[The dinner at the open lawn was disrupted when a loud thunder roared through, startling Gauri, who screamed in fear.]

Om: (Worried) Tum theek toh ho?

Gauri: H-Hume Ka hua hai, hum toh theek hai!

*Waiter enters*

Waiter:Ma'am, Sir aap log please andar chaliye, bahut baarish hone waali---Shit! Baarish shuru bhi ho gayi! Chaliye!

[Gauri immediately stood up and was about to run indoors when she felt something hold her hand.
Her heart rate was at its fastest, because she knew who held her hand.

She turned around, and was suddenly pulled to Om, with her hands landing on his chest.

Om's fingers gently touched her face, as she removed the wet tresses away from her face and pushed it behind her ear, making Gauri slightly shiver.]

Gauri: (Nervous) Ee a-aap ka...

Om: (Placing his finger on her lips) Shh...

[The rain had a magical effect on them.

For those few moments, they had completely forgotten what their relationship was.

For those few moments, everything felt like it was back to normal.

The same Om and Gauri that confessed their feelings to one another, whilst getting drenched in the rain.

The same Om and Gauri that loved each other, until things took a horrible turn.]

Gauri: Dekhiye aap---

Om: (Caressing her cheeks) Tum baarish mein aur bhi khoobsurat dikhti ho

Gauri: (Shy) W-woh...

[Gauri tried her best to resist Om's touch, but her heart would simply not let her.

His touch had such a numbing, yet intoxicating effect on her body. The harder she tried to move away from him, she would end up getting drawn closer and closer to him.

Gauri and Om continued gazing at each other, until another loud thunder roared, frightening Gauri.

In fear, she immediately wrapped her arms around Om and hugged him tight, while her eyes were tightly shut.

The same way she would do 10 months ago.

Somehow, embracing Om, would make all her worries and fear disappear.

A few moments later, she slowly opened her eyes, before she realised what she was doing.

She was hugging the man who distrusted her and insulted her.

She immediately moved away from him, while he looked at her in confusion.

Gauri walked away and ran inside, while trying her best to control her tears, until she reached the bathroom, where she let out her anger and frustration.]

*In the bathroom*

Gauri: (Crying) Kyun?! Kyun?! Kyun, kyun, kyun, Gauri?! Hum ee sab kahe kar rahe hai?! Kyun humaara dil unse nafrat nahi kar pa raha? Kyun hum unke saamne itne kamjor ho jaate hai?!

Kyun?!

Itni zillat aur beizzati ke baad, kyun hum unse door nahi reh pa rahe hai?

Nahi.

Nahi.

Hum kamjor nahi padh sakte, hum kamjor nahi padh sakte! H-hume apne aap ko kaabu mein rakhna padega! Hum unke saamne kamjor nahi padh sakte!

[Gauri wiped her tears and walked outside, where Om stood with his arms folded. He came towards her and wrapped a towel around her, irritating Gauri.]

Gauri: (Moving away from him) Humne aapse kaha tha na! Door rahiye humse! Hume apna khyaal khood rakh sakhte hai!

Om: Tumhe sardi lag jaayegi, please---

Gauri: Toh? Hume sardi ho, bukhaar ho, kuch bhi ho! Aapko ka farak padhta hai? Aap door rahiye humse, hum bata rahe hai!

Om: Itna bhaav mat khao, samjhi?!

[Gauri angrily wrapped the towel around herself and walked away, ignoring Om's remark. She got into the car, while trying to forget the absolutely terrible day she had!]

*The next morning, at breakfast*

Dadi: Om, tu kha kyun nahi raha hai?

Om: Haan dadi, woh...Acchoo!

Dadi: Haye rabba, tujhe sardi ho gayi hai kya?!

Gauri: (Worried) Hum abhi dawai...acchoo!

Dadi: Gauri, tujhe bhi?!

Anika: Rudy, woh gaana kaunsa tha?

Rudra: (Singing) Pyaar hua, Iqraar hua hai, pyaar se phir kyun darrta hai dil!

Om: Shut up, Rudra!

Dadi: Tum dono ko sardi ek saath kaise ho jaati hai?

Rudra: Dadi, itne personal sawaal poochna accha nahi hota!

Om: Shut up Rudra!

