Rikara OS: Mine, forever

"Stop this wedding!" a deep voice echoed in the huge wedding hall, and everyone turned around to look at the source of the voice. The bride didn't need to look at the man's face to recognize who he was. "Omkara ji..." she whispered softly, while the groom stood rooted to the ground. Omkara looked on in rage at the creep who dared to hold his wife's hand, and with the same loud voice, he said, "Meri biwi ka haat chodo, Ajay..." The creep was too shocked to even react, and Omkara had to repeat himself in a much lower, yet menacing tone, "Leave Mrs. Omkara Singh Oberoi's hand, you filthy animal!" As though struck by a bolt of lightning, Ajay left the bride's hand, and stumbled away from her. "Arrest this man, Officer..." Omkara spoke to the policeman who had accompanied him, when he had received a complaint against Ajay and his family for demanding dowry, and for forcing a married woman to remarry against her wishes. It did not take long for the police to drag the creep and his family away. And even though Richa broke down when the father of her unborn child was taken away to jail, she was relieved that Gauri did not have to marry the creepy man, and somewhere, she consoled herself that Mukesh was never the person meant for her.

Gauri stood at the pandal, looking at Omkara, who looked at her with a small smile on his lips. As he walked towards her, she recalled all of his accusations and hurtful words he had thrown across her face, where he had blamed her for being characterless, shameless and cheap. Even though she was thankful to Shankarji for sending Omkara ji on time to save her from marrying the creep, she could not erase his words that brutally pierced her heart and soul. So, when Omkara stood in front of her and extended his hand towards her so as to take her hand in his, she looked at him straight in the eye, wiped her tears, and shook her head. "No..." she said, causing Omkara to frown. "Hum aapke saath kahin nahin jaayenge." Saying this with a tone of finality, she turned her heel and walked outside the hall, towards her home, leaving her Omkara ji in a state of shock and disappointment. "Tumne mujhe maaf nahi kiya Gauri; I know I deserve it. But tumhari maafi ke bina, main yahan se kahin nahi jaaunga..." he said to himself, as he followed his little chiraiyya.

***

"Gauri ji, darwaza kholiye na..." he said as he knocked on the door. A few seconds later, she opened the door only to find the annoying yet sweet Sardar- Dilpreet Singh standing outside. Omkara, who had now donned the role of Dilpreet, felt his heart breaking into pieces when he saw her in tears; the mascara now spread, making her under eyes look almost charcoal black. "Aap ro rahi thi, Gauri ji?" Gauri nodded as she let him come into the house. "Aapko Ajay ke saath shaadi tootne se itna dukh hua?" Gauri looked at him, and shook her head, "Nahi Dilpreet ji. Humein toh uss bigde hue chirote se shaadi hi nahi karni thi. Who toh Richa ke wajah se humein majboori mein haan kehna pada, shaadi ke liye. Warna hum Ajay se toh kya, kisi aur se shaadi ke liye kabhi bhi haan kehte hi nahi..." "Kyun?" came his question in a softer tone. "Aap toh jaante hain, ke hum shaadi shuda hain. Aur abb, uss Ajay ke wajah se poora Bareilly jaanta hai ke hamare pati ne humein chod diya. Lekin koi yeh nahi jaanta, ke humne woh rishtha Omkara ji ke khushi ke liye thoda tha. Hum jaante the ke hamare pati hamare saath khush nahi the; unhone toh sirf hamari jaan bachane ke liye humse shaadi ki thi; aur kuch nahi. Lekin humne uss shaadi ko, sacche dil se, sacche mann se maana tha, aur maante rahenge..."

She heard Dilpreet take a heavy breath and ask her, "Magar aapne hamare sawaal ka jawaab abhi tak nahi diya ke aap ro kyun rahi thi. Kya aapke pati ko yahan dekh kar aap khush nahi hai?" Unknown to her, Omkara's heartbeat quickened in anticipation. She shook her head again. "Khush hain, Dilpreet ji. Hum Omkara ji ko yahan dekh kar beyhadh khush hain. Aaj shadi ke mandap mein, sab ke saamne unhone hamein apni patni maana; unhone hamein, pehli baar, Mrs. Omkara Singh Oberoi keh kar pukara..." Gauri voice choked with emotion, and Omkara couldn't help but tear up. "Lekin," she continued, "Hum woh sab kuch nahi bhool sakte jo unhone humse kaha; jo ilzaam unhone..." Suddenly, Gauri stopped, realizing she was talking something very personal and private about her relationship with her husband, to an outsider. "Hum ne kuch zyada bol diya, humein maaf kijiye..." she said looking away from him, as she wiped her tears and turned to leave the living room.

