Thank you all for voting and commenting on the previous story

*WARNING ADULT CONTENT*

Omkara walks to his father's study with a gentle smile on his lips. He opens the door to find his father standing by the window lost in thoughts with a drink in his hand.

"Dad... when did you come?" Omkara asks him smiling.

"Om..." Tej turns to him with a smile.

"Khanna said you wanted to talk to me. I didn't realize that you got back home. Khanna said Mom is not back yet?"

"She will come back after 2-3 months."

"2-3 months?" Omkara asks shocked.

"After Shakti passed away there is no one for Gauri, so she is staying with her till Gauri finishes her college. Then she will bring Gauri here." Tej explains.

"Couldn't she be put in a hostel?" Omkara asks curiously, being an only son he was a little possessive about his parents.

"Gauri just lost her father, so we thought..." Tej explains.

Omkara nods understanding, he couldn't think of a life without his parents and Gauri seemed to have lost both her parents, mother when she was a kid and father now. He says a silent prayer to give her strength and then quickly forgetting about Gauri he asks, "Mom is going to be fine there, right?"

"Yes." Tej nods his head. "I wanted to talk to you about something else."

"What?" Omkara asks him curiously.

"Shakti and I grew up together. More than best friends we were brothers. Tej starts explaining while Omkara curiously listens on without asking any questions. "But once we started working, we got so busy with life and we moved to different cities that we were not able to keep in touch with each other much apart from courtesy calls on birthdays and festivals. But we were always friends and his problem was always mine and mine, his. That is why when I found out about his accident, Jhanvi and I went to see him immediately. On his death bed, his only worry was his daughter, Gauri. He was worried for her future and I promised him that you would marry her."

Tej looks at Omkara and sees him looking at him in shock.

"I know, it was not right on my part to take such a big decision on your marriage without talking to you first but he was dying and he was in pain. I wanted to ease his worry and this was the only way I thought possible. I know you have your dreams and thoughts on your life partner, I knew all that but I just couldn't see him suffer like that." Tej tells Omkara helplessly and sees that Omkara had turned around to face the window. "She is a nice girl. Jhanvi and I love her." Tej tells him.

Omkara softly nods to let him know that he heard.

"I know I am asking too much from you. To marry a girl neither you have met or know anything about other than her name. You deserve to get the right to choose who you want to spend your life with."

"But you gave your word." Omkara gently interjects.

"I did." Tej says looking down guiltily. Omkara sighs as he walked towards the window and looked at the sky lost in thoughts.

"What are you thinking?" Tej gently asks him.

"What did Gauri say? Did anyone ask her whether she wants to marry me?" Omkara asks Tej.

"It was Shakti's last wish, so she said yes." Tej tells him.

Omkara nods his head then he turns to look at his father and smiles softly, "If you and Mom liked her then I will also like her."

"Thank you, Om." Tej says as he hugged him in relief.

At night, Omkara was having dinner with his father bringing him up to date on what was happening at office.

"You managed everything well, Om. Mishra was also saying the same." Tej tells him proudly as he got up after dinner.

Omkara smiles at him and look at his father getting up as he contemplated. Then finally making up his mind he asks, "Do you have her photo?"

"Gauri?" Tej asks smiling.

Omkara nods his head.

"I don't have it." Tej says as his smile dropped. "I'll ask Jhanvi to take a photo and send it quickly."

Omkara nods and was about to get up when a thought struck him and he says, "It's okay, Dad. She is in mourning. Don't disturb her. I'll see her when she comes here."

Tej smiles at Omkara and appreciates him, "It is nice to see your concern for her."

Omkara was watching TV in his room when his mobile rings and he picks it up. "Mom... how are you?" Omkara asks.

"I am so happy. Tej called. Gauri is so nice. She will be a perfect life partner for you." Jhanvi tells him excitedly.

"Hmmm... you left me to be with her." Omkara tries to joke as he didn't know how to react to what his mother said.

"She needed me, Om."

"I know, Mom. I was just joking. You take care of her."

"Already so much concern... huh?" Jhanvi teases him.

"No... Mom." Omkara says slightly blushing. "I just meant it like that."

"Yes... yes... I understand." Jhanvi teases him.

Over the phone he hears someone entering the room and asking Jhanvi something, and Jhanvi says something and wishes that person good night.

"Wait..." Jhanvi says smiling. "Om is on the phone. Why don't you talk to him?"

Omkara's heart skips a beat realizing that it was Gauri and his mother confirms it, "Om, I will give the phone to Gauri."

Omkara jumps up from his bed in panic as he wondered what to talk to her. What could he talk to his fiance he has neither met nor talked to before? And that too someone who was in mourning.

"Er... hello?" Gauri hesitantly says.

"Hello." Omkara replies.

Then when she remained silent he asks, "How are you?"

"Fine."

"I was not able to come for the funeral... sorry." Omkara hesitantly says.

"It's okay." Gauri softly replies.

When she remained silent after that, Omkara tells her, "You take care."

"Okay."

"I guess..." Omkara starts and Gauri gently cuts him off.

"I'll take care of Maaji. Thank you for letting her stay here."

"She is your mother too now." Omkara gently tells her.

"Good night." Gauri wishes him after a short pause.

"Good night."

Gauri gives the phone to Jhanvi and Jhanvi asks Omkara after she left the room, "What did you tell her after she told you that she will take care of me?"

"Why?" Omkara asks curiously.

"After Shakti passed away, first time I am seeing her smiling." Jhanvi says smiling.

"She did?" Omkara asks smiling.

Three months later.

Omkara parks the car and walks towards the arrival area to look for his mother and Gauri. He was nervous and excited at the same time. Nervous because he didn't know what to tell Gauri or how to behave with her, the 2-3 times they had talked over the phone didn't cover much conversation. His mother had told him that Gauri was still missing her father and had still not come out of her shock and Omkara had decided to not to disturb her then. He had even contemplated on taking a trip to see her and his mother but then he didn't. He was excited because finally he was going to meet her.

"Gauri, that is my friend. I'll just go say hi to her." Jhanvi tells Gauri and before Gauri could reply she had hurried off to meet her friend.

