"I can't believe you came to Bareilly... Priyanka will be so happy to see you Omkara" said Shivaay smiling and hugging his friend.

Omkara returned the smile and both of them started their journey from airport to the Trivedi Mansion... Shivaay reached the place one day ago but when Omkara called him to inform him that he would be coming to attend Priyanka's engagement, Shivaay came to the airport to pick him up himself. The fact that the ride was three hours long and driving alone would be boring made Omkara gratefully thank his friend for his effort.

"You will enjoy your stay here..." started Shivaay half an hour inyo the ride. "Gauri's family is very friendly... Pinky maa is love and Daadi has an unbelievable swag... she thinks more forward than the current generation Omkara... She is cool like a cucumber but she rules the house...Shakti papa is Gauri's crime partner while Daadu is strict but I know he is a softie on the inside" said Shivaay summarizing his in laws' nature and Omkara nodded taking in the information.

He knew most of the facts since Gauri used to talk non stop about her family whenever something reminded her of them. He used to listen to her with a smile seeing her excitement and love when she talked about them... Not one word was erased from his memory... every moment she had been with him and every syllable she spoke was etched to his memory in indelible ink.

How he wished she talked to him the same way now... he knew it was close to impossible... She has offered her heart in a platter and he mercilessly threw it away drowning in his past and fearing the future.

"How is your mother's health?" asked Omkara "the last I heard she recovered from a heart stroke...right?"

"Yeah... she is okay now. I tell her to stop working and she argues that work keeps her mind active and in turn boosts her health. If you see my mother work, you would say I am the lesser workaholic amongst us" he said with a shake of head making Omkara smile.

"I didn't get the chance to meet her. Will she be there at the village house?"

"She came with us, but work centred that she is, she took the next fight to Mumbai hearing my manager blabber about some emergency. She would be back in a day or two... you can meet her then" Shivaay answered and Omkara nodded a yes.

The discussion then flew to each other's professional successes and failures and in no time, they reached the Mansion. After getting out the car, they were warmly welcomed inside by Shakti Trivedi.

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Omkara looked at the huge building amazed... She, is definitely a princess... how down to earth she had been even though she was a heiress to an empire.

Maybe he really did not deserve her ... he thought and shushed it thinking of his father with a stick lecturing him on self-confidence.

Entering the living room, Omkara was asked to take a seat and he sat down on the couch when Priyanka rushed to greet him.

He hugged her smiling "Congratulations Prinku... the bride to be" he winked teasingly and she blushed.

"Thank you bhaiyya" she said.

Shakti asked one of the servants "Inform Pinky that daamadji has come" and Omkara's smile dimmed.

Right..... he was in his friend's fiance's house... he reminded himself.

After a while Pinky came smiling at them " Are Shivaay... you brought your friend with you" she said and Shivaay hugged her before introducing Omkara.

Omkara touched her feet just as he greeted Shakti before and she hugged him close "I heard a lot about you... glad that I could finally see you" she said and he smiled.

"Shivaay... you should stop praising me necessarily" he said looking at his friend who simply shrugged.

They had tea and Omkara looked at the time noting that it was close to lunch time. Where is she? he thought as his eyes searched for her.

"Ye lo aagayi apki laadli (there she comes...your dearie)" Pinky informed her husband looking at the door and Omkara at once turned to see her.

How long has it been that he saw her last? Decades or centuries... She was beautiful then but she looked fascinating and enrapturing now in her yellow saree... He stood unblinking at her, fearing that this moment is a dream and she might disappear if he closed his eyes for a second.

He was about to move towards her when Shivaay already reached her and hugged her while she lovingly smiled at him effectively putting a dagger to his heart.

That smile he thought was only reserved for him...

Why is he here again? ...... yes... to apologize and if she has the heart to forgive him then ask her to give him one last chance.... that seemed to be an impossibility now.

As the couple laughed to something Pinky said, Omkara stared at them too hurt to move a muscle... and was startled when he felt a fragile hand on his arm... He looked to his side to note an elderly woman looking at him with a smile.

"Omkara?" she asked him and he smiled nodded a yes and bent to touch her feet.

"Suniye ji..." she called her husband who walked to them and gave him an assessing look from head to toe but Omkara nevertheless wished him too.

Damn... this man made him conscious... am I dressed for the occasion? How does it matter? you are not the son in law... but what if Gauri gives me a chance ...? That would be one in a million probability... still... I want to be in good terms with Gauri's family.

His heart brain conversation continued until daadi spoke again "Thank you so much for treating our Prinku... may God bless you and you get whatever you wish for" she said and Omkara turned his gaze to look at the only woman he loved.

"Thanks for your blessings daadi... I am really in need of them" he said smiling not taking his eyes off Gauri who was still talking to Shivaay and Pinky, refusing to look at him.

"Gauri come say hi to Omkara" said Daadi and Omkara held his breath waiting to see if she still smiled for him as beautifully as before.

