​Hello everyone....

How are you all?

Thanks to all for voting and commenting on my previous story. Sorry, I won't be able to reply to your comments as I am a little busy.

Will reply to PM soon.

Previous Story : Dumb & Dumber (Posted on 02 – Sep- 2021)

I started writing this story like ages ago. When MADHUBALA was going on. But I had left it a little into the story. I had quit the story at the phone conversation bit, and the only scene idea I had was when Anika comes home before the leap. Then I had a basic idea for the post leap bit, but the Bareilly parts also just happened as I wrote the story. it wasn't planned, so if it all feels disjointed, please ignore

Haven't proofread it.

Hearing the soft coughing, Omkara turns to look at his so called wife. She was excitedly looking out the car window. It was her first time in Mumbai. He felt like crying. His wife was just 15 years old and he was just 20 years old. He couldn't believe that he was married. Apparently, he had been married for 12 years now. 12 YEARS! God! He didn't know that child marriage was still practiced in this world. 3 months ago, he had the shock of his life when his parents had informed him about his wife, whom he had married when he was a kid. He had refused to believe that he was married, till he had seen the photos of their wedding. His wife, Gauri Kumari Sharma, was back in Bareilly where he was born. Now that she has finished her 10th standard and there weren't any institute for higher education for her there, her family had called up telling them that it is time to take their bahu home so she could continue her studies here and start her married life too.

He had thrown a fit and refused to accept the so called marriage and wife. He had stood his ground for 3 months and had to give in to all the emotional blackmail. But he had told his parents that he will not have any kind of relation with her till they are legally married and that would be at his own time. And since, Gauri finished her exams last week, they had gone to Bareilly to take her home.

Feeling his eyes on her, Gauri curiously turns to look at him and catches him watching her. she shyly smiles at him and he tightly smiles at her. even though he was angry with her for this marriage, a logical part of his brain kept telling him that just like him, even she was an innocent victim. But the illogical part of his brain did blame her for accepting this marriage. That part accused her for not being an ideal wife by not standing by him in fighting this cruelty on them, as illogical as it sounded, he did blame her for that. He looks away and his eyes catches his mother's who was sitting in the front while his father drove the car. His mother smiles at him and he angrily glares at her and looks away.

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

Few days later, Omkara was coming down the stairs when he notices Gauri running up the steps. He quickly steps aside to let her pass and she stops near him, shyly smiling at him. he smiles at her and quickly runs down. The girl had a crush on him. he had realized it within a day with the way she was blushing and giving him all love struck looks. God! She was a kid! The fact that she didn't look anything more than a child didn't help one bit.

"Om..." Jhanvi calls him as she hurried behind him to stop him.

"Yeah?" Omkara turns to her irately.

Jhanvi hurries to him and taking hold of his hand, she pulls him to a corner. "Why are you not talking to Gauri?"

"I don't have anything to tell her."

"But Om, she is your wife."

"Not till I marry her legally." Omkara tells her in finality.

"Om... please consider her feelings... she is in love with you."

Looks like, it was pretty obvious to everyone.

"Mom... stop forcing her on me. Don't make me hate her." Omkara tells her angrily and walks away.

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

"Om, tomorrow is karva chaut." Jhanvi informs Omkara at the dinner table.

Omkara curiously looks up at her. "Are we having a party tomorrow?"

"It's not a party. It is Puja. And this time, we are not having it here, we are going to Meera's house."

"I am not coming." Omkara informs her.

"That is what..." Jhanvi quickly tells him. "Since Gauri is also fasting and nobody here knows about your marriage, you can't break her fast there. So you and Gauri stay here and do the Puja here."

Omkara looks at Gauri in surprise and sees her smiling at him. "I don't believe in all this." Omkara informs her.

Gauri's face falls quickly.

"But Om..."

"I believe in it." Gauri tells Omkara.

Omkara was infuriated hearing that. And for the first time, he spoke to her. "Check the calendar once in a while. It is 2014. Not some middle age."

"It's her wish, Om." Tej tells him supporting Gauri.

"Fine!" Omkara says in a pissed off tone and pushing back his chair, he gets up and quickly leaves the table.

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

Omkara had purposely went out with his friends as he didn't want to break Gauri's fast. He was not liking it one bit that she was forced into his life. A girl he didn't know one bit and hasn't spoken more than a few words was suddenly his wife, and he couldn't believe that his parents expected him to accept her with open arms. He wanted to run away but then he had no money, no degree and no work, so he was trapped.

Hearing his mobile buzzing, Omkara checks his message. It was a message from his mother asking him to get home soon as it was about time and that they would reach home only after midnight.

Ah! Good! His parents were not home, so he didn't have to go for this silly fast breaking thing.

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

Late night, Omkara walks into his house and stops seeing Gauri sleeping on the couch. He notices that she was wearing a red saree. She looked tired. And guilt started piercing his heart realizing that she had slept off waiting for him. he kneels down next to her.

She looked like a baby.

"Gauri." Omkara gently shakes her awake.

Gauri opens her eyes and seeing him, she quickly sits up. "You are home?"

"Sorry... I am late."

"It's okay." Gauri tells him smiling as she sat up.

"Did you break your fast?"

"I was waiting for you."

Omkara looks down in guilt. "Come then. We will break it."

"Okay." Gauri says smiling as she stood up quickly adjusting her saree. "We'll go to terrace."

Few minutes later, Omkara was standing opposite Gauri on their terrace as he quietly watched Gauri perform the rituals. He had seen his parents do these before and he was familiar with the procedure.

As Gauri look at him through the sieve smiling at him, Omkara couldn't help but smile genuinely from his heart at her. and Gauri's smile brighten making him wonder whether she realized that it was the first time he was smiling at her whole heartedly.

Omkara takes the tumbler and offers her water as he kept it at her lips. Gauri takes a sip and then holding the tumbler over his hand, she eagerly drinks the water quenching her thirst. Seeing her eagerness, Omkara's guilt increases tenfold for making her suffer. Omkara offers her the sweet and Gauri eagerly eats it and smiles at him happily. And in that moment, something changed within him. he moves towards her and gently cupping her face, he leans towards her. before she could understand his intend, he kisses her on her forehead.

As he moved back, he sees Gauri gaping at him with her eyes wide and mouth open. He couldn't help chuckle.

"Go have your food." Omkara instructs her.

Hearing his voice, her face breaks out in a blush. She blushes happily at him.

"Go... you are hungry, right?"

Smiling happily, Gauri starts to leave then stopping she turns to him, "Did you eat?"

Omkara felt guilty hearing that. He had eaten his food while she had remained hungry for him. "I did." Omkara guilty tells her.

"Okay." Gauri smiles at him.

"I am sorry you had to stay hungry for me."

"I am your wife." Gauri tells him with a smile.

"But Gauri..."

"I have been doing it for years now."

"You have?" Omkara asks shocked.

"Yes. I would break my fast using your photo."

"Then why didn't you break when I was late?" Omkara asks shocked.

"Because you were here. And I knew you would come."

Omkara was shocked and surprised at her confidence in him. seeing that Gauri was leaving, he informs her. "Tomorrow morning, I am going to Goa with my friends."

Gauri whips around in panic. Seeing her reaction to his news, he quickly tells her, "I'll come back day after late night or the next day morning."

"is it really important for you to go?"

"My friends are going. It's my friend's birthday and he is throwing a party for the weekend."

"Oh."

"All my friends would be there. So, I want to go." Omkara informs her.

"Okay." Gauri says sadly and turns to walk off. Then stopping, she tells him hesitantly, "Try to come day after night." Then without waiting for an answer, she runs off.

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

Omkara was having a blast as he drank and danced with his friends.

Omkara was dancing when he notices Anika near him. just as he looked at her, she also turned to look at him. they smile at each other. Omkara moves towards her as he continued to dance.

"Hey." Omkara tells her. he has known her since they were in school. They have been classmates for over 5 years now.

"Hi Omkara. Great party."

"Yeah. Arjun knows how to celebrate his birthday." Omkara tells her as he danced with her.

"Want to go out?" Anika asks him. "Too loud."

"yeah, sure." Omkara tells her as he gulped the drink he was holding, and follows her out.

"So... what's happening?" Omkara asks her as he followed her towards the waves.

"Same old. How about you?"

"Yeah... same." Omkara tells her as he looked down feeling nervous that she would catch his lie.

"It's so quiet out here." Anika tells him in relief as she sat on the sand.

Omkara sits next to her.

"So... what are you guys planning for tonight?" Anika asks him in a whisper.

"What?" Omkara asks chuckling.

"I did hear something through grapevine."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Omkara tells her chuckling wondering how to escape the situation.

"Come on! Arjun has a loose tongue when he drinks. And Ria heard him."

"Hmmm."

"So?"

"They are planning something... I am not in it." Omkara tells her realizing that he had no escape.

"Yeah, right!" Anika scoffs.

"Seriously."

"You mean to say that boys have called a hooker and you are not going to do anything."

"Yeah!"

"And I believe you!" Anika tells him sarcastically. "You brought porn magazine to school."

"That is true."

"And now you have become a good boy?"

"I don't know." Omkara tells her honestly. He had the hormones and curiosity like all his friends, and if he hadn't a girl waiting for him at home then even he would have done all that his friends were planning. But now, losing his virginity was no longer his priority. His priority was the innocent girl awaiting him back home.

"Hmmm."

"I don't feel it is right." Omkara tells her.

Anika smiles hearing that.

"You have changed." Anika tells him.

"Me? How?" Omkara asks surprised.

"You are always lost in thoughts. Become serious too."

"Hmmm."

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah." Omkara tells her smiling. "All good."

"Okay then." Anika tells him smiling.

"Can I ask you something?" Omkara asks her gently.

"What?"

"When you have crushes on guys... how are you?"

"How am I?" Anika asks confused.

"What are your thoughts and expectations?"

"Hmmm.... What happened to you?" Anika asks surprised.

"Nothing... I was just... nothing." Omkara quickly tells her deciding it was a stupid idea to talk to a girl about understanding another girl.

"You have a crush on me?"

"NO!"

"Hmmm."

"It's okay, leave it." Omkara says realizing he was messing it up.

"I expect loyalty and love." Anika tells him.

"Hmmm. That's it?"

Anika chuckles. "Now, that is it. when I was younger, before I got to know guys and relationships, I had a dream world and dreamt of marriage and all."

"Now, you don't?"

"I realize that not every relation ends up in marriage."

"Hmmm."

They were silent for a few minutes, both lost in their thoughts. Then Omkara hears Anika chuckling.

"What?"

"Nothing... I was thinking how silly I was when I had my first crush."

"When was that?" Omkara asks her curiously.

"Hmmm... maybe 14... 15. I was so silly, innocent and gullible."

Like Gauri.

"After your first heartbreak, it feels like a life time ago."

"You dumped Mukund, right?" Omkara asks remembering her first boyfriend.

"Yeah."

"Why did you dump him?"

"He was not what I thought him to be."

"Like?"

"I don't know... you know, I fell for his looks actually. And I thought him to be my soulmate. But once I got to know him, I realized how different he was to my imagination. he wasn't bad or anything. It was that, I found his character boring and not in sync with me and I quickly fell out of love with him. I think even he found me boring as we had no similar interest."

God! It was exactly like how Gauri was feeling about him. she was in love with the image of a husband, not the real him.

"Anyway... that's old news." Anika says sighing. "Let's go back in?"

"You, go. I'll come later."

