​Thanks to all for voting and commenting on the previous story.

Previous story Child Marriage 3 - Ek Duje Ke Vaaste (Updated on 4 - Oct - 2022)

I was sitting with someone who was watching the Malayalam version of Shaurya Aur Anokhi Ki Kahani. So, I curiously asked didn't the college management create any issue for the relation between a student and professor. And she replied in confusion, why should that be an issue? Everybody knows they love each other. So, I was surprised, there are some people who don't think a relationship between a student and professor is wrong or unethical. And that got me curious and I decided to write one story like that. So, in a way, this is the actual proper student-professor love story, compared to the previous two stories. And don't be surprised if no one bats an eyelid seeing a professor and student relation in this story.

And I just wanted to have the word Humsafar in the title and this is what I could come up with. It is taken from the song, Ek Ajnabee Haseena Se.

P.S: this could kinda qualify for my Bimbo story.

P.S : Sorry, haven't proofread it. Please ignore the error.

Gauri was busy running around, taking care of the guests and arrangements for her sister's wedding. As she was hurrying towards the mandap, she spotted him and stopped in shock. A second later, his gaze turns to her and he also looks at her in surprise.

Since, he caught her, she decides to talk to him and walks towards him.

"How come you are here?" He asks in surprise.

"It's my sister's wedding. How come you are here, Professor Oberoi?"

"Shivaay is my neighbor." Omkara informs her.

"Oh." Gauri nods, having nothing else to talk to him.

"Gauri..." Harsh calls her as he hurries to her.

Gauri turns to look at her father.

"Where is your mother?"

"She is with di." Gauri replies and then seeing her father curiously looking at Omkara, she makes the introduction. "This is Professor Oberoi. He is my economics professor."

Harsh looks at her surprised and says, "you didn't tell me you were inviting your college professors."

"Erm... he is jeeju's neighbor." Gauri quickly tells him awkwardly. "Jeeju invited him."

"Ah... I was wondering." Harsh jokes as he extends his hands to Omkara. "Nice to meet you."

Omkara shakes his hand. "Nice to meet you too."

"So, you stay in Shivaay's apartment building."

Omkara nods. "Opposite to his flat."

"Wow, and Gauri is your student. What a small world." Harsh says conversationally.

Omkara nods.

"So, how is she?" Harsh asks Omkara.

Gauri's eyes widen and she quickly squeezes her father's hand.

Omkara looks at Gauri for a second then he looks at her father and informs him, "Not good."

Gauri looks down, both pissed and upset. Harsh awkwardly nods.

"You really need to have a talk with her." Omkara tells him. "I doubt she will get a degree anytime soon."

"I will. Soon." Harsh says embarrassed.

"They are calling us, Papa." Gauri lies to get away.

"Oh yes." Harsh latches onto it and quickly ends his conversation with Omkara and leaves and Gauri runs behind him.

"What was the need for that?" Gauri asks her father in a pissed whisper. "Has any of my teachers ever said anything good of me? And he is the worst! Always picking on me!"

"For a change, you were not running away from a teacher, so I thought maybe you were passing his papers." Harsh replies equally pissed.

"He saw me and I couldn't hide then. And I was curious to find out what he was doing here." Gauri mutters.

"Can you stop embarrassing us and just concentrate on your studies?" Harsh asks her in an angry whisper.

Gauri nods scared and disappointed.

Harsh was starting to walk off, when Gauri quickly tells him, "Don't tell Mama that he is here. Even, she will go to talk to him."

"After what happened with me, she will be hiding from him." Harsh mutters.

As her father walked away, Gauri muttered furiously, "how I hate him!!!"

***********

A month later

Hearing the doorbell, Gauri turns to her sister, "Is it jeeju?"

"Don't think so." Anika says as she walked to the door. She looks through the peephole and informs Gauri, "ah, it's your Professor."

"What?" Gauri shouts in shock as she jumps up. "Why did you invite him?"

"Relax. He is here to collect his parcel. Delivery guy dropped it here by mistake." Anika tells her.

"Wait... wait... wait." Gauri says panicking as she chewed the chips she was eating and shoved the cover behind the cushion then she grabbed her college bag and pulled out her economics text and sits down on the sofa and acts engrossed in the book.

Anika shakes her head and opens the door. "Hello, Omkara."

"Hi, Anika... How are you?"

They spoke for about a minute. "Come in, I'll just get your parcel."

Omkara steps in and spots Gauri studying.

"Gauri, your professor is here." Anika announces with laughter in her voice as she walks to the side table.

Gauri quickly looks up as she had no other option and seeing him, she politely stands up. "Good evening, Professor Oberoi."

"Good evening, Gauri. What are you studying?" Omkara asks her.

"Economics."

"That I can see. What topic?" Omkara asks her.

"Erm..." Gauri's eyes widen, then quickly turns to her sister and says, "Di, you didn't offer Professor Oberoi anything. I'll make juice."

