Hello everyone....

Thanks to all for voting for the last story.

I know I said I was working on the second story in Best Friend's Sibling Duology – Winds of Love, but I have been craving to write a small story, and I got this idea for a short story, so decided to write that.

All the shayari-s in this story is from Ishqbaaz, please don't ask me to translate them as hindi isn't my first language and I don't think I can do justice to it, if someone wants to translate it for others, then please do it.

For all those who haven't watched the show, all the Shayaris were told by Omkara in the show, though only the last three shayaris were said to/regarding Gauri.

Note:

I am having some issues with my laptop, so if it doesn't get sorted quickly then my next update would be delayed.

"Hey." Gauri says with a smile as she walked to Arjun in the college library.

Arjun looks up at her and smiles, "Hi..."

"You are still doing your assignment?" Gauri asks him as she sat opposite to him seeing his study material.

"Yeah." Arjun replies.

"I thought you were working on your resume."

"I was. Omkara has gone to get the print out."

"I thought he won't be attending any interviews as he is joining family business."

"He isn't. he went to get my print out." Arjun explains as he stood up. "I need to get a book, I'll come now."

"Okay." Gauri nods as she watched Arjun walk to the bookshelves.

Gauri curiously looks at Arjun's assignment then feeling distracted, she picks the book lying on the table. Seeing it was a book on shayari, she puts it down disinterestedly and a paper falls down from the book. Curious, she picks it up.

Sach Mein Dhal Jaate Hain Kisse Dil Se Dohrane Ke Baad

Ishq Pe Hoga Yakeen Ishq Hojane Ke baad

Gauri smiles reading that, she rereads it a couple of times. She wasn't into shayari, but this touched her. seeing Arjun's pen lying on the table she picks it up and writes on the paper. She puts the paper back inside the book.

few minutes later, Arjun walks back.

"I've to go. Anika is waiting." Gauri tells him.

"Okay... see you in class."

"Love you." Gauri tells him as she quickly pecked his cheek.

"Love you." Arjun smiles at her.

Gauri was walking out of the library when she notices Omkara walking in.

"Hey Omkara." Gauri says as she walked by him.

"Hi Gauri." Omkara replies as well as he continued on.

Omkara walks to Arjun and hands him the print out.

"Thanks." Arjun tells him smiling. "I'll be done in a few minutes."

"Okay... I need to return a book." Omkara tells him as he picked up the shayari book from the table and walked to the librarian to return it.

******

"Did you see a paper lying around?" Omkara asks Arjun at the end of the class.

"No... what paper?" Arjun asks curiously.

"I wrote something on it. I can't find it." Omkara tells him as he flipped through the books.

"No, I didn't see." Arjun replies as he gathered his things.

"Damn!" Omkara mutters realizing that it was in the book he had returned that morning.

"It isn't with my things." Arjun tells him.

"It's okay. you carry on. Your interview should be starting now." Omkara tells him.

"Okay."

"Let's go?" Gauri asks Arjun as she walked to them with Anika.

"Yeah." Arjun replies.

"All the best, guys." Omkara tells them as he decided to head to the library.

*****

Omkara walks to the aisle to find the book he had borrowed. He wasn't worried because he knew very rarely people borrowed the books on shayari, so that book would definitely be there. and he sighs finding the book. He quickly picks it up and turns it upside down and gently shakes it. The paper falls down. Smiling in relief, he picks it up. Leaving the book on the shelf, he opens the paper. He had jotted it down as it had come to his mind and he didn't remember the exact words, so he was worried about losing it.

His eyes immediately caught the word return underneath his shayari.

Beautiful

Surprised that someone had read his shayari and had even left a word of appreciation, he felt touched, he smiles as he put the paper inside his book. Then looking through his bag, he picks up his page marker and a pen.

******

Gauri regretted not making a copy of the shayari since she had left the library. Due to back to back classes she wasn't able to go back to the library. Once her one on one interview was over, she hurries to the library.

First she checks the table she had sat in the morning, when she found it empty. She checks with the librarian for where the books on shayaris are kept and hurries to the area, grabbing her pen and paper.

It took her a while to figure out which was the book as she had nothing to go on other than the color of the book cover, as she didn't check the author's name or the title. Finally, finding the book, she flips to the back page to find the paper and stops in shock seeing only a page marker stuck on the place where she had kept the paper in the morning.

Thank you :)

Gauri sadly sighs. She removes the page marker and puts it inside her book. Then she digs out a sticky note from her bag and leaves a message.

********

The next day, Omkara was curious whether whoever had appreciated his shayari had got his thank you. So, out of mere curiosity, he went to the library during break and checked out the book. He stops in shock seeing the message.

I had come back to make a copy of the shayari because I really loved it and I didn't want to forget it ever, but you took it away by then. :(

********

End of the day, Gauri hurries to the library wondering if the person had got her message and if they did then what did they reply. She quickly finds the book this time and flips to the last page and sees a folded paper. She opens it and smiles seeing the shayari.

She takes out her sticky note and leaves a note.

*******

Next day, Omkara goes to check if that person had got the copy of shayari that he had left for them. he had made a fresh copy instead of giving the one that person had wrote beautiful, because he didn't want to part with that. seeing the sticky note, he smiles with his cheek turning slightly pink.

Thank you so much. I was really heartbroken when I thought I lost it forever. You have such beautiful thoughts. You are very talented.

Omkara sticks the sticky note on the inside of his book and picking a fresh page marker, he leaves a note.

********

Gauri frowns seeing the page marker with just a :) on it. Sighing, she picks a sticky note and leaves a message.

*******

For a shayar, you are so kanjoos with words.

Omkara chuckles reading that.

*****

Gauri curiously looks at the back page and sees that it was sticky note this time.

I'm not very good with expressing what I am feeling.

********

That is so shocking because you express your thoughts so beautifully through your shayari.

*******

I guess that is the only time I can put my feelings into words.

********

When you put your feelings into words, it is very powerful. I wasn't into shayari till I read your shayari. I am a fan of your writing.

********

I feel a little jealous of you because how easily you express what you are thinking.

*****

Awww... I believe in expressing myself, no matter what.

*********

I just don't have the confidence for that.

********

I would feel like I am lying to myself if I don't speak what is in my heart.

********

Yeah, in a way, that is true.

Since I don't know which year you are in, just curious if you were attending the campus interviews.

******

Yeah, and I got three offers. Just confused about which to choose. What about you?

*******

I didn't attend them. I have other plans.

Aasman Se Likha Humne Chitti Mein

Aasman Se Likha Humne Chitti Mein

Apne Sitare Tu Hi Rakh

Hum Khush Hai Iss Mitti Mein

*******

That's beautiful. when you decide to express yourself through shayari, it is like I can see into your soul.

so, corporate world isn't what you want.

********

That's right. I want to follow my passion.

*******

that is awesome. You're going to reach heights.

******

Thank you. the truth is I haven't told anyone this, just you.

