Everyone present there stared at Tej Singh Oberoi with bated breath, as he finally spoke, “Maa, Swetlana is pregnant; we’re going to have a baby!” The living room fell eerily silent as the dinner plate from Janhvi’s hand slipped to the floor and broke into pieces. “Oh My Maata!” came the feeblest whisper, and in the next second, Omkara stormed up to Tej. Holding him by his collar, he growled, “How. Dare. You., Mr. Oberoi? I knew you were pathetic when you announced you were going to live with a girl who is less than half your age! But I thought you had some ounce of shame left in you! Yet, every single time you prove me wrong! You show me newer lows to your character!”

Tej held Omkara’s wrists and pushed them away. Smoothening his shirt, he said to Omkara in a loud voice, “Don’t forget you’re talking to your father, Omkara! Speak with respect!” Omkara chuckled dryly as he placed his hands on his hips, saying, “Respect? You? What for? What have you ever done to earn anyone’s respect? And how is it that you remember I am your son only when it is convenient for you? Aap jaise ghatiya, ghinone, aur gire hue aadmi ko apna baap kehne mein mujhe sharam aati hai, Mr. Oberoi!”

“Daadi!” Omkara turned around as Shivaay gasped when Kalyani almost fell back on the sofa with a soft thud. Looking at Janhvi sitting so numb, with no expressions whatsoever on her face, Omkara rushed to her. “Mom! Mom? Say something?” he pleaded to no avail as he lovingly held her face in his hands and patted her cheeks. She looked at him, and then a soft sad smile came upon her lips as tears welled up in her eyes. To think that Tej had the audacity to walk into this house and announce, in her presence, about the pregnancy only made her realize even more that he had stopped caring about her or her feelings long ago. Cupping her son’s cheek, she whispered, “I’m alright, Om.” Omkara’s heart broke looking at the tears in his mother’s eyes. Rudra sat next to her and took her other hand in his. Gauri watched the entire scene unfold, too nervous and anxious to even breathe a bit loudly.

Tej, losing his patience, said in an irritated tone to no one in particular, “Oh for God’s sake, what’s there to cry about it? It’s a joyous occasion! There’s a little baby going to come into our family in six more months! And here you’ll are mourning as though someone’s dead!”

At that, Janhvi stood up, taking everyone by surprise. “Mom” “Mummy” Omkara and Rudra murmured worried for her, standing up with her as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

Kalyani watched Janhvi walking towards Tej with no expressions whatsoever, but her head held high and a defiant tilt of her chin; a part of her feared the way her daughter-in-law walked towards her son in such a cold, indifferent, numb manner. Omkara and Rudra stood right behind their mother as she stood in front of Tej. “You’re right, Tej; it is an auspicious occasion!” she said, breaking the silence with her firm voice while bringing up a small smile on her lips.

Tej smirked as he looked at her; oh, she was trying so hard to stay strong. But he also knew she would break down any moment, and he would call her so-called strength a façade. Somehow, merely thinking about it gave him some sadistic joy, that while he discarded her like trash, she still pined over him; it made him feel powerful.

“Congratulations Swetlana!” Janhvi said looking at Swetlana, who smiled at her as if rubbing it in her face that she couldn’t hold onto her husband. “Third month, is it?” Janhvi asked and Swetlana nodded with the smile still intact on her lips. “Hmmm,” Janhvi responded and then suddenly broke into a wide grin. Omkara, worried about his mother, whispered in her ear, “Mom, please. You don’t have to be nice to them!” But Janhvi shook her head and looked at him, saying, “Oh, but I do have to be nice to her, Om! Didn’t you hear your father say that she is pregnant?”

Omkara’s scowl turned deeper while Rudra looked away in shame as he muttered, “Daada banne ke umar mein yeh aadmi phir se baap banne ki tayyari mein lage hue hain!” Janhvi confidently clicked her tongue as she turned to look at Rudra. “Not really, Rudra. Tej said that Swetlana is pregnant; he nowhere said that it was his child!”

Tej took a step forward, almost threatening Janhvi, but her two sons immediately inched forward, silently letting him know that intimidating their mother was not going to be good for him. Tej, with his wounded pride, hesitatingly stepped back. “How dare you, Janhvi! Such cheap tactics to sow the seed of doubt between Swetlana and me? You think that I would doubt her, and then come running back to you? Please, try some new tricks, no? These are outdated!”

