SHOT 4
" Oh Omkara" her tears were unstoppable. Her throat went dry. She knew it was him. It had to be him. Why wasn't he speaking? Come on, Omkara, say something! The line went dead and Gauri let out a breath that she didn't know she was holding. But she wasn't angry on her life anymore! Finally Omkara had called her. She was smiling like a fool staring back at the phone. How deeply she had fallen in love! Two words brought back all her faith. All these months of depression, rejection and longing was satiated with only just two words; "Hi Gauri".
Richa who was in the kitchen all this while came to feed Gauri her soup when she saw the most shocking scene she had stopped dreaming about. Gauri was smiling. Richa couldn't believe what she saw. She rubbed her eyes multiple times to see the same scene again and again. Gauri saw Richa standing and looking at her bewildered. She smiled at her and hopped towards her and hugged her.
"Bohot sataya hai na maine tujhe?"
(I have troubled you a lot,right?)
"Huh?" still reeling from the shock. Gauri broke the hug and looked at Richa smiling.
"I'm sorry Richa for all these months. Trust me it was never my intention to hurt you or Arjun but I was also helpless. I know I had pushed you all away but you guys kept pushing back. Im really sorry! But now everything is going to be alright! The old Gauri is back! Richa? Richa? Are you listening to what I am saying?" Gauri shook her.
Richa finally breaking from her trance hugged Gauri. She couldn't believe that her best friend was talking to her after so many months. She didn't care what Gauri was speaking all she cared was Gauri was smiling. Breaking the hug finally Richa spoke.
"Oh God Gauri! I cant believe it is you who is talking to me! I missed you so much Gauri."
"Im sorry Richa, I-"
"Shut up! Aur kitna sorry bolegi? Main koi paraya hoon kya jo tu mujhse maafi maang raahi hai? Aur waise bhi chod yeh sab! Tu pehle bol yeh chamatkar hua kaise?"
(Shut up! How many times will you say sorry now? Am I nobody to you that your constantly asking for forgiveness? Anyway, leave all this and tell me how did this miracle happen?)
Gauri was really tempted to share what had conspired just minutes before with Richa but she held herself back. She knew that if Richa got to know that Omkara had called her then she will never let her talk to him. She knew that Richa will never allow another heartbreak and thefore she decided to conceal it for the time being.
"Nothing Richa! I just realised that there is no point in crying over spilled milk so I decided to move on!'
"Gauri, stop lying through your face! Stop hiding and spill"
Gauri gave a lopsided smile. Who was she fooling? Richa has been with her since her childhood of course she would catch her lying.
"I'm sorry Richa! But let me handle this my way. Please?"
"He called. Didn't he?"
"What? No...no... why will he call? He didn't1" Gauri stammered as she again tried to lie.
Richa looked at her and smiled. Yes she was angry on Omkara and if it came to her she would never allow him near Gauri but one look at her face made her decide otherwise. If one call can bring such a change in Gauri then she was ready to take another chance.
"Gauri...meri pyaari Gauri now listen! Since his one phone call has brought me back my Gauri I forgive him for being this jerk. But if he again does something like this then I'll hunt him down and kill him! And since you want to handle it alone for the time being I'm allowing you but promise me if you face any problem then you will tell us! And yes before you again try to lie I need to tell you need more practice"
"Uff Richa! You are too smart! And I promise you that this time if something happens I will talk to you."
"Okay now go and sit on the couch I'm going to reheat the soup and you will have to drink it"
"Aye Aye captain" and Gauri saluted. Richa turned and smiled at her antics and went to the kitchen while Gauri sat on the sofa and suddenly started blushing remembering that Omkara had actually called.
TWO DAYS LATER
"Arjun give that back to me now!!!!" Gauri shouted as she was running behind him with a stick.
"No no no I'm hoing to read all these and then I'll give these back to you"
"Arjun those are my personal letters! Please give it back!"
"Oh my God! You're such a romantic! Richa! Come and have a look at what she has written!"
"Arjun woh mujhe woh letters wapas de abhi ke abhi!" Gauri screamed on top of her voice.
(Arjun give me back those letters right now!!)
"Okay okay! Here come and take these!" Arjun held his hand out which contained the letters.
As Gauri tries to reach out to the letters Arjun moves back and runs away
"Arjuuun I'll kill-" the phone rang and Gauri quickly leaped and picked up the call. "Hello" there was silence "Omkara?" Arjun ran away with the letters and Richa went back to her room. "Come on say something! I know it's you Omkara."
"Hey" Gauri stopped breathing. She held her chest. His voice was so...sexy. Time slowed down and her heart was racing full speed.
"I-I-I" Gauri stuttered and heard him chuckle.
"How are you? Dear Gauri."
"I-I am good now" she heard him chuckle again."Why are you laughing?"
"I'm just surprised!"
"And why is that?"
"I thought after what I've put through all these months you'll hate me but here you are blushing away!"
