Omkara cursed his luck... he was about to head out to pick up Gauri when he was called back for a case report and was held up for more than forty five minutes. He now hurried to the airport praying he is not too late that Gauri decided to take a cab home seeing Rudra not answering her calls.

He decided to surprise her today hence did not inform her that he would come to receive her...He missed her smile for five days and eighteen hours... making him crave for it.

He searched through the crowd looking for a tiny little woman who irrespective her size held the reins of his heart. He chuckled at the memory when he called her small and she turned into an angry bird.

It was a little after eight in the evening and Mumbai airport was as busy as ever people swarming in and out of it like busy bees of a hive. After searching at the arrival area, he moved to the cab stand where she probably must be waiting if she wanted to hire the transport. Unlike the other areas glowing with lights, the subway leading to the stand was shady.

He was walking his way down when he heard footsteps hurrying in the opposite direction. He moved forward and collided with a girl. Even in the dark light he could make out her elegant features.

"Gauri...what happened" he asked worriedly seeing her fear stricken face only to be answered a moment later when he saw a group of three men come running to where they stood.

One look at them and he understood what must have transpired. Pure rage coursed through his veins making his face go red with anger. He took a step towards the men when she stopped him holding his shirt shaking her head in a no. He gently removed her hold making her stand by the side along with her luggage.

Taking her handbag he moved forward to the men and without a word kicked the guy in the center while he punched the one on his side, bringing the handbag onto the head of the third. Caught unprepared the men stumbled but angrily raged towards their attacker. In no time a full fledged fight ensued and Omkara managed to punch the day lights out of trio dodging their counter attacks.

"How dare you bastards" he roared as he pulled one of them by his collar and struck his head to the wall making the man yell out in pain, pleading him to forgive.

"Om... stop.... You will kill them" said Gauri rushing to him and tried to pull him back by hugging him from behind.

"Gauri leave me...Now" he shouted angrily trying to loosen the hold but she refused to leave him. Getting their chance, the men ran for their lives while Omkara growled lunging forwards "Stop there... you bloody monsters"

"Om...please...no" mumbled Gauri still hugging him to her when he stopped though adrenaline still spiked in his blood.

"Leave..." he said for the second time in warning but she refused to obey making him curse out loud.

After a while he calmed down turning towards her to gather her in his arms and Gauri clutched on to him wordlessly. If not for her, he would have killed them he thought taking in a lungful of air mixed with her scent. He buried his face in the crook of her neck while his hands refused to leave their secure hold on her. "Sorry" he mumbled still hugging her closing his eyes.

"I am so sorry Gauri" he said parting from the hug and kissing her forehead. "I should have let Rudra come and pick you up...I thought to give you a surprise and was held up at the hospital" he apologized profusely.

"I am okay Om... I was running to the airport security, which is just around the corner when I collided with you...Nothing would have happened...look at me" she said cupping his face when he refused to meet her eyes.

"I am okay...calm down" she assured as she smiled at him and he hugged her again.

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Omkara insisted they return home at once while Gauri pleaded him to take her to a restaurant not wanting to part from him, when he was in such a bad mood.

Leaving her luggage in his car she dragged him into one of the famous restaurants known for its décor and etiquette along with its unique cuisine. Seated comfortably by the window in the tenth floor which gave a beautiful view of the city below, Gauri ordered food for both of them.

"Om please... stop sulking...It is over... Now turn into the calm and cool doctor for me please" she said looking at Omkara who was staring out of the window.

He looked at her pouting cutely at him and sighed. What did he plan and what has this evening turn out into...He was waiting to see her smile and instead, was greeted with a scared face. Those morons.... he swore under his breath, the blood boiling scene etched into his memory.

"How is your family back in Bareilly? Had a nice time?" he asked finally, wanting to deviate his mind. He wants to hear her talk...anything to prevent the beginning of a headache. Never had he reacted this way in years.

As he listened to her chirping about her favorite people on earth one thought kept reeling in his head. He would never want to accept failure ever in life but today... he failed. He failed... in protecting his heart from this woman before him. He loved her...not an ounce of doubt there... but now what?? That question made him restless.

"Gauri this is the third ice cream you are eating in a row" he scolded taking the dish away from her.

"You have sinusitis...this will not help it" he explained seeing her frown at him.

"Are you my boy-friend?" she asked making him widen his eyes.

"What?" he asked dumbly.