The next moment she turned to him and he wished he didn't come to the place noting the coldness in her eyes.

She stoically walked towards him faking a smile and folded her hands in greeting "Namaste Omkaraji... Shivaay told me about you" she said and he stared at her watching for any sort of sign that she was joking.

Omkaraji? What happened to Om? And more over what does she mean by Shivaay told her about him? Did she forget him? Was she suffering from any post traumatic amnesia? he thought dumbfounded.

Was she really his Gauri, who used to understand him even though he was poor in putting his feelings into words? Was she the same woman who loved him so much to be ready to let go of her dreams? ... Why cannot she see that he is back for her ... only for her .... and that he is being tortured with every action of hers which made him feel like he was a nobody to her.

He nodded his head folding his hands mimicking her and forced a smile before looking at Shivaay.

"Umm... can I use the restroom?" he asked and Pinky rushed to him apologizing.

"I am so sorry... come I will show you your room... freshen up first and come down for lunch" she said smiling and Omkara muttered a 'thank you aunty'.

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That night after dinner.........................

"Dad... I feel like running away from here when she behaves as if I mean nothing to her" Omkara said into the phone.

The whole day, she avoided his eyes talking formally only to ask if he needed something... she treated him as nothing more than a mere guest.

"Om... we expected this right?"

"No... I can tolerate her anger not her ignorance... that cold look she sent my way knocked me down dad" he choked out.

"Om... this is the first day and you are thinking of giving up? Try and talk to her"

"Kaise(how)... she is always surrounded by her family members and if not, she would be giggling with Shivaay. I'd rather see a creepy horror movie than seeing her with him" he said and Kaali chuckled.

"Great... now you laugh at my pathetic state"

"Listen Om... you have to somehow manage and talk to her... maybe you can go to her now that it is night... she would be alone in her room"

"She is the fiancé of my friend dad... It is wrong to go meet her alone in the dead of the night in her bedroom. How am I supposed to explain if anyone sees us?" said Omkara making Kaali roll his eyes.

"Did you forget that you went there to break their engagement Omkara?.... you better keep that in mind" said Kaali in a scolding tone "Mera pyaara Mr.Perfect... please keep your morals in a bottle and throw it into the pacific ocean. Everything is fair in love and war... I hate to see you fail in anything... do everything to make her say a yes. I won't mind it even if you give me a grandchild before getting married but please get her back" Kaali ordered his son.

"Dad!!..." scolded Omkara.

"Haa... I am your dad... I know what you want... so go start working hard. I don't want to mop our house after you wet it with your tears and create floods... in case you fail"

"Okay dad...I totally got you... I will go now and talk to her...satisfied?... now bye it is nine already" said Omkara.

He ended the call huffing, after his father said laughing "try and take precautions... use my idea as the last resort" from the other end.

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Omkara stealthily walked towards Gauri's bedroom at night making sure he is not seen by any of her family members. As he neared her room, he could hear her angry voice.

"Maa... don't start again... I will marry soon... now is not the time. You know the man I intend to marry and that should be comforting enough. Why do you want to speed up things... first focus on Priyanka's marriage. Shivaay is already busy with the preparations, I don't want to burden him more with the news that you want me married soon"

"But Gauri... why will he be burdened...your marriage is to anyways be planned immediately after Prinku's wedding... what is so wrong if we look for dates now"

"No more buts... I will tell you when I am ready to marry... for now go and take care of papa... he said his head is aching since evening" said Gauri and Pinky sighed muttering "stubborn kid" before she left the room.

Gauri sat on her bed tired and closed her eyes. She raised her hand to gently massage her forehead when she heard the door of her bedroom being locked. She looked in the direction ready to plead her mother to leave her alone for a minute.

"Maa...please" she started and stopped midway realizing the person invading her alone time is not her mother.

"Aap? What are doing here at this time Omkaraji?" she said getting down from the bed and stood before him nonchalance radiating off her.

"Gauri... what is with this Omkaraji ? ... you used to call me Om... you can continue to do so..." he pleaded "You make me feel like we are mere strangers and we never had any relationship before"

"What relationship?" she asked looking confused and he sighed.

"Were you forced into a relationship with Shivaay? You don't love him, do you?" he asked and she widened her eyes.

"What rubbish... my family will never ask me to do something I don't approve of... Shivaay is a great man and he understands me... whether or not I love him shouldn't be your concern at all... you are Shivaay's guest so behave like one"

"Gauri... I know I hurt you... I understand if you are angry at me but please don't behave like this... please" he said "Shout at me, accuse me of breaking your heart. You can even slap me, hit me how much ever you want... I can tolerate anything but your ignorance" he pleaded.

"Look Omkaraji... you are nothing to me except Shivaay's friend. Whatever happened in the past... let us just forget it... I do not have any complaints against you. I am happy with my life now and that is what matters right?"

