Tangled: A Rikara SS. *Completed* (Note on Page 44) - Page 7

I'm sorry Mr. Oberoi. She is no more.' Tej fell to his knees and wept. Little Omkara didn't know what to do so he just hugged his Father. The hug that was supposed to console Tej made him weep even more.

Little Omkara stood in the hall while Tej and Jhanvi spoke in hushed tones. Where else will he go?' he heard Tej say. A few minutes later Jhanvi came out and bent in front of him. 'Hello Omkara. I'm Jhanvi.'

'Ma!' a ten year old Omkara woke up sweating. He had the same dream again. Jhanvi who was sleeping next to him was now up, rubbing his back. 'Sshh Om, Mumma is here only.' Out of the corner of his eye, Omkara saw little Shivaay standing in the doorway.

'Dad will you play my new video game with me?' Shivaay bounced up to his Dad and sat next to him on the sofa. 'Maybe later Shivaay. Om needs help with his maths homework.'

'Shivaay share your toys with your brother.' 'I will not. He is not my brother. He never will be.' Omkara couldn't understand what was going on. 'But Shivaay you are my bade bhaiya. Mom what is he saying?' said Omkara putting an arm over his shoulder. Shivaay yanked his arm away 'I said I am not your brother and neither is she your Mother. Your Mother is dead.' Omkara couldn't understand what was going on. It was as if the ground had been pulled off from under him.

The next few years were a blur to Omkara. He was sent to a boarding school in the hills. He would only come back during the holidays where he laid low. His relationship with Tej was also strained. After finding out the truth about his mother and Tej, Omkara hated the man. Not only had he ruined his childhood, he ruined his family too. His only solace was Jhanvi. Omkara had little recollection of his real mother but as far as he was concerned, Jhanvi was his mother for all intents and purposes.

'Om baba you must come home now,' Khanna, the family caretaker spoke in an urgent tone. 'Why what happened?' 'I cannot tell you that over the phone.' Omkara rushed home from college. Once home, Khanna pointed to his mother's room. The room was a mess, everything was destroyed. He looked for his mother. Omkara finally found her on the other side of the bed; her hair was a mess, her eyes swollen from crying. As soon as she saw Omkara, she hugged him. 'What happened Mom?' Jahnvi stayed mum. 'Dad left,' replied Shivaay who was standing in a corner.

The next couple of months passed by rather slowly. Jhanvi had thrown herself into alcohol. Even the Doctors couldn't do anything until she herself did something. Omkara tried his best to bring her out of it. Shivaay had thrown himself into partying as a coping mechanism to Tej's leaving. One night, Omkara was reading in his room when he heard loud noises coming from the hall. 'Let's party baby!' Shivaay shouted, bottle of champagne in hand. The two girls on his arms just giggled. Omkara tried his best to ignore him but finally decided to put an end to it in the early hours of the morning. 'Shivaay it's late. You should go to bed.' 'Oh really Omkara. Are you the boss of this house now?' 'Shivaay you're drunk. Let me take you up to your room.' I might be drunk but a drunk man always speaks the truth. You are the reason Dad isn't here anymore. You broke my family apart!'

The next few days were spent arranging appropriate care for Jhanvi. Once Omkara was satisfied, she would be taken care of, He packed his bags and left Oberoi mansion. Never to look back again. Until now.

'Gauri ma'am, there is here to see you,' announced her assistant. 'Send them away. I have to prepare for this important meeting tomorrow,' Gauri answered, not bothering to look up from her desk. 'Oh my mata, tu apne mothers ko send away kar rahi hai. Maine to socha tha tujhe ek khush khabri sunaungi,' (You are sending your mother away. I thought I would give you a good news) Pinky screeched. 'Mom aap yaha kya kar rahi hai?' (Mom what are you doing here?) Gauri gestured for her mother to sit down. 'My darlings daughter, tere liye na ek rishta aaya hai.' (My darling daughter, there is a proposal for you) 'Ek aur rishta. Mom aap kaha se in namoono ko utha laati hai?'(Another one? Mom where do you find these people?) Pinky dropped a photo into the file Gauri was intently looking at. He looked like he was chiselled out of marble. The man wore a suit which was impeccably pressed; not a single crease on it. His eyes were blue and somewhat cold. 'Ek baar mi to le isse.' (Just meet him once) Pinky insisted. Gauri knew her mother wouldn't give up so she went ahead with the meeting.

