Gauri in conversation with Himani and Mithila over the phone.

"If I were you, I too wouldn't have liked the idea of sending my husband to his ex-fiancé/leech but I understand Omkara's concern for you," Himani said, making Gauri huff in annoyance.

"Not you too."

"She is right Gauri. We do not doubt your courage but we also believe in your family's decision," Mithila seconded.

Recently, everybody seemed to side with her husband and lecture her on safety. More so, made her understand her husband's love as if she wasn't aware of the fact.

"Of course I understand his concern Mithila ji but I just can't deal with my worry. That woman is outrightly shameless and disgusting."

Her friends hummed their response and she sighed at her own helplessness.

"Didn't Girish contact you again? You were to talk to your father-in-law and get that password, right?"

"Not yet. I guess Karan is keeping him busy with petty troubles. I heard he changed his current sanctuary and shifted to another warehouse, taking Shukla uncle along."

"This Karan seems to be smart. He is very cautious about this phone call too. We were worried for you and wanted to talk to you. Only after Arjun sir had strongly convinced Karan, he gave us access to this secure line."

"Yes, we have to be careful. Our phone numbers are being tracked and we cannot risk anything at this point."

"Hmm. Can we be of any help?" asked Mithila.

"Yeah, I seriously miss action after Sonali's episode," Himani smirked earning a nudge from the former.

Gauri thought for a second.

Can Ajay be of help?

But wouldn't that be dangerous?

What if he gets to know of their snooping and everything backfires?

But it is worth a try. Shouldn't she be of some help?

"I was thinking of the same thing," Himani's response made her realize that she spoke out loud.

"What?"

"That Ajay might be of some help. We can try Sonali's end and get something. We are the most unsuspecting party here. Just let us..."

"No Himani. I cannot put you into danger too."

"It is no risk Gauri," Mithila assured her friend.

"We promise that we will be discreet. Just a stone and if it doesn't hit the target, we will leave it there."

"But..."

"Wish us good luck my dear. We will get back to you soon."

Before Gauri shook her head in a no, they bid her a bye.

************************************************************

Oberoi Mansion study,

Anika along with the three brothers sat in front of the big screen, in talks with Karan.

"As I told you before, Svetlana's father was a victim of the Kalyani mills accident. My recent investigation tells me that her father might be Nitesh Kapoor."

"Nitesh Kapoor?" Shivaay said, trying to remember the seemingly familiar name.

""Yeah, your thinking is right. The same Nitesh Kapoor who suggested Tej Oberoi to start the fire to claim the insurance."

"God!" Anika said in shock.

"And she claims that we destroyed her?" Rudra asked angrily.

"Where does Girish come into picture? Is he related to this Nitesh?" asked Omkara.

"Girish and Svetlana share a bond. If you ask me, I'd say that she seemed loyal to him," Karan said.

"He might have manipulated her into thinking that we are the enemies," deduced Shivaay.

"Possible," Omkara agreed.

"We just need to goad her enough to know what that relationship is."

"But we have no idea of the extent of her loyalty," said Shivaay.

"Well, we will know it today."

"If she is loyal, she will not blurt his name out of respect. If not, she will give him away for her love, Mr. Long haired Oberoi."

Omkara glared at Karan.

"Then how will we know the truth?"

"I am working on gathering enough evidence to turn the woman against her uncle. If we fail tonight, we need to at-least get her friendly enough to listen to us another time."

"That's even more risky. What if by then Girish gets to know that Omkara met her and harms your dad?"

"Yeah, that risk is always there. We are in need of our last pot of luck today."

"Let us hope that she tells us something," Omkara wished.

"Just go with the plan and we should be good."

"Does she needs to-be intoxicated for that? It seems wrong and ..."

"What now?" Karan asked in mild anger.

"You are not okay with seducing the woman, not ready to get her high. How else do you think that she will tell her secrets? Obviously, she should love you for that."

In the circumstances, he knew Karan was right, but he wasn't ready to accept that.

