"Wow, bhaabhi, you are looking so beautiful" Omkara heard Prinku admire Gauri.
Omkara was getting tired of hearing this, though of course, since he was not the recipient of these compliments he had no reason to feel exhausted. Gauri, was indeed looking beautiful, and every girl deserves to be admired. He just hoped no one would come to him saying he was so lucky, otherwise he might strangle them.
There was something odd though; Annika bhaabhi had disappeared around mid-day. Shivaay was worried, but she returned just before the Sangeet ceremony with Gauri, and said that she and Gauri had gone to some parlor get ready. But Omkara knew that Gauri wasn't there half the time, because she was with his Nani who had had come in afternoon. Then why did Annika bhaabhi lie, and why did Gauri support her in this?
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't see Gauri coming towards him. She casually put her arms around him, and Omkara froze on the spot.
"What are you doing?" he managed to get out.
"We have some special guests this evening, don't turn suddenly, just look slightly to your right" whispered Gauri, grazing her tiny fingers on his chin, and smiling like everything was fine.
Omkara followed her instructions, and saw Dhurindhar and his assistant among the guests. He turned back to look at Gauri.
"So, looks like they have graced our home finally, to ensure that their fears were for nothing, and put the stamp of truth on our marriage" said Omkara, putting a fake smile on his face.
"On our fake marriage, and stop smiling, you aren't able to fake it; it looks like baring your teeth ready to bite off whoever comes across you" said Gauri, quietly.
Om was annoyed at the mention of their "fake" marriage. "Of course, I can't act as well as you" he said, and immediately regretted it looking at the hurt in her eyes.
"Gauri..." but before he could complete his sentence, Dhurindhar and his assistance came up to them.
"Hello, Mr. Oberoi" said Dhurindhar. Omkara nodded his head. Gauri smiled.
"Well, its looks like we were wrong, its not often we are wrong in detecting lies, but it seems that you both are actually married. We have been keeping an eye on you two, and we just came here today, to tell you that we are officially closing your case" said Dhurindhar, sounding disappointed that he could not uncover the forgery.
"Thanks for letting us know you were stalking us" said Omkara, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "Well, if you are satisfied then, then let's forget it all, and please enjoy the party."
Saying so Omkara took Gauri's hand, and walked back to their family. He wanted to say something to Gauri, because he repented his words, but the Sangeet started and they all got caught up in the song and dance of it all.
************************************
Soumya had not seen Rudra much during the day. She spent a good time talking to Gauri, Prinku, Bade Baal vaale bhaiyaa, she even met Rudra's maternal grandparents properly, and they seemed the nice sort, specially his Nana, who seemed interested in her foreign studies. But Rudra was nowhere to be found. A staff member told her he was in the house only, but Soumya couldn't locate him anywhere.
She saw him finally at the ceremony, but there they were both surrounded by their college friends who had been invited as well. She didn't get a chance to have a private word with him. But now she saw him coming from the opposite direction.
"Rudra..." Soumya started.
"No, Sumo, today I have something important to tell you. I know I have been acting weird since the last few days, but I was thinking what to do. Can you come with me to my room?" he asked, urgently. Soumya nodded.
Soumya followed him to his room. "I got this farewell gift for you" said Rudra, as he handed her a huge rectangular slate of some kind.
Soumya looked at him curiously, and unwrapped the gift.
It was a collage, in the outline of her face, with the radio headphones on her ears (that's how she figured out it was hers). It had some hundred small messages on colorful papers, most were from her loyal audience who tuned into the radio every week to listen to her advice on love and relationships, but there were some messages from her friends in college, and the last few from her family, the Oberoi family. Really heartfelt, genuine words of good wishes.
Soumya's eyes turned moist. "This is so...." she didn't have the right words, for once.
"I was busy making this since yesterday, it was tough reaching out to all your callers, but your colleagues from the radio station helped. I thought you'll like this, don't people take memoirs of sorts, scrapbooks and like when they go abroad to study? You can hang it on your wall I guess" said Rudra sheepishly.
