His First And Only Love (Rikara)

Chapter 27: Shattered

"GAURIIIIIII!!!!" Omkara screamed at the top of his lungs as he caught her from falling. It felt like the ground under him had been swept away from under his feet or like his whole world was struck by an earthquake.

"Mr. Oberoi!" The middle aged man beside him, Mr Mehra exclaimed seeing the sight infront of him.

Omkara sat down on the ground, holding her close to his chest and patted her cheek as if trying to wake her up. For Omkara, the whole world had stopped, only Gauri mattered right now. "Gauri.. please open your eyes..Gauri.." he pleaded helplessly.

Gauri was shot. Someone had shot her. A shot meant for him, that she had taken upon herself.

He helplessly tried to wake her up as her blood started to drench his pants. And then as if realising the existence of the world around him, he looked around frantically. Some looked at him in shock, some were busy murmuring something while some tried to call someone on the phone.

"Someone please call an ambulance!" Omkara screamed feeling angry at the whole world around him.

"Sir, please come. I've arranged the car." His driver replied running towards him.

A lady- probably one of the staffs- ran to them with some band aids and tissues to cover and try stop the blood flow. After draping it around the wound, Omkara carried Gauri in his arms, and this time she did not hug his neck like everytime, instead she lay almost lifeless in his arms.

With all his strength, he went towards the car as fast as possible. And then gently placing her inside, he got in.

Placing her head on his lap, he slowly caressed her hair praying to the dear Gods that she be fine. It broke his heart to see her so lifeless almost on the verge of death, fighting for life. And all because of him!

The killer would be dealt with once Gauri was safe. Omkara thought as he asked the driver to speed up. But he couldn't help but wonder who could do such a thing. Why would someone want to kill him?

Tears streamed down his eyes and it fell on Gauri's face.
Clutching onto her hand he mumbled, "Please don't leave me Gauri...I love you...please stay."

On reaching the hospital, Gauri was taken away from him in an instant. He looked through the window of the ICU only to find doctors frantically trying to do things to stop the blood flow, to keep her alive.

And then in an instant the whole day's events played in his mind.
How he had tried to sneak in and romance her, how she had prepared his favourite poha for breakfast today, how he had pestered her to join him for the party, how she had asked him his opinion of which dress to wear, how she asked him to keep his hair open for the party and how he had teased her for that and she blushed, how when she was tying up her hair, he had let her hair fall loose and told her she looked more beautiful with open hair, how he had flirted with her, their dance at the party, Gauri stealing glances at him, how she came running towards him, hugged him, confessed her love again and then fell almost lifeless in his arms.

He couldn't help but blame himself for Gauri's condition- Only if he hadn't asked her to join him, she would've been safe, at home! Far away from all this! It should've been him and not her!

All his life he wanted her to say the three magical words, and when finally things were falling into place in their life, everything had come crashing down. He could feel his heart shrink and burn at the thought of having to live without her-no he couldn't. Without her he couldn't survive. Didn't they have the right to stay happy? All his life, he wished for her to love him and when she finally did, this was what their fate had planned.