She wished him happy birthday... but it felt like she said I love you...

He opened his eyes to look at her staring at him with love pouring through her eyes and it sure reached his heart.

I love you too he wanted to reply but he couldn't... He felt emotions clog his throat in a vice like grip chocking him, strangling him and he struggled to breath.

"Om...are you okay" Gauri asked him worriedly looking at him going pale, his body stiff, losing its warmth.

"It is fine Om... you don't need to reply" she said immediately hugging him and he relaxed into the hug.

They stayed like that for a few sweet moments and Omkara greedily soaked in all the love that he could while he had the chance. He gently moved her hair to one side kissing her neck when she softly gasped.

"Thank you Gauri" he said his voice croaked as he held back his tears. He was afraid of her love... afraid that he would hurt her...afraid that she would leave him and he would be left broken beyond repair.

They broke apart when Omkara's phone rang flashing his father's name.

"Hello dad... thank you... no...I am fine... yeah I will call you in the morning...miss you too" he said before he pressed the end symbol.

"Uhh... let us get back?" asked Gauri and he nodded a yes. He relived their moments together, gently holding her hand on their way back.

Unsurprisingly Rudra and others were ready with a small cake that they managed to buy at the stall earlier and hid from him. Omkara felt elated... he had birthdays before and friends surprising him but today Gauri made it special with her gift... it wasn't just her book... it was her love and trust in him...that he would support her come what may and he pledged to keep her trust in him, to the best of his abilities.

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The Omkareshwara temple is a popular ancient shrine that is dedicated to lord Shiva situated near to Abbey falls. The temple built in eighteen hundreds, had a mix of Gothic and Islamic style of architecture attracting a number of visitors.

A dome shaped structure was in the middle, with four small Moorish type turrets in all sides. Surrounding the temple is a water tank inhabited by various kinds of fish. In the center of the water tank is a mandapa which is connected through a walk-away.

Gauri closed her eyes before her favorite deity "Shankarji... thank you for always being kind to me... I know Om is the one for me... please keep him happy and make sure that he stays happy with me forever"

"What are you bargaining with your favorite" asked Rudra standing beside her and Gauri opened her eyes frowning.

"It is between me and my Shankarji" she said looking at Omkara who kneeled down to touch the idol in worship.

Rudra followed her path of vision and smiled "Hmm... good... seems like you will get what you want soon" he whispered, making her blush.

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After lunch, "What do you want to do next? Want to trek or have a peaceful outing" asked Omkara to the rest of the gang and they collectively agreed for an outing spot which made them choose Harangi dam.

As they settled down for a leisurely game taking a walk around the place, Rudra said "I have only one bottle Bhavya there is no way I can cheat here"

"You are an expert in spinning the bottle to the person of your choice...you will cheat... I am not going to play the game" said Bhavya backing off.

"Don't be a spoilsport Bhavya..." groaned Richa.

"Okay... no dares then...only truth" said Bhavya bargaining.

"Who said we are going to play dare or truth again... this is only a game for fun" said Rudra grinning.

"What fun?" asked Gauri doubtfully.

"Kuch nahi.. I will spin the bottle and whom ever the bottle stops at should do an activity... activity might be a simple question or an adventure"

"Adventure?"

"Haa... if I ask you to kiss somebody... that would be an adventure right Gauri" asked Rudra wiggling his eyebrows making her gasp while Omkara raised an eyebrow.

"What the hell... if you want to kiss your girlfriend you can do that privately... you don't need to make up games and put up rules for it" said Gauri while her friends laughed.

"Right... obviously Gauri and Omkara will be left alone... how will they kiss with us watching them" drawled Richa and Gauri glared at her.

"I am done with this rubbish... play whatever you want... I will take a walk to the nearest market" she declared getting up from her place.

"Gauri... don't go alone I will come with you" offered Mukesh making Richa nudge him.

"Ummm... no... if you don't mind I will go with her" said Omkara and Mukesh nodded understanding the plan.
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No matter how much they tried to avoid it, the awkwardness refused to let Gauri to even look at Omkara while they casually strolled through the small market beside the famous tourist place.

Trust her friends to make the day memorable for her love and they come up with weird ideas of her kissing him... What will he think of her?...God...!! huffed Gauri

She has been planning for his birthday since the last two weeks. The most difficult task being making him agree to come for a tour with them. But miraculously, that had turned out to be the easy part.

He is definitely not an introvert as he puts it. He is full of energy always ready to explore the beauty of nature. She observed that childlike eagerness in him whenever he suggested a new place or recalled an old outing trip with his friends.

This man walking beside her, is a chest of puzzles waiting to be solved, always unpredictable in emotions...She was worried last night when he froze after she wished him. Normal people would have been happy...jubilant...or at least would have formally uttered a 'thank you'... who the hell gives a scare like that?

Thank God!! she didn't propose him like Rudra suggested... It would have spoilt his birthday. She knew he wasn't ready for it.... yet no harm in letting him know how much she loved him through her gestures right? So what if they are not direct?. He looked so vulnerable when she kissed his cheek that she was sure her feelings reached him. So, goal accomplished.

