Favourite Crime

"My world is too twisted and dangerous for you!"

A male voice said to her in her head as she sat on the bed, looking at something in her hands.

"But I-"

"I came to destroy your dad!"

"What?"

"Your dad is dangerous and he killed my sister in his trafficking business! I came to destroy him and in the process, I had to act to love you but Gauri....whatever is going on between us, it needs to end."

She didn't even know that her own father, her hero, her superman, owned a trafficking business and ruined the lives of thousands of girls and their families.

Gauri Tridevi, she lost her mother when she was 1 to cancer but her father, Ashwin Tridevi always made sure she was happy with life and never felt the absence of a mother. Gauri Tridevi was the daughter of famous politician/businessman Ashwin Tridevi so she always lived a rich and privileged life. People would immediately assume that she was a spoiled princess who got whatever she wanted, and was dependent on her daddy's money.

But that was not true.

Gauri learnt from a small age that money was not everything, and she shouldn't be dependent on her dad. That's why she got a part time job in fashion retailing. That's why she went to university despite her dad saying that she didn't have to. She wanted to make a life for herself, and stand on her own two feet.

She had started studying fashion marketing and in her first year of uni, she met him. Him as in the man who came and turned her entire life around.

Gauri kept the thing in her hand onto a side as she got up from the bed and walked to the hotel terrace. She couldn't go back home. Ever. Not after the massive confrontation she had with her father.

Gauri: you run a trafficking business?

She asked her father with red eyes and smudged mascara. She came to confront her father after just getting her heart broken.

Ashwin: no jaanu. Who told you this crap?

Gauri: doesn't matter who told me or where I heard it from...tell me the truth, how many girls have you killed? How many lives have you ruined? TELL ME!

Ashwin: Gauri...

He was about to say something when his trusted man came and said: sir, they escaped!

His trusted man didn't see Gauri when he said that, but when he saw Gauri's shocked face...he knew he made a mistake.

Gauri looked at her father and said with gritted teeth: how many lies have you told me?

Girl trafficking business, drug empire, illegal logging...she learnt all this in one night. Was tonight against her or something? First the man she loved broke her heart, second her dad was not the superman she thought he was and third she found out some news of her own and didn't know if she should be happy or cursing her fate.

Gauri looked at the glittering city of Mumbai for a moment or so. She wanted to soak in the glittering beauty of Mumbai before she left India tomorrow morning. She didn't want to stay in India any longer. She just wanted to leave the place and start all over again.

Gauri: why did you kill that man?

She asked him. He looked at her, shocked for a moment. He didn't know she was there already. She looked at him then looked at the man on the floor, who had stopped breathing and was covered in blood.

Him: I am so sorry you had to see that. It was self defence. He attacked me and I just defended myself.

Gauri didn't say anything. She just looked at him, breathing heavily.

Him: look, I know you came here for a date but please just help me bury this body.

She didn't say anything. She stupidly agreed to help him bury the body. She got the blood on her hands as she buried a body that night and though she washed her hands a million times, she still sometimes remembered seeing another person's blood on her hands.

Four hands were bloody that day.

And she soon learnt that it wasn't self defence.

They didn't go on a date that night. He tried pushing her away after that day but for some reason, she kept finding herself coming even more closer to him. When he couldn't push her away anymore, he allowed her to see his good, bad and ugly. How his mother left, his dad was a bit of a jerk and his brothers were always outshining him, his scars, tattoos. He allowed her to see all of him....

Well not all of him.

They met in the hallway of his university. Apparently he dropped out of university a couple of years back and decided that he wanted to resume his education.

But that was not the truth.

He managed to get himself a place in her marketing class, got a seat next to her and that's how she slowly fell for him.

Through their note swapping and whispers and his sweet smile and those charming midnight black eyes.

Gauri gained the courage to ask him out on a date, mainly because she realised that it was 2021 and women shouldn't have to wait for the man to make the first move. All her friends told her not to ask Om out because they found him sketchy and a bit too much of a bad guy.

But the bad guy was good for her.

After debating forever how to ask Om out, she ended up texting him one evening if he ever wanted to go on a date with her and he said....yes.

If only she knew then why he said yes so easily or why he was good only for her.

Anika: why do you even like him?

She said Gauri after her first date with Om.

Gauri: because he is such a sweetheart.

Richa: sweetheart? He seems so sketchy.

Bhavya: you can do so much better than him.

Soumya: go out with Arjun. He is sweet, humble, and doesn't give off any bad vibes!