Gauri sighs and looks around the people when her eyes catch a familiar face. Her heart stops beating seeing him scanning the area as he walked towards the entrance and his eyes sweeps past her as he continued to look. Gauri turns to look at Jhanvi and sees her excitedly talking to her friend. Gauri turns to look at him and he had almost reached her as he took out his mobile while he continued to look around. He was about to walk past her when she clears her throat and gestures him to stop. "Ermm... Om."

Hearing her he stops and turns to her curiously.

"Ermmm..." she starts gulping not knowing what to say.

Omkara continues to frown at her and then he asks hesitantly, "Gauri?"

"Yes." Gauri nods her head.

The moment she said yes, Omkara's heart fell all the way to the floor. No one had bothered to tell him that Gauri was so outrageously beautiful; she was so beautiful that he felt a little insecure for a second.

"Erm..."

Coming to his senses, he asks her "Where is Mom?"

"Her friend is over there. So she went to say hi." Gauri tells him.

Omkara nods as he took the trolley from her. "Come."

"Mom!" Omkara calls her as he walked towards her with Gauri.

"Om?" Jhanvi turns to him smiling excitedly. "I thought driver was coming."

"You are coming home after months." Omkara tells her as he hugged her happily.

"And not because Gauri is coming with me." Jhanvi teases him.

"Mom!" Omkara says rolling his eyes and from the corner of his eyes he sees Gauri blushing. She blushed pretty.

"And you two met." Jhanvi says with a naughty smile.

Omkara and Gauri shyly look at each other and then turn to look at Jhanvi remaining silent.

Remembering her friend, Jhanvi asks Omkara "Om... you know Meera, right?"

Omkara nods and turns to Meera with a smile "How are you, Aunty?"

"I am fine. Heard about the wedding. Congratulations, Om."

"Thank you." Omkara says as he looked at Gauri wondering whether he should introduce Gauri to Meera Aunty or will his mother introduce.

"Meera, this is my bahu, Gauri." Jhanvi tells her as she brought Gauri closer.

"Namaste, Aunty." Gauri politely wishes her.

"Namaste... So when is the wedding?" Meera asks them.

"We haven't decided yet." Jhanvi informs her. "Most probably next year."

"Okay." Meera says smiling.

"Om, we have to drop Meera home on our way." Jhanvi tells him.

Omkara nods and they start walking towards the car.

After keeping the luggage in the boot, Omkara looks up to see that Meera was going to open the backseat door and he quickly helps her and opens the door for her. The ladies starts to get inside when Jhanvi notices that Gauri was about to sit at the back with her and Meera.

"Gauri, you sit in the front."

Gauri softly gasps in shock and nervously looks at Omkara who was standing near her. Seeing her hesitation, Omkara opens the door for her. Gauri nervously slides in and Omkara closes the door and walks around to the driver's seat.

Jhanvi and Meera were talking among themselves while Omkara and Gauri remained silent throughout the drive. Unable to control himself, Omkara looks at Gauri and sees her looking out the window.

"First time in Mumbai?" Omkara asks her.

"No... I have come here... when I was in school." Gauri nervously whispers to him.

Not knowing what else to say they remained silent the rest of the drive.

After dinner, Omkara was walking towards his room, as he was about to pass Gauri 's bedroom he stops and hesitates for a while wondering whether he should talk to her. Ever since she had come, they hadn't talked much. She was either with one of his parents or in her room resting. Noticing her door was ajar, he gently opens it as he knocked on the door. Gauri who was sitting on the bed with her back towards him quickly jumps up as she wiped away her tears. She turns to look at the door and stops in shock seeing him.

Omkara looks at her confused noticing tears on her face. he had no idea what he was supposed to do, give her privacy and go away or try to console her and share her pain?

"I was..." Gauri nervously starts to explain herself and then stops midway.

Making up his mind Omkara slowly walks in and lightly closes the door. Omkara walks to her and notices a photo frame in her hand. He gently takes it from her and looks at the photo to see a couple with a baby.

"Are these your parents?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri nods her head as she gently caressed the photo. "It was taken couple of weeks before Mama passed away."

"How did she..." Omkara asks her as he continued to hold the photo as he looked at Gauri 's finger gently caressing over her parents.

"Pneumonia." Gauri tells him.

Omkara hands back her the photo frame and Gauri turns to keep it on the side table. Omkara sits on the bed and seeing him sit, Gauri sits next to him.

"You didn't recognize me."

"You recognized me."

"Maaji had shown me your photo."

"I assumed as much." Omkara tells her and then he explains. "I did ask Dad for your photo, he didn't have one. Then I thought, you were already upset and shouldn't disturb you for a photo and I will see you when you come here."

Gauri nods her head and asks him nervously, "Are you happy about this wedding?"

"I don't know you... but Dad and Mom love you and speak very highly of you." Omkara hesitantly starts to explain. "When I realized that they love you... I decided to marry you because if they love you then definitely I will be able to love you."

Gauri gently smiles at him in relief.

"Are you happy about this wedding?" Omkara asks her.

"After Mama passed away... it was just Papa and me. We were so close." Gauri tells him. "I used to believe that all I needed in my life was Papa. And I expected him to be with me all my life." Gauri says as her eyes filled with tears. "Then suddenly... he was..." Gauri stops as she breathed to stop her tears. Once she composed herself, she gently whispers to him, "After Papa passed away even though Maaji and Daddyji were there, it felt very lonely."

"You are not alone, Gauri." Omkara gently tells her.

"Every time I felt lonely, the feeling that someone was waiting for me here was a big relief." Gauri tells him as she looked at him.

Omkara didn't know how to react to that, he knew that it was not a love confession or anything close to that but it was something big. In the end, he realized that he didn't have to say anything, he gently takes her hand in his and Gauri closes her palm holding his hand in hers. Omkara looks at their hands held together and it did feel nice, to hold her hand and to know that she was waiting for him, that there was someone who was just his. He smiles at her and Gauri smiles back at him.

"Whenever you feel lonely or feel the need to talk to someone." Omkara gently tells her. "My room is the last one." Omkara says pointing to the right side.