"I can never hate you! I do not even want to try it"
"Gauri I'm really -"
"Omkara you don't have to be sorry! You have called and we are talking that says a lot about us"
"We can never be us, Gauri"
"Why Om? What is it that is binding you? I know you love me then why aren't you accepting it"
"Gauri I don't love you! I can never love anyone. But Gauri trust me when I say this I really want to accept you but I just can't "
"Then why did you call? Why are we talking?"
"Because Gauri my life had become intolerable without you! The only thing that kept me going were your letters but then I realised that you are deeply falling in love with me so I had change my place. But then-"
"Still you couldn't stop thinking about me and therefore you broke your resolve and called me. Om that speaks a lot! I know you're slow but I'll break your walls completely." Gauri declares confidently.
"Oh God Gauri! Rudy was so true about you?"
"And what did he say, Om"
"What did you just call me?"
"I called you Om, Mr. Sexy voice!"
"Mr. Sexy voice?! Now what is that?"
"It is your new nickname, sexy!" Gauri says flirting.
"You are such a flirt!" Omkara says chuckling
"And you are sexy!"
"And how do you say that? I could be an old grumpy man with lots of dogs!"
"Hhahahhahhaah! Still a sexy one though!"
"Oh God! Gauri you are unstoppable!"
"I know!"
"You can lift anybody's mood!"
"You got lucky!" Gauri tells smugly
"Gauri?"
"Yes Om?"
"I just want to be friends."
"Okay."
"Okay? That's it?"
"Yeah. That's it."
"And you won't argue?!" Omkara said shockingly. He was expecting that Gauri would argue. Somewhere deep down he wanted that too.
"Om. I said I'll break your walls slowly but and willingly not by arguing. Because I know that if it comes to me arguing, I'll win"
"Is that so?"
"Yes it is."
"Let's see then!"
"Somewhere deep down you too want it right?" her voice was teasing.
"Whaat?!Nooo!"
Gauri started laughing. "It's okay Omkara! Leave it! Tell me when are we meeting?"
Omkara's smile vanished. He already knew that he did a big mistake by calling her and raised her hopes. But by meeting her he wont be able to stop himself.
"Omkara are you there?"
"Gauri--uh-- we are miles apart! We can never meet."
"So we are back to square one"
"No Gauri no we are---"
"Bye Omkara. Call me tomorrow. Goodnight."
"Gaur-" the phone went dead.
Omkara banged his fists againt the table. Only if that day didn't come I would have swept you off your feet.
*_*_*_*_*_*
Omkara everyday made a resolve of not calling her but ended up talking to her for several hours. No matter how much he tried he couldn't get a grip over himself. Gauri was slowly breaking all his walls and he couldn't stop that from happening.
Somewhere down the line he wanted it too. He knew it but he was scared of pulling her into his darkness. So Omkara finally decided that if they cannot be lovers then they'll always remain friends.
They're conversation started always on a happy note but the end result were the same.
"So when can we Omkara?"
"We can never meet. We are miles apart!"
Gauri on the other hand was fed up with this one dialougue. 'We are miles apart! We are miles aprt! Seems like he lives on Mars and I on Earth.' She knew that Omkara was taking small steps towards her but he was slower than tortoise. She was done being 'just friends' with him. She loved him. She knew he loved her then what is it that is so dark that be was unwilling to share it!? Getting no more ideas she resorted to her friend.
"Act a bit distant next time he calls." Arjun suggested.
"He is taking you for granted! Make him realise your worth" quipped Richa.
"Yes. Don't pick up his calls for the next few days. Don't answer his voice mails. Let him realise that your not available at his beck and call." added Arjun
"Let him be scared for once that he has lost you. Let him make a move. You're always waiting for him and that has made him take you for granted. Move away and he'll come running to you" finished Richa.
"Are you guys sure this will work?" asked a sceptical Gauri.
"We are."
So the plan was made and the stage was set. And to her surprise it worked wonders.
*_*_*_*_*_*
"Gauri this is the tenth time you didn't pick my calls! Why are you doing this? I'll call you tomorrow again." His voice had traces of irritation
"Are you out of station Ri? If so, then why didn't you inform me? I'm feeling very lonely Ri. I need you. I'll call tomorrow again okay? Please pick up" his voice was sad.
"I'm sick and tired of this automated voice of yours Gauri. For god damn sake! Please pick up! I leave you my number." he was frustrated.
"Are you taking a revenge on me for what I did? I'm really sorry! Now I know what you felt all those months. Please Gauri please call me back! Please!" He was desperate.
If Omkara was helpless Gauri too was restless. Everytime the phone rang she ran to pick it up. She played the voicemails over and over again just to listen to his voice. But secretly she was enjoying his desperation. 'Just make the last move and I'm all yours.' Gauri smiled to herself their plan was a success after all.
"Gauri jaldi kar warna bus chooth jaayegi" Richa shouted
(Gauri hurry up! We'll miss the bus otherwise!)
