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"Don't Count the Days, Make the Days Count."

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Germany

Leverkusen lab

Shivaay was hoping for the combination to work and waited for the results with his subordinates looking over the computer screen.

As they heard the beep sound, Shivaay bend down his head in disappointment at the 10th failure; the subordinates murmured as usual and went outside with a look of disapproval.

He got up from his chair with a jolt and walked outside with the subordinates shrugging on the failure.

At the cafeteria

Shivaay was zoning out on thinking the continuous failing attempt the vaccine was suffering. He was calculating the combination and permutation in his head, but nothing was coming together.

"...Dr. Shivaay?...care If I join you?..." Dr. Mike asked his junior who smiled and asked him to, who placed his expresso on the table with smiling widely.

"...see Dr. Shivaay...As far as I have seen the progress in the lab...I think you should test it out on a subject...like it would not come out as you want..." as Mike told him, Shivaay tsked saying that it would take a lot of time.

"...it's better to take your time...then waste now...think about it..." as Dr. Mike went away with his files, Shivaay thought about his words and went to call up his friend in Australia regarding the same.

After few months

Jaisalmer

As Gauri was entering the house, she heard the distance screaming and happy sound of the daughter in the Vishal house.

Sonal was back for her brief visit in the house to the much excitement of Savitri and headache for Vishal.

"...Sonal Di?...how are you?..." as a smiling Gauri asked with keeping the turki on the floor, trying to catch her breath; Sonal stopped her smile with looking her up and down.

"...better than you...and of course...cleaner...*scoffs*..." sassing such Sonal walked over to her room with Gauri shrugging off her words on her appearance; to resume her lunch duties.

In the evening

As Gauri thanked the priest for the prasad, she saw Dina over a distance and called him.

"...Gauri?..." as Dina's mother perked at the hardworking girl, Gauri bend down to take her blessings.

"...Dina?...did you get the results?..." as she asked the boy, he pursed his lips in disappointment with his mother replying "...whatever the results, he is going to work in your uncle's grocery shop as his assistant...I don't think this boy will get enough marks to get a job...*sighs*..."

"...Ma?!...relax...I will get good marks...and regarding working part time in the grocery shop?...I am going to quit...I can't run around with taking orders and supplying them?!!..." a frustrated Dina kind of scolded his mother who smirked with her comeback "...yes, of course?...as if the education minister will give you basket full of marks...just because your Dina?...huh?...just work in the grocery shop!...your free school work is not going to feed you...and if you get some good marks...we can think of putting you in some village office jobs...that's it?"

"...Ma?!..." as Dina jolted with his loud noise, his mother smacked his arms and bid her bye to the amused Gauri who wished her back with a sorry look for Dina.

"...poor boy!..." she then went back to Vishal house for her evening chores. With Sonal in the house, she was equipped with making all her choice of foods.

For few days, Gauri was busier than ever with running for minor chores for purchasing some or the other things for Sonal.

Then her daily chores, with leaving only little time for her to study.

Vishal had made it a point to not let Savitri or Sonal know about Gauri taking up her studies in the government college through correspondence.

And Gauri had to write her first term exams in a week, leaving her to only graze over the notes. She was a studious person who would burn the midnight oil to score good marks to make her uncle proud.

After two days, Gauri finished her morning chores and rushed to bathe. It was her first day of examination.

The bathroom

"...Sonal Di?..." As Gauri asked the girl who gazed down the sweaty Gauri with replying her "...where are you planning to go...this early morning...hm?"

"...um...I-I..." As Gauri thought of a way to fib, Sonal approached her with a doubt "...don't you dare lie!...you know na...Mom would do the obvious...one call...is enough...*scoffs*..."

As Sonal tried to intimidate the confident looking Gauri with her warning but heard "...the temple..." to which Sonal halted with creasing her brow.

But moved out as she knew her mother's ritual of making the woman flock visit the Tuesday temple aarti.

Gauri breathed a sigh of relief and looked back at her receding figure.

Well, she would go to the temple before rushing to write her exams. So, technically she didn't lie.

So, every day Gauri had a chance to peacefully write her exams with no interference from either Savitri or Sonal.