"Okay!" Anika says getting up. "By the way, who is she? Do I know her? is she from our college?"

Omkara's first instinct was to deny about any girl. Then decided to tell the truth. She was honest with him and he should show the same courtesy to her. "No."

"What's her name?"

"I'll tell you later."

"Okay." Anika says smiling and walks back into their shack while Omkara sat back.

Omkara sat back thinking about Gauri and his responsibility towards her. she was so innocent and full of dreams. And those were all about him. He didn't want to hurt her. she was just a child and the thought that he could hurt her, scared the life out of him. the talk with Anika confirmed many of his doubts and gave a clear picture to Gauri's thoughts, and reminded him again about how innocent Gauri is and that she hasn't seen the real world to be married and decide on a life partner.

Omkara was thinking about Gauri and what all had happened in these months. He hadn't truly spoken to her that much and had always avoided her. And the first time he spoke to her was talk rudely to her about fasting for him. suddenly, he wanted to talk to her.

After contemplating for a while on whether to call her, he gives in and calls his house landline.

"hello?" Jhanvi answers the call and Omkara quickly hangs up.

He waits for 10 minutes and calls again.

"Hello?" Tej answers this time.

Omkara hangs up.

Omkara decides to call after 11 as his parents would sleep by then and Gauri would be watching TV that time. She watched those silly serials.

He calls after half an hour and again, his Dad picked up. irritated he hangs up.

Another 15 mins, he calls again and after impatiently waiting, the phone was picked after 6 rings and he hears an irritated and hurried hello.

"Gauri." Omkara says in relief.

And the irritation was gone from her voice and it was replaced with surprise, "Omkaraji?"

"How are you?"
"I am okay. How are you? When are you coming back?"

"Day after."

"Oh!"

"You seemed irritated. Where you watching your serial?"

"Yes. Did you call to talk to Mummyji? They slept."

"No, I called to talk to you."

"ME?" Gauri asks excitedly.

Hearing her excitement, Omkara's heart fills with joy and his face breaks out into a smile. He wished he could have seen her face just then.

"Yes. I felt like talking to you. but are you busy?"

"No."

Omkara smiles, she was irritated when she had answered the call as she had been busy watching her serial and now, she was saying she wasn't busy so they could talk. "Tell me."

"What?" Gauri asks confused.

"Anything."

"Hmmm..."

Omkara couldn't help smile hearing her going hmmm thinking.

"How is the birthday party?"

"Good."

"Is it fun?"

"Yes." Omkara replies though he knew the fun that Gauri thought and the fun that was happening at the party were totally different.

"What all are you doing there?"

"Dancing... talking... and all."

"Even we do the same. We even play antakshari." Gauri excitedly tells him.

"That is nice."

"And I always win."

"Ahaan." Omkara smiles at her innocent excitement.

"Yes. What about you?"

"It's been a long time since I played antakshari."

"Oh." Gauri says disappointed. "We are always playing that."

"With whom?"

"My friends."

"Do you miss your friends?" Omkara asks her gently.

"At times. When I've nothing to do here." Gauri replies softly.

"Oh."

"But I'm happy to be here with you." Gauri shyly tells him.

Omkara felt bad hearing that. she was in a new place with people she didn't know and he had been ignoring her all this while. "I'm sorry I didn't talk to you all this while."

"That is okay. Mummyji told me that you need time to accept our marriage as you didn't know about it."

"How did you accept this marriage, Gauri?" Omkara asks her softly.

"You are my husband, Omkaraji." Gauri replies a little worried and shocked.

Omkara worriedly closes his eyes.

"You will accept our marriage, Omkaraji?" Gauri worriedly asks him.

Omkara's heart started slamming against his chest hearing her worried question.

"Omkaraji?" Gauri worriedly calls him, almost giving into tears.

"I don't know, Gauri. all this is so new to me." Omkara confesses to her.

"Hmmm." Gauri sadly listens.

Omkara regretted calling her, she was so happy and now she was sad because of him. he was starting to realize the power that he held over her. her happiness and sadness was depended on him and he didn't like that. he couldn't take that big a responsibility.

But you already have that responsibility. His heart whispered to him, and he knew it was true.

"Gauri, I promise you that, I'll never hurt you."

"Hmmm." Gauri says a little relieved.

"Please smile, Gauri." Omkara requests her.

"Gauri?" Omkara calls her when she remained silent.

"I'm smiling, Omkaraji."

Omkara chuckles hearing that.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I am not." Omkara says chuckling. "You shouldn't be sad. If any problem... anything, you come to me, we will talk and solve it. okay?"

"Okay, Omkaraji." Gauri says smiling happily.

"Don't call me Omkaraji. Call me Om."

"Om." Gauri shyly calls him.

Omkara's heart skips a beat and there were goosebumps all over him.

"Omkara!"

Omkara turns back and sees his friends calling him.

"Gauri, I've to go."

"Okay." Gauri says a little disappointed.

"Bye, I'll see you day after." Omkara says as he hung up the phone.

********

Omkara reaches late evening.

"How was your trip?" Jhanvi asks him as she opened the door for him.

"It was good." Omkara says as he stretched tiredly.

"Did you have dinner?"

Yawning Omkara nods in yes.

"Since morning, Gauri has been waiting for you. just go see her before you go to your room." Jhanvi tells him softly.

Omkara nods.

"She is in her room." Jhanvi tells him.

Omkara nods surprised. Usually, she would be watching TV at this time. "Good night, Mom." Omkara tells her and walks off.

Omkara knocks on Gauri's bedroom door.

Gauri opens the door and the moment she sees him, her face breaks out into a big smile. "You came?"

"What?" Omkara asks chuckling hearing her question.

"I thought you wouldn't come today." Gauri tells him smiling happily.

"But I told you I would come today, right?" Omkara asks her confused.

"I thought you would come in the morning. When you didn't come till now, I thought you decided to stay one more day." Gauri explains.

"Ah okay." Omkara nods then yawning, he says, "I'm tired. I'm going to sleep."

Seeing him yawn, she yawns. "Okay."

Omkara chuckles seeing that. he starts to walk off and he curiously asks her, "Why are you not watching TV?"

"I wasn't in the mood." Gauri says softly as she looked down.

"Hmmm." Omkara doesn't say anything knowing it was because of him.

"I'm going to watch TV now." Gauri tells him happily.

Omkara smiles at her and starts to walk to his room. then stopping he turns to her, "Gauri."

"Yes?" Gauri who was about to run down the stairs stops and looks at him.

"Come here." Omkara gestures to her in a whisper as he walked into his room.

Gauri runs towards him and follows him into his room.

Omkara walks to the bed and keeps his bag on the bed and opens the zip. He takes out the scarf he had got for her. he turns to Gauri and sees her looking inside his bag with a frown. Confused, Omkara turns to look at his bag and sees the beer bottle that he had brought from the party. His first instinct was to close his bag, but then he wanted her to know him as he is.

Omkara turns to her and tells her, "Don't tell my parents, they don't know."

Gauri nods as she looked at him in shock. "You drink that?"

"Once in a while, with my friends."

Gauri looks at him scandalized.

"I don't know what you assumed that I would be like. But I know I am very different from what you thought me to be."

Gauri worriedly looks at him.

"The truth is, you don't know me. only this husband image that you built in your mind."

"You are my husband." Gauri whispers as she looked down.

"I can't promise you that you won't be disappointed when you get to know the real me."

"You can never disappoint me, Om." Gauri tells him.

Omkara sighs realizing Gauri was too immature and too caught up in her fantasies about him, that she would remain stubborn about the reality, and he hoped that it wouldn't be a big shock or heartbreak for her when she finally realizes that he isn't like the fantasy heroes that she imagined him to be, and that he was just a normal human being like everyone else.

"Why did you ask me to come?"

"Erm..." Omkara extends his hand and offers her the scarf. "This is for you."

"You got this for me?" Gauri asks him excited.

"I saw it... and I thought..." Omkara shrugs.

"Thank you." Gauri says excitedly as she took it from him. "So pretty." Gauri tells him as she ran to the mirror and tried the scarf on her.

She puts the scarf over her head and turns to look at him. "How is it?"

Omkara's breath gets caught in his throat seeing her. for the first time, he realized Gauri was very beautiful.

Not realizing the effect, she was having on him, she turns around to face the mirror and puts the scarf around her neck. She tries three- four styles as she checked herself in the mirror. Omkara silently watched her.

"Thank you. I love it." Gauri tells him as she walked to him.

Omkara smiles. "Welcome."

"Now, you sleep. I'll go." Gauri tells him smiling.

"Good night."

"Good night. Sweet dreams." Gauri wishes him and happily hops out of the room, hugging the scarf to her chest.

********

"I'm going out." Omkara says as he leaned on the TV room door.

"Where are you going?" Gauri asks him as she ran to him.

"To meet my friends."

"When will you come back?"

"I'll be late."

Gauri nods. "Okay. take care."

Omkara smiles and couldn't help it, so, he lovingly pats her cheek. Gauri blushes shyly.

"Bye." Omkara says and leaves.

Omkara was walking out when Jhanvi sees him leaving.

"Om!"

"Yeah?"

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

"Out where?" Jhanvi asks exasperated.

"To meet my friends. Why?"

"You should inform and go." Jhanvi tells him frowning.

"I didn't see you, so didn't tell you." Omkara tells her.

"You could have looked for me."

"Mom... I'm getting late." Omkara tells his mother irately. "Bye, Mom. I'm going."

"Tomorrow, don't make any plans with your friends. Gauri and I've couple of places to go, so you've to take us."

"What happened to the driver?" Omkara asks confused.

"I want my son to come with me."

"Fine!"

*********

Gauri gets into the front seat and she looks at Omkara and excitedly smiles at him. Omkara smiles at her. then noticing the scarf he gave her stylishly on her neck, he smiles. then leaning towards her, he starts to pull the seat belt to clip it for her.

"I know." Gauri whispers.

Omkara looks at her and sees her blushing beetroot red on having him so close to him. Omkara gulps and quickly moves back as he handed her the seat belt. Gauri takes it and quickly clips it in.

"Where to?" Omkara asks Jhanvi through the rare view mirror.

Jhanvi who had been busy on the phone, looks up at him. "First temple."

"First? How many places are you two planning to go to?"

"Couple of places. It'll take full day. we've shopping too."

Sighing loudly, Omkara says. "Okay."

"Why no arguing today?" Jhanvi asks curiously.

"Is there any use in arguing?" Omkara asks her back.

"Why are you both always fighting?" Gauri asks curiously.

"Because she is always irritating me." Omkara tells her.

"Because he is always back answering me." Jhanvi says at the same time then hearing what Omkara said, she asks Gauri, "Am I irritating, Gauri?"

"No."

"See!"

"She just lied because she didn't want to hurt you by saying the truth."

"No... no... I didn't lie." Gauri quickly says.

Jhanvi proudly smirks, "He back answers a lot, right, Gauri?"

Gauri looks at Omkara and he looks at her. "No... no... Om doesn't back answer."

Omkara grins.

"You are right, Om. She is a liar." Jhanvi teases making Gauri blush.

Omkara chuckles and starts the car.

"And you call him Om now?" Jhanvi asks curiously.

Omkara looks at Gauri for a second and then informs his mother. "I don't like being called Omkaraji."

"Yes... and family calls you Om. She was used to Omkaraji, so I thought she would find it difficult to call you Om."