Dadi: Ruko, main adrak waali chai---

Gauri: Arre nahi Dadi, koi jaroorat nahi hai. Hum bilqul theek hai

Jhanvi: Aise kaise? Avyaya ko bhi sardi ho jaayegi, tum chai pee lo aur araam karo

Om: Mom woh---

*Om's phone suddenly rings*

Om: Excuse me

[Om walked away from the table and picked up the phone.

It was Naina.

And boy, was she mad!]

*On the phone*

Om: Naina---

Naina: (Angry) What the hell?! Tumhe dinner karna hi nahi tha, toh mujhe bulaaya kyun?!

Om: (Confused) Maine bulaaya? Naina, tumne mujhe bulaaya tha, Rudy ne mujhse kaha tha!

Naina: Aur Rudra ne mujhse kaha tha ki tumne mujhe invite kiya hai! Aur wahaan par woh Siddhant bhi tha! Chal kya raha hai?

Om: Siddhant? Lekin...Naina, I'll call you back

[Om stuffed his phone in his pocket and stormed to Gauri's room.]

*In Gauri's room*

Om: Wah! Manna padega! Tum bahut acchi actress ho!

Gauri: Aapko chilaana hai, toh kahi aur chilaayie, Avyaya so rahi hai

Om: (Pulling her close) How dare you? Tumhaari himmat kaise hui mere aur Naina ke beech aane ki?! Tum kabhi nahi sudharogi na?

Gauri: Haath chodiye! Aur aapka dimaag kharaab ho gaya hai ka? Hum kyun aayenge aap dono ke beech! Waise bhi woh chudail---

Om: (Shouting) Uska naam Naina hai!

Gauri: Dekhiye, bahut ho gayi aapki badtameezi! Jaayie yahaan se, hume aapse koi baat nahi karni!

Om: Lekin mujhe karni hai! Abhi, issi waqt!

Gauri: Chilean band kijiye! Samjhe!

Om: Tumne Naina ko gala jagah ka pata bata diya, taaki tum mere paas aa sako? How cheap! Aur iss plan mein tumne Rudra aur Siddhant ka bhi istemaal kiya! Tum kitni giri hui ho!

Gauri: (Tearing up) Bahut bol liya aapne! Aap khud ko samajhte ka hai? Aapko lagta hai ki aapke paas aane ke liye hum tadap rahe hai, ka? Arre jaakar aayine mein apni shakal jaake dekhiye! Kya bann gaye hai aap! Chee!

Om: Tum ek dhokebaaz----

*Shivaay, Anika and Rudra enter*

Shivaay: (Shouting) Enough! Bass Om! Bass! Aur nahi!

Rudra: Planning humaari thi, iss sab mein Gauri bhabhi ka koi haat nahi tha, O

Shivaay:(Angry) Tu kisse baat kar raha hai Rudy! Uss insaan se, jo apni biwi par bhi bharosa nahi kar saka? Uss insaan se, jisne sirf Gauri ko dard diya hai? Yeh humaara O nahi, Rudy! Humaara O 10 mahine pehle mar chuka tha!

Rudra: Bhaiyya, aap---

Shivaay: (Angry) Nahi Rudra! Aaj usse bataana hoga ki woh kitna galat hai! Aaj usse ehsaas dilaana hoga ki woh kya bann gaya hai!

Gauri: (Crying) Shivaay bhaiyya, n-nahi...

Om: Kya bataana hoga?

Shivaay: Sach! Bahut ho gaya yeh sab!

Anika: Shivaay---

Shivaay: (To Om) Maha pooja ke dinn, Rudra, Anika aur Gauri mandir tak pahunch gaye the, lekin bheed ki wajah se, kissi ne Gauri ko dhakka maar diya, aur woh seediyon se, zameen par giri.

Lekin tu, itna khudgarz ho gaya tha ki bacche ke sivaai tujhe aur kuch nazar hi nahi aaya!

Tujhe laga ki bacche khone ka dard sirf tumhe hai, aur kissi ko bhi nahi!

Tumhe pata hai jab Gauri ko ambulance mein hosh aaya, tab usne kya kaha?

Usne poocha "Mera baccha theek toh hai?'

Jab woh darf mein thi, auf tumhaari taraf dekh rahi thi, tab tumne mudke bhi nahi dekha! Mushkil ghadi mein saath dene ke bajaai, saath chod diya uska!