"It's okay, I am leaving." Omkara says and then he tells her. "You are not my first student, Gauri. But I am happy that at least to show, you are looking at your text."

Gauri tries to keep a serene expression on her face, though her eyes were brutally murdering Omkara.

Cheekily, grinning, Anika hands him the parcel.

"Thanks, Anika."

As Anika locks the door, she hears Gauri groaning in fury and the sound of a book hitting the wall.

"You do realize that, if you hadn't acted as if you were studying then he wouldn't have said anything." Anika points out grinning.

"He would have said I shouldn't waste my time and study." Gauri mutters angrily. "I hate him! He is after my life. I will murder him one day!!!"

"He is a nice guy, actually. We hang out very often." Anika cheerfully tells her.

"I am not coming here again. Don't ever call me asking me to come visit." Gauri furiously tells her sister.

**********

On Monday, Gauri sighs in dread realizing that it was Omkara's class. She stands up when he walks into the class. He talked to the students for a few minutes. Just random talks and then clarifying any doubts from the previous day. The moment students start asking their doubts, Gauri looks down at her notebook to avoid eye contact with him, so he doesn't enquire anything about her studies.

Omkara walks to the front of the class with a book as he started his lecture when one of the student asks him a doubt. He leaves the book on Gauri's desk and walks to the students place to answer him.

Gauri acted as if she was listening to every syllable that fell out of his mouth when in truth, she was thinking about the movie that she had watched the previous night.

Hearing the bell, Gauri comes back to her senses and sits up as Omkara wound up the lecture.

Omkara was leaving when Gauri notices the text on her desk.

"Professor Oberoi, you forgot your text book." Gauri calls up as she picks it up.

Omkara turns to her in exasperation and informs her, "that is yours."

Shocked, Gauri turns the book cover and sees her name written on it. Her mouth drops open.

"Your sister sent that. You forgot it at her place." Omkara tells her as he walks towards her. "Didn't you even realize that it was your book?"

"Erm...."

Shocked, Omkara asks her "Did you even realize that you forgot your book?"

Gauri gulps.

Angrily, Omkara asks her. "When are you going to take your studies seriously, Gauri?"

"I didn't think that she would send it with you." Gauri mutters as she darted her glance around the class to see that as usual the whole class was witnessing her humiliation.

"If you are not serious about your studies then why are you wasting your time, our time and your parents' money?" Omkara asks her angrily. "You've one duty right now and that is your studies, and you can't even do that?"

"Sorry, Professor Oberoi." Gauri whispers as she looks down in humiliation and hoping he would accept her apology and stop his rant.

"How many times, Gauri? How many times are you going to shamelessly stand there and apologize and then go back to do the same thing?"

Gauri remains silent, praying for this to end and Omkara to leave.

"You do remember how much you got for the last test, right?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri gulps worriedly as she prayed that he wouldn't humiliate her any further by revealing her horrible marks.

"I don't know why, I waste my time with you." Omkara says, shaking his head and walks off.

The moment he left, Gauri grabs her bag.

"You okay, Gauri?" Bhavya asks her in concern.

Gauri doesn't reply as she pulls out her mobile and dialed her sister.

"Hi, Gauri..." Anika answers the call.

"What was the need to send my book through him? Did I ask you to send it?" Gauri asks furiously.

"Why, what happened? I thought you would need it." Anika replies confused.

"He might be your friend, he is not my friend! So, don't ever do this again." Gauri furiously tells her sister and hangs up.

**********

A month later, Gauri was visiting her sister once again.

"I just don't understand why you hate Omkara. He is such a sweet guy." Anika tells her as she washed the dishes.

"Maybe in dreams." Gauri mutters in hatred as she bit into the banana. "He is always humiliating me."

"You know, if you studied well then he won't be scolding you." Anika points out.

Gauri irately looks at her sister. "When is jeeju coming back? I am not staying here for long."

Anika rolls her eyes.

"Scared out of her shits to stay alone and begged me to come. And now, praising monster Singh Oberoi as if he is her brother!!!" Gauri says as she opened the trash can and dropped the banana peel in then she pulls out the garbage bag from the bin.

"I didn't beg. I just told you we could have sister time alone." Anika points out.

"I regret it now." Gauri says furiously as she tied the garbage bag.

"Okay, I won't speak of him." Anika says in an appeasing tone.

"Hmmm." Gauri arrogantly nods. "Where is the garbage chute?"

"Left, second door. You will see the board on the door."

Gauri nods and walks out of the flat. She didn't even look at Omkara's flat door, because she was not going to give his flat door also any attention.

Gauri was about to open the door to the garbage room when it was opened from inside. She stops and then seeing Omkara on the other side, she gasps softly. Omkara also stops in surprise seeing her.

Gauri waits for him to leave when he looks down and seeing her garbage bag, he extends his hand to her.

