Rest of the day, Gauri had a great time with the Oberoi family. She cooked with the ladies in the kitchen, played video games with Rudy and Avanthika but was later admonished by Vishaal for straining their eyes for a long time. She was surprised when Tej suggested them to play badminton and was even more surprised when both the men joined them for playing.

Just like her father, even Tej Singh Oberoi was just a sweet and family loving person. Him being titled as a tyrant was just a facade that he had to keep up in the business field.

In short, Oberoi family as a whole was amazing. She was lucky that within a few months even she would become a part of this family. And that brings her mind to her supposed fiancé.

Omkara had missed the dinner since he had been caught up with work. Since she was leaving the next day, she thought she would spend the whole day with the Oberois which included her supposed fiancé too. She was disappointed when he didn't even come for their usual comfy balcony time. She would have waited for him a little longer if not for her father who had seen her sitting in the balcony. She didn't want anymore embarassment by telling him the actual reason for her staying up.

Presently, she got up from her bed feeling thirsty. She frowned seeing the light from the kitchen.

Gauri stopped in surprise seeing Omkara there, taking food from the fridge.

"Hey! I thought you had slept already." Omkara said smiling at her.

"I was about to sleep, but felt thirsty." Then seeing him about to eat the freezed food she stopped him.

"Wait! I will reheat it for you." Gauri said taking the plate from him.

"It's okay, Gauri. I will-" He stopped as she already started reheating the food.

"Did you eat?" He asked.

Gauri nodded her head.

"Even if you are late, why can't you have your food on time. Now I realise why Jaanu aunty was saying all that." Gauri said as she took two cups from the shelf.

"Waah waah! Marriage hasn't happened yet but from now itself so much care. How lucky I'm to get such a caring fiancée." Omkara said grinning as he sat on the kitchen counter.

Gauri blushed as she washed the cups.

Serving the food on a plate, she handed it over to him without looking at his face.

"Atleast look at my face, let me see that blush on your face." He cheekily said taking the plate from her.

Gauri rolled her eyes as her cheeks turned pink and turned around to take the juice jug from the fridge. Pouring the juice into two cups she gave one of it to him.

"Thanks, Gauri." Omkara said smiling at her.

She smiled back at him and sat on one of the kitchen stools.

"I'll be leaving tomorrow." She said.

Omkara slowly nodded his head as he ate.

"When?" He asked looking at her.

"Morning."

"Morning itself?"

"Yeah. It's been a while we are away from our home." She said smiling.

Omkara smiled back at her. They talked to each other about several things as he finished his food.

Gauri was about to take the empty plate from him but he moved it away.

"No! This, I will do." He said smiling. Along with his plate and cup, he took the cup from her hand too.

Gauri was about to protest but then stopped with a smile. She decided to clean the mess on the countertop.

After washing the utensils, he turned around to see her cleaning the counter using a cloth.

"You didn't have to do that." Omkara said coming towards her.

"I don't like leaving the kitchen in a mess."

"Give it. I will do it." He said forwarding his hand.

Ignoring him she continued with her work.

Omkara sighed and shook his head with a smile. He leaned on the kitchen counter watching her.

"You know I'm getting those domestic vibes being with you."

Gauri turned to him in surprise and saw him staring at her.

"Doing the household chores together, without any awkwardness it feels good actually." He said smiling.

Gauri smiled happily hearing that.

They came out of the kitchen and Omkara insisted that he would walk her to her room.

"So when will we meet next?" He asked.

"My house is not that far from here, Mr Oberoi. You can drop in whenever you wish to." Gauri said grinning.

Omkara chuckled.

"Good night, Omkara." She wished him and turned around to open her bedroom door.

Seeing her about to enter the room, he quickly called her. "Gauri!"

She turned to him curiously.

"Give me your number." He said taking out his phone.

"You don't have my number?" She asked him surprised.

"You have my number?" He asked back surprised.

"No." She said cheekily.

Omkara shook his head smiling.

Gauri told him her number and asked him to give her a missed call.

"Will Mr workaholic be able to spare a few minutes from his busy schedule to call me?" She asked teasingly.

Omkara leaned his face towards her smiling and said, "It is you, right? Even if I don't have time to complete my work, I will make time for you."

Gauri's breath got hitched hearing him and a shy smile broke out on her face.

"Good night, Gauri." He said with a sweet smile.

Gauri blushed as she closed the door and leaned on it. She kept her palm above her rapidly thudding heart and sighed. What happened just now?

