*The next morning*

Anika: Gauri! Gauri! Utho! Tumne sargi khaayi ya nahi?

Gauri: (Half asleep) Hmmm? Bhojai...aap khaayie, Hume sona hai...

Anika: Buddhu! Main pregnant hoon! Main vrat nahi rakh rahi!

Gauri; Toh Hume sone dijiye na!

Anika: (Pulling the covers away from her) Gauri, pooja shuru hone waala hai! Chalo, utho! Shabaash!

Gauri: (Getting up) Accha, theek Hai!

Anika: Kabhi kabhi Bilqul bacchon waali harkatein karti ho! Accha maine table par lehenga aur kuch gehne rakhein hai, woh pehen Lena, theek hai?

Gauri: Ji!

[Gauri quickly took a shower and draped herself in a regal and exquisite lehenga choli. The lehenga was a pearl shade, with gold brocade work, and the choli, a red color with intricate golden embroidery. She wrapped the beautiful sheet red dupatta, half-saree style, perfectly hugging and accentuating every inch of her petite figure.

She left her hair half up-half down, and adorned her forehead with a maangtika, and placed a tiny gold bindi below it. Golden and chunky jhumkas sat on her ears delicately, whilst a pretty choker rested on her neck.

Gauri slowly opened the tiny box in front of her and took a pinch of sindoor, before filling her forehead parting.

Gauri was a sight to see.

So absolutely breathtakingly beautiful that if Om would have quite certainly fainted if he was in the same room. Gauri then proceeded to adjust her mangalsutra, and took a final look at herself before deciding to head out.

Gauri stepped out of the room, and saw the whole family, including Om, who was holding Avyaya in his arms.

As Gauri slowly descended down the stairs, Om felt her presence and turned around.

His eyes scanned her, and as he did, his eyes met Gauri's lowered and SHY gaze.

Om couldn't get over how beautiful she looked.

How could someone look so beautiful?

Gauri was like a beautiful dream. So preciously delicate and beautiful that he wanted her in front of him every single time.

Gauri took Om's breath away.

Quite literally!]

Shivaay: Om? Om! Dadi kuch pooch rahi hai?

Om: (Still looking at Gauri) Hmm? Kya?

Rudra: Shivaay bhaiyya! Kyun O ka romantic moment kharaab kar rahe ho?

Om: (Back to senses) Haan? Nahi, nahi, kuch nahi! Kya hua, Mom?

Dadi: Mom nahi Dadi! Ithe dekh!

Om: Sorry, I mean Dadi! Mera dhyaan---

Rudra: Gauri bhabhi par hai, hum sabko pata hai

Om: Shut up Rudra!

Dadi: Accha, main bol rahi thi ki ja, naashta kar!

Om: Nahi Dadi, bhook nahi hai...

Rudra: Dadi! Aapko lagta hai ki O kuch khaayega?

Dadi: Arre Haan! Main bhool hi gayi! Accha Rudra, tu ja phir! Avyaya ko bhi khila de!

Rudra: (Carrying Avyaya) Chalo! Aaj hot chachu Aapko mummy-papa ke romance se door karenge! Chalo, Chalo!

Anika: Gauri, Chalo! Main tumhe liye mehendi lagaati hoon!

Gauri: Ji, Bhojai

[As Gauri walked away with Anika, a cloud of emotions stormed towards Om.

He didn't know what to feel.

He was shocked, and mostly, angry, at himself, for letting go of Gauri 12 months ago. How could he be so wrong? Why was it that despite the fact that she'd forgiven him, he still felt a terrible person?

Why couldn't he trust Gauri? Why was he so horrible to her?

And despite all that, she was fasting for him, for his long life.

How was it possible to love someone so much? Love them to such an extent that you can let go of your ego, pride and happiness?

Why couldn't Om do that? Why couldn't he let go of his anger that night and at least listen to her? Why did desert her when she needed him the most?

Om didn't deserve Gauri, and he knew that.

But today, he accepted it.

Gauri was too good for Om. Too good for his egoistic and selfish personality.

Om shrugged his thoughts, before taking his phone and car keys and heading outside.]

*At the main hall*

Anika: (Applying mehendi on Gauri's hands) Badi ma, Aapko pata hai Gauri ne sargi bhi nahi khaaya!

Jhanvi: (Worried) Kya? Gauri, kyun?

Gauri: Ma, darasal kal raat ko itna thak gaye ki uthna hi bhool gaye, lekin aap chinta mat kijiye, hum bilqul theek hai

Jhanvi: Accha, main Avyaya ke paas jaati hoon, theek hai?