"Thank you." Gauri smiles with a hint of happiness.

"You might be tired, you go to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." Omkara tells her as he stood up.

Seeing him get up, Gauri also gets up. Omkara starts to walk towards the door and Gauri follows him.

"Good night." Omkara wishes her.

"Good night." Gauri softly wishes him.

Omkara opens the door and starts to walk out then he hesitates for a second then turning to look at her, he tells her, "Try not to cry."

Gauri looks at him surprised at him then she smiles at him as she nodded her head in yes.

Next day morning, Jhanvi was in the kitchen with Gauri as she discussed the menu for the week with the cook.

"Mom." Omkara calls her as he walked in.

"Yes?" Jhanvi turns to him smiling.

"I am going to office."

"Okay. Have a nice day." Jhanvi tells him.

Omkara nods and he turns to look at Gauri and sees that Gauri was watching him. Since his mother and the servants were there, he didn't know how to tell her that he was going to the office, because his Mom has been looking for reasons to tease him. Seeing him looking at her, Gauri softly nods her head. Realizing that she understood, he smiles at her and leaves.

In the evening, Omkara comes back home and sees Jhanvi and Gauri in the living room talking.

"Om." Jhanvi calls him.

"Yes, Mom?" Omkara asks as he walked towards her and smiles at Gauri politely. Gauri smiles back at him.

"Om, Gauri might feel bored at home. So why don't you take her to some book shop and get her some books?" Jhanvi asks him.

"No... no... I am fine here. I am not bored." Gauri quickly replies not wanting to trouble him.

"You love to read, right? So go buy some books." Jhanvi tells her with a smile mentally smacking herself for Gauri's so unromantic behavior.

"I'll just take a shower and come. You be ready by then." Omkara tells Gauri and goes to his room to get ready without waiting for a reply.

"You might be tired after whole day in office." Gauri regretfully whispers to him in the car.

"I'm fine, Gauri." Omkara reassures her.

They remained silent for a while then Gauri hesitantly asks him, "Do you read?"

"No... other than newspaper and business magazine I don't read much." Omkara tells her and then asks her, "What genre do you read?"

"I read mystery and..." Gauri slightly turns pink.

"And?" Omkara asks curiously seeing her blush.

"Romance." Gauri whispers shyly as she looked away.

Omkara smiles hearing that and notices how the pink was accentuating her beauty. He could just keep looking at her all his life. Omkara thought and then softly chuckles realizing how silly his thought was. Gauri blushes even more hearing him chuckle thinking he was chuckling for her preference in books.

"Mystery section is there and romance section is over there." Omkara points it out to Gauri.

Gauri shyly nods and walks towards the romance section first as that was her first preference. Omkara hangs around the magazine section flipping through the magazines while Gauri made her purchase. Every now and then he would turn to look at her.

Gauri was reading a blurb when she turns to look at Om and sees him watching her. She shyly smiles at him and he smiles back at her.

Omkara finish reading the article and closes the magazine and looks at Gauri and sees her not where he had last seen her. Looking around he doesn't see her head anywhere between the racks, and he walks towards the romance section where he had last seen her to investigate. He walks towards the racks and stops in shock seeing Gauri sitting on the floor with bundles of book on her lap and around on the floor. He sighs in relief realizing that she was safe and sound.

Seeing his legs, Gauri curiously looks up and sees Omkara. "Are we getting late? Is it time to go?" Gauri asks as she starts to take the books on her lap to get up.

"No... no... take your time. When I didn't see you, I just came to check."

"Oh." Gauri softly smiles hearing him.

Feeling weird standing while she was sitting on the floor, Omkara sits down next to her. Gauri smiles at him and then takes another book to read the plot. Omkara picks up a book on her lap casually to check and seeing the cover his eyes pops out seeing the drawing of a guy and girl, who looked like naked under the sheets on a bed.

"The covers... are... always... misleading." Gauri tells him turning crimson red.

"I didn't say anything." Omkara says with a teasing smile.

"But I am telling you." Gauri tells him again.

"Okay." Omkara replies with a teasing smile.

"I don't read po*n."

"I didn't say that you do." Omkara replies.

"I don't." Gauri says again.

"Gauri, there is a saying right?" Omkara asks her.

"What?"

"Some conscience speaks. What conscience was that?" Omkara asks with a naughty glint in his eyes.

Guilty.

Gauri turns even pink. "I am telling you."

"Ah."

"I am done. Let's go." Gauri says quickly getting on her feet as she clutched the books to her chest.

"How about this one?" Omkara asks her about the one he was holding.

"I don't want that." Gauri says turning even pinker as she quickly kept back the books that were on the floor.

"Don't you want to check out the mystery section?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri decides to get more books so she doesn't have to make another shopping trip for the next two weeks. She nods and walks towards the mystery section while Omkara chuckles.

Gauri brings the bundle of books to the counter to bill and just then Omkara walks back in from outside.

"Done?"

Gauri nods her head. "Just billing."

Omkara nods and walks towards her.

"3750." The salesman tells them.

Omkara and Gauri both put their cards forward at the same time. The salesman looks at them confused not sure whose to accept.

"I..." Gauri starts to say when Omkara holds her elbow which was holding the card and drags it back. The salesman takes Omkara's card and swipes it.

"Thank you." Gauri whispers to Omkara as they sat in the car.

Omkara nods at her and then asks her. "Do you want to go for coffee?"

Blushing shyly Gauri nods her head in yes. Omkara smiles and starts the car.

After they place the order, Omkara asks her gently, "Are you happy here, Gauri?"

Gauri nods her head in yes.

"If you have any problems or need anything, don't hesitate to tell me." Omkara tells her.

Gauri smiles at him in reply.

They were silent for a while and then to talk something, Omkara asks her, "You bought a lot of books. It is better to get an ebook reader or download the books, right?"

"I don't like that." Gauri tells him.

"You don't?" Omkara asks curiously.

"I like the smell of new books." Gauri tells him a little embarrassed. "Without that, it doesn't feel complete."

"I actually like the sound of turning pages." Omkara tells her smiling.

Gauri smiles hearing that. "Even I like that but smell more."