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Three weeks later

These few days, Omkara and Gauri kept in touch through phone calls and messages. They never got a chance to meet each other. One night, Omkara and Gauri were talking to each other through phone.

"So how are the engagement preparations going on there?" Omkara asked.

"Jaanu Aunty, Mumma, Avanthi and I are going to select the materials for our engagement dress tomorrow. Will you be there?" Gauri asked him.

"I don't think so. I heard that they are planning a family dinner too. I will join you guys then."

"Okay!" She said smiling excitedly. It's been a while since they saw each other and she can't wait to see him tomorrow.

"What happened, Gauri? Can't wait to see me?" Omkara asked teasingly.

"Shut up! Nothing like that." Gauri said blushing.

Omkara chuckled lying on his bed.

"Just wait for a few hours. We will meet again." He said smiling.

Gauri smiled happily as she looked down.

Then in a teasing manner, she said "If Mr workaholic had a few minutes to spare, then we could have met earlier than this."

The first week since both Omkara and Gauri were busy, they couldn't meet. And the next week, Omkara had to leave for a business meet to Dubai. He just came back a day before.

"I'm sorry, Gauri. I told you right why I couldn't-"

"I was just teasing you. It's okay." Gauri said smiling.

Omkara smiled in relief hearing that.

"By the way, I'm designing our engagement dress. Do you have any preferences regarding your dress?" She asked.

"Really? You are going to design our dress?" He asked surprised.

"Since my boutique is not officially opened, I'm just going to give the design to my best friend Anika, who is also a fashion designer. She will take care of the rest."

"That's nice."

"So, how do you want your engagement dress to be?"

"I don't have any idea about this, Gauri. You can decide it."

Gauri rolled her eyes.

"Fine."

Omkara smiled and asked, "So, when is Bhavya coming back?"

"Within few days. That reminded me. You know what, Rudy and Bhavya knows each other."

"What? How?" He asked surprised.

"Few months back, Rudy had gone to London for meeting a modelling agency, right?"

"Yeah, that time we were in Switzerland."

"I told you Bhavya, Avanthi and I were in London right? It was after I came back here, Bhavya and he met. The agency owner's daughter is Anika, and she is our friend about whom I talked to you about earlier. Bhavya had accompanied Anika to the agency one day, and she met Rudy there. They became nice friends too. But somehow they lost touch, and few days back Bhavya realised that Rudra and our Rudy are same. She saw his picture with us. Now they are friends again."

"Wow! What a small world!" Omkara said chuckling.

"Right!" She grinned.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Next day, Avanthika watched as Gauri stood beside her visibly disinterested as they looked at the dresses.

Few minutes back, everything was fine as she enthusiastically selected the materials for their engagement dress. It was after Jhanvi broke the bubble that Omkara would not be coming for the family dinner, Gauri became upset. Thankfully it was revealed only after they finalised the materials and started looking dresses for others.

Gauri checked her phone again and saw that the message was still not delivered. She had sent a message to Omkara asking if he will not be coming for the dinner. But the message has not yet been delivered.

"Gauri di, if not today you can meet him tomorrow right? Why are you so upset?" Avanthika asked.

Gauri looked at her sister and sighed. Avanthi was right. But she couldn't stop herself from feeling disappointed. If he had informed her about it, she wouldn't have been this upset. But here, he was not even checking her message.

"Did you select your dress?" Gauri asked her instead of replying.

"How will I select if you behave like you are not at all interested?" Avanthika asked pouting.

Gauri smiled apologetically and placed her arm around her shoulders.

"Sorry, sorry. Let's select a beautiful dress for you."

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

The ladies and Rudra reached the restaurant and were waiting for Tej and Vishaal.    

Gauri went away from there to attend a call. After the call, she once again checked the message that was sent to Omkara and sighed realising the message had been delivered but he hasn't seen it.

Gauri turned back and gasped in shock seeing him standing in front of her.

"Hey Gauri!" Omkara said smiling.

Gauri blinked for a few seconds before a happy smile broke out on her face.

"YOU?!"

Omkara chuckled hearing her surprised scream.

"How come you are here? I thought you were not coming." She said in surprise.

"I never told you I will not be coming." He said shrugging his shoulders.

Gauri shook her head still smiling like an idiot.

"I had no idea that you would become this glad to see me. Did you miss me that much?" Omkara asked smiling as he walked towards her.

Gauri blushed hearing him and looked down.

"Ah! That beautiful blush again." He said chuckling.

Gauri giggled as her cheeks turned pink.

Omkara smiled.