******

I'll pray that you'll achieve all that you set out to.

Omkara smiles reading that, and he quickly jots down a reply and walk out.

"Hey." Arjun says as Gauri and he walked in.

"Hi." Omkara smiles at them.

"Hi Omkara." Gauri wishes him with a smile.

"You are leaving?" Arjun asks him.

"I want to take this book. I'll come now." Omkara tells him and heads to the librarian's desk.

"I'll come now." Gauri tells Arjun.

"Seriously?" Arjun asks her shocked.

"What?" Gauri asks him confused.

"It's been a month. Aren't you even curious to meet this person?" Arjun asks her surprised.

"I don't know whether that person wants to meet me."

"You know what, check with Omkara. He is so big into shayaris and he might know who it is."

"I always wanted a pen pal and this kind of feels like that." Gauri tells him shrugging curiously. "And I don't want to snoop and find out who it is. We'll meet if we both feel like meeting."

Arjun shakes his head with a sigh as Gauri walked off.

Gauri opens the book and finds the sticky note.

I feel like meeting you. if you are cool with it, can we meet?

Gauri's heart skipped a beat but she had no idea why. She thinks for a few seconds and suddenly she was filled with this uncontrollable urge to meet him. smiling happily, she picks a sticky note and replies.

When and where?

"Do you have sixth sense or something?" Gauri asks Arjun smiling in surprise.

"Why?" Arjun asks her curiously smiling.

"We are meeting." Gauri informs him.

"Finally. I guess I was more curious about who it is more than you."

Gauri chuckles hearing that.

"So when are you meeting?"

"He'll tell me."

"He?" Arjun asks surprised.

"Yeah." Gauri replies chuckling.

"How did you know it is a 'he'? I thought you didn't know anything about each other." Arjun asks with a confused uneasiness.

"From grammar." Gauri replies shrugging.

"Hmmm." Arjun looks down frowning.

"What?" Gauri asks confused.

"Nothing." Arjun says shaking his head and they didn't talk further on it as Omkara had joined them.

******

Next day first thing in the morning, Omkara goes to the library to check if she had replied. He was feeling nervous as they had never talked about meeting each other and shared any personal details, still it was starting to feel that she knew him and he knew her.

Nervously Omkara opens the book and finds her reply. He smiles with a relieved sigh. He keeps her reply safely in his book with her other notes and taking a new sticky note, he replies.

Tomorrow, after last period, right here.

*******

"What's up with you?" Gauri asks Arjun as she walked to him in class.

"Nothing." Arjun shrugs as he smiled at her.

"I feel you are disturbed about something." Gauri tells him in concern.

"I am fine."

"You sure?" Gauri asks him.

"Yeah."

"You are not lying, right?"

"No." Arjun tells her smiling.

Gauri smiles seeing him smile.

"I'll come now." Arjun says as he got up and walked off as he couldn't continue to lie to her.

"All okay?" Omkara asks her curiously.

"I guess so." Gauri replies.

Omkara nods. Gauri looks down and her eyes catches Omkara's notebook. She frowns seeing the now very familiar handwriting.

"Whose book is that?" Gauri asks frowning.

"Mine." Omkara replies confused at the question.

"Yours?" Gauri asks, her heart skipping a beat and she going pale.

"Yeah... why?" Omkara asks her confused seeing her reaction.

Gauri felt as if the ground beneath her was slipping realizing that she was talking to her boyfriend's best friend all these while.

Seeing her staring at him in shock, Omkara frowns in confusion. "Gauri, what is it?"

"I've to go somewhere." Gauri quickly replies and walked out of the class in a hurry.

*******

Gauri opens the book and finds the note from Omkara. All of a sudden realizing it was Omkara that she had been talking to all this time, Gauri started having this feeling that it was wrong. She was committing a mistake.

Her heart slamming against her chest, she took a sticky note and wrote on it.

********

During break, Omkara goes to the library to check whether she had replied. Ever since she had agreed to meet, he had been eager and excited to meet her. he opens the book in excitement and his heart skips a beat.

Omkara?

Omkara stops in shock seeing that. how did she know it was him? and did he already know her? Omkara's heart started slamming against his chest as he thought how she knew it was him. and why such a message? Why didn't she mention who she was? why wouldn't she mention her name if they already knew each other? Especially when they were going to meet tomorrow. Why didn't she mention who she was? Why didn't come straight to him and tell him who she was?

Omkara starts to get a sticky note to reply to her as he wondered how she had figured out that it was him. and an image comes to his mind.

Whose book is that?

Gauri had asked that and she had looked so shocked. He had assumed it was something to do with her issue with Arjun but what if... FUCK!

No, it can't be Gauri. if it was Gauri then she would have told him that she was already in a relation, so it can't be Gauri. Omkara's heart kept reasoning with him as he walked back to class.

The moment he walked into class, his eyes looked for her and found her staring at him. one look at her face and he knew that it was her.

She looked shocked, worried, panicked and pale.

He gulps realizing that it was indeed Gauri. his heart breaks realizing that he was in love with his best friend's girlfriend.

Seeing her staring at him, he quickly looks away and walks to his seat.

******

"You okay?" Arjun asks Omkara in concern.

Omkara nods.

"You look upset."

"Just thinking of something." Omkara quickly says as he looked away.

"All okay, right?" Arjun asks him again.

"Yeah... yeah... all fine." Omkara replies then he couldn't help it and asks him, "What was the issue with Gauri?"

"Did she say anything?" Arjun asks him softly.

"No." Omkara replies, realizing that he had been talking to Gauri all these days, he had this feeling that the issue between Arjun and Gauri was him.

"I just don't know." Arjun confesses to him softly.

"What happened?" Omkara asks him.

"The truth is nothing happened." Arjun tells him.

"Hmmm."

"Gauri has this... pen pal kind of thing... not even pen pal... she has no idea who it is but they keep leaving messages for each other." Arjun tells him.

"She told you that?" Omkara asks him shocked.

"She told you?" Arjun asks him surprised.

"No... no..." Omkara quickly replies. "I was asking whether she told you about this."

"Yeah, she did... ever since she started this note leaving thing..." Arjun tells him.

"Hmmm... so what happened?" Omkara asks looking away, his heart slamming against his chest.

"Yesterday she told me that she is pretty sure it is a guy and..."

"What do you mean by that?" Omkara cuts him off. "Did she think it was a girl at first?" Omkara asks him shocked. He was pretty sure from the first note that it was a girl.

"I don't know... she said she knew from the grammar... I kind of thought gender neutrally." Arjun tells him shrugging.

"Hmmm."

"They are planning to meet." Arjun tells him.

Omkara thoughtfully looks away wondering whether he had imagined that the girl had feelings for him. if there were such thoughts in Gauri's mind then she wouldn't have so openly talked about it to Arjun. Omkara felt anger brewing in him, Gauri should have told him that she had someone in her life.

"I don't want to be that kind of a boyfriend." Arjun tells him breaking him out of his thoughts.

