Decdicated to ... @maanvir,  @lakshmi_priyanka_ @sinha_m thanks for wishing me guys... makes me feel so loved.

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The car came to a halt after a drive of approximately half an hour and Omkara gruffly asked Gauri to get down. She looked at the place to realize that it is a temple.

Worry gripped her heart thinking of the worst possible scenario... Was he trying to forcefully marry her?

"Why are we here?" she asked no one in particular and Omkara sighed before he opened his mouth to speak. However before he could utter a word, Rudra cut him off.

"You really forget things so soon bhabhi... didn't we tell you that it is O and your wedding which is to happen today...? Come" he said and the next moment they heard her cry ...more like wail..... uncontrollably.

Veer hurriedly got down the car and closed the car door looking around to see a few heads turn to their side. He looked at Omkara who also exited the vehicle and looked as shocked as Rudra gaping at the cute little chit inside the car. The girl had the pitch of a hundred trumpets playing together....

God... she will wake up the dead.

"Om.... Om...." He shook his friend who then got over his shock and looked at him in worry.

"Kya hai yee(what is this?)..... is she stopping any time soon...?" asked Omkara.

"Not likely" said Rudra behind him closing his ears to decrease the music.

The three men waited outside the car standing as bodyguards not knowing what to do... Veer took over the duty of warding off any concerned public who gave them nasty eyes for making a girl cry showing them their id card and cooking stories for his sister's misery. Omkara and Rudra on the other hand, patiently waited for her to stop crying... occasionally looking at their watches.

Being the softie amongst them... Rudra couldn't handle the tears of a woman as beautiful as his Bhabhi... he looked at his brothers angrily and said "Rula diya na bechari ko...( you made her cry...) are you happy now?"

Omkara and Veer exchanged a look of disbelief before turning to Rudra.

"We made her cry Rudy... it is We with a capital W..." said Veer.

"I was about to reveal that Pinky maa asked us to visit the temple together, do the pooja and bring the offerings home...since papa was not feeling well and she couldn't accompany us. It was you who scared her saying we are getting her married without consent... She is crying because of that... she was absolutely okay before that" scolded Omkara and Rudra avoided their accusing eyes.

"Ok..Ok... I will handle this... go and bring chocolates... both of you" he ordered making them raise their eyebrow.

"What!!!! Either you go into the car... talk with her and make her stop crying or go bring chocolates while I do the talking for you..." said Rudra but none of them moved not fully convinced by their brother.

"You two stone hearted people do not know how to handle girls... I am the lover boy here... believe me when I say...girls melt for two things ... one chocolate...two flirting... so... can you please comply...my dear Bade bhaiyyas" explained Rudra and they rolled their eyes.

"Okay guru ji... if she doesn't stop crying by the time we return...." warned Veer cracking his knuckles letting the threat open ended and making Rudra gulp.

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Owing to the early hours of the morning, none of the grocery shops were open and the friends had to make a pharmacist open the shop threatening him with their professional power. Grabbing a handful of Cadbury silk of various flavors... they returned to the temple forty five minutes later praying their brother was successful in stopping the pathos song.

The duo breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Gauri smiling at Rudra while the later spoke something to her animatedly. When they neared them, they heard Rudra speak "You don't worry at all bhabhi... we are in one team from now on... though my brothers are taller and stronger than me... because they had complan in childhood, I am the master mind behind all the plans.... When Rudy is here... no fear... together we can bring them down"

"Achaa... so master mind Rudra" said Veer placing his hand on his younger brother's shoulder with force a bit stronger than needed and Rudra gulped before turning around and giving them his sweetest smile.

"So... you were saying?" asked Omkara who placed his hand on his brother's other shoulder.

"Ummm... nothing... I was just explaining to Bhabhi... how much you love me bhaiyya..." said Rudra turning to Gauri for support and she vigorously nodded her head in a yes.

Deciding to let the matter go, the big brothers left Rudra handing over the chocolates to Gauri who took them happily looking particularly at Omkara with a brilliant smile.

Omkara frowned at her... An hour back, she was crying to get married to him... now she watched him with awed look on her face... what happened? He couldn't help but feel a tug at his heart when she smiled at him like that.

However he shrugged the feeling off and turned away to look at the trees, dogs and the people at the place.

Anything but her... should be good.... he thought

"Thank you Veer bhaiyya" .... "Thank you Omkaraji" she said to both of them before she opened the first chocolate and took a bite while they patiently waited for her to finish.

After the first chocolate, when Gauri was about to open the second one Veer stopped her... "Gauri... Come.. we should enter the temple, do the pooja and then return home ... you can have the rest of them later" he said and she nodded obediently getting off the car. Veer and Rudra walked ahead while Gauri walked behind them.

