Rikara TS: Facing the Truth [3rd part- page 9] Imp Note: Pg 11 - Page 3

"Some days I wish I could go back in life. Not to change anything, but to feel a few things twice

This was the exact situation of both Om and Gauri. Few days passed by and there was a significant growth in their relation. They began understanding each other in the true sense and they now had a certain comfort level between them. He now knew how much she invests her time in doing the role of bahu and had made her understand that she should take some time out for herself as well. They spent time together, going out on dates, long drives, midnight selfies and not to forget, the long walks by the beach side. Om had always known she was crazy but he never expected that she would someday make him crazy as well. He got to know how much of a child woman she was and how she found her happiness in very small things. When he wanted to take her to 5 star hotel, she insisted him to have gol gappe with her. He was surprised when she asked him to take her to the orphanage nearby. When they went there, he found that everyone there were already well acquainted with her. He later got to know that their Gauri didi visited them once in a while and that all of them loved her so very much. He was introduced to her carefree nature for the first time when he saw her dancing with the children without bothering about the world. He started falling hard for her. He knew that she absolutely loved rains. Of course, he started loving rains as well, for it brought him the fond memories of their first hug. Her child-like innocence pulled him more towards her. When Om found that his wife had only few set of clothes and the fact that she did not even bother asking him made him realise for the nth time how wrong he thought about her. He took her out for shopping that very day and made her try all kinds of outfits. When she started refusing, he faked his disappointment telling her that he wasn't doing anything for her but rather himself and he would feel bad if she refuses and that worked.

And Gauri did something which no one would ever think of doing. Jhanvi had always been very supportive but she never had a chance to have a conversation with her father-in-law and neither did she have the courage to approach him. But she did, for him, her husband. That day she dared to initiate a conversation with Tej knowing very well that there were high chances of it backfiring on her. Tej was surprised to find his daughter-in-law at the doorstep of his room with a cup of tea waiting for his permission to enter. And that step turned out to be a huge turning point. Gauri followed her heart. Something made her feel that her father-in-law would understand what she wanted to convey. She told him all she wanted to without hiding anything. About how much she loved her father, how he passed away and how things took ugliest turn after that, how she had to leave her studies to manage the business her father had been running till then, how her mother's health got affected and how much they struggled to earn a living. Finally she told him how all that didn't matter to her but the only thing she craved for was her father's love and affection, his words whenever she felt low, him being her best friend whenever she wanted to share happiness or sorrows, him being her crime partner whenever they were up to some mischief. In the end she told him how much she missed being with her father and not all would be fortunate enough to have their father beside them at every step. All through the conversation she made sure she was calm and composed though she became a bit emotional. That was the moment when someone melted, the person sitting opposite to her. Because no one had ever approached him in the manner she did. Listening to all her words made Tej re-think about his relationship with both his sons and that is the time when he realised how much he missed by focussing only on business and completely side-lining his wife and children. If he had been a bit concerned, his sons would have adored him the same way. He needed time to contemplate what his daughter-in-law spoke to him. He just kept his hand on her head and walked out of his room. Like Gauri believed, the equation between Tej and his sons started changing slowly but gradually. Rudra, being a happy-go-lucky person, welcomed his father with open arms and they soon started bonding well. But that was not the case with Omkara. She still remembered her husband's face when his dad wanted to talk to him casually and when he promised him that he would not bring the topic of his career or business. To say Om was shocked would be an understandment. He wasn't willing to give in as he still did not forgive him for what they had to endure. Though this made Tej feel a bit disheartened, he was sure that he would get back his son with the help of his daughter-in-law. He had so much to make up for the time he lost by indulging in business and he promised himself to earn his son's forgiveness. The whole family was happy to see a positive change in him. Shivaay was happy that he no more had to worry about his brother as his little sister would take care of him.