Janhvi smiled, taking a step closer to Tej, and placing her hand on his cheek. “Sweetheart, this is no trick! It’s been years since I had buried this secret deep within my heart, but it’s now time to unburden myself and get it off my chest. Perhaps it is for the best.” Looking at the whole family, Janhvi spoke with a smile, “There’s something you should all know, including you, Tej!”

To see Janhvi now smiling as she looked at Tej, he was slightly unnerved. She continued as she folded her hands at her chest, “You remember when we four went to Shimla for a holiday on Omkara’s tenth birthday?” Tej nodded absently. “And you remember that accident you had when your cable car had collapsed and you fell from that height?” Tej frowned, not really knowing where this conversation was heading.

Janhvi grinned, “You were so badly injured, almost covered in blood from head to toe! Everyone thought you wouldn’t make it. We had to airlift you to the multispecialty hospital in Mumbai. You were so critical that…” “Oh please, Janhvi, just come to the point. I don’t have all day to listen to your pointless flashback!” Tej said in a disinterested tone.

“Oh, but you will have to listen to this flashback because what I’m about to tell you is going to change your entire life, Tej Singh Oberoi!” she said. Tej’s frown turned deeper, as she said, “So, as I was saying, everyone thought you would die. Obviously, you didn’t! But that huge accident did some critical damage to you, Tej. You see, back then, the doctors had informed me, your legally wedded as well as religiously-wedded wife, that the accident caused you to never ever have children again!”

Prolonged silence prevailed. “Bullshit!” Tej said in disbelief, as he stared at Janhvi waited for any sign that she was bluffing him. There were none; instead, she stood in front of him, looking him square in the eyes as she said, “You can choose to ignore what I say and get yourself tested Tej! Or maybe, even ask for a paternity test?” Janhvi looked at Swetlana as she finished.

Tej turned to look at Swetlana, who looked slightly nervous and anxious. Everyone else there knew that the woman’s lies had been caught. But Tej refused to believe Janhvi’s words. His ego blinded him to an extent that he chose to believe Swetlana. “Tej, this is your child, I swear!” Swetlana said, to which he nodded. “Of course, Swetlana darling. I know you, I believe you. I’m not going to believe this woman obviously! If she thinks that I am going to walk back to her, then she is absolutely wrong!” he finished, giving Janhvi a pointed stare.

Janhvi shrugged her shoulders, saying with a grin, “That’s where you’re mistaken, Tej! I don’t want you back in my life, not even after you would learn the truth about your ex-secretary-slash-girlfriend! Having a ‘hand-me-down’ man is probably Swetlana’s taste; I don’t like second-hand stuff, honey! At least after thirty-two years of staying married, this is something you should know about your wife!”

Tej was about to retort when Kalyani said in a tone of finality without looking at him, “You came here to wish me and to share the news that Swetlana is pregnant. You’ve done both. Now leave, and next time, without my permission or invite, you are not to step back under my roof! If you disobey, I will have the security throwing you out! Now, without another word from your mouth, get out!”

Tej grit his teeth as the whole Oberoi family stared at him with smirks, waiting for him to leave. He felt Swetlana hold his hand and turned to look at her, batting her lashes at him, asking him to leave for now. Janhvi’s words rang in his ears; could that have been true? Could he really have not fathered any children after the accident? Is that why Janhvi had never really insisted on using precaution when they were intimate together all those years ago? Could Swetlana be pregnant at all? Or was she pregnant with his baby or someone else’s? Tej was anything but a fool, or so he thought! There was no way he was going to turn a blind eye to this whole thing. He smiled at Swetlana, nodding at her, mentally noting that he would make an appointment to get the test done tomorrow itself!

As Janhvi walked back to the sofa, where the maid had just finished cleaning up the broken mess, she grabbed another plate with a cupcake on it to eat it. Omkara stared at his mother, almost gobsmacked at how calm she was in this entire ordeal, now seated eating a cupcake, and proud that she was no longer the weak woman that she used to be.

“Janhvi puttar…” Kalyani began, but Janhvi looked at her and in an exhausted tone, she said, “Maaji, please. Not now. I am in no mood to talk about anything that happened. It’s true that Tej was impotent after that accident. And I’m telling you all in advance that once Tej realizes his mistake, and he comes back crying on his knees, even then I’m not going to take him back in my life. Please don’t try convincing me otherwise; main abhi se bata rahi hoon. Beyond that, I have nothing to say!” Kalyani nodded, devastated at how her family had shattered, and hoping in her heart that things would get better, she asked Shakthi and Pinky to take her to the room so she could rest.