Omkara smiles at her. "So how soon would you finish these books?"

"2 weeks." Gauri guesses making cute faces.

Omkara smiles seeing the faces she was making.

"I love reading." Gauri tells Omkara smiling dreamily.

"I guessed that much." Omkara replies grinning.

"Papa used to get angry at times when I would just keep reading throughout the day." Gauri tells him with a sad face remembering her face.

Seeing she was becoming sad, Omkara quickly says to take her mind off things, "That even I will get angry."

Gauri looks at him curiously her mind getting distracted.

"If you ignore me and keep reading day and night, I will get mad." Omkara tells her.

Gauri's face heats up and she turns pink as she looked down shyly. Omkara smiles in relief realizing that she was distracted.

"I won't ignore you." Gauri shyly whispers to him.

"I won't let you ignore me." Omkara tells her before he could think and seeing Gauri blushing uncontrollably he looks away slightly blushing himself.

Later, they come back home. Gauri starts to get out of the car when Omkara stops her.

"Gauri ..."

"Yes?" Gauri turns to him curiously.

"I got you a gift. I hope you like it." Omkara tells her and then leaning towards the back seat he takes a cover and hands it to her.

"Thank you." Gauri whispers smiling.

"Check it." Omkara tells her grinning ear to ear.

Gauri smiles and puts her hand inside the cover, and smiles even more realizing that it was a book. She pulls it out and sees that book. She turns completely pink seeing the book.

Omkara leans towards her and whispers into her ears, "Tell me how it was."

Gauri turns completely pink, quickly opening the door she runs out clutching the covers in her hand while Omkara chuckled softly as he watched her run.

That night, Gauri was in bed and reading that book and blushing profusely because every time the hero kissed the heroine or they made love, she would think of Om. She was going crazy. Gauri thought and closed the book and kept it away. Then she couldn't control herself and takes the book again and resumes reading it.

Next day, Jhanvi, Gauri and Tej sit down for breakfast.

"Where is Om?" Tej asks curiously.

"Gauri, will you call him for breakfast?" Jhanvi asks her.

Gauri nods her head and goes upstairs to call him blushing remembering all the kissing and love making that had plagued her the night before. She knocks on his door.

"Who is it?" Omkara shouts from inside.

"Gauri." Gauri replies.

"What is it, Gauri? I'm in the shower."

Gauri turns completely pink realizing he was naked inside. Her gutter mind. "Maaji is calling you down for breakfast." Gauri manages to tell him ignoring her crazy heart beats.

"I'll come down in a few minutes."

"Okay."

As they were having breakfast, Omkara comes down and joins them. Seeing him, Gauri turns completely pink as naughty thoughts filled her mind. She peeks at him and just then he looks at her. Gauri turns completely pink and looks away. Few minutes later, she again looks at him and sees him watching her. He gently raises his head at her silently asking her what happened?'. Gauri quickly shakes her head and looks down at the plate leaving Omkara completely curious and clueless.

Omkara was about to leave for office when he notices Gauri walking out to the gardens. He runs towards her. "What happened?" Omkara softly whispers to her.

"Huh?" Gauri turns to him in shock.

"Earlier." Omkara reminds her.

"Nothing." Gauri replies looking away turning pink.

"Why were you blushing?" Omkara asks her confused. "And you are blushing now too."

"Nothing." Gauri says as she looked away.

"Hmmm."

"Seriously nothing."

"Okay then... I'm going to office." Omkara tells her.

Gauri nods her head as she smiled at him. Omkara smiles at her, whatever her reasons for blushing was; it didn't matter to him because she didn't look as sad as she was when she had come day before. She looked happier lately and at peace. He prayed that whatever reason it was that was making her happy, let it continue to be like that.

"I'll see you in the evening." Omkara tells her.

Gauri smiles at him in reply.

Two days later, Gauri was getting worried as it was way past the time Om got home and there was no sign of him. She kept checking her watch every minute or so, finally not able to take the tension anymore she decides to ask Jhanvi about it.

"Maaji... it is really late... Om isn't home yet." Gauri asks her worriedly.

Jhanvi smiles at her seeing the concern in her, "He might be busy with some meeting or something."

"Did he call?"

"He never calls. That boy when he is in office he forgets everyone else." Jhanvi says with a sigh.

"Oh!" Gauri says then she says in a gentle complaining tone, "But he should inform, right? You would get worried unnecessarily, right?"

Jhanvi starts smiling even more understanding perfectly well who would get worried unnecessarily. "Yes, I would get worried. Why don't you call him and ask him about it?"

"Me?"

"Yes. I am washing my hands off him. Now, he is your responsibility." Jhanvi tells her and smiles seeing Gauri blushing.

Gauri goes to her room and nervously dials his number. This was the first time she was calling him.

"Hello?" Omkara picks the call in an irritated mood.

"Om."

"Gauri?" Omkara asks surprised.

"You haven't... reached." Gauri says nervously remembering his irritated mood.

"That... there was an important meeting here." Omkara explains.

"When will you come?" Gauri asks him.

"I'll be a little late."

"If you are going to be late you should inform Maaji, right? She would get worried unnecessarily. Do you know what kind of thoughts would go through her mind as she waits for you to get home?" Gauri asks him a little irately remembering her worry earlier.

Omkara smiles hearing her gentle scolding and says, "Sorry, Gauri. I didn't think that you would get worried."

"I... I was talking about Maaji." Gauri quickly explains turning pink for getting caught.

"Yes, I understand. Mom was so worried that she called to check on me." Omkara says in a teasing tone.

"I'm going to hang up."

"Okay... I am actually in the middle of a meeting. Will take another 2 hrs or so. If I get later than that I'll call you." Omkara tells her feeling happy for her concern for him.

"Okay. You will come home and have dinner, right?"

"Yes." Omkara replies smiling.

"Okay. Bye."

"I'll see you soon."

Later, Gauri was in the room when she hears a knock on the door. She keeps aside the book she was reading and walks to the door to open the door.

"Hi." Omkara tells her with a smile.

"You are home." Gauri says smiling.

"Mom said you haven't had your dinner... we will have together?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri smiles as she nodded her head.

