MINE TO BREAK, MINE TO HEAL

Gauri held up her expensive heavy embroidered lengha as she sprinted through the corridors of huge mansion, running into hundreds of people in her way, cheekily apologising to most of them and using her cute smile as a weapon to get away for others.

Her feet, jingling with her every step due to payel giggling around her ankle, came to rest only when she stood before her sister's room.

She got inside without even considering knocking. She never did in the 23 years of her life so why bother now? Even though her sister was going to be a married women now and become an important part of someone else's family, she would always be her di.

She tiptoed into the room and quietly walked up to her sister who was busy struggling with eyeliner, all ready to startle her.

"Gauri I know it's you," Anika said rolling her eyes.

"Haw! How did you know? I was quite as a cat! Are you sure you don't have eyes at the back of your head?" Gauri frowned sadly.

"No Chutki I don't have any eyes at the back of my head. I saw you by my Man ki ankhe" Anika replied with a wink as she turned around, finished with her makeup. She looked at the mirror and found that one of the wing was still longer that another.

"fuck! What hell is wrong with these beauty products?! And this eyeliner! It's so cheap!" Anika whined as she stamped her foot hard on the floor, baring her teeth, her jaw clad.
Makeup was a real struggle for her. That's why Gauri was hell bent on calling a professional beautician for her. But Anika wanted to get ready for her billuji all by herself. And now she couldn't regret her decision more.

"Still don't wanna call the beautician? Because Jhanvi aunty called, she said they are gonna be here any minute now" Gauri suggested as she pulled out a stool and sat beside Anika.

Anika's eye widen. She jumped from her seat like a spring, her face pale.

"Oo bete ki! Now what will I do Chutki? They are gonna be here any damn minute and here am I, looking like chantumai! Oh dear lord! I can't think straight! Please do something chutki," Anika whined loudly as she nervously strode to and fro in the room almost hyperventilating.

Gauri immediately ran to her sister and held her by her shoulder to make her stop moving.

"Di, breath!"

"How can I? I am about to get married! Oh god! Oh god! How will I go down looking like shit?"

"Di, Di, Di, chill. Your Chutki is here right? Now see how I make all your problems disappear in thin air," Gauri said with a wink.

"But how Chutki?"

"Di, I am your sister and I know that you can't do you can't even put on khole to save your life so I, your very smart and awesome sister already called the city's best beautician. She is waiting downstairs," Gauri smirked at her sister whose frown turned into a toothy grin upon hearing to her.

Overwhelmed, Anika quickly wrapped her arms around her little sister and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Thank you so much Chutki! You are and will always be my saviour! With you by my side I know, problems can even touch me. I love you so much Chutki!"

"I love you too di!" Said Gauri hugging back her sister.

"Now let me bring her up,"

Gauri broke the hug and ran out of the room. This is all that she have been doing since last month. Running around the house to make sure that every arrangement was perfect to P. They had to be perfect, after all it was the her dear sister's wedding. The day she was preparing for since she got to know that every girl finds her Prince Charming one day who sweeps her off her feet and the they live happily ever after. Though she knew that for her letting of her her sister would like tearing out your own heart but she would drink all her tears and smile brightly for her sister.

Gauri was looking for the beautician when a hand grabbed her and suddenly she was pulled into a room. The next thing she knew was that she was pinned to the wall, a body pressed against her and a familiar body cologne lingering in the air.

"Are wah meri jan! You are looking like pataka today. Are you preparing to kill me or what? I am too young to die baby!" A familiar voice whispered into her ear, sending tingling sensation down her spine.

"You and your cheap pickup lines. Now leave me, I have lots of work to do," Gauri whispered back trying to wriggle her way out of his iron grip but all in vain.

Damn his breathtaking muscles!

"I too have looottts of work to do! So from where shall we start? Neck? Cheeks? Or straight from the lips? Though my personal suggestion is lips.." he said in a husky voice as he leaned forward to kiss her.

"Rudra singh Oberoi!" Gauri berated in whisper glaring down at her the guy before him, fringing anger as she bought her hands between them, creating some distance.

"Gauri Rudra singh oberoi!" Rudra whined sadly upon not being able to kiss her, pouting like a baby.

"I am not that yet,"

"You will be after bhaiya and Bhabhi get married," Rudra replied with a smirk, quickly stealing a peck from her cheek.