Omkara turns to look at Arjun.

"I know they are just friends... but the moment she told me that she knew it was a guy, I can't help play back all the time she spoke of him." Arjun helplessly looks at Omkara and tells him, "Whenever she speaks of him, it is like she is in awe of him. like she adores him. like he means a lot to her."

Omkara looks away as his heart started beating fast.

"I know I am seeing and imagining things. Gauri is not that type. But this insecurity and possessive feeling... and I am unnecessarily panicking thinking that things are getting out of hand." Arjun helplessly confesses to him.

"You should talk to her." Omkara tells him for lack of anything else to tell him.

"What am I going to tell her?" Arjun asks him helplessly. "That I don't like that she is friends with this guy? You know, I am still in touch with Richa, and Gauri has never made an issue of it. She has accepted that Richa is my friend now. in fact, Gauri has always respected our friendship."

"that is different. Richa is your past."

"And there is nothing between that guy and Gauri. I have no reason to feel insecure or have any issue with it but I still can't help it." Arjun tells him guiltily.

"You should talk to her and sort it out." Omkara tells him, unable to handle the guilt he was feeling for causing this pain to his best friend.

******

Gauri opens the book and stops in confusion finding it empty. He hadn't replied to her message. But she knew he saw it because the sticky note she had put was gone, and the way he had looked at her yesterday had confirmed it.

Gauri felt her eyes filling up realizing that he was feeling guilty. She hadn't thought of anything else since the moment she had realized that it was Omkara. She takes out a sticky note and writes a message for him.

*********

Omkara couldn't control himself and he finds himself among the aisle staring at the book. Heart slamming against his chest, he opens the book and finds the sticky note.

Omkara,

Ever since I realized that it is you, I have been having this feeling that I am committing a mistake. I just don't know why I am feeling like that. I am feeling guilty as if I am betraying Arjun. I don't know why I am feeling like that. I know even you are feeling guilty. But please, just talk to me. I want to talk to you and sort it out before I tell Arjun this.

- Gauri

Omkara closes his eyes helplessly reading her note. Gauri might not realize it yet, but he did, he had come between Gauri and Arjun. Omkara takes off the note she left for him and closes the book without leaving her a reply.

******

Gauri sadly sighs feeling her heart break seeing the last page of the book empty. Omkara didn't leave a message for her and he hadn't come to meet her like they had planned. She had kept waiting for him for nearly an hour. Gauri takes out a sticky note and writes.

Please Omkara, just talk to me.

She didn't go back to class, she just hung around the library hoping to catch Omkara when he comes.

During the break, Gauri sees him walk towards the aisle and she follows behind. She watches as he read her message and then taking the note, he closes the book without leaving her a reply.

"You won't even reply?" Gauri asks him hurt.

Hearing her, Omkara turns to her in shock.

"Why did you stop replying?" Gauri asks him again.

Without answering her, Omkara start to walk off.

"I am not even able to talk to Arjun. It's been two days since I talked to him. please, Omkara... I don't know where I went wrong... where all this went wrong."

"You want to know where you went wrong?" Omkara asks her as he turned to her in anger.

Seeing him so angry, Gauri nods in shock.

"It is where you failed to mention that you have a boyfriend." Omkara furiously whispers to her.

"What?" Gauri asks him in shock, she hadn't expected that of all the things.

"Why didn't you say you were in a relation?" Omkara asks her unable to control his hurt and jealousy.

"You didn't ask me." Gauri softly reminds him too shocked at his questions.

"So, it is my fault? Or where you hoping that it was someone who didn't know you or your relation with Arjun?"

"What? What do you mean?" Gauri asks him unable to understand how he was talking in a completely different tangent.

"You should know."

"Are you accusing me of trying to two time you and Arjun?" Gauri asks him in shock.

"Was that your plan?" Omkara asks her.

"No!" Gauri replies vehemently, her eyes filling up and she had no idea why his accusations were hurting her. "Of course not. Is that what you think of me?"

Seeing her tears, Omkara was immediately filled with regret as he knew those accusations were uncalled for. He knew that it was not her intentions and he never asked about her personal life and she never asked for his. Then why was he accusing her like this.

When he didn't reply, Gauri turns around and walk off.

********

"I am sorry; I shouldn't have said that." Omkara tells her as he caught up with her.

Gauri turns to Omkara in anger and says, "But you did say that."

"Gauri..." Omkara helplessly says her name.

"You shouldn't even talk to someone who you think so lowly about." Gauri tells him as she turned to walk off.

"Ever since I realized that it was you, I just..." Omkara helplessly stops.

"Even I didn't know it was you, Omkara." Gauri turns to him.

"I know but you should have told me you have a boyfriend." Omkara helplessly accuses her.

"You never asked me!" Gauri reminds him in exasperation.

"How was I supposed to know that you had a boyfriend?" Omkara asks her in shock.

"What difference does it make?" Gauri asks him confused.

"Fuck, Gauri!" Omkara whispers in shock.

"What?"

His jealousy and envy returned tenfold and he tells her, "If it makes no difference to you then good for you!"

"Omkara..." Gauri starts to ask him what he meant by that.

"Arjun is my best friend. Stay away from me!" Omkara tells her in anger and he walks off.

*****

After class, Omkara was walking out with Arjun when he notices Gauri waiting for them.

"Let's go?" Arjun asks Gauri as he walked to her.

"Going somewhere?" Omkara asks as he turned his gaze to Gauri, his fury rising.

Hearing his question, Gauri looks up at Omkara and sees him glaring at her.

"Yeah... we are going out." Arjun answers.

"Oh, have fun." Omkara tells Gauri as he glared at her. "Bye." He tells Arjun and walk off.

Gauri watches Omkara walk off, feeling this unexplainable guilt and regret in her.

********

Omkara was in his room as he fumed, his thoughts going on Arjun and Gauri. Try as much as he may, he couldn't get their thoughts out of his head. he knew he had no right to be angry and jealous like this because Gauri was Arjun's girlfriend and whatever that he had thought and whatever could have happened between Gauri and him were now just mere thoughts.

Hearing his mobile ring, he checks his phone and stops in shock seeing that it was Gauri.

"What?" Omkara asks furiously as he answered.

"Why are you angry, Omkara?" Gauri asks him hearing his angry tone.

"Is that why you called? What do you want?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Why? You were not able to talk to Arjun? Or you guys were busy doing other things?"

"What the hell, Omkara?" Gauri asks him furiously. "It's my mistake that I called you." Gauri says in anger and hangs up the call.

Omkara furiously throws his phone on the bed as he screamed in anger. What the hell was happening to him? why was he behaving like this? Why was he talking to Gauri like this? He had no right to talk like that to her. Gauri and Arjun were in a relation and it was he who had come in between them.

Omkara takes his mobile and dials Gauri's number. After three rings, she had cut his call. Sighing, he calls again and her phone was switched off.

********

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Omkara tells her the moment he spots her in college.