"Gauri" shouted Omkara for the third time making her come out of her thoughts.

"Sorry... what were you asking?"

"This is the end of the lane...we should take a right...what are you thinking so deeply that you were about to walk into a wall?"

"N..nothing... important.. let us go" she said and he rolled his eyes.

"What is it Gauri... you hardly talked to me since the last one hour and that is highly unlikely of you."

"Nothing actually...I was thinking about Rudra's weird game"

"Or his idea that you have to kiss me?" he asked point black when she gaped at him shocked.

"They might be pulling your leg and you gave in so easily... we should have played" he said and her eyes were ready to pop out any second.

"Om... they...never mind" she sighed walking ahead and he held her wrist.

"Complete it... don't leave me curious" he more or less ordered.

"Rudra is extremely strict with his rules in games... he never let us get away unless he got what he wanted... If I had agreed to play, he would have definitely made me do that task...why did you think Bhavya was so worried" she explained.

"Let us assume you had to... what is so wrong about it? it is just a game" he said.

"What??...Om...I...what is running in that head of yours?"

"I am asking you straight... what is wrong in kissing me... don't you find me attractive? Or do you really consider me a brother? Do you find the idea that disgusting?" he asked irritatedly making her gasp.

Seriously...disgust? And here she thought he got her feelings right.

"Now where did that come from...Om... tum pagal ho gaye ho (you have gone mad)... do you even understand what we are talking about?"

Omkara sighed "I want to know why the thought disturbed you so much that you have gone dumb for one hour Gauri"

"You seriously want to listen to the answer?... sure...then listen" she said anger raising "We are not in love with each other nor committed to any relationship and I don't have the habit of kissing random men" she said and regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth.

"Random?" he asked with a look of hurt and Gauri closed her eyes with her palms muttering 'Shankarji..... ab kya karu...(what to do now)...'

By the time she opened them, she saw Omkara moving away from her in the direction which leads them to their friends.

The gang noted the tension between the couple since the time they returned from the market but chose to not voice out their doubts. Might be a silly fight... good sign that they can be a future couple...they mused.

The dinner went uneventfully with Omkara not speaking a word while eating. He only answered with hand gestures polite smiles after which he returned to his room to sleep for the day.

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Gauri rolled on her bed for the hundredth time...she was dead tired yet sleep was miles away and her eyes refused to rest. Bhavya slept in the other room in the same cottage and she was sure her cousin was with her. She didn't want to disturb them but she desperately wanted to talk about Omkara...

Why did he throw a tantrum like that? What did he actually want from her? a kiss?

Her mind wouldn't rest until she talked to him.. better she clears it than keep it piled up dampening her mood along with that of others in the coming days.

She dressed into a t shirt and night pants before she walked out of the room heading towards Omkara's cottage.

Omkara woke up to the knock on the door and guessed who that might be. He over-reacted and she called him a random person... he knew he was the one at fault but he couldn't help the hurt that pinched his heart. Last night was so beautiful that he couldn't digest that she might even remotely consider him as someone random. She loved him right? Or so he thought... what if she considered him just a friend.

"Didn't you want that?" chided his brain but his heart seemed to not settle for anything less. Let her be angry...you can ponder over your thoughts if she stays away...it said and he obeyed but this girl has other plans.

"Gauri... you didn't sleep yet? It is late... we plan to visit the fort tomorrow... you should be fresh tomorrow with a good night's sleep to enjoy it" he said as he let her into the room closing the door behind her.

"Om... I... are you angry at me?" she asked innocently and he sighed.

"No...now go sleep...I over-reacted and we had a tiff... it is alright..."

"I am sorry Om... I didn't mean to say all that... I was just angry..." she started but was cut off by him.

"Stop Gauri...Why the hell are you apologizing... this is not your fault at all"

"But I hurt you... didn't I... it is your birthday... If it makes you happy then why not say a small sorry?" she asked and he shook his head in a no..

"Never... I repeat... never ever apologize for what is not your mistake... I wouldn't be doing it if I were in your place... I don't know what came over me and I asked about that kiss... It seriously wasn't your mistake."

"But if one of us doesn't step back how will we solve the issue Om... this is life... even if it isn't your fault if that brings peace to the one who you love... you should compromise and do what is needed... there is nothing wrong in it" she argued.

"No Gauri... there is everything wrong in it...the more you give, the more people expect from you and you will be compelled to live on other people's terms than on your own... One shouldn't give that advantage to anyone... you might regret your decision later on"

"If you think so much about future, you will not be able to live happily in the present Om... learn to live in the moment... stop that meticulous planning... it is okay if you do a mistake or two... life always gives second chances... even if you fall once, you can rise back" she said taking his hands in her and rubbing her thumb over them.

"No Gauri...we can't undo certain decisions... it is always better to prevent a catastrophe than repent later on for not finding a cure" he said so softly that she would have missed hearing it if she wasn't paying attention.

