Gauri pulled back ever so slowly. She looked up at him, her arms still wrapped around his waist. She held his arm pulling up his sleeves slowly, sighing in relief when she noted he hadn't harmed himself. She did the same with his other sleeve, tears clouding her vision. "Omkara" she didnt have the strength to say anything more. Slowly, she began to move him toward the first aid kit, cleaning his wound up, bandaging it up slowly

"I know i'm weak, its just the only thing that takes it away"

Gauri shook her head "Weak, no, you are the strongest man I have ever met, and we can find better coping mechanisms, I will do some research" she laughed sadly "This is all new to me, im sorry I cant be of more help"

"You help a lot more than you think" he nodded wanting nothing more than to assure her of how much she really did help

XXX

Omkara's POV-

Gauri scrunched up her nose, sniffing.
She always did try to pretend she wasn't crying when reading something. She continued to massage my scalp as I led on her lap, her eyes running across the page as she read.

I loved to watch her in these moments, when all was silent and all we had was eachother's silent company.

She gasped loudly "He killed her, how horrible is that, she was one of my faviourate characters" she huffed, about to throw the book to the side, then closing it, placing it down gently instead

"Tell me about it" I asked, I loved her voice, so angelic and soothing
She could talk about anything and I would still listen

"Well, there was this serial killer, going around and anyway, she was bestfriends with the main character and he killed her, it's really spoiled my mood"

I liked how she treated me like I was normal, rather than continuously discussing the same thing, she was always so good at knowing when I needed a break I closed my eyes as she dragged her nails across my scalp
I grabbed her free hand, pressing a kiss to her palm, resting it on my heart

Gauri hummed quietly again, her eyes flickering across my face "You want to get some air, maybe go for a walk"

"Is it okay, if for tonight, we just stay here"

She smiled "Of course, its rare that we get these moments, just us"

XXX

Gauri stood at the doorway as she waved at Omkara, his car driving away. She sighed heavily and closed the door, leaning her head against the cool glass, she looked down at her watch, in all honesty she was tired, this was such unknown territory for her. It would only last so long, he'd shut down again soon and she knew that. But maybe last night would be enough for now, atleast, she hoped it would be

XXX

Omkara looked through the paperwork, he didnt recall ever signing the form to work with this new business. He frowned, dialling the number of the business, tapping his fingers atop his desk, "Hello, this is Omkara Oberoi, im calling to enquire about your business, I have a form here stating we start working together on monday, and I think one of my workers must have accepted it without informing me"

"Oh Omkara, its so nice to hear your voice, talking to me with the respect I deserve"

Omkara sat up straight, "Chaacha" (Uncle)

"Mera bhateeja, you missed me" (My nephew)

Omkara went to hang up when he spoke again

"Now, now dont hang up, you dont want to anger me woh katarnaak hoga" (That would be dangerous)

Omkara looked down at his mobile buzzing, Gauri's name lighting up his screen. The last thing he wanted was to anger him and for Gauri to get hurt, he needed to be strong, though he felt so helpless. "What do you want from me" Omkara closed his eyes tightly

"Its not that I want something from you, its that I want things to go back to how they used to be, those good old times when you would just listen to me"

Omkara's breath was ragged, his hand reached out for his phone, sliding the call icon across the screen

"Hello, Omkara, I just wanted to know if you wanted to get dinner as I am in the area"

He took a deep breath, Gauri was safe, that was all that mattered

"Is that your wife I hear, Gauri is her name right"

Omkara saw red "You wont touch her, you stay away from her"

She jumped, her eyes travelling to Omkara's office, she cut the phone off and ran towards the building

"Oh, I see, protective over her are you, if you want her safe, you'll do as I say then hmm"

Before Omkara could reply, the phone was ripped from his hands. "You stay away from my husband, you may think that you can hurt him now, but you can't, I am here this time and I will never let you touch him again"