Usse uss waqt besahaara chod diya, jiss waqt usse tumhaari sabse zyaada zaroorat thi!

Aur uske baad, jab tum sharaab ke nashe mein ghar waapis aaye, tabh tumhe yaad hai, tumne kya kiya tha?

Om: Bhaiyya, main sirf yeh---

Shivaay: Gauri, Om ko batao

Gauri: (Crying) B-bhaiyya...

Shivaay: (Caressing Gauri's cheek) Gauri, bolo

Gauri: (Wiping her tears) Aapko yaad hai uss raat, aapke phone par lagaataar calls aa rahe the, aur aapne gusse mein phone tod diya tha?

Aapko Pata hai kisska call tha?

Doctor ka.

Om: Haan toh?

Shivaay: Toh tumhe yeh kehne ke liye phone kar rahi thi ki report mein galti thi, aur Gauri ka miscarriage nahi hua tha. Lekin tumhaara gussa hi tumhaara dushmann ban gaya tha! Tumhaare gusse aur ghamand ki wajah se, tumne apni zindagi barbaad kar di! Jab tak doctor ne Gauri ko phone kiya tha, tab tak woh train station pahunch chuki thi!

Phir bhi, itna sab kuch hone ke baawjood, jab baccha hua, toh naam kiska diya?

Tumhaara diya hua!

Kyun, tumhe pata hai?

Kyun ki tumhaari tarah woh khudgarz nahi hai! Kyun ki woh jaanti thi ki tumhaare liye yeh baccha kitna important tha!

Rudra: Gauri bhabhi jab roz phone karti thi, tab unke paas sirf ek hi sawaal tha.

'Hum waapis kab aayenge?'

Shivaay: (Shouting) Itni zillat bardaasht karne ke baad bhi woh waapis aana chahta thi, taaki Avyaya tumhaare paas rahe! Taaki usse baap ka pyaar mile!

Sharam aati hai, Om! Sharam aati hai yeh sochkar ki tumne yeh sab kiya hai! Arre jiss ladki ne apne seene mein goli le li, har pal tumhaara saath diya, ussi par se tumhaara bharosa itni jadli uth gaya?

Aur tu Gauri ko dhokebaaz bula raha hai?

Shame on you!

[Om's eyes immediately reddened and watered after listening to Om's anger filled monologue.

"Toh tumhe yeh kehne ke liye phone kar rahi thi ki report mein galti thi, aur Gauri ka miscarriage nahi hua tha."

"Phir bhi, itna sab kuch hone ke baawjood, jab baccha hua, toh naam kiska diya?

Tumhaara diya hua!"

"Jiss ladki ne apne seene mein goli le li, har pal tumhaara saath diya, ussi par se tumhaara bharosa itni jadli uth gaya?"

"Usse uss waqt besahaara chod diya, jiss waqt usse tumhaari sabse zyaada zaroorat thi!"

Om immediately collapsed on the bed, trying to understand what all he just heard.

He was wrong.

He was so, so, so, wrong.

How could he be wrong?

How could he be so impulsive?

Why didn't he pick up his phone that night? Why didn't he just listen to Gauri? Why didn't he support her, when she needed him the most?]

Om: (Tearing up) M-maine...m-maine...i-itna sab kuch...how...h-how could I...h-how...

[Gauri hugged Anika tight as she cried endlessly in her arms, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

Anika, Rudra, Shivaay and Gauri left the room leaving Om, with his thoughts.

He got up and carefully picked up Avyaya, who was peacefully sleeping, before placing her close to her chest and kissing her forehead.]

Om: (Crying) I-I'm sorry...M-main duniya ka sabse bada bewakoof hoon! I-I-I'm sorry!

[Om spent the whole day carrying Avyaya in his arms, while he fell asleep on the couch, his eyes bloodshot and weary.

Om didn't even know how to face Gauri anymore.

He was so so ashamed of himself.

He had to fix things, and he knew he would.

He had to make Gauri, 'his' Gauri.]

----------------

FINALLY SHIVAAY GAVE OM A PIECE OF HIS MIND!!

Aww mera Om!! :(

Hope you guys like this chapter! Please vote if you did!

Alsooooo,

Check out the prologue of my new book called 'Aaj jaane ki zidd na karo'!, It's quite exciting and interesting!!

Thank you for reading!!