Omkara's gaze turned to his brothers.

Rudra sighed dramatically.

"Can you please put your morale to the side? You cannot have both Gauri and your principles. Choose between them Om," said Shivaay.

Anika too nodded her head agreeing to her husband and the righteous brother gave up. He covered his face with his palms and rubbed his tired eyes.

"In your defense, we are not exactly getting her drunk O. We will just add this pill in her drink which will make her talk," Rudra said patting his brother's back.

"Right, just a truth serum," said Anika.

"That is not reassuring Bhabhi," Omkara mumbled.

The door to the study opened and Gauri walked in hesitantly. The brothers looked up at her.

"Come Gauri," Anika invited with a smile.

"We were just discussing today's plan. How are Mithila and Himani?" Omkara got up from his place and walked towards his wife.

"Uhh, keep your shirt button open. Might help with Svetlana today,"they heard Karan's voice.

Omkara turned to him with a glare while his frenemy just smirked.

"What? Don't you know a thing about seduction?"

"Shut up Karan," Shivaay scolded noticing Gauri's obvious anger.

"He is just playing around Gauri," Omkara tried to explain.

"Oh sorry. She is not supposed to know. I forgot," said Karan.

Gauri glowered at her husband and without further talk, she turned and left the room.

Omkara hurried behind, calling her name.

"You do realize that had you been here, O would have punched you for that. Don't you?" Rudra drawled.

"Of course, but I am not there in person.".

"So, after all of this, he will plan to kill you instead," Anika provided.

Karan laughed aloud and Shivaay could only shake his head biting his smile.

*******************************************************************************************************

"Gauri, he was just trying to spite you. Believe me," Omkara explained.

He managed to enter their bedroom just before his wife angrily closed the door on his face.

She did not answer. Instead, she ignored his plea and got on to their bed.

When her husband followed her, she showed her palm making him stop.

"Doesn't change the fact that you are going to her. Whatever your plan is."

Omkara sighed.

"Gauri," he said with all the love he could muster.

"I am in no way thrilled to do this. If you cannot understand that I don't know what else to say," he said in a low voice.

"You stopped talking to me and asked me not to touch you. It is alright. I can handle the pain for a few days. But understand that I expect you to trust me. I wouldn't do anything that you asked me not to do."

Gauri looked at Omkara, her eyes filled with guilt.

"Know that you mean everything to me."

"Omkara ji... I..."

"Everything Gauri. More than me myself," he said.

Her eyes teared and Omkara rushed to comfort her.

"I am sorry," she hugged him and mumbled into his chest.

"Absolutely not needed. You can scold me all you want. Not the tears please," he said, rubbing her back.

"I love you Omkaraji."

He smiled and kissed her hair.

"I love you so much Gauri. I don't think I am capable of loving anyone more than I love you."

She parted from him and smiled. Omkara cupped her face, wiping her tears.

"Really?"

"What?"

"You cannot love anyone more than me?"

Omkara chuckled and shook his head.

"No."

"Good."

"Hmm."

"Now that you touched me, I want a kiss," she said. "I missed you."

Omkara didn't waste time in granting her wish. His lips descended on to her waiting ones with eager love. He was thankful for the favorable turn of her mood.

Gauri smiled into the kiss, her hands wound around him, touching him the way she liked.

Who was she kidding. Making him wait for her, keeping him away, gave her more pain.

Shouldn't she be more understanding?

Why wasn't she more compliant instead of getting angry for no fault of his?

She must be PMS-ing. Yes, that must be it.

As a thought occurred to her, she gasped and parted away.

"What is it?" Omkara asked with an unhappy frown.

She stared at him in silence.

Could it be possible?

But ...

"Gauri, is anything wrong?"

"No. Just a thought occurred and..."

"What thought?"

No, the doubt can wait. Now is not the right time to voice it aloud. After things settle down, she will check for herself and confirm it.

"Nothing important ," she smiled and kissed him back before he asked anything more.

****************************