Gauri: (looking lost) Ji, Maa

*Jhanvi leaves*

Anika: Gauri, Kya hua? Kahaan khoyi ho?

Gauri: Hm? Nahi, nahi, kuch nahi bhojai

Anika: Kuch toh hai, Aaj ke function ke baare mein soch rahi ho?

Gauri: Haalato ke baare mein soch rahe Hai, Bhojai. Hume kuch samajh nahi aa raha. Iss ghar mein reh rahein Hai toh kiss haisiyat se? Unke liye vrat rakh rahe Hai toh kiss haq se? Jab rishta hi na raha, toh usse nibhaane ka Kya Matlab banta hai?

Anika: Beshak, tum dono ke darmiyaan iss waqt bahut faasle hai, lekin iski wajah se rishta toh nahi toothta, Gauri.

Gauri: Bhojai, humaare rishte mein kuch nahi rakha Hai. Yahaan aur din rehkar hum sirf apne aap ko hi nahi, iss ghar ko bhi dukh de rahe hai

Anika: Kya tum dono ke beech galat faimiyaan abhi tak door nahi hui?

Gauri: Pata nahi, bhojai. Galat faimiyon ko door karne mein bahut waqt lagta hai

Anika: Haan, woh toh sahi hai, lekin tumne koshish toh ki na?

Gauri: Haan, koshish toh ki bhojai, lekin hume phir bhi, kuch nahi pata

Anika: Accha ek baat batao, goa mein tum dono ke beech koi baat hui?

Gauri: Haan hui toh thi, lekin phir bhi, usse kuch nahi hua. Hum kabhi ek dusre ke qismat mein likhe hi nahi the, bhojai

Anika: Aur yeh baat kisne kaha? Gauri, mere ek sawaal ka seedha-seedha jawaab do. Dogi?

Gauri: Ji, poochiye

Anika: Tum Om se mohabbat karti ho?

[As the question rang through her ears, Gauri's eyes quickly watered and she let out a slight laugh before looking down and wiping her tears.]

Anika: (Worried) Kya hua? Sorry, mera matlab woh nahi tha, Gauri

Gauri: Agar kissi se mohabbat karne ki inteha hoti, toh shayad hum woh bhi paar karte.

Anika: Kya matlab?

Gauri: (Tearing up) Bahut pyaar karti hoon unse. Unke dil mein humaare liye pyaar ho, ya na ho, lekin hum phir bhi unse pyaar karte hai, aur humesha karte rahenge. Marte dum tak.

Aapko pata hai, bachpan se, humaari mulaaqat sirf zaalim, maghroor aur khudgarz mardo se hui hai. Humaari toofaano se bhari jindagi mein, dheeme hawa ki tarah aa gaye.

Unke haatho itni zyaati sehne ke baad bhi, humaara dil unse nafrat nahi kar paata, bhojai, nafrat nahi kar paata

Anika: (Wiping Gauri's tears) Toh phir tumhe kyun lagta hai ki iss rishte mein kuch nahi baccha hai?

Gauri: Kyun ki sab kuch pehle ki tarah nahi ho sakta, Bhojai

Anika: Ho nahi sakta, ya tum chahti ho ki kuch na ho?

Gauri: Hume darr hai, bhojai, phir se bharosa karne se darrte hai

Anika: Toh kya tum puri zindagi aise hi guzaar logi? Kya tum nahi chahti ki tumhaare aur Om ke beech sab theek ho?

Gauri: Chahte hai, bhojai, lekin hume lagta hai ki woh aisa nahi chahte

Anika: Aur yeh kissne kaha?

Gauri: Pata nahi, bhojai

*Rudra suddenly enters*

Rudra: Interruption ke liye khet hai, lekin Dadi aap dono ko bula rahi hai

Gauri: (Wiping her tears) Haan, aa rahe hai

[Anika and Gauri went to meet Dadi, who was carrying Avyaya in her arms.]

Gauri: Ji Dadi? Aapne bulaaya?

Dadi: Haan puttar...Arre, maine Om ko bhi bulaaya tha, kahaan hai woh?

Rudra: Yehi toh tha...Ruko, main phone karta hoon

[Rudra called up Om, but despite several rings, he received no response.]

Rudra: Ajeeb hai, O ka phone nahi lag raha

Shivaay: Main khanna se poochta hoon, maybe he knows O kaha hai

Dadi: Theek hai, jaldi kar puttar!

[Shivaay walked away to meet Khanna, and about 10 minutes later, returned.]