"Maafi toh mujhe maangni chahiye, Gauri... Tum kyun maafi maang rahi ho?" she heard her husband's familiar voice. Turning around, she saw Dilpreet Singh undoing the turban on his head. The long locks now fell freely onto his shoulder as he kept the turban on the table. "Aap?" she said in a tone barely audible, and Omkara nodded. When he saw the registered shock subside, and noticed anger on her face, he quickly said, "Mujhe pata hai ke tum mujhse bahut zyada naraaz ho, aur tumhari narazgi jaayaz bhi hai. Lekin mujhe apni baat kehne do; phir jo chaahe saza sunao; main tayyar hoon." Gauri looked away from him, "Kyun hum aapki baat sune? Kya aapne humein apni safaai dene ka mauka diya tha? Nahin na? bina hamari baat sune, bina hamari sacchai jaane, aapne hamein qasoorwaar tehra diya tha. Toh aaj hum aapki koi bhi baat kyun sune?"

"Kyun ki main nahi chahta ke tumhare dil mein ussi tarah ka pachtawa ho, jo aaj bhi mere dil mein hai. Maine uss insaan pe shak kiya, jisne mujhse bina kuch maange, bina kuch pooche, bina kisi shart ke mujhse, apne aap se zyada, pyaar kiya. Maine uss ladki ki baat nahi suni, jisne mere aur mere parivaar ke liye, apni jaan ki parwah kiye bagair, bahut kuch kiya. Maine uss aurat par itne ghinone ilzaam lagaaye, jiska charithra, dil aur mann, kharey sone se bhi khara ho. Maine uss chiraiyya ko apne aap se door kar diya, jiske bagair ab zindagi khaali khaali si lagti hai..."

Omkara heaved a breath, and he looked up at her with tears in his eyes, "I know I haven't been much if a husband to you." Gauri gasped when he spoke to her in English, "When I met you, I was going through a very bad time. I had lost faith in everyone. My father had never been much of a father to me. And when I saw my mother trying to kill herself because my father decided to marry Swetlana, something within me died. The Om that once believed in love died that day, and someone, whom even I couldn't recognize replaced him, and a new Omkara Singh Oberoi breathed to life. I had to offer money to Swetlana and convince her to marry me after paying her a huge sum of money. And I had come to Bareilly for just that- to crack a deal with Kaali. Never did I imagine that I would end up meeting you. When I saw you with Kaali, I saw Swetlana in you. I did not bother understanding the reasons behind you choosing to marry the man. All I assumed was that you were just like so many women I knew- another gold-digger." Omkara paused, looking at her and he broke a bit on the inside when he saw her face contort in pain, as he brought up the painful subject of Kaali Thakur. He continued as she listened to him, "When I saw you being chased by Kaali's men, I felt my blood boiling. I don't know why or how I did it, but all that struck my mind was that I couldn't let you die in their hands. Maybe it was Shankar ji's plans that, on that day, we were tied together for the rest of our lives." A small smile came on his lips when he said that, and the same smile reflected on her lips as well. "Gauri, I'm sorry for not getting to know you, for judging you, for humiliating you, for even raising my hand on you. I was too blinded by hate that I refused to see your pure love, which was right in front of my eyes."

"You did everything you could, to protect me. Be it from Swetlana, or Bua Ma. Yet all I ever did was yell at you like an ungrateful, spineless bas***d. And when, gradually, I started to feel certain things for you which I couldn't name back then, I had let my insecurities creep up and assumed the worst. I assumed that you would cheat on me... Watching my parent's marriage, I feared that would end up being like my mother. Only now, I realize that you were the one who was suffering in silence, all for love. Whereas I had become the man I hated; I had become Mr. Tej Singh Oberoi..."

Omkara fell on his knees, and Gauri ran up to him, knelt beside him and held him in her arms. "Sshh, Omkara ji..." she said, waving her hand on his hair, "Aap apne pitaji ke tarah nahi hain. Kisne kaha ke aap unke tarah hain?" Her heart felt like it was being sliced when he spoke out his fears and insecurities. "Tum itni acchi kaisi ho sakti ho? Itna hone ke baad bhi tum mujhse itni acchi tarah se kaise baat kar sakti ho?" She said nothing, but continued to caress his head. She didn't need words to tell him that she loved him, despite all that had happened between them. In her opinion, love was always forgiving, kind and patient. And that, which did not forgive, was unkind or impatient was never love.

"I know you wished that I would love you the way you loved me..." he said, "But I don't have a heart so selfless, a soul so pure to love you the way you love me, Gauri. But yes, with all the broken pieces of my heart, soul and faith, I do love you, the way I have never loved anyone else on this earth." Gauri pulled away and looked up at him with tears glimmering in her eyes. She knew her heart had forgiven her Omkara ji long back. It was her mind that had been stubborn for long, because he had hurt her self-respect. But those simple words of love and acceptance had filled the void and hurt in her heart. She had already given him her heart and soul; she could even readily give her life for him; forgiveness was something she could definitely give him without even him asking for it.

