RiKara~Aawaz Do Humko, Hum Kho Gaye

3~Rikara Anniversary

'What does mom sees again and again that she gets scared?', Rudra wondered as Omkara told him and Shivaay everything after he returned. 'Gauri,' Omkara said knowingly. 'Gauri? Om, we know you miss her and that you also might've seen her or heard her voice but it might be only your hallucinations, only those who die a tragic death return,' Shivaay said trying to explain him. 'Point to be noted, mom knows something which we don't know, who was there that night when Gauri died?,' Omkara said knowingly. 'We two weren't there, we were on our double date, you were at work, only mom was there,' Rudra said.

'That simply means that mom knows what happened,' Shivaay said. 'How to find out?', Omkara asked. 'Did you found anything strange in this house when you came here?', Rudra asked. 'Nothing strange happened, its just that I saw my past memories, I saw Gauri in hospital,' Omkara replied. 'Where did you see her?', Rudra asked. 'Beside me,' he replied. 'Was she happy?', Shivaay asked. 'Yes, she smiled at me, but what that has to do with mom knowing something about her death?', Omkara asked out of curiosity. 'Because you need to share things with us, its not your fault if you hallucinate her,' Shivaay said.

'Yes, it isn't, but how to know if she's real or not?', Omkara asked. 'Touch her, simple,' Rudra said. 'I touched and she disappeared, she felt real,' Omkara told them. 'Try blinking your eyes, if she disappears she isn't real, but if she doesn't, she's for real,' Shivaay said and he nodded in approval. 'How to know about the secret of mom's fear? Its not confirmed if Gauri died a tragic death,' Om asked. 'Ask her, but not directly, she will be scared,' Rudra suggested him.

'Yes and don't mention about you seeing her,' Shivaay said. 'OK, I will go and eat something, I m hungry,' Om said and went to kitchen. 'Let him see our surprise in kitchen,' Shivaay said and Rudra smiled. 'Let's marry faster,' Rudra said. 'Wow, are you bored of your brothers or your life?', Shivaay asked. 'Not brothers, but my life, since Gauri bhabhi died, this house seems too quiet, when she was there, we all used to have a lot of fun,' Rudra replied getting nostalgic and a sad smile appeared on his lips. 'You're right, but only you're marrying and not me.'

'Why?', Rudra asked. 'Stupid, if Om will see us coupled up with someone, he will feel more lonely,' Shivaay said slapping his head lightly. 'Oh I forgot, but at least our alliances should be fixed, right?', Rudra said. 'Uh, you won't change, OK fine, happy?', Shivaay said. 'Yes yes yes! Super duper happy bhagad billa,' Rudra said and always called him by this name as his gf Anika too calls him tham to tease him. They bursted out laughing. As Om went to kitchen, a delicious aroma attracted him. He looked all over the kitchen slab and finally found the hidden thing.

It was a cake of his anniversary, his and Gauri's photo was on the cake.

He smiled looking down and went into his past. Om tiptoed to the kitchen and saw Gauri doing something and his back faced him. He slowly went towards her and hugged her from behind. 'Good morning,' she said sadly. 'Good morning, why are you so sad?', he asked. 'You forgot something,' she said. 'Nope I didn't, happy anniversary darling,' he said and kissed her shoulder resting his chin on her shoulder. 'Happy anniversary,' she said smiling at him. 'There's a surprise for you waiting for you in evening,' he said kissing her cheek.

'Oh what's it?', she asked out of curiosity. 'If I tell you then how will it be a surprise? Be patient,' he said and went, she smiled. At evening, he went to his room and blindfolded her. 'Arey KaraOm please,' she said as he picked her. 'You are looking perfect, so let's go see your surprise, wait till we reach down,' he said and took her downstairs. As he reached downstairs, he kept her down and removed her blindfold. She was amazed to see heart shaped cake with their photo.

'Wow KaraOm, you made it? I knew that you are so talented thats why I married you,' she joked. 'Ha ha, very funny, won't you taste it?', he asked and she nodded in approval and took a knife, he stood behind her holding her hand that had knife and made her cut the cake. He made her eat the cake first and she too made him eat. She signed him that its awesome and they both fed the others. He came out of his past and he had moist eyes though his lips carried a smile. Rudra and Shivaay came there.

'Om,' Rudra spoke softly standing near him but he was in a trance. He shook him a little and he came out of his trance and smiled at them. 'You OK?', Shivay asked. 'Perfectly fine, its just that this cake is making me remember Gauri,' he said still having a small smile. 'We're sorry,' they said holding their ears. 'Its OK, you both just wanted me to be happy but instead I got sad,' he said sadly blinking back tears. 'KaraOm, if you will cry like this, how will my soul get peace?', he heard Gauri's voice and looked behind his brothers.

He saw her standing there folding his arms on her chest. His eyes got moist seeing her. 'No tears Mr.Om,' she said placing her hands on her hips and a lone tear escaped his eye. 'Aww you're crying? Gussa hua karta tha jiski naak pe, Behta hai nosey aaj uski naak se,' she joked and he laughed. Rudra and Shivay got shocked seeing him laugh too much. 'Did you hear her? She is just like me, he he,' Om said pointing behind them.

They turned but didn't saw anyone and slowly turned their head towards Om. Rudra signed Shivay to be quiet and don't tell him she's not there. 'Oh really? What she said?', Rudra asked. Om told them and they too laughed. 'Gauri bhabhi wants you to celebrate your anniversary, so let's proceed,' Om said and Om nodded in approval. He had laughed first time in these two years, how his laughter sounded just like a five-year-old kid as he laughed. Even from far away, she can make him laugh. But was she for real?