Posted:
So, here it goes- the first part... Hoping for the same love and support and faith...
Part One
"Ommm..." she shrieked as she ran down the stairs of her house; her eyes red-rimmed and swollen, and her vision blurred due to her tears. "Riddhima, stop..." her mother, Pinky, ran after her. But the young girl wouldn't stop. She ran out of her house and just in time, she reached her neighbor, her best friend - Omkara's house. Tej Singh Oberoi was loading the luggage into the car, while his younger son, his six year old Rudra clung onto the older one, who was pacifying the little boy and convincing him that nine years was a really short span, and that time would fly even before he would know. He had just finished consoling a wailing Rudra, when he heard another shriek at the main gate of his mansion. "Ommm..." his seven year old friend- Riddhima, or as his parents would constantly tease him- his girlfriend- came running towards him, and even before anyone could say anything, she lunged at him and hugged him, almost knocking him down in the process. "How can you go leaving me?" she wailed. Omkara grinned, and patted her head as she wiped her dripping nose against the sleeve of his t-shirt. Rudra cringed at the disgusting sight, but Omkara didn't mind; she was his best friend; she had that right. "I'll be back, soon..." he started to say, when she glared at him, amusing everyone around at the way she craned her neck to look at him, owing to his height. "Nine years! You'll not be back for nine years!" she said, hiccupping, and then wailing again.
Tej laughed as he looked at her parents- Shakti and Pinky, smiling at the adorableness of their little children. When Riddhima was born, and Jhanvi and Tej had gone to visit them at the hospital, Omkara had been the most excited one, especially when the newborn girl had opened her big black eyes to see Omkara hovering around and excitedly telling everyone that his face was the first one that she had seen. Tej had begun to tease his older son then, that Omkara had found a girlfriend in Riddhima Sharma, and much to everyone's amusement, Omkara seemed okay with the idea, even though he did not really know what a girlfriend was. And growing up, as expected, Riddhima had found her bestie in Om. He was someone with whom she could share all her joys and sorrows; after all, the world did not know or understand the worries of a seven year old! Riddhima had found her rock, her pillar of support in Om. But the sudden news of him leaving to Mussoorie to study in a boarding school did not go well with her.
"I'm not staying in Mussoorie forever, Ridz... I'll be back before you know it!" She shook her head, "No! You're not going! I'm not letting you go..." She clung tightly to him, and Shakti had to make a hard attempt trying to pull his daughter away from Om. "I'm not letting Om go away... I'm going with him..." she screamed louder, only causing Rudra to start pouting and bursting into tears again, with the thought of Omkara moving away. "Riddhima... leave him, you'll tear his shirt!" Pinky said, shaking her head in exasperation as she tried to pull her little girl away. "You'll forget me in nine years, Om!" she cried in unison with Rudra, who was now cradled in Jhanvi's arms. When she clung on tighter to him, Om hugged her back and said, "I'll never forget you! You're my best friend, and you'll always be my best friend." She moved back to look into his eyes if he really meant his words, and when he smiled, she smiled back at him, loosening her hold on him. "Promise?" she asked him, holding out her palm. "Promise..." he said, looking into her eyes and placing his palm on hers, sealing the deal. With one last hug, she watched her best friend being driven away, waving at the car, waving at him. "I'll miss Om..." she said, still crying, and Pinky-Shakti patted their little girl, pacifying her.
Amidst all this, none of them noticed the five year old Gauri hiding quietly behind her mother and watching the entire scene unfold. She had always been the quieter one, and even at the age of five, she seemed to be too matured for her age. While Riddhima was the one who threw tantrums, it would be Gauri who would pacify her older sister. Being shy by nature, Gauri never had the guts to approach anyone and make friends, including Rudra as well as his older brother- Omkara. In fact, whenever Omkara came over to their house to play with Riddhima, Gauri would stay away from him. Something about him intimidated her, and even Om didn't pay much attention to bother about asking her to join him, Rudra and Riddhima.
As Om was leaving to Mussoorie, Gauri only watched Riddhima clinging to him, and him pacifying her. A small bout of sadness filled her, that Om did not bother to even bid goodbye to her. But just when he had sat in the car, he looked around and looked at her, directly, and with a small smile, he waved out to her. Gauri had gasped and had quickly hidden behind her mother,and slowly peeked again to see if he was actually waving at her. This time, she found him grinning and waving at her. With a small shy smile, Gauri waved back at him and watched the car fade away while it drove away into a distance.
***
Nine years later
***
"Oh gosh! Om is coming back today!" Riddhima chirped as she looked into the mirror for the sixth time in ten minutes. "Relax..." Gauri said, rolling her eyes at the over-enthusiasm, "It's not as if Prince Harry is visiting from London!" Riddhima chose to ignore the comment and went on about what dress she should be wearing, or what color would suit her best, when she would go to welcome Omkara at his house.
Gauri placed the phone receiver aside, and tried her best to focus on reading her books. Somehow, she failed to share her sister's joy about Omkara Singh Oberoi returning to Mumbai. Maybe because she herself was away from home... it had been three years Gauri had moved away to Bangalore for her studies, staying at her Maasi's place. And because she spoke to her parents and Riddhima every single day, it did not feel as if she was away from home. However, today, for the very first time in three years, she wished she was at home. Maybe, just maybe, because she wished she could've met Omkara; at least had a glimpse of him. Shrugging her thoughts away, she adjusted her reading glasses on the bridge of her nose, and went back to reading her books. Slowly, in a few minutes, Omkara was a distant and a faded memory.
"Ommm..." he heard the familiar screech after nine long years even before the car door opened and grinned to himself, preparing to encounter her and her infamous deathly grip of hugs. However, when he got outside the car, he smiled to himself when he saw her cheeks color up. Riddhima had already turned into a pretty woman-in-the-making. Riddhima, on the other hand, was surprised when she saw how handsome he had turned into after nine long years. He was certainly taller, broader and was definitely into working it out at the gym. The thought made her blush harder. Their parents exchanged sly grins when they saw the usually talkative Riddhima turn silent and shy when Omkara stretched his hand out to greet her. "How are you?" he asked her, only to have her shake her head. h elooked around, as if searching for something. "Where's Gauri?" he asked, surprising everyone around. "Gauri is in Bangalore; I told you over the phone that she had left for her studies..." Jhanvi said, noticing Om's slight frown. "She'll be here for Diwali..." Pinky said with a small smile, and Jhanvi couldn't help but be amazed at how he suddenly relaxed at the mention of Gauri's return. "Oh, okay..." Om replied in a nonchalant manner and proceeded to go inside his house with his arm around Rudra, laughing at something funny which his little brother said in his ears. Jhanvi looked at her older son with a small smile, "Gauri... hmmm..." she thought to herself and shook her head with a small chuckle.
***
PART 2- PAGE 10
PART 3- PAGE 18
***
And that's a wrap on part one...
Comments/criticisms welcomed.
Silent readers, do try to leave a word for motivation sake. Else, just hit the LIKE tab 😳
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Anupamaa
Fan Fictions