Omkara on the other hand stayed behind making Gauri turn to him in question. Seeing her stop and watch him expectantly, Omkara answered "I don't believe in God... you go with them... I am okay staying here"

Gauri nodded her head and walked towards the stairs of the temple. Just as she ascended one step, she slipped and feel on the rock beside.

Omkara came to her worriedly "Are you okay? Can you get up?" he asked offering his hand which she took. When she applied weight on her left foot, she cried out in pain and Omkara made her sit on the steps to examine her foot.

"Seems like you sprained a muscle" he said looking at the reddened area not finding any discontinuity by feeling the bones with his fingers.

The entire time Gauri stared at him dazed... feeling happy for being the recipient of his kindness.

"Let us go... we can come after a few days" he said getting up and she frowned at him.

"What Gauri? ... you cannot walk the stairs like this" he reasoned.

"It is not auspicious to come till the stairs of a temple and then walk away without seeing the idol" she explained and he rolled his eyes.

"So what do you want me to do?" he asked and was surprised when she stretched her hands towards him as if gesturing him to lift her. When he stared at her not moving, she said a "Please Omkaraji" with a smile and he complied with a sigh.

Lifting her bridal style, he walked up the stairs and into the temple for the first time after he became an atheist much to the shock of Rudra and Veer.

By the time he helped her stand holding her close to him, Rudra had a huge grin on his face while Veer smiled at them pleasantly.

After the pooja, the priest came to them and offered them prasad.

"Omkara... you are here?" asked the elderly man and he merely smiled at him.

"Who is this girl?" he asked again and Rudra answered for him.

"Uhh... she is my Bhabhi"

"Oh... Veer is married?" asked the priest looking at Veer when Gauri spoke before Rudra... "Nahi... not Veer bhaiyya" making the men gape at her.

"Ohh... Omkara it is... good that she convinced you to come here then... she seemed to be good for you" he said and Rudra added "Yeah pandit ji... she seemed to be good for him... they are yet to be married"

"God bless you then... may you have a happy life ahead" said the priest and blessed the couple.

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The group returned home sometime later with Veer and Rudra opening the door for Omkara who carried Gauri inside.

"What happened? Why are you carrying her inside?" asked Pinky who came to them in concern.

"Nothing maa... she sprained a muscle she will be okay if she rests enough.. I called the doctor and he will come here in an hour" informed Omkara and she nodded her head helping Gauri settle into a chair.

"Om... Veeru...." called an excited voice making them turn their heads in the direction.

Gauri looked at the stylish and modernly dressed woman merrily walk towards them with a frown. When she hugged Omkara, her frown deepened and she fisted her hands in anger.

Rudra who was watching Gauri's reaction grinned and asked the stranger woman "Anika di... how are you?"

Hearing her name Gauri relaxed, her frown replaced by a smile.

Anika turned to Rudra and gave him a tight hug saying "Khidkitood"

She then went to greet Veer who embraced her lifting her off the ground making the former laugh.

"Anika.... This is Gauri" said Pinky and Anika looked at her with a smile

"Aree waah... you look like a pretty doll... Gauri... I am Anika... Omkara's...."

"Yeah I know... Omkaraji's and Veer bhaiyya's friend... Rudy bhaiyya told me" Gauri said and they nodded though surprised.

"Are you here for the mission?" she further asked excitedly when the cops turned to glare at Rudra who face palmed himself.

"What all did you tell her Rudy" whisper yelled Veer while the remaining continued to glare at him.

"What mission?" asked Pinky and Omkara smiled at her "Nothing maa... Anika was on a covert operation in Mumbai... she came to tell us about it.... here take the prasad" he said offering her the packet which she took and walked towards the kitchen.

Once Pinky left, Omkara and Veer cornered Rudra and took him away... to give a lecture on 'secrecy'. Anika rolled her eyes at their backs and came to settle beside Gauri.

"Hmm... they are a mad set of men... leave them... now talk about yourself... where are you from?" asked Anika and Gauri smiled at her before reciting her true story.

Some time later as Gauri wiped her tears, Anika hugged her saying "You are a very brave girl Gauri... from today count me in your team" she said.

"Rudy bhaiyya said the same Anika di... Can call you di?" asked Gauri.

"Without doubt... you can call me anything you are comfortable with... I like you already" assured Anika kissing her cheek for she looked too cute.

"When are you leaving for the mission?" Gauri asked again and Anika smiled at her saying "Tomorrow"

"Will Omkara ji come with you?" she asked again after a moment of hesitation making Anika raise an eyebrow.

"Omkara jiii... ahaaan" she teased and noted the blush on her face.

Anika nudged her and asked, "You like him... don't you?"

When Gauri nodded her head in a yes, the elder one said further "Om is a tough nut to crack... he won't agree for marriage so soon"

"Even I don't want to marry now Anika di... I have certain goals in my life... I want to be able to stand on my own feet before settling for domestic work" she explained getting an understanding nod in response.