He chuckled loudly "What are you gonna do about our little business deal"

Gauri paused for a second "You want to do business with this company, Omkara does not have to be a part of that"

"Oh but he does, he's the head of the business" he smirked coyly, looking down at his phone

"Actually, we are equal business partners, but you wouldn't know that from the news, you want a business deal, you've got one, I will see you Monday" she slammed the phone down, her shoulders shaking as she tried to calm herself down

"Gauri, what have you just done" dissapointment and fear laced Omkara's tonen

"I, I dont know, I wasn't thinking, look, if we cant get out of this business deal, we have to go through with it, and it isnt safe for you to be there with him, so I will go to the meetings, please dont be angry at me, I just want to keep you safe". She really couldn't handle it if he shut down again

He looked up "And what about you Gauri, who keeps you safe" he shook his head "You don't know him, you dont know the monster he is"

"I have fought worse, men like him dont scare me"

He often forgot, with how strong she always looked, with that beautiful smile always on her lips, that she to had fought demons of her own. How could he tell her that he was afraid his uncle would take her away, he never wanted a day where he would wake up, and she wouldnt be there

"It isnt your battle to fight"

"No, it is our battle and we will fight it together, I am your wife" she gestured to her mangalsultra (Wedding chain)

He fell into his chair, his head in his hands "I dont know what to do Gauri, i'm so scared, I dont know how you can ever love me, look at me, I am not a man"

Gauri knelt down, she wanted to take his hand in hers, but she stopped herself "Its okay to be scared, that makes you human, everyone gets scared, if you weren't scared, I would think something was wrong with you" she smiled

He looked up, smiling back at her

"I love you because of all of this, because of how strong you are, you built all of this alone, you stood up, you didnt fall, and you are the strongest man I have ever met and will ever meet, I dont doubt your strength"

She held out her hand for him to take

He cautiously placed his hand in hers and allowed her to pull him up and toward the big window

"You see that sky, you see those stars, that is the limits you can reach, everytime you feel like a failure, look around, at all the homeless people you took from the streets and gave a job to, look at what you have built, look at those young children like you, finally in a loving home because of your help". She paused "You are magnificent and you are mine, I wouldnt ever want anyone else and that little boy that was fighting for someone to listen, well look, someone is, you're not alone anymore, and you never will be". She turned, reaching for her bag "I wasnt going to give this to you yet", placing the ring box in his hand, he smiled, opening it slowly

The gold ring shimmered in the light, the red amethyst a dark red, his faviourate colour. She cleared her throat "Its meant to symbolise strength"

He slipped it on, then looked back at her, his eyes fell to her lips "Can I kiss you Gauri"

She blushed "Um, uh, yeah"

He reached out, pulling her closer, then pressed his lips against hers, she closed her eyes, her hand reached up to the nape of his neck and she kissed him back giggling as he pulled away "For a guy that hasn't kissed very much, I really wonder how you do it so well"

"You think I kiss well" he breathed

She nodded "Of course, I hope the feeling is mutual" she winked

He clenched his fist, his heart was doing that thing again, whenever she got to close. It surprised him how she could still affect him that way, how she could still have such a hold over him

"Dont be angry at yourself for feeling, I feel it too"

His eyes widened "You do"

"Of course, silly" she raised his hand to her heart "They beat in sync"

He was in awe, maybe she really did love him like he loved her "How do I know that isnt just because of your medication"

She laughed "Hey, knock it off"

Oh, he had made her laugh, that was new. He wanted to do it again, but how? "Your laugh is beautiful"

She raised her hand, covering her mouth "Oh, I hate it"

His face dropped "Dont, theres nothing to hate about it"

She could feel the butterflies in her stomach, Gauri smiled, she really hoped this would last forever, that he wouldnt shut down again "Anyway, dinner, I am starving"

Omkara rocked back on his feet "After you" he held the door open for her

She nodded, there was definitely nothing she would change about him