Omkara was finding it hard to believe.
After Gauri rushed from his house two days back, post-the gym incident, she didn't contact him or anyone at all. For a moment, Omkara even doubted whether she might have been a little hurt, by him and Rudra laughing slightly at her misinterpreting the English word. But he knew Gauri had a better sense of humor than that.
Om wanted to talk to her after he poured his heart out to her that day, but what stopped him was her lack of reaction, until she paired up with Rudra to help him out. He was overjoyed for some reason that Gauri cared for him, now he had to move in her direction. But he didn't know how....until she messaged him the afternoon.
'Omkaraji, can we go somewhere in the evening? I want to show you something'
Omkara texted back a 'yes' immediately, not bothering if Gauri was taking him to Khandaala.
He was going downstairs right now to meet her. Apparently, she had already co-ordinated with Khanna to get a car ready for them to leave.
He saw her, wearing white, her dupatta catching in the wind behind her, waiting for him.
"I'm sorry I'm late" said Omkara.
"No, you aren't, you are before time, and so am I, because I am excited to show you something" said Gauri, the excitement radiating from her face.
Omkara didn't say anything, but he hoped it wasn't anything strange considering how twisted Gauri's plans were sometimes.
"Chaliye Omkaraji (lets go), you are driving, because of course, I don't know how to" said Gauri, giggling at her own stupid joke.
Its like there had never been any awkwardness between them ever, that they had always been this friendly....casual all their lives.
Omkara started the car, and brought them on the main road. Gauri started giving him the directions, and talking nonstop on the side about her day and giving opinions on things they saw on the road.
"The food in Mumbai is too sweet. Look at that chaat vaala, he's putting too much meethi chutney (sweet chutney) in the gol gappa. Gol gappas in Mumbai, just don't have the tangy and spicy twist of Golgappas in UP" said Gauri shaking her head.
"You know they call Golgappas, as Panipuris in Mumbai?" said Omkara, smiling to goad her further.
"Yes, of course, that's what they will, as there is more paani (water/liquid) and less stuffing" Gauri clicked her tongue.
Omkara didn't laugh out loud, but his eyes twinkled.
"How much farther?" asked Omkara.
"Just a little bit more Omkaraji, yes, there, turn right" said Gauri.
After half an hour of driving, they reached a backside of some dockyard, on the outskirts of Mumbai.
"Gauri, what is this place?" asked Omkara, a little worried.
"Arey, Omkaraji don't worry. Yesterday Dandi bhaiyaa worked in a shoot, in this place. He called me up and told me to meet him here, we were planning to visit some place from here. And that's when I noticed" said Gauri, her face glowing now.
"Noticed what?" asked Omkara, curious.
"You'll see" said Gauri, and pulled him to the beach.
Omkara looked around but he didn't see anything special. The sky was darkening now. But Gauri looked upwards anticipating something.
Omkara looked at the sky too. It was a beautiful, clear night, the stars twinkling on the sky like caught on a net, and the moon slowly becoming perspicuous as the time passed.
But Omkara still didn't understand why Gauri brought him here.
He looked at her questioningly. She smiled and gestured to the sea.
And that's when Omkara noticed.
The sea surface was shimmering with stars, forming a glittering blanket. The star strewn water, slowly caressed the beach, almost reaching the spot where Omkara and Gauri were standing.
It was a low tide, so there was no danger of going near the sea. Gauri took a few steps towards the sea. She looked like a dainty white fairy walking on the stars. She bent down and carefully gathered up some water from the sea, and making sure not to spill the water, she brought it back for Omkara.
She held out her hands for Omkara, and looked up at him expectantly, as if silently telling him to touch and reach for the stars. Omkara did that, and felt like he touched the most precious thing in the world.
Gauri suddenly looked up at him mischievously, and threw the water on his face. Omkara hadn't been expecting this.
"Well, now you are covered in glitter too, like the sky" said Gauri, giggling.
Omkara didn't lost time and walked quickly towards the water, to splash a handful of water at Gauri. Since his hands were considerably larger, and Gauri's body much smaller, she was soaked.