"So... you promise to make him fall for you then?"

Gauri looked at her in determination before she said "I never quit once I am onto something Anika di"

Anika looked taken aback by the statement and also the fire in the younger ones eyes.... They looked eerily familiar to a certain someone that she has been in close contact with these days.

"An Oberoi... never quits" he says

Looking at her being silent for a while longer, Gauri gently touched Anika who was brought back to reality.

"What happened? Did I say something wrong?"

"No.. nothing... In that case... you will have my full support Gauri" she said and smiled.

"Umm... what are the names of that two rupee chacha chachi of yours?" enquired Anika again in detail.

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Omkara stole glances at a chirpy chirayya while he had his food... he assumed her to be a damsel in distress too innocent for the big bad world but he came to know from Rudra that she is anything but a mere damsel... She is a fighter... he gathered.

He should have guessed it when in spite of being surrounded by five men twice her size, she was hell bent on fighting them and running her way out instead of giving up.

That quality of her intrigued him... he never showed interest in relationships after the first two times when he came to know that in the end.... to marry, people look at the family background and he doesn't have one. He had gone through the insults of "being unwanted" "cast away" "name-less" since his early childhood and the words still affected him.

You can perhaps ask her out... she isn't the one to look at your background said a sensible part of his mind.

You hardly know her Omkara ... why take risks... you are happy being single...why to destroy the peace in your life... chided another part.

"If you don't stop staring at her... you will be certified as a freak" whispered Veer who sat by his side and Omkara turned his face away.

"Am I that obvious?" he asked his best friend who nodded with a smile.

After that, he avoided looking at her for the rest of the dinner. At night, when he passed by her room, she herself called his name and he went to her after making sure no one was around.

"You called me? Why?"

"You are going for your mission tomorrow right... I wanted to wish you all the best Omkaraji" she said giving him her hand and smiling at him.

God...that smile... no.... don't...

He took her hand in his and shook it with a smile saying "Thank you"

"This mission... is it too dangerous? I heard Pinky maa scolding Veer bhaiyya... You won't be harmed... will you? When will you come back? What are you going to do to that pedophile? Will you get back up soon? Can I be of any help Omkaraji? Should I tell you the plan of the building? Should...." she went on forever and he laughed out aloud.

She looked at him with moon eyes enthralled by the beauty of his laughter until he calmed down after a while.

"God... I think I am going to miss you Gauri" he said in a flow and then looked at her as if caught. She gave him a shy smile and hugged him shocking him further.

"I will miss you too Omkaraji... be safe" she said.

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The next morning, Veer and Omkara were busy packing essentials for their mission while Rudra and Pinky helped them. Anika on the other hand seemed to be busy on the phone from the morning.

Unlike the previous day, when she was a talkative sister, Anika appeared disturbed that morning and Gauri was worried about what must the reason be. The former also gave her scrutinizing looks time and again which got her even more confused. What is she looking for in her?

Gauri wanted to help but was ordered to sit in a chair and take rest because of her injury and she obliged when her protests were not considered.

"You seemed to be a bit disturbed di" Gauri asked Anika when the remaining people walked out of the room to shift their luggage into the car.

Anika shook her head saying a nothing but then again.... a minute later she looked at her and asked "Gauri... suppose... just assume that you had a long lost family you come to know of now which is waiting for your return...."

"Anika di... now you make me more worried... long lost family? What are you talking about?"

"Just assume Gauri... like a movie..."

Gauri sighed and thought for a minute before she answered "Then I will consider myself the luckiest person on earth di... I have been craving for a family I can call my own... who will love me...as I am. It would be nothing less than a fairy tale for me... but sadly... life is not a fairy tale"

Anika looked more distraught than before after her statement and Gauri was about to put forth her concern when the former again asked.

"Gauri... can you show me your certificates?"

"Why di?"

"You want to know about the good colleges to get admission right... I will see your marks and certificates and then according to them recommend colleges to you" she answered and Gauri nodded her head getting up to hop to her room.

"No... you stay here... tell me where you kept your bag... I will search for them myself" Anika asked and she guided her.

A while later when they were ready to go, Anika gave her a warm hug kissing her cheek before moving towards Pinky while Omkara looked at her giving a smile and a brief nod. Veer engulfed his mother in a big hug and informed... "Maa... I have to go to Mumbai for a few days... Omkara and Anika will return sooner" he said.

"Why bhaiyya.... Sultana Bhabhi ke liye?" asked Gauri out of reflex and then bit her tongue.

However, she realized that the damage was done when she saw Veer glare at his brother and the later run for his life.

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That is the end of chapter 4

Things are going at fast pace.. aren't they... well this is a short story you will have to bear with me... I warned you prior... about the fairy tale story...

The next update will have to wait for a bit.... I will be busy for the next few days.

Till then... keep missing me... signing off... yours Soujanya.