Savitri would believe her useless niece collecting firewood from the forest, as the girl would not have enough time to do so in the evening. As Gauri was entrusted with making relishing snacks for the visiting Sonal with her ginger tea.

The last day of her exam

Gauri as usual went to the wash area and saw her aunt with Sonal eyeing her suspiciously. But she ignored it and walked to do her business.

"...where were you, yesterday afternoon?...hm?" Sonal caught hold of her arm with Savitri blocking the doorway.

"...collecting firewood..." her reply made the duo laugh out loud with asking "...really?...with whom?...alone or with Dina?!!..."

Gauri creased her brows at the insulting accusations and jolted her hands with "...what?!!...get away!..." saying so she moved inside.

But Savitri caught hold of her neck with gritting her teeth "...don't you dare bring shame to this family?!!...understand?!!...do whatever nonsense you want to do...after you leave us...not before that!..." and jolted it away rather roughly, making Gauri cough for air.

Gauri caught hold of her bruised neck with Savitri moving out of the space and Sonal snickering "...whore?!...*evil chuckles*..." with brushing her shoulders.

A lone tear escaped Gauri's eyes but she gulped her throat and went to wash. As she didn't want to get late for her exams.

She would deal with the mother-daughter later, her studies were more important.

The next day the family bid bye to their daughter, as Gauri stood leaning on the doorway and saw the way Savitri was teary eyed sending Sonal away for her hostel.

She looked down missing her mother who had opted to converse only with Vishal.

Gauri thought to make a call with her mother and would ask Vishal to help her in that.

"...wedding?...bhai?..." as Gauri couldn't understand the sudden marriage of Vashishth, she heard the scoldings from across the phone.

"...yes...our Vashishth is getting married!..." as Siddarth spoke on the phone, a happy Gauri looked over the smiling Vishal who encouraged her to ask further.

"...Papa...I will come tomorrow itself...we have to shop the best for my sist.." as she conveyed her excitement clutching the phone, Vishal noticed her becoming suddenly mute.

Gauri felt her world collapse with her father's harsh words about not bringing the bad luck back in their happy life.

Vishal saw the happy girl go zoned out with handing him the phone. He picked the phone wherein Siddarth continued "...wherein we will send them for Thailand honeymoon...you can talk to Sunaina...when they are back..."

Siddarth banged the phone with Vishal looking over the sad teared up Gauri standing near the pillars, leaning on it.

"...beta...maybe...they would not have time to book your tickets...but if you want to go...I can..." as Vishal tried to cheer up the girl, Gauri wiped her tears with replying "...No, Mama-sa...Its fine...I mean...I have this assignment and then Mami-sa will be alone...she needs me here...so...good night..."

Saying so with her heavy heart the 17-year-old smart girl went to sleep off her desolation for a fresh start tomorrow.

This was Gauri who had learned to bury her feelings slowly and give no room for anyone to hurt her.

As months passed with a new year coming; Gauri's life was getting tougher and tougher with her aunt making her run hither and tither with the outside work.

When the girl would get some time to study for her 12th grade exams, Savitri would indulge her in some cooking with the pretence of teaching a growing girl the art of cooking.

Vishal would try to save his niece from his cunning wife but every time the woman would give one or the other excuse for training her niece.

In such an event, Gauri was going to face another challenge which would bombard her with a new workload in her already piled up work.

"...But Savitri?!...I thought your sister would go to your mother for her post-delivery care...why here?!...and who will do all the baby care and taking the new mother to the clinic...Savitri, think about it..." as Vishal pleaded the woman who shrugged with nearing her clueless niece who was drying the chilli on the cot.

"...why?!...I will take care of her...and when Dai-sa is here...why should I worry about anything else...huh?...moreover, my mother doesn't have the strength that she had...10 years back!!...are you so cruel for making my ageing mother suffer so much...huh?!" at her words, Vishal pursed his lips with replying "...fine!...do whatever you feel..." and went off for his shop.

Savitri smirked and turned towards Gauri who tried to move for her next work, with her aunt eyeing her carefully. 

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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 💖