Gauri, without thinking, hands him the garbage bag. Omkara steps back into the room and opens the garbage chute, puts the garbage bag down it.

"Erm... thank you." Gauri tells him as she steps aside.

"No problem." Omkara replies as he walks out.

They walked to their flats in silence. As Gauri was opening her flat door, Omkara ask her, "Are you going to be here till Shivaay gets back?"

"Yes." Gauri nods.

Omkara nods. "If you two need anything, just call me."

"Okay." Gauri replies, surprised.

"Good night." Omkara says and walks into his flat.

Gauri's eyes widened in surprise. "Good night." Gauri whispers in amazement.

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

Gauri stops seeing Omkara waiting at the lift. She was about to go back to her sister's flat so she didn't have to face him so early in the morning.

"What happened? Where are you going?" Anika asks her confused.

Gauri glares at her as she slyly looks at Omkara.

Omkara, having heard Anika's question, had curiously turned to check and sees her. Since he caught her, she mumbles something to her sister and she walks towards the lift.

"Hey Omkara." Anika wishes him, seeing him.

"Hey, Anika..." Omkara smiles at her.

"Good morning, Professor Oberoi." Gauri wishes him because now, they were making conversations!!!!

"Morning."

Gauri remained silent as Anika and Omkara spoke.

They reach the ground floor and Gauri was about to step out when Omkara asks her, "Going to college?"

Gauri wanted to whack him, because she was sure he was mocking her. Where else would she be going on a Monday morning? "Yes."

"How are you going?"

"Auto or taxi."

"You can come with me." Omkara offers.

"Oh that would be great. My office is in the opposite direction, otherwise I would have dropped her." Anika tells him happily, smiling.

Gauri wanted to kill her sister just then. "It's okay. I'll take an auto."

"Don't be silly. Anyway, Omkara is going to your college only."

Gauri watched as the lift door closed and the lift took them to the basement.

"Bye, Gauri." Anika tells her as she walks to her car.

"Bye." Gauri mutters and follows Omkara.

Gauri stops seeing Omkara sitting on a bike. "Bike?" Gauri whispers in shock.

Omkara looks at her confused. "You've a problem with bike?"

"Erm no." Gauri replies.

Omkara looks at her in confusion and says, "if you are uncomfortable then I can take my car."

"It's okay." Gauri says as she walks to him.

"The traffic is bad and I don't want to risk getting late by taking the car." Omkara explains to her.

"It's okay. It is not a problem." Gauri says quickly hearing him give an explanation. Gauri quickly straddles the bike and grips the bars at the back for balance. He wasn't that horrible.

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

Gauri was walking to the apartment building when she sees an old lady getting out of the taxi and taking out luggage and grocery bags. Seeing her struggling, Gauri hurries to her.

"Aunty, let me help you." Gauri tells her.

The lady smiles at her. "Thank you, beta."

Gauri takes one duffle bag and puts it on her shoulder then she picks up the heaviest grocery bag. They walk to the lift together.

"Which floor aunty?"

"4." Jhanvi replies.

"Even me." Gauri says surprised.

"Are you new here?" Jhanvi asks curiously.

"My sister is staying here. I'm visiting her."

"Even I'm visiting my son." Jhanvi tells her excitedly.

"Oh nice." Gauri says smiling. "Lot of cooking for son... huh?"

Jhanvi laughs, "Yes... he cooks but then I like cooking for him when I am here."

"A man who cooks? I want to marry someone who can cook." Gauri tells her. "I don't like cooking." Gauri confesses chuckling.

"He is just like me, loves cooking."

"Oh then I'll marry him." Gauri jokes and laughs at her own joke.

Jhanvi also chuckles though she slyly accesses Gauri like any mother who was bride hunting for her son would.

They get down the flat and Gauri starts walking to the flat. As she neared the flat, she gets a message from her sister. She quickly looks at her apple watch screen and sees a message from Anika.

Gauri, have to go to the atm, will be 5-10 mins late. If Omkara is home, stay in his flat or wait in the lobby.

"Oh no... Di will be late." Gauri says loudly.

"How late?" Jhanvi asks in concern.

"Just 5-10 mins aunty. I'll wait down in the lobby or in the corridor."

"Why? You come to my flat. My son has given me a spare key." Jhanvi tells her.

"Will your son mind?" Gauri asks, staying with this aunty was much better than staying in Monster Singh Oberoi's flat.

"Why would he mind?" Jhanvi asks her smiling.

"So, what's the menu?" Gauri asks as she peaked inside the grocery bag. "Mutton! I love mutton! If you want to invite me for dinner, then you can. I have no plans for tonight." Gauri cheekily tells her.

"You come home for dinner, I am making mutton biriyani." Jhanvi tells her laughing.

"I'll be there!" Gauri promises. "Di always make the same rice and dal for dinner because she has no time to cook." Gauri whispers to her.

Jhanvi chuckles hearing that.

"Which is your flat? Can I bring Di too?" Gauri asks excitedly.

