"COME FOR TEA, said the spider to the fly" Richa mocked with a grimace. "I don't like Bhavya"
Gauri wrinkled her nose. Her best friend, Richa, was very quick in her judgements but Gauri tried to give everyone a fair hearing. And that included Bhavya Iyyer. After all, Gauri would have been the first to admit that the main source of her unease about Bhavya was the other woman's close blood tie to Omkara's ex and Ava's mother
"I don't think she is evil" Gauri admitted. Though she feels uncomfortable around Bhavya, she has to admit the woman is not an evil character.
The gentleness with which she treats Ava and even Advi proves that.
It is just around her Bhavya seems different.
In any case, she had to admit that Bhavya had proved to be an almost invisible guest, occasionally dropping by to visit Ava and Advi, over the past week while Omkara had been abroad.
Richa had reached three days before and Gauri had whiled away her time going on wedding shopping and relaxing with her best friend
"What is she even doing there locked up in that guest house all day" Richa remarked suspiciously
"She is working on her next book"
Gauri had learned from Rudra that Bhavya is an amazing upcoming writer and her first book had been a best seller nation wide.
Gauri hadn't been too keen on reading ever and preferred outdoor activities like gardening anytime over being cooped up somewhere with a book.
The guest house Bhavya was staying over was situated a walking distance from Oberoi Mansion, located at a much more silent area
Gauri was wryly amused that she had found it necessary to dress up to visit Bhavya
"Oh, you haven't brought the kids." Bhavya sighed in disappointment as soon as she opened the door. "Come in."
"They always has a nap straight after lunch."
"Good god!! You sound like one of those rigid nannies people joke about" Bhavya commented with a teasinh smile
"I hope not..." Gauri stilled on the threshold of a spacious reception room that was dominated by photos and portraits of a very beautiful woman
What caught her attention was the big portrait in the centre
Omkara and the woman both looking into each other's eyes with a smile on their faces
"Ishana, my sister " Bhavya said pointing at the woman in the photos
"Oh" was all Gauri could say
"Oh, didn't you know that the guest house is where Omkara keeps his stash of memorabilia?" Bhavya remarked in apparent surprise. "I thought you would have guessed. I mean, there's nothing at all to be seen up at the mansion"
"No, nothing" Gauri agreed, having naturally noticed that, surprisingly, Omkara had not a single photograph on display anywhere of his daughter's mother.
"Even I didn't know" Bhavya sighed "Without knowing the depth of his feelings I had been blaming him for long for everything bad that happened to my sister. It's only once Rudra gave me the key to his brother's retreat home that I realised how wrong I was in judging him" Bhavya said with a sad smile
"Right " Gauri mumbled
"Haven't you noticed that he never ever mentions her. It must be too painful for him" Bhavya added