"What is new in that?" Gauri asks him as she walked off ignoring him.

"Gauri... I am sorry."

"I don't know why I am trying to talk to you after the way you clearly think that I am the lowest of low woman." Gauri tells him in anger.

"I don't think that of you." Omkara whispers to her in guilt. "I've never met anyone as honest as you."

"Oh you have a very weird way of showing that." Gauri accuses him.

"I'm just having a hard time coming to terms with all this." Omkara confesses to her.

"And you think you are the only one who is feeling like that?"

"Both of our situation is different." Omkara tells her helplessly.

"How?" Gauri asks him frowning.

Omkara looks at her and then he tells her instead, "I am sorry, Gauri. I am very sorry."

Gauri nods accepting his apology.

"Why did you call last night?"

"I wanted to talk to you." Gauri confesses.

"It is Arjun who you should be talking to." Omkara softly tells her.

"I couldn't." Gauri helplessly tells him.

"He is your boyfriend. Whatever issues it is, you both should be talking and sorting it out amongst yourself."

"I couldn't even look at him." Gauri tells him her eyes filling up.

Omkara quickly looks away hearing that. "He loves you a lot."

"I know." Gauri nods then she helplessly tells him, "It feels all wrong now."

Omkara doesn't reply, but he had stopped breathing and his heart had skipped a beat.

"When I was with him, I felt as if I was betraying you. as if, I was ruining things. Like things were slipping out of my hand. Like..." Gauri stops as she helplessly looked at Omkara, "Like I was losing you."

Omkara gulps hearing her say that, Gauri was getting confused with her feelings for Arjun and him and more than joy, he was feeling guilt for what this would do to Arjun.

"I don't understand why I am feeling like that. I love Arjun... or I thought I did... but now... please Omkara... I just don't know what I am supposed to do or feel."

"Gauri, you are in a relation with my best friend. My best friend loves you a lot. And that is all I know." Omkara tells her and walks off.

******

Gauri and Omkara didn't speak to each other for the next couple of days. Gauri avoided Arjun as she couldn't bear to be with him all of a sudden, and Omkara avoided her like the plague. Gauri was feeling miserable and she was slowly starting to realize that it was because of Omkara and not Arjun.

Hearing Omkara's voice, she curiously looks up. She sees him talking to Ridhima. She frowns seeing that. everyone knew that Ridhima was majorly crushing on Omkara and Omkara had never given her a second glance. Omkara never interacted with any girls other than her and Anika and that too basic courtesy greetings. Seeing him talking to Ridhima and smiling at her, Gauri felt anger brewing in her. she didn't like that. she hated that he was smiling and talking to Ridhima like that.

*******

"That's not you, Omkara." Gauri tells him as she sat next to him in library.

"What?" Omkara frowns hearing her. he was even surprised that she had come to talk to him. they had been avoiding each other for the last four days.

"This flirting." Gauri tells him.

"And you have a problem with that?" Omkara asks her irately though feeling guilty also. He wanted to get Gauri out of his thoughts and when Ridhima had asked him out for a date he had agreed for that.

"You are not being you."

"This is the new me then."

"Being not yourself, is your new you?" Gauri asks him.

"What?" Omkara frowns hearing the weird question then shaking his head, he asks her, "Don't you have a boyfriend? Who also happens to be my best friend. Who is also hurt and confused with the way you have been avoiding him all these days."

Gauri looks away in guilt.

"Stop worrying about me and start sorting out your relation." Omkara tells her as he stood up and walked off.

******

"Hi..." Gauri hesitantly tells Arjun.

"Hey." Arjun smiles at her. "You have been avoiding me."

"I am sorry." Gauri softly tells him.

"What happened?" Arjun asks her.

"I..." Gauri starts and stops frowning seeing Omkara and Ridhima walking together to the car park. "Where are they going?"

Arjun curiously looks at where she was looking and sees Omkara and Ridhima. "Omkara finally agreed to go on a date with Ridhima."

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

"Even I was shocked." Arjun tells her chuckling softly.

"Hmmm."

"Anyway, leave that. tell me what is the issue." Arjun asks her.

The thought that Omkara was on a date with someone was killing her. Gauri felt fury rising in her. she was feeling anger, jealousy and possessiveness regarding Omkara. How could he go on a date? How could he forget whatever was between them? Gauri stops in shock realizing where her thoughts were going. Why was she thinking like that when she was in a relation with Arjun? What right she had to ask questions or be jealous if Omkara was going on dates? Gauri felt her heart beating fast as realization dawned. She turns to look at Arjun and sees him watching her.

"I've to go." Gauri tells him.

"What happened, Gauri? talk to me. tell me what is the issue?" Arjun asks her as he held her hand.

"I'll. Not now. tomorrow, we will talk. I promise." Gauri promises him.

*******

"Had fun?"

Omkara frowns hearing the accusatory question and looks up to see Gauri. "What?"

"Your date... had fun?" Gauri asks him.

"What is it to you?" Omkara asks her as he tried to avoid looking at her feeling guilty for going on a date with Ridhima and he had a miserable time as he couldn't help feel that he was cheating on Gauri.

Gauri sighs and sadly looks down. "I couldn't sleep last night."

Omkara felt his heart skip a beat hearing her.

"I didn't like that you were on a date with another girl." Gauri tells him as she sat down opposite him.

"Mind your own business, Gauri." Omkara tells her as he stood up to leave the library, he didn't want to go down that path with Gauri.

"I couldn't understand why you were angry and kept accusing me about my boyfriend." Gauri tells him as she looked up at him. "You were jealous. Weren't you?"

"I've class." Omkara tells her in reply.

"I realize that I can't have both you and Arjun in my life." Gauri tells him.

Omkara stops in shock and turns to her. his heart skipping several beats.

"I realize that I have to make a choice."

"What choice?" Omkara asks her frowning. "There isn't anything between us. Arjun is your boyfriend."

"I can't be with Arjun anymore." Gauri helplessly tells him in tears. "I can't betray him like that. I can't lie to myself like that. I can't cheat you like that."

"What cheating? I don't expect anything from you. you are free to be with Arjun. He loves you." Omkara tells her ignoring the joy his treacherous heart was feeling hearing her, only his guilt was given priority.

"I am breaking up with Arjun."

"Don't you dare hurt him like that!"

"Omkara, it is your right if you don't want to pursue what is between us. and it is my right to end a relation that I can no longer be loyal to." Gauri tells him in finality.

"There is nothing between us, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

"Maybe you can be happy lying to yourself, I can't." Gauri tells him and stands up. "I am not breaking up with Arjun because I want to start something with you. I do want to be with you, but I am not breaking up with Arjun for you. I am breaking up with him because there isn't anything I can give Arjun anymore. No love, no happiness and no loyalty. Arjun deserves better."

"He loves you a lot, Gauri. I know him. I am his best friend." Omkara tells her helplessly. "Please don't hurt him."