On the other hand, Gauri tried convincing her husband to give his father a chance. He clearly remembered what she said when he refused to talk to his father. "I don't know what exactly happened in your past and the reason behind your hatred towards your father, neither have I wanted to know. All I know is I have seen you suffering because of him and I understand why you don't want to forgive him. Your hesitation and your fears are justified as well. The only thing I want you to know is life rarely gives us second chances but when it does, we should not let it go. I still miss those days when I was with my father and I realised his importance in my life when he was gone. Holding a grudge doesn't make you strong, it makes you bitter. Whatever decision you take, never forget that I am with you. She had always been like this. Silently being his constant support. He loved how she dealt with everything that comes her way. And that was the time when his respect for her increased and for once he wanted to follow his heart as well. Tej felt like he was the happiest man when he found his son initiating those very small conversations wherever possible. He was more than willing to wait if his son decided to bridge the gap between the both. Their relation was slowly improving, all thanks to Gauri. Om did not forget to thank her for all the things she had been doing just for the sake of him. His love for her kept on increasing and he started being more dependent on her. The only thing he felt odd was Gauri being possessive about her phone. Yes, possessive. Whenever he gets hold of it even if it is unintentional, she just pulls it out of his hand as if it was some piece caught with fire. He was curious as to what made her behave weird when he touches her phone but like always he waited for her to come out with it. The only thing he did not know was that her phone held answers to all his questions which would soon be drowning him in a pool of guilt.

It was one fine evening when all the family members were having a great time sitting in the hall and enjoying their leisure period. Gauri went to her room telling that she had some work and she would be back soon. Suddenly there was this fight between Rudra and Dadi regarding the genre of the songs they would like to listen using the home speaker. All of them had a smile on their face watching the cute banter between the two. Finally dadi managed to win the battle using her fake emotional talks. Rudra found his chulbul bhabhi's phone near the table and remembered her liking for bhajan songs as well. He took her phone and connected it to the home speaker and the songs started playing. He then came back and sat on the sofa lamenting on how boring those songs were. Om then found his chirayya missing and got up to head to their room thinking what took her so long to come back when he heard a voice saying "Aap yahan kyun aaye hai? Ab ka chaahiye aapko?(Why did you come here? And what do you want now?) It took time for him to realise that it's his wife's voice but it was coming from the speaker. It made him halt in his tracks and everyone stopped their work and started wondering what it was about.

"Arey bitiya, hum toh tumhe bahut miss kar rahe the. Isiliye aaye hai. Kya hum se theek se baath bhi nahi karoge?

(Oh dear! We were missing you. So we came here. Will you not even talk to us properly?)

Om then recognised it to be her chachi's voice. But when was this recorded and how was it playing now? He then turned towards the home speaker and found it connected to his wife's phone.

"Bas! Aapka jo yeh naatak haina..aapke paas rakhiye ga. Hum pagal thodi hain ki aap logon ke baath par viswas karenge. Wajah jo bhi hai, humein koi dil chaspi nahi hai jaanne ki.. Aap log nikal jayiye yahan se..Humein koi lena dena nahi hai aap logon se

(Enough! Keep all this drama to yourself. I am not a fool to believe your words. Whatever the reason is, I am least interested in knowing it. Get out from here.. I don't have anything to do with you people)

"Eyy ladki! Zuban sambhal kar baath karo hum se. Nahi toh tum bhi jaanthe ho ki hum kya kar sakthe hain. Itna maar khaane ke baad bi tujhe samajh mei nahi aaya ki hum se aise baath karne ka nateeja kya hoga? Bakwaas karna bandh karo aur paise dho humko!

(Hey girl! You better control your tongue while talking to us. Else even you know what we are capable of doing. Even after getting all the beatings from us, you don't understand the consequences of talking in this tone? Stop your non sense and give us the money.)

Om was shocked to say the least. Why was her aunt talking to her that way? How can someone threaten to this extent?

"Abhi tak toh hum baath karna bhi shuru nahi kiya chachi. Aur aap kis paison ki baath kar rahe hai? Aur hum kyun den aapko paisa? Lagtha hai jitney bhi aapko paise mile unse aapka pet nahi bhara aur chale aaye humein dhamki dene. Chaliye batayiye. Hum bhi sunna chahthe hai ki aaj hume aap kis baath lo lekar dhamki dhenge

( I did not even start talking Chachi. And which money are you talking about? And why should I give you money? It seems with the amount of money you got, your stomach did not get filled and you have come here to blackmail me again. So tell me. Even I want to know about the thing which you would be using today to blackmail me.)

" Kya hum ko badka rahe ho? Tumhe toh sadak se uta kar pal pos kar badakiya, tumhe ehsaan chukane ke bagai humko badka rahe ho? Tum toh sauteli ho sauteli. Mujhe dho minute bhi nahi lagega tumhare pura izzat utharne ka. Paisa kyun nahi dhoge? Tum to iss ghar ki bahu jo ban gayi ho. Zara hame bhi batao ki tum us ladke ko kaise phasaya? Bade pyaar se bath karne laga hume dekh kar.

