Five days later...............

Gauri woke up to the beaming sun that day...unlike earlier when she got up to the early sunrise... It has been five days since she last spoke to a certain jatadhari and she felt her restlessness increase as the days passed by... Is he okay? Are they successful in catching the culprit? Why didn't he call home? When will he return?

Her mind was filled with questions of his whereabouts and she prayed for the days to pass by quickly to end this wait.

Pinky on the otherhand being used to her son's ways and also trusting his abilities was pretty much relaxed much to Gauri's chagrin.

"Gauri... come... read the newspaper today" she asked and the later lazily walked to her and picked up the paper. Her mood took a U turn when she saw the headline and she grinned turning to Pinky.

"Hayee... kitna pyaar...kitni Khushi... look at the glow on your face... go on read it" quipped Pinky.

"The underworld mafia leader Vijay Bhallad was captured in his mansion located in Ghaziabad yesterday evening by the police team lead by Inspector Omkara and Inspector Veer Khanna. Apparently, after gathering enough evidence the culprit involved in various illegal activities like woman trafficking, sculpture smuggling and drug dealing was arrested and taken into custody."

"Along with him, his associates namely Hamid Khan, Daksh Khurana and others were also arrested under various crimes done in association with Vijay. The police will present the accused to the court earliest possible said Inspector Omkara......." read Gauri her chest expanding to twice it's size as her lungs filled with pride.

"Hmmm... so the mission is successful... he is alright... he will return as soon as possible... are you happy now?"

Gauri vigorously nodded her head making Pinky laugh and pull her cheeks.

"But mummy ji... why didn't he call me even once? Didn't he think of me? Am I asking for too much? One call of five minutes wouldn't have hurt him...nor delayed his mission... He made me restless with worry..." complained Gauri.

"Ask him all these questions once he returns.... Can you close your question bank for today? I seriously doubt you when you said that you lied to me about your relationship with Omkara... you sure you don't love him Gauri?" asked Pinky and got a blush in return.

"Ahaan... hogaya hai tujhko to pyaar sajnaa... lakh kar le tu inkaar sajnaaa (You are in love though you say otherwise)" sang Pinky nudging the younger one with her shoulder and she laughed.

"Mummy ji.. I am not the one in denial" she said with a wink and Pinky laughed all the more.

"Right... It is Omkara who needs to realize soon" she said smiling.

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

"I think I should return to Bareilly for a day or two while you both report to Mumbai... I am a bit exhausted with the journey and need a period of respite" said Omkara to which both Anika and Veer raised their eyebrows.

"What!!" said Omkara "I need to meet maa and papa... I am missing them for some reason this time... may be because I am a bit guilty that I lied to them about this case... we said we won't go after him but still did" said Omkara not letting out the complete truth.

"Ohhh... missing maa and papa..." said Veer.

"Feeling guilty... hmmmm" stressed Anika while Omkara avoided their eyes.

"Now what?... why are you repeating what I said?" asked Omkara in irritation to which Anika turned to Veer and said "Veer... don't you think Om is talking strange? Something changed.... Isn't it?"

Veer nodded is head in a yes giving the former a once over "Definitely something changed"

"What.... What changed?... what will happen to me?" Omkara asked them again.

Just then the radio in the car sang "Ho gaya hai tujhko to pyaar sajna... lakh kar le tu... inkaar sajna..." making Anika and Veer howl in laughter giving each other a hi five while Omkara rolled his eyes at them.

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

"Congratulations on your success Omkara" greeted Shakti hugging him with a proud smile.

"Thanks papa"

"Anika didn't come... Did she go with Veer?"

"Yes... she had work at the Mumbai branch... she is working to meet her deadline" he informed.

"Okay...you go freshen up..." said Shakti and Omkara walked towards his room. After half an hour when he came out of his room fresh and clean, he walked towards the dining area not before giving a fleeting glance to Gauri's room.

Where is she? He didn't see Pinky either... he wondered.

"Shall I serve you Lunch Omkara? Are you hungry?" asked Shakti from the living room when Omkara reached there.

"No...papa... it is barely noon. Where is Pinky maa? Did she go out?"