"I am sorry, Omkara. I can't live a lie." Gauri tells him and turns to walk off. then stopping, she turns to him, "Ridhima is a nice girl, and she cares for you a lot. But she deserves to be more than a rebound."

Omkara sighs as he watched Gauri walk off. he knew she was right about Ridhima. He couldn't mislead her.

*******

"Arjun... I wanted to talk to you." Gauri hesitantly tells him.

"Yeah tell me." Arjun replies frowning seeing her so serious.

"Outside."

Arjun nods and walks out with her.

They were walking in the college ground silently for a while both lost in thoughts.

"What happened?" Arjun asks her finally.

"I don't know how to tell you this..." Gauri nervously starts.

"Is it about him?" Arjun asks her softly.

Gauri nods. "I'm sorry, Arjun."

Arjun looks away feeling hurt. "Did something happen between you guys?"

"No... no." Gauri quickly replies.

"Then?" Arjun asks her as he turned to her.

Gauri looks down as she tried to bring into words what she wanted to tell him.

"Are you trying to break up with me?" Arjun asks her in shock seeing her hesitation.

"Yes." Gauri whispers softly.

"Gauri, what we have is good... why do you want to end it for some passing fancy?" Arjun asks her hurt.

"It is not passing fancy, Arjun. What I feel for him, I have never felt like that ever." Gauri confesses to him in tears, it was killing her to hurt him like that.

Arjun gulps hearing her, his eyes filling up. "Don't you love me, Gauri?"

"I thought I did. I really thought that. my loyalty to you had blinded me to what I was feeling for him. I didn't think I could fall in love with someone else that I never realized that I was falling in love with him. if I realized what was happening then maybe I could have tried stopping myself or at least stopped talking to him. but now it is beyond my control."

"I knew this was happening." Arjun whispers to her.

"You did?" Gauri asks him in shock.

"The way you spoke of him..."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Gauri asks him sadly.

"I wanted to trust you." Arjun tells her with a sad smile.

Gauri looks away feeling guilty hearing that.

"So, he loves you?" Arjun asks her softly.

"He doesn't want to have anything with me." Gauri sadly tells him.

"Then why are you breaking up with me?" Arjun asks her shocked.

"Because we both deserve better than to live a lie."

******

Going home. Will talk to you later.

Omkara sighs seeing Arjun's message. He realized that Gauri had broken up with him. Omkara looks at Gauri and sees her looking depressed and sad. He sighs sadly. just then, Gauri turns to look at Omkara and sees him looking at her. Omkara quickly looks away. seeing a message from her, he quickly opens it.

How is he doing?

Omkara looks up and sees her watching him.

He went home. You didn't tell him it was me?

Gauri shakes her head and types into her phone.

He is your best friend, and he deserves to hear it from you. it is your decision if and when you want to tell him.

Omkara sighs reading that. he felt both relief and irritation reading that.

What did you get by hurting him like this?

Omkara sees her typing into her phone and then he sees her message.

What are you getting by forcing me into a relation that has lost its value?

Omkara closes his eyes in fury. The guilt for coming in between Arjun and Gauri was killing him, if he hadn't replied to her first message then Arjun and Gauri still would be together.

All this is wrong, Gauri. You were happy with him.

Omkara watches as she typed into her mobile.

I was but now it feels wrong and a sin.

Seeing that, Omkara gives up and doesn't reply to her.

*********

The next few weeks went uneventfully while Gauri avoided both Omkara and Arjun. Though, she couldn't say that she was avoiding Omkara when Omkara was the one who was avoiding her. soon, it was the day before the final day of college before their final semester exams and Gauri was starting to feel restless about parting from Omkara. She wanted to talk to him but she had no idea how or what she could talk to him about. Luckily for her, a conversation in class gave her an opening.

During a free hour, she sees him going to the library and follows him there.

"Why did you lie that you were joining family business?" Gauri asks him.

"Because I am." Omkara replies as he looked at her feeling a little happy to be able to talk to her and a little restless because they couldn't seem to put an end to all this.

"You said you wanted to follow your passion. You wanted to be a sculptor, right? Mud sculpture."

"How did you know that?" Omkara asks her shocked.

"Aasman Se Likha Humne Chitti Mein, Aasman Se Likha Humne Chitti Mein, Apne Sitare Tu Hi Rakh, Hum Khush Hai Iss Mitti Mein"

"You remember?" Omkara asks her shocked.

"I remember everything that you told me." Gauri replies to him.

"I am just not confident." Omkara tells her shrugging. "I thought I'll join business and pursue this during my free time."

Gauri nods. Omkara softly smiles at her.

"You decided which company you are joining?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri nods and tells him.

"All the best, Gauri."

"How is Arjun doing?"

"Miserable." Omkara replies.

Gauri nods hearing that. "I am sorry that I had to hurt him."

"He is still hopeful that you guys would find your way back to each other." Omkara softly tells her.

"Shouldn't we talk about us, Omkara?" Gauri asks him softly.

"There is nothing to talk about, Gauri." Omkara tells her gently.

"Sach Mein Dhal Jaate Hain Kisse Dil Se Dohrane Ke Baad, Ishq Pe Hoga Yakeen Ishq Hojane Ke baad." Gauri softly whispers. "I can't believe you are the same man who wrote that."

"Mere Liye Pyaar Khuda Hai, Jo Hota Sabke Dil Mein, Par Milta Sirf Kisi Kisi Ko" Omkara tells her.

Gauri looks at him hurtfully and tells him, "If you didn't realize it then I love you, Omkara."

Omkara's heart skips a beat hearing her confess, he wanted to tell her that he loved her too but remembering Arjun's condition from the previous night, he doesn't say anything.

His silence was killing her.

"Don't you have anything to say, Omkara?"

"No." Omkara replies.

Gauri helplessly fights her tears, "I know Arjun is your best friend from school. You don't want to be the reason for his pain. That doesn't mean that you turn a blind eye to what we have."

"We don't have anything, Gauri." Omkara tells her as he stood up.

"I just don't understand you, Omkara." Gauri helplessly tells him. "You keep asking me to get back with Arjun and when you see me with him, you get jealous. What is it that you want?"

"I don't want anything from you, Gauri." Omkara tells her in finality.

"How can you be like this, Omkara? This is killing me. aren't you hurt even a little?" Gauri asks him heartbroken.

"No." Omkara lies.

"I just don't know what I am going to do. What I have to do. This is driving me crazy."

"You got over Arjun. I am sure you will get over me too."

"Is that what you think?" Gauri asks him in shock. "That I can easily jump from one man to next?"

Omkara quickly looks away realizing that she had derived the worst possible reasoning from what he said.

"Fine!" Gauri tells him furiously and walks off.

"Gauri!" Omkara starts to follow her.

"Let me guess!" Gauri turns to him in fury. "I am sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean it... well save it!"

"I really didn't mean that."

"I don't care. You don't deserve me." Gauri tells him furiously. "And I deserve better than this."

