"She must have said that, just to get your aunt off her back."
Omkara closed his eyes in irritation but he remained silent, letting the wind softly blow in his ears.
After walking in on Gauri and Pinky's convo, he stormed out from the room full of people to find sanctity at the building's terrace.
Since it was close to being late evening, the sun almost setting behind the hills giving the sky an orange hue, the artist in him found it peaceful to just look at portrait painted by mother nature.
Alone and calm, he tried to understand the circumstances under which she had to say what she said. However, no explanation could numb the pain that gnawed at his heart.
His stay with her was finite and the thought that she would leave him one day sucked the life out of him.
Did he not have any chance to ever stay happy? What did life want from him?
"I understand you needed to be alone but Shivaay has been looking for you."
"Karan, thanks for checking on me but please do me another favor. Tell Shivaay to take the family home. I will wind up things here in sometime."
"I am not a messenger bro. You should go down and talk for yourself," came the response making Omkara's anger spike.
"Fine!!" he growled, as he walked past him while the former chuckled.
"You are so easily irked man. Calm down, you seriously need to vent before you go down and create a new problem for yourself."
Favoring his common sense this time, Omkara stayed unmoving at his place for a few minutes, as if gesturing the other to continue.
"Look, I agree we are not friends but I think that is exactly what you need now. Your family supports Gauri. Your brothers are her friends as well as your mother. Even if you have something against her, they will be biased in advising you. I assure you that I won't be the guy to preach you regarding anything," Karan said adapting his serious mode which he seldom used.
His opponent remained silent, contemplating whether or not to trust him.
"You can open up Omkara, I promise I won't make fun," he urged once again.
It took some more time to hear a sigh of sheer frustration which disturbed the peace of that evening.
"I... I am tired of being some charity case," Om started as Karan patiently listened.
"In my life I lost my childhood to my father's affairs, youth to my mother's alcoholism. In trying not to be my father, I think I had committed more mistakes than I would have done otherwise. But I am not my father. No!!" he said, his voice trying to hide the embarrassment of sounding like a child complaining about his lost toy.
"I thought I saw one ray of light in all the darkness and I almost believed it is going to stay. As always, my fate had to intervene. I won't blame her because I know I am at fault and nothing I do would ever revoke my mistakes."
"I don't understand why it still hurts. Shouldn't I be acclimatized to pain? I guess I did not learn from my past even now," he finished with a mirthless laugh.
Karan rolled his eyes, walked up to Omkara and turned him so that they faced each other.
"Bhai... rulayega kyaa mujhe... itnaa depressed kyun hai yaar tu"
"You find anything worth a shot in my life? I just don't understand..."
"No, I don't understand how you can miss such an important point."
Omkara knitted his eyebrows when Karan patiently explained, "I understand you messed up big time and you are worth all the taunting and accusations Dandi throws at you. But in spite of all that, Gauri still is by your side wanting to help you. Why?"
"Because she has always been that kind-hearted person."
"Oh come on. Don't you get it? She still thinks it is her responsibility to help her husband."
"Husband!!"
"You don't agree?"
Omkara shook his head in a no.
"She has had enough of me not giving any commitment... I guess."
"You could have made things better, had you given out her name today. You screwed up again," Karan stated.
"We are not in a stable relationship Karan. No matter what, the fear of being in a life-long relation is still there somewhere inside me. I am afraid if I will do wrong by tying her to me but I wanted to show her importance too. So, I said a name which she alone would understand what it meant. I am not a public person and I don't want to drag Gauri into my deceptive world. That was the only intention. A public announcement is not what we are ready for."
"God...you have made it so complicated. Since you are on the verge of a depressive attack, your brain isn't functioning. So, I want to tell you directly, that your wife loves you. That is the only reason why a woman of self-respect can still stay with a man who insulted her."
"That isn't love Karan.... It is pity and I..."
"Don't you remember the example of your own mother Omkara?" Karan asked trying to make him see the similarity.
"Despite what your father did, she still stuck to him right? Don't you know that love is destructive? Gauri is on the same ship but being a wiser girl, she is trying to protect her heart from breaking further. She doesn't want to stay because she fears you might hurt her again. Once she is assured that you won't, I am sure she will stay."
"Thanks for the very optimistic words," Omkara said with a small smile and Karan made a face.
"Kaisa manhoos admi hai yaar tu. I know I am right but let us just think that I am wrong. She said she will stay with you until you get better. So, take that time as a good chance to make her fall for you. Since she always had a soft corner for you, I don't think it would be much of a problem. You have a bumper chance with you with your upcoming week trip," he said enthusiastically.
"Yeah right, she would forget all that I did to her and fall for me on a week trip."
"Hopeless ho yaar tum. Life is all about hope and without it, a person is close to being dead. So, kindly have some positivity. Learn from Gauri. After what all she endured, she still fights back to raise on her feet. Not only for your paintings, but you should also take her inspiration in your real life."
Omkara silently sank in his words before nodding his head. No doubt that the girl always had been a fighter. He loved that side of her.
"I never thought I would ever say this but...thanks."
"Don't mention, but since we are on good terms now, can I take her out for dinner?" he asked with a grin which soon disappeared with the raise of a scowl on the latter's face.
"How ungrateful of you," Karan exclaimed and started his drama.
Omkara walked past him trying to hold back a smile while the later followed him downstairs trying to explain.
****************************************************************************
"What is wrong with him Rudy. Where did he disappear to?" Shivaay asked his little brother again.
Rudra looked at his phone and shook his head before he answered, "No idea bhaiyya. He isn't answering calls and neither is Karan."
"You are an idiot. How did you send Karan to bring him back?"
