Chapter 1: A New Beginning
"Thank you Sarika! Agar tum nahi hoti toh pata nahi hum kya karte, itne bade sher mein.."
"Gauri, tumaare ehsaano ke aage yeh kuch nahi hai. Agar tum humara saath nahi deti toh aaj hum itni khushi se apne sapno ki udaan nahi bhar rahe hote. Lekin ab isse aage toh hum chaah kar bhi tumhaari madad nahi kar sakte. " spoke her friend Sarika.
"Yahan se hum khud apna rasta dhoond lenge. " she said running her eyes around the small one bedroom apartment. "Ek naukari aur ye garh haath mein aagay ,bahut hai. Thank you!" She concluded her sentence in her Bareli accent.
"Gauri, aasan nahi hai yahan akele rehna, ek baar aur soch lo. "
"Humne thaan liya hai, ki hum ek nayi shuruaat karenge. Har kisi ko ek nayi shuruaat ka mauka nahi milta, humein mila hai toh isse hum khoyenge nahi. Jarur iss mein Shankar Ji ki koi icha chupii hai. " she spoke painfully.
"Theek hain. Ab hum nikalte hain. Apna khyal rakhna Gauri. Koi problem ho toh humein yaad karne see hitchkitchana nahi!" sarika hugged her friend and left.
Gauri sat down on the small sofa in the dusty apartment. Things had happened way too quickly for her to even reflect upon. But she had the minimum in hand which most people did not thanks to her friend. She was a warrior not a coward. Even though she barely felt she was herself now, she had no other option than to embark upon this new journey in a new city all by herself.
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"Namaste, Pandit Ji!" She said extending to the priest what she had got as offering.
She folded her hands bowing down before the idol of Lord Shiva. "Hey Shankarji aaj ek nayi shuruaat hain humaari, aapne apni kripa humesha hum pe baanyi rakhi hai uske liye Thank You, bas aise hi banaye rakhna!" Smiling she accepted the prasad and ringing the bell, left the premises of the temple.
Once out, she quickly removed the duppata from her head and wrapped it around her face. Walking to her scooty she quickly brought out her helmet. She looked at her watch, she was on margin. She should be able to reach within half an hour with the shortcut route that Google Map provided her with! After all she had learnt the art of tackling Mumbai routes in the past one year!
She stopped at the florist spotting a rare bunch of flowers. Quickly getting off she walked up and ordered them, "How much?"
"200 Ma'am!" Came the quick reply.
"Bhaiya, Sab jaante hain hum chaliye 100 mein dijiye!"
"No. bargain. Ma'am. 180!"
She handed him 150 rupees and smiled, "Next time I will buy from you only bhaiya!' Smiling she continued on her route.
Mumbai was a huge city. Over the past one year she had learnt its ways. That wasn't all she had learned. She had learned so much and was proud herself. English, Cooking, Baking and an interior designing course included. And all that on her own. The past one year had remarkably changed not just her life but her too. She had grown as an individual. But somewhere down in her heart she missed her old self. Her dancing on streets whenever a random baarat passed by. Drying spices and clothes on terrace alike. She missed the peanut vendor that came down her street every evening making the peculiar sound. She missed her old city. But like they said, the world is a big place for you to make memories being stuck somewhere you can never get anywhere else. But now Mumbai had become like her very own place. She dint want to leave the over populated city to go back to Bareli where she had not just memories but also nightmares.
Strange but that was how she would describe the people of the city. No matter what, they were all so versatile and different. From the cranky old women to the sweetest old soul, from the stubborn brat of kids to the enchanting innocent little ones, from the Khadoos angry young men to the flirtatious ones she had learned the ways of all of them.
Before she used to work for a renowned designer , and that was what gave her, her biggest break and overflowing confidence in herself. She had taken to English classes in the evenings after work and learnt cooking online. Initially it had been very very hard, but soon she went with the flow and started loving whatever she did and it wasn't that bad after that. Soon she was well enough to buy herself a second hand scooty and put to an end her tiresome bus and train trips.
Now she was working under an interior designer as her personal assistant. A week back one of her boss's friend had visited their office and was highly impressed by her designs and wanted her to do the interiors of her art gallery. So in short she was now the personal interior designer of that woman for a month! Today was her first day and she couldn't be happier.
"Mrs. Jaanvi Singh Oberoi?" She told the watchman.