"And she shouldn't call you Mummyji. People are going to wonder why she is calling you that." Omkara tells his mother as he drove the car.

"That is true. You should call us Dad and Mom like Om does, Gauri."

"Okay." Gauri replies.

*******

Next night, Omkara was getting ready to sleep when he hears a knock at the door.

Omkara opens the door and finds Gauri at the door. she was looking upset.

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

"You said if I have any problem then I should come to you."

"Yeah, what happened?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri looks at him and hesitates for a few seconds.

"Come here." Omkara invites her in and leads her to his bed.

Gauri sits on the foot of the bed and Omkara kneels down in front of her.

"What happened? Tell me."

Gauri offers him a bunch of papers.

Omkara curiously takes it and looks at it. "These are your admission forms we got yesterday, right? didn't you like the school?" Omkara asks her in confusion.

"I liked the school."

"Then what happened?"

"Baba wants me to become a doctor. He told me to join second group. I don't want to be a doctor. I don't like science, it is very hard for me." Gauri tells him sadly.

"If you don't want to study science, then don't study." Omkara tells her.

"But Baba told me to study science."

"Your Baba isn't going to come and sit in your class and help you study. He is not going to write your exams for you. you've to do it and you study what you want to study."

"Baba will scold me. he will be angry with me."

"He will calm down later. What do you want to become?" Omkara asks her as he took a pen and passed it to her.

Gauri had filled all the details except the course details.

"For now I'll do commerce or humanities. Whichever I would get into." Gauri replies.

Omkara frowns hearing that. "What do you want to become, Gauri?"

Gauri looks at him worriedly and then she looks down and shakes her head.

Omkara was surprised at her reaction. "Tell me, Gauri. Whatever it is, just tell me."

Looking down, Gauri confesses as if confessing a sin. "I want to be a hair stylist."

Omkara frowns hearing that. "Hair stylist?"

Gauri nods in yes.

"Why are you scared to say that?" Omkara asks her confused.

"Baba said he doesn't want me to be a barber." Gauri tells him sadly.

Omkara sighs hearing that.

"Will you also be ashamed if I become a hair stylist?" Gauri asks him worriedly.

"Why would I be?" Omkara asks her confused. "It is your career, your life and your choice."

"Really?" Gauri asks him smiling happily.

"Yes." Omkara smiles.

"So, after I finish school, can I join some beauty parlor and learn to be a hair stylist?"

"Let's finish your school first." Omkara tells her smiling as he gestured to the form with his eyes.

Gauri smiles and fills the form with the first option as Commerce and second option as Humanities.

*******

"Your baba is going to be super mad if he finds out." Jhanvi worriedly tells Gauri seeing her form.

Gauri worriedly looks down.

"You said you want to do something art based, so you could have taken science now and convinced Harsh when it is time to join college."

"I don't want to do science, mom." Gauri tells her softly.

"We'll tell him that you didn't get admission for science." Jhanvi tells her.

"What is the need to lie?" Omkara asks frowning.

"He was very insistent that Gauri join science." Jhanvi tells him.

"It is not his decision to make." Omkara tells her. "And Gauri wants to be..." Omkara stops seeing Gauri shaking her head at him.

"Gauri wants to be what?" Jhanvi asks confused.

"It is her decision what she wants to be." Omkara tells her.

Omkara takes Jhanvi's phone and dials Harsh's number.

"Namaste Jhanviji." Harsh answers the call.

"Hello, Uncle..." Omkara says.

Gauri worriedly looks at him and Jhanvi sighs.

"Oh Om... how are you?" Harsh asks happily.

"I'm good, Uncle. How are you? how is everyone there?"

"Good... all are good... tell me, how is Gauri doing?"

"She is fine, uncle. We'll be going to school to give her application."

"That is good."

"Gauri has decided to either do commerce or humanities."

"What?" Harsh asks angrily. "I told her to take science. She is to become a doctor."

"Uncle, I understand you want your daughter to be a doctor but neither are you going to write her exams or treat patients for her. she has to do all that and she doesn't want to do it. so, she is going to do what she wants to do."

"Do you even know what she wants to be?"

"Yeah, she told me."

"Barber, she wants to be."

"It is her life and her choice. If that is what she wants to be then that is what she will be."

"She is going to regret it!"

"Then she will choose a different career that time, if she feels that she doesn't want to pursue that. whatever she wants to be then. One thing she is clear of is that she doesn't want to be a doctor, so, she won't be one. You can't force her and I won't let you force her."

"Give the phone to her."

"He wants to talk to you." Omkara tells her as he passed the phone to Gauri.

"Baba?" Gauri worriedly says.

"Gauri... don't be a fool. Join science."

"I don't want to do it, Baba. I'll fail. I won't pass."

"Gauri, you're going to regret. You'll have a good career and secure future being doctor."

"I don't want to be a doctor. Om said I don't have to be one if I don't want to be one." Gauri worriedly but stubbornly says.

"Is that your final decision?" Harsh asks angrily.

"Yes."

"Fine! Do whatever you want!" Harsh says angrily and hangs up.

Gauri sighs in relief and turns to Omkara smiling happily. "Thank you, Om." Gauri says happily as she hugged him.

Omkara was surprised at her hug but then he gently hugs her.

Jhanvi smiles seeing that. she was happy to see that her Om was starting to accept Gauri. "He agreed?" Jhanvi asks as she took her mobile from Gauri.

Gauri nods excitedly. "He is angry but he said to do whatever I want."

"He will calm down after a few days." Jhanvi tells her smiling and walks off.

"Why didn't you tell Mom that you want to be a hairdresser?" Omkara asks her in a curious whisper.

"Baba and Ma scolded me when I told them. Maybe she also won't like it."

"Don't be ashamed or afraid of your dreams, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

*******

Soon, Gauri's school and Omkara's college started with new academic year.

"So...." Anika asks as she sat next to Omkara.

"So?" Omkara asks confused.

"How are things with that girl?" Anika asks him curiously.

"I don't know." Omkara honestly replies softly as he looked around to see if anyone was listening to them.

"What do you mean by you don't know?"

Omkara sighs. "She was scared to choose what course she wants to do because her father told her to do science. She is so scared of going against her father. So, what if, he told her that I'm the one and that is the reason she accepts me?"

"Did you talk to her about it?" Anika asks him.

"She is so caught up in all these fantasies and dreams that she is not ready to see the reality. What if later, she regrets that I'm not what she had dreamt of?" Omkara worriedly asks her. "She is so innocent; I don't want to hurt her. and she is so immature and stubborn in her believes that she is not ready to realize and accept what I'm telling her."

"Do you love her?" Anika asks him.

"I don't want her to be heartbroken." Omkara tells in reply.

"Hey Anika! Come here!"

"I've to go." Anika tells him seeing her friends call her. "We'll talk later."

*******

"Gauri... I want to watch the match." Omkara tells her as he walked into the TV room.

"What?" Gauri asks shocked as she looked at her serial on TV.

"Give the remote. You watch the rerun tomorrow." Omkara tells her as he sat on the couch.

Gauri gives him the remote, seeing the puppy face. Omkara sighs. "How many minutes more for this to finish?"

"15 mins."

"Fine, watch it!"

Gauri happily smiles at him. "Thank you."

Omkara shakes his head seeing her excitement and he takes his mobile to check the live updates as he watched her serial with her.

*******

Hearing the door bell, Gauri curiously looks while Jhanvi opens the door.

"hello, Aunty. Is Omkara home?" Anika asks her.

"Hello, Anika. Come." Jhanvi says smiling at her then turning to Gauri, she tells her. "Gauri, go call Om... tell him Anika is here."

Gauri starts to get up as she curiously looked at Anika.

"It's okay, Aunty. I'll go up. Is he in his room?"

"Yes."

Anika walks off to Omkara's room as she politely smiles at Gauri. Gauri worriedly looks at her, as she walked up the stairs and knocked on Omkara's bedroom door.

"Hey! How come you are here?" Omkara asks surprised.

"We couldn't finish our talk, so I thought I'll come over." Anika tells him.

"Come in." Omkara tells her as he stepped aside to let her in.

Anika walks in and Omkara closes the door. seeing that, Gauri's heart skips a beat and she worriedly stares at the closed door.

*******

"Last night... this serial was going on." Omkara says a little worriedly.

"Serial?" Anika asks confused wondering what does this have to do with it.

"Yeah... such regressive crap. This girl is married to this asshole, and he doesn't accept her as his wife, and she is going through shit to make him accept her. she was watching it. she was so involved in the story. she was saying that, they were married and the girl loved the guy and she was going to win his heart." Omkara says agitatedly.

"So?" Anika asks confused as hell.

"Don't you see? That is also her thinking! She thinks that I'm her husband and we should stay together forever. It is not me... but this husband image that she is infatuated with."

"Husband?" Anika asks shocked.

Omkara stops realizing what he had said.

"I thought... your families got you engaged... you got married?" Anika asks shocked out of her wits.

Omkara sighs as he looked away.

"but you are underage." Anika says in shock.

Omkara laughs. "Underage?" Omkara asks her in a mocking tone.

"What? You're just 20, right?"

"I was just 8 when my crazy wacko granddad and Gauri's grandfather got us married."

"WHAT?" Anika screeches in shock.

"Yeah!" Omkara proceeds to tell her everything.

"Gauri?" Anika asks in confusion. "She was sitting downstairs?"

"Yeah."

"She is a kid." Anika whispers in shock. "How old is she?"

"15."

"Oh God. This is a crime."

"I know!" Omkara mutters.

"Wait a minute... she accepts you as her husband." Anika says in a shocked whisper.

"Yeah... she was from childhood told about her husband and how she belongs to him and all."

"No... no..." Anika tells him in a whisper. "She is sitting down and her husband is in a room with another girl."

"What?" Omkara asks confused.

"Does she know that I'm just a friend?" Anika asks him.

Hearing the question, Omkara's heart skips a beat and panicking, he runs to the door and opening the door, he runs out.

he looks down and sees Gauri worriedly looking at him, almost in tears. Omkara quickly gestures her to come up. Gauri quickly runs up the stairs and towards him.

"Come." Omkara tells her as he led her to his bedroom.

Gauri worriedly follows him and looks at Anika curiously, wondering what her relation to Om was.

"This is Anika. She is my friend." Omkara tells her.

"Friend?" Gauri asks softly as she looked at Omkara.

Omkara nods. "We've been in same class since school. She is a good friend." Omkara explains then he adds, "She is just a friend."

Hearing that, Gauri smiles happily. then turning to Anika she says. "Hello, I'm Gauri."

"Hello, Gauri... and who are you to Omkara?" Anika asks her teasingly.

Omkara glares at Anika hearing the question. then feeling Gauri's gaze on him, he looks at her and realizes that she was waiting for him to answer her.

"My friend." Omkara says.

Hearing that, Gauri sadly looks down, feeling hurt that he wasn't ready to accept her as his wife yet.

Seeing Gauri upset, Anika feels guilty while Omkara glares at Anika for creating this situation.

"Omkara... just go out. I want to talk to Gauri alone."

"What? Why?" Omkara asks confused.

"Just go, Omkara."

Reluctantly Omkara leaves.

"Come sit here." Anika tells her as she led her to the chair and knelt in front of her.

"He told me about your marriage." Anika tells Gauri.

Gauri looks up at her in shock. "Then why did he say that I'm just a friend?"

"because he just found out of this marriage. you always knew about it. you have accepted it since childhood. It is not easy for him." Anika gently explains to her.