Once the three were out of sight, Rudra said in a soft tone, “Damn, Mummy! You were savage!” Shivaay looked at Rudra, shaking his head, and at the same time, Annika exclaimed, “Badi Maa, uss lombdi ko toh 440-volt ka current lag gaya hoga jab aapne Bade Papa ka sach sabke saamne rakha!” As Rudra and Annika high-fived each other. Omkara walked to his mother, and kneeling in front of her on one knee, he took his hand in his. “Are you alright, Mom?” he asked, with evident worry in his eyes. Janhvi who was lost in thoughts suddenly smiled, and running her hand on his head, she nodded. “Are you sure?” he asked and this time, she nodded confidently.

“I’m not that weak woman anymore, Om; I’m not the same old Janhvi who used to drown her sorrows in a bottle of alcohol. Yes, life’s been unfair, but, over time, I’ve understood that there’s no use of moping around for a man like Tej. I’ve understood the fact that I don’t matter to him at all. I’m simply thankful to have you all around me, to support me, to love me, to make sure that I am fine. Trust me, I am more than just fine.” Omkara smiled as Shivaay replied, “We assure you, Badi Maa, we’ll always be there for you. All we want is to see you happy!”

“I know, Shivaay, I know. Thank you!” Janhvi replied with a smile, not before looking at Gauri who was standing at a distance from them all. “Gauri,” she called out lovingly, causing everyone else’s gaze to settle on her. With Omkara still holding one hand of his mother’s, Janhvi called out to her with her other outstretched arm, and Gauri walked towards her with a smile.

Sitting next to her, Gauri held her hand in both of her own, almost mirroring the way Omkara did. In an apologetic tone, Janhvi began, “Today is the first time you came over, and had to witness such an unfortunate incident. I’m so sorry, my dear!” Gauri simply shook her head and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, “Why are you being sorry, Aunty? It isn’t your fault! If anything, I’m in awe as to how strong you’ve been through this all, that even as someone who isn’t a part of this family, I can tell you confidently that none of us have ever seen a woman as strong as you!”

“Now, that’s a lie, Sharma!” Omkara said, looking at Gauri, earning everyone’s attention. Smiling, he patted his mother’s hand, as he said, “No doubt Mom is very strong and has come a long way to what she is today, but I think I’ve witnessed, first-hand, a woman who has been through hell and back, emerging stronger than ever!”

Gauri’s eyes glistened with a hint of tears and emotions when she understood he was referring to her, after the traumatic experience she had gone through a couple of days ago. While Annika looked at Shivaay with a knowing smile, Rudra scratched his head as he questioned in a confused tone, “Are you talking about Wonder Woman?” Omkara chuckled, and with a shake of his head, he replied, “Aisa hi kuch samjho!” Then, looking at Gauri, he winked as she smiled at him brightly. She truly was his Wonder Woman!

***

After spending some more time with them all, Gauri announced that it was time for her to head back home after she saw a missed call from her mother. “I think I’ll leave too. I’ll drop you, come!” Omkara too announced, and without waiting for a reply from anyone, he rose from the seat and went upstairs to inform his Daadi that he was leaving. Gauri watched him go, two steps at a time.

“Each time he leaves, I feel my heart aching!” Janhvi said with a sad sigh. Gauri, not knowing how to reply to that, simply held her hand and patted her. Lost in thoughts, she continued, “Tej aur mere beech ke jhagdon ka sabse zyada asar mere Om pe pada hai. There was a time he had slipped so deep into the darkness, we all thought we almost lost him forever!”

Gauri stared at her, as Shivaay placed his hand on Janhvi’s shoulder, while she almost trembled and her eyes glistened with tears. “If it weren’t for Shivaay and Rudra, then my Om would have…” Janhvi abruptly stopped. Gauri glanced at Rudra too who hung his head low at the mention of that certain ‘dark phase’ that Omkara had gone through. Now, this was something she didn’t know. Omkara had never ever told her about it. What were they talking about, she wondered?

However, Gauri put up a small smile when Janhvi said with a smile, “And now, I’m happy you’re a part of his life, Gauri, even if it as a dear friend. After ages, I’ve seen him smiling; a smile that reaches his eyes. Had it been the Omkara that he was earlier, Tej and he would have gotten into a fistfight at whatever happened today. But to see him remain calm made me realize that he’s matured so much – all because you were by his side, holding his hand, calming him down.” Gauri nodded, feeling slightly awkward that they had all observed the way she had silently offered him solace and calm during the entire exhausting ordeal. “Thank you, Gauri. We all owe you!” Janhvi finished with a smile.