(Are you trying to provoke us? We have brought you home from road side and brought you up, instead of doing something in our favour, you are provoking us? It would not even take two minutes for me to bring down your dignity. And why would you not give us money? You have become the daughter-in-law of this house right? Well, tell us how did you trap that guy? He was talking to us with such love and affection after seeing us.)

And then everyone in the hall heard a mocking laugh of two people. Om felt disgusted at himself for not knowing their true colours before. His instinct told him it was just the beginning and more is yet to come.

" Chachi aap yeh bhool rahe hai ki humari maa ne humare parivarish ki, aap nahi. Aur humne aap se pehle bhi kaha tha ki risthe khoon se nahi dil sse banthe hai. Par hum ye sab aapko kyun samjha rahe hai. Aap ne hume naukarani bana diya haina. Bachpan se aap ke jitney bhi kaam hai, hum karthe aaye hai kyunki humesa aap maa ke naam lekar dhamki dethe aaye. Aur jab mauka mila tohh seedha maarne ki koshish karne me lag gaye? Sharam nahi aathi hai aap logon ko? Kaise insaan hai aap? Aap ko achi tarah se patha hai ki hume zyaada wakt nahi lagega aapko jail bijwane ke liye. Aur rahi baath paison ki, hum is ghar mein Omkara ji ki patni ban kar aaye hai, paison ke liye nahi. Aur iss parivaar ne mujhe sab kuch diya jo hum bachpan se kothe aaye hain. Pyaar aur apnapan ki bhasa toh aapko samajh mei nahi aayega na. Aur woh toh Omkara ji ki achai hai ki bin bulaye mehmaan ko ghar le aaye. Aapko ko toh khus hona chahiye. Likin nahi, aap toh unka mazak uda rahe hai. Aur ka ummeedh kar sakthe hai aap jaise logon se.

( Chachi you are forgetting that it was my mother who brought me up and with proper values, not you people. And I have already told you that relations are made between hearts, not by blood. But why I am even trying to make you understand. You were the one who made me a servant. Right from the childhood, I was made to do all your works as you started blackmailing me in the name of my mother. And when you got a chance, you directly started your plans of killing her? Aren't you people ashamed of yourself? What kind of human beings are you? You very well know that it wouldn't take much time for me to send you people to jail. And coming to the money matter, I have come here as Omkara's wife, not for money. And this family gave me all the things which I have been losing since childhood. Language of love and family is not something which you would ever be able to understand. And it is Omkara's goodness that he had brought uninvited guests in. You should have been happy. But no, you started making fun of him. What else can be expected from people like you )

"Bewakoof ladki!! Tumhe kya lagtha hai, tum jaakar police ko bathadegi aur wo log maan jaayenge? Tumhare paas kya sabooth hai ki yeh sab humne kiya hai? Arey tum toh yeh bhi tak nahi jaanthe ho ki uss din tumhare maa ka accident ki wajah mei thi. Meine hi use dhakka dhekar raasthe par chod diya thaaki who marjaay. Mujhe laga tum dono se humko chutkara mil jaayegi, lekin nahi. Tum toh pura plan par paani phenk diya, waha aake use bachakar. Tum yeh soch bhi nahi sakthe ho ki kiske kehne par meine yeh sab kiya. Jaanna chaahthe ho?

(Idiot girl!! You think you would go tell the police and they would believe you? What proof do you have to show that we have done everything? You don't even know that I was the reason behind your mother's accident. I was the one who pushed her on the road and left her to die. I thought we would get freedom from you both, but no. You had come there to save her destroying all our plans. You will not even believe if I tell you the name of the person who made me do this. Do you want to know?)

"Kaun tha?

(Who was that?)

" Kaali Thakur saheb

Shivaay then came out of his reverie and asked Om. " Om kya yeh wahi Kaali Thakur toh nahi jisse tum deal lock karne gaye the?

Om was not in a position to answer. He just nodded his head not believing where this conversation was heading to. And they heard her Chachi continue.

" Haan. Yakeen nahi hua kya? Usine kaha ki agar tumhare maa ko maar dhiya toh usko tumhe lejane ke liye aasaan hojayega. Aur uske saath saath hum logon ko bhi tum se chutkara mil jayega. Aur waapas mei paisa bhi milega. Tum soch bhi nahi sakthe ho ki tumhe bejkar hum ko kitne paise mile. Tumhari keemat toh tum khudh nahi jaanthi ho. Aur yeh ilzaam tumpe lagane ka mazaa hi kuch aur tha.