Shivaay: Khanna bata raha tha ki 1 ghante pehle, usne O ko gaadi lekar kahi jaate hue dekha

Dadi: Lekin woh bin bataaye kahi nahi jaata! Rudra, phir se phone kar, mujhe bahut darr lag raha hai!

Shivaay: Dadi, aap tension mat lijiye, kuch nahi hoga O ko!

[Gauri's heart starting beating at an unusually fast rate, and she was worried.

Where was Om? How could Om just go out without telling anyone? ]

*On the highway*

[Om, driving at a fast speed, was so lost in his senses, that he didn't even notice the huge truck that came in front of him and threw his car over.

Om was thrown on the other side of the road, and blood was oozing from all parts of his body.

Om barely conscious, but despite that, images and voice continuously flashed right in front of his eyes.

Images and voices of Gauri.

"OYE!! Gaadi agar chaalane nahi aati, toh chalaate kyun ho?"

"Oh hello! Saamne kyun baithoon? Aapki biwi-shiwi hoon Kya? Dekhiye ji, aap na, daayre main rahiye!"

"Oye! Hum bhabhi nahi hai! Ek jhaap dekar deewar pe satt jaaye be! Chal, bhaag yahaan se!"

"Aur woh dukaan wala Hume bhabhi- bhabhi kyun bula raha tha? Zaroor yeh Sab aapka keeda hai! aaj tak 3 logo ne Hume bhabhi bulaaya hai, aur usme se toh aapka bhai hai!"

"Aur Haan, woh payal aapko suit nahi karegi"

"Bhaad mein gayi deal! Arre aaj baba ka janmdin Hai, aaj khaas gyaan milega! Unka tape lagao!"

"Mazaak? Yeh chappal ka maar khaake shaayad aapka ilaaj ho jaayega!"

"Hum aapse pyaar Karte Hai, Omkara ji"

"Aap woh pehle mard hai, jinse hume darr nahi lagta"

"Kabhi kabhi jab aap ko dekhti thi, tab andar hi andar mujhe lagne lagta tha jaise shankarji ne humaare liye, aapko bheja ho"

"Itna gussa, itna ghamand dikhaane ka baawjood, kabhi aapse nafrat nahi kar paayien"

All Om could see and remember was Gauri. ]

*A few hours later*

Gauri: (Worried) Rudy bhaiyya! Kuch pata chala? Unka phone lag raha hai ka?

Rudra: Nahi bhabhi, pata nahi kaha gaye hai!

Gauri: (Tearing up) Ee koi tareeka hota hai ka?! Bin bataaye ghar se chale jaana?

Rudra: Gauri bhabhi, aap ro kyun rahi hai? Kuch nahi hoga, O ko

Gauri: (Crying) Pata nahi ka chal raha hai unke dimaag mein! Aane do unhe...bahut daantungi!

Rudra: Gauri bhabhi---

[Rudra's phone suddenly rings and after answering the call, the phone immediately slips off his hands, crashing on the hard marbled floor beneath.

Gauri looked at Rudra in worry and confusion, trying to understand what had happened.

Soon, Shivaay, Dadi and Anika rush towards Rudra.]

Gauri: (Worried) Ka hua?! Rudy bhaiyya, kaun tha?! Bataayie na! Kaun tha!

Rudra: (Tearing up) O...O-O-O...

Shivaay: Kya hua O ko? Uska phone tha kya? Kuch bol Rudy!

Gauri: (Worried) Rudy bhaiyya, bataayie! Ka hua? Kaun tha?

Rudra: O ka accident ho gaya hai, highway par

Dadi: (Shocked) Kya?!

[Gauri's knees instantly felt weak, and she collapsed on the floor, her hands gripped to her duppata.

"O ka accident ho gaya hai, highway par"

Anika and Shivaay slowly took Gauri's hands, and helped her stand, but somehow, the weight of the news was too heavy for her to handle. Gauri let go of Anika and Shivaay's grip and picked up her lehenga before running outside, to the hospital.]

Gauri: (Running) H-hume jaana hoga, Omkara ji ko kuch nahi ho sakta, hume jaana hoga

Shivaay: Hum chalenge, Gauri, tum gaadi mein baitho, aur shaant ho jaao! Ho sakta hai ki chota sa accident ho

Gauri: H-hume...H-hume jaana padega...

[ Dil minnatein karein, na tu jaana pade

Dil minnatein karein, na tu jaana pade

Tere jaane se ji na paaoon...

Gauri was inconsolable. She couldn't believe this was happening.

After being away from him so long, God decided to play a cruel game with her and separate her from him, forever.]

