Chapter 35

She did not know how to respond. Could she invest her emotions again? Would she be able to live with the fallout if this did not work? But then what did she have to lose. She knew that she had no pride when it came to Omkara. She loved him with every breath of her being.

She knew him well enough to know that if he said that she mattered to him, he meant it. Simply because he was painfully honest.

"I will give you a chance, Omkaraji. But I am not coming back to Mumbai. Not just yet. I want you to be sure that this is what you want."

"I am sure, Gauri. I have waited my whole life for you and when you came into my life. I did not recognise you. For that I can never forgive myself. Neither can I forgive myself for all the terrible things that I have said and done to you. I hope that one day you have the heart to forgive me?" he told her.

"There is nothing to forgive." She responded grasping the telephone in both her hands. Her heart clenched painfully. She could barely speak.

"It is getting late and I have much to do tomorrow, I want you to rest now, and I will speak to you in the morning."

"Okay, Omkaraji. Good night."

"Goodnight, Gauri."

Gauri carefully place the receiver on the cradle and smiled tearfully. She looked up at the night sky and clasped her hands together.

"Shankarji, please give me this chance." She turned and placed her head on the pillow for the first time in almost three months and closed her eyes and slept peacefully. Welcoming the soothing darkness that settled around her. Today was the first day of the rest of her life.

The sun was already shedding its light when Gauri awoke. A twinge of a smile lit her face. She dreamily looked towards the window. The glow of sunlight seemed brighter today, or was it just her imagination. She got out of bed and took her time with her grooming. She removed one of her signature dupatta's and her favourite yellow suit. The one she wore when she met Omkara a year ago.

She dreamily picked up the photo of the two of them that sat innocently on her bedside table. She placed her lips on his photo image and turned away blushing. She walked to the dresser and applied the vermillion to her forehead. Her hand instinctively went to the tiny Om nestled in the folds of her Dupatta.

Her phone beeped, she excitedly picked it up to read the message, hoping that it was from Omkara. It was not. It was Arnav sending her the courier details for her next shipment.

She went down to the Kitchen and began her usual routine of preparing breakfast.

"Morning Beta," her mother called out as she herself entered the kitchen and began with her chores. "You are looking very pretty today," Komal smiled "just like my old Gauri."

Gauri turned to her mother. "Maa, I am happy mum. For the first time in a year, I am happy." She hugged her mother. "Omkara wants me to give him a chance. Maa I want that too. He has my heart, mum. This is my chance at happiness. Please don't be upset." She told her mum, tears burning a trail down her cheeks.

"I want you to be happy, Gauri." She replied "I don't want you getting hurt again. I love you, Beta. What are your plans? Are you going to be moving to Mumbai" she said hugging her tighter.

"Not immediately Mum this time I will make sure that Omkara is happy with this relationship before I move. And this time Mum you will be coming with me. I will get a little flat in Mumbai."

"I am glad that you are not moving immediately. We will talk about me moving though." They had their breakfast in cheerful chats about Gauri's future.

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