"Yeah... she went to buy some groceries... She saw the news of Vijay Bhallad's arrest in the newspaper and assumed you will be returning soon... so, she said she needs to cook something yummy for you... We didn't know you are coming today though" Shakti informed and Omkara smiled.

"Uhh... did she go alone?" he asked after a minute

"Gauri went with her"

When he got the needed information, Omkara just nodded acting nonchalant ... before returning to the quite of his room.

So that is what you are interested in... as to where Gauri is... thought Shakti yet kept his silence... If he asked him directly, he knew he would be getting an obvious no in response... Shakti smiled at him and shook his head... he can tell his wife and then let her handle the mater.

Not long after.... Gauri's laughter filled the house and Shakti greeted her with a smile.

"Done with the shopping Gauri? Did Pinky trouble you too much?" asked Shakti irking his wife.

"Haa.. haa... I am the one troubling her now... did you know she almost made me buy the whole sweet section for Omkara and only when I told her that he doesn't like sweets that she left me alone... pagal ladki... she is so happy on his success" said Pinky smiling and pulling Gauri's cheek.

"Oh.... Then you will be too happy to hear another good news my dear" said Shakti and Gauri eagerly went to him.

"What is it papa ji?"

"Someone is back home" said Shakti and Gauri smiled at him joyfully before she rushed to her jatadhari's room.

Omkara who heard his mother's voice was coming out of the room when he collided with his cutie making her hiss in pain clutching her head.

He apologized for accidentally hurting her and removing her hand gently massaged the spot while she adored him from close.

"Is it okay now?" he asked in concern and she smiled at him before hugging him.

He smiled as he hugged her back and heard her congratulate him.

"Thank you Gauri"

"How did you plan the attack? Did you encounter trouble while execution? Did you punch him in the face or kick him in the stomach? You also kicked Daksh for me..... didn't you Omkaraji?" she started and he laughed hugging her tighter.

"Yes... I kicked him for you" he said making her giggle.

After a moment she parted from him and asked "What did you bring for me?"

"Gauri... I didn't go for a vacation" he said smiling widely and she frowned.

"Okay... what do you want... I will get it for you now" he said not wanting to wipe her smile off.

"After lunch can we go out?" she asked in all enthusiasm.

"Out? Where?"

"Movie... a new film released yesterday...salman khan wala..." she said and he nodded a yes though all he did mentally was groan at the idea.

She was about to thank him when they heard the elders clear their throats "Are you done? Do you remember me Omkara?" said Pinky slyly and Omkara went to hug her before kissing her cheek.

"So you are going for an outing huh?... good ... enjoy yourself" she said smiling at him and they returned it.

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

"He looked handsome in the movie... right Omkaraji?" asked Gauri and Omkara tried hard not to show his irritation.

He wasted two hours of his precious life on a meaningless...story less hero centered movie... so much for enjoying he mused and faked a smile.

"You didn't like the movie" Gauri stated and he sighed.

"Sorry Gauri... but it was pathetic" he finally uttered and she pouted.

"Sorry that you had to come with me... we can go to the 'mela' then" she said making him smile.

"You don't mind that I just insulted your hero's movie?"

"No... he is my favorite... not necessary that everyone should like him... it is okay if you don't have a good taste" she said grinning and he raised an eyebrow at her before pulling her to him.

"Acha... you don't know who all I like now... do you?" he asked looking at her with intent and she looked away blushing.

"You should take back your words Gauri" he said again and she looked at him "May be if you tell me who all you like... I might change my opinion Omkaraji... but before that" she said creating some distance... "let us go to the mela" and pulled him along.

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

As they sauntered through the food stalls after finishing with the games, Omkara realized that his birdy was a foodie... she tasted anything and everything they served, enjoying each bite as if it were her last. Needless to say she asked her set of questions about the origins and ingredients of each recipe which thankfully he didn't have to answer.

He also came to know that this inquisitive chit is also shy of asking him things she wanted him to buy... Every time she would come across something she liked, she stared at it for long and then gave him a look which said, "can I have this?". When he wordlessly asked the shop keeper for the price, she would stop him for buying it for her and pulled him to another stall until she liked something better. It was only once that she agreed to let him buy her a set of anklets which he knew she loved but didn't want to ask him. Now she wore them on her feet running around with them jingling to her steps making him smile.