"Okay are you my friend?...no right...I don't want to be friend zoned by you" she declared when he put the mocktail glass to his lips taking a sip from it, neatly avoiding her eyes.

"Then what...are you my brother?" she finally asked out of blue.

Omkara chocked on the drink "God Gauri...please" he said disgusted at the thought.

"Then what right do you have to take my desert from me" she asked him angrily and he rolled his eyes pushing the dratted cup towards her which made her call him a bloody brother..... he hates ice cream he decided that very minute.

Brother...seriously???...not in the next seven lives... he vowed looking at her gobbling down her favorite dish with a sullen look.

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"Oh God...I am going to die" exclaimed Gauri sneezing for the fifth time in the last ten minutes. It was two days after she returned from her village that Omkara's prediction came true.

"Good... eat more ice cream" said Omkara into the phone.

"How mean" she said and Omkara shook his head.

"It is simple cold Gauri... you will be alright in a day or two..." he said though his heart went out for her. He did warn her...didn't he? stubborn imp.

"Fine... I am going to sleep now good night" she yelled irritated and hung up the phone without waiting for his reply while he sighed.

He looked at the time and noted that it was a little after nine at night.

Getting up from his bed he walked to the kitchen to make his father's special home remedy which relieved cold in a jiffy.

Half an hour later he packed the drink in a flask and headed out with his car keys.

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"Gauri...get up" Omkara whispered to the sleeping beauty.

Rudra sniggered looking at Omkara trying to wake up his cousin from the past ten minutes.

"O... she is not going to get up till morning... make her drink like that" he advised.

Omkara shook his head sighing and said "Kumbhkaran ki cousin sister hai ye..."

"Excuse me... I am not such a heavy sleeper...and my name is not Kumbhkaran" said Rudra frowning.

"You are not any less Rudra... did you forget...you never used to pick up before my tenth call in our night shifts. How do you people manage to sleep like that" Omkara wondered loudly.

"Are you done? Shouldn't we concentrate on the task here?" Rudra asked.

"How do I do that unless she wakes up"

"Call her name and open her mouth... she will drink" said Rudra making Omkara gape at him.

"Are you crazy? She will aspirate" he whisper yelled.

"She won't... First lift her up, hold her mouth open and let me show you magic" said Rudra and Omkara did as told though he was still unsure of the idea.

"Gauri open your mouth" Omkara gently said once he managed to make her sit straight supporting her weight by holding her close to him.

Eyes still closed Gauri opened her mouth as told when Rudra made her drink the concoction. Though she made faces in between, they managed to make her complete the drink.

"See...I told you" said Rudra laughing at a shocked Omkara.

"You could kidnap her during sleep and she wouldn't get up" he informed and Omkara chuckled at that.

Rudra went downstairs to clean the flask and return it while Omkara made a still sleeping Gauri lie down on the bed and covered her with the duvet.

Such a baby she is... he thought caressing her cheeks. Looking at her smiling in sleep,.. he whispered to her... "What are you dreaming princess" As if she heard him she mumbled 'Om' making him chuckle softly.

A gentle brush of lips and she wouldn't even know said a small part of his mind as he looked at her sleeping peacefully without a care in the world. He traced her lips with his thumb and slowly leaned towards her.

Just when his lips were about to touch here's, he changed his mind. He kissed her cheek and straightened up. Taking one last look of her serene face, he walked out of the room.

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"Coorg?" asked Omkara and Rudra nodded excitedly.

"Umm...Who all are coming?"

"Bhavya, Richa, Mukesh" replied Rudra carefully looking at his friend.

"That is it?" asked Omkara trying hard to mask his disappointment and Rudra smiled saying "Of course Gauri will be coming O"

"Okay... I wasn't asking for her any ways...she said she has an exam?"

"Yup...we are going next weekend after she completes her exams" Rudra informed him and Omkara nodded his head in nonchalance though he felt nothing but pure exhilaration.

There is however, one tiny-winy glitch present but he knew his father wouldn't mind if he knew he gets to be with Gauri.

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Ten days later when they reached Madikeri one of the famous tourist spots of Coorg, "I booked three cottages...One for the wife and husband. Then out of the other two, me and O will take one while Gauri with Bhavya will stay in the other" informed Rudra and all of them nodded taking the luggage to their respective rooms.

It was past nine at night by the time they reached the resort. The place boasted of rustic cottages and offered a surreal escape from city life. Omkara and Rudra waited for the rest of the group to join them for dinner while they took a stroll in the garden.