Gauri: I don't know why you all think Om isn't a good guy. He is so sweet and humble if you just get to know him.

She defended him to all her friends.

They all said that they didn't get a good vibe from him.

They all said that there was something off with him.

They all said that she should be careful around him.

Gauri kept a hand on her flat stomach and started to think that maybe she should have paid heed to her friends, because now she was confused. Confused whether to speak to him one last time or just leave the country without saying a word to anyone.

Om: Gauri?

Gauri: bolo.

Om: is a man with a scar across his eye looking at us?

Gauri scanned the room with her hazel eyes and saw a man sitting at the bar, drinking whiskey, scar across the eye and he was looking at Om and Gauri. Gauri didn't say anything, all she did was nod.

She didn't know why Om asked her to look out for that man on their second date. She didn't know at the time what was his business with that man or the fact that he sort of used her as an alibi. After their restaurant date, he dropped her off and then very late at night, he knocked on her window.

Gauri: what are you? Spiderman?

Gauri asked as she opened the window, revealing a smiling Om.

Om: yeah let's assume that. Now let me in.

Gauri smiled as she allowed him in. He came in and said: sorry for cutting our restaurant date short.

Gauri: it's fine.

They both smiled at each other as they sat on her bed.

Om: how about tomorrow, I'll take you somewhere? No burying bodies, no short dates, just me and you?

Gauri: promise?

He nodded as the two leaned in. They looked each other in the eyes, smiling. They were about to kiss before Gauri's eyes looked down at Om's fist.

Gauri: Om, what happened to your knuckles?

She asked, seeing the dried up blood that laid on his knuckles. Om looked at his knuckles and said: nothing. I had an argument with my dad and I punched the wall in anger.

Gauri: oh god, it looks so bad. Let me bandage that up for you.

Om: nahi yaar, it's fine.

Gauri looked at him before getting up to get the first aid kit she kept in a drawer of her dressing table. The moment she got up, she found herself on top of Om on her bed.

Yeah...he pulled her back on the bed.

Om: you don't have to dress the wound, it's fine. Now where were we on that kiss?

Gauri blushed as he ran his thumb through her lips. He then brushed his lips against hers before taking her lips in his. In that kiss was the sweetness of passion, a million loving thoughts condensed into a moment.

Her first kiss. He stole her first kiss.

They did end up having a proper date. He took her to a rooftop dinner date where he didn't ask her to help bury a body or see if someone was looking at them.

And she learnt earlier today that he didn't punch a wall the night of their first kiss. She learnt that he punched that guy because they had some enmity.

Anika: he's a bad boy Gauri. I saw him punch a guy yesterday night in the alleyway.

She said after four months of Gauri and Om's relationship. Her friends were still effy about Gauri dating Om, but Gauri was not paying heed to their words nor did she care for what they were saying about Om.

Gauri: are you sure it was Om?

Anika: yes! Gauri, he is a bad guy. Leave him.

Gauri: he may be this cold, bad boy for everyone else but for me, he is a soft lover boy. I wish you could see that he is a good guy Ani.

It was bittersweet now to think about the damage that they did together. From burying a body to punching a guy who Om knew to being used as an alibi to having a gun in her hand tonight. She knew that she was going down, but she was doing it with him.

He pulled away from their makeout session. He looked at her swollen lips and messy hair before kissing her forehead and saying: I love you.

Gauri: I love you more.

Om: not possible.

He said with a little smirk as he kissed her lips again. She laid on the bed, pulling him on top of her and before either of them knew it, clothes were on the floor and the night deeds were done.

And those night deeds resulted in a life breathing in her womb. Gauri went back to her hotel room, closing the doors to the terrace and looked at the pregnancy test she took earlier. Two red lines...a baby.

She was feeling sick and dizzy the last few days. She also missed her period so she brought the test kit, but she never got the chance to take it. Today, when she found out her dad's truth, she packed her bag in a hurry taking the kit with her and left the mansion.

Secretly.

She didn't want her dad to find her. Nor did she want Om's mafia family and members to find her. Nor did she want anyone's enemies to find her.

Yes he was part of the mafia. The love of her life was part of the mafia who came into her life to destroy her father.

Gauri went to a club with Richa, Anika, Soumya and Bhavya earlier in the evening.

Soumya: finally a much needed girls night.

Bhavya: you have been so busy with Om lately.

Gauri chuckled as she took a sip of her coke. She didn't buy alcohol since she knew she would be a lightweight.

Gauri: well I missed hanging out with you guys.

