth peeped inside his father's cabin with adjusting his glasses.

"...Arrey...why I need to check it...when I know that my smart and hardworking son would never make any mistakes...just mail them to the accounts department...the rest they will handle...ok...um...Son?..."

"..Yes...Baba..."

Replying Vashishth was arranging the documents after getting it signed by his boss father who caressed his 20-year-old broad shoulders humming.

"...it seems that you had send your resume to various companies for probable job opportunities, hm?" the brows on Siddarth's forehead seems to grow as he spelled his disappointment towards his son.

"...about that, Baba?...um...I was just...um...I don't want this perk of being an accountant in your company...when I can learn more practically in somewhere else...without the luxury of being your prestigious son, Baba...I want to prove it to you that I can earn and stand on my own feet with my hardwork...please Baba...let me..."

"...No!...not when I have made this huge business for you...how can you even think of joining somewhere else...no!...you will work only for our business...that has been my dream and desire...to have my blood take over my empire and lead it to much more success than this...so, yes...you will work only here...and from now on...you will be the Senior Accountant...just write that exam of yours for much more higher degree...which we can attach to our company profile...and then after a few years...I can finally see you as my CEO...the one...the only one...who truly deserves my place...my business...Vashishth Ahuja..."

He patted his son's shoulder and took him for his favourite restaurant to celebrate his one more promotion during the three months office tenure that Vashishth had spent in Ahuja Perfumes.

Singh Mansion

The living room

"..." Shivaay looked over his father who pleaded him to take back his lost bestie. Even Karthika was against taking Sunny back in Shivaay's life as she had seen the way the boy pleaded to her strict son who didn't pay any heed to his cries over the three months.

It was evident that Sunny was adamant to not leave his Shivaay over his mishap of giving Gayatri more importance than his money bank of a bestie.

Shivaay clenched his jaw not taking his glare from Sunny who for once got scared of his raging aura.

Pratap saw his son leave the conversation in midway, jogging towards his room.

"...Sunny?...I am not aware of the misunderstanding that might have happened between both of you...but It is evident that you are at the wrong end...so...I would suggest that you apologise properly to Rocky ...you know he is angry now...but my humble son has a heart of gold...he will definitely forgive you..." saying some encouraging words, Pratap moved to his car tagged by his assistant to resume his office work.

Karthika sighed and left the boy standing in the middle of big living room, who glanced towards his bestie's first floor room.

"...Guess uncle is right...I better keep my pride aside for once...and apologise decently...*exhales*..." thinking positively Sunny went from the mansion to uplift his bestie's mood with the one thing, he will never refuse.

Jaisalmer

Vishal's property

The girl was trying hard to pluck the one stubborn mango being far off from her reach. She grunted not leaving her other hand clutching the branch tightly.

"...this Mami-sa!...uffo!!...just come to me...you stubborn mango!!!...Ahhh!!" before she could fall on her butt, Gauri tightened her grip on the branch and steadied herself on the thick branch.

Finally, after getting the desired amount of mangoes (2 kilos! To be precise!!) for her aunty, Gauri climbed down the tree with the bunch of fruits for her aunt's famous mango pickle.

Vishal's home

"...that's it!!...how will I make 1 kilo of my famous pickle...with this...this...peanuts of mangoes...huh?!!...half of which are rotten!!...can't you at the least pick some good ones!!!...useless child, humph!!" insulting her once again, Savitri grabbed the lot of the golden fruits and walked to the kitchen. Not before ordering Gauri to dust and clean the entire house before coming with another set of work for the poor soul.

Sonal grabbed the tv remote and sat to have her breakfast before moving to her school on time. Vishal entered the living room with a wide smile and called his niece for the wonderful news.

"...Mamu-sa!...but...I ...I am...what about...my parents...?!!" Gauri was teary-eyed on reading the letter given by her caring uncle who caressed her hairs replying.

"...Beta...your mother had only written to me...to send you to this school...mind you!...this is the same school where your mother and me had gotten our education...so do make us proud...Beta!"

"..but...but...Vishal-ji...we were planning to put her in this private school, na?!...then why suddenly this UP school, huh?...I mean...Gauri is used to private and high-end schools na!...then why this small grade government school for her..." Savitri asked her husband while serving him his breakfast. Savitri didn't want to let go of her free servant and miss on watching her afternoon serials while the poor kid would work herself out in the kitchen and household works.

Vishal just smiled replying "...that's where you are wrong, Savitri!...being a government school doesn't mean that the education is low...on the contrary, I feel that children become more disciplined and hardworking, making them realise the essence of life!...as you can see how me and my lovely sister are...so, I feel that even Gauri should take her education from the same school. And moreover, I know all the teachers and the Principal personally here. Who will give their unwearied attention and care to my deserving niece...hm?"  

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Hello my dear Readers❤️

Presenting to you 'The Gifted Wife' - a hate-love-hate story with a twist.❤️

I hope to give a side of the story that is very close to my heart. ❤️

A glimpse of the reality on how a heartbroken child is given the endearing love that she truly deserves from her enemy. ❤️

Do give your support and love for 'His' efforts to win 'Her' smile which he desires ❤️

Lots of love 💖

Take care 💖