"May I know Your name?" He asked.
Gauri looked rather impressed. This was another thing she had learnt about the city life, everyone no matter what post, would somehow expect you to know English. It was the professional language in her field of work.One of the sole reasons she had herself learnt the language.
"I m here to meet Mrs Jaanvi Singh Oberoi, I am the interior designer. " Gauri."
He nodded at once giving her a wide respectful smile and waving at the other gaurd to open the door.
"Ma'am you can drive all the way to the front gate from there the other guard will take your vehicle and park it.Welcome To Oberoi Mansion Ma'am."
The huge beautifully carved gates opened majestically to make way for her. Her eyes widened, excitement bubbled inside her, with flavor of nervousness. Would she able to handle such a huge project all by herself?
And as though to give her, her answers her gaze fell at the beautifully carved statue of lord Ganesha at the entrance. She smiled , " Baapa hai toh unke baap bhi honge! Jai Bhole Nath!" She said happily.
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"Mr.Oberoi. aapke ehsaano ki jarurat nahi hai." His voice crisp and sharp echoed in the mansion.
"Omkara. " came his mother's voice interrupting in time to prevent another argument between her husband and son.
"Jaanvi samjhao isse. Isska baap hoon iske ache ke liye hi bol raha hoon. Shikayna is the best interior designer."
"Its not required Tej!" She countered her husband. " In fact I have already appointed an interior designer, she isn't a big shot but she is very good Tej. I understand you are trying to contribute but Om dint want an already renowned designer to work on it. Its okay Tej. " Turning to Omkara she said, "Om I really liked her work, I am sure you will like it and her taste in art as well."
She held Omkara's hand. Om smiled, gently squeezing his mother's palm. "You like her work, that means I will like her work as well!" Shooting a glare at his mother's husband Om walked away.
"Omkara, be at my study by eleven. We will start working on the gallery by tomorrow."
"Alright Mom!" Came a straight reply.
She simply stared back at him as he disappeared. Her eyes moist.
"Everything alright Badi Maa?" Came Omkara's elder brother Shivaay's voice as he looked at her.
She smiled slightly. "We have lost him Shivaay. He might appear normal at the surface but inside he is broken. "
"Jaanvi!" Tej put his arm around his wife."He needs sometime he will be fine!" He reassured her.
"One year Tej. More than one year, has passed, more time?" She said tears making way.
"Badi Maa, dont worry, he will be fine! Anyway I think this art gallery idea is amazing to bring back our old Om." Said Shivaay holding his Badi Maa's hands.
"I hope so Shivaay!" She whispered. "If this doesn't work, I don't know, I guess I will never be able to forgive myself for it."
"Jannvi! It is your fault. Its all mine." Spoke Tej looking down.
"Tej!" She looked at him.
"Bade Papa, Badi Maa. You both, don't worry. Daadi says naa, time takes tests and rewards. Its Omkara's test and I m sure he will fight it all and emerge a winner."
"Shivaay, I can't see Om like that again!" Jaanvi voiced her fears.
"I promise, I will never let him go back to that phase." Spoke Shivaay with a shaking voice
"We promise!" Came another hand on Shivaay's . He smiled at his younger brother. Rudra.
Jaanvi smiled and walked away after pecking each's forehead.
Tej looked at the two and smiled. "Main..."
"Don't Bade Papa! Let past be past. Everything will be fine."
Tapping Shivaay's shoulder Tej walked away, leaving the two brothers.
"Bhaiya?"
"Hmm?" Hummed Shivaay looking at Rudra.
"Its been a while I dint listen to O's shaayri. He laughs but I don't hear his laughter anymore. He smiles but his eyes don't. I miss O Bhaiya. I miss our O very much. " he hugged his brother.
"Rudra!" He caressed his hair hugging him. "Nothing has happened. Yeh Om bhi naa.. Natak kar raha hai. Don't worry I m going to put an end to his drama. He can't do this to us all...to himself. " He whispered as his voice slowly faded away as he gulped to swallow hard the pain in his own heart.
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"Shivaay?" His wife's voice brought him back out of his thoughts.
"Is everything alright?" She asked.
He nodded.
"What is it?" She still asked.
"Om!" He said looking aside.
