Omkara Singh Oberoi was angry at himself, at his eyes that continuously searched for that one face he hated to see, at his heart for getting restless when his eyes failed to find it. Perhaps...his mind slyly whispered...she had finally left...and his heart; the traitor it is wrenched painfully inside his ribcage at that. No - she wouldn't leave after making his life hell for one entire year!
By now she was addicted to the glamour of his world, she was no longer that meek, illiterate from rural Bareilly, instead she had turned herself marvelously in to a social butterfly, a queen bee of the elite circles; the sweet apple of those rich gossips; Mrs. Omkara Singh Oberoi.
He had been very right about her, about the ugly greed hide behind her sweet smile. To his surprise, the trillion times he bit out those words at her, she never opposed like she used to in the days of yore. Instead, the night that followed their forced second marriage she had merely looked into his cold gaze and asked, in the most composed manner; "So...What are you going to do about it?
And he was stuck - an unknown pain striking through his heart at her blunt acceptance, really - what was he to do?
It's not like his family would ever let him leave her. He was trapped for life. She had trapped him for life. In the days, months that followed she continued to prove him right. She was taking the full advantage of their ruse of a marriage and play the savitri in front of his ignore family.
Never did she give him a second look. He had served his purpose, given her a key to a never ending treasury there was nothing more he could do for her.
Knowing her truth, the disgusting reality of the woman that his wife was...still he couldn't help it, couldn't stop himself from falling for her. And for that he hated himself. He would lay awake for her to return from her Late night parties - of cause he would pretend to sleep, he would always be there to catch her when her new found favorite high heels twisted her ankle.
He would instinctively pick up the flowery fragrance of her perfume whenever she entered the room he was in. Pick up an earring she drops behind carelessly, bring her home every time she gets herself drunk.
Then he would shut himself in the study and wonder what made him do all that? And a brooding session of few hours would be initiated.
But no matter how many times he tried to make his heart understand, his eyes always ended up searching for her.
Like right now - in their one year anniversary party - where he could see no sign of his wife. His wondering eyes fell upon his family members, huddled around Annika who had returned only a night before - officially back in Shivay's life. This celebration was for many reasons, one of which was her arrival - then there was the relief of finally ending the hard times they went through because - as it was finally revealed - of his mentally unbalanced Bua Ma.
Shaking his head to get himself off those particular dark thoughts Omkara messaged the security asking if they had seen his wife anywhere. By now he was sure, she has to be somewhere upto no good - probably drowning herself in a bottle of champagne.
Khanna replied to him immediately, informing that she went home early complaining about a headache. Headache? He frowned. Now what kind of a new drama is she cooking?
His thoughts pulling up theory after theory of any mishap his wife could be up to, Omkara drove home as fast as he could without killing himself or anybody else.
There she was, in their room, a travelling bag propped open on the bed, packing her clothes. Although she stopped for a brief moment at the sound of his footsteps, Gauri shook her head and continued to fold her Kurtis without sparing a glance in his direction.
Omkara folded his arms, scowling.
"Ab yeh kya naya naatak hai? He asked her irritated by her silence.
Finally she looked at him, and he was a little taken aback by her look - that utterly disconnected and empty emotion in her otherwise very expressive eyes.
"Naya nahi Omkara ji, Purane naatak ka climax hai.
What? But no, she was serenely going on with her packing after uttering that riddle of a sentence.
"Kaha jaa rahi ho? he tried a new approach. "Phir se koi vacation plan kar li apne dosto ke saath?
"Haan - iss bar lambhi planning ki hai. Puri zindagi ki.
Her words sucked air out of his lungs and he stared at her for an minute before shaking his head disbelievingly at her.
"I know you - tum iss kazane ko chor ke kahi nahi jaane wali. Yeh luxurious life se tumhe mout bhi nahi juda kar sakta.
Gauri blinked furiously and asked in a small voice.
"hum kya itne achche acting kar lethe the? Kabhi bhi aap ko hamari dil mein kya hai patha nahi chala?
"Kiyun baar baar humein bewakoof banane ke koshish karti ho? he questioned back.
"Bewakoof toh aap hain ji, she laughed bitterly. "Hum paagal aap ko kuda maan baithe. Anyway, she sighed. "kush rahiyenga Omkara ji. Aaj ke baad aap ko hamari kwaab bhi na aaye - dua hain hamari.
He grabbed her elbow before she walked out and pulled her back inside the room.
"Itne raat ko kaha jaa rahi ho? Jaha jaana hai subha chali jaana.
" aise hi roka tha na humein ek baar? She asked him wistfully. " Aur hum ruk gaye. Phir patha chala koi aap ki jaan lena chahata hai. Hum phir ruk gaye. She pulled her elbow free and looked up at him. "teek hai, jaate jaate phir aap ka dil tod ke jaati hoon. Hum Yahaan bua ma ke wajai se ruke the. Wo chahati ti ke aap ki shaadi ho, bachcha ho, aap ko maar de aur aap ki dukhi patni aur bachche ko Wo apne saath le jaaye.
She drew in a breath.
" Agar hamari rishta toot jaata Wo kissi aur se aap ko pyaar karwata phir wohi sab hota - aap ki jaan ko kathra hota. Issi liye hum ruk gaye...Wo sab kiya Jisse Wo bhi kush rahe par aap kabhi hamare kareeb na aaye. Taaki unki plan kabhi anjaam tak na pohoche...unki Rathan, she chuckled dryly. "Kabhi iss duniyaa mein na aaye.
Shaking her head she grabbed her luggage once more.
"iss liye nahi bataya Taaki aap humein rok le...Ya humse maafi mange. Iss liye bathaya taaki jiss insaan ko hum kabhi bhula nahi paayenge hum unki subse buri yaad na ban jaaye. Hamari maaniye Omkara ji, aap Gauri ko bhool hi jaaiye, Chubul ko yaad rakiye usse toh aap nafrat nahi karte te na?
Again he held her back when she tried to walk past him. This time when she looked into his eyes, they were burning with unshed tears.
" Kiyun kiya aisa? " his words were bearly audible.
" Bohut pyaar karti hoon aap se - agar aap ko kuch ho jaata toh Mar jaati. She said honestly, simply.
" Phir Kiyun jaa rahi ho?
"Ruki thi aap ke liye jaa rahi hoon apne liye. jiss insaan ne baar baar hamari sammaan ko hurt kiya, ussi se pyaar kar ke ek baar apne nazron mein ghir chuki hoon...ab aur nahi. Aap ki iss mehel mein dum gut tha hai hamari, toh hum jaa rahe hai aap ki zindagi se...hamesha ke liye. Aur haan iss baar apne kiye ki keemat leke jaaungi.
"Kya chahiye? His voice broke, knowing full well she wouldn't quote a prize.
"Can I hug you once? She asked him, with a watery smile.
**
There's room for more I know, but this is all I wanted to - was able to pen down. You can call it my form of ranting...when a beautiful couple with a great potential is getting ruined on a daily basis on my screen.
Thanks for reading.
Will be grateful for any thoughts you share with me.
Love,
Sakura
Cricket