Rudra widened his eyes at the statement and said defensively, "When did I send him bhaiyya? He just informed me that we have to settle things here and that he knows where O went so, we need not worry."
Shivaay sighed running his palm over his face.
"I hope they did not kill each other," he wished when he heard his brother audibly gasp.
Frowning, he looked to his side and saw Rudra stunned, gaping at something. Curious, he followed his gaze and raised his eyebrows at the sight.
His brother was walking ahead of his rival, as the guy seemed to complain about something. What was striking was the unmistakable smile on the former's face which he tried not to show to his opponent.
"Bhaiyya? Am I dreaming?" Rudra whispered, earning a pinch on his cheek.
"Ouch... who pinches that hard?"
"Me," Shivaay answered.
He walked towards the other two and his younger brother followed.
"Om where did you go? We were worried."
"I just needed some me time Shivaay. I am okay now. Get the family home, I will take care of things here," Omkara replied calmly before he left the three to carry on with his work.
"Is he alright?" Shivaay asked turning to Karan and he scoffed in response.
"Oh, don't fret Shivaay, he is fine."
"What is wrong with you then?"
"Why can't he agree to a simple request? I didn't even ask more than one wish."
"What did you ask?" Rudra asked at once.
"I just asked if I could take Gauri out for a dinner. That's it..." he didn't complete his sentence when he heard both the brothers scream "What?"
"Oh come on people. I asked nicely and he should have said a yes. It is just a dinner."
"Wait a minute. Karan, you said you liked some girl in your drama company right? What was her name?" Rudra asked.
"Ruchika... her name is Ruchika. I want to take Gauri out for the same reason. It seems like jealousy works everywhere and I thought seeing me with a beautiful girl might evoke some feelings in her," he explained with a sad face.
"Did you tell O about this?"
"Of course I did and still he acts pricey. I wouldn't have asked him had Gauri agreed to come with me. As the dutiful wife she is, she said Omkara will not be happy with the arrangement," he said sulking.
"Someone was talking of drama and logic a few days back," Shivaay taunted smilingly while Rudra sniggered.
"Haa bhaiyya and that someone was asking me ideas as to how to approach a girl. I wonder why."
"You thankless Oberois," Karan hissed.
"Taunt all you want. Just know that the next time you mess up with your love lives... which is inevitable and come to me for help, I will turn a blind eye."
Shivaay laughed as he tried to talk nicely with the annoyed adult and Rudra joined him. The banter went on for some time before the trio came to a mutual agreement.
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Next morning,
"Gauri, pack this lehenga and saree too. Who knows you might need it in emergencies," Anika walked into his sister in law's room with a bright smile.
"Bhaujai, why would I need such a heavy lehenga? We are not attending any wedding," said Gauri looking at the piece of clothing.
"Daadi told me that you might have to attend a function or two in the village. She told me to give you this," Anika explained.
"Oh, what function?"
"Umm... she did not tell that detail."
"Hi Bhabhi, all set for the trip?" Bhavya said cheerfully as she hugged Gauri ignoring her glare.
"Bhavya, I told you not to call me Bhabhi."
"I keep forgetting that. How does it matter anyway. If you don't consider Omkara bhaiyya your husband, whomever you will marry in future will be my bhai. Okay?"
"Hmmm... Who told you about the trip?"
"Who else, Mr. Dumbbell Oberoi," she answered making the other two smile.
"So, you both talk on a daily basis? At what time huh?" Anika teased and Gauri joined her.
"Bhaujai didn't you observe Rudy bhaiyya stuck to the phone the entire evening yesterday? Must be something really important."
Bhavya rolled her eyes as she said, "It must be one of his many girlfriends Bhabhi. Leave about me. Tell me what did you plan to do in your trip?"
"What is there to plan? We will go, spend some time with Daadi's friend, take the idol and bring it back. I am sure Omkara ji will bring his art supplies along so, he will be busy with his stuff."
"How boring Bhabhi. You could talk and get to know each other. Such a good chance to get close to him and you plan to waste it?"
Gauri thought for a moment before she said anything. It was true that the trip offered them time with each other. Why not utilize it to form a steady friendship and get to know his insecurities? The faster he opens up, the quicker she can get out of the place.
"Gauri?"
"Huh?"
"What are you thinking so much?"
"Nothing," she said giving a smile.
"Acha thik hai. You are taking the car right? Listen to some songs on the way, creates a good mood," Anika advised.
"Of course, we are going for a divine purpose. We will go listening to Shiv Parvathi bhajans Bhaujai," Gauri replied.
Anika and Bhavya exchanged looks before the former said again, "Uhh... Gauri... kuch romantic gaane sunke jaanaa. (Listen to something romantic)"
"Oh... okay. I have Radha Krishna bhajans also Bhaujai... Aisii laagi.." she started to sing when the other two shushed her.
"Gauri please yaar. You..." Anika started just as Shivaay called for his sister.
"Seems everyone is waiting Bhaujai. Let me go, otherwise Omkaraji might change into a Nandi for making him wait," she said hurrying to pack the rest of the items on her bed.
"Bhaabhi, enjoy your trip. Who knows it might be one of your best memories," Bhavya said with a wishful smile.
Gauri looked forward to come back soon. The prospective of spending time with her husband both excited and terrified her. She wished things won't get more complicated than they already are.
For the time being, she pushed the thoughts away and smiled, hugging the two of them before rushing out of her room to join the rest of the family, who were waiting to send them off.
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I think I lost my mind because something very illogical struck me while thinking of what happens during the trip 😂😂😂
Are you okay with illogical? I want to try it though..👀🤷♀️
Let me know your thoughts...👍
Please vote and comment..❤
Until later, signing off... yours Soujanya.