"Let's go inside? They might be waiting for us." He said.

Gauri nodded smiling and walked with him towards their family.

Omkara frowned seeing the rest of the family grinning cheekily at them.

"Look at the way my bahu's face has brightened up." Jhanvi said teasingly.

"Haa how she was sulking the whole time with us." Anjali added.

Avanthika and Rudra chuckled.

Omkara bit his lips and discreetly looked at his fiancée.

"Stop teasing my child, you both. Om, Gauri take your seat." Vishaal said intervening.

Gauri sighed in relief and quickly sat beside her father.

After having dinner, everyone came out of the restaurant.

"When will you be free next?" Gauri asked.

"Why? What happened?" Omkara asked walking beside her.

"Only the materials are taken, we should go and see Anika for giving the measurements too."

Omkara nodded his understanding.

"We will go tomorrow then?" He asked.

"Will you be free?" She asked surprised.

"You forgot? That I will make time for you no matter what." Omkara asked teasingly.

Gauri softly smiled remembering it.

Everyone bid their bye to each other and the Sharmas got inside the car. They waved at the Oberois as the car moved out of the parking area.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Next day, Omkara was standing outside the Sharma Mansion.

"Why are you being so nervous suddenly? You just met them all yesterday, then why?" Omkara thought to himself as he adjusted his shirt.

Maybe because he was at his in-laws for the first time? Or maybe because he was taking out his fiancée for the first time that too in the presence of her parents? If he says that they were just going to give their measurements for the engagement dress then it would be a lie because he knew he wanted to spend more time with her and it's been more than two weeks since they had properly spent some time together except for the usual calls. He also knew he was being crazy and...

"Sir, should I call Vishaal sir?" The guard asked him hesitantly.

Omkara turned to look at the guard who was looking at him confused. Why will he not? He has been standing here for more than five minutes, like a clueless man.

"No. It's okay. I will just-"

"Om?"

Omkara turned and saw a surprised Vishaal walking towards him. He nervously smiled at him.

"Why are you standing here without coming inside?"

"I was about to."

"Oh! Come, come." Vishaal said smiling.

Omkara sighed walking beside Vishaal. Calm down, Om. You are a businessman and you have dealt with a lot of people on your own. And this is Vishaal uncle and his family! There is nothing to be worried.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

"Di, wear this one instead of that earring. This looks more pretty." Avanthika said lifting up a pair of earrings from a box.

Gauri, who was combing her hair, looked at her sister through the mirror.

"Isn't that too much, Avanthi?"

"Not at all. And even if it is, why not? You are going for a date with jeeju for the first time na?"

"Date? Where did that come from? We are just going to give our measurements for our engagement dress." Gauri clarified.

Avanthika rolled her eyes.

"How unromantic you have become, di! Uff, jeeju is going to take you for a date after taking the measurements or whatever you have planned. I'm sure about it."

Gauri turned to her sister and asked in a mocking manner, "Did he tell you that?"

"No. But I'm sure he will." She said firmly.

"How?"

"I just know that."

"HOW?"

"Obviously because that's how it is all the time." She said in a ridiculous way.

Gauri sighed and turned around. It's not the same every single time. Who can understand it better than her? And how is she going to tell her sister that life is not a bed full of roses. It has thorns too. Which are so sharp at times that they can rip you apart.

There used to be a time when she had thought that she has got her fairytale love story. But now that she has learnt her lessons very well, she knew she was not that lucky in this life. It's not that she doesn't believe in love. She surely does. But she doesn't want anymore heartbreaks by keeping her expectations high.

Gauri looked at her sister and saw that she was upset. She smiled taking the earrings from her and wore it.

"Happy?" She asked grinning.

"GAURI! Omkara is here. Come fast." Anjali voice reached them from downstairs.

Gauri took her handbag from the bed.

"Bye, Avanthi. See you later." Gauri said hugging and kissing her cheek.

Gauri was about to go out when she felt her sister holding her hand.

"You know that jeeju is not like him, right?" Avanthika asked in a soft voice.

Gauri shook her head saying, "Don't insult Omkara like this, Avanthi. They can never be compared to each other. There is a world of difference between them like sky and earth."

Avanthika smiled hearing that.

"Jeeju is going to prove that he is the one for you, di."

Gauri smiled patting her cheek and went.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

Really very sorry for not updating. I guess I'm losing that inspiration to continue writing this story.

But I will try my best to not leave this story behind for you all.

Thank you to those who are still reading this story<3

With love
Devu❤️