“Aunty, please, you don’t have to thank me. I did what I was supposed to do as a friend!” Gauri said that and instantly met Rudra, Shivaay, and Annika’s disappointed gazes at the word ‘friend’.

“I know, And he’s blessed to have found a friend for life in you!” Janhvi said as she patted Gauri’s cheek, who slightly blushed at that the way Janhvi stressed on the same word, albeit in a teasing manner. However, Gauri’s smile slightly dimmed when she recalled what Janhvi had said earlier – about Omkara’s dark phase. She looked at Janhvi, thinking if she should ask her about it.

***

Omkara stood in front of Daadi’s room and was about to knock at the ajar door when he heard his grandmother’s pained voice who was talking to his Choti Maa and Chote Papa. “But what if it is Tej’s child, indeed?” Pinky clicked her tongue and said, “Mummyji, aapka matlab Jethaani ji lies bol rahi hain? Jab woh keh rahi hain ke Jeth ji ka operations hua tha, aur woh kabhi bhi baap nahi ban sakte, aap phir bhi bol rahi hain ke woh bachcha shayad Oberoi khaandaan ka waaris ho sakta hai? Kaise? Itni tarakki toh science aur Bhagwaan, dono, ne milke bhi nahi kiya hai!”

Omkara fisted his palms as he heard the older woman reply, “Pinky, I’m not doubting Janhvi. But what if Tej could become a father despite the operation? What if that unborn child is actually Tej’s baby? Even if the child is born out of wedlock, it is still an Oberoi blood, right?”

“Oh My Maata, Mummy ji!” Pinky laughed and said in an almost mocking tone, “Aap bol kya rahi hain? Operations ke baad bhi Jeth ji baap ban sakte hai?Mummyji, surgerys hua hai, aur woh bhi permanents wala. Hum kisi school-crafts pe lage hue cello-tapes aur gums ki baat nahi kar rahein hain, ke abhi kuch chipkaya aur abhi nikaal diya!”

“Pinky, please!” Shakthi tried placating his wife to no avail as she said, “Shakthi ji, aap toh keep quiets hi kijiye! Ek taraf Jeth ji hum sab pe itna bada atom bombs phodkar gaye hain ke woh Swetlana pet se hai, aur doosri taraf Mummy ji ke dil mein achanak se uss naagin ke liye itni mamtha jaag uthi hai yeh sochke ki woh aurat Tej Bhaisaab ke bachche ki maa banne wali hai, woh bhi Jeth ji ke operations hone ke bawajood! Mummy ji, kal ko aap yeh kahengi ke uss besharam daayan ko hum apne ghar mein leke aayein aur sab milke uska dekh-baal karein! Main abhi se bol rahi hoon – Mujhse yeh sab koi bhi expects nahi karega, haan!” she declared as she finished.

Omkara fumed as he stood listening to the voices, and with each second his anger grew. Being a woman, his Daadi was willing to turn a blind eye to his mother’s sufferings just because Mr. Oberoi announced that his mistress could be carrying his illegitimate child! How could she even think of having a soft corner for his father’s mistress, after everything that his mother, his baby brother, and he had gone through right in front of her eyes? And that too after his mother had clearly mentioned that there was no way Mr. Oberoi could have any children, his grandmother was willing to give the two shameless people some benefit of doubt?

Omkara looked at the door and chuckled dryly. Disappointment wasn’t a new feeling whenever he was under the roof of this mansion, he realized. Shaking his head, dismayed at the Matriarch’s thoughts, he walked away from there not caring to inform her that he was leaving. She wouldn’t even care if he stayed or left at this point, he mused, as he swiftly turned on his heel.

***

Gauri was about to ask Janhvi about what she meant, when she saw Omkara descending the stairs. He looked visibly upset, she noted, even if he tried to put a smile on his face. “Mom, we’re leaving,” he said, as he kissed his mother on her cheek and hugged her. She hugged him back tightly for a second too long before letting go of him. Omkara quickly hugged Shivaay and Rudra, and also greeted Annika. Gauri noticed he didn’t say much, like usual, when Rudra insisted he stay.

“Shall we go?” Omkara asked Gauri, as if a bit too eager to get out of the mansion. Gauri nodded as she rose from her seat. After hugging everyone and saying goodbye after making a promise to visit soon, she followed Omkara as he walked out.

