Yuhn Hota Toh Kya Hota- Rikara FF

Chapter 129

They reached the estate in Kolhapur in the evening. 

Omkara had heard that the estate was huge, but to actually see it with his eyes; it looked like an entire village could easily fit inside the estate. Maithili Dadi owned a number of sugar mills and her family was one of the most prominent business families in the city of Kolhapur. They could have shifted base to Mumbai anytime, but they preferred to live in the agricultural environs of Kolhapur. 

Gauri looked at the estate in wonder. Sugarcane cultivation was a major activity in her State as well, so seeing the sugarcane fields along their route and the mills dotted a little apart from the estate made her nostalgic for her own zila. 

Omkara, turned his eyes, from the estate to look at Gauri instead. The innocent expression of amazement mixed with a certain sadness, he couldn't place, twisted something in his heart. 

They got down from the car, and there were two guards to receive them at the gates of the estate. 

"Aap Omkaraji hai na, Kalyani Dadi ke pote?" (You are Omkaraji right? Kalyani Dadi's grandson?) asked one of them.

Omkara nodded and asked them how they recognized him. They informed that they had been told to receive a man, who obviously came in a rich car, and sported long hair, accompanied by a short, pretty girl. Gauri giggled at this description, and greeted the guards with her namaste. They seemed delighted to greet her too, as they carried their bags.

Yes, smile at everybody but me, thought Omkara annoyed. He cut the conversation and asked the guards to lead them to the house. 

House was an understatement. Maithili Dadi lived in an imposing bungalow, which the guards informed them, was built in a reverse U shape, with a huge courtyard inside. Gauri nodded, this was the usual construction of big mansions in rural areas. But unlike the havelis in her zila, this bungalow had pretty urban fittings and overall architecture. 

They stepped inside the expansive hall, and were greeted by Maithili Dadi, and her family. The first word that came to Omkara's mind when he saw her was 'matriarch'. She looked completely unlike his kind and indulgent Dadi and Nani back home. 

Omkara and Gauri folded their hands and greeted her namaste. She gave them a once over and after a moment of making some judgment, smiled slowly.

"I didn't think Kalyani would send anyone here, but for once I'm happy to be proven wrong. You must be Omkara, her middle-grandson, Tej's elder son?" she said.

Omkara nodded, and internally hated being called Mr. Oberoi's elder son.

"And you must be Gauri, his wife?" she asked, turning her eyes to Gauri.

Omkara and Gauri were stunned. This was unexpected. They both had decided, individually, that they would introduce Gauri as Annika's bhaabhi's sister, which she was. But apparently, Maithili Dadi knew about her already.

"Your Dadi had invited me to your and Shivaay's combined functions a few months back, but I couldn't come due to busy agricultural season here. You both brothers had very.....strange and rushed weddings, did you not?" Maithili Dadi asked, curiously. 

Gauri was sure she knew already, about Annika Jiji's accidental wedding to Bade bhaiyaa, but was just fishing for gossip. What troubled her was what was she to say to Dadi about her and Omkaraji's fake marriage. In the eyes of the world their marriage was still subsisting until the six months were over and the second motion was finalized. And the truth was complicated......

Gauri looked at Omkaraji and signaled him to keep his silence, as he seemed like he was about to correct Maithili Dadi's misconception. Omkaraji kept his peace.