"I'll take a quick shower and come." Omkara tells her and heads to his room feeling elated.

Omkara and Gauri have a quiet dinner while Khanna hung around to serve them. Everyone else had gone to bed. Omkara and Gauri didn't know what to talk as they realized that lately, when someone was around they found it difficult to talk and when they were alone it was easy to talk. So they simply kept stealing glances at each other.

"Do you want to go for a walk outside?" Omkara asks Gauri after they were done with dinner.

Gauri nods her head shyly feeling happy hearing the invitation. They both walk out to the garden and strolls around lost in thoughts.

"Gauri..." Omkara softly calls her.

"Hmmm?" Gauri turns to him with a smile.

"It felt nice." Omkara tells her as he looked at her.

Gauri blushes understanding what he was talking about. "I was worried." Gauri softly whispers realizing there was no use in hiding the truth when he knew the truth.

"I didn't think you would have been worried. I'll be more careful from now on." Omkara tells her.

Gauri smiles at him as they continued to walk. Omkara who had his hand inside his pocket brings it out and leaves it free. A step later, his hand brushes against hers. The touch made that area come alive and he looks at her to see her blush. He didn't move away his hand and neither did she. They continued to walk with their hands gently caressing each other.

"You didn't have dinner and you were waiting for me."

Gauri doesn't reply as she didn't know what to reply to that.

"Thank you." Omkara softly whispers.

Gauri turns to look at him and smiles gently. Seeing her smiling at him, suddenly he wanted to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her and kiss her and keep kissing her all his life. He looks away to fight the temptation, just then her hand brushes against him and he holds her hand. Her hand was stiff in his for a second then she slowly twists her hand around and interlocks her fingers with his. He holds her tight as he turned to look at her and sees her looking down shyly.

She was the most beautiful girl he had seen in his life and her beauty was not just outside but within too. He silently thanked his father for bringing Gauri into his life. Even though he hasn't known her for a long time, now it was starting to feel like life was not worth it if she was not a part of it. He had started going to bed with her thoughts and the first thought in his mind when he woke up is about her. Somehow she has become a beautiful part of his life. He knew they didn't talk to each other much, only when they were alone they talked but the little that they talk it felt like said a lot between them. Seeing her blushing even more, he just wanted to kiss her and make her his.

Even his silence spoke to her. Gauri thought with a blush. He wanted to kiss her. She could feel it and hear it as if he had said it aloud, and she just wished he would take that step to claim her as his. Not a promise between their parents but a promise between them; a kiss that would seal the truth that he was hers and she was his, only his. He had been her anchor when they hadn't even met. The thoughts of him waiting for her here was what had helped her in those lonely nights after her father's death, especially on the night her father had passed away. She had wished and hoped he would call her and tell her that he was there for her even though she knew that he didn't know about their engagement then. Her father's death and the wondering whether he would accept her had plagued her for a while till she had spoken to him on the phone and he had told her that his mother was hers too, that too from a man who was very possessive about his parents. That had eased her worry and made her realize that he had accepted her and their marriage just like she had accepted him. Even without seeing him, she had formed a bond with him. Then her first night here, when he had asked her not to cry, she understood that even he was bonded to her.

"What are you thinking?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri turns to look at him and says with a smile, "Us."

Omkara smiles hearing her. "Us." Omkara repeats liking the sound of it.

Gauri smiles hearing him as she thought of their life after they got married.

"Om..."

"Hmmm?"

"After my results are out, I want to work." Gauri tells him as she turned to look at him.

Omkara nods his head and tells her, "You can join our office if you are interested."

When she remained silent, he turns to look at her curiously and sees her smiling with a naughty glint in her eyes.

Oh God! How I wish I could kiss her senseless?

Omkara asks her as he looked away to gather his thoughts. "What did you study?"

"Masters in Library and Information Science."

"Ah! I should have known." Omkara says chuckling softly.

Gauri giggles hearing him happily and Omkara joins her.

"I forgot to ask you." Omkara says as they again fell into silence.

"What?" Gauri asks him as she turned to look at him.

"How was that book?" Omkara asks with a teasing smile.

Gauri turns pink remembering all her naughty thoughts associated with that book.

"Was it as good as the cover suggested?"

"I am going." Gauri says as she blushed uncontrollably. Flicking her hand and freeing it from his hold she runs inside.

"Will you let me read it?" Omkara shouts after her.

Gauri stops and turns back to him, "No." then she runs back in blushing and smiling happily while Omkara chuckled softly, he didn't want to read the book, he just wanted to do all that that made her blush to her.

A month later, Gauri was brushing her hair and getting ready as it was time for Om to get back home from office. She always wanted to look beautiful for him, Gauri thought with a shy blush. She hears her phone ring and picks it up seeing it was him.

"Hello?"

"Gauri ... I just called to tell you that something has come up... so I will be late to get home."

"Oh! When will you come?" Gauri says unable to hide her disappointment.

"It will take more than 3 hrs, I think."

"Oh." Gauri says dejectedly throwing the hair brush on the dressing table.

"I'll try to wrap this up soon." Omkara says feeling happy hearing her disappointment.

"No, take your time. And drive carefully too."

"Okay... If you get hungry then have your dinner otherwise wait for me." Omkara tells her wanting to have dinner with her alone.

"I'll wait." Gauri softly whispers shyly.

"Didn't you finish those books?" Omkara asks her curiously one day.

"I did." Gauri replies.

"You don't want any new books?"

"I went with the driver and bought." Gauri replies. "Actually three times."

"Oh! You should have told me. I would have taken you." Omkara says disappointed.

"I am not going with you again to buy books." Gauri says smiling shyly.

"You know, I have no problem with you reading porn." Omkara teases her as he moved closer to her over the couch.

Gauri swats him with a frown making him chuckling. Just then, they hear Jhanvi and Tej talking and both quickly move to two ends of the couch and stare at the TV in interest.

Jhanvi stops seeing them sitting at two ends and sighs sadly, "What am I going to do with these two?"

"They are just getting to know each other. Give them time." Tej consoles her seeing Omkara and Gauri sitting in the same room and not even talking to each other.