Gauri nods as she looked down.

"But ever since you came here, he has only thought of you."

Gauri looks at her in surprise.

"Even when we were in Goa, he was always lost in your thoughts."

Gauri blushes hearing that.

"Awww." Anika cups her face, realizing how innocent and childlike Gauri was. "He cares a lot for you, Gauri."

Gauri shyly smiles hearing that.

"Just now, when he realized how disturbed you would be when he and I was inside the bedroom, I saw the way he had panicked in that second. He is so concerned about you."

"I got worried when I saw you come in here like that." Gauri confesses to her.

"I can understand." Anika tells her. "He didn't realize that you would think like that, if he knew, I know he would have never done it."

"Now, I won't misunderstand." Gauri promises her with a smile.

Anika smiles. "Gauri, I want to tell you something. And I know, you might not understand it now." Anika gently tells her.

"What?" Gauri asks her worriedly.

"Omkara's biggest fear is that, you don't know him. you love the thoughts and dreams that you built around this "husband" person from childhood and that you don't know the real him. he is worried that once you realize that he can't match up to this husband image that you have built in your heart then you would be heartbroken."

"Om is my husband and I love him." Gauri stubbornly insists.

Anika nods realizing that Gauri was going to be stubborn. She was at that innocent and gullible age where her love is right and the rest of the world is wrong. She had been at that stage when she had her first crush, so she could understand.

"I understand, Gauri. just keep in mind that you both don't know each other all that well, and not to be disappointed when you get to know each other. That is what Omkara is most worried about."

"Will Om be disappointed when he gets to know me?" Gauri asks her worriedly.

"You are such a cutie, Gauri." Anika tells her as she lovingly pinched her cheek. "But just, give it time. take your time. give each other time. and you've a long time to get together. So, just keep expectations from each other at a minimum and see the person beyond this husband persona. Like he is seeing you as Gauri and not as his wife."

Gauri nods, understanding some and not understanding some.

*******

"Why are you staring like that?" Omkara asks curiously seeing Gauri staring and scrutinizing at a magazine.

Gauri looks up and smiles at him. "I was looking at this hair style."

"Ah okay." Omkara nods seeing the photo of Katrina Kaif. "So, you are looking at hair styles when you are looking at these film magazines?" Omkara asks her curiously.

"Yes." Gauri tells him smiling.

"I am thinking of cutting my hair. Is there any style that would suit me?" Omkara asks her curiously.

"Yeah, I saw one." Gauri tells him excitedly as she turned the page.

"That looks nice." Omkara points out one as she was flipping the pages.

"No... that won't suit the shape of your face." Gauri tells him shaking her head.

"Oh."

Gauri turns the pages and finds the one she was looking for. "This one."

"You think that will look good on me?" Omkara asks looking at Akshay Kumar's photo.

"Yes. Amazing it will be." Gauri tells him confidently.

"Okay then." Omkara smiles seeing her confidence. "Give me the book when I go to cut my hair."

"I'll cut it for you?" Gauri asks him excitedly.

"What?" Omkara asks shocked.

"Yes. I'll cut your hair for you."

"No, it's okay. I'll go to the salon." Omkara tells her.

"I can do it."

"Do you know to cut hair?"

"I cut my friends hair." Gauri tells him.

Omkara worriedly looks at her, not that confident in her skills.

"If you don't trust me to do a good job, then it is okay." Gauri tells him a little unenthusiastically.

Seeing her like that, he felt bad. "Okay, you do it."

"Really?" Gauri asks him excitedly.

"Yeah, but if you ruin my look then I'll shave off your hair." Omkara warns her.

Gauri laughs. "I won't ruin it."

"Okay then, come."

"But I need scissors." Gauri tells him confused.

"It will be there somewhere here. Just ask one of the servants."

*******

With an old blanket hung securely around his neck, hair fully wet, Omkara nervously sat in front of Gauri.

"You are sure, right?" Omkara worriedly asks her.

"Yes, Om." Gauri tells him as she combed his hair and made sections and clipped his hair with her butterfly hair clips.

"Seriously? Your clips?" Omkara asks shocked.

"Ssshhh... sit quietly, Om." Gauri frowns at him. "I am not a professional to have all the real stuff."

Omkara nervously takes a deep breath as he prayed hard that Gauri doesn't ruin his hair and his look.

Gauri takes the scissors and cuts off a little bit of hair and Omkara closes his eyes tight, fighting the urge to run.

"You should stop making puppy faces at me." Omkara mutters under his breath.

"What?" Gauri asks confused.

"Nothing."

Omkara nervously sat, regretting his weak heart while Gauri with utmost concentration kept chopping off his hair.

"Oh no!" Gauri whispers.

"What happened? What happened?" Omkara asks panicking as he looked at her.

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

"Why did you say Oh no?"

"This clip is not staying properly as your hair is not that long."

"Oh."

"It's okay, I'll manage." Gauri tells him and resumes cutting his hair.

Omkara sighs and sits still. "How did you learned to cut hairs?"

"By myself."

"By yourself?" Omkara screeches in shock.

"Yes. Sit still."

Omkara sighs and sits, praying that he wouldn't have to trim off all his hair in the end.

"Okay done." Gauri says as she kept the scissors and comb to the side.

"Let me see."

"Wait, let me set it first." Gauri says as she started to clean him up first.

Once he was cleaned up, Gauri runs to her room and gets her brand new hair dryer.

Watching her plugging it in, Omkara curiously asks, "So, this is why you got this that day when we went for shopping?"

"Baba wouldn't get me one. My friend had one, I used to use hers." Gauri tells him as she started setting his hair.

"Okay, done." Gauri says as she stepped back, smiling in nervous excitement.

Omkara turns to the mirror and stops in shock seeing the way she had cut and set his hair. He never had a hair style that suited him so well.

"Did you like it?" Gauri asks him.

"This is amazing." Omkara replies still in shock. Then turning to her, he asks her, "And you learned it by yourself?"

Gauri nods excitedly.

"Wow, Gauri. you are a natural talent." Omkara says as he admired his hair style in the mirror. "Thank you."

Gauri smiles excitedly. "From now on, I'll cut your hair."

"Obviously." Omkara replies.

Gauri chuckles happily.

*******

Gauri was beaming the whole day as everyone at home was complimenting her on Omkara's new look.

At night, she was going to her room when Omkara comes to her.

"I've a thank you gift for you." Omkara tells her as he offers her a wrapped gift.

"For cutting your hair?" Gauri asks confused.

"yes. Here."

Curiously, Gauri takes it and opens it. Seeing the hair cutting tools, she squeals in excitement. "Thank you." Gauri jumps in excitement as she hugs him.

Omkara hugs her. "You are welcome. I don't know what else you need. If you need anything else, tell me."

"Yes." Gauri tells him excitedly.

*******

2 years later

"Have you gone mad?" Harsh asks Omkara furiously.

"You don't have to over react like this." Omkara tells him.

"Om... today is such a good day. Gauri's results came and she got such good marks... don't create any issue today. don't spoil her day." Jhanvi tells him gently.

"I'm not spoiling her day." Omkara tells his mother frowning.

"We had come to fix a wedding date and get you two legally married!" Harsh says.

"Gauri has to finish her studies." Omkara replies.

"We are not sending her anywhere." Vasundhara tells him.

"Gauri is going." Omkara tells them sternly.

"Gauri... I told you, banking is a very good career option. There are many colleges here for that." Harsh tells her.

"Gauri wants to be a hair stylist, and she is going to be one." Omkara tells him.

"She didn't study all these years to be a barber!" Harsh tells him sternly.

"There is nothing wrong in being a barber. But Gauri isn't going to be a barber, she is going to be a hairdresser."

"We won't allow it." Harsh tells him.

"It is Gauri's career and her life. she doesn't need your permission to choose her career."

"Fine, let her be whatever she wants to be. But why send her so far away?" Vasundhara asks him.

"Because this is best for Gauri." Omkara replies.

"But in a foreign land, all alone, how will she stay?" Vasundhara asks worriedly, panicking at the thought.

"She will learn to adapt."

"Do you want to go, Gauri?" Harsh asks her frowning.

Gauri, who was still reeling from the shock of Omkara's announcement of sending her away to UK, turns to look at her father.

"Won't you go, Gauri?" Omkara asks her gently.

"You want me to go?" Gauri asks him sadly, wanting to cry.

"Yes."

Biting down her tears, Gauri gives in. "Then I'll go."

*******

"Are you angry with me?" Omkara asks her as he looked at Gauri from the door.

Seeing him, Gauri sits up sadly and shakes her head in negative.

Omkara walks to her and kneels in front of her. "We have to do this, Gauri."

"Why?" Gauri asks him sadly as she cried.

Omkara wipes her tears. "You need to stay away from me. away from everyone."

"Why?"

"Gauri, our grandfathers got us married without our permission and with no care to our feelings and thoughts."

"I love you, Om. I want to be with you." Gauri tells him as she cried.

"Gauri... all your life, everyone told you that you were married and you were supposed to love your husband. You loved me because everyone told you that I am your husband."

"I love you, Om."

"Gauri... you will be turning 18 in 2 months, and your parents are already thinking of getting you married. They aren't even thinking that you are still a child legally."

"You don't marry me if you don't want to marry me now. but please don't send me away."

"We have to do this, Gauri. We were bound in childhood but it is our decision whether we want to be bound with each other for lifelong."

"I want to."

"You go to UK. You under graduation is for 3 years. these three years, you will stay there. we won't meet each other. We won't talk to each other."

Seeing Gauri was about to interrupt, he holds her hand and continues on. "Then you've a year of your post-graduation. That time, we will talk to each other as friends."

"But why?" Gauri asks him confused.

"We've to do this, Gauri. for you, for me and for us."

"I don't want to do this."

"You've to. After you finish studies, maybe a year or two after that, if you still want to marry me then we will get married." Omkara promises her.

"I am your wife, Om."

"You are not, Gauri. I don't accept this marriage." Omkara tells her.

Gauri's heartbreaks hearing that and she breaks into sobs.

"Gauri... You need to be away from me and all those people that tell you, you are my wife. You need to be in a place, that is your own. your friends. People that you choose to be with. So, you'll get clarity on your thoughts and feelings. You'll know what you actually want in life."

"I know what I want."

"5 years from now, if you still love me then we will get married." Omkara promises her.

"Don't you love me, Om?" Gauri asks him worriedly.

Omkara leans up and kisses her forehead. "You sleep. Tomorrow we've to start all the preparations for your admission."

*******

Soon, it was time for Gauri to leave for UK. With a heavy heart Gauri went to UK with Tej and Jhanvi, who were going with her to help her settle there before her college starts.

Omkara watched as Gauri walked off with his parents. he didn't know what this decision of his was going to lead to. He hoped whatever happens, she should be happy.

Omkara sighs, he was going to miss her terribly. Unlike her, he wasn't in love with the image of a wife, he was in love with Gauri. and prayed that, one day Gauri would also love him, and not the fantasies she build of a husband.

*******

3 years later

Omkara walks into his home as he looked for Gauri. she was supposed to reach today, and he had purposely stayed away at the time of her arrival, so that she could have her reunion with their parents. in case, if she had changed her mind about him, then he didn't want to cause any kind of hindrance in their reunion.

Heart slamming against his chest, he was heading to her room, when he runs into her, outside her room.

He couldn't control his joy seeing her, and his face breaks out into a big smile.