She blinked, having nothing to say. Everyone at home knew Omkara wasn't the real Om. He was a changed man, after all that had happened. She simply sat by him, gently squeezing his arms and leaning her frame on to him."he will be fine, we are all with him! " with those words she pushed away his worry for some time.
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"Hello Ma'am. " she said as she knocked the already open door.
"Gauri!" Jaanvi smiled. "Come come!'
" Good morning Ma'am! Extremely sorry to be late actually your mansion is so huge that I almost lost my way " she spoke sweetly.
Jaanvi giggled. "Late by five minutes huh? That's not late. Anyways, sit Om will be here in sometime and we can get to things soon. In the meantime, have you brought those designs?"
She sat, "Yes Ma'am, I made few others yesterday as well." She brought out the huge album from her bag."
"That's amazing!" Said an impressed Jaanvi taking the album.
"Ma'am if you don't mind may I ask you who is Om?"
"O, extremely Sorry. Om as in Omkara is my son, this gallery is for him."
Gauri- " Oh okay. I thought you were the artist! "
Jaanvi-"Nahi Nahi! Mujhse toh ek ice-cream bhi nahi banaaya jaata thaa school mein!" She chuckled.
Gauri was already beginning to like this woman very much. At first sight she had really appreciated the way Jaanvi carried herself and her style. But now she growing more fond of her ways and style.
"This is amazing, I m pretty sure Omkara is going to love this!" Spoke Jaanvi caressing the picture in the album. "It has a rustic charm to it, the kind Om loves!"
Gauri smiled.
A man walked in with a huge tray of tea and biscuits. He placed it before Gauri. Only then was she brought out of her silent stare session of the magnificent wood work in the study.
"No thank you." She said politely.
"O come on Gauri! No formalities haan!" Jaanvi signalled the servant to continue.
Gauri quickly mouthed a thank you looking at the cup before her. Damn. These people were really rich, not just by their name or things they called their own, but by their style and taste as well.
With shaking hands she picked up the small cup. She never liked drinking from the cup, she was from the minority who preferred putting their tea on to the teaplate and then enjoying every bit of it.
"Ouch!" She yelped in a quick small voice. The cup was hot! In time she prevented the cup from a drastic fall and the carpeted floor from stain and put the cup back in the table. But the tea had already landed on her other hand.
"It's okay, the washroom to the right. Quickly clean yourself and let me know if there are any burns, I will call for first aid immediately." Jaanvi spoke panicking a little.
"Ma'am its completely fine. I will just be back. I M so sorry!" She quickly disappeared.
She was muttering to herself as she clicked the washroom shut. "Great Gauri! Pehle din hi siyaapa!" She spoke to herself washing her hand.
"Hey Mom!" He entered his eyes quickly catching a glimpse of the designs on the desk. Immediately picking it up he analysed it. "These are amazing!"
Jaanvi smiled, "Check this " she said handing him the one in her hand.
"That's brilliance personified!" He said in awe with the colors and the manner in which they were put together.
"I told you she is good!"
"Her work says so! Then let's get started I already like this. Infact why don't you send these over to Anika Bhaabhi, she has been asking me from a long time for helping her at decorations for Rudra's sangeet. "
" but Om,"
"Mom. I really don't feel like helping Bhaabhi myself. The problem is I really can't make a right choice anymore. I m doing the gallery only for you. I no longer like working at all of this- these colors, designs." He said exasperated of repeating it time and again.
"That's the problem Om. You are not allowing yourself. That's it."
"Mom. I really don't want to argue right now. I m pretty sure you can ask your new designer to help Bhaabhi and on the side, we can work on gallery too. Where is she by the way?"
"WO, chai gir gayi thii , she has gone to clean it." Explained Jaanvi.
"Mom, you finalize the things, I need to go."
"But Om, we...
" I know Mom. Woh Shivaay and Rudra want me to go with them."
She quickly agreed, knowing that with his brothers around he was bound to slowly get back to being himself.
She walked in only to find a figure walking out of the room. She smiled formally at Jaanvi and took her seat back.
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Jaanvi- "This is our living room!"
Gauri- "I must say Ma'am you have a really beautiful home."
Jaanvi- "I m happy that you said yes to help out Anika. "
Gauri-"Trust me to it, The pleasure is all mine!"
Jaanvi smiled tapping her cheek.
"Om", she called out to the figure she saw walking up the stairs.
Omkara turned and walked up to her.
" Meet Gauri, the designer!"
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