"Gauri... I came here to ask for your forgiveness... I know how much I hurt you... sorry is an exceedingly small word but please forgive me ...I am ready to do anything you ask me, to make you forgive me... anything..." he stressed.

"I forgive you Omkaraji... I really do... as I said before ... I have no complaints... stop blaming yourself... you were not the only one at fault" she said with a small smile.

"No... you were not at fault... don't say that" he said taking her hand in his, gently caressing it and she jerked him off as if burnt.

"Omkaraji" she said visibly angry "I am warning you... don't even try to come close to me... I am engaged and you have no right to come to my room in the middle of the night forget having this conversation. If you want to talk, I will come to your room tomorrow in the morning when it is decent enough for a man to talk to his friend's fiancé" she said and Omkara felt as if he was slapped.

Without uttering another word, he numbly nodded his head before leaving the place.

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The next morning at breakfast..............

"Aree... Omkara... you are not eating at all... didn't you like the food?" asked Kalyani and Omkara shook his head.

"No daadi... I usually don't eat much... I am not a food lover... there is nothing wrong with the items... everything is delicious" he said smiling at the elderly woman.

"How do you escape Kaali then... he won't let us leave with a half stomach when he cooked for us" said Shakti and Omkara smiled at him.

"I didn't know my father was close to you uncle. How come we never met before?"

"No... not close... I came to your house only once when you were six with Tej jiju and that memory was enough to last for a lifetime" Shakti said laughing. "He pestered me to eat until I pleaded him to stop fearing my stomach would burst with all the food"

"Your father is a good man Omkara... he just wouldn't stop taking about how good you were in your studies... a proud father he is...he loves you a lot" he said and Omkara smiled.

"You should have invited Kaali too Shivaay" said Kalyani and Pinky agreed with her mother in law.

"I did daadi... Omkara said his dad is busy at the moment" said Shivaay.

"Yes daadi...he said he is busy with some office work. However, he will come a few days later to attend the wedding" he explained and Prithviraj nodded a yes "Kaali and Tej are working on the same project Kalyani... they will come a few days later"

"Men and their work... can't you give them less work for a few days so that they could enjoy the function with family?" scolded Kalyani.

"Gubbu..." started Prithviraj calling his wife with her nickname making her widen her eyes and look at others who were watching the old couple amusedly. "If it was not important, do you think I will allow them to miss something as import as Prinku's engagement?" he said smiling at her and she nudged him.

"Okay... make sure they come well in advance for the wedding" she said and her husband replied "Whatever you say" a twinkle in his eyes.

Omkara smiled at the exchange... if he had such loving parents, his life wouldn't have been this difficult. He blew away his only chance at love due to his overthinking and lack of hope for a love filled future.

He looked at Gauri and found her staring at him "Please Gauri... give me one chance to make things right" he asked her through his eyes while she turned her face away to look at Shivaay who was sitting beside her.

Shivaay held her hand on the table and smilingly said "Gauri I forgot to inform you... the designer called me yesterday that engagement dresses are done with alterations. We have to collect them... be ready today in the evening" and she nodded returning the smile.

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After breakfast Omkara went to his room and sat on the bed lost in thoughts. Last night no doubt he felt bad when Gauri scolded him emphasizing that he was just her fiancé's friend but when he thought about it again, he noted that she conveniently avoided his question of whether she loved Shivaay.

She spoke the exact words she knew would hurt him acting nonchalant and staying uncharacteristically calm. She burst out in anger only when he touched her... He knew it was not due to disgust... then what? Why did she lose her calm with a mere touch? Was she getting affected by him? Is it because she was afraid that he would know that she still loves him?

Omkara couldn't help but smile at that... he knew his proximity always made her nervous... how did he miss it.

Aren't you making a mountain out of a molehill?... chided his brain. Too confident aren't you... what if she really got disgusted when you held her hand? You hurt her enough and it is not at all surprising if she felt that way...

How to confirm it? ... he thought...He asked his brain to start functioning fully, putting the guilt aside. After a moment, an idea did pop up... but for that... Omkara Chowdary needs to go against his morals...

He contemplated for second before shaking his head with that signature smile on his face.... Things I do for you... he mumbled rubbing his eyebrow.

Task one...How to get her alone .... he started to think of a plan.

 When he heard a soft knock on his door a moment later, he raised is head to see her standing outside his room waiting for his permission to enter. He desperately tried to not show her the devilish grin that threatened to surface lest she runs away from him. He thanked his father's Shankarji  and took a deep breath before uttering,

"Come in Gauri... you don't need to ask me permission...This is your house... your room" he said and stopped short before he added "I am yours too."

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Hola..... what do you think he is planning... you know he can turn wicked right?

Let me know of your ideas...

Vote and comment dearies... I get all the inspiration from them.

Till the next update... Signing off.. Yours Soujanya.