"So, you have been here before right? What do you suggest we visit the first thing tomorrow" asked Rudra to his friend.

"Yeah... but that was three years back with my batchmates. I guess we will do the waterfalls tomorrow...I enquired about it with our driver and he said that the density of people will be less tomorrow since it is not a weekend. We can visit the rest later" he said and Rudra nodded.

"Exciting it is... I guess it has been a year since I travelled out of Mumbai...Gauri loves to go out and I was stuck with the cases and exams...Finally...we are here" Rudra said smiling.

"Did you get any news about the fellowship? You cleared the entrance exam right?" enquired Rudra.

"Yeah... they said they will inform the availability of the seats in a week or two" he replied.

"Congrats in advance O...I know you always get what you want" said Rudra happy for him and Omkara returned a smile.

"Since when are you and Bhavya together?" the later asked "You can refrain from answering if you don't want to" he added after a second.

"Why are you so formal O? what is there to not answer in it... we never had any personal conversations before... I agree... but that was because you were always an enigma for me... The great Omkara Chowdary... the dynamic neurosurgeon...Mr. Perfectionist..." Rudra said dramatically while the former rolled his eyes.

Rudra smiled at his friend "Kabhi kabhi... it is okay if you are informal and let people close to you... who knows you might need my help in future" he said wiggling his eyebrows and Omkara looked at him surprised for a moment before he recovered.

"Okay Rudy... how long since you guys are dating each other?" he asked with a smile and Rudra grinned before he started narrating his love story of two years with all the twists and turns.

After twenty minutes when there was no trace of rest of the gang, Omkara cursed How long does it take to get ready for a casual dinner... this Rudra isn't stopping his story telling... galati se puch liya bhai... take a breath will you? ... he thought as he prayed "Gauri...can you hurry up please..."

"What are you talking without a break Rudy" laughed Gauri as she along with the rest joined them and Omkara sighed in relief.

"Leave Om out of your stories Rudy...don't bore him" she said making Omkara chuckle... thanks baby... he mentally appreciated her.

"Hei...he himself asked me...since you took ages to get ready...I was just giving him company" Rudra fiercely defended himself.

"What did he ask?" Bhavya questioned him "I am sure he wouldn't have asked you to narrate the whole story" she said smiling at him.

Rudra thought for a moment remembering the question.

"I asked him how long have you two been together" Omkara answered for him.

"See...that is what I was explaining in detail" said Rudra and the rest of them rolled their eyes.

"Let us dine now...I am starving" Richa exclaimed and the group did just that without further delay.

As they tried new recipes which pleased their taste buds, Rudra and Gauri being the talkative selves, entertained the rest telling them stories of their outings with family and friends occasionally backed by Bhavya, Richa and Mukesh while Omkara eagerly gobbled the information about his prospective wife's childhood.

She is no less than a princess for her family if he isn't wrong in his assumptions. What a wonderful world to live in he thought feeling happy for her yet a small part of him longed for the same.

Can he be selfish for once and deviate from his life goal? He can be happy with her... A unique piece of God's creation she is and he would be very unlucky if he missed his chance to be with her... in her world... she has every quality a man wants in his woman but he knew she puts other's wishes before her own and that part disturbed him... why should one compromise to see others happy?... he thought looking at his love.

"Om!!" called Gauri bringing him out of his thoughts

"What happened...you aren't eating" she asked him and he shook his head saying nothing while placing a morsel in his mouth.

They bid their good nights before returning to their rooms promising an early start the next day.

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Gauri watched the beautiful waterfall falling from about a seventy feet above ground enthralled. Abbey falls is a one of famous tourist attractions near Madikeri especially for nature lovers and people who have a liking for photography.

Set amidst the coffee plantations, it is a paradise for trekking and for those seeking solitude and peace.

Despite their promises, the gang woke up late that day sleeping off their tiredness of the travel the day before. Finally, Omkara ushered them to get up before lunch so that they wouldn't miss watching the majestic falls in the light of the sun. They carried their bags containing two sets of fresh clothes, water and eating commodities for emergencies.

Hiking amidst the terrains of Sahyadri, they trekked for almost fifteen to twenty minutes to get to the plantations, pulse racing and excitement filling their hearts. The walk of the gardens of coffee, cardamom and other plantations around the place was a mind blowing experience to each of them.

Gauri excitedly lunged forward to take a dip in the water and slipped when Omkara caught her in time.

