morning:

chahat's house:

chahat's room:

the egg yolk sun poured through the cracks in the blind and awaited entrance into gauri's eyes. sight still in the clutches of the night's glue, she hesitantly rubbed the dreams away. thoughts of the visions in sleep came and went in waves, clinging on to the very last memory of the night but with little success.

gauri: my head....what happened last night?

she opened her eyes, closed them again, she blinked a couple of times till her vision cleared up. she saw herself in chahat's room and she looked down only to find out that she was wearing someone's hoodie.

gauri: but...but chahat doesn't own any hoodies. hmmmm....what happened last night?

from the pounding head, vomit taste in her mouth and dehydrated feeling she figured she must have been drinking heavily last night. her throat felt like sandpaper. she couldn't even get up as it hurt to move. the sun went in her eyes and she started to groan, laying back down and covering her face with the blanket.

a few minutes later, she heard footsteps coming and then the curtains being closed. gauri removed the blanket of her face and sat up to see chahat in front of her, holding her favourite puppy mug.

gauri: yeh kya?

chahaht: boiled water with honey and lemon.

gauri: why are you giving this to me?

chahat: it will help boost your blood sugar and vitamins

gauri: I don't understand.

chahat: just have it. it will help with that hangover.

gauri: thanks.

chahat made her hold the mug and gauri took a sip making a face.

gauri: chi.

chahat: drink else I will tell your dad about you being drunk.

gauri: fine. you know I hate you right?

chahat: love you too doll.

gauri stuck her tongue out and took another sip. she then said: what did you tell my dad?

chahat: I called him at 10 and said that you became really tired and we were watching a movie at my house and you fell asleep.

gauri: he believed that?

chahat: it was a really convincing story. if your dad found out that you were drunk, he would send you with your dadu and dadi.

gauri: I already know. he told my brothers that when they were my age and yet they still got super drunk at parties. they were only allowed to drink when they reached 21.

chahat: and your dad thinks that you won't end up messed up like those two.

gauri: well...in my defence I drank just once and that was yesterday. they drank 500 times when they were my age. give me a break.

chahat: anyway how is your first hangover?

gauri: my skills ebbs and I feel dead inside.

chahat: you know the new kid?

gauri: who?

chahat: you're wearing his hoodie. his name's om.

gauri was quiet for a minute, trying to remember but failed.

gauri: who?

chahat: the one who accused you. rishi texted me last night saying that om now believes that you didn't take his wallet.

gauri saw a vision from last night of her wrapping her arms around a guy with long hair.

gauri: the one with long hair right?

chahat nodded and said: you said to him that you wanted to give him a hickey.

gauri rolled her eyes, letting out a loud groan and laid flat on the bed. she was embarrassed. you could tell by the look of mild shock on her face and by her cheeks that flushed pink.

gauri: I am so stupid.

chahat: I know.

gauri: you're so comforting aren't you?

chahat: one of my many many MANY qualities.

gauri: yeah right. I need to give this hoodie back to him but where does he live???

chahat: ask rishi.

gauri: why?

chahat: he knows everything, also he is om's best friend.

gauri: accha. since when?

chahat: since they were kids, now drink the honey and lemon, I'll get some food. take a shower, unused toothbrushes are in the soap cabinet as you know. then take whatever you want to wear from my cupboard.

gauri: so I can take your flower embroidered crop mesh top?

chahat: let me rephrase that, take whatever you want to wear EXPECT my flower embroidered crop mesh top from my cupboard.

gauri: I hate you.

chahat: I love you.

chahat smiled and goes from the room. after drinking what chahat made her, she kept the mug aside and stood up to go to the bathroom.

after taking a refreshing, short and much needed cold shower, gauri went into chahat's cupboard and took out a simple plain strappy lilac playsuit. once she got that, she quickly changed - she was shocked to see that she was still wearing the dress from yesterday. once done, gauri brushed her hair and went downstairs.

chahat: cute outfit.

gauri: I know it is because I'm wearing it.

chahat: hahaha very funny. it's only cute because it's from my cupboard.

gauri: so you're trying to say that that plain red shirt with anime is cute?

chahat: give anime a chance yaar.

gauri: never. so what's for breakfast?

chahat: your masterchef has made pancakes.

gauri: by masterchef, you mean the store you brought them from?

chahat: pretty much. you know I can't cook to save my life.

gauri: learn then.

chahat: I don't have time.

gauri: really? all you do is revise, watch netflix, party or go shopping. that's literally all you do.

chahat: not true.

gauri gave her a look with the eyebrows raised.

chahat: maybe a little bit.

gauri: did you ask rishi then?

chahat: yeah, I'll text you the address. but first go home then go to his house.

gauri: I don't have my phone on me.

chahat: I know. richa told me that you left it in her car so she is coming in a minute or so to give your phone back.

gauri nods as she sits down and starts eating the pancakes with her best friend. soon richa came to give the phone back and then she drove her back to her home.