Gauri: (Crying) H-humaari jindagi mein unka saath likha hi nahi tha...pata nahi ee duniya hume unse door kyun karna chahti hai!

Anika: (Consoling Gauri) Kuch nahi hoga Gauri, tum himmat nahi haar sakti!

Gauri: (Crying) Kyun, bhojai! Kyun ho raha hai ee sab? Sankarji ko pata hai ki Omkara ji ke bina hum nahi reh sakte, toh phir ee sab kyun kar rahe hai?

Anika: Aisa kuch nahi hai, Gauri, kuch nahi hoga Om ko!

*At the hospital*

[Gauri ran inside, whilst the rest of the family followed her. Gauri couldn't think straight at all. All she could think of was Om.

The love of her life.]

Gauri: (Crying) Daactar sahib! Daactar sahib! H-h-humaare pati...Omkara...

Doctor: Accha hua aap aa gayi! Rukiye!

[The doctor came back with a couple documents in his hands, and handed them over to Gauri.]

Gauri: (Confused) Ee ka hai?

Doctor: Unki jaan bahut khatre mein hai, aur bacchne ke chances bhi kam hai, aapko yeh document sign karna padega!

Shivaay: (Snatching document) kya hai yeh? What nonsense!

Doctor: Agar operation ke dauraan unhe kuch ho jaata hai, ya unki maut ho jaati hai, toh hum zimmedaar nahi hai

Shivaay: (Grabbing doctor's collar) Are you mad?! Mere bhai ko kuch ho gaya, toh main iss hospital ko sue karunga! Understand?!

Anika: Shivaay...Shaant jaayie. Doctor sahib, aap jaayie, operation shuru kijiye, jaldi!

[Gauri slowly walked away and walked towards the operation theatre, and peeked through the door, and what she saw ahead, tore her apart.

Om's body was drenched in blood, and his face terribly injured. She rested her hand on the reflection of his image, and cried erratically and inconsolably.

Gauri sat on the floor, her head rested against the wall, and her cries were endless.

The doctors words kept playing in her mind.

"Unki jaan bahut khatre mein hai, aur bacchne ke chances bhi kam hai"

Din tere bin ab ji na payein

Din tere bin ab ji na payein

saans na leti raat...]

Gauri: (Crying to herself) Kaise jiyenge unke baghair? Humaari saansein toh unn par tiki hai...K-kaise jiyenge?

[Teri doori na sahun

Door khud se rahun

Tere pehlu mein hi reh jaaun

Tu hi samjhan jo main chaahun...]

[Afternoon soon became evening, and evening soon became night.

Gauri's tears still hadn't dried up, but her spirits were slightly raised when she saw the door of the operation theatre open and a couple of doctors walk out. Gauri stood up, and rushed towards the doctors.]

Doctors: We're very lucky. Very, very lucky. Woh ab khatre se baahar hai.

[Gauri took a breathe of relief and looked outside and saw that the moon had come.

It was almost like god had sent her a message, that everything was going to be okay.]

Gauri: (Crying) hum bandar jaa sakte hai? Bataayie!

Doctor: Haan, lekin dhyaan rakhiye

Shivaay: (Wiping his tears) Gauri, jao, hum baahar hai

[Gauri rushed inside and her feet stopped the moment she saw Om, plastered and heavily wounded on the bed.

Her heart broke when she saw him in this state, and gathering all her courage, she sat besides him, taking his hand in hers.]

Gauri: (Crying) Bahut shaukh hai na aapko? Hume daraane ka? Hume rulaane ka? Jabse mile hai, tabse rulaaya hai hume!

Aap sahi kehte the, ek insaan ki ehmiyat tab hoti hai, jab woh aapse door chala jaata hai, aur aaj hum jaan gaye hai ki hum aapke bina adhoore hai, Omkaraji.

Aapki akad, aapka gussa, aapka pyaar, aapka dhyaan- inn sab ke baghair kaise ji paayenge? Hum kisse din-raat jhagda karenge? Kisse roz tang karenge?

Humaari jaan aapki saanson par tiki hai, Omkaraji. Agar aapko kuch ho jata, toh aapke saath-saath, hum bhi jinda mar jaate!

[Gauri brought her face closer to Om's cheek, and placed a light kiss, before moving back and holding his hand close to her heart.]

Gauri: (Crying to herself) Om ke bina Gauri utni hi adhoori hai, jitni Parvati ji, Shiv ji ke bina

Hum nayi shuruaat karenge, sab kuch theek karenge- ek saath, jaise pehle karte the. Aap bass theek ho jaayie...Nahi reh sakte aapke bina...