(Yes. Are you unable to believe it? He was the one who told me to kill your mother so that it would be easy to take you away. And simultaneously we will also get freedom from you. And we would get the money as well along with it. You will not be even able to imagine the amount of money we got by selling you. You don't even know the value of yourself. And putting the whole blame on you was cherry on the cake)

And like that, his whole world came crashing down around him. Om's eyes became bloodshot and tears were continuously flowing from his eyes. He had no control on himself. He caught hold of the first thing that came to his hand in anger and threw it across the floor and few of the glass pieces stuck to his hand but he felt no pain. He started feeling ashamed of himself as her chachi's words were continuously ringing around his head. He could hear his wife sniffling slightly and cursed himself for not being there with her when she needed him the most. And her chacha continued.

"Aur patha hai? Kaali Thakur saheb jab tumko lene aaye the, uss janjeeron se tumhe bhaandkar dekhke hum logon ko toh bahut khushi ho rahi thi. Usi pal ka intezaar jo tha hume. Aur tumhe yaadh hai, tum apne maa se baath karne keliye phone kiya, tab toh hum tumhaari maa ko paani mei dooba rahe the. Theek se saas bhi nahi le paa rahi thi bechari. Aur garam pani se jalane ki khoshish bhi kiya humne. Par patha nahi tha ki tum itni chaalaak nikalogi. Tumhare uss bacha party ne ghar aake usko legaya. Tumhi bataya hoga na unko, nahi toh woh logon ko kaise patha chal gaya? Shayad phone karke bata diya hogi tum. Koi baath nahi. Uss baath ka badla bhi hum aaj le lenge

(And you know what? When Kaali Thakur came to take you away with him, we were very happy seeing the way you were chained. Infact, we were waiting for that moment since long. And do you remember? You called us to talk to your mother? We were actually drowning her in water. That poor soul wasn't even able to breathe properly. And we tried burning her with hot water. But we never knew that you would turn out to be so clever. Your kids gang came to our house and took your mother away. You would have told them right? Else how would they have known? You might have called them and would have let them know. But that's okay. Today we would take revenge for that as well)

Om clearly remembered that day when she begged him to allow her to make a phone call and the way he hurled the insults at her. Moreover, he was the one who told Kaali Thakur that she was asking for his phone. God!! What had he done?? And she was chained? What does that even mean? How can a person be chained like that? He was getting all kinds of negative thoughts.

"Hume toh yakeen hi nahi ho raha hai ki insaan itna neecha bhi gir saktha hai. Aap apne hi parivaar ke logon ko aise kaise maarne ki kosis kar sakthe hai. Aur who bhi sirf paison ke liye? Chii. Aap logon se baath karthe hue bhi hume saram aa rahi hai. Aap ko patha tha ki Kaali Thakur kaisa insaan tha. Khair, woh toh insaan kehne laayak bhi nahi hai. Aapke mann mei mujhe uss nalaayak insaan ko bhejne ka khayal bhi kaise aaya? Woh toh ek nahi, hum ko uske saath uske dono bhaiyon se bhi byah karne ka majboor kar raha tha. Aur who bhi janjeeron se baandh kar. Chachi aap toh ek aurat haina..Aurat hokar bhi aap ek aurat ko kaise bhej sakthe hai? Mann mei itna sa bhi khayal nahi aay ki aap jo kiya wo galat tha?

(I can't even believe that a person can stoop so low. How can you people try to kill your own family members? And that too for money? Chii. I am ashamed to even talk to you people. You knew what kind of a person Khaali Thakur was. He is not even worth calling a human being. How did you people even get the thought of selling me to that worthless person? He was forcing me to marry not just him, but his brothers as well. And that too while chaining me. Chachi, atleast you are a woman right? How can you sell a woman when you yourself are one? Didn't you even feel once that what you have done is wrong?)

Om slumped on to the floor listening to her words. He could feel the pain in her voice. Khaali Thakur was planning to get her married to three people and that too by chaining her. What did he do? He accused her of running away from her marriage taking away all the money? He had no rights to even apologize. He don't even deserve her apology. Rudra and Shivaay rushed to his side to support him. But he was oblivious to his surroundings drowning himself in guilt.