sharma's household:

gauri: I'm back. did anyone miss me?

she came into the living room to see her brother sid on his laptop and juhi on her phone. both were on the sofa.

sid: nah! no one missed you parrot.

gauri: I hate you.

sid: I know.

juhi: can you actually bond for once? all the time you guys fight non-stop. gauri, how was the restaurant?

gauri: restaurant?

juhi: haan, does sleeping make you lose your memory? you went to one with richa and chahat.

gauri: ha..haan..haan...haan, you're right. I did go to one. I am so forgetful. Still half-asleep.

juhi: all okay gauri, you are acting a bit strange.

gauri: everything is great mama. where are papa and mahir bhaiya?

sid: dad is at hospital, working and mahir is at uni.

gauri: accha. mama, I need to go somewhere in a minute but I will go after charging my phone, ok?

juhi: haan theek hai. who's hoodie is that?

gauri looked at the hoodie she was carrying in her arms and stuttered: y..ye...yeh..yeh hoodie? oh....this...hoodie is...um..richa's....haan richa's. she kept it in her car.

juhi: accha...do me a favour and feed daisy.

gauri: ok mama.

she goes to the kitchen and gets the dog food. she puts it into the bowl for daisy and keeps it on the floor.

gauri: eat up.

daisy started to scoff down the food. gauri smiled and went upstairs. sid looked at juhi and said: did she seem very weird?.

juhi: a bit, kyu?

sid: no reason. forget it.

juhi went back on her phone.

meanwhile:

gauri's room:

gauri kept her phone on charging and then started to talk to herself.

gauri: and the worst actress award goes to....gauri kumari sharma. oh god! I am such a mess.

voice: you're not wrong there.

gauri bit her tongue lightly as she turned around to see her older brother with his arms wrapped by the door. he did not look happy.

sid came up to gauri, whose heart was beating first second by second. you could see that she was trembling in fear. sid came in front of gauri and kept his hands on each arm to stop her trembling.

sid: the little princess has been drinking. what a shocker?!

gauri: n...n...n...no. not at all.

sid: oh hello parrot, I have been drunk at 17 too. it's quite easy to tell that you were drunk. skin quite pale, you can't even speak properly and I saw your eyes squinting at the sight of bright light. I am not blind parrot.

he sat on her bed, smirking. gauri gave her puppy eyes and spoke in an adorable voice: bhaiya, you know how much I adore you. you know, everything I thank shankarji for giving me a big brother like you. don't tell anyone please.

sid: gauri, please! stop speaking fake shit. let's get down to business. if you don't want me to tell anyone, then that comes with a price.

gauri: what price? tell me!

sid: one, my charger for my macbook broke so you will share your charger with me till I have time to get a new one.

gauri: haan theek hai.

sid: two, you will not ask me for help on your biology homework for at least a month. I have my own patients to take care of and the hospital is loaded with so many patients.

gauri: fine deal.

sid: finally three, if I want to give a girl a ring for a gift, which jewellery company is the best?

gauri: that depends...Pandora is like super girly and it's more birthday and Christmas gifts Swarovski is the best for everything because diamonds are a girl's best friend but Ernest Jones also is well known for its diamonds and their eternity rings are to die for. so your choice.

sid: ok thanks. so now that we have a deal, return that hoodie to that guy.

gauri: this is richa's.

sid: oh darling, it's a guy's hoodie. I wasn't born yesterday. Also in case you have forgotten, I am a guy too so return that hoodie.

gauri: urgh fine. can I change into something warm though?

sid: nope. do that when you come home.

she grabs her purse and then her phone which was on 80%. she picked the hoodie up from the bed and went out, staring at sid with a sad pout. she looked at her phone and sighed in relief: rishi baba, I honestly love you. now I won't get lost.

meanwhile:

O.M:

om's room:

jasmine came in the room and opened his cupboard whilst om was sketching something in his notebook.

om: what are you looking for?

jasmine: your black hoodie. one of the good things about having a brother is oversized clothes. love them. where is it?

om bit his tongue and jasmine looked through the clothes.

om: why do you even need my hoodie?

jasmine: I'm cold.

om: we live in India. it's warm.

jasmine: my room is cold and at the moment this country is cold. I don't get how people are wearing dresses, playsuits, sleeveless shirts in this weather!

om: some people don't feel the cold. ask your boyfriend for his hoodie.

jasmine: the effect to travel though. where is your black hoodie/

om: um...

jasmine: I literally don't see it anywhere.

om: it...it's....it's....it's in the wash.

jasmine: urgh! I am taking your grey hoodie.

om: go ahead.

jasmine: thank you.

om: but I want it back.

jasmine didn't reply and went out of his room, his hoodie is his hands. om rolled his eyes, muttering: girls!

he went back to his sketching. a while later, he kept his pencil and notebook down and stood up from his bed.

