Delicate - A Rikara Tale (Completed!)

Twenty Two: Celebrations and Considerations

The fragmented family came together for once, as if every single wrong thing that had ever happened was buried and forgotten. If just for that glorious, happy moment, it seemed like there had never been anything in the mansion except a loving family. The older women of the house were all gathered around Anika, all smiles and glee.

Rudra, Om, and Prinku were gathered around the great wall of Shivaay Singh Oberoi. The man who was famous for his stone face was currently red-faced, trying to not let his brothers and sister affect him with their teasing.

Anika was not doing any better and was currently trying her best to catch Shivaay's eye.

Gauri and Saumya had grins on their faces, but where Saumya kept her distance, Gauri kept talking, a never-ending stream of questions tumbling from her lips. Did Anika-di have a name in mind? Was she feeling good? Did she want anything?

Anika only shook her head and smiled.

"Beta make sure you eat well, it is very important for you to takes care of yourself."It was Pinky Singh Oberoi's acceptance that Anika had wanted, and now she had it.

Even Tej Singh Oberoi congratulated the couple, without any taunts what so ever.

Already the Oberoi family could see the changes that were coming for the future. Anika's mother-in-law, especially, could not stop smiling and beaming, and declaring herself the happiest woman in the world. Dadi was beside herself of course, already asking Anika if she had decided names yet, and did she want the godbharai in the house or in a fancy hotel all western style?

"Why not both? Apne family ke liye choti traditional ghar pe godbharai aur phir a more formal social event?"

To everyone's surprise, it was a grinning Tej Singh Oberoi that had offered the idea. As if he could see the not so well hidden shock on his families faces, the elder Oberoi son added " Are, this is the first grandchild, we should celebrate in style"

Pinky Singh Oberoi's eyes could have popped out of her head with the wide-eyed shock on her face. It took her a moment or so to compose herself, but she agreed enthusiastically, immediately asking Anika if she'd make a list of the people she wanted to invite, and if Janhavi would help in planning the social event? Prinku chimed in with a excited squeal that they had to wait till her trip was over and of course she'd be more than happy to make the invitations and take over the planning, it was for her first nephew or niece after all! Rudra was all grins and cheer, his old scamp self again for a moment, declaring that Om was too boring to be the fun chachu so the role would naturally fall to him.

All Om hoped was that it stayed that way. No spats between his aunt and his father about their offspring or their offspring's offspring. Whenever and if it happened. They hadn't really talked about it yet, and Omkara was in no hurry. Gauri had to find herself and he had to ground himself before they took on such a big commitment. They did not need children to make them a family, but if children were going to be in the picture, he wanted them to have everything that he and Gauri had been denied. Stability, two parents who loved each other and most of all, the ability to make choices for themselves.

Their great love story had just started, and he could not wait for it to grow, and for her to grow more confident and happier, grow older with him. If he closed his eyes, he could picture it - a cheerful picture. Them, her reading a book and him painting, content with who they were and who they would become.

Gauri smiled at her husband, her eyes shiny with happy tears. She was going to become an aunt! Just a few months ago, all she had was her mother, and now, she had a family that was only growing bigger. Anika Di's cheeks were pink and Gauri could not help but imagine what her niece or nephew would look like. If it would have her Di's smile or her Jija ji's eyes. But Gauri knew that this child would be so loved. She walked over to her husband's side, slipping her hand in his, feeling the warmth of his larger hand envelope hers like a blanket on a winter's night. He felt like comfort, like safety.

Like coming home.

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AN: After so many years, I have finally written the ending.

I am so happy to have been able to share this with you.