Richa: of course you do since we are amazing.

Gauri laughed.

Gauri: I just need to go to the washroom.

Anika: okay sure.

Gauri got up and went to the washroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and decided to touch up her lipstick. As she touched up her lipstick, she saw a man creeping up behind her.

Gauri: what the hell are you...

She couldn't complete her sentence as the man kept a cloth against her nose and mouth, leading her to fall unconscious.

"Where am I?"

She asked with a groan as she opened her eyes. She was in a dark place but she didn't know where. She tried to get up when she noticed that she was wrapped up with ropes on a chair.

Gauri: IS ANYONE THERE? SOMEONE? ANYONE? KOI HAI?!

She screamed but no one responded to her. All she heard was "she's awake now. Should I knock her unconscious again?"

Gauri was confused and scared. She looked around to see if there was anything in her reach that she could use to cut the rope. As she looked around, she didn't notice the same man creeping up behind her.

Voice: DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!

Gauri in mind: Om?

She looked to see Om beating up the man who she met in the washroom. He was beating him up before shooting him. The gunshot shocked her. Om looked at her, but he didn't look her in the eye as he untied her.

Gauri: Om...?

Om: go.

Gauri: kya?

Om: go Gauri!

He said as he shot another man dead who entered the room.

Gauri: what's going on?

Man: Omkara...long time no see.

Om: what do you want Kaali?

Kaali: drugs, the 100 crores your father owes me and ownership of Hotel Del Luna. You know, my hotel that I built and started but your father stole it from me?

Om: you gambled your hotel Kaali.

Kaali: waise the girl by your side seems very pretty. I got a good idea. How about you give me the girl and I will leave you and your family alone?

Om: Gauri, go.

Gauri: but..

Om: GAURI GO AND DON'T LOOK BACK!

Gauri was scared by his tone. She knew there was no point in arguing with him, so she walked away. As she walked, her guts made her feel that she was being watched so she walked a bit faster with her heart beating uncontrollably.

Gauri: LET GO OF ME!

She screamed as she felt a tug at her hair, pulling her down. She took up and punched the man who touched her before running. More men came at her and cornered her. She didn't know what to do for one moment, but then she punched and kicked at the men, leaving them all on the floor before running, taking a gun from one man down. She suddenly tripped as she ran and fell on her back.

Breathing heavily, she was about to get up when she saw another man.

Man: how about you strip for me and no one gets hurt?

Gauri didn't punch him or kick him. With trembling hands, she pointed the gun at him. The man smirked at her.

Man: a girl as innocent as you would not pull the trigger.

He was wrong because she did. He fell on the ground. She couldn't believe that she just shot a person. Gauri got up and saw Om there, who was looking at her but not in her eyes.

Gauri: Om...

Om: I've called some people, they'll take care of Kaali. Now come with me.

Gauri didn't say anything. She just went with Om and he kept her in the front seat of his car, looked around before going in the car himself and driving.

He stopped at an isolated area and went out of the car. Gauri got out of the car and followed him as he walked and sat on a wooden barrel.

Om: do you know how scared I was when I got a phone call saying that they got you?

Gauri: why did they take me?

Om: they saw you with me. Gauri, it's best if you leave and we never meet each other again.

Gauri: no! I am not leaving till you tell me what the hell is going on! Why did those guys kidnap me and why did you shoot them? Who the hell is Kaali? WHAT IS GOING ON OM?

Om: remember the man I made you bury with me? He was one of Kaali's men and I stabbed him in anger when he tried to shoot me. The man with the scar, I beated him up and he was another one of Kaali's men.

Gauri: I'm confused.

Om: I'm the son of a mafia boss. My world is too twisted and dangerous for you Gauri!

Gauri: but I -

Om interrupting: I came to destroy your dad!

Gauri: what?

Om: your dad is dangerous and he killed my sister in his trafficking business! I came to destroy him and in the process, I had to act to love you but Gauri....whatever is going on between us, it needs to end. It's over.

Gauri: what the fuck do you mean it's over?!

Om: don't you see? Things are never going to work between us. We come from different worlds and I was only using you!

Gauri: so you never loved me?

Om: ti ho sempre amato (I always loved you)

Gauri: huh?

Om: that was Italian for I never loved you.

He said with a choked up throat as he looked away from her.

Om: I only came to destroy your dad who hurt my family. He is not the man you think he is.

He told her everything and Gauri didn't say anything once he finished. She looked at Om with her teary eyes before walking away. Om heard her walk away. She only walked away because she didn't know what to say to him.