Gauri had met Shivaay twice but she felt as if nothing clicked. Sure he had everything a girl could want in a man but he lacked a certain something but he treated her family well. Whenever he came, he would buy flowers for her mother or go to games with her brother and that was good enough for Gauri.

'I don't know Richa. Something is missing.' Are you kidding me? A thousand girls would kill to be his wife.' 'But I am not one of them.' 'Gauri name one bad thing about him?' Gauri couldn't think of anything. 'There you go. He may not be overly affectionate but look at how he treats you. Pyaar ka kya hai, who to shaadi ke baad ho jayega.' (Love will happen after marriage) This is not the movies where someone sweeps you off your feet.'

Gauri threw herself into the wedding preparations ignoring the sinking feeling in her stomach. She wished her sister was here to calm her nerves. Ever since she was a little girl, Gauri relished the idea of being a bride. She loved watching it on TV and wished her wedded life would be a blissful one but will it now?

So Omkara had married her to save her from Shivaay's evil plan but why did he have to try and be her saviour but there was also the case of Rudra trusting him with her so should she trust him as well. Gauri was lost in thought when she heard a knock.

'Come in,' Gauri said, unsure of who it might be. Jhanvi stepped in and sat next to her on the bed. 'Good morning beta. Did you sleep well?' 'Good morning aunty.' Gauri ignored the other question. Today is your pehli rasoi so come downstairs whenever you're ready.' 'Aunty how can I when this marriage happened under false pretences?' 'Maybe but Om's intentions were truthful. I know what happened was unfair to you but you should give this marriage a chance. Om didn't even know you yet he gave you a chance,' Jhanvi got up and made for the door. When she was nearly out, she turned around and said and 'oh it's Mom or Mummyji to you,' as if striking a deal.

Gauri was adjusting her dupatta when she heard another knock. 'Come in,' she said not lookinng. Omkara stood at the door dressed in a white long kurta pyjama. His hair was half tied up and he wore these glasses that made him look intense. If Richa was here, she would have called him professor. 'Gauri I know I'm probably the last person you want to see now but I want to give this marriage a chance but only if you want to. If not, then I'll stay out of your way.' Saying this Omkara left as quickly as he came.

Gauri stood in the middle of the kitchen wondering what to make. She thought about making kheer but it was too cliche. Finally she settled for a simple halwa. She served it to Jhanvi who was the only occupant at the table. She wondered where Omkara was. As if on cue, he came out of the study with a mug of what looked like coffee. He left the cup in the kitchen and joined them at the table.

'Om try this halwa. Gauri ne banaya hai,' (Gauri made it) Jhanvi pushed the bowl towards him. Omkara tasted it and it was indeed delicious. Jhanvi cleared her throat hinting to Omkara that he should complement Gauri. 'It's delicious,' Omkara said with a slight smile. Somehow his smile didn't reach his eyes, which Gauri noticed.

After breakfast, Gauri was clearing away the table when Omkara walked down the stairs. He had changed outfits now and wore a long sleeve white t-shirt and some loose trousers. 'Mom I'm off to work,' he said rather loudly as if he wanted Gauri to hear it. 'Wait, work? You've only been married a day!' 'Mom I only took a couple of days off for the wedding and I have a deadline.' 'Fine but you have a give Gauri a gift for the sweet dish she made.' Om nodded.

Gauri looked at him leave after ten minutes. 'Normally he works from home.' Jahnvi broke Gauri out of her thoughts. 'Great!' Gauri thought. I am married to a jobless person.'

Gauri decided to unpack a few of her clothes while she decided what to do. Suddenly she noticed a brown packet on the bed which wasn't there this morning. She quickly unwrapped it to find a copy of her favorite writer Kara Gill's book, which wasn't even released yet. 'At least he has taste,' Gauri spoke to no one in particular.

Part 5: Page 13