om in mind: thanks goodness no one is here to abuse me today.

he went downstairs and started walking towards the kitchen when all of a sudden, the doorbell rang.

om in mind: who on earth is here?

he went to the door and unlocked it only to see gauri in the lilac playsuit and the wind playing with her wavy hair. she smiled at him akwardly.

om: oh miss drunk birthday girl.

gauri: yup that's me...I guess.

om: how come you are at my house?

before gauri could say something, om spoke again: and please don't say that you came to my house to give me a hickey.

gauri bit her lip awkwardly and gave a small, embarrassed smile, saying: did I actually say that?

om: yes you did.

gauri: oh damn! I messed up.

om: you did. you was such a mess.

gauri: I am never going to drink again.

om: please don't. you are definitely a lightweight.

gauri: what does that mean?

om: your body is not that great with alcohol.

gauri: oh......anyway here's your hoodie. thanks for giving it to me last night.

om: welcome and thank you for my hoodie back.

gauri gave the hoodie back to om and both of them just looked at each other, the tension was back. both were trying to figure out what to say to one another. finally someone spoke.

om: so....um...sorry about accusing you that day.

gauri: it's fine.

om: no it's not fine. I was already in a bad mood with something else and I just decided to accuse you without knowing the story as well as vent my anger out on you. Shouting at you wasn't the solution to the problem it was unfair and i am really REALLY sorry. if you are able to, please forgive me.

gauri smiled and thought for a couple of minutes. she then spoke: it's fine. it was no big deal.  you know what?

om: what?

gauri: you actually had the courage to accept your mistake. not many people have the courage to do that. you was definitely raised in the perfect way.

om: thanks. you too even though you did get drunk.

gauri: never getting drunk again. 

om: do you still have that vomit taste in your mouth?

gauri: how did you know that I...

om interrupting: I was there when you was throwing up.

gauri embarrassed: oh...sorry about that.

om: you did nothing wrong.

gauri: to make up for you dealing with me last night, want to go out for sometime? I'll pay for everything.

om thought about it for a minute and then gave a small nod.

om: sure. but let me pay.

gauri: I am paying.

om: I am paying and that's final.

gauri: ek minute, ek minute! there is no way in hell am I letting you pay. that's final.

om: I am paying so deal with it.

gauri: but this whole thing was my idea so obviously I will pay. 

om: so? I am paying whether you like it or not.

gauri: let's spilt the bill when needed.

om stayed quiet, thinking about what gauri had just said.

om: fine. that's a good idea. come inside, I just need to get some money and my phone.

gauri nods, smiling as she stepped inside the massive mansion. as soon as she entered the living room, her jaw dropped. the room is like a perfect magazine cover. the couch was cream but inlaid with a fine green silk; leaves embroidered so delicately that they might have landed there in spring and just sunk in, but she knew they took hundreds of hours to sew. the white curtains are linen, the kind of white that is untouched by hands and devoid of dust. the diamond chandelier hung at the top of the ceiling. it was beautiful and looked expensive. it probably was super expensive. gauri could tell that it dripped with the best cut diamonds and was made from white gold. the floor was a high polished marble, light and free of either dust or clutter.

whilst she was admiring the living room, om quickly went upstairs to get his phone and some money. he went to his big sister's room where jasmine was reading and said: listen, I am going out for a while. text me if anyone is home. 

jasmine: sure. where are you going?

om: I don't know. I am going with someone so only she knows.

jasmine: I'm sorry, did I just hear 'she'?

om: yes you did. one of rishi's friends. 

jasmine: rishi's friend or your girlfriend?

om: I'm out. bye.

jasmine: arre baby bro, I was joking.

om: bye.

jasmine: bye.

she chuckled and went back to reading.

living room: 

om went downstairs to see gauri patiently waiting for him.

om: sorry if I took long.

gauri: it's ok. just asking, is your living room the taj mahal alone?

om: maybe. 

gauri: does every room in your house designed in a super fancy way?

om: I don't really know. I have only ever been allowed in a few rooms. my room isn't fancy, I prefer it simple.

gauri: accha. anyway should we go then?

om: yeah sure.

they both walked out of the house, om locked the door and then they went into om's car.

om: so where are we going?

gauri: umm.....let me think.

screen goes blank.

precap: a date or just hanging out?

yes yes, I know I am cruel and I should write about their 'date' like right now in this chappy but I am cruel and also I am tired and also I am stressed out!!!!! hates exams. 

so how was this chappy anyway?

what will rikara do?

will gauri ever get drunk again?

are they even friends yet?

who knows?

target: 15+ votes and 6+ comments

guys, please complete the target because it actually motivates me and I could use with some motivation at this minute in time. I am working on other story updates but my creativity is flowing out of my brain cells when seeing targets uncompleted. I am just setting small targets so please complete them if you want to. it also lets me know that you guys like the chapter so yeah.