"Arey! Jabse tum ghar aaye ho na. Sir pe bhoj ban ke baite ho. Hum kya karthe? Hum ko tumhe raasthe se hataana tha aur meine koi galat kaam nahi kiya. Aur tum hothi kaun ho mujhe gyan dene wali. Besharam ladki

(From the time you came home, you became a burden to us. What could we have done? We had to remove you from our path and I didn't do anything wrong. And who are you to point a finger at me? Shameless girl!)

They heard a male voice again.

"Woh gaav waale bhi kitna bewakoof the. Thakur saheb ne kaha ki thakuraain ke maut ka jimmedhaar tum ho aur tum paise lekar bhaag gaye aur woh log toh humare thoda sa jhoot kehne pe viswas karliya. Mujhe toh bahut mazaa aaya jab mein tum par pathar phenk raha tha poore gaav ke saamne, lag jaathi toh bahut acha hotha. Bada afsos ki baath hai. Bahut hogayi baathen. Agar tum paisa nahi dhogi naa, hum abhi jaake sab ko batha denge ki tum aise giri hui aurath ho jo kudh ko bejkar paise lene ke saath saath thakurain ki jaan bhi li thi. Aur yeh bhi bathadenge ki tum paisa lootne ke liye yahan sab ke saamne acha hone ka natak kar rahi ho. Woh log bhi hum pe vishwas karenge aur tumhe dhakka maar ke baahar nikalenge

(Those village people were such idiots. Khaali Thakur told them that you were the reason behind Thakurain's death and you fled away taking all the money with you and for them to believe us, we just had to lie a bit. I had so much fun while throwing stones at you in front of the whole village. It would have been good if it had hit you but sad that it didn't. We have talked way too much. If you don't give us money, we would right away go tell everyone, you are so shameless that you have sold yourself for money and you have killed the thakurain as well. And we would also tell them that you have come here steal the money and acting good just for the sake of it. Even they would believe us and throw you out of the house)

And a roar of laughter was heard again in the silent hall. There was not even one person in the hall whose eyes were not misted.

"Chacha, chachi, aap hume kamzor samajh kar yahan aake bahut badi galthi kiya. Aap ab jo bhi baathein humse kiye hai, humne sab record kar liya hai. Mil gaya na sabooth? Agar aap log yahan se nahi gaya na, yeh recording hum seedha police ko dhe dhenge

(Chacha, chachi, you made a very big mistake by coming here thinking that I am weak. Whatever you people spoke to me till now has been recorded in my phone. Now I got the proof right? If you people don't leave right now, I would directly handle this to police.)

"Yeh tum kya keh rahe ho Gauri. Tumhe lagtha hai ki police ek recording ko sabooth ke roop mein lekar hume andhar karenge?

(What are you talking Gauri? You feel that police would take that as proof and put us in bars?)

Everyone could sense the fear in her chacha's voice.

" Theek hai maan lethe hai ki police hum pe viswas nahi karenge. Lekin humare pariwaar wale toh viswas karenge na. Aap achi tarah se jaanthe hai ki agar yeh recording kisi ne sun liya toh aapka kya haal hoga. Humein nahi patha ki aap ka bahana bathayenge unko. Paanch minute ke andhar aap log yahan se nahi gaya toh humse bura koi nahi hoga. Aur ek baath, agar hum ko patha chala ki aap maa ke paas jhaakar phirse aapke chaal chalane lage, toh aap bhi achi tarah se jaanthe hai ki hum jo kehthe hai, wo karke dikhathe hai. Nikal jaayiye yahan se, abhi ke abhi.

(Okay! Let's say that police would not believe it. But my family members would believe right? You people very well know what kind of situation you would face if someone listens to this recording. I don't know what reason you would give them, but I want you people out in 5 minutes. And one more thing, if I get to know that you have started planning once again against my mother, I do what I say and you know that better. Get lost from here)

Everyone could hear them leave hurriedly.

"Bade aaye hume dhamki dene. Ab hume yeh log zindagi bhar paresaan nahi karenge. Ab hume iss baath ka khayal rakhna hai ki yeh recording kisi ke paas na jay khaas karke Omkara ji ke paas. Nahi toh unhe bura lagega.

(They had the audacity to come and blackmail me. Now I will not have to worry about these people throughout my life. Now I have to make sure that this recording doesn't go to someone's hands especially Omkara's. Else he would feel bad)

And then he broke down.

Precap: Omkara's POV

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I initially thought I would directly jump to exposing Gauri's past but felt that the bonding between them is much needed to show how much he wronged her in the past. So I had to break the chapter.

Will try to upload the third part soon😊

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