"Careful Gauri... the place is slippery...don't run here" he scolded while she smiled at him.

"That is called concern" said Bhavya looking at Rudra who was a step ahead of them ready to dip in the water.

"Acha ji... carry your bag on your own then" he said shoving her bag to her making Gauri and the rest laugh.

Bhavya smiled at him guiltily and said a sorry making him roll his eyes "Girls" he said looking heavenwards. "The grass is always greener on the other side" he muttered.

There was strict security prohibiting the tourists to directly go under the falls for obvious reasons, making the friends halt at a safe distance from it yet enjoy it's refreshing smell and sight. As they played in the water competing with each other in 'who better wets the other', the sun set begun and they retreated to their nest carrying a bag full of memories which will last a lifetime.

"I am famished...koi mujhe uthao" whined Gauri and Rudra retorted "Everybody is... so, shut up and walk"

"There is a small stall coming up in five minutes Gauri.. we can eat something there" said Omkara taking her hand and walked with the rest.

As planned, they had a late lunch and decided to stay the night nearby in a camping site as it was late and they would be further exhausted with their journey to the resort. They feared they might sleep for the entire day tomorrow. Two more days they had for themselves in this picturesque place before they returned to their lives and they decided to make the most of it.

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"Who said camping is romantic?" drawled Mukesh checking their tents again for reassurance lest they collapsed on them at night while Richa huffed.

"Now how would we know? It is shown in movies that way... who will expect large mosquitoes ready to suck your blood and mood along with the eerie silence of the cold night which will make you dream of all the horror movies you watched since childhood" she answered and Gauri along with Bhavya nodded their heads vigorously.

"Can somebody bring water for me before I die" said Rudra from his tent refusing to even get up from his prone position after setting up his tent.

Omkara laughed at him "I will go get some water from the camp room. Anybody wants anything else?" he asked while they nodded a no.

"I will come with you" said Gauri.

"You sure? You already look tired Gauri. Better you sleep now" he said but she insisted they go together.

As they walked through the woods, Omkara securely held her hand lest she slips and hurts herself while Gauri let him, her heart filled with more love for him for his every gesture of concern.

Filling their bottles with water, they started their journey back to their tents when Gauri dragged Omkara to a half lit campfire which she noticed on the way.

"What?" asked Omkara confused when she asked him to sit there taking the bottles from him and placing them on the ground.

"Sit Om...I have to show you something" she said and he nodded his head taking a seat.

Gauri next collected some dry wood from the trees nearby and put them into the fire making it burn to its former fierceness emitting warmth. She then pulled out a packet from her jacket and handed it over to Omkara.

He took it from her doubtfully when she gestured him to open it. He unwrapped the package to see a book inside.

"Seriously... when did this happen" he asked her excited looking at the first page. As expected she had signed it for him.

Gauri smiled at his happiness "Presenting to you the first copy of the yet to be published story--- 'Love quake' by Gauri Trivedi" she informed him making his smile grow bigger.

"So, I...uhh... an agency decided to publish my story and I signed the contract before I left for Bareilly. I decided to give you the first copy as you asked" she started. "The book is under editing...and it will take time until it enters the market but I decided to get a print of the unedited version so that you could read it before anyone else... I... umm... am practically breeching the contract so don't give this to anybody until the news comes out" she completed and he stood from his place pulling her to him for a hug.

"Congratulations Ms. Writer" he said still hugging her and smiling, feeling extremely joyous "I knew you would make it" he said.

"You are good at prediction" she said winking at him.

"No... you are bad at estimating your talent Gauri" he seriously said making her smile.

She hugged him again to hide the tears pricking her eyes while he kissed her temple returning the hug.

She slightly moved away to watch his handsome face staring down at her.... her hands still encircling his waist. She tiptoed and leaned towards him, her heart thumping inside her ribcage.

Omkara was stumped at the intensity in her eyes. She loved him he gathered as he stood motionless not knowing how to react to the fact. As he felt her breath close to his face, he tightened his hold on her holding her close to him.

Gauri lifted one hand to caress his cheek while she rested the other on his shoulder for support. She kissed his other cheek ever so slowly while he closed his eyes feeling her love. She then brought her lips close to his ears and whispered "Happy birthday Om"

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End of chapter 7.

So, Gauri didn't confess but she almost did... How is the heat???

I thought of updating this tomorrow but this is for maanvir... I promised to update earlier.

Don't forget to Vote and comment....

Until the next Chapter... signing off...yours Soujanya.