"Gauri, I really..." Omkara starts.

"Every time you push me away and when I walk away, you come running behind me. you need to make up your mind. You can't have it both ways." Gauri furiously tells him and walks off ignoring him completely.

*******

Omkara had no idea what he was supposed to do. When he thought of Gauri, he wanted to be with her but when he thought of Arjun, he felt so guilty that he hated himself for thinking about Gauri. he knew Gauri was right that, he has to make a choice, Arjun or Gauri. Both were a relation that would last a lifetime and he had no idea who he had to choose. And Gauri had been ignoring his calls.

Next day, the whole atmosphere in the class was gloomy as it was the last day of college and everyone were feeling depressed about parting from their friends and the pressure of upcoming exams. Still he had tried catching Gauri alone but she had avoided him. finally, having no go, he messages her.

Tere Mere Beech Juda Tha Ek Rishta Anjaane Mein

Jaane Ek Chota Sa Kissa Kab Badal Gaya Afsaane Mein

Waqt Ki Gullak Ke Sab Lamhe, Tere Naam Pe Kharch Huye

Aadhe Tujhe Sathaane Mein Aur Aadhe Tujhe Manaane Mein

Ab Dil Ko Tujhse Kaam Hai Kya, Iss Rishtey Ka Naam Hai Kya

Main Aur Dil, Dono Uljhe Hain Iss Masle Ko Suljhaane Mein

He watches her check her message. He sighs when she didn't immediately look at him knowing that it was his message. He watches her read the message. She had stopped breathing then he notices her slowly starting to breathe a little rapidly as she stared at her phone. He knew she was re-reading what he had wrote. He watched her without taking his eyes off her and finally, she turns to look at him, then she softly nods. Omkara smiles at her in relief and she smiles back.

********

4 months later

"Gauri..." Nayantara calls her as she walked into her bedroom.

"Yes, Mama?" Gauri looks at her curiously.

"How is work going?" Nayantara asks her lovingly as she caressed her hair and sat next to her and Anika who was staying over.

"Learning but I am loving it." Gauri tells her smiling.

Nayantara smiles hearing that.

"What is it?" Gauri asks her smiling curiously realizing she was there for something.

"You know Sarojini Aunty..." Nayantara gently starts.

"Hmmm... what about her?"

"She brought this proposal for you." Nayantara tells her. "Her friend's son."

"What?" Gauri asks in shock, her thoughts going to Omkara immediately. She turns to look at Anika and sees her watching her in shock.

"I know we never talked about your marriage. But it is a very good proposal. One of the best. Good and well to do family. Nice people. Nice boy. The proposal seems so good and perfect that Harsh and I couldn't say no." Nayantara tells her.

"No, Mama." Gauri tells her shaking her head.

"You said you broke up with Arjun." Nayantara asks her confused.

"Yes. I love someone." Gauri tells her.

"But you never said anything." Nayantara tells her confused and surprised.

"He asked for time." Gauri tells her.

"Time? for what?" Nayantara asks her curiously. "Doesn't he love you?"

"I think he does but at times, I am not sure." Gauri tells her helplessly.

"What do you mean?" Nayantara asks her gently.

Gauri tells her mother everything.

"You said he told you on the last day of college... so how many months has it been?" Nayantara asks her shocked.

"4."

"And he still hasn't made up his mind?" Nayantara asks Gauri feeling offended on behalf of Gauri.

"I don't think so." Gauri whispers to her feeling her heart break again.

"When was the last time you spoke to him?"

"That was the last conversation we had."

"Gauri, does he even know that you are waiting for him?" Nayantara asks her shocked.

Gauri looks down hearing her mother's question. her heart knew that Omkara knew that she was waiting for him.

"For how long are you going to wait for him to make up his mind."

"He asked me for time, Mama."

"Not indefinitely."

Gauri looks away feeling hurt.

"I tell her that, but she doesn't listen." Anika tells Nayantara gently.

"Gauri, you can't go on waiting for him like this." Nayantara tells her.

A part of Gauri knew that her mother and Anika were right but a part of her that loved him so dearly was not ready to give up on him and them.

"One day, you'll have to move on, Gauri." Nayantara tells her.

"He asked me to give him time."

"How much more time he needs, Gauri?" Nayantara asks her.

"What do you want me to do?" Gauri asks her.

"Call him and talk to him. if he hasn't still made up his mind then I think you should meet this boy."

"But Mama..."

"You don't have to marry him. just meet him, see whether you feel you can be happy with him, if you do we will proceed, it will be your decision, Gauri." Nayantara promises her.

Gauri looks at Anika for advice.

"She is right, Gauri." Anika tells her.

Gauri nods giving in.

After Nayantara left, Gauri picks her mobile and dials Omkara's number. The call went on for a couple of rings before he cut the call.

"He cut the call." Gauri tells Anika sadly.

Anika keeps her hand on Gauri's shoulder in a consoling way. The heart break of the last couple of months taking a toll on her, Gauri hugs Anika and starts crying.

******

Why did she call?

Omkara had restlessly thought about it through the night. He checks the time and sees that it was 8:15, he had decided to wait till 8:30, so it was a pretty decent time, as that wouldn't be too early, as he wasn't sure about her sleep-wake habits. He restlessly started pacing his bedroom as he kept glancing at the clock. The moment the clock struck 8:30, he dialed her number.

She picked up on the fifth ring.

"Hello?"

"Hello..." Omkara nervously says, his heart slamming against his chest. "How are you?"

"Fine... How are you?" Gauri asks him back.

"Okay... good. How is your office?"

"Learning the drill... you joined your business?"

"Yeah, I did." Omkara tells her.

"And sculpting and shayari?"

"It's there but not like before." Omkara replies.

"Hmmm."

"You called last night?" Omkara asks her.

"You didn't pick my call."

Omkara hesitates as he wondered what to tell her then not wanting to hurt her, he tells her, "I wasn't in a position to answer the call."

"Hmmm okay."

"Why did you call?" Omkara asks her.

"You asked for time. I wanted to see if you had made a decision."

Omkara's heart skips a beat hearing that.

When he remained silent, Gauri says, "Omkara... it's been four months."

Realizing that he had to tell her the truth, he tells her, "Last night I was with Arjun, that is why I couldn't pick your call."

"Oh okay."

"He was drunk and he wanted to call you, and I was trying to stop him. and you called me that time, and that is why I didn't pick your call and by the time I dropped him to his house and got back it was really late." Omkara explains.

"He is still..." Gauri hesitantly asks.

"He is still not over you." Omkara confirms.

He waited for her to say something but she had remained silent.

"Gauri?"

"I am here."

"Okay." Omkara says for lack of anything else.

"I got a proposal." Gauri tells him.

"What?" Omkara whispers in shock, his heart skipping a beat.

"I told Mama about you, she doesn't want me to wait indefinitely for you. she told me to meet this guy and see if I think I can be happy with him. I called you because of all that last night. When you didn't answer, I told Mama that I will meet this guy. They are coming to see me in some time."

