*The next day*

[When Om's eyes opened , his eyes first fell on Gauri, who was fast asleep, besides him. Her arm was tightly wrapped around his waist, and her head nestled on his shoulder. This time, as Om examined her while she was asleep, he saw that the peace and happiness in her face slowly returned. She was sleeping as though all her problems and worries were solved, and that made him so happy.

Om still didn't know what Gauri thought of him or their relationship, but he knew that her anger towards him had significantly cooled down, and this only meant that things could get better and better.

He slowly got up, and bent down, before placing a kiss on Gauri's forehead.

Something he hadn't done in over a year.

It had almost been a year since they had separated, and Om had come to realise how much he truly missed her.

Her presence, her fragrance, her voice.

Her.

Om slowly hopped off the bed, trying to not wake up Gauri, and headed for a shower. By the time Om got out, he saw Gauri awake, sitting on the bed.]

Gauri: Ab aapki tabiyat kaisi hai?

Om: Theek hai, tum theek se so paayi na?

Gauri: Ji...Ee lijiye, adarak waali chai

Om: (Taking the tea) Oh, thanks. Accha, tumne Shivaay bhaiyya se baat ki?

Gauri: Nahi, kyun? ka hua?

Om: Nahi, aaj bhabhi ka birthday, isliye...

Gauri: Aaj bhojai ka janmdin hai?! Hey bhagwaan, hume pata hi nahi tha!

Om: Shivaay bhaiyya unke liye surprise plan kar rahe hai

Gauri: Accha, hum phone karte hai, rukiye

Om: (Giving her his phone) Mere phone se karo, ruko

[Gauri took Om's phone and dialled Shivaay's number, and after a few minutes, disconnected the call.]

Om: Kya keh rahe the?

Gauri: Accha, ek ghante mein, hume resort ki taraf jaana hai, wahaan bhaiyya, bhojai ko lekar aayenge.

Om: Theek hai, toh tum jaldi taiyyaar ho jaao, main Rudy ko plan bataaonga

Gauri: Ji theek hai

[Om left the room to talk to Rudra, while Gauri quickly went in for a shower and came out wearing a light pink suit. As she stood in front of the mirror, she picked up the box of sindoor and took a pinch in her hand. As she brought it to her forehead, the reflection of the mirror showed Om gazing at her.

Gauri was in a fix.

What was she supposed to do in this situation? Why did Om have to enter at such an awkward point?

Om, immediately sensing the awkwardness, broke eye contact and walked elsewhere, trying to pretend as if he didn't notice. Gauri quickly applied sindoor on her forehead, hoping he wouldn't notice.]

Gauri: H-hum taiyaar ho gaye hai

Om: (Turning around) Haan, theek hai, woh---

[As Om turned, he saw a bit of Sindoor on Gauri's forehead, and instantly brought his hands to her forehead, before properly applying the sindoor on Gauri's forehead.

Exactly like he did when he married her that day.

Gauri's gaze was fixed on Om as he reapplied her sindoor, and slowly, a tear rolled down her cheek.

Gauri wasn't angry or shocked.

She was sad.

Sad that they had been apart for far too long.

Sad that it had been so long since Om's slightest touch comforted every inch of her body.]

Om: (Moving away) Sorry, woh...

Gauri: (Wiping a tear) Koi baat nahi

Om: Tum phir se ro rahi ho?

Gauri: Puraani baat yaad aa gayi, bass

Om: Chalein?

Gauri: Ji, Chaliye

[Om, Gauri and Rudra headed to the resort, while Shivaay slowly followed behind with clueless Anika.]

*At the resort*

Gauri: Accha, plan ka hai?

Rudra: Plan yeh hai ki hum sab ko kahi chipna hai, aur phir 'surprise' chaalaana hai

Gauri: Accha theek hai!

Rudra: Accha, main lights off kar deta hoon, theek hai?

Om: (Scared) Lights...K-kyun? Hum aise hi chup nahi sakte?

Gauri: Nahi, unhe shak ho jaayega!

Rudra: Accha bhabhi, O ko andhere se darr lagta hai, toh aap sambhaal lena! Main jaa raha hoon!

Om: Rudy, lekin---

Gauri: (Giggling) kuch nahi hoga aapko!

[The lights immediately turned off and Gauri quickly hid behind the huge pillar, whilst Om was trying to figure out where to go. Gauri looked through the faint lights, and saw that Om was there, confused, lost and afraid.

Gauri walked a bit ahead and immediately held onto Om's arm, before leading him to the back of the pillar.

Om's fear instantly dissolved when he felt Gauri's hand in his. He felt so comforted and relieved that she was near him, to shoo his demons away.]

Om: (Whispering) T-thank you

Gauri: (Whispering) Hume pata nahi tha ki Aapko bhi kissi cheez se darr lagta hai

Om: Nahi... darr nahi lagta, bass...

Gauri: (Tightly holding his arm) Koi baat nahi, hum hain

[At that moment, Om and Gauri felt so comforted by each others presence, just like they did before.

This was it meant to love someone.

To protect them, honour them and cherish them.

They would complete each other's weaknesses, and be with each other, through thick and thin.

This time, Gauri was Om's shield, making sure he wasn't afraid.

Om and Gauri's eye lock broke when they heard faint footsteps.

It was Shivaay and Anika!

The lights immediately turned on and Om, Gauri and Rudra came out of their hiding to surprise Anika.]