Shivaay: (Caressing Gauri's cheeks) Kuch nahi hoga Om ko, Gauri. Tum jao, vrat tod do

Gauri: Bhaiyya, lekin Omkara ji...

Shivaay: Uska vrat main tod dunga, tum jaao

[Gauri looked at the moon and took a sip of water, breaking her fast.

She had never been so afraid before.

The family sat outside Om's room, until Shivaay came out, shouting in excitement, at around 4 in the morning.]

Shivaay: Gauri! Gauri! O ko hosh aa gaya hai! O ko hosh aa gaya hai!

Gauri: (Shocked ) Ka? H-hum...H-hum...Hum jaayein?

Shivaay: Haan, jaao!

[Gauri ran past the wards and into Om's room, and her gaze immediately met his eyes. Emotions flooded over Gauri, and she immediately started crying, before running towards Om and hugging him tight.

Om, on the other hand, was so glad that he was alive. So glad that Gauri was there.]

Gauri: (Crying) Bahut bure hai aap! Bahut bure! Koi insaan ko itna rulaata hai ka?

Om: Gauri, main...

Gauri: Nahi, chup! Ka samajh ke rakha hai, khud ko?! Aap shahrukh khan hai ka?!

Om: Gauri...

Gauri: (Crying) Bahut bure hai a-aap! B-bahut bure...

Om: (Holding Gauri's hands) Tum rote hue bilqul acchi nahi lagti, Gauri

Gauri: Toh phir hume rulaate kyun ho?! Bataayie! Ka laga aapko! Gusse mein ghar se nikal jaayenge, toh hume koi farak nahi padega? Haan?

Om: Nahi, woh...

Gauri: Woh ka?! Bataayie!

Om: Main tumhaare laayak nahi hoon, Gauri. T-tume mere liye bahut acchi ho...

Gauri: (Crying) Khabardaar! Humaari jindagi mein, aap pehle aur aakhri mard hai, jisse hum mohabbat karte hai, Omkaraji. Shankarji ne aapko, humaare liye banaaya hai, aur duniya maane ya na maane, lekin hume pata hai ki hum sirf aur sirf aapke saath jindagi bitaana chahte hai.

Om: Itni mohabbat karti ho mujhse?

Gauri: (Crying) Bahut jyaada mohabbat karte hai aapse, Omkara ji, bahut jyaada

Aap andaaja bhi nahi laga sakte ki humaara ka haal ho gaya tha.

Om: (Kissing Gauri's forehead) Main bhi tumse mohabbat karta hoon, Gauri, aur marte dum tak karta rahunga.

[Dadi, who was standing outside, wiped her tears as she saw Om and Gauri reunite.

She then remembered what she told Jhanvi when Om and Gauri first got married]

Dadi: (To herself) Jab takkar waali mil jaaye, toh ishqbaazi apne aap ho jaati hai!

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

AAAAAND THAT'S IT!

Wow. So I'm actually crying as I type this out, because I'm feeling a wave of emotions right now.

This book is quite literally my baby, and I'm so happy with the overwhelming success that it's got. Trust me when I say that I wrote this book simply because I love Om and Gauri too much.

This book has been a rollercoaster, and if it's reached 30 K + reads (And counting) and 2K+ votes, it's only because of your love and support.

I want to firstly thank my wattpad best friend @DilBoleGaurika who has literally been a pillar of support, and motivated me to write this book. I love you so so much, and I'm so thankful that you're my friend <3

Next, I want to thank ALL and I mean ALL my readers.

@Divek_kaira, @priyannanoeline @Shailjabanthia @ObsessedWithMyself @GeetaArora @chandrimasenapati @nabu05 @_Shailu7 @Gaurika_Forever CrescentVB and whoever I forgot to mention...

THANK YOU.

Thank you so so so so so much. I can't tell you how happy I feel when you guys leave your comments expressing your excitement. It makes me so happy and I genuinely feel like writing more and more.

I find it so cute when you guys DM me (when I update really late, Like @Chandrimasenapti;) ), and it makes me so happy that you guys feel so connected to this book.

Thank you for your love, support, and for putting up with my excuses and late updates.

BUTTT

This is not the end of Om and Gauri's journey! Head to my profile, and add 'aaj jaane ki zidd na karo' to your libraries!

Om and Gauri ka naya qissa kal se shuru hoga!

Please do read it and give it the same (if not, more!) love and encouragement you gave this book! I promise that you won't be disappointed!

Thank you for encouraging me to do what I love the most.

Write.

I love y'all so so much, words can't describe it.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Chandni <3