"Arjun is still in love with you, Gauri." Omkara tells her helplessly.

"It's time you tell me what you want, Omkara. Not Arjun." Gauri tells him in finality.

Omkara helplessly runs his hand through his hair.

"I know Arjun is your best friend and you feel that you would be hurting him by accepting our relation. Even I care for Arjun and I also feel bad for hurting him. But that doesn't mean that we sacrifice what we have. Either you tell Arjun the truth or end whatever it is that is between us. you can't have it both ways."

"Gauri, I know you have been patient all this while."

"Omkara, if you ask me to wait for you then I will but don't ask me for time to figure out whether you want to be with me." Gauri tells him. "One day, Arjun is going to get over me and fall in love with someone, do you want us to be on a standstill till that happens? What if it takes years?"

"If you don't want to wait and want to move on, then feel free to do so." Omkara tells her getting angry.

"Okay. good bye." Gauri says and hangs up.

Omkara closes his eyes realizing that she had started crying. He screams in fury realizing that he had hurt her again. what is with her that brought out extreme emotions in him? the way she was pressurizing him for an answer suddenly felt like she had enough and she wanted his permission for her to move on, and that had brought out the worst in him.

He dials her number to talk to her. it took him three times to finally realize that she had blocked his number.

Bloody hell, Gauri! Omkara fumes in fury then he stops realizing what he had told her before they hung up, he had told her to move on and someone was coming to see her today. Fuck! Panicking he runs out of his room.

"Om... Where are you going?" Jhanvi asks him seeing him run out.

"I've to go somewhere, Mom." Omkara calls out to her.

"But I told you in the morning we have to go to the girl's house today." Jhanvi reminds him frowning.

"I can't, Mom. I am sorry. I'll explain to you everything when I get back." Omkara tells her and runs out ignoring his mother calling out to him.

*****

"I know what you are going to say." Arjun says as soon as Omkara walked in. "That Gauri has moved and I should too. I'm trying and it is difficult."

"No. I am not here to tell you that." Omkara tells him nervously.

"Then?" Arjun asks him confused.

"I'm here to tell you that I am the reason." Omkara tells him, his heart beating fast in panic.

"Reason for what?" Arjun asks him confused.

Omkara helplessly shrugs with a pleading look.

"Gauri?" Arjun asks him in shock.

Omkara nods in yes.

"She loves you?" Arjun asks him in shock as he staggered back.

"Yes."

"What the fuck?"

"I love her, Arjun." Omkara confesses.

"But she said that guy refused to have anything to do with her." Arjun tells him in shock.

"I know how much you love her."

"So you rejected her for me?" Arjun asks him in a shocked whisper.

Omkara nods.

"It was you?!?!?" Arjun asks him still reeling from his shock.

"I am sorry, Arjun. I really didn't know it was her." Omkara confesses.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Arjun asks him hurt.

"I couldn't hurt you."

"Then why are you telling me now?" Arjun asks him in exasperation.

"Because she is thinking of getting married. After I realized it was her, it killed me when I saw her with you. if she becomes someone else's, I don't know what I will do. I can't see her be someone else's. I love her." Omkara tells him with tears in his eyes.

"What the hell are you doing, Omkara?" Arjun asks him in shock. "I am not a baby that you have to coddle me!"

"Unintentionally and without knowing I did come between you both."

"If you came between us it means that our relationship wasn't as strong as we thought it to be." Arjun tells him sadly.

"I should have told you sooner." Omkara admits. "But..."

"I didn't make it easier for you with my constant wailing over her." Arjun guesses.

"Yes." Omkara couldn't help smile.

Arjun smiles seeing him smile "Ja beta, jee le apni zindagi."

Omkara smiles and hugs him. "You are going to be fine, right?"

"It will take time but I will be fine." Arjun promises him as he hugged him.

"I just didn't know what I was supposed to do." Omkara tells him.

"She fell in love with you and dumped me but that doesn't change the fact that she is one of the most genuine and honest girl out there." Arjun reminds him. "You should have been honest about your feelings."

"I thought it would be selfish if I did that."

"Sacrificing for others is good but only when it is justifiable and is for the greater good, this wasn't." Arjun tells him.

*****

"Where is Anika?" Nayantara asks Gauri as she walked into her room.

"She is taking her shower." Gauri answers her.

"Gauri, you come down." Nayantara tells her gently.

"Are they here?" Gauri asks her heart beating fast.

"You come down." Nayantara tells her.

Gauri thoughts went back to Omkara but shaking her head to clear her mind, Gauri follows her mother. She had told her mother that she would meet this guy but now she regretted it, she has to get through this day somehow.

"Omkara? Arjun?" Gauri whispers in shock seeing them.

"They are here to meet you." Nayantara tells her.

"What are you both doing here?" Gauri asks her gaze moving to Omkara.

"You blocked my number!" Omkara accuses her.

"Is that why you are here?" Gauri asks him in shock.

"No." Omkara shakes his head as he walked to her.

"Then?"

Omkara starts to answer her then feeling a chuckle, he with a grin tells her, "It is not hard to guess."

"Get back with Arjun?" Gauri asks him getting angry.

"What? No!" Omkara says in outrage.

"Then?" Gauri asks him confused.

Omkara shrugs at her with a grin.

Gauri gasps in outrage, "I am sorry, I didn't mean it?"

Omkara cheekily grins at her. "Yes."

"You told me to move on!" Gauri accuses him.

"I am sorry, I didn't mean it." Omkara tells her unable to control his smile and joy.

"Why are you so happy?" Gauri asks him confused and pissed.

"Because I am happy." Omkara tells her.

"Was it a relief for you to ask me to move on?"

"Of course not! I would have told you that if you hadn't blocked my number." Omkara tells her.

"Because I knew you would call back saying sorry."

"So, you knew I didn't mean it!" Omkara accuses her.

"Of course I knew it!" Gauri replies in an offended tone.

Omkara looks at her up and down. "With the way, you are dressed up, it is hard to believe."

"What a nerve, Omkara! I can't believe that after four months you are coming and telling me this!" Gauri tells him pissed.

"What? I am not here to tell you that."

"Then why are you here?" Gauri asks him at her wits end.

"I am here to tell you..." Omkara moves closer to her and takes her hand.

"Tell me what?" Gauri asks frowning though she couldn't help the smile that was threatening to spill realizing where this was headed.

Smiling, Omkara keeps her hand over his heart and says, "Poora Hona Kismat Hai, Iss Adhoore Kisse Ki, Abhi Mohabbat Karni Hai, Humein Humare Hisse Ki"

"What?" Gauri asks whispering in shock, her eyes filling up.

"I love you." Omkara tells her.

Unable to control her joy, Gauri hugs him happily. "I love you too."

"I am sorry it took me so long. I asked for time so I could tell Arjun everything, not because I didn't know what I was feeling for you." Omkara tells her.