But then, a new thought struck her mind. A new anger rose in her, "Toh apne Dilpreet ji hone ka natak kyun kiya? Hamari dosti ka mazaak kyun udaya?" Omkara smiled softly, when despite her anger, she wiped his tears away with the edge of her heavy-embroidered dupatta. "Jaise tumhe chulbul banna pada, waise hi mujhe Dilpreet banna pada..." Gauri frowned, "Hamein majboori mein chulbul banna pada, hamari maa ke liye..." "Aur muhje bhi majboori mein Dilpreet banna pada, tumhare liye..." Gauri looked at him for a few seconds, letting his words seep into her brain. "Hamare liye?" she asked in a soft voice, and he nodded, "Haan, tumhare liye... Omkara Singh Oberoi ne tumhare dil ko bahut zakhm diye the. Toh maine socha ke Dilpreet Singh mein tumhe ek accha dost mil sakta hai jiske sath tum apna dard baanto. Kyun ki main dosti ki ehmiyat jaanta hoon. Chulbul mein mujhe mera best buddy mila tha; ek aisa buddy jiske sath main woh saari baatein share kar sakta tha jo main apne bhaiyon se bhi share nahi kar pata tha. Toh isliye, Dilpreet Singh aa gaya, apni Gauri ji ke paas, unka best friend banne..." Gauri smiled as he waved the friendship band in front of her face.

"Aapne hamein bahit tehz pahunchai hai, Omkara ji..." she said after a few seconds, and the smile from his face dropped. "Omkara ji, aapne hamara dil thoda. Hum pe shak kar ke, humein charithraheen kehke aapne hamare aathm-samman ko tehz pahunchai hai..." "I'm sorry Gauri, main..." he said, but was interrupted by her when she placed a finger on his lip, "Meri baat khatam nahi hui hai, Omkara ji... Haan aapne hamein bahut takleef pahunchai. Lekin hamara dil todna ka haq bhi sirf aapko hai, kyunki Gauri Kumari Sharma ka dil sirf aapne Omkara ji ke liye dhadakta hai..." Omkara, unconsciously, kissed the tip of her finger that was on his lip, and a blushing Gauri pulled away. "Gauri Kumari Sharma nahi... Mrs. Gauri Omkara Singh Oberoi..." he said, causing her eyes to twinkle as if they were the brightest stars shining there.

Holding both her hands in his, he kissed her knuckles, "Will you marry me, Gauri, phir se?" She didn't need even a second to think twice, "Yes..." she said with an enthusiastic nod of her head. He grinned, and Gauri was so lost in his smile that she didn't noticed him slipping on a ring on her finger, till she noticed him staring at her hand with a broad smile. "Yeh?" she asked when she was done admiring the subtle gold band for a good minute. "Hamari engagement ring... Aaj se tum meri, sirf meri..." he whispered possessively, as he kissed her forehead. "Aaj se, hum aap ke... hamesha ke liye... Mrs. Gauri Omkara Singh Oberoi..." she said, overwhelmed by emotion.

She did not know when and where she found the courage in her, but she cupped his face and pulled him closer towards her. Before he could react, she pressed her lips against his. By the time she realized what she had just done and could pull away in shyness, Omkara had snaked his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to himself, and had deepened the kiss. She felt her fingers go cold, her ears buzz and her toes go numb as he slanted his mouth on hers, feasting on her soft lips. She gasped as the hand on her waist slid down to her hip and tightened the grip there, and Omkara chose this moment to brush his tongue against hers. She felt a strange raw need run through her veins at the sensation coursing through her. She had read in so many books about the feeling of passion and love when a man and woman made love, but nothing described there could even touch anything that she felt right now with a mere kiss. The thought of her novels brought a rather inappropriate image in her mind of her husband doing certain things to her body, as she would have her hand twisted his hair and her nails rake on the skin of his back. Hearing her groan in frustration as he pulled away for a breath, he grinned.

Right now, Gauri couldn't care to be embarrassed, for, he had awakened a need so desperate in her, that this time, she did not shy away from pulling him back to her to kiss him again. Omkara was too happy to oblige. It was only when she felt his hands undo the strings of her blouse to pull her sleeve down so as to knead her heaving breast in her large masculine hands, that realization dawned while she moaned his name in desire. Omkara, as he pulled back, turned red at their current state; with him lying on top of her in the living room of her home, where anyone could walk in. She lay there beneath him, flustered and panting for breath, and he blushed slightly as she covered her bare breasts with her dupatta. Arranging her clothes as she stood up, and before he could say a word, she held his hand and walked into her bedroom. Locking the door, she turned to face him.

"Are you sure?" he asked in a strained voice, watching her lie on the bed with her hand extended towards him. She nodded shyly, and in a voice barely audible, she said, "I've waited for too long to be yours, Omkara ji. Ab hum se aur intezaar nahi ho payega..."

As Omkara unbuttoned his shirt, she kept her gaze on him. The lights weren't burning for long since he turned off the lights. That night, for the very first time, when he made love to her, he almost cried in her arms at the first time their bodies conjoined. He could have never fathomed that he would find a love so pure and selfless. And as Gauri ascended and descended so many peaks of fulfillment, she could only be grateful to all the existing forces that brought her Omkara ji back to her. In a world of their own, within the confines of four walls, with silent promises made and pleasures attained, they found paradise in each other.

***