"Hi." Omkara tells her smiling as he took in all the changes in her. she was no longer a kid, she has grown up.

"hello." Gauri says with a gentle smile. "How are you?"

"Good. You?" Omkara asks her.

"Good." Gauri replies as she took in the changes in him. he was no longer the boyish man, he is a man. A man with long hair now. "Long hair?" Gauri asks softly.

"Didn't cut it." Omkara says as he ran his hand through his hair.

"You're growing it now?"

"You had said only you would cut my hair." Omkara reminds her.

Gauri looks at him in surprise. She smiles as she walked to him.

Seeing the way, she was behaving, Omkara realized that these three years had matured her and she was no longer that childish girl.

"Long hair suits you." Gauri tells him as she studied his face.

Omkara nods.

Gauri softly touches the tips of his hair. "Maybe we could trim it and change the style."

Omkara watches in amazement at the changes in her. though he missed that old Gauri, he was loving this Gauri too.

"What do you think?" Gauri asks him as she looked at him.

"When it comes to my hair, I have blind faith in you."

Gauri chuckles hearing that. Omkara smiles seeing her chuckle.

"So, what is the rule like?" Gauri asks him.

"Rule?" Omkara asks confused.

"Do I've to go back and start my post-graduation course to be your friend or do we start being friends now itself?"

Omkara smiles and says, "If you would like it, then we can be friends."

Gauri smiles hearing that and she moves to him and hugs him.

Having her in his arms after three long years, Omkara couldn't help it, he hugs her tight and pulls her closer to him.

"Did you miss me?" Gauri asks him softly.

"Yes. Did you miss me?"

"Yes." Gauri tells him as she hugged him, feeling like she was home after wandering for three excruciating years. "Baba and Ma wants me to go to Bareilly."

"For what?" Omkara asks frowning.

"To see Daddaji."

"Don't you want to see him?" Omkara asks confused as he looked at her.

"Yeah... he was planning to come but he fractured his leg and he couldn't travel, so now I've to go there to see him."

"Hmmm... so when are you planning to go?"

"Don't know and I don't know for how long I'll have to stay there."

"Hmmm." Omkara thoughtfully looks at her.

"I've to go back in two months." Gauri reminds him.

"Maybe I'll also visit. I never got to explore the place." Omkara tells her.

Gauri excitedly smiles hearing that. "That would be amazing. I'll show you around."

*********

Gauri opens her pouch and takes out the scissors, comb and hair clippers.

Seeing her using the ones he had got her, Omkara asks her curiously. "You didn't get any new sets?"

"I am comfortable with these." Gauri tells him as she sprayed on his hair. "But then it is time I changed it. the scissors are also losing it's sharpness."

Realizing that she was still keeping those because he had got her, he tells her with a smile, "I'll get you a new set."

Gauri smiles hearing that.

Gauri starts making sections of his hair. "I was thinking I'll make it shoulder length and make layers. What do you think?"

"When did you start telling me what you were planning to do to my hair?" Omkara asks surprised. He was supposed to keep quiet while she worked on his hair.

Gauri grins. "If I don't tell you, how will you know what all I learned?"

Omkara chuckles hearing that.

Gauri smiles and leans down to start cutting his hair.

As she was cutting his hair, she comes in front of him and checks the length of his hair on front.

Even though, she had cut his hair countless times, first time, her closeness was affecting him in this way. As she moved closer to him, he had to fight the temptation of holding her by her waist and pulling her close to him.

Nervously, he looks to Gauri's face and sees her eyes on him. he realized the closeness was not only affecting him, but her too. Omkara was about to pull her close to him, when Gauri realizing that she was staring, quickly looks away. and she moves back to resume her cutting.

Omkara closes his eyes and sit still so he doesn't get distracted and she also doesn't get distracted. Then he feels her run her fingers through his hair and pulls the hair on either side to check whether it was even on both sides. Omkara gulps nervously, fighting the temptation.

"Let's color your hair too." Gauri tells him.

God, it was going to be a long night.

*********

"So, how was these three years?" Omkara asks as they waited for his hair color to set.

"It was good." Gauri tells him as she sat on his bed. "I made friends."

Omkara smiles. "You always makes friends easily."

Gauri smiles hearing that. "Is Anika in town?"

"Yeah, she should be. She is working with an event management company. Plans to start her own company in the near future."

"I know... we're in touch."

"I know. She told me."

"She always says that when... erm... when you decide to get married, she would plan the wedding." Gauri tells him hesitantly.

"Yeah, she has told me that." Omkara hesitantly replies, both knew that she had said when they would get married.

"She is good. She has sent me some of the events she had covered."

"Yeah, I've seen." Omkara also replies, realizing just like how Anika had been sending him ideas for how she planned to plan their wedding, looks like she was sending Gauri also the same.

"How is office?" Gauri asks him wanting to change the topic, realizing they couldn't talk anything more on it.

"It is good... all going good."

Gauri smiles.

Hearing the timer, Gauri turns it off and checks on Omkara's hair. "Okay, we can wash it."

*********

"Okay... come here." Gauri tells him as she led him to the bath tub.

"I can wash it." Omkara tells her.

"No, I'll do it." Gauri tells him as she grabbed the hand shower. "You want hot or cold water?"

Realizing her proximity to him, he replies. "Cold."

"Okay, sit on the rim." Gauri tells him as she got to stand behind him. "Turn on the tap."

Omkara turns on the tap and a second later, cold water started running through his hair. He felt goosebumps all over.

"When I start my beauty parlor, you better come there to get your hair cut and all done." Gauri tells him as she struggled to wash his hair.

"But I like having my makeover in the comfort of our home." Omkara pouts a second later, he feels the water directed on his face.

He turns in shock and sees Gauri cheekily grinning at him. he cups his hand on the running water and splashes it on her. soon, they were splashing water on each other.

Realizing they were getting drenched, they nervously stop.

"Turn off the tap." Gauri tells him nervously.

Omkara turns it off while Gauri kept the hand shower back and grabbed his shampoo. Gauri gently starts massaging the shampoo on his scalp.

Omkara sucks in his breath and closes his eyes, as her gentle massage on his scalp was affecting on a part way down his body.

Touching his hair and scalp like that, Gauri couldn't control and didn't want to stop touching him. she closes her eyes and savors it.

"Gauri..." Omkara croaks softly.

"Hmmm?"

"Do you wash everyone's hair like this?" Omkara couldn't help the possessive and jealous streak from reflecting in his voice.

Realizing what she was doing, Gauri stops with a gasp. She opens her eyes in shock realizing her wanton behavior. she quickly grabs the hand shower.

"Gauri?"

"No." Gauri quickly replies. "Turn on the tap."

Omkara turns it on and couldn't help the smile.

Gauri quickly washes off his shampoo. Then she puts conditioner on his hair.

"Just let it stay on for a few minutes." Gauri tells him.

Realizing he needed a cold shower, Omkara tells her, "I'll wash it off. I need a shower anyway."

"Okay... after you are done, call me, I'll blow dry it."

"Okay."

*********

"When is the last time, you did a hair spa?" Gauri asks him as she set his hair.

"No one else touches my hair." Omkara tells her.

"What do you mean?" Gauri asks, frowning at him.

"What?" Omkara asks confused as he looked at her.

"No one touches your hair? Rest of you, everyone gets a free pass?" Gauri asks as she frowned at him.

Omkara chuckles hearing that. "The bhoot of that wife is still in you?"

Seeing his eyes twinkling and a little bit of smugness on his face, she turns the blow dryer on his face and he quickly closes his eyes and moves his face away.

"I was just asking... we are friends, right?" Gauri asks him back.

Omkara nods realizing that he had pissed her off a little. "Sorry."

"Hmmm."

"Nobody has come this close to me ever." Omkara softly whispers to her as he looked at her.

Gauri looks at him, her eyes on his, and seeing him waiting, Gauri nods.

*********

"I thought, once Gauri comes then you'll have a presentable." Jhanvi says seeing Omkara in the morning.

Omkara looks at his mother surprised. As usual, Gauri had done an awesome job and he was really happy with his hair cut and the red-brown color she did on his hair.

"Why didn't you make his hair short, Gauri?" Jhanvi asks her curiously.

"Didn't you like it?" Gauri asks shocked.

"It is good. But I like him with short hair." Jhanvi tells her.

Omkara chuckles hearing that. "Stop being so jealous, Mom. just because I've more hair than you, you shouldn't be so malicious."

Jhanvi rolls her eyes.

"Gauri, did you decide on when we can go to Bareilly?" Vasundhara asks her.

"Om said he can take off from day after tomorrow. So, we can go day after tomorrow." Gauri tells her.

"Even you are going?" Jhanvi asks him shocked.

"Yeah. He said he never got to see the place." Gauri tells her.

"Ah... that is nice... maybe even we will come." Jhanvi says excitedly.

"That's amazing!" Gauri says excitedly.

*********

"So, how are we going?" Gauri asks her parents as they walked out of the airport.

"Driver will bring the car. Since, all of us won't fit in one car, one or two of us will have to take the taxi." Vasundhara tells her.

"I'll come in the taxi." Harsh tells them.

"It's okay, I'll take the taxi." Omkara tells him.

"No, it's okay. you go in our car, I'll take the taxi." Harsh tells him smiling.

"I'll take the taxi. I'll be fine." Omkara reassures him.

"I'll come with you in taxi then." Gauri tells him.

Seeing, Harsh about to open his mouth, Omkara tells him. "Yeah, Gauri will come with me. so, we'll come in taxi, you all comfortably go in car."

Everyone nods, deciding that the husband and wife come together then.

*********

Seeing Gauri eagerly looking out the window, Omkara smiles.

"Are you happy to be back here?" Omkara asks her.

"Hmmm." Gauri nods in yes, as she turned to look at him. "I missed here."

"You lived first fifteen years of your life here." Omkara reminds her.

"Yeah. But I missed our home more." Gauri tells him as she looked at him.

Omkara smiles lovingly at her hearing that. "Two more years and you can be back home if that is what you want." Omkara tells her.

Gauri nods and looks out.

"I don't remember much of this place." Omkara tells her wanting to change topic.

"You used to come here only for your vacations, right? when your grandfather was alive."

"Yeah, and he passed away shortly after our..." Omkara stops as he looked at her. "so after that we didn't come here. Then I came when my parents told me about you. that time, I was really in shock and angry."

Gauri nods. "I was so happy and excited when you came." Gauri says softly.

"I know." Omkara whispers.

"I was 15, Om. I was so young." Gauri tells him in shock as she turned to look at him. "I was a child then."

"You were, Gauri." Omkara tells her as he looked at her.

Gauri extends her hand and holds his hand. "I was very hurt when you sent me away. Now, when I look back, I understand why you did, what you did."

"I know it might have been hard for you to believe that I did whatever I did was for your good."

"I knew it even then, but I thought you were wrong then. I thought you were doing what you thought were good for me. I was so over confident that I would prove you wrong."

Omkara smiles at her and tells her, "Whether I was proved right or you were proved right, ultimately, the win will be yours."

Gauri squeezes his hand hearing her.

*********

Gauri had got busy after getting to her home, as the next few days, she met with all her old friends and neighbors.

Gauri was pampering her friend's son as she sat on the veranda of her house. she was answering her friend's eager questions about Mumbai and UK.

"Why you don't cut jeejaji's hair?" Richa asks curiously.

"I cut his hair."

"It is long like a girl's."