Remembering Arjun, Gauri turns to look at him. "Arjun..."

"I'll be fine, Gauri." Arjun tells her smiling. "You both love each other and you both should be together."

"Thank you."

"Keep my boy happy." Arjun tells her as he patted on Omkara's shoulder.

"He is a total your boy." Gauri tells him smiling as she looked at Omkara.

Omkara chuckles as he hugged her.

Gauri smiles happily in relief as she hugged him.

"Om?" Jhanvi calls him in shock.

Omkara and Gauri quickly part in shock.

Seeing his family, Omkara asks her shocked, "Mom, what are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here, Om?" Jhanvi asks him in shock.

"What are you doing, Om?" Tej asks him in shock.

"What are you all doing here?" Omkara asks them again. "Weren't you supposed to go to..." Omkara stops in shock as he looked at Gauri and then turns to his parents and asks in shock, "Gauri? You are here to see, Gauri?"

"Yes." Jhanvi replies still in shock.

"Shivaay?" Gauri asks in a shocked whisper.

"That would be me." Shivaay answers as he stared at them in utter confusion.

"Hell!" Omkara mutters in shock. "Why the hell is every man in my life after my Gauri?"

Arjun coughs loudly in outrage.

"What?" Shivaay asks in shocked.

"I didn't mean you." Omkara quickly tells Arjun as he looked at him.

"Didn't feel like so." Arjun points out.

"How are you related to Shivaay?" Gauri asks Omkara in confusion.

"He is my elder brother." Omkara answers.

"What the hell?" Gauri whispers in shock.

"Exactly!" Omkara whispers.

"Thank God." Gauri tells in relief.

"Why?" Omkara asks with a frown.

"If they were here before you, then you would have gone on another sacrificing trip." Gauri accuses him.

"Of course not." Omkara tells her offended.

"It is a little hard for me to believe." Gauri tells him.

"Don't you have any faith in me?" Omkara asks her in shock.

"You never fought for me. for us." Gauri tells him unable to hide her pain.

"Gauri, it was because of Arjun. Otherwise I would have... I swear..."

"Why was I never a priority for you, Omkara?" Gauri asks him softly.

"You were, Gauri. it is just that I didn't want our happiness to be on someone's pain." Omkara tells her earnestly.

Gauri nods accepting.

"I love you, Gauri." Omkara tells her cupping her face. "Teri Aahat Ke Bina Yeh Dil Dhadhkta Nahi, Tere Bina Yeh Saanson Ka Karwaar Ruk Jaayega, Main Khudha Ke Saamne Bhi Sar Uthaaye Ghumta Hoon, Tere Naam Goonja, Mera Sar Jhuk Jaayega."

Gauri's eyes fill up hearing that. "I love you and your shayari." Gauri tells him and hugs him happily.

Omkara hugs her.

Seeing everyone awkwardly watching them hug, Omkara breaks the hug. Then looking at their parents, Omkara tells them, "We love each other."

"We got that from the one million hugs." Shivaay replies rolling his eyes.

"Three." Gauri corrects him.

"They saw only two." Omkara reminds her in a whisper.

"Oh my God, what is happening here?" Anika asks in shock as she joined the tableau.

"Now, who are you?" Shivaay asks her confused.

*******

One year later

"I should leave." Gauri says as she starts to get up from the bed.

"Stay here, tonight." Omkara tells her as he pulled her down on him.

"Your parents are going to have a heart attack." Gauri tells him with a chuckle.

Omkara rolls his eyes, "As if they haven't figured out that I am forever sneaking you into my house and you are forever sneaking me into your house."

Gauri chuckles hearing that, "In their eyes, you are the innocent shayar. Only I know what you truly are."

Omkara grins hearing that, "Gauri, if our parents haven't asked us about it, it is only because they are scared that you would proudly admit it."

Gauri smiles and lovingly caresses his cheek, "I love you, Omkara and you love me, and I am not ashamed or feel guilty for what happens between us."

Omkara smiles hearing that and he takes her lips in his and kisses her lovingly.

"Your parents should be reaching soon. drop me home." Gauri tells him as she got off the bed and started wearing her clothes. "I'll see you tomorrow at Anika's place. You will be coming, right?"

"Yeah." Omkara replies.

"Your brother and my best friend, who would have thought... huh?" Gauri asks amazed.

Omkara chuckles as he started wearing his clothes. then stopping he asks her, "Did you talk to Arjun?"

Gauri frowns hearing the question. "I did but nothing particular or worth mentioning, why?"

"He and Richa are together now." Omkara informs her.

"Oh." Gauri nods thoughtfully.

"What happened? What are you thinking?" Omkara asks her as he wore his t-shirt.

"There is that saying, right? something like, after break up, if two people remain friends then it either means they are still in love or were never in love." Gauri asks him.

"Arjun did love you, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

"Do you think he loved me the way we love each other?" Gauri asks him.

"No." Omkara agrees. "But he didn't have feelings for Richa when he was with you."

Gauri nods and confesses, "I guess, I thought like that because I felt guilty for the pain I caused him."

"He is happy now." Omkara tells her smiling.

"And I am happy for him." Gauri smiles as she hugged Omkara. "And he will tell me about it if he feels like it."

Omkara nods smiling.

"My hair is so messed up." Gauri says sighing as she tried to brush her hair yet again.

Omkara grins.

"How does this look?" Gauri asks him brushing her hair.

"Like you had your way with me. four times." Omkara tells her grinning.

Gauri blushes hearing that. "Let's go."

They open the door and stops in shock seeing Shivaay about to knock on the door. seeing them, Shivaay also stops in shock.

"Erm... erm..." Shivaay stammers as he darted glances between Omkara and Gauri.

"You said you would be coming home late." Omkara asks him a little embarrassed for getting caught red handed.

"I reached early." Shivaay replies. "Dad and Mom would be reaching in 15 mins or so."

"Oh then I'll stay and meet them." Gauri says.

"You mad?" Omkara asks her shocked, seeing Gauri's messed up and disheveled look, any blind could realize that they were not talking the whole day.

"You are the one who wanted me to stay here tonight." Gauri points out to him.

"You should seriously consider plastering her mouth." Shivaay advices his brother.

Omkara nods while Gauri cheekily grins.

"Bye, Shivaay bhaiyya, I will see you tomorrow." Gauri tells him.

"Bye." Shivaay smiles at her.

They walk out and Shivaay calls after them, "You guys really need to be a little discreet. Your parents and our parents are practically begging Anika and me to get married quickly."

"Told you!" Omkara tells Gauri hearing that.

"If they definitely know, why are we sneaking around?" Gauri asks him confused.

Omkara stops and turns to Shivaay, "Maybe we should plaster your mouth, Shivaay!"

*** The End ***

I don't know whether you guys felt Gauri was selfish, I wanted to write an unapologetic heroine, who didn't feel guilty for falling in love or going after what she wanted.

Please do leave your comment and vote

- Lazy