My Nepenthe

Chapter 67

Note: Since it has been a while i advise you to go back a few chapters before reading the update. Just to get back on track. 😉
*******************************************

The next day,

"Gauri is mad at me," Omkara told his frenemy on the laptop screen.

"Didn't you expect that?" Karan asked in a bored tone.

"I did but I thought she will understand me. It is the simplest way."

Karan raised a mocking eyebrow and Omkara glared at him.

"Okay, I will rephrase it. It is the simpler way and it keeps Gauri out of danger unlike the sudden ambush you planned. Don't think only of your father Karan. No matter how much I empathize with you, I cannot put my wife's safety on the line again."

"Gauri will not be in danger. You have to trust me on that."

"But why take the risk in the first place? I can talk to Svetlana instead, coax her into telling about that Girish. You will know the motive and the weakness both. Then you can go with your team and get your father out. Isn't that more sensible?"

"No it is not. Its dramatic and unpredictable. Can we really trust Svetlana here? What if she doesn't like you so much to reveal all her secrets?"

Omkara widened his eyes.

"You suggested the idea in the first place. You asked me to go talk to choti maa and when I told you about the conversation, you said that Svetlana might talk to me if I ask her nicely."

"Because you won't let me take help from your wife and if I remember correctly, I did not say 'ask nicely'. I asked you to seduce."

"Exactly Karan and I am suggesting a subtler way."

Karan was about to give a rude comeback but stopped and tried to relax. A few silent long breaths later he opened his mouth again.

"What exactly do you want me to do? Obviously, you did not facetime me for advice on talking to your wife right?"

"I need time," Omkara came to the point.

"Unfortunately, time is what we don't have. Girish or Jaivardhan whoever that is, will not wait forever for Gauri to take sides. By the time he calls her, we need to be ready with some plan. Did Pinky Oberoi talk to Svetlana and fix your meet?"

"No, she is yet to make her believe that I am angry at my wife and am looking for easy revenge."

"Omkara, you need to hurry..."

"I know and I understand the emergency. I only ask until this evening. I promise I will make Gauri understand things by then."

"How am I supposed to know if the guy will act before that?"

"That is why I need your help. Divert his attention for a while. Create a new problem for him so that he needs to attend to it."

Karan gave it a thought and nodded his head.

"Okay, I will ask my men to entertain him for the moment but please hurry up. We don't know if he is tracking me the same way as I am tracking him. If he suspects that I am close to him, he might speed up things and we might end up losing time."

Omkara nodded in understanding and reassured the cop before ending the call.

He took out his phone and typed a message.

"Is she any better Bhabhi?"

His sister in law took time in giving a reply.

" A lot better. She will come around. I will ping you when it is your time to come. Until then, keep your phone close."

With a relieved sigh, Omkara typed 'Done' and smiled.

******************************************************************************************

"But jiji I don't like that dayan chirayya to be near Omkara ji," Gauri said again.

Though Anika empathized with her sister, she knew it was necessary to take Omkara's side. It took years for them to be with each other and God forbid if she lost her to ill fate yet again.

"Do you really think Om likes the proximity? You know he is asking you this as the last resort."

"But..."

"No Chutki. Putting you in risk is something I am not ready to agree to. No matter of who assures your safety, I cannot side you or Shivaay in attempting the ambush."

Gauri saw the elder one's misty eyes and sighed.

It was hard enough to argue with her  jatadhari. How is she to deal with her fear stricken sister too?

Sighing, she settled beside her sister on the bed and took her hand in hers.

"So you both leave me no option than say a yes."

"Is that a way to say that you agree?" Omkara's voice dripped with relief.

Gauri looked towards the door of the room and found her husband grinning at her.

Rolling her eyes, she turned back to Anika who had a smile matching Omkara's.

"Tell him that it doesn't mean that he can touch that vile woman. It should strictly be a no touch business."

"What? But..."

"No room for negotiation jiji. Tell him that."

Omkara frowned while Anika laughed.

"Until this is over, Gauri refuses to speak to you Om."

"Oh," the punished husband said and slowly walked to his wife.

Wrapping his arms around her, he bent to touch his face with hers.

"Really?"

When Gauri avoided his prying eyes, he smiled.

"Deal then," he said and kissed her cheek.

Anika cooed in awe.

Despite the embarrassment, Gauri couldn't help the smile on her face.

********************************

"How are you to seduce a woman without touching her?" Karan said in a dead pan voice while Omkara shrugged.

"Are you sure that Svetlana took the bait?" Shivaay asked Omkara.

"We wouldn't know until I meet her."

"What exactly did mom say to her?"

"Just that I was looking for revenge and she might just be the solution. Just like we planned Shivaay."

"But how did she contact her? No one..."

"I traced the number Shivaay. Didn't we say that before?" Karan came to Omkara's rescue.

Shivaay stared at his brother who avoided eyes.

Are they not telling him something?

"Umm... shouldn't we decide on what to talk to her?" Omkara asked looking at Karan.

"Ofcourse. I need information which will lead me to my dad," Karan said out loud.

"Just don't hesitate to lie Omkara," he  wished in his mind.

*****************************************
Extremely sorry for such a long gap guys. I have started a whole new journey and i needed time to settle myself and get back to writing.

I know its a short update but this is what i could manage for now until i get back my working laptop.

Thats it for now. Hope you still are with me and want this story to reach a reasonable end just like i want it to.

Love you all.
Yours Soujanya.