"Gauri... this is the third chocolate that you are gobbling" he noted.

"Yeah... I want to try all the flavors" she said.

"Why? That is a pretty old flavor... didn't you taste it before?"

Gauri smiled at him before nodding a no "I am eating all these for the first time Omkaraji... I never had the chance before"

Omkara's heart went out for her.... She suffered so much alone... amongst them, he was luckier to come across people like Pinky and Shakti who loved him and helped him though he doesn't have any relation with them except that he was their son's best friend. Gauri on the other hand had to bear the brunt of the society's cruelty.

"I am sorry I didn't know"

"Why are you sorry... not your fault" she said and a moment later spoke "You know Omkaraji.....after a point of time... I began to believe that life is going to stay the same for my entirety... I told myself that this is what was written for me and maybe I don't deserve to be happy that God choose that life for me" she said and looked at him holding his hand.

"But I was wrong Omkaraji... we don't need to give up when we don't like your current situation...because at some point life might turn into what we wish for... just like it did for me"

Omkara's hand raised to caress her cheek... she deserved all the comfort in life... whyever did she think even for some time that she didn't deserve love?... what did she mean by 'just like it did for me?.... did life turn out to her liking? Was she referring to him?

Before he could comprehend further, their moment was interrupted with a shrill cry of his mobile.

"Hello?" he answered the call excusing himself.

"Omkara... where are you?" the worried voice of Pinky alerted him.

"What happened maa?"

"Come home please... there is someone here looking for you" she said and he took Gauri's hand before rushing home.

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

Omkara and Gauri reached home in record time to hear a terribly angry voice growling at their parents and Anika.

"How dare you withhold information of my sister from me Miss. Anika" it said.

"What were you planning and where is she now? Did you shift her to another place knowing that I will come for her?"

Omkara who recognized the voice tried to tame his anger lest he punched the man and entered the house holding Gauri's hand.

"Mr. Shivaay" he called making the blue eyed man turn to him.

Shivaay was about to let out another growl at Omkara when he stopped noticing Gauri behind him... In an instant the anger on his face was replaced by a love filed smile and he advanced towards her.

When Gauri saw the man scolding her family walk towards her she raised her chin staring at him angrily. But something in him prevented her from roaring at him for insulting the people she liked.

Just as he raised his hand to touch her shoulder, Omkara stopped him pushing him away making the man look ready for murder.

"How dare you?" Shivaay screamed "How dare you keep my sister away from me for ten days and now stop me from meeting her"

Hearing the word sister, Omkara's eyes widened.... his heart dropping to his stomach.

"What??" he uttered in shock.

"Ohh... now you act ignorant"

"Mr. Shivaay... I already told you that neither Omkara nor his family know that Gauri is your sister" said Anika defending Omkara and confirming the former's declaration.

"How do I believe that? Why would I believe any of your words when you lied to my face that you were still searching for my sister while all the while you exactly knew where she was.... With this man here" he said pointing his hand at Omkara.

"I was going to tell you"

"When??? After discussing the price?"

"Mr. Shivaay you are taking it in a wrong way" said Anika but he raised his hand to stop her.

"I do not want to hear anymore of your lies Ms. Anika" he said and turned to give Gauri his complete attention.

This time when he approached her, Omkara didn't stop him and neither did Gauri who was too shocked to digest the information.

This man is her brother? And he was searching for her?? How did she not know that she had a sibling? why didn't he come for her before?

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt the man gently caressing her cheek.

"Gauri..." he called her gently giving her a smile.

"I am Shivaay... your brother" he informed and she stared at him blankly.

"I am sorry Gauri... I am sorry that I couldn't find you sooner my dear" he said his eyes filling and she couldn't help but feel his love for her.

"B...Bhaiyya" she uttered and soon after was engulfed in his hug.

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

I had to stop it there... you will know more in the next shot... its already late,.. someone is waiting for the update since two days....

Let me know your thoughts... sorry the chapter is not edited... forgive any grammatical errors

Till the next time... signing off yours Soujanya....