Hi Guys, 

My Goal: 50 votes and comments. Thanks

CHAPTER 16

THREE MONTH'S LATER...

The events that took place three months earlier, the death of Gauri had marked a change in the lives of every member of the Oberoi family.

The relationship between Shivaay and Omkara was non-existent. They avoided each other if they could. Shivaay held Omkara totally responsible for Gauri's death due to what he believed was his callous attitude towards Gauri and his nonchalant attitude during the last rites and other rituals did not help matters.

Shivaay also burdened a share of guilt as he felt that he had forced Omkara to accept Gauri. He knew that if he had allowed her to leave on that fateful morning when he first met her, she would have returned to Bareilly and would have been alive now.

Shivaay who still loved his brother with all his heart and would not think twice to lay down his life for him just found it difficult to be in the same room as him. Every time he saw Omkara thoughts of Gauri filled him. He prided himself on being an astute businessman. He judged characters of people on a daily basis, his perceptiveness had seen that Gauri had been a special person. He knew her to be a genuine gem from their first meeting. The one thing that impressed him was her total devotion to Omkara. She had fought the mighty force of Tej Singh Oberoi who was intent on removing life support from Omkara whilst he was in a coma.

And all this for a man who did nothing but insult and degrade her. Her loyalty to Omkara and his kin was unwavering. She never hesitated even at the cost of her safety. But unfortunately none of the people that she had sacrificed life and limb for had been there for her when she needed them.

To Annika and Shivaay they had lost their baby sister. Shivaay missed their heart to heart chats that took place whilst Omkara was in a coma. Shivaay knew the sacrifices and the extent of Gauri's love.

This guilt that Shivaay felt was never going to go away.

Omkara's association with the family was minimal. The people whom he loved and trusted the most in the world barely acknowledged his existence. His mother missed Gauri, whom she had accepted as her own daughter. Dadi still teared when a discussion about Gauri arose. She missed their conversations and her old school habits and attitude.

Omkara had always had his brother's support he felt bereft. That they believed that he felt nothing about losing Gauri was shocking. He felt alone. He was alone. He could not speak to anyone about his thoughts and feeling because it was too late. He never appreciated the treasure that he had been given. And now she was gone.

It was eighty four days since she left. He still opened his door expecting to see her. He woke up each morning wondering why he did not hear the tinkling of her prayer bell or hear her reciting a hymn or praying for the well-being of his family and himself. He remembered her enquiring about the health of the servant. She knew each one of them and their families. Funny how her incessant chatter with one servant or another that had irritated him previously, he missed so much now. A smile tugged the corner of his mouth when he realised that during her conversations, he had also learnt so much about the staff, that he found himself enquiring after their loved ones much to their surprise.

He had let his pride win and ended up losing the woman whom he love more than anything in the world. He had been just too silly to recognise until it was too late. His room was a constant reminder that kept her alive to him. Her possessions as she had left them, lay untouched. Almost waiting for her return. The faint smell of her perfume that lingered in his room was almost gone. He went to bed each night imagining her asleep on the chaise.

He had realised long before their last morning together that Gauri invoked feelings in him that he never knew existed. Despite having a long standing relationship with Riddhima and then Ishana it was with Gauri that he discovered what love was and instead of embracing it, he had allowed previous betrayals and his parent's tenuous marriage, to ruin his future with Gauri. He had allowed his feeling of distrust to push her away, with fatal consequences. He felt the moisture in his eyes which he did not bother to conceal.

He stepped into the alcove that housed his make shift studio. The smell of the paints and turpentine always seemed to sooth his troubled soul. In a far corner, his masterpiece, draped in a red overcloth, for his eyes only. The only painting that he had created in the past three month. He uncovered his portrait of his Dabbang Gauri, in all her feisty glory as she stepped out of the bulldozer after demolishing his car. He remembered the feeling of exhilaration he felt watching her demolish his car. He, for obvious reasons did not appreciate her actions at the time but if he was honest with himself, he admired her tenacity.

If he was honest with himself, he had to admit that that was the point at which he realised that she was really special. But so soon after being betrayed by both Riddhima and Ishana, he did not trust his own judgement. He was naturally sceptical. Her vivacious nature and effervescent spirit touched everyone she had ever come into contact with. He however had always been suspicious. On hindsight he realised that he was an idiot. He was surprised that no one called him one to his face. But then conversation had become a rarity over the past months.

His entire family changed. Despite the dysfunctional family situation with the Oberoi's. The younger generation always maintained a good relationship deferring to each other before making decisions. All that had ceased to exist. It will be a while before thing reverted to how it was.

His thoughts were interrupted by the buzzing of his mobile. He checked the caller Id. It was his PA,

"Hi Elena, what's up." He answered disinterestedly. He had started taking up his responsibilities in the office more. He knew that he would never paint again.

"Mr Oberoi, accounts department have been trying to reach you. There are monies being deposited into your private bank account fortnightly. Initially the amounts were small inconsequential really, therefore it was overlooked. However over the past month there has been several three deposit amounting to four thousand U.S Dollars. Accounting wants to know if you were aware of these deposits." Elena asked.

"No, Elena I am not expecting any funds from anyone. Have you traced the source? Where is the money coming from?"

"Yes Sir, the last three deposits have been from AR Designs. They are a global Fashion designing house."

"I have heard of them but I have no dealings with them. Are there any references to these deposits?"

"Sir, the reference is G K Sharma. Nothing else." Omkara nearly dropped the phone. G K Sharma. Gauri Kumari Sharma was someone playing a nasty trick on him. "Sir, the previous deposits were mad in cash by a G K Sharma." She finished.

"Elena find out all that you can about these deposits. Then give me the contact details of Arnav Singh Raizada. This is urgent" he said while cutting the call.

Was this someone's idea of a sick joke or could it be.....

AUTHOR' NOTE

THANK YOU FOR READING MY STORY. PLEASE TELL ME THAT YOU ARE ENJOYING IT BY VOTING AND COMMENTING AS THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I WOULD KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.

******PLEASE VOTE*******