love? 2 (On Hold)

Kids join hands with father: Why?

Gauri came back home late. She was busy in editing and filtering session and BuaMa came back earlier than her. BuaMa slept, but kids were widely awake waiting to give their mother goodnight kisses, inside their room.
As they were in room, Gauri didn't knew they were awake and she barged in her room.
HATRED. Immense hatred. That's exactly what she was feeling towards herself. Closing the door behind, she curled up in a ball, hugging herself, angry tears flowing through her cheeks.
She was frustrated. Standing up, she wiped off her tears with the back of her palm furiously. She SCREAMED.. She let out her heartache and embraced the floor crying...
Gau: Why? Sankarji, why? Was there any shortcoming in my devotion towards you? You always gave me pain in return of my blind devotion..
Yeah, my kids are the only blessing occurred to me in last 13 years. I never lost faith on you. But what did you do today? You just sent another man who would torture me to hell.. Why, why???  Why are you and these men are so angry with me. Omkaraji was no less than a monster. He only needed me to quench his lust.. And beat me to show me my place, under his feet. Advay is also gonna do the same.. I know, men are the most fearful species for me now.. I am feeling only hatred for every men who cross my path. They are meant to give women pain.. Be it physical, be it mental..
Wiping her tear she stands before the the tiny idol of  Lord Shiva and prays in a calm and resolved voice..
Gau: Sankarji, be generous enough to grant only this prayer.. You know your Chirrayia is not the one who can be broken easily. Let Advay vent his anger out, I will withstand each every torture.. He will only fulfill his lust, he will never succeed in breaking
ME, MY HEART or MY SELF ESTEEM.
Just one request Sankarji, don't let anything happen to my children, they should not get tangled in this game of lust and revenge.. Please Sankarji!!
Little did she know that unknown to her, three pairs of ears heared everything standing at the other side of the door. Three pairs of eyes turned at each other and nodded in understanding... They left.
Inside kids' room:
Viren sat on the floor with a thud.
Vir: Why are all busy in punishing mumma? What did she wrong? Tears made their way south from his eyes.
Munni was sad hearing her mumma cry. She also started sobbing.
Aadhira's condition was the worst. She was feeling as if someone has grabbed her heart and twisting it.. Angry tears blurring her vision.. She punched the wall before her.. She kept punching.. Her knuckles reddened, blood dripped through the wall.. She didn't feel any pain. Viren pulled her off the wall and scooped her in his arms.
Vir: Don't lose your patience Aadhira. We have to shield mumma. We cannot leave her before another big bad wolf.. She wouldn't be able to take it. But we cannot talk to mumma about these staff. I'm sure she would hide the matter from Buadadi too..
Aadhira was lost in the thoughts of the afternoon previous day.
Aadh: (unmindful) Mr. Oberoi..
Vir: Eureka!! Mr. Oberoi! Aadhira you just solved our problem.
Aadhira gave a confused look.
Vir: Arrey! Mr. Oberoi challenged us na.. He Would Win Back Mumma's Heart! Then let us serve him this little piece of information... He would surely be insecure enough to start heropanti! What do you say?
Aadhira leapt in joy! She hugged him and he hugged her back. Both were now jumping in excitement!
Munni forgot sobbing and clapped her little hands seeing her Bhau and Hira Didu happy and toddled towards them to join the hug.
Morning:
Kids were getting ready for school, Gauri and BuaMa for studio. Today they would get to know how successful Gauri's first record was. Both of them were excited.
Kids too were bubbling inside in excitement! Finally they would be able to help mumma. They ran out towards their school.
Afternoon:
Both Aadhira and Viren went to pick up Munni from school. They knew he would also come.
But they noticed him sitting on a bench of the park of the school, holding a copy which seemed to be a sketchbook.. And his hands pulling strokes skillfully on the paper.