"That's his style."

"It suits him. jeejaji looks like a film star. You are lucky."

"Because he looks good?" Gauri asks in shock as she looked at her, and sees her looking ahead.

Gauri curiously looks and sees Omkara leaning on the entrance door frame and watching her with a soft smile on his lips.

Seeing him watching her hold a baby, Gauri smiles as she looked at him, hugging the baby to her chest.

"Not like that." Richa replies shaking her head. "By the way, Gauri... you both should go to the temple on Wednesday, they have these pujas."

"What puja?" Gauri asks her curiously.

"To have children."

"What?" Gauri looks at her in shock.

"It's been 5 years since you went to Mumbai with him. I got married two months after you left. This is my second one." Richa tells her as she touched her son.

Gauri's heart starts slamming against her chest, hearing what Richa was saying. She turns to look at Omkara and sees him still watching her. seeing her expression, he gently raises his head up, gesturing her what happened? Gauri quickly shakes her head in nothing.

"There will be good doctors there. didn't you see anyone?" Richa asks her.

"Richa, I'm 20 years old." Gauri reminds her in exasperation.

"Yeah, time is running out, Gauri. you should have children as early as possible." Richa advises her.

*********

Omkara was in his room, when he hears someone step in. he turns curiously, and Gauri hugs him tight.

Omkara hugs her back. "What happened?"

Gauri leans up and kisses his cheek.

Omkara closes his eyes for a second, savoring her very first kiss to him. feeling Gauri snuggling into his arms, he kisses her on the top of her head.

"Come, let's go for a walk." Gauri tells him.

*********

"What happened?" Omkara asks her curiously.

Gauri sighs as she held his hand and walks with him. "I was talking to Richa."

"Hmmm."

"She was telling me about seeing doctor and doing puja at the temple."

"For what?" Omkara asks her confused.

"To have children."

Omkara sighs furiously. "Just ignore them, Gauri."

"You don't understand, Om." Gauri turns to him.

"What don't I understand?" Omkara asks her confused.

"She became a mother at the age of 16 and she doesn't think it is wrong."

Omkara shudders hearing that.

"I was her, Om!" Gauri tells him. "There was a time when I didn't think it was wrong. I thought it was normal. I thought it was the perfect life."

"It was not your fault, Gauri. You grew up in the midst of people who thought that was the way of life." Omkara tells her.

"If it was someone else other than you... most probably, my life would have been like that." Gauri tells him.

Omkara shudders, his heart skipping a beat thinking of her as someone else's wife.

Gauri looks at Omkara in the eyes, and confesses with tear filled eyes. "You were right, Om. I was infatuated with the image of a husband. It had nothing to do with you."

Omkara gulps hearing that.

"If in your place, it was someone else, I would have accepted him as my husband. Started living with him. slept with him and had his children." Gauri tells him. "And would have thought my life was complete."

"Some people are happy with that life, Gauri." Omkara gently points out.

"I'm not saying it is bad, Om. I'm saying, I would have believed that was the perfect life. I wouldn't have realized that I have choices." Gauri tells him. "I thought a girl's duty is to her husband and children. I've seen my mother, my friends, everyone, running behind their husbands, taking care of their needs. I've seen how when the husband comes to the wife's house, she is on her toes, running behind him, making sure he is comfortable and entertained. We've been here for two days. I've been busy with my family and friends the whole day. I get to spend time with you only at night when everyone had gone to sleep. I promised to show you around but I have been busy. But I know, you've no complaints because you know I'm seeing all of them after 5 years. I am not scared that you would think that I was neglecting you because I knew you knew it gave me joy to spend time with them and that is all you want, me to be happy."

"You taught me that just because I am taking time out for myself and not running behind you, doesn't make me a bad person or a bad wife. I don't feel guilty for spending time with everyone else without running behind you. in these two days, a million times, Ma has asked me to check whether you were comfortable, whether you wanted something, whether you were bored. She was acting as if I was committing a sin by not running behind you. but not even for a second I felt that, because I knew that if you had any issues you would tell me that. just like how I can tell you anything without being scared of how you would take it."

Omkara sighs hearing her say all that.

"My parents were just happy to end my education with my 1oth standard. When Mom and Dad had told them that I should study further, they had told you to do that after taking me to Mumbai. It was you, who had insisted that we will have to get legally married and that too only after I finish college and if I wanted then after I got settled with my career then only we would marry. That was the first time, I realized that I had choices. Whether I want to work or not, whether I wanted to be a housewife or not, it was all my choice. Till then, I had just waited for you to come and get me. only after you had said it, that I started thinking of a career. I used to cut my friends hair as a hobby because I loved doing it. when I thought of a career that is what came to me and my parents scolded me for saying that as a career option. Baba told me if you want to work, then do something dignified, and to be a doctor. I was scared to pursue my dream. It was you who told me there is nothing wrong or to be ashamed of my dreams. Now, I know whether I want to work, whether I want to be a homemaker, what job I want to do... it is all my decision and choices, not anyone else's. sharing my worry, concern, disappoints, problems, joy, desire, ecpectations with my husband, is my right. finding joy and life beyond my husband and children is my right, when to have children, is as much your decision as mine. Sole aim of my life is not to be married and have a happy married life. you taught me that the sole aim of my life is to live a happy and fulfilling life."

"Sshhh..." Omkara moves to her and hugs her seeing her crying.

Gauri hugs him and breaks into loud sobs.

"You are my blessing, Om." Gauri tells him.

"You are my blessing, Gauri." Omkara tells her. "Your innocence, your love, your responsibility, your happiness, your sadness, that is what made me grow up and see things and people beyond me."

*********

"Anika told me that ever since you found out about me, you had been only thinking of me." Gauri tells him as they walked. She was showing him around Bareilly.

"I've thought of other people also." Omkara jokes.

Gauri gives him look as she swats his arms.

Omkara chuckles. "What about it?"

"Nothing about that." Gauri replies.

"Then?"

"Before that..."

"Hmmm... what before that?" Omkara asks cheekily knowing what she was asking.

"How was your life before that?" Gauri asks him.

"I've had crushes."

"That's it?" Gauri asks him.

"I used to flirt a lot."

"Hmmm? Nothing else?"

Omkara turns to her and grins at her. "I was tied down at the tender age of 20, so nothing else."

Gauri grins and reminds him, "Don't forget I was tied down at the tender age of 3. I couldn't even have crushes. I would have thought I was a sinner if I had a crush."

"Awww poor you." Omkara teases her.

"You had crushes and flirted. So, you were an adulterer." Gauri teases him.

Omkara chuckles hearing that. Then remembering, he confesses to her. "My friends had called hookers for Arjun's birthday party."

Gauri's eyes widen in shock. "Hookers? I thought there were like 3 girls and you 4 guys."

"For the after party." Omkara clarifies. "I wasn't a part of it. I don't even know whether those guys did anything or freaked out in the end. I didn't ask. I just stayed away that night."

"Were you tempted?" Gauri asks him softly.

Omkara shakes his head in negative. "Not even in the least bit. It was the night after karvachauth, I couldn't do that to you."

Gauri smiles and holds his hand.

"Even if you hadn't fasted for me, I might have agreed because I was rebelling and angry at that time, but when I think of it now, I know for sure, in the end, I would have backed out."

Gauri smiles and leaning up, she kisses him on his cheek.

"Is that my consolation prize?" Omkara asks her asks chuckling.

Gauri turns to glare at him. "You think, you lost a prize?"

"Obviously."

Gauri growls in fury. Seeing that, laughing Omkara runs off and screaming bloody murder at him, she runs behind him.

*********

Laughing, Omkara walks into Gauri's house with Gauri hitting him on his shoulder playfully.

"You are past the age to run around like kids." Daddaji says frowning at them.

"What?" Omkara asks not even understanding the weird as heck statement.

"It is time, that you both start living together and have children." Daddaji tells him frowning.

"Are you serious?" Omkara asks him in exasperation.

"Yes. You wanted her to study and finish college. She did that. what is the need to study even more? It is hair cutting, right? that she learned. What more can she learn? Since, you and your parents want a remarriage, fix a date and get married fast."

"You should learn to keep your interference in other's life to a minimum." Omkara tells him frowning.

"Om!" Jhanvi frowns at him. "Don't forget, he is Gauri's grandfather."

Omkara turns to his parents, "If you both weren't so fearful of your elders then you wouldn't have been forced to marry Gauri and me at such a young age."

"Why do you say that, Om?" Vasundhara asks him frowning.

"Because you all had made us get married without our consent."

"Yes... but we agreed to a remarriage because you wanted it." Harsh reminds him.

"Yeah... after two years, if Gauri and I want to get married we will get married."

"What do you mean if you want to get married?" Harsh asks furiously as he stood up.

"Exactly what I said. If we want more time to take a definite decision, then we'll take. I'm not promising any time frame or any marriage."

"She is with you, day and night!" Harsh tells him furiously.

"So?" Omkara asks him back.

"So?!?!?!?!?!" Harsh asks him furiously.

"Haan So?"

"Gauri, are you hearing what he is saying?" Harsh asks her.

"Yes, Baba. I heard." Gauri replies. "It is both our decision."

"Have you gone crazy, Gauri?" Vasundhara asks her shocked.

"He is telling you that he might cast you aside and you are siding with him?" Daddaji asks her angrily.

"Says the man who got an 8-year-old boy married to a 3-year-old girl." Omkara scoffs. "What guarantee did you have then I wouldn't do this?"

"Stop it, Om. Why are you talking like this?" Tej asks him frowning.

"We know you both love each other, then why are you saying all this?" Jhanvi asks him frowning.

"Because it is the truth, Mom. we haven't decided whether we want to get married."

"You are already married!" Harsh reminds him.

"We are not."

"You didn't ask our consent, Baba. You got us married without our permission." Gauri reminds him.

"So, you don't get any right to demand that we honor that marriage." Omkara tells him.

"How dare you stand in my house and disrespect my daughter like this?" Harsh furiously asks him.

"He is the only one who has treated me with utmost respect!" Gauri furiously tells him.

"How dare you raise your voice?" Daddaji asks furiously as he stood up balancing on the crutch. "Just because you stayed in foreign, you think you can be disrespectful?"

"I am not scared of you." Gauri tells him looking him in the eye. "I am not scared of any of you." Gauri says as she looked at her father and mother. "I'm not scared of anyone. I've Om with me."

"Om with you?" Daddaji asks her. "He is saying he will abandon you."

"He didn't say that. he said we might decide on not getting married." Gauri reminds him.

"I guess, this is no longer going to be a pleasant stay." Omkara says sighing. "We will leave."

Gauri look at him in shock hearing him.

"Let me know when you want to come back, I'll book your ticket." Omkara tells her.

"No, I'm coming with you." Gauri tells him.

"Get your stuff then." Omkara tells her. "Dad... Mom... we'll leave as soon as possible."

"You are going with him?" Vasundhara asks Gauri in shock.

"Yes."

"After all that he said, you are going with him?" Harsh asks her angrily. "You'll not go anywhere with him."

"Did you forget, baba? 5 years ago, at the age of 15, you had packed me off with him saying that is my house from now on."

"Gauri..." Vasundhara starts to say.

"Where Om is, that is my home." Gauri tells her parents in finality and goes off to pack her stuff.

*********

"Oh that is awesome." Omkara sighs.

Jhanvi looks up and sees Omkara sitting on the floor while Gauri sat on the couch and was massaging his head. she was doing his hair spa.