"Thanks, for this Rudra...really it means a lot, but it must have taken a lot of effort and time, and you didn't let me know, you and others, you all managed to keep it a surprise. I...I mean, Rudra, coming from you...all this" Soumya stammered slightly.
"Yes, I know, thats why I said there is something important" said Rudra.
He took a deep breadth and said, "Soumya, I like you. As in, more than friends, and I know you are leaving, and its difficult and complicated but I just want you to know this."
Soumya was not expecting this, but if she had to be honest to herself, that's why she was seeking him out too, to resolve the unsaid between them, which was causing the friction. Now that the words were out, not from her, but from him, the ball was in her court. She had to decide.
"Rudra, I...I need time. As cliche, as it sounds, this is, like you said, complicated. Its not like I don't feel something, I do. But the situation now is....I have to think. I'm not sure about long distance relationships. I....Can I tell you after three weeks? I'm staying with my mother till then, and then I would have to decide whether I want to spend the leftover two months in Delhi or...." said Soumya, breathily, a little unsure of what she was saying.
"Take your time, take as much time as you want. And I want you to know Soumya that I'm not a jerk, I'll be happy even if you go to Delhi for the internship, just....just think about my words, thats it" said Rudra.
"I will" said Soumya, and hugged him.
And he hugged back, and there was nothing more to be said.
**********************************************
Omkara noticed that Gauri had disappeared early, as the guests started leaving. He walked towards him room, but before he could reach it, he saw Gauri coming down the stairs. She had changed into her casual clothes. She was hoping that no one noticed her.
"Leaving?" Omkara asked, a gulp in his throat, he did not know why.
"Yes, what else is left" said Gauri.
"Should I drop you somewhere? To Dandi's house?" asked Omkara, softly.
"No, no need. It will anyways look awkward if you drop me there at night. Already it...never mind" said Gauri. She was not meeting his eyes, and that was something rare.
"Thank you, for everything you have done for me, and my family" said Omkara, his voice sounding thick to himself.
"I think we have crossed the stage of saying thank you, Omkaraji, for if I start thanking you for everything you have done for me and my mother, then it will be morning. And you don't need to thank me, I just had my mother, my only family, my entire conscious life. But now I have a grandfather, two grandmothers, another mother who loves me so much, Annika bhaujaai, who loves me like a sister, a friend in Soumya, and even Bade bhaiyaa and Rudy bhaiyaa who like me. I have got much more than I hoped for. I am going to miss them" hiccuped Gauri, who had always craved love of a big family.
Omkara felt like someone stabbed him, she didn't mention him, she didn't say she was going to miss him, but why did it hurt so much?
"Chalte hain, Omkaraji (I'll take your leave)" said Gauri, folding her hands in namaste.
Omkara did the same. But he wanted to hold her hand one last time, like they had that night when they were both caught in their nightmare. Maybe Gauri felt the same for she raised her hand to shake his.
They shook hands, very lightly, and held on for some time. But then Gauri's hand slipped away from his, slowly, softly. Something was leaving Omkara, not just Gauri, but something was leaving with her, going away.
He looked at her turning. She was leaving. Omkara waited for her to turn but she didn't, so he did. Gauri turned back to get one last glimpse of him, the man who saved her and brought her back, but he had already turned, moved away from her. So, she turned back again and walked away from the mansion. Omkara felt that someone was looking at him, he turned hoping it was Gauri, but she had already reached the door, and she didn't look back. Omkara sighed and climbed back the steps to his room.
His room, it was dark, like his life. He turned on the lights, and saw a pile lying on his bed. The clothes and jewelry from the four days of functions were neatly folded, and kept along with the boxes containing the jewelry. Gauri had left them there as she promised. But there was a new addition. A paper.
Gauri had signed the papers. Their divorce papers. She had signed the first motion, and started the process. At the end of six months of their marriage, if there is no opposition, the divorce will be finalized. Gauri initiated the breaking down of their marriage, and set them both free. She had set him free, like she said.
Didn't Om kept saying that their marriage was fake, throwing it in her face every now and then? And today when she said that, during the Sangeet, he got angry. S
he followed her words and signed the papers, ending their marriage, something which never there in the first place. Then why did Om feel like something was broken inside him?