"They care for each other but why aren't they showing it to each other?" Jhanvi asks him.

"You know, how shy Om is and Gauri is also very shy. They might need time."

"It is close to 3 months since Gauri has come here and they are just smiling at each other even today."

"Maybe because we are around and they might feel conscious." Tej wonders out loud.

"Hmmm."

"Om... Gauri." Jhanvi walks towards them and they both look up at her. "Tej and I have a party to attend. So we are going there and I thought I'll give the servants today off. So you both go out for dinner today."

"I can cook, Maaji." Gauri quickly offers.

Jhanvi mentally bangs her head on a wall.

"No, Gauri. You both go out and have dinner. Don't trouble yourself." Tej tells her.

Omkara and Gauri turn to look at each other and then Gauri gently nods at him. "Okay, Dad. We will go out. You two have fun at the party." Omkara tells them.

"Do you want to go out or order something?" Omkara asks Gauri after his parents left.

"We'll order?" Gauri asks him liking the idea of them being alone in the whole house.

Omkara smiles and asks her, "What do you want to have?"

They order pizza and they sit around talking as they waited for the food.

"Who are you more close to? Maaji or Daddyji?" Gauri asks him.

"I don't know. I don't think I am like close-close to them. I love them but I don't share with them everything."

"Really?" Gauri asks surprised. "I was so close to Papa."

Omkara smiles hearing that.

"I used to even tell him about my crushes too. That close I was to him."

Omkara's smile drops and he starts frowning as he turned to face her, "What crushes?"

Gauri 's mouth drops open seeing the possessive look come over his ever smiling sweet face. "That..."

"Crushes?"

"School crushes." Gauri quickly explains.

"Who were they?"

"I don't even remember them." Gauri says quickly. "Even you might have had crushes."

"Not relationships."

"Even I didn't have any relations."

"Hmmm." Omkara sits back as he thought of Gauri thinking of kissing other guys. He wanted to kill someone.

They were silent for a while then Omkara gently asks her, "Did you love them a lot?" Unable to control his insecurity. She was so beautiful and he was...

"At that time... you know how we are." Gauri hesitantly tells him not wanting to lie to him.

"Were they like... hot?"

"Hmmm cute maybe." Gauri says and then adds, "They don't hold a candle next to you."

"You think I am hot?" Omkara asks her surprised.

"D'oh."

"Seriously?" Omkara asks smiling.

"You are the hottest guy I have seen up close." Gauri tells him and then realizing what she had said she looks away blushing. "They don't mean anything to me." Gauri softly whispers to him.

"And me?" Omkara asks her in a whisper as he leaned towards her ear.

Gauri turns to Omkara and looks at him, then she shyly smiles at him as she looked away.

After dinner, they decide to watch a movie as they waited for Jhanvi and Tej to get home. Omkara decides on a horror movie and Gauri bravely agrees.

Gauri was staring at the screen as the protagonist went to open the door. The tension was too much as the protagonist took her sweet time in opening the door. She holds the knob and starts to turn it when Gauri felt someone gripping her shoulder.

"AAA" Gauri screams in fear while Omkara burst out laughing taking his hand off her shoulder. Gauri turns to Omkara in shock realizing he had done that to scare her. "OM!" Gauri shouts angrily as she hit him with the cushion while Omkara continued to laugh happily. "I'll kill you."

"Then who will marry you?" Omkara asks in between his laughter.

Gauri sits back hearing his question and says with a pout, "You scared me."

Omkara chuckles, "Sorry. Couldn't help it." He tells her cutely.

Gauri glares at him and then turns to look at the TV.

"What is happening?" Gauri asks Omkara.

"Look." Omkara replies as he tried to take the cushion she had been holding in front of her to obstruct the view to the TV.

"No... No. Just tell me what is happening."

"He is going to the attic." Omkara says. "Looks like something is following him. He senses it and he turns back to look. Not seeing anything, he continues to climb the stairs."

"Why is the stupid not running away?" Gauri asks in exasperation, why people in a horror movie were so dumb.

"There is something in the window."

"WHAT?"

"A shadow."

"Oh my god. Did he see that? Did he see that?" Gauri asks worriedly.

"No. he is going to open the box."

"Idiot."

"he is opening."

"And?"

"Still opening."

"Open fast!" Gauri screams unable to take the tension.

"He is openin... AAA" Omkara starts screaming. Hearing him scream Gauri screams on top of her voice. Then she stops hearing Omkara laughing holding his stomach.

"OM!" Gauri furiously says as she stood up.

"You are so cute, Gauri." Omkara says in between laughter.

"I AM GOING!" Gauri says furiously as she threw the cushion at him and ran up to her room.

"Gauri ! Come here. I will behave."

"I don't trust you." Gauri replies without even looking at him.

"Come on Gau... OH MY GOD! What is that?" Omkara screams out in fear.

"WHAT? WHAT?" Gauri screams as she turned around to look at him.

Omkara silently starts laughing as he pointed a finger at her teasing her. Gauri furiously stomps her foot on the floor and then turning around she runs to the stairs.

After his laughter died down, Omkara goes behind her. "Gauri." Omkara gently knocks on her door.

"Go away."

"I won't try to scare you again."

"You will. I don't trust you."

"Please Gauri."

"I don't want to watch the movie. Go sleep."

"Open the door, Gauri." Omkara cutely pleads.

"You are a bad boy. Get lost."

Omkara softly chuckles hearing her. "Open the door."

"No."

Hearing the car sound, Omkara tells her "I think Dad and Mom are home."

"You are lying."

Omkara chuckles, "I am not. I'm going down to let them in."

Omkara opens the door and smiles seeing his parents. "How was the party?"

"Good... good. How was dinner?" Tej asks him.

"Dinner was okay. We ordered pizza. Didn't go out." Omkara says as he walked back in missing out on the furious look Jhanvi and Tej exchanged amongst them. Seeing the movie was still running, he turns it off.

"Where is Gauri?" Jhanvi asks.

"In her room." Omkara replies.

Jhanvi closes her eyes tired. He is sitting and watching movie. She is in her room and reading a book. Why did I even try to get them to talk?