Tej and she had tried talking to them but they had remained adamant on their stand. And they both had continued to behave as if nothing happened. Gauri's parents were furious with her and they didn't talk to her now. and Gauri had said that they will talk to her once their temper dies down. In two days, Gauri would leave to UK, and she hoped her parents would call Gauri at least then.

Sighing, Jhanvi walks off leaving those two alone.

"Do you know only head massage or body massage too?" Omkara asks her curiously.

"You know my course covers not just hair dressing but make up too. Massage is also a part of syllabus." Gauri replies and leaning down, she whispers into his ears. "and I know all the pressure points."

Omkara's eyes widen in shock, he turns around and looks at her with one eye brow raised. "What are you insinuating?"

"Nothing!" Gauri replies cheekily. "Just that two years later, I'll decide whether I want to give you a massage anywhere else other than your head."

"Anywhere else?" Omkara asks as his head filled with images.

Cheekily grinning, Gauri winks at him.

"not even a shoulder massage, now?" Omkara asks her hopefully.

"Not happening, Om."

"Why?"

Grinning, Gauri tells him, "Because I was there with you in the bathroom when I was washing your hair."

Omkara turns slightly pink hearing that, and he reminds her, "Even I was there when you were shampooing my hair, Gauri."

Gauri turns red remembering that. blushing she turns his face to sit straight. "Look ahead."

They both chuckle as they blushed.

*********

"I don't know why these two years, Om." Gauri tells him as they sat side by side on the floor, leaning on his bed, the night before her flight.

"It is important, Gauri."

Gauri nods. "When you told me to go to UK, at that time, I couldn't understand. But your decision was right. so, I know this will also be the right decision. I'll do it for you, Om. For us and for me."

Omkara smiles and explains to her. "This one year, we will be friends, Gauri. we'll get to know each other better. When you were here, you were just a kid. Even I was young. Now, we are more mature and have more clarity in our thoughts. We need to know and understand how we have changed over the years. whether we can be together forever." Omkara explains to her.

"And the year after that?" Gauri asks him.

"You'll finish your studies this year. After that, get a job and work. You've been depended on me all these while."

Gauri nods. Ever since he started working and she had gone to UK, he has been taking care of all of her expenses. He never told her that but she knew it.

"So a year, you work and be independent. Don't depend on me or anyone. After that you take a decision."

"What about you? when will you take a decision?" Gauri asks him.

Omkara looks into her eyes and tells her. "I took my decision a long time ago."

"Even you were young then, so, why are you not accepting my decision now?" Gauri asks him.

"I was never in love with an imaginary wife. I wasn't raised with the belief that I belonged to you. my decision was my own. it wasn't forced by anyone. My decision, my feelings were solely based on you and me."

Gauri hugs his hand as she rested her head on his arms. Omkara turns around and hugs her. feeling him, hug her, Gauri wraps her hands around him and kisses him on his cheek. then unable to resist, she turns her head towards him, about to place her lips on his.

"No." Omkara whispers softly.

Gauri sighs, disappointed and hugs him. resting her head on his neck.

"I'll miss you." Gauri whispers to him.

"I'll miss you more." Omkara tells her.

"Call me every day. No excuses."

"Okay." Omkara promises. "There is one more thing, Gauri..." Omkara hesitantly says.

"What?" Gauri asks as she looked at him.

"I'll tell you later. When it is the right time."

Gauri frowns hearing that.

"You might be angry with me, but please have faith in me." Omkara tells her.

"My faith in you will never shake, Om." Gauri tells him as she hugged him tight.

*********

A year later

"Finally they called!" Gauri says excitedly on the phone. "I got the job."

"Amazing! Congratulations." Omkara tells her.

"Thank you. with the exams and the job interview, I have been so stressed."

"I knew you would do it." Omkara tells her smiling.

Gauri smiles hearing that. "Now, I need to find a place that is cheap and close by."

"Start looking."

"I'll... by the way, did you book my ticket?" Gauri asks him. "Book before the flights are full. I only get two weeks before I've to start work. I don't want to lose a day because you didn't book tickets on time."

"Before that...er.... There is.... Umm.... There is something... I want you to do." Omkara hesitantly says.

"Do what?" Gauri asks frowning at his nervousness and hesitation.

"This is very important, Gauri. not for you, but for me." Omkara tells her.

"What is it, Om?" Gauri asks worriedly realizing this was that thing, he had warned her about a year ago.

Gulping worriedly, Omkara tells her. "I want you to go on a date with someone."

"HAVE YOU GONE CRAZY?" Gauri furiously shouts at him.

"Please Gauri, you've to do this."

"I WON'T. HOW COULD YOU EVEN ASK ME THIS?"

"Please Gauri... do it for me."

"NO!"

"It is very important for me, Gauri." Omkara pleads her.

"WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU?"

"Because I've to know, that you realize that you have other options too. I'm not your only option. You should experience romance with at least another person other than me."

"THIS IS DISGUSTING, OM!"

"After your date, let me know, I'll book your ticket."

"You won't book my ticket till I go on a date with another man?" Gauri asks him hurt.

"I won't."

"Did you forget that in two weeks I will start working and I wouldn't need to depend on you or anyone to get my tickets for me?"

"If that is your decision then so be it." Omkara replies.

"Don't you want to see me, Om?" Gauri asks him hurt beyond words.

"I want to but only after your date."

"I WON'T."

"Please for me, Gauri."

*********

After that they didn't speak or message each other. Omkara knew that Gauri was too angry and upset with him, so he decided to wait for her to take a decision.

The next day evening, Gauri finally messages him.

Going on a date.

Seeing the message, Omkara's heart started slamming against his chest. He wanted to call her and tell her not to go, but he knew if he did that, then he would regret it forever. All his life, he would wonder if Gauri could have done better than him. whether the marriage in their childhood had tied her to him. whether she thought he was her only option. He wanted to know that he was her choice and not an only option.

Omkara restlessly sat in his room, freaking out, panicking and praying. Each second felt like a lifetime.

Finally, she messages him.

Date over. Book my ticket.

Omkara sighs in relief, he knew she was angry but she was still coming back to him.

*********

Omkara waits for Gauri at the airport with Jhanvi. He was excited to see her and scared to face her wrath. Finally, she comes out. Seeing them, Gauri hurries to Jhanvi and hugs her happily. Jhanvi hugs her happily.

Answering Jhanvi's questions, she pushes the trolley towards the car, totally ignoring Omkara. Gauri opens the boot and starts to keep her luggage. Omkara quickly starts to pick her suitcase to keep it in the boot. Gauri puts up her hand, silently asking him to stop.

Omkara hesitates for a few seconds and seeing her struggling with the luggage, he starts to help her.

Gauri quickly pulls her suitcase away from him. "I don't want to be depended on you for anything, ever. I'll do this." Gauri tells him and struggling, she keeps her suitcase in the boot.

Omkara sighs and turns to head to the driver's seat when he notices Jhanvi curiously watching them in confusion. Ignoring his mother, he walks to the car. He doesn't say anything when Gauri decided to sit with his mother in the back.

*********

"Om... what happened between you and Gauri?" Jhanvi worriedly asks him.

Omkara doesn't say anything as he looked away.

"It's been days since she has come and you two haven't said a word to each other. Is everything okay?"

"Gauri is angry with me. just give her some time."

"But why?"

Omkara shakes his head. "Just don't interfere, Mom. we'll handle it."

Jhanvi nods having no other option. She starts to walk off.

"Mom..." Omkara calls her.

Jhanvi turns to look at him and sees him hesitating. "What?"

"Can you check with Gauri whether she wants to go see her parents? I'll book her tickets if she wants to go."

"Why don't you ask her?" Jhanvi asks him, hoping a conversation between them might sort out their issues.

Knowing that if he asks her, then even if she wanted to go, she would say no, Omkara shakes his head. "can you please ask?"

Jhanvi nods and leaves and a few minutes later, she comes back. "She said no. she said she will call them but she is not going."

Omkara nods sighing.

*********

Omkara was going crazy. Gauri was still angry and ignoring him. he had tried a lot to talk to her but she had ignored him and walked off. in two days, she would be going back and he won't be able to see her for a year. The thought itself driving him crazy. Determined to talk to her, he goes to her room. he finds her room empty. He looks for her around the house and doesn't find her anywhere. Curious, he goes to his bedroom to check and finds her in his room.

"Gauri,,," Omkara says in relief seeing that she had come to talk to him.

"Day after is my flight." Gauri tells him.

"I know." Omkara says sadly.

"You want me to go, right? one year of independent living before we take a decision?"

"Yes." Omkara replies stopping realizing that she was still spitting mad at him.

"So, you've time till day after to go on a date. If you don't go on a date then I won't go back."

"What?" Omkara stops in shock hearing her demand.

"You said that you had to know that you are not my only option. Why would you think like that? maybe you think that you've no option other than being with me."

"that is not true. You know that." Omkara furiously whispers, heart slamming against his chest at the thought.

"Prove it, Om."

"You know, Gauri, that I can't do that."

"You should have romance with another person other than me." Gauri tells him.

"Gauri... I've no doubts. I've full clarity." Omkara tells her, his eyes filling up.

"Good. Now, I need clarity too. Have a good time with your date, Om. Do whatever you want with her, I will not question you. I will not hold it against you." Gauri tells him as she started to head out.

"How could you say that, Gauri?" Omkara asks her furiously as he held her hand and spun her around to face him.

"If you won't go on a date, then let me know. I need to cancel my ticket, apartment, resign job. Lot of work." Gauri tells him and freeing herself from him, she walks off.

*********

"I'm leaving." Omkara informs her, hoping against hope that she would ask him to cancel the date.

Gauri looks up and he sees the concern and worry in her eyes. But she simply replies, "Have fun."

Omkara sighs and walks off, hating himself for creating this mess.

Every second, he sat with her, he hated himself. He felt that he was betraying Gauri. he felt like he was a cheater. giving her place to this random girl. He wanted run away from there. run to the safety of Gauri. he couldn't do it. he couldn't sit there and act as if he was listening to her talk when in reality he was disrespecting Gauri, their bond and their love... even their illegal and cruel childhood marriage. unable to sit through, apologizing to the girl and throwing the cash on the table, he runs out of the restaurant.

Omkara wondered whether he should stay out for some more time and go back home, but he couldn't do that. he knew how much ever she forced him, she would be going through the same hell that he went through the time Gauri had gone for a date.

*********

Not finding her in her room, Omkara goes to his room, knowing she would be waiting for him there.

"Had fun?" Gauri asks him the moment he walked in.

"I'm sorry, Gauri." Omkara tells her regretfully.

"Did you have fun?" Gauri asks him again as she stood up and walked to him. "Did you have fun feeling like a cheater? Did you enjoy giving my place to someone else? Did you have enjoy the feeling of betraying me?" Gauri asks him angrily.

Knowing that was exactly what she went through, his eyes fills up. "I am sorry, I hurt you, Gauri. Maybe I got insecure. I had to know that you were with me because you chose me not because I was chosen for you by everyone else."

"You were wrong, Om. What you did before was right but this was wrong. You have to know that can't always be right." Gauri furiously tells him. she angrily pushes him as she gave into her tears. "You forgot what you mean to me. you forgot that I left my whole family for you. I chose you over the rest of the world. You forgot that I had discarded that marriage but I didn't discard you. You forgot..." Gauri stops as she hesitates and whispers, "that I am your wife!"

