"Om didn't come out of his room, the entire day today" said Jahnvi.
She and Tej were having their 'end-of-the-day' conversation like their counsellor had advised; small things like this seemed to be working. Their relationship saw a great improvement as their communication gap, which had grown huge over the years, reduced.
"I know" sighed Tej. "I saw him having an....argument with Gauri"
"Argument?" said Jahnvi, confused.
"I saw them exchanging what looked like heated words, in the corridor this morning. At the least, they've had a disagreement. Jahnvi, do you really think Gauri is....you know, right?" said Tej. "I don't mean to say that she is not a good girl, just that she might not suit our Om, she frequently frustrates him."
"Hmm...I get what you are saying Tej, however, I think the problem is not that they are incompatible, no, the problem is that they, or should I say Om, is not able to accept that they are compatible. The superficial differences between them, is camouflaging their innate similarity" explained Jahnvi.
"Well, you know my views. I'll be quite glad if Om finds a girl who suits him in every way" said Tej.
"If I know my son well, then I think he'll be happy with a girl who he loves" said Jahnvi, with a tone that made it clear it was her final word on the subject.
**************************
Gauri didn't see Omkaraji at breakfast. He wasn't present at dinner yesterday night, and apparently, was locked up in his room the entire day yesterday after their conversation with Dadi. Did her words unintentionally hurt him?
Gauri didn't get much time to ponder over this fact, as she had to leave for work. Today, the Panditji was arriving in the evening to fix the date for Soumya and Rudra's roka, and everyone had to be present their on time. Gauri left early, so that she could finish up her work, and private tuitions and reach home early.
Gauri barely made it back home on time in the evening. She hurriedly kept her bag in her room, and rushed to the main hall. Surprisingly, it looked like she wasn't alone in this rush, Omkaraji gave her company.
Gauri was surprised, Omkaraji was at home only, then why was he late? Maybe he got too engrossed in some artwork.
"Good, now that we are all here. Soumya's mother arrived just an hour back, I am so happy to see you after so long, Sadhna" said Dadi, smiling. "Panditji is also here, Panditji, please look for a good date for Rudra and Soumya's roka."
Panditji did some calculations, while Rudra and Soumya looked at each other furtively, slightly abashed but glowing with joy. Annika on the side, was doing her usual "They are so cute" gestures, while Shivaay elbowed her to cool it a bit.
Om rolled his eyes at the four of them, and then his eyes locked on Gauri, who was studiously avoiding looking at him. It was apparent that she did it intentionally. Omkara sighed.
The Panditji cleared his throat. "I think Friday next week is an auspicious date for the ceremony, one week from now" he concluded based on his calculations.
Dadi clapped her hands together lightly, and said, "Great, thank you Panditji. Now, we'll arrange a splendid roka ceremony for Soumya and Rudra"
The Panditji has some instructions to give, after which he departed.
"Now, lets divide up the work between teams" said Dadi. "Who's taking decoration?"
"Since, I was an ex-wedding planner, it will go to my team, Dadi" said Annika.
"But I think my classy tastes will suit Soumya's roka better, so it will go to my team" said Shivaay, while Annika frowned.
"Bade bhaiyaa, but Jiji was a wedding planner" said Gauri.
"Guys, I am the artist, so this department will go to my and Shivaay's team" said Omkara, while Shivaay nodded at his brother proudly.
"Hain? Aise kaise? (How come?) No, no, I have been designing and making clothes since childhood, aur humne bhi bahut rangoli banaayi hain (I've also made plenty of rangolis). So, we also know enough about color schemes and everything. this department will go to our team" said Gauri, with her nose in the air.
"Mummyji, yeh decoration toh meri bahu ko milna chahiye. Aur vaise bhi hum ladies ko zyada samajh hoti hai iske" (Mummyji, this decoration should go to my bahu, and in any case we ladies know more about these things) said Pinky, while the others sniggered slightly.
Jahnvi said, "Tej, I want decoration to be in our team, do you mind?"
"Not at all" said Tej.
Shivaay and Omkara looked astounded, and the former said, "Bade Papa, what did you do?"
Rudra chortled. "See, Naari Shakti (Female power) is on my side", while his brothers gave him the look.