He laughed his guts out looking at Gauri drenched like a cat, and Gauri was stunned that he, Omkara could do something like that. Of course, after that a water fight was inevitable.
For someone so tiny, Gauri was resourceful and swift in trying to win over Omkara. This continued for a while, until Omkara caught her hands, and then lost his balance, resulting in both of them falling down on the sand, the sparkling sea carpet touching their feet, while they looked at the moon, now much clearer, highlighted by the starry sky in the background.
"I don't know Omkaraji, whether you heard this story in your childhood or not, but when I was a kid, they told us that when people die they become stars" said Gauri, softly.
No one in their family really bothered to tell him and his brothers anything, thought Omkara, but still he had been fortunate that their Dadi cared for them, and she had of course, laughed about this while telling them.
"Now, of course, after going to school, I know that stars are made up of various gases, and why they twinkle to those looking at them from earth, but I like to believe that even if not as a star, my father is still looking over me, somehow. I think he is, along with Shankarji. They have always taken care of me. Thats why they sent you that day to help me" said Gauri.
Omkara understood the words that were unsaid. Gauri looked up to him as her savior. And that was something he had never felt. Everyone around him, regarded Om as a good man, who needed to be protected and taken care of, most of all his brother, Shivaay, and while he loved them all, this... this feeling that he could also do something, mean something to someone was calming for some reason. Though of course, he knew that of the two of them, Gauri was the actual hero, her bravery, her strength, her brains. He admired her.
Omkara was still holding one of her hands in his own, and he felt no inclination to give it up. He pumped it slightly to show he understood, what she said, understood more than she said. Gauri, despite how life treated her, how she lost her father at a young age, rallied back and won, and gave all credit to her faith for the same.
Omkara didn't know everything that happened in Bareilly, and now he didn't want to know.
They stayed like this for a long time, until it got too late.
Gauri got up first, ready to go back. Omkara was ready to go back home, but not ready to leave her yet. So, they went back to the car, and he drove back home. His home.
Gauri looked at him questioningly, but Omkara didn't want to say anything, he was being selfish maybe, and he didn't want his selfishness to dissolve yet. Gauri surveyed him for sometime, and then messaged someone on her phone, presumably Dandi.
They reached the Oberoi mansion. Yet, they hadn't spoken a word since they had fallen down on the sand. Omkara led her to his room. It was all dark, with only the moonlight filtering from the window.
Omkara sat down under that window, and Gauri sat down next to him. Gauri had shared a small snippet of her life with him, so in return she deserved something too.
Slowly, Omkara poured out more of his memories, from his childhood and teenage days to Gauri, like two days back. What made him what he was, the deprived childhood of the brothers, how he and Shivaay were like parents to Rudra and Prinku, how his parents marriage affected him, how his father flaunted his misdeeds, how all this ultimately pushed him to drugs,........how he managed to fight that addiction and come out of that, how despite everything his father, tried to divorce his mother, and blame her for raising their kids badly. It was this which pushed Om to become a businessman, his failures were used as an excuse to cause his mother grief. He didn't want to be the reason why his mother's marriage falls apart. How when his mother was burning, he too was burning from inside.
At this point, Gauri held him, putting her arms around him, without a care about how inappropriate it seemed.
"Omkaraji, you are your mother's pride, and trying to save her marriage, that too a broken marriage, by breaking yourself is not the answer. You did what you did, but now your mother is stronger, and you don't have to do this anymore, you are free, and everything is fine" said Gauri, half-pleading, half-consoling.
Omkara reciprocated to her arms and hugged her back, buried himself in her lap, and without any warning, started shedding tears slowly.
Gauri rubbed his back slowly, yes, this is better, she thought, let the pain flow out of him, let him feel lighthearted. When his soul isn't burdened anymore, it will be unchained to take flight again, to paint again.
They stayed like this the entire night, blessed in the moon light. At peace.
P.S. I hope you guys liked this chapter. I didn't like the inspiration scene in the show, it was unlike Omkara to be inspired by physical beauty, so I changed it lol. Anyways, I am busy tomorrow, celebrating, as its New Years Eve. So, no update tomorrow. Next update in the new year. Have a good one, all of you! Advance Happy New Year! Cheers!