||RiKara OS - Love||

RiKara OS Love

Omkara Singh Oberoi sat staring blankly at the stark white wall in front of him. The thoughts and emotions gathering in his mind were too painful to process but if he didn't do it now, it would be too late. There was no tomorrow, for them. A gentle hand on his shoulder, brought him out of his reverie.

As Om turned to look at Shivaay, Shivaay could immediately see past his stoic expression to the pain welling up in Om's eyes. Wordlessly, both Shivaay and Rudra slipped in to the seats on either side of Om.

"O.. Rudra started to say something, but found himself at a loss of words. Om got up from where he sat and went towards the window that looked in to the room where the girl who'd tossed his world upside down from the moment she stepped into it lay. Once again, Shivaay and Rudra took their places beside him at the window. Deriving some strength from his brothers' presence, Om began to speak.

"She is the most infuriating girl I've ever met, Shivaay. From the moment she walked into my life, she turned it into an absolute mess. I've.. the words caught in his throat and he had to stop. "I've only ever been mean to her, always accused her for the wrong things. I made up my mind about her without ever finding out the whole truth. In fact, if mom hadn't brought Gauri's maa here so she could be with her daughter in her daughter's last moments, I would have never known the truth, about her life in Bareilly, of how she got caught in the clutches of Kaali Thakur and I would have always punished her for crimes she'd never committed.

"I've yelled at her, accused her, called her a gold digger and home wrecker, asked her time and again to get out from my room, my house, my life. And yet, here she is today, fighting a losing battle with death. Why? Because she took a bullet through her chest.. For me.. A bullet that my Buama had aimed at me. And once again, I did not believe her when she tried to warn me. I even.. I even raised my hand on her. A single tear escaped the corner of his eye and he stopped talking for the fear of breaking down completely.

Shivaay placed a hand on Om's shoulder and said, "That's the difference, Om, between men and women. A man loves a woman who makes him happy, keeps him happy. But a woman.. Shivaay looked at Anika and then at Gauri before he went on, "a woman can truly and deeply love even the man who has hurt her the most.

Shivaay was right, Om thought to himself as his gaze lingered on Gauri's form. She looked deathly pale, lying on that hospital bed unconscious. Wires and tubes of different shapes and sizes were connected to her trying to infuse a life into her that seemed to be seeping out of her body every minute. Om closed his eyes. No.. This was not the last image he wanted to carry of Gauri. His mind raced through his moments with her but drew a blank in the end.

Omkara turned to hug Shivaay as he broke down. "I can't let her go Shivaay. I can't. I know she does not have much time left. But.. But.. Every time I close my eyes, all I can see are the tears in her eyes and that unspoken plea in them, to believe her, just once. And I can't bear it. I just can't. I just want one chance, just one chance.. to say sorry to her, to repent for every sorrow, every tear I've given her. I just want one chance Shivaay.. To tell her I love her.. and that I can't live without her.

Just then, monitors began beeping and an alarm sounded in the ICU. Doctors and nurses rushed into Gauri's room past a bewildered Omkara. What seemed like an eternity of frantic activity in the room later, the chief doctor stepped out of the room. Om recognized the look of sympathy in the doctor's eyes with cold dread. "I am sorry Mr. Oberoi. Your wife's time has come. Her heart rate has dropped dangerously low and we've tried everything we could to revive her. I think its time you said your final good byes to her. I am sorry. With a consoling pat on Om's back, the doctor walked away. The other doctors and nurses filed out of the room in complete silence.

Gauri's mother collapsed in a heap hearing the doctor's words and Om staggered as if about to fall. Rudra caught him just in time. "O.. Listen.. he said urgently, wiping away his own tears. "Go in there. Go and talk to Gauri Bhabhi. Don't let her go before she hears what you have to say. Come on O! Rudra opened the door to Gauri's room and nudged Om inside.

She was dying. She was dying. His brain played the words on loop but his heart stubbornly refused to acknowledge it. He dragged leaden feet to the stool next to Gauri's bed and sat down. Gingerly, he took one of her frail hands in his. Her skin was turning cold. Instinctively, he began to rub her hand to warm her.