Once outside the mansion, Omkara paused suddenly as he looked towards the outhouse where his father was staying with Swetlana. Rage surged through his veins as he recalled the events of the entire evening, making him angrier as his Daadi’s words too rang in his ears.

“Oberoi?” Gauri said softly, cautiously placing her hand on his arm, causing him to flinch. “You said something?” he asked in an unusual tone, making her believe he was terribly upset over something. She shook her head and nodded in the direction of the parking lot where he had parked his bike, asking him if he was really ready to leave. He nodded, and with one last look at the outhouse, he swiftly walked ahead.

***

Omkara was quiet throughout the ride. He didn’t even say anything when she mentioned how wonderful his Mom, Choti Maa, Chote Papa, and Daadi were. She had made it a point to not mention his father, but even then, his mood was sourer than ever, following which she didn’t push him to talk to her.

Omkara knew he was being rude to her with his monosyllables while she was trying her best to make a polite conversation. He also knew she would understand that he wasn’t in a mood to talk. The way she hugged him from behind with her hands around his waist and her cheek pressed against his back made him realize she was comfortable with his silence. It also made him realize she wasn’t wearing the helmet. “That’s okay, I don’t want to wear it. I have a dull headache,” she said, too blissful while feeling the night-wind in her hair. “That usually happens after meeting my family!” he said, half-jokingly and half-painfully. “They were really sweet, Oberoi.” She clarified, and he only hummed as if wanted to end the conversation about them.

As he stopped the bike at the gate of her home, he saw Arvind Sharma out on the porch. As she got down and handed over the helmet which she was holding to him, he held her hand. She sensed he was terribly upset, even if she couldn’t clearly see his face in the dark. “Do you have to go right away?” he asked in a vulnerable tone. She held his hand, encasing it in hers, as she said in a sad apology, “Mamma already called me thrice; I will have to go, Oberoi.”

Omkara nodded as he let go of her hand while gently extricating his from hers. Gauri paused for a whole of three seconds before she asked him, “Would you like to come in for some time? Sit for a while, and then go when you feel like leaving.” Omkara didn’t think twice before saying a yes. There was no way he was going to have peace if he were to leave right away. His empty apartment would drive him crazy with unwanted thoughts and that was the last thing he wanted right now. Gauri opened the gate open so he could park his bike inside.

Arvind was pleasantly surprised to see Omkara walking in at this hour of the night. “Mamma’s awake?” Gauri asked and he nodded, as he greeted Omkara with a pleasant smile. “Hi” Gauri said to her mother casually as she threw her sling purse on the couch before walking into the kitchen. Shalini was about to admonish her for leaving her purse ‘lying around’ instead of keeping it in a proper place, but when she saw Omkara walking in with her husband, she went to greet him.

“How was the party, Omkara beta?” Shalini asked, and Omkara smiled with a polite nod, not really wanting to discuss anything about it. He was mentally exhausted and was not in a mood to talk about it. Gauri walked in at the same time and handed him over a glass of juice. “It’s cold rasna. Drink it, and your mood will be much better!” she said with a grin. “Why? What happened to his mood?” Shalini asked quickly.

“Shalu,” Arvind reprimanded, and said to Gauri, “Your mother and I are really tired and sleepy, Gauri. You two talk and carry on. But after Omkara leaves and before you go to bed, lock the door and turn off all the lights and fans in the living room, okay?” Gauri nodded with a smile. Both, she and Omkara were thankful that her father understood they wanted to talk. Shalini looked hesitant to go inside, but when Arvind held her by her arm and took her to the bedroom, she had no other go.

Omkara gulped the sweet orange liquid in one go and placed the glass on the tray with an exaggerated thud. “Chill, buddy. It’s rasna, not whiskey!” she said trying to diffuse the tension while looking at the glass. He smiled, half-heartedly and then leaned his head back to rest it against the back of the couch. Slowly, he ran his fingers over his closed eyes and pressed them against his throbbing forehead.

Gauri sat next to him with her feet up on the sofa, turning to him, as she waited for him to speak. When he said nothing, she cleared her throat. He looked at her with a blank expression, his exhaustion visible in his eyes. “Whenever you’re ready to spill, I’m all ears,” she said, looking at him intently. He heaved a sigh and turned to sit facing her on the same couch. “I don’t know where to start”, he said honestly, feeling a little lost and emotionally worn out. She held his hand in hers, making him look at their entwined hands. “Wherever you feel like starting, start there. I’m here for you.” Omkara nodded as tears glistened in his eyes, knowing where exactly he wanted to start.