"Haan aayi" and she left for her work.
(Yes coming!)
LATER THAT DAY.
Gauri came back after a very tiring day. She was alone at home today. Richa had finally found a guy for herself and went on date while Arjun went back to Delhi.
Gauri freshened up and out of habit sat by the phone and started checking his voice mails. If Gauri had thought it will be Omkara's usual pleadings of calling him back then she was in for a bigger surprise.
"You are very beautiful Gauri. I know yellow is your favourite colour. But that pink salwar suits you the most. You looked very pretty today. I'm sorry I saw you by mistake. It won't happen ever again."
Gauri's eye widened as she listened to the voice mail. 'How is this possible? Is he here in Mumbai? Why didn't he tell me earlier in his voice mails?' Then another thought occurs that scared her to her wits. 'How does he know what I look like? Has he already seen me before? But how?' Then another thought occurs to her 'If he saw me today then he's definitely in Mumbai? Why did he not tell me? Her trance broke when the phone rang.
For the first time ever in her life she was scared to pick up the call. True she loved Omkara but the fact that he already knew where she lived and had seen her made her think otherwise. 'Did I fall in love with the wrong person? Did he stalk me all this while? Did I make a wrong move by trusting him?' A lot of questions were running in her mind and only one man had answers to it; Omkara.
The phone again rang and this time Gauri picked it up.
"He-hello"
"So finally you decided to pick my call." Ah that sexy voice.
Calming her racing heartbeats she finally spoke.
"Omkara will you answer me truthfully if I ask you something?"
"I knew you will have a lot of questions. Go on. I have never lied when it comes to you."
"Are you in Mumbai?"
"Yes."
"Since how long?"
"Since the day I distanced you from myself I had made up my mind to come back in Mumbai so that atleast I could live in your essence"
"Normally if you had said this some other time it would have been really romantic but...wait what do you mean by come back?"
"I used to live in Mumbai earlier."
"All this while you we are miles apart but you were living in Mumbai?" Her voice sounded betrayed.
"Gauri we are still miles apart! I just never mentioned how many miles"
"How do you know that the woman you saw is me?"
"Because I was their at your workplace today. At first I did not know it was you or you'll be there today. But then somebody called your name and you turned. That is how I saw you Gauri. It was never intentional."
"What were you doing at my workplace?"
"How silly Gauri! I had work there."
"OMKARA STOP KIDDING AND ANSWER ME! YOU WERE HERE ALL THIS WHILE AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME! YOU WERE HERE IN MY OFFICE TODAY AND YOU STILL DIDN'T COME TO ME! DO YOU KNOW HOW SCARED I AM?"
"You are scared? Of me?"
"Yes Omkara I am. I'm a girl Omkara these fears are normal. For a second I thought you stalked me?"
"You thought so low of me? True i didn't tell you that I was in Mumbai. But this is a freaking big city how would I know where exactly you lived?!"
"Omkara we've been writing letters to each other. You obviously know where I stay. You know everything about me since day one. It is me who doesn't know anything about you."
"This thought had never occured to me Gauri. The fact I saw you was purely coincidental. I never thought of stalking you. I never realised that I actually know where you live. Please trust me."
Somehow Gauri knew that Omkara was honest. She knew Omkara would never do such a thing.
"Gauri I'm really sorry! What can I do to make it uo to you? I knew it was your workplace and when i heard your name I knew it would be you. I wouldn't have turned.but all these days you didn't pick up calls or reply to meand threfore I couldn't stop myself. I'm sorry if I have scared you! What can I do?"
"I want to meet you. I want to see you."
"Fine if meeting me will set all things back to normal then I'm ready."
"I want to meet you for the first and the last time." Her voice was cold.
"Wh-what?" He asked fearing of what is coming next.
"I feel betrayed Omkara. All these months you were here and you didnt approach me. All those months when I was suffering waiting for your one call you were here trying to live in my "essence". Today when you saw me you could have easily stopped me but no you still didn't do that. Why? Beacuse you feel you're not trustworthy! Beacuse you feel that you are not capable of loving! It had always been about you. What you feel, what you want, it was never about me. Today I realised that I never mattered to you! I'm done from this suffering. You're right I don't deserve this. I deserve better and I will get better. But I have known you for a long time now and now I demand a closure. A closure for our story."
"Gauri please! Please don't say this! Please don't do this!"
"I'm deeply hurt Omkara. All these months you kept pushing me away but you know what kept me going? Your love for me! I knew that one day you would come looking for me. But all those months when I was living in hell you were living in my "essence." So this time I withdraw myself from you!" Her voice was unusually cold
"So what do you want?" His voice was choking.
"I want see you once before we end this. Will you do that?"
"You never demanded anything from me apart from this. If our story has to end then I too want to see you enough to live my life without your presence."
"Our meeting will be a closure to this story. This call is the end of our story" and the line went dead.
*
That's it!
How was the update? I'm really scared about this part as this has not turned out be how I had expected.