They were most astonished to see his look. Yeah, his long hair open, some locks swinging in the light breeze, a pair of  black framed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose.. He didn't wear his hair in half pony as they always used to see him like. His clothes also caught their attention. Instead of his former Kurta, waistcoat and weird shaped pants; he wore a simple cowl neck baggy t shirt.. sleeves pulled up to his forearms, faded jeans folded up to his ankle, and instead of the polished pointed boots, he wore simple sandals.
To be truthful, they were dumbstruck to see this side of their father. Munni  was the first whose trance broke and she ran towards him with open arms,
Mun: Daddy!!
He turned smiling. Putting aside the sketchbook, he picked up Munni from ground and looked at his other children amused. Munni pecked his cheek and he retuned the favour by kissing her both cheeks.
Aadhira didn't greet him. She walked towards the sketchbook and picked it up. Viren sat beside him and looked at him pressing his lips tight.
Aadhira's eyes dialated as saucers by seeing the sketch. A startled yelp left her lips, and he turned towards her smirking..
Om: How is it? Better or Worse than You?
Viren and Munni stared at their mumma's sketch with their mouths agape.
Aadh: How did you know that..?...
Om: That you won the Inter School Art Competition thrice simultaneously, you have won the National Budding Future Artist Award last year and yes! You have sent a beautiful painting of mother nature for The International Young Artist Award this year...
Aadhira, Viren: (In unison) What?!?!
Om: I used to be an artist once. I got my degree from Germany. But Mr. Oberoi forcefully pushed me to business. This is why I used to observe your choices and likings so that none can prevent you from choosing the career you prefer..( he finished with a sad smile)
Aadh: ( narrowing her eyes) From when did you start CARING for us?
Om: Don't get me wrong kids. I used to watch over you since you were born. Sorry I punished you because of my hatred towards the forced marriage. I did call you illegitimate, but that was to taunt her.. force her out of my life. I never thought of you and your ideals that kids need their mother too...(teary) they would never hear a wrong word against their mother. In order to keep her away, I kept on pushing you away too.. Unwillingly, I  became an worse copy of Mr. Oberoi.. I understand your mental condition guys.. Sorry, that I gifted you the same childhood that I was forced to live.
Vir: Why these explanations?
Aadh:  Because, to him, explanations are more acceptable than realisations.. Am I right, Daddy?
Omkara nodded in positive, happy tears running down his cheek.. He pecked her forehead and she threw her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. Viren joined them without wasting time.
Om: Just you mumma is missing.. Soon she will be here to complete this frame of 'happy family together'.
Viren and Aadhira remembered their cause of meeting.
Vir: Dad, we need to talk over something about Mumma.
Om: Okay, but first you all get to my apartment, then we will discuss over it with some snacks.. I'm hungry already.
Mun: Choky..!
Other three laughed.
Omkara's Apartment:
He put Munni down and took out three big chocolate bar from fridge. Munni and Viren took their ones but Aadhira refused.
Vir: Dad, Aadhira doesn't like sweets.. (chuckling) Just like you!
Aadhira glared at him.
Om: (chuckling) Okay.. How about pasta with white sauce?
Aadh: Yaay!!
He went inside kitchen to prepare his and his daughter's favourite dish and Aadhira started inspecting his paintings.
Om: So what is the matter you wanted to discuss?
Viren and Aadhira stated the whole incident that occurred previous night. They also asked if he knew who Advay was.
Omkara and Aadhira  hovered over the bowl of pasta together. While eating Omkara said,
Om: Thank god I'm no more the 20 year old boy having a stupid crush over Gauri Kumari Sharma. Else I would have been revised the same mistake. Don't worry, I will be there for her as a friend, as a companion.. in  happiness,in distress.. Her bad luck she got married to Omkara Singh Oberoi who took her to be a gold digger.. But now she will get all the love that Om had for her in his heart.. Who love her unconditionally..
I think I'm getting too much to you guys.. Let's finish eating and then we would play!
They had a fabulous evening together.. But the clock struck seven and they had to go home before their Mumma returns.
Omkara dropped them home and bade bye kissing them. They hurried inside to undress their school uniform  and freshen up before their mumma gets a whiff of their reunion with their father.