"Yes, please. Flat is 405."

"Hey! I know that flat... I've seen that number." Gauri says as she tried to remember. "Every time I see it... is it on the way to the lift?" Gauri stops in shock realizing she sees that number every time she comes out of Anika's flat.

Her eyes widen in shock and she turns to Jhanvi, "Are you Professor Oberoi's mother?"

"Yes. Are you his student?" Jhanvi asks smiling in surprise.

"Yes." Gauri whispers in horror as they stopped in front of Omkara's flat.

"That is so nice." Jhanvi says happily as she unlocked the flat. "You didn't tell me your name."

"Gauri." Gauri whispers as she followed her in.

Gauri keeps all the stuff in and says, "Okay, aunty. I'll see you later."

"What? Where are you going?" Jhanvi asks her shocked.

"No, Aunty... I'll go."

"Wait till your Di comes." Jhanvi tells her then chuckling she asks, "Is it because Om is your Professor?"

Gauri uncomfortably looks around.

Jhanvi smiles at her. "That is okay."

"No, aunty..."

"Stay, Gauri. anyway, Om isn't home. He said he has to meet someone."

"Okay." Gauri gives in though she quickly takes her mobile and messages her sister.

Come fast. Stuck in Monster Singh Oberoi's house.

"So, how long are you here, Gauri?"

"Till 28th." Gauri replies as she walked to the kitchen with Jhanvi and started helping her take out grocery.

Hearing the door bell, Gauri sighs in relief. "That would be Di." Gauri tells her excitedly.

"Come at 8, okay?" Jhanvi tells her as she followed Gauri.

Remembering that she had invited herself for dinner, Gauri gulps. "Aunty, that I was just joking."

"That is okay, you come with your sister for dinner." Jhanvi insists.

"I'll check with Di, Aunty. Maybe she might have already planned something for dinner." Gauri nervously lies.

"Tell her now itself before she makes anything." Jhanvi insists.

Gauri opens the door and stops in shock seeing Omkara.

Omkara steps back in shock seeing Gauri. "You?"

"I saw Gauri downstairs. She helped me carry my bags." Jhanvi tells him.

Omkara turns to his mother frowning. "You bought grocery?"

"Yeah."

"Ma... I told you I will take you in the evening. What was the need to go for the grocery shopping directly from the airport?" Omkara asks as he walked in.

"If I wait for you then dinner will be late. Why waste time?" Jhanvi ask shaking her head.

Omkara sighs and hugs her. "How was your travel?"

"It was nice."

Omkara turns to Gauri and tells her. "Thank you."

"Huh... for?" Gauri asks confused.

"For helping Ma." Omkara reminds her in shock seeing her confusion.

"Oh. You are welcome." Gauri replies.

"Hi." Anika says from the door.

Gauri turns to her in relief. "You are home!" then she hurries to her. "Bye, Aunty."

"Come at 8 for dinner." Jhanvi tells her.

"Dinner?" Omkara and Anika asks at the same time.

"I'll see, Aunty. I'll let you know." Gauri quickly says.

"About what?" Anika asks confused.

Gauri glares at her wanting to escape before any more conversations.

"You both come for dinner." Jhanvi tells Anika.

"Aunty, you just got home today. you'll be tired. We will come another time." Anika tells her.

"Yes, even I was thinking that." Gauri latches on.

"Anyway, I have to make dinner for Om and me." Jhanvi tells her. "You both come tonight."

"Ma is a good cook and she makes excess always." Omkara says as he extended the invitation.

"You sure? We don't want to trouble you." Anika asks in concern.

"Very sure." Jhanvi tells her smiling.

"Thank you, Aunty. You are a savior." Anika says smiling. "I was thinking of ordering in tonight. I was so lazy to cook. And Gauri is such a bhukkad."

Gauri wanted to kill her sister then while Jhanvi and Omkara chuckles.

"By the way Ma, she is Anika, Shivaay's wife." Omkara makes the introduction. "And Anika, my mother, Jhanvi."

"Oh Shivaay's wife." Jhanvi asks smiling happily. "So, he will also come for dinner?"

"He is not here, Aunty." Anika tells her.

"Oh okay. so, you both come."

"Sure, Aunty." Anika tells her.

********

"Didn't you understand that I was trying to dodge the invitation?" Gauri asks exasperated.

"Gauri, knowing you, I thought you might have invited yourself for dinner." Anika replies.

Gauri embarrassedly looks away.

"Oh my God, you did!" Anika says in shock.

"I didn't know that she was his mother that time."

"So, you invited yourself to dinner at the house of a lady that you didn't even know?" Anika asks, confused.

"She had mutton with her." Gauri replies, shrugging.

"So, we are going for dinner." Anika replies, shrugging.

********

Dinner was a very uncomfortable affair for Gauri. She couldn't even enjoy the amazing mutton biryani because Monster Singh Oberoi was sitting opposite to her. The conversation at the table was carried by Anika, Omkara and Jhanvi.