"We'll see about that later, little brother" said Shivaay, while Omkara winked, to let Rudra know that he's in for some brotherly hustle later.
"Okay, okay, since decoration went to Rudra's side, catering will go to Soumya's team. I, Sadhna, Jahnvi and Pinky, will additionally take care of the guest lists. Everyone write their list of people they want to invite, and give it to me." said Dadi.
Everyone nodded and was about to leave, when Dadi called their attention once again.
"I'm sorry, I forgot to mention. Maithili gifted me, rather Om and Gauri, her idol for a year. The Panditji is holding a small pooja tomorrow to establish that idol in the mansion. Since, Maithili was happy with Om and Gauri, and gifted the idol to them, I thought they should lead the pooja. Do you people have any problem with that?" asked Dadi of everyone.
Nobody had any issues, except that it was a little surprising for them.
Annika and Shivaay positively beamed, they wanted things to work out between Om and Gauri, while Rudra and Soumya looked cautiously happy. Om's face was expressionless, while Gauri smiled cordially at Dadi.
They all left the hall to their rooms one by one.
Gauri was about to enter her room, when Om called her softly. She turned to look at him.
"Kaa huya Omkaraji?" (What happened Omkaraji?)
"I....I want to show you something" said Omkara, and gestured towards his room.
Gauri nodded, and followed him.
Om switched on the light in his room. His room seemed a state of disorder.
Now that Gauri noticed properly his hands also gave the faint impression that they were covered with clay some time back.
"You were busy it seems" commented Gauri.
"Yesterday, after our....conversation, I thought, maybe...." Omkara tried to say something, but gave up.
"I borrowed the idol that Maithili Dadi gave us, from Dadi, afterwards, and I've been making something" said Omkara.
He moved to the side, so that Gauri could see what he was looking at. She looked at his sculpting table.
There was an elevated stand where Maithili Dadi's Shiv Parvati idol was kept, and just below it, on Omkaraji's worktable there was a miniature white idol of....
"Shankarji!" Gauri exclaimed in a whisper.
"You were saying yesterday that....you will miss the idols when we returned it to Maithili Dadi, so I thought I'll try and make an imitation for you.....so that you don't miss it" said Omkara, combing his fingers through his hair.
Gauri moved towards the work table.
The idol was smaller than the original which was already small, but it would fit easily in the tiny prayer corner Gauri had made for herself in her room. The miniature was pretty close to the original version, but there was something delicate and soft about its features just like its maker, thought Gauri.
"Careful, don't touch it yet, it still has to dry, then I have to paint it, it will take sometime before it is ready completely, but I just wanted to show you" said Omkara.
It was moments like these which caught Gauri unawares.
At this moment, Gauri really struggled hard not to hug him to show how much she was affected by this gesture of Omkaraji. He would do this. Save her from the village folks, try to save her from Kali even when she herself told him to retreat, take care of her in his Nana's house, bring back her mother, make a portrait of her mother because he knew she missed her, fight the goons for her.....
Gauri knew that Omkaraji was a kind and sensitive man, but she didn't want to be a recipient of his kindness only, she wanted to be special, to him, but whenever she would ask him what was her place in his life, he would flinch, and refrain from answering. At the same time, he would do things like....this. What was meaning of this?
All these conflicting emotions were clotting in Gauri's throat, and causing her pain, as she tried to choke back her emotions.
"What happened? You didn't like it?" asked Omkara, sounding a little disappointed.
Gauri gulped back her turmoil. "No, no Omkaraji, it is lovely, and soft. It is my Shankarji, how can I not like it?"
Omkara sighed in relief.
"I thought I had not done a good work here. I'll give it to you when its completed" said Omkara.
"Thank you, Omkaraji, this.....means a lot" said Gauri, and exited from the place quickly, without making it too obvious, before her tears spilled.
Omkara went to his worktable, and removed the cover from the other idol he was sculpting. The other half to be precise.
He was surprised that Gauri didn't question him, but it worked out in his favor, as he didn't have to make any excuse.
He made the Shiva half of the idol for Gauri, while the other half imitating Parvati he had hidden from Gauri. That half was for himself.
Maybe one day he'll show it to Gauri. If that one day comes in their lives....
P.S. There is still time for TejKara talks.
Also, do check out my other FF Love is our True Destiny! Thanks guys!