This got Gauri really excited. She and Rudra have been secretly in love since the day Shivay's family came to their house for Anika's marriage proposal. They decided not to tell anyone as they didn't want to steal shivika' thunder.

"What? Did you talk to jhanvi aunty?"

"Not yet, but I'll ask her today after we bring bhabhi to our home. Mom already love you so much, I am sure she will be thrilled to get this news," Rudra said with a wink making Gauri blush.

"But how about Omkara?" She asked.

"What about bhai?" Rudra asked back, furrowing his eyebrow on what Gauri was trying to say.

"Omkara is older than you, technically he should get married after Shivay. Does he even have a girlfriend?"

"O and girlfriend," Rudra chuckled. "O don't do girlfriends my love. And yes, technically he should get married before me but I'll ask mom to get us engaged asap. The we can get married when my dear brother bothers to have a girl in his life. Till then you'll be like my half wife," Rudra said with a smirk as she pulled Gauri closer snuggling her neck, leaving faint kisses and making Gauri shiver.

"Yeah, but after we get married. So since then you better keep your hands to yourself," Gauri fringed stern voice as she pushed Rudra and pouted teasingly at him.

"You are a little devil my Jan," Rudra teased back.

"By the way even are you doing here? Jhanvi aunty said everyone is still on the way," Gauri asked with a confused look on her face.

"I couldn't wait to see you. So I sneaked away from the mansion and got here like thieves just to meet you. Now least I deserve is a French kiss for my upmost bravery," Rudra said, already leaning in for a kiss.

Gauri placed her hand on his mouth and kissed the other side of the hand.

"Now this is the all that you'll get until you present me a huge diamond ring with a romantic proposal," Gauri winked at him before finally pushing him away and running out of the room.

"Gaurrriii!"

***
After some time the Oberoi's came and somehow Rudra managed to make the believe that he was with them all the time. The Oberoi's were most kind and generous people and the Sharma's couldn't be happier that one of their daughters were getting married to that house. Gauri had already bonded well will all the member of Oberoi family. Jhanvi and ten treated her like their own daughter. Shivay was more like the protective big brother Gauri never had, than her jiju. Rudy was already her love and Omkara, he was the mystery of the oberoi family. Earlier when they met, Omkara didn't hesitate to be outmost rude to her. He was an absolute introvert.

But Gauri had made it her life mission to break the ice walls around him and know who the real Omkara was. It requires lots of patience and time but eventually Gauri was successful. Omkara was a difficult type of soul. He was complex and required lots of understanding. She finally managed to become his friend.

Gauri left up her langha as she ran down the stairs to welcome the Oberoi's when one of her aunties stopped her.

"Arey Gauri, where is you another payel?" She asked.

Gauri looked down. The payel around her right ankle was missing.

"Oh shit! I bought them just this week!" Gauri groaned with anger.

"Gauri beta! Come fast! Oberoi's are here!"

Gauri ran to the door.
**
Everything was going by just fine. The pheres had started and Gauri was standing near mandap with dream eyes.

Suddenly she felt hot breath on her neck which pulled her from her dreamland to the real world.

"Gauri," she could recognise that voice from millions of others. It was deep and screaming yet so calm. It was Omkara's. She turned around to find him standing centimetres away from him.

"Omkara," she muttered.

She looked from the corner of her eyes, some aunties gawking at them with gossipy eyes.

She jumped a step back.

"What happened Gauri?" Omkara tries to step closer and Gauri immediately retreated back.

"Omkara..those ladies," Gauri muttered signalling towards two aunties still staring at their direction, through her eyes.

Omkara let out a chuckle. Gauri had to admit, the sound of his laugh was the most pleasant thing. He hardly ever laughed but when he did it was beautiful enough to bring a smile to her own lips.

"Are you really concerned with what those ladies will think watching me standing close to you?" He asked raising up his brows.

Gauri nodded meekly.

"Well then how about this?" He asked with a smirk that would put Satan to shame on his lips, before wrapping his hand around Gauri's tiny waist and pulling her body close to him.

Gauri's heart started jumping in her chest.

"O-om what are you doing? People are watching!" She whisper yelled at him, trying to wriggle out of his grip but it only tightened.

"Why Gauri? Why does it matter so much, what people think and talk? They are people. It's their job to talk. Your actions should not be guided by someone else's way of thinking. You should do what you want Gauri," he said and at last caressed her cheek with the back of his hand with a smile over his face. Gauri quickly scanned the room to see if Rudy was present there. Fortunately he wasn't. She didn't want Rudra to see them like that.