"Didn't you like it, Gauri? You are not eating." Jhanvi asks her in concern.

"No, Aunty, it is very nice." Gauri whispers awkwardly.

"I know... she is missing Coca-cola. She says biriyani is incomplete without it." Anika tells Jhanvi.

Gauri turns to glare at her sister.

"I think, I've some here." Omkara says as he stood up.

"No, it's okay." Gauri quickly says.

"No, Om. you check." Jhanvi tells him.

The moment Omkara went to the kitchen, Gauri turns to her sister. "What is wrong with you?"

"Me? You always say that."

"So, you should say it here?" Gauri asks her, glaring at her.

"What happened, Gauri?" Jhanvi asks her in concern. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, Aunty. Everything is fine." Gauri tells her. Then she turns to look at the kitchen and noticing Omkara was still inside, she leans towards Jhanvi and whispers. "You pack me some biriyani and give, aunty. Tomorrow I'll take it to college for lunch."

"Okay." Jhanvi says smiling. Happy that Gauri liked the food so much. "When you were silent, I thought you didn't like the food."

"Oh I loved the food. It is amazing."

"Then why were you silent?" Jhanvi asks curiously.

"Nothing." Gauri replies awkwardly.

Anika giggles and says, "She has a love-hate relation with Omkara."

"Not love, just hate!" Gauri heatedly argues.

"What?" Jhanvi whispers in shock.

Realizing what she said, Gauri turns to look at Jhanvi and sees her staring at her.

Sighing sadly, Gauri tells her, "Aunty, he keeps screaming and scolding me."

"What?" Jhanvi asks, shocked.

"Yeah, Aunty. He shouts at me in front of the whole class." Gauri sadly complains.

"How can he do that?" Jhanvi asks, shocked.

"I know!" Gauri sighs, relieved to get a sympathizer for her. "You should hit him and scold him, Aunty for doing that to me. He needs to be spanked for screaming at me."

Just as she finished, Gauri sees a hand keep a glass filled with Coca-cola and ice cubes next to her.

Gauri's eyes widen as she stared at the glass, then from the corner of her eyes, she sees Omkara walk around the table and takes his seat.

Gauri lightly lifts her head and slyly looks at Omkara's mother, and sees her covering her face with a napkin and trying to hide her smile.

Gauri, slyly looks at her sister and sees her giggling. She kicks her. Anika tries to stop but then she couldn't control herself and she bursts out laughing.

Soon, Jhanvi also laughs loudly.

Worriedly Gauri looks up at Omkara and sees him staring down at his plate, she couldn't see his face, so couldn't make out how angry he was.

"Omkara!" Anika calls him amidst her laughter.

"Yeah?" Omkara looks up.

"Do you know what Gauri calls you?" Anika asks.

Omkara curiously looks at Gauri while Gauri furiously kicked her sister.

"Professor Oberoi." Omkara replies confused.

"No."

"Shut up... Shut up..." Gauri furiously whispers to her sister.

"Then what does she call him?" Jhanvi asks curiously.

"I'll kill you." Gauri furiously tells her sister.

"Come on, tell, Anika." Jhanvi says too curious.

"No... no." Gauri pleads.

"Monster Singh Oberoi." Anika says and laughs out loud.

Gauri worriedly looks at Omkara and sees him looking at her in shock. Then she sees him starting to chuckle.

Gauri gapes at Monster Singh Oberoi chuckling. Shocked, she leans towards her sister and asks, "Is he really laughing? have I gone mad? Or has he gone mad?"

Omkara bursts out laughing. Jhanvi and Anika joins him while Gauri belatedly realized that she had asked that question out loud.

Seeing him laugh, Gauri couldn't help stare, because for the first time, she realized how handsome Monster Singh Oberoi is.

********

Gauri was hurriedly leaving for college early so that her sister won't ask Omkara to take her with him. she hears a doorbell and she hurriedly opens it and finds Omkara at the door. She stops in shock.

"Erm... good morning Professor Oberoi." Gauri says recovering.

"Good morning. Ma sent this for you." Omkara tell her as he offered her a lunch box.

"This?" Gauri asks surprised.

"Lunch." Omkara tells her.

"Oh thank you." Gauri whispers embarrassed that she forgot to get it from there last night, in her hurry to escape.

"Who is it, Gauri?" Anika calls out to her from inside.

"Erm Professor..." Gauri starts to say and Omkara cuts her off from behind. "Monster." He calls out.

Gauri turns around to stare at him in shock.

Chuckling, Omkara cheekily says, "Sorry, couldn't help it."

Hearing that, Gauri couldn't control her blush.

Seeing her blush, Omkara's breath gets caught in his throat. He had never realized how beautiful Gauri was.

"Did you need anything, Omkara?" Anika asks curiously though she was still chuckling about the 'monster' reply.