"Gauri.. the voice did not seem like his to his own ears. "Gauri.. I know you can hear me so don't even try to pretend otherwise. He paused, the painful lump in his throat making it difficult to speak. "Do you remember, I asked you once if you would listen to everything I say and you said you would? So today.. Today I am telling you that you cannot leave me and go away. Not today, not another day.. Never. Do you hear me? His voice faltered as tears streamed down his eyes. He lifted her hand and kissed it gently. "How can you even think of leaving me and going away? I know.. I know I've always been rude and mean and I've constantly asked you to go away from my life. But you always came back. Just like that, come back again Gauri. One last time. Because I promise you that I will never let you go anywhere. Just give me one chance to say sorry, to make things right between us. Please Gauri! Weren't you the one who said that your sixth sense warns you whenever something wrong is about to happen to me? Because of the connection you share with me? Then where is your sixth sense now? Why isn't it telling you how much pain I am in right now? Its killing me to see you like this Gauri. Its killing me to know that all I have are just these few moments left with you Gauri.. Before you leave me forever.

Om held onto Gauri's hand and cried desperately. Don't let Bhabhi go away before she hears what you have to say. Rudra's words echoed in Om's mind as the monitors beeped ominously indicating her falling heart rate and her hands became cold.

"I love you Gauri, Om said finally. His eyes filled with tears, his heart filled with unbearable pain and sorrow. "I love you Gauri. And I'm sorry. I am sorry for judging you without knowing you. I am sorry for every mean thing I've ever said. I am sorry for every single time I've knowingly or unknowingly hurt you. I am sorry for every single tear you've shed because of me. And I am sorry.. for denying my feelings for you and hiding them behind a mask of anger and false hatred. And if this is how you intend to punish me for all the wrong that I did to you.. By going away from me forever.. Om took in a long, deep breath, "I accept your punishment. Maybe this is what I deserve. A life without you.. A life that would be worse than death. But I want you to know that I will always love you. Omkara will always remain incomplete without his Gauri by his side. Om stood up from where he sat as the monitors above Gauri's head flatlined. He leaned over, closed his eyes and placed a gentle kiss on Gauri's forehead.

Om prolonged the kiss for as long as he could hold himself together. Just to etch that memory in his mind for eternity. Then he moved away and without looking at her lifeless body, he headed towards the door. The tears clouding his eyes made his vision hazy and he saw the rest of his family waiting on the other side of the door. These few steps to that door seemed like an unending stretch because he knew he was walking away from his life. When he reached for the door handle, his resolve faltered. He had to look at Gauri one more time.

Just then, he thought he heard a gasp from behind him. Willing to grasp at any miracle, Om raced back to Gauri's bedside. "Gauri? Gauri? he called desperately. He glanced up at the monitors and sure enough, a faint but steadily recurring blip on the screen indicated that her heart was beating again.

Doctors and nurses came rushing back into the room and Om was escorted out. A short while later, the doctor came out and announced that it was a miracle that her heart regained its normal rhythm and she was doing fine now. Between the vocal cheers of relief and joy and the hugs and thank you prayers to the Heavens above, Om slipped back into the room.

A day later, Gauri finally opened her eyes. Om had refused to leave her side and had been sitting right by her side all day holding onto her hand. He looked like he'd been to Hell and back, was her first thought. She tried to speak but Om placed a finger on her lips and shushed her. "I know you must have a ton of questions. And to be honest, I am dying to hear you say something, anything at all right now. But the doctors said you need rest. So for once I have a chance to tell you what I want to without you interrupting me. And then he poured his heart out to her.

When he was done, both had tears streaming down their eyes. Gauri started to speak but Om shushed her again. "You don't have to say anything. I know it won't be easy for you to forgive me but I will take any punishment you give me but please, please don't ever even think of leaving me and going away again. "If you won't let me talk, then how will I say what I need to say? Gauri asked with a faint smile. He could do anything at all to see her smile, Om thought. "You are not allowed to strain Gauri, he tried to explain. "I don't have a lot to say like you, she replied. Om gave in and nodded asking her to go ahead. "All I want to say is.. I love you! No other happiness in the world could come close to what he was feeling right now. As if understanding his unspoken request to hear her say it again, Gauri spoke again, "I love you Omkaraji. Always have and always will. And I'd die a hundred deaths for you. This is nothing.

Om immediately placed a finger on her lip. "Don't ever talk about dying ever again! I won't be able to live without you Gauri. "Neither would I be able to live without you, Gauri responded. She gently lifted her arms towards him and Om slipped into bed next to her, careful not to disturb the tubes and wires she was connected to. Om settled her gently against his chest and they fell asleep listening to each other's heart beats; ready to awaken to a new dawn and a new beginning of their life A life of love.

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