What is he so afraid of?...why won't he let her in? she thought as she hugged him. She felt he needed it that moment when he looked so lost... and true to her thoughts he embraced her as tightly as he could...as if trying to mould their bodies into one.

Omkara felt he was in heaven. He prayed for time to stop and he stays in her arms like this forever. She was like a tree... so giving in nature and him like a parasite selfishly fed on whatever consolation she offered not having the curtesy to return any. Why couldn't he have a normal childhood that didn't crave for a mother's love... why couldn't he be someone who can cherish her love not caring for the ill happenings that future may hold for them. Why couldn't he be the person to yell out that he loved her and wants her in his life without caring for the consequences that followed.

Seconds turned into minutes and the hug turned into a passionate caress between lovers rather than a comforting gesture between friends.

Gauri knew she was perhaps adding ghee into the fire but she couldn't step back when she felt so much at home in his hold. She was letting him know that she yearned for him and she wanted him to open up to her so that she could abate whatever fear he has that is stopping him to come close to her.

******warning***mature content ****refrain from reading if not comfortable till the next "****" **** *************************

She gently eased his hair with one hand and with the other traced the hard contours of his back. As she traced her lips beside his ear and kissed his lobe, Omkara stopped himself from growling out. When she peppered kisses from his ear to cheek and reached the corner of his lips, he lost whatever sanity he was vehemently holding on to. He turned his head to take her lips in his and without protest she agreed.

He frantically explored her, tasting her mouth as if he were an exhausted nomad on a desert, she was his last drop of water and he would pass out if he didn't drink her. His hands roamed over her body burning her skin with passion wherever they touched.

What is she made of... is she all the delicious items on earth mixed together by means of a secret recipe into a temptation for mankind? How was he supposed to stop when she is so delectable and tasted heavenly.

Gauri struggled to breath when he mercilessly stole her breath. She clutched his collar tightly trying to convey the message which he finally seemed to understand when he left her mouth for a second before placing open mouthed kisses across her jaw making her moan. Not long after, her moans were swallowed when he closed her mouth with his again.

It was when his hands crept under t shirt to graze her bare waist that she gasped aloud "Omm!!" and he stopped his onslaught, his eyes still closed, burying his head in her neck shoulder junction.

********end of mature content ************

As she fought with the temptation to not give in, she took a few lungfuls of air, still hugging him and caressing his silky hair trying to calm him down.

When she tried to loosen his hold on her, he stubbornly clutched on. She withdrew a bit with much difficulty to cup his face and smiled as he refused to meet her eyes.

"Om...look at me" she asked softly and he obeyed.

Her heart bled to see the hint of moisture in his eyes.

"Om... life can be happy only if you let go of your fears... at least let me in once and tell me what is stopping you" she urged but he remained silent making her sigh.

She gently caressed his cheek and gave him a peck "Don't make me wait forever" she softly said "In case you still didn't get it... I will put it out clearly...I didn't want to kiss you today in the game not because it was wrong... but because I feared I will fall for you more" she completed looking straight into his eyes and backed away to leave the room.

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Two weeks later.......

"Congratulations Dr. Omkara... your scholarship request has been approved" informed the voice on the other end.

"Thank you so much Mr. Wilson... when should I report?" asked Omkara smilingly.

"You can join in two weeks...or maximum three... we will look after the Visa proceedings and will inform you soon" the voice said and Omkara muttered an okay before he hung up.

He at once dialed another number and waited while the call rang "Hello? Om...did you decide?" asked the man.

"Yes... I got the scholarship approval today" Omkara enthusiastically said.

"Double congratulations are in order then" said the man equally happy.

"Thanks man... please make sure everything is perfect... never done this before" Omkara pleaded and the man laughed saying, "Everything will be perfect...don't worry... I will call you that day... Give my love to Kaali uncle. Bye Om"

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"Congratulations Om...I am so happy for you" screamed Gauri making him chuckle.

"I am planning a small get together at my house tomorrow... you should be there along with Rudra and others" he asked her.

"Definitely doctor ji... pleasure" she said smiling.

"Hmm... I need to leave to UK in a month Gauri" he said and her smile dimmed but she recovered at once "Okay...all set to travel? When will you complete the course?"

"It will take a little more than a year...I will take a vacation or two in between to come home" he said and she hummed.

The thought of not seeing him for one year seemed to be crushing her heart and too difficult to bear. How is she supposed to do that un pained and happy? He already is aloof and doubtful of his emotions... What if he changes his mind once he goes there? One year is too much time... she thought sadly. Tears threatened to spill out but she managed to croak occasional 'Oh' 'yes' and 'okay' into the phone.

"Shankarji please get a solution to this problem" she prayed.
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End of Chapter 8.

A confession...hmmm... how did you like it...

Did you understand Omkara's turmoil...he wanted her but is afraid of the love he had for her... confused and lost people always tend to make wrong decisions....

Behold the prologue which doesn't seem to leave your minds is just around the corner... hold on to your seats and try not to hate Omkara...

Don't forget to vote and comment dearies

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