"Ma sent biriyani for Gauri." Omkara tells her.

"When it comes to food, your student is a little shameless." Anika tells him.

Omkara shrugs. "Ma loves making food and making people eat."

"Oh then Gauri is going to be her new best friend." Anika laughs.

Gauri glares at her.

Omkara chuckles. "By the way, whenever Ma is here, Shivaay always have his dinner from my place. Ma told me to tell you both to come home for dinner till she is here."

"We don't want to trouble her." Anika tells him.

"Trust me, it is no trouble. She would anyway be cooking." Omkara tells them.

"What do you say, Gauri?"

Gauri was in deep predicament. What would she choose? Awesome food with Monster Singh Oberoi or boring rice and dal?

In the end, awesome food won.

Gauri looks at Omkara and sees that he was looking at her.

And she had no idea, why that made her blush. She quickly looks away, "Yes, sure."

"Wow! Yesterday, you were screaming at me!" Anika says surprised.

Omkara curiously looks at them.

Gauri wanted to kill her sister. She glares at her and sees even Anika was shocked and embarrassed that she said that out loud.

Pissed, she says, "Well it was a difficult choice between amazing food and bad food. And I picked amazing food!"

Embarrassed Anika looks at Omkara and sees him trying his best to hide his smile.

"You are worse than me in cooking." Anika whispers.

"Okay, I've to leave for college." Omkara says seeing the sisters gearing up for a fight.

"Are you going with him?" Anika asks.

Gauri turns to her sister and sees that she was taking revenge for insulting her food.

"I'll leave in 5 mins, if you are coming." Omkara tells Gauri.

"She is ready." Anika replies.

"Okay." Omkara nods.

********

Gauri rings the bell on Omkara's flat and Jhanvi opens the door.

"Hello Gauri... how are you?" Jhanvi asks smiling.

"I am good, Aunty. How are you?" Gauri asks smiling.

"Good... good."

"I came to return the lunch box." Gauri tells her as she extended the washed container.

"Oh, you could have brought it when you come for dinner. Come inside." Jhanvi tells her as she invited her in.

"Is Professor Oberoi here?" Gauri asks in a whisper.

"No, he said he will be late today."

"Okay!" Gauri smiles happily as she walked in. "I also wanted to check if you needed any help with cooking." Gauri tells her.

"No, when it comes to cooking, I like doing everything myself." Jhanvi tells her smiling. "But you can give me company."

"Okay." Gauri says smiling as she followed her to the kitchen.

********

Jhanvi was cooking while Gauri sat on the kitchen counter chatting with her. Seeing carrots, Gauri picks one and starts eating it.

"Are you hungry?" Jhanvi asks her.

"I'm always hungry, Aunty." Gauri tells her.

Jhanvi smiles hearing that. "There might be something in the fridge. Why don't you check."

"Okay." Gauri jumps off the counter and walks to the fridge and opens it.

"Grapes!" Gauri smiles seeing grapes and picks the bowl and walks to the counter. She gets on the counter and starts popping one grape after the other as she spoke to Jhanvi.

********

Gauri and Anika were helping Jhanvi do the dishes after dinner.

"That's my job." Omkara tells them.

"Jhanvi Aunty made such amazing food. We should do our bit." Anika tells him.

"We invited you guys." Omkara says uncomfortably, seeing that his guests were doing the dishes.

"I told them, Gauri threatened that if I don't let them do the dishes then they won't come for dinner again." Jhanvi tells Omkara.

Omkara sighs and walks to the fridge to get water. He stops in shock and turns to Jhanvi. "Ma, where are the grapes?"

"It's over." Jhanvi replies.

"All of it?" Omkara asks shocked.

"Erm..." Jhanvi starts and stops seeing Gauri frantically shaking her head. "Yeah, full over."

"She is really a bhukkad." Omkara says as he closed the fridge.

Gauri turns to look at Omkara and sees he was smiling and not angry.

Gauri smiles seeing him smile. God! He was so handsome when he smiled.

"There is apple in the fridge. Have that." Jhanvi tells him.

"No, I don't want." Omkara tells her. "I bought the grapes to make wine."

"You make wine?" Jhanvi asks surprised.

"I want to try. I am planning to make plum cake from scratch." Omkara tells her.

"Wow, will we get?" Anika asks.

"If it is good." Omkara replies.

"Even wine?" Anika asks grinning.

Looking at Gauri, he teases, "If I get good grapes and they last long enough for me to make them."

Gauri blushes as she looked away.

Seeing her blush, Omkara couldn't help look away. God, she was so beautiful. how the hell didn't he ever realize it?

"Have you made wine before?" Anika asks curiously.

"No... there are lot of videos on youtube. I'm going to try." Omkara tells her.

Gauri felt her cheeks turn red as an image filled her brains. Omkara and she crushing grapes in a bowl together.

********

Omkara opens the door for Gauri. he smiles surprised seeing Gauri at the door.