Hearing her say that, he moves to her and cupping her face, he passionately kisses her on her lips. Gauri wraps her hands around his neck as she kissed him back in equal passion.

"I'm sorry, Gauri. please forgive me." Omkara whispers to her as he hungrily kissed her.

Realizing they were kissing, Gauri moves back and warns him. "You are taking too much liberty. There is one more year left."

Omkara couldn't help smile seeing her be stubborn. "Okay. can I just hug you please?" Omkara asks her.

Hearing the plea in his voice, Gauri moves towards him and hugs him.

"I missed you." Omkara tells her as he hugged her tight.

"Good, that is your punishment." Gauri tells him.

"Then why were you punishing yourself by staying away from me?" Omkara asks her with a loving smile.

"Because I do everything that you tell me to. So, that was my punishment." Gauri grumbles. "I should learn to tell you to go, take a hike."

Omkara chuckles hearing that. Gauri also couldn't help chuckle as she snuggled into his arms.

*********

One more year later

"You are driving me crazy!" Anika growls at Omkara. "This is the third change in two minutes."

"I want it to be perfect. You were the one who was dying to do our wedding, and you can't even handle our engagement." Omkara replies.

"Stop bullying her, Om." Jhanvi frowns at him.

"I'm just telling her what I want. It's not my fault that she can't handle it."

"For wedding, I'll deal with Gauri. you don't come anywhere near the planning." Anika warns him.

"Anika beta... you are sure the dress would be perfect for Gauri, right?" Vasundhara asks her worriedly.

"Yes, aunty. I told her that I'm getting married and that I would order her dress and asked her to send her measurement. It will be a perfect fit."

Vasundhara smiles in relief.

"What nautanki is this? What is the need for a surprise engagement?" Daddaji mutters under his breath. "For God sake, they are married."

"We are not. We'll be getting married." Omkara tells him.

Tej and Jhanvi quickly glares at him to shut him up.

"I just hope the plane is on time and isn't delayed and we miss out on the muhurat." Harsh says in a bid to defuse the tension.

"Please don't say that, uncle." Anika says panicking.

"Gauri will be here on time. Let's go check the decoration." Omkara tells her.

Anika groans loudly as she got up and followed him.

*********

"What is happening? Why is everyone here?" Gauri asks Omkara in shock seeing the crowded hall.

"Surprise." Jhanvi tells her in a happy whisper.

"What surprise?" Gauri asks confused then excited she asks, "Is it my welcome back party?"

"No." Omkara replies as he grinning happily took the ring box out of his pocket.

Gauri's eyes widen seeing the ring box. "What are you doing?"

Omkara starts to kneel in front of Gauri. seeing that, Gauri quickly holds him by his shoulder and pulls him up. "No! what are you doing?"

"What? Don't interrupt me!" Omkara tells her as he starts to kneel again.

Seeing him going to do that again and having everyone's eyes on them, Gauri grabs Omkara's hand and pulls him away from there. "Come here."

"What were you going to do there?" Gauri asks him as she dragged him to the first bedroom.

"What are you doing?" Omkara asks shocked. "I was going to propose you."

"You were going to kneel!" Gauri accuses him.

"What? That is how it is normally done." Omkara tells her in exasperation.

"You don't kneel in front of me. You never kneel in front of me!" Gauri sternly tells him.

"Huh?"

"What is the need for all this?" Gauri asks him.

"What is the problem, Gauri?" Omkara asks her lovingly as he cupped her face.

"Don't you remember how I was?" Gauri asks him sadly. "When we first met, when I came here... I had put you on a pedestal. You were so high up there, I was in so awe that I thought I could never reach your place,"

Omkara nods and confesses "your feelings and innocence scared the shit out of me."

Gauri nods. "It took you a long time to make me realize that we are equal. You are not above me and I am not above you. From that love struck Gauri to this confident, independent and bold Gauri, who can look anyone in the eye and tell exactly what is in her heart without any fear, no matter who is standing on the opposite side, this journey, we both sacrificed a lot, now if you kneel in front of me and put me on a pedestal, that will be the death of your Gauri. Don't do that."

Omkara hugs her and kisses her on the side of her head. "I just wanted to propose you." Omkara confesses.

"What is the need for a proposal?" Gauri asks him. "We decide things together, right? We decided that we will take decisions together." Gauri reminds him.

Omkara steps back and looks at her, "I guess, I still remember how you were when we first met, you had so many dreams regarding your husband and I couldn't fulfill any of those. If I had done something like this then, you would have been on cloud 9 for days."

"Yes." Gauri says with a nostalgic smile. Then looking at him, she tells him, "You were always scared that you would never be able to fill the image that I had built in my heart of you."

Omkara nods in agreement.

"Om, the image I had were teenage fantasy of a very handsome husband who would shower me with love and compliments, who would look for ways to be romantic with me, who would just pamper me and love me like a horny man."

Omkara chuckles hearing the last bit.

Smiling lovingly at him, with a hint of tears in her eyes, she tells him, "You never realized that you had left that fantasy of mine way behind within a little time. the man that you were for me, made my fantasy man so small. You always made me a priority. No matter who was it, you would fight anyone and everyone for me. you were my shield. You encouraged me to dream and you became my path to achieve it."

Omkara's eyes fill up hearing that.

"When you sent me away, I was heartbroken. I was lonely. I was scared that you didn't want me or love me. those three years, I realized how wrong I had been to holding on to a promise that neither of us made to each other. I realized that I was in love with the image of a husband that I had built. Away from everyone who told me I am married, seeing other people's life, I realized that our marriage was not real. I realized I was not a married girl. But I couldn't bring myself to think that you were not my husband. Because I wasn't in love with a fantasy. I wasn't in love with you because you were my husband. I was in love with the man that you were, the man who moved heaven and earth to keep me happy. I wasn't in love with you because you were my husband. You continued to be my husband for me because I was in love with you."

Omkara holds both her hands in his and takes it to his lips and kisses it.

"I don't need a proposal, Om." Gauri tells him. "As an educated, independent, working adult woman, I'm telling you my decision and my choice and that is I want to be with you all my life."

Omkara smiles hearing that and he says, "As an educated, independent, working adult man, my decision and my choice is you and I want to be with you all my life."

Gauri smiles happily and hugs him. Omkara hugs her tight.

"What was the plan?" Gauri asks him curiously as she snuggled into his arms.

"There was a speech. With no proposal, the speech is now pretty useless, and thank God you won't get to hear that as the speech was filled with cheesy, romantic lines."

"Thank God then." Gauri also says.

Omkara chuckles hearing that. "Then you would be rushed to your room and you would be quickly decked up and we would get engaged today."

"Today?" Gauri asks surprised.

"Yeah. Then next year, jan... did you know they got us married on Jan 4th? So, next year Jan 4th, on our so called 20th wedding anniversary, we would have a grand wedding." Omkara tells her.

"Jan?" Gauri asks in shock as she stepped back.

"Yeah... it would be funny to get married for real on that day." Omkara cheekily tells her.

"Om, for 12 years I waited for you, then for 2 years I waited for you to accept me as your wife, then for 3 years you made me wait to talk to you, then two years, you made me wait to confess our feelings to each other. How much more would you make me wait?"

********

Omkara and Gauri walk to the party hall and sees everyone anxiously wait for them. Omkara look around the crowd and spots Anika. He quickly calls her over and in a whisper he tells her about their decision.

"I'm going to kill you, Gauri." Anika furiously whispers to her.

"Time is running out, Anika, get to work." Omkara orders her.

"We are no longer friends!" Anika tells them furiously and walks off, making Omkara and Gauri chuckle.

"Om, is everything alright?" Jhanvi asks him worriedly.

"Yeah, Mom. all fine." Omkara replies.

"Aren't you going to..." Vasundhara asks him confused.

"Actually, we don't need a proposal. We took our decision." Omkara tells her.

"What decision?" Tej asks confused.

"Before that... are all the guests here?" Omkara asks curiously.

"Yes." Jhanvi replies confused.

"Mom... Dad... all your important guests, all the people you wanted to attend the engagement, are they here?" Omkara asks them.

"Yes."

"Good." Omkara smiles. "Baba, Ma and Daddaji... are all your important guests here?"

"Yes, everybody is here." Harsh replies.

"Awesome. So..." Omkara looks at them with a happy smile and informs them. "So, we have decided not to get engaged today, instead we are getting married?"

"WHAT?" all five shout in shock in varied volumes.

"You can't get married today." Vasundhara quickly says.

"Why not?"

"pandit... muhurat..."

Omkara cuts her off. "The muhurat for ring exchange, we will get married at that time. Anika is taking care of Pandit and havan, mandap etc."

"We haven't invited..." Jhanvi starts panicking.

"Mom... If they were not important enough to be invited for the engagement, then they aren't important enough to have our wedding postponed."

"I've a lot of important people to invite for the wedding. You should have told us earlier itself that you want to get married. You can't get married like..."

Omkara sweetly cuts him off. "Daddaji, did you forget? This is just some nautanki, we are anyway already married."

Daddaji glares at him.

"Gauri! go get ready!" Anika tells her in exasperation as she hurried into the room. "Omkara, you too."

"Okay... there is like 45 mins till muhurat, so if you can get all your so called important guests in that time, well and good. Otherwise, we will send them a copy of our wedding video."

"Omkara!" Anika calls him as she ran behind to the stairs.

Omkara and Gauri curiously stop to look at her.

"Take your clothes and go to some other room to get ready." Anika instructs him.

"Why?"

"Don't you want your bedroom to be decorated for your suhag raat?" Anika asks exasperated.

Omkara turns to Gauri and grins at her sexily making her blush. "Obviously."

"Obviously!" Anika mocks in a disgusting way. "What all plans I had for each function and each and everything. Now! I'll have to pick up flowers from roadside to decorate your room!"

Omkara and Gauri laugh hearing that.

"I'm paying a huge price for my friendship with you two." Anika says angrily. "Gauri, give me your mangal sutra, pundit will want to bless it."

"Yeah, come with me." Gauri tells her and hurries to her room.

And in 45 minutes, they have their most hurried and simplest wedding.

********

Omkara walks to his bedroom and sees Gauri, sitting on the middle of his bed, waiting for him. smiling, he walks to the bed and sits on the side. He lifts up her ghooghant and Gauri shyly smiles at him.

"Did you like the function?"

"Yes. Anika did a good job, right?" Gauri asks him.

"Yeah... she threatened send me a huge bill before she left."

Gauri laughs hearing that.

Omkara lovingly smiles at her and tells her, "Gauri... I didn't expect us to get married today, I know we both were waiting for this day, but if you want to take your time, then we can wait."

"I don't want to wait." Gauri tells him as she looked at him. "Do you want to wait?"

"Sweetheart, I've condoms stocked up." Omkara informs her chuckling.

"What?" Gauri asks surprised.

"We were going to get engaged today. and we are staying together. And in a way, religiously we were married too... so why wait?" Omkara asks her.

"What a hypocrite you are, Om? You wouldn't accept that marriage for anything else, only for this."

Omkara laughs hearing that then he tells her with pure honesty. "I never accepted that marriage. but I knew as sure as I was that I am Omkara Singh Oberoi, that if I ever have a wife then it would only be you."

Gauri smiles hearing that.

Cupping her face, he tells her lovingly, "I love you, Gauri. My Gauri... My wife."

*** The End ***

I hope you guys liked this story.

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- Lazy