Gauri kept the pregnancy test on a side and laid down on the bed, looking at the ceiling.

Voice: GAURI!

Gauri was quiet, her heart beating fast. How did he find her?

Voice: Gauri, I know you're in there. It's me. Om. I want to talk.

Gauri knew she should have kept quiet but she felt the urge to speak.

Gauri: I don't want to hear any weak ass excuse or whatever. Get lost!

Om: I am not going away until you open the goddamn door!

Gauri: JUST GO AWAY! I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU OR SEE YOU!

Om: like I said baby, I am not going till you open the door.

He said as he sat on the floor, next to the door.

Gauri: just leave. Please.

Om: I am not leaving because if I leave, I am going to regret it so much Gauri. We've been together for seven months and Gauri, I want us to be together forever. From the day I met you, I felt this connection with you. Nothing to do with my motive or whatever. I felt some connection with you that I tried ignoring at first. I soon started feeling so protective of you that I wanted to keep you safe so every date night, every time you were with me, I tried making sure my people weren't around or any of my family enemies were around.

Gauri stayed quiet as he took a deep breath to continue speaking.

Om: I slowly came to realise that I couldn't destroy you in the process of destroying your father because I love you. My father kept trying to ask me to destroy your father and I kept making excuses because I love you. Gauri...you always asked me why I loved you right?

Gauri: yeah...

Om: I love you because you are the reason behind my smile. I love you because of the way you look at me. I love you for who you are...sweet, kind, brave and strong. I love the way you laugh, the way you make me laugh and how you make every issue look so trivial. I love how we can talk about anything for hours. I love how you steal all my hoodies and shirts. I love that you see the best in me. Gauri, everytime I walk into the room and I see you, my heart dances. When I'm away, the thought of you makes me smile. Being with you makes me happy and no one has ever made me feel this way but you!

Gauri was quiet as she wiped the tears that rolled down her cheeks and Om also wiped the tears that fell from his eyes. She walked up to the door and opened it to allow him in. Om got up and walked into the room, then he looked her in the eyes.

Om: I love you.

Gauri: I love you too.

Their lips were locked together and the world itself ceased to exist. The kiss they were sharing was the kind of kiss that inspired stars to climb into the sky and light up the world.

Gauri: I'm leaving India tomorrow.

She said as they broke the lip for some air.

Om: so do I tell your friends that you are leaving the country?

Gauri: my friends?

Om: they were so worried and they hunted me down and yelled at me.

Gauri: how did you find me?

Om: let's not talk about that right now.

Gauri smiled as he took her lips in his again. As they were kissing, Gauri broke the kiss again and said: Om, sorry for interrupting the kiss again.

Om: you better have a good reason for it.

Gauri: I'm pregnant.

Om: pregnant?

Gauri nodded as she went to the bin and picked up the pregnancy test. She showed him the stick and he smiled at her. A glow appeared on his face.

Om: our child?

She nodded.

Om: you have no idea how happy that makes me.

He said, kissing her forehead. She gave him a big smile before leaning in to kiss him.

"Where are you planning to go then?"

He said as they laid in the bed, covered with the duvet and Gauri was drawing patterns on his bare chest.

Gauri: Manchester. Just want a fresh start.

Om: I'll come with you then.

Gauri: but your mission? Those mafia people? Your father?

Om: fuck my mission, I broke ties with my father before I came here and those mafia people..well a lot of them are loyal to me and you pretty much hurt all of Kaali's men. But in Manchester, no one will know who we are. Also as far as I'm concerned, the only gang that knows I am Tej Singh Oberoi's son is Kaali's gang so....

Gauri: let's go to Manchester!

He smiled, pecking her lips.

Gauri: but promise me, no more secrets and no hurting anyone?

Om: I promise.

Gauri: and you didn't have to cut ties with your father.

Om: he said falling for you was a crime but I told him that you're my favourite crime. He was insulting you so I cut all ties with him.

Gauri: favourite crime?

Om: I wasn't supposed to fall for you in real life, but I'm glad I did because I can't imagine a day where I don't love you.

Gauri smiled as she kept her lips on his. 

I know it's lame. It's stupid. I should be updating my stories and giving competition results but this OS has been written by a broken hearted me....I much rather not go into detail about why my heart is broken. 

Also I was really loving the song Favourite Crime by Olivia Rodrigo so I wanted to write something based on the song but letting it have a happy ending. 

I hope you all liked it :)