"Ma has gone to take a shower." Omkara tells her.

"No, I came to see you." Gauri tells him.

"Me?" Omkara asks surprised.

"To give these." Gauri tells him as she extended the packet with grapes.

Omkara looks at the cover surprised. "You didn't have to."

"Please..." Gauri tells him.

Omkara takes them. "Thanks."

"I got it from the market. The guy said this is the best grapes for wine."

"Yeah, they are." Omkara tells her smiling. "Come in." Omkara tells her as he walked to the kitchen.

Gauri follows him.

"I was planning to make them today, actually. Had everything ready also." Omkara tells her. "But then you got to the grapes before me."

"Sorry." Gauri guiltily says.

"Don't be. I can still make it today." Omkara tells her smiling as he took a colander and started putting the grapes one by one.

"What are you doing?" Gauri asks curiously.

"Picking out the good ones." Omkara tells her.

"Are you going to make wine today?" Gauri asks him.

"Yeah."

"Can I watch?" Gauri asks excitedly.

"Yeah sure." Omkara tells her smiling.

Gauri watches as Omkara separated the good ones. Few minutes later, she got bored and she moved close to him and started picking out good ones.

He didn't say anything. they silently sorted the grapes.

"You got nice grapes." Omkara tells her as he walked to the sink and ran the grapes under water and washed it.

Gauri smiles. "Fruit seller selected them."

After he had washed the grapes to his satisfaction, he shakes off the excess water and brings it to the kitchen counter.

"What now?" Gauri asks curiously.

"Removing stems." Omkara tells her.

"Okay." Gauri starts to take the grapes.

"Na!" Omkara stops her. "Wash your hands first."

"Oh, sorry." Gauri runs to the sink and washes her hand. "Okay, neat hands."

Omkara smiles as he took the bowl he had kept for making wine. They start removing the stems and putting the grapes in the bowl.

Once the grapes were ready to be crushed, Omkara felt his heart beat raising. "Now, it is just crushing the grapes." Omkara tells her.

Hearing that Gauri felt her cheeks turn red.

Omkara starts crushing the grapes. Seeing him do that, Gauri couldn't help remember the mental image she had the previous day.

She couldn't fight the temptation, and she nervously keeps her hand on the edge of the bowl.

Noticing her hand, Omkara nervously gulps and moves his hand against the bowl, giving her space.

Seeing that, Gauri puts her hand in and nervously squeezes the grapes. They crush the grapes, both nervous and an unknown excitement in them. When their hands brushed against each other, they didn't pull away.

Gauri couldn't help and looks up at Omkara and he looks at her at the same time. Blushing, Gauri looks down and Omkara looks away blushing and his gaze falls on his mother.

"Ma." Omkara nervously steps back.

Hearing that, Gauri also looks at the door and sees Jhanvi and she moves back.

"I came to give grapes." Gauri tells her nervously.

"Ah nice." Jhanvi replies politely smiling.

"I've to go. Di will look for me. I'll come with her for dinner." Gauri says as she hurriedly walked off.

"Wash your hands, Gauri." Jhanvi calls out.

"Erm... I will wash at home." Gauri replies and runs off.

Jhanvi turns to look at Omkara. "She was curious about wine making. I was just showing her."

"That was very sweet of you, considering what an expert you are." Jhanvi cheekily says and leaves.

********

Later that night, Omkara and Jhanvi were in the bedroom. Omkara was lying on her lap.

"You should stay here with me, Ma."

"What will I do here? There I have friends. Things to do. My neighbors."

"You have neighbors here too. And a new friend too."

Jhanvi chuckles. "Both are 1 person."

"Anika is also there."

"I meant her only. Whom did you mean?" Jhanvi asks with a cheeky grin.

"What Ma?" Omkara asks embarrassed. "You answer my question, why won't you shift here permanently?"

"It is time that you get married. Once you get married, it is better that we stay separate. You will have your privacy. And there won't be any unnecessary fights or issues. Saas bahu ego clashes. You will get stuck in between. It is better that I stay there."

"All stupid reasons. You just don't want to leave your home and friends. Saas bahu drama! Nonsense!"

Jhanvi chuckles. Then leaning down, she tells him teasingly. "By the way, I don't mind Gauri being my bahu. And she already likes me more than she likes you."

Omkaea's heart skips a beat hearing that. He could so imagine, Gauri sitting here and talking silly things with his mother. Noticing, Jhanvi grinning at him, he says "go and sleep."

"You are in my bedroom." Jhanvi points out cheekily.

"Fine, I am going." Omkara declares as he got up and walks off.

*******

They come out of their apartment at the same time. they stop seeing each other. Omkara smiles at her and Gauri smiles at him.

"You ready to leave?" Omkara asks her.

"Yeah." Gauri replies.

"Let's go."

Gauri nods and turns to look into the flat and calls out. "Di, I'm leaving. Bye."