"But it's not right Om. Please it me go," she muttered as she stared into his eyes and gulped. There was darkness if millions of dead stars in them.

Omkara released his grip on her and stepped back.

"Sorry,"

"I-It's ok,"

She tried to avoid looking back into his eyes but it was almost impossible when all he did was stand their and stare at her as if she was the world most thoughtful art.

"Hey, I forgot to tell you. I have a gift for you,"

She was again looking into his eyes, surprised.

"A gift?"

"Yes. I bought it from Switzerland,"

He produced a small box from his pocket wrapped in pink glossy paper and tied with back ribbon.

"Omkara you don't need to do this,"

"Why? Are you not my friend?" He asked sadly.

"No, it's not like that!"

"Then what?"

Gauri honestly had no idea what to say so she did what she do the best. Stare at the ground awkwardly contemplating what to do next.

Suddenly her hands were grabbed by his.

"Gauri, you are not just my brother's sister in law to me. You are much, much more. So much more.."

She loved and hated the way he talked. In the twisted rhymes. She loved it because it sounded so pleasant to hear. Like a poem. But it is until you listen to it without actually trying to understand it. Because once you start going into the meaning, you would just lose yourself in his words.

"But it must be expensive and-"

"Please," his eyes. Those manipulative orbs. It should be banned to look into them.

"Okay,"

She took the box from him. It wasn't too heavy.

"Open it,"

"Here?"

"Yes"

Gauri unwrapped the box. Inside it was an mesmerisingly beautiful Swiss watch. It's dial was silver in colour and guarded by adjacent red and golden stones in alternate fashion, on the edges. The chain was also decorated with red and golden stones in a floral pattern.

"Omkara I-its too beautiful," Gauri gasped.

"Just like you. Now I can stay with you all the time," he said with a smirk.

She blushed.

"Thanks," she whispered, not sure if it was for the compliment or the watch.

***

Finally it was the time for bidayi. Everyone had tears in their eyes. Infact some of the boys especially Rudra also had wet eyes. Not like he would ever accept that he was crying.

"Ch-Chutki," Anika managed to say between her sobs as she stood before her baby sister crying like anything.

"Di.." Gauri hugged her sister tightly, a part of her heart wanting her sister to stay back.

"Anika and Gauri have been very close to each other. Their are almost like each other's souls. I wonder how Gauri will live without her sister now," mrs Sharma said looking at her daughters hugging and crying.

"So why don't we take Gauri with us too?" Omkara spoke. Everybody's gaze turned to him.

"Om beta what are you saying?" Mrs Sharma asked.

"I mean aunty, Anika bhabhi will be new at our home. It will take her time to adjust their. Though we all will always be their for her, but if she will have Gauri's company then she will not feel so lonely," Omkara suggested.

"It's a brilliant idea! Gauri you must come with us," Shivay spoke, smiling at the two sisters warmly.

"But beta how can Gauri-"

"Arye samdhanji, Shivay and Omkara are right. Send Gauri to live with us for a few days, so Anika will have a company. Plus we all would love to have Gauri with us. What say Gauri?" Jhanvi asked Gauri.

Gauri looked at her mom before answering. In bareilly living at her sister's house just after marriage was not regarded as a good thing but Oberoi's had lived in Mumbai. Their way of thinking was obviously different.

"Okay," Mrs Sharma spoke, smiling at her daughters and they hugged each other excitedly.

Gauri's eyes went to Rudra who winked at her naughtily, making her blush.

Gauri packed her bag and came down.

She sat on the car with Rudra, with her on front seat and him on drivers.

"Is baat ke liye to mai pakka bhabhi ki treat dunga!" Rudra said happily and held Gauri hand. She chuckled.

"Rudy chal peeche baith," Omkara spoke. He was standing on Rudy's side glaring at him. They immediately untangled theirs intertwined fingers.

"But why O. I want to drive today!" Rudy complained like a child.

"You bought the car here now I'll drive back. Now go, sit at the back," Omkara said in a stern voice.

"But you don't even like driving O!"

"But I do now. Now don't argue and go back,"

Rudy frowned loudly and made a grumpy face before coming out of the car and angrily sitting at the back seat.

"Ab khush?" He asked grumpily.

Omkara sat at the driver's seat and looked at Gauri from the corner of his eyes.

"Very much,"

🖋🖋🖋🖋

Comments and likes awaited 💕💕