He just lay there on the bed asleep he had seen her turn, her eyes were brimming red with rage and unshed tears. There was an amalgam of emotions in her ever expressive orbs,that the poet in him failed to read. Putting her on the bed was indeed a wrong decision because he didn't realise when she had cocooned herself in him as if seeking comfort. Being a light sleeper he had woken up surprised with such proximity, he just couldn't wake her up. She just seemed so disturbed, her facial muscles twitching in sleep and  for a moment he decided to keep every reality aside and give her the comfort she was seeking for. He gently pulled her towards him and hesitantly kept a hand on her waist afraid how would she react when she got up. As soon as he kept his hand on her waist his every doubt flew when he saw her face she was suddenly calm. The joy within him was unexplainable that he provided her comfort. She fitted so perfectly in his muscular built just like a piece of a puzzle. He didn't have a clue when sleep invaded his senses. He just loved the feeling of her being in his arms. Being a light sleeper he had been woken up by his so called wife who was struggling to get out of his grip. For a moment he was offended thinking that she didn't like this proximity between them, but then realization hit him hard, their status quo he mumbbled internally. But then another realization hit him wasn't she supposed to enjoy this proximity because she is an unchaste woman . Why was she behaving as if he was the first man who was so close to her? Was he her first man? This very thought made his heart thump with joy. Was she scheming again? But why would she? She has no excuse to stay,she has to go. His civil war was stopped by something wet and cold seeping through his kurta her tear drop shook him. He was so engrossed in his civil war that he had completely forgotten that they were in an awkward position. Her one lone tear drop somehow  testified her innocence. That is when for the first time since he had met Gauri he asked himself was there something to her story which he didn't have a clue about? Was her story really the way he thinks it to be ? Her sudden and speedy reactions made him realize something was amiss and he decided the very next instant to follow her . He was kind of sad with the thought that maybe she was leaving him ,he was sad because no matter how he perceived her to be, she was obedient to him,she never said no inspite of her taunting at times which he secretly admired, dabaang Gauri he smiled ,but even if she was leaving he had to make sure she reached safely to the bus or train station as  it was late. He was surprised to reach the terrace, his curiosity at its zeinth. He stood silently and heard her vent out. He let out a small smile when he heard that she had come to fight with her father. She was childhish he agreed, but his smile died down when he heard about the words she was accused with. His muscles began to tighten and his insides screamed asking him  to go because he wasn't supposed to be here,but he didn't go. He heard her rant out her pain, he was too numb to react. All he knew  was she was innocent he was too scared to face her , but that wasn't all, he was too scared to face himself, the moment she turned he saw the agony and rage  in her orbs testifying her innocence. And here he was  in his bed, soaking in the truth. All that roamed in his  mind was she was sold, and how come he couldn't know? She was supposed to be married to his brothers. Polygyny, in this era? Was he so blind that he didn't see the horror show going around him? What made him so cold hearted ? When had he become so inhumane? He despised the man he had become , he pushed her back to KT inspite of knowing that he was flithy man. How could he? Those filthy men almost killed her. She would have been dead if he wouldn't have saved her. Inspite of everything he did to her he was glad that he saved her,he was glad that she was alive even when she wasn't his. He remembers Chulbul's words when he stabbed him -  hamare liye ap bagwan hai. And then he remembers how he threw at Kali's feet as if she was a  toy. He loathed himself he was a saviour for her but for him he was criminal.   Could rage overpower him to such an extent? It somewhere pinched him that she felt there was no relationship between them. They were similar in many aspects he realised. Their dark past , the façade of happiness that they carried around, their love for their mother of course and the most  painful thing that bonded them was their addiction. Who on earth torture themselves to sustain in this world? He did, he realised ,so did she but to such an extent. He was marvelled at her zeal to set things right even after being in such a mess. But at the same time something hit him that he would no more be a part of her life. He knew Shivay had asked a detective to get the background details about Gauri, he wanted that file right now not because he needed proof. Because he wanted to know what if he missed something else.  He heard the door open he could hear soft sobs as she hit the other end of the bed keeping enough distance. He was hesitant yet determined enough he gently pulled her closer and gave her a back hug surprising her this time she didn't try to shove him  away. This time she turned towards him and hugged him tight, after all what harm could one hug do? She just wanted to etch this in her memory. She wanted to etch that warmth she felt in his arms for the last time. And she slept off , Omkara reciprocated the hug and made up his mind to not let her go. Even if she was firm on her decision he just couldn't let her go simply, when his guilt was trying to kill him. He got up around 7 he was surprised to find Gauri wasn't next to him,but then it was the time for her puja,she would never miss a day. That is when he heard a knock on the door, he saw a servant get him tea. He sipped it but something was different about this tea,it wasn't the gulcose biscuit chai, panic rose within him,and a feeling of hollowness crept within him has she left already? He calmed himself  and asked the servant - Gauri kahan hai? (Where's Gauri) The servant replied -sahab humne Ma'am Sahab ki subah se nahi Dekha.( I haven't seen Madam since today morning) And he handed him a file saying Shivay had asked him to give him . He held the file which contained the truth but the file seemed to be too heavy. How could she leave? He threw the pillow besides him in anger and to his surprise he found a neatly folded page of a diary,he held the page with anticipation. It read, Oberoi Sahab, I  don't know whether you deserve it or not I forgive. Not because you deserve it but because I deserve it, I deserve it. I deserve to be free. The truth has set me free and I don't care even if you don't know the truth because you don't define me. And truth is we weren't ever meant to be together. We were just mere strangers whose path collided for no apparent reason. Yet, i thank you for each and everything you've.done for me.  Suddenly he recollected Gauri's words,it made sense to him  now. She had said when they met in the train-"Bina pyar ke jina itna mushkil nahi, jitna mushkil nafrat ke saath jina hote hain taras ata hain ki ap aise ji rahe hain." ( Living without love ain't that hard, compared to how hard it is to live with hate i pity you that you live that way)..  She was like the wind he realized she came and had gone suddenly not allowing him to decipher anything. But what about the vague unamed feeling he felt when she was near him, what was that. But now there was no use ,she had left but is it goodbye????                   ************************************************************************THE END.......     Ps- will add a prologue soon.. but that's it for this  story,thanks for reading 😊