They walk to the lift together in silence. They were tempted to talk to each other but had no idea what to say. So, all the way to college they had remained silent.

*******

Hearing the doorbell, Omkara opens the door and smiles seeing Gauri.

"Hi!" Gauri says smiling.

"Hi... didn't go out anywhere?" Omkara asks curiously as he stepped aside to let her in. it was a Saturday and all of them had off.

"Di is on video call with Jeeju." Gauri tells him as she walked in. "Where is Jhanvi Aunty? Did she make any snacks?" Gauri asks as she headed to the kitchen.

"Didn't you have lunch?" Omkara asks in concern.

"Chinese. We ordered." Gauri replies and frowns seeing kitchen empty. "Where is Jhanvi aunty?"

"In her room. she is not forever inside the kitchen."

"She didn't make any snacks?" Gauri asks shocked.

"No. Why she told you she was making?" Omkara asks confused.

"No... I thought you are home so she would make some snacks for you." Gauri says disappointed.

"We don't make snacks like that. only if either of us is craving something." Omkara tells her.

"Hmmm... what did you have for lunch?" Gauri asks curiously as she opened the fridge.

Omkara shakes his head amused. "Keema Paratta."

"Wow! Do you have any left?" Gauri asks excitedly.

Omkara gestures to the casserole on the kitchen counter.

Gauri closes the fridge and walks to the casserole. She opens it and takes a paratha and bites into it.

"Is Anika starving you?" Omkara asks chuckling.

Gauri chuckles. "I'm always hungry." Then relishing the paratha she says, "This is amazing. How come there is still left?"

"We stop eating when we are full." Omkara cheekily tells her.

Gauri gives him a look then she shrugs it off. "I am never full." Gauri bites into the food. "Yummy."

Gauri was savoring the food with her eyes closed. Omkara couldn't take his eyes off her. the bliss and borderline ecstasy on her face was taking his thoughts to those territories that he shouldn't be thinking of.

"I turn my attention to something else, and you two are up to something." Jhanvi says from the door.

Omkara and Gauri turn to the sound in shock.

"Ma!" Omkara calls her in an admonishing tone.

"Di was talking to jeeju, so I got bored. I came to see if you had made some food." Gauri quickly says.

"Okay." Jhanvi grins teasingly.

Omkara glares at his mother to make her stop it.

"Anyway, are you both going out? Any plans?" Gauri asks them.

"No, we went out in the morning." Jhanvi tells her.

"Great. Let's play games. I'll call Di and get the games." Gauri tells them excited as she finished off the paratha.

"No plans to study?" Omkara asks her with a slight smile and shaking his head.

Gauri's smile drops and she worriedly looks at Omkara.

Jhanvi lightly slaps his hand. "Stop it, Om. Go and get your game, Gauri."

Gauri worriedly smiles at Jhanvi and started to leave. Then she stops and opens the casserole and picks the final paratha and go as she told Jhanvi, "I'll wash that later, aunty."

*******

"I got phase10 and monopoly deal." Gauri tells Jhanvi as she walked in while worriedly glanced at Omkara.

Noticing how worried and nervous Gauri was, Omkara casually says. "I don't know how to play both the games. You will have to teach me."

Gauri smiles hearing that. "I'll teach you, Professor Oberoi. It will be a change."

Omkara chuckles.

"Even me." Jhanvi tells her. "And where is Anika?"

"She is coming." Gauri tells her. "Do you guys play rummy?"

"Yes."

"Then we'll play phase10 first, it is a lot similar." Gauri says and then proceeds to explain the game to them, she tells them the basic rules and phases of the game. "This is wild card, it is like a joker, can be substituted for any card. And this is the skip card, if you keep this in front of someone that person's next turn will be skipped. When someone finishes all their cards and if someone still has a wild or skip in their hand then wild will be 25 points and skip will be 15 points. Understood?"

Omkara and Jhanvi nod.

"Once we start playing, you'll understand it better. Now where is Di?" Gauri asks loudly then turning in her seat, she looks at the direction of Anika's flat and loudly screams. "DDIIIIII"

Jhanvi covers her ears.

Omkara also covers his ears. "Stop shouting! My God! I would have gone and called her!"

"She said she will come in 5 mins." Gauri tells him shrugging.

They hear the doorbell. Omkara was about to get up to open it when Gauri shouts out. "It's open."

"You are so loud, Gauri." Omkara says sighing.

Anika opens the door and walks in. "Before you used to run the other way when you see Omkara and now you are practically living in his house!" Anika says exasperated.

Gauri turns pink hearing that and she nervously looks at Omkara. and sees him also uncomfortable then his gaze falls on her. he grins at her and Gauri shyly smiles back.

Omkara turns to look at his mother and sees her grinning at him then she winks at him. Omkara glares at her. "Let's start." He says.

*********

Gauri contemplates for a few seconds and then sighing she discards a wild card.

"What are you doing?" Omkara asks shocked. "Why