Om, Rudra, Gauri: Surprise!

Anika: (Shocked) Arre! Thank you! Thank you!

Gauri: (Hugging Anika) Janamdin mubarak bhojai! Bhagwaan aapki har icha puri karein!

Anika: (Hugging Gauri) Thank you, Gauri!

Om and Rudra: (Hugging Anika) Happy Birthday, Bhabhi!

Anika: Thank you! Toh isliye Shivaay itne khamosh the!

Shivaay: Of course! Accha chalo, maine yeh saare arrangements tumhaare liye kiye hai!

Anika: Thank you, Shivaay

Shivaay: You're welcome! Chalo!

*While eating*

Gauri: Toh bhaiyya, bhojai ke liye ka taufa laya hai?

Shivaay: (Joking) Taufa? Arre itne saare arrangements kiye hai! Joking! Bolo Anika, kya chahiye tumhe?

Anika: Kuch nahi Shivaay, mere paas sab kuch hai. Aaj lag raha hai ki humaara parivaar ek ho gaya hai. Jo bhi dooriyaan thi, woh chali gayi hai, aur kya chahiye mujhe?

Rudra: Bhabhi, kya senti dialogue maara hai! Batayie na!

Anika: (Looking at Om and Gauri) Main sach bol rahi hoon, Rudra! Aaj jab sab ka chehra dekhti hoon, tab pata chalta hai ki sab itne khush hai!

[Om and Gauri, who were sitting besides each other, looked into each other eyes as Anika spoke.

Were they happy? Did they completely forgive each other?]

Rudra: Accha, aaj nikalna kab hai?

Shivaay: (Looking at his watch) Shaam ko niklenge, na? Hopefully, raaste mein traffic na ho

[It was soon evening, and everyone was up and ready to head back home to Mumbai!

The car arrangement was pretty much the same.

Rudra was driving, Anika sat besides Shivaay and Om, next to Gauri.]

*At the Oberoi mansion*

Shivaay: Dadi! Ma! Badi Ma! Hum aa gaye!

Dadi: (Carrying Avyaya) Aa gayi meri bacche! Jhanvi, sab aa gaye!

Gauri: (Rushing towards Avyaya) Mummy aa gayi! Aa gayi, meri jaan!

[Gauri slowly carried Avyaya in her arms, while Om stood besides her, looking at Avyaya]

Gauri: (Cradling Avyaya) Dadi ko sataaya toh nahi? Hmm? 4 din mein itni badi ho gayi meri beti!

Om: Kya main...?

Gauri: Ji? h-haan, haan, ee lijiye

Om: (Carrying Avyaya) Ale! Ale! Koi nahi, koi nahi! Papa hai na!

[Gauri observed Om playing with Avyaya, and her heart instantly warmed up. She knew that moment that Avyaya would be the closest to Om, and for some reason, she didn't mind one bit.

Their relationship had improved so significantly that they had come to realise that Avyaya was neither Om or Gauri's. She was Om AND Gauri's, and there was no other way to it.

Neither Om nor Gauri felt the need to fight over Avyaya anymore, and that was a good sign.]

Dadi: Accha, main bataana hi bhool gayi! Kal karwa chauth hai!

Gauri: Karwa chauth? Itni jaldi?

Dadi: Ek saal ho gaya hai, puttar, bhool gayi?

Gauri: Nahi dadi, hum kaise bhool sakte hai?

[Last years karwa chauth was a day she could never ever forget.

It was the day Om confessed his feelings to her.

Those words were still crystal clear in her mind.

"Mohabbat ho gayi hai tumse, Gauri Kumaari Sharma, dil lag gaya hai tum pe"

But what would this years karwa chauth hold? Should she even keep a fast for Om? What was the meaning of their relationship?]

Jhanvi: Gauri, tum agar vrat nahi rakhna chahti, then it's totally fine. Hum samajh sakte hai

Gauri: Arre nahi Ma. Kyun nahi rakhenge? Hum vrat jaroor rakhenge.

[Om was surprised. He couldn't believe Gauri would keep a fast for her, after all the hell he put her through, and Om too decided that he would fast, just like he did last year.

But what would tomorrow hold for them?

Om still remembered what Gauri told him a year ago.

Words he could never ever forget.

"Gauri: (Shy) Hum aapse pyaar Karte Hai, Omkara ji"

That night, as Gauri took the karwa chauth sari in her hand and walked to her room, she prayed that tomorrow would be a good day, although she was certain Om wouldn't fast for her, but she still would, because she wanted to.

Only god knew what was in store for them tomorrow!]

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New update!!

Thank you for putting up with my irregular updates! It means so much!

ALSOOO, Guys, the next chapter is the last chapter :( I know, Im crying!

The next chapter will sort of be like a maha episode, so vote for this chapter if you're super excited!!

Ya you guys HAVE To stay tuned for the next chapter, I promise, you'll LOVE IT!

ALSOOO, If you don't already know, I have another book called 'Aaj Jaane ki zidd na karo', and you should definitely give it a read! I promise you, it'll be great! Check out my profile, and give it a read! I will regularly update that the moment this book finishes!

Here's the link, if you're too lazy to look at my profile!

https://www.wattpad.com/story/118110171-aaj-jaane-ki-zidd-na-karo%7Erikara-fanfic

Please give it love and support, I really hope it reaches the same success as TTDATJ!

Thank you for reading! Please take a few seconds to vote for this chapter, it means so much!

-Chandni <3