"Maaji... Daddyji... how was the party?" Gauri asks as she came down the stairs.

Omkara looks up at her and cutely smiles at her. Gauri ignores him.

"Yeah... okay." Jhanvi replies tiredly. "I am going to sleep. Very tired."

"See you in the morning. Good night." Tej tells them and walks off with Jhanvi.

After they had walked off, Omkara turns to Gauri and grins at her. Gauri scowls at him.

"Come with me for a walk." Omkara tells her in an appeasing tone.

"Why? So you can scare me again?" Gauri asks hands tied at her chest.

"No. so you don't go to bed angry with me." Omkara says as he offered her his hand, hearing that Gauri couldn't help smiling and keeps her hand on his.

Few weeks later at night, Omkara notices that Gauri was back into her depression mode. She seemed lost and upset. The sudden change in her was worrying him to no end. He didn't like seeing her like that and he wanted to take away her worry. But how?

At night, when everyone had gone to sleep Omkara knocks on Gauri 's door.

"Who is it?" Gauri asks from inside.

"Me." Omkara replies.

Wiping her tears, Gauri gets up from bed and walks towards the door. She opens it and steps aside for Omkara to enter.

"What happened, Gauri?" Omkara asks her in concern.

"Nothing." Gauri tells him shaking her head.

"You have been so upset today. I don't like seeing you like this." Omkara tells her in worry. "Whatever it is, please tell me."

"It's nothing, Om. I'm just overthinking things." Gauri tells him.

"What?"

"Nothing, Om." Gauri replies again.

Realizing that she was not ready to open up to him he sighs in defeat. "If you feel like talking..."

"I know." Gauri replies smiling gently at him.

Omkara smiles at her, "Take care."

Gauri nods and Omkara leaves.

Omkara was sleeping when he hears a knock at the door. Squinting he checks the time and it showed 12:15. Rubbing his eyes he gets up from the bed as the knock persisted and walks to the door and opens it to see Gauri standing there crying.

"Gauri ... what happened?" Omkara asks her in concern.

He was about to step out of his room when Gauri steps in and hugs him crying. Without even thinking, Omkara hugs her back. "What happened, Gauri?"

"Today is Papa's birthday." Gauri whispers to him as she sobbed loudly.

Omkara quickly closes the door and leads her to his bed. He makes her sit and offers her water.

"I always wish him at 12." Gauri tells Omkara as tears fell from her eyes.

Not knowing what to say, Omkara quickly hugs her and Gauri hugs him back as she rested her head on his chest.

"I would bake a cake for him and wake him up with the cake and gift."

Omkara gently wipes her tears not knowing how to ease her pain. Her tears were killing him and he didn't know how to comfort her.

"I don't have anyone."

"You have me, Gauri." Omkara reminds her.

Gauri turns to look at Omkara and stares at him as what he had said sunk in. and she knew it was the truth. She had him, isn't that why she had come to him in the middle of the night? Because she knew he would be there for her. Gauri leans up and gently kisses him on his cheek surprising him and her. Gauri 's eyes widen realizing what she had done.

"I..."

Before she could say further, Omkara leans down and kisses her on her forehead. "You don't have to give me explanations." Omkara tells her with a gentle smile as he cupped her face.

Gauri smiles at him and hugs him.

They were silent for a while as they hugged each other. "Do you want to sleep here?" Omkara asks her.

Without looking at him, Gauri nods her head in yes.

"Okay." Omkara says as he released her and moves away giving her way to lie on the bed. Gauri lies on the bed and Omkara joins her on the other side of the bed.

Gauri gently holds his hand as she closed her eyes to sleep. Omkara turns to her and stretches his arm out to her. "Come here."

Gauri hesitates for a few seconds then she rolls over towards him, hugging him with her head on his chest. Omkara wraps his arms around her holding her tight. They both close their eyes to sleep.

An hour later, Omkara realized what a big mistake this was. He couldn't sleep with Gauri so close to him. Her alluring scent, her body heat and that she was practically lying on top of him was making him so horny. And the fact that she was his was not helping one bit. He wanted to turn her over and kiss her, touch her and make her his. Omkara closes his eyes tight as he tried to shut down those images. She is upset! He tried to remind himself for the hundredth time. She had been crying sometime back. Stop thinking about all that. You have your whole life for that.

Gauri gently opens her eyes and finds herself in bed with Omkara. Her sleep leaves her immediately remembering how she had come here and ended up sleeping with him. She slowly starts to get up without waking him when he tightens his hold on her. Gauri turns to look at him and sees him watching her.

"You are awake." Gauri nervously whispers to him.

"I didn't sleep."

"Why?" Gauri asks as she realized their proximity.

Omkara watches her for a while then he rolls over with her, trapping her underneath him. Gauri gasps in shock at the closeness between them. Omkara watches her for a few minutes looking for sighs of disinterest or panic then he sees a blush creeping up her cheeks. He smiles and leans down taking her lips in his. Gauri opens her mouth to give him more access and Omkara sweeps in his tongue, mating their tongues together. Omkara's hand travels up feeling her body and her perfect curves. Omkara breaks the kiss as he dragged his lips through her cheek, chin to her neck while his hand travelled up and found her breasts. Gauri moans softly as his hand kneaded her breast and his mouth kissed, licked and bit on her neck. Unable to take the pleasure she hugs him tight and brings him closer to her. Omkara was losing his mind as he got turned on with every touch and kiss. He brushes his erection against her and Gauri on reflex wraps her legs around him, making them touch each other intimately over their clothes. Omkara softly rocks against her and Gauri moans softly as he took her to higher passion.

Omkara softly kisses his way up towards her ears and asks in a whisper before he loses all his control, "Do you want to wait till our wedding?"

It took her a moment to understand his question in that passionate haze, and she nods her head against his. Omkara sighs loudly and rolls away. Gauri looks at him in disappoint for having lost the contact with him. Omkara turns to look at her and sees her watching him. He takes her hand in his and places a gentle kiss on her fist with a smile. Gauri shyly smiles back at him. Omkara gently pecks her on her lips.

"I've to go." Gauri whispers to him shyly.

Omkara immediately turns around hugging and he nuzzles her neck as he said, "no."

"What if someone sees me here?" Gauri asks him shyly as she turned her head away giving him more access.

"Instead of next year, we would be getting married this year." Omkara answers as he bit her.

"Ouch." Gauri says as she frowned at him and rubbed where he had bit. Omkara cheekily grin at her. "I am going." Gauri says as she got up pushing him off.

"Gauri ..." Omkara says trying to catch her but Gauri quickly slips through his fingers and gets out of the bed.

"Bye." Gauri whispers to him happily and runs out of the room while Omkara smiled at that then hugging the pillow she had used; he tries to get some sleep.

Later, Omkara knocks on Gauri 's door and she opens the door.

"Good morning." Omkara says in a sexy drawl.

Gauri shyly smiles at him.

"Let's go down for breakfast?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri nods her head in yes and starts to get out. "Wait." Omkara says as he looked around and when he realized no one was around, he quickly gets in her room and closes it.

"Wha..." Gauri starts to ask when he slams him mouth on hers and started kissing hungrily. Gauri quickly wraps her arms around him and kisses him back in equal passion.

Omkara leans back and happily smiles at her. Gauri smiles back at him and hug him happily. Omkara hugs her back holding her tight to him content.

"Let's go down?" Gauri asks him.

"Okay." Omkara says as he stepped back.

They both start walking down the stairs and spots Tej. They reach down and Tej turns back to see Gauri.

"Gauri." Tej says sadly as he walked towards her and hugged her. "I miss him so much." Tej says.

Remembering her father, Gauri 's eyes start filling with tears. Seeing the tears, Omkara furiously pulls Gauri away from Tej and both of them look at him in shock. "What is wrong with you, Dad? Do you know how I have been trying to keep her minds off things and you and your stupid melodrama!"

"I was just... " Tej stammers in shock while Gauri looks at Omkara hurt. Then turning to Gauri he says "I didn't mean to hurt you, Gauri. I was just missing him."

"I know, Daddyji." Gauri whispers as she hugged him.

Omkara furiously looks at his father and Tej pats Gauri 's back worriedly seeing his son's fury directed at him for the first time. "Let's have breakfast?" Tej asks jovially as he led Gauri to the dining table with Omkara tagging behind still furious at his father for making Gauri upset.

After breakfast, Omkara takes Gauri aside, "Are you going to be fine? Do you want me to take the day off?"

Gauri shakes her head in no.

"Please be happy, Gauri. I can't see you like this." Omkara whispers to her as he cups her face.

Seeing his concern for her, she smiles at him.

"That's like my girl." Omkara says smiling as he gently pecked her lips. "I'll see you in the evening."

Omkara had come home early to be with Gauri and finds out that his mother had gone out to meet her friends and Gauri was alone at home. After a quick shower, he goes looking for her in her room.

"How are you?" Omkara asks her as he smiled at her as he closed the door.

"Fine." Gauri whispers. "You are early."

"You were upset when I left." Omkara says as he hugged her. "You are fine, right?"

"Yes." Gauri replies.

"Hmmm." Omkara hmms as he placed soft kisses on her neck. "I missed you."

Omkara takes her lips in his and softly starts nibbling on it. The whole day, he had been thinking of their time together and he had a hard time controlling his hormones and now, just seeing her he was so bloody turned on that he wished they didn't have to wait till their marriage. As the passion clouded him, he recognized her unresponsiveness and gently stops.

"What happened?" Omkara asks her in a ragged breath.

Gauri looks away a little hurt.

"Tell me."

"Morning..." Gauri starts hesitantly.

"Yes?"

"Were you just trying to console me?"

Omkara looks at her in shock, and then he quickly lifts her up and pushes her against the wall. Before she could even gasp, he lifts up her legs and wraps it around him as he leaned on her anchoring her against the wall. He rubs his erection against her intimately and asks her "Does that look like consoling?"

Gauri gasps in shock.

"Does that?"

"When you told..." Gauri explains and stops as he rocked against her and she softly moans at the pleasure and tremor it was causing her.

"Whatever happened in the morning it was because I couldn't keep my hands off you and because I love you."

Gauri looks at him in surprise and shyly starts smiling. Seeing her smile Omkara gently smiles with her. "I love you, Gauri."

Gauri quickly hugs him and whispers softly, "I love you."

Omkara smiles hearing that and he gently eases her down. He lovingly caresses her cheek. "Did I scare you?"

"A little." Gauri admits.

"Sorry."

Gauri shakes her head and tells him, "I am sorry for doubting you."

"It's okay." Omkara replies as he smiled at her.

"Maaji is not home." Gauri shyly informs Omkara.

"Even Dad."

Gauri blushes hearing that.

"What can we do till they come?" Omkara asks her as he placed soft kisses on her collar bone.

Gauri closes her eyes in pleasure. "But I want to wait till marriage." Gauri whispers to him.

"You will be the end of me, Gauri Kumari Sharma." Omkara groans. "But can we do everything else?"

"Everything else?" Gauri asks in a surprised whisper as images filled her mind and she starts blushing completely.

Omkara grins seeing the blush on her face and he lifts her up and this time, Gauri straddles him as he walked towards the bed.

Later, Omkara comes back down after a bath as it was time for his parents to get back home. Few minutes later, Jhanvi walks in.

"Om... you are early today?" Jhanvi asks him smiling surprised.

"Work got over early." Omkara lies.

"Where is Gauri?" Jhanvi asks seeing that he was alone.

"Gauri ... I think room." Omkara replies.

"Oh." Jhanvi says disappointed.

"There she is." Omkara says as he spots Gauri coming down the stairs and starts smiling seeing her still so flushed after all that they did. Seeing him grinning at her, Gauri blushes and looks down.

Seeing Gauri blushing, Jhanvi sighs defeated. After all these months, Gauri was still blushing at seeing Om. If they continued to be so shy with each other then how were they ever going to get to know each other? Maybe, we should get them married sooner that might help them to open up to each other. I should talk to Tej. These two are seriously scaring me. If this is the case, then when am I going to have grandchildren?

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- Lazy