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"Even though I miss you so much, it comforts me to know that we are at least both under the same sky."

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"...Come on Gayatri!!..." as Shivaay called her, Gayatri pecked Karthika's cheeks totally surprising her.

"...What a cartoon!!...*chuckles*..." as Gauri remarked with Blacky whining in his anger streak to have the unwanted Gayatri in the premises. Gauri couldn't understand the sudden behavioural change in the jolly dog and glanced at the over excited Gayatri prancing with Shivaay as her handbag, walking towards the front door.

"...Hey doggie!!..." as Gayatri approached Blacky, the dog barked loudly scaring the gibbuses out of the poor girl and Gauri snickering at her mannerism with calming the enraged Blacky.

Gayatri was trying to hide behind the irritated Shivaay who glared at the laughing Gauri and barking Blacky. Getting scared Gayatri just shifted a little far away from the furry creature who was gnawing at her.

"...Blacky?!!...behave!!..." as Shivaay ordered his dog who whimpered at his master's loud noise to which an angry Gauri muttered "...control your clown!!...not us!!...*scoffs*..."

"...what did you mutter?!!...huh?!!" as a shocked Shivaay jolted and bend down to the pouty angry girl; Gauri glanced at her mother and aunt, finding them busy.

She smirked with her comeback "...c.l.o.w.n....clown!!...that piece?!! *pointing at Gayatri putting her lipstick*...painting her mouth!!...that one!!...control that!!...not your companion *hugging Blacky*...your faithful dog!!...got it?!!" Gauri's factual words made Shivaay glance at Gayatri who was pouting like a fish putting her dark red lipstick, making him realise the truth of her being a complete clown.

But he cleared his throat replying rather sternly with pointing his index finger at the kid "...stay out of my business!!...get that!!...half-pint!!..." and shrugged off her angry look with his evil chuckle.

"...whatever you say...Tarzan!...*scoffs*..." murmuring and rolling her eyes at him, Gauri got up from the floor with Blacky royally leading her to the garden area.

"...seriously!?...my own dog!!...for whom I paid out of my pocket...sheesh!!...what on earth?!!" an amazed Shivaay watched how the duo were walking off like true superstars with no worries in the world. Blacky for once forgot that Shivaay was his master and not Gauri.

On a Sunday morning

"...Vyju...come to our room..." as Siddarth commanded her, Vyjanthi left the dice on the board and glanced to her children who were equally worried.

"...what is Baba going to do?" Vashishth asked the uninterested Gauri who picked the game board and replied "...I don't know..." walking away to the balcony.

After an hour

"...so, you think she will be able to take care of your daughter...since you are incapable...hm?" Siddarth asked a final question with the string of questions that he had harassed her with for the past hour.

Vyjanthi felt a prick in her heart but she nodded only to save her daughter. Her only chance to escape the devil.

"...*chuckle*...it's a good thing that my Vashishth has not got any of your genes...I saved him on time...fine...do as you wish, woman...but mind you...if I get one more complain from my brother or his wife...that's it for your daughter...I hope you understand...Vyjanthi?!"

Gauri saw the way her mother was helpless in front of her father and decided to not let her uncle or aunt to ever complain anything about her.

She would not let them give any chance to harass her parents anymore.

After two days,

Tuesday late evening

Vyjanthi was drying the clothes on the apartment terrace, when she saw Rani come to take the clothes. As she enquired Rani's sudden stay at home, the working mother explained that she had taken an off for Rahul's exams.

"...So Vyju?...what have you decided with Gauri's matter?...I hope you will think twice before sending her off...during her adolescent age...she needs her mother now..." as Rani spelled the facts to the helpless mother, Vyjanthi could only nod her head.

But she knew internally that it was already planned by her father who was too eager to get rid of the perky daughter.

In Ahuja flat, Gauri was tapping the fish bowl with her zoned out gaze and Vashishth watching his favourite documentary on wars.

The children were having their exams which would keep the elder busy and the youngest sad. Gauri knew that after her last exam, she would be shipped away from her mother to stay in her aunt's house.

It was a good thing that Jyothi was a good hearted human being who loved Gauri like her own daughter.

So, Vyjanthi was relaxed in that accord but thought to cheer up her daughter with taking her back to the Singh mansion. Vyjanthi was blessed to have her bestie shift from Delhi to here in Mumbai as they were childhood friends in Jaisalmer, practically neighbours.

Karthika loved the perky girl who would light up the dull Singh mansion with her little nuances and giggles. Even the servants loved the girl who had put some life in their busy schedule.

They would be happy to serve the girl her favourite foods With Gauri not minding to rush in the giant kitchen (as called by her) to ask for some sweet treats or a simple lemonade for her and her furry creature.

Singh Mansion

"...Furry creature!!..." as the girl low screamed at the sulking dog, it perked over the noise and ran to get the girl with his sloppy kisses.

Blacky had been very dull when its master scolded him in the morning for playing in the garden with ruining its nails.

So, Shivaay had sat to trim, clean and give a proper wash to the dog who hated baths. But the dog would go silent upon sensing his master's aura.

Unlike his perky friend who would not mind splashing and slurring on the mud without a care in the world.

As Gauri climbed the stairs to reach the topfloor of the mansion, Blacky barked with excitement to finally get to hismaster's private lounge area.

"...Wow!!...what a view!!...Furry creature?...who lives here?...its like a separate house...in a castle?...you know what I mean...just *broken whistle*..." as the astonished Gauri was enjoying the grandeur of the private lounge, Blacky was just walking tip toe on the floor.

Gauri slumped on the soft couch, making Blacky grumble. Gauri was able to train the naughty dog with her little fun tricks which was keenly observed by everyone in the Singh mansion except Shivaay. Who for obvious reason hated the fact that his dog was becoming a little rogue only to him.

He knew that Gauri aka his pigtails was the reason behind it and had ordered the servants to not let the girl interact with his dog.

But alas. Blacky would break all the bounds to just enjoy with its lovely freckled faced naughty friend, Gauri.

"...what happened to you?...you ok?...come on...sit here...*whistles*..." as she called the scared looking dog, Gauri couldn't understand why the dog was acting weird.

But she just pulled its lease towards the clean couch and told it to occupy the giant couch.

Blacky had second thoughts but he was with Gauri, Its saviour.

The dog wagged its tail while trying to cuddle in her lap who was continuously twisting and turning to see the grand floor with its artistic features.

Many unknown figure were being adorned in the between the soft couches and coffee table, marvelling the little girl.

Just then.

Blacky suddenly sensed something and jogged away in search of it.

He was tugging on the pillow cover of the beautiful cushions kept on the couch and threw them on the floor.

Finally, he found it.

The stereo system remote. He placed it on her lap who raised her brows to which the dog barked loudly. Gauri thought to press the on button.

Boom!(metallic music blasting from speakers)

The loud noise of the stereo played, making her close her ears with screaming "...what is that?...oh my ears...Ahh!!"

As she tried to shut it down, Blacky caught the remote and ran with it. Gauri ran behind him who climbed the couch, slumped the artifacts and breaking the vase down.

"...Give it!...before you break it...give it...furry creature!..." as Gauri tugged on the remote from its sloppy mouth, Blacky grumbled with shaking his head.

Finally, she took it from the dog who barked the loudest in the manner of scolding her when she turned off the loud music.

His ears perked suddenly and Blacky ran to hid. Gauri couldn't understand him but heard the mild call of '...Ramlal?...'

"...Tarzan?...oh no!!..." murmuring so, she ran towards the space where Blacky had hid himself, behind the lengthy curtains.

"..." Shivaay was gasping for air on seeing the horror, his eyes blurred with anger ascending in them. 

His once paradise type of floor was in a total war zone. The beige couch covers totally soiled with dog paws. The pillows being chewed away with its content all over the place. The coffee table scratched with soil. The entire floor was soiled with dirt and dust with only stench of a muddy dog coming in the air.

He never let Blacky enter this part of the house, his private lounge. Instructing the only trusty servant, Ramlal to clean and maintain the lounge area with his attached master bedroom.

Then who did?

He raised his fist in the air with screaming on top of his voice "...RAMLAL?!!...who...what...when?!!!...Argh!!!..."

He was about to descend the stairs when he heard the lone whisper '...keep still...you will give us up...' making him grit his teeth, knowing very well the culprit.

He smirked with walking back to the place of the sound and briskly removed the curtain covers to reveal two innocent faces – a furry one and a soiled one.

"...*nervous chuckles*...Hi!..." Gauri tried to be cute in front of the flaring Shivaay who closed his eyes with trying to not throw the mischief makers. He composed himself and spoke "...out of you which creature...has done this mishap...speak!!..."

Gauri gulped her throat and signalled Blacky who whimpered with his grumble and slyly trying to escape.

Gauri could see the veins in his athletic hands grow bigger and the veins in his neck redder. She felt her fear come to her eyes with her little yelp "...Tarzan?...*nervous chuckle*...it was him...*pointing at the escaping dog*...I told him...to not come here...don't kill me?!..."

"...*evil chuckles*...oh no!...I will not kill you!...I will PULVERISE you!..." as Shivaay screamed at the clueless Gauri who asked "...um...what's that?...I am still in 8th grade...they didn't teach us that...*cute grin*..."

"...ARGH!!!..." a puzzled Gauri could watch the grown up man move his limbs here and there which she felt like one of her cartoon, totally amusing her.

"...Furry creature?!!...NO!!..." before she could catch the dog, Blacky jumped on Shivaay who toppled on the big statue hurting his head, making Gauri move out in time.

Blacky gripped her dungarees end and pulled her out of the scene before his master could hurt his friend. Shivaay got up with a severe cut on his now bleeding forehead and searched for the naughty girl and his dog.

"...I am going to put a permanent muzzle on you...you nasty creatures!!..." briskly turning Shivaay tried to catch them but felt fainty with falling on the soiled couch, holding his head.

One week later

At the Railway station

"...and don't leave the compartment...without your Baba...hm...be very nice and always humble to uncle and aunty...hm?" Vyjanthi caressed her daughter's hair who was numb and only nodded with her hums.

*train whistle*

Vyjanthi wanted to have a final glance at her daughter's eyes to let her know that her Gauri was her pride.

As the train moved, Vyjanthi waited and at last saw her Gauri look at her mother with tear filled eyes which didn't dare to fall.

Vyjanthi burst out crying and slumped on the platform with Vashishth holding her who always felt the pain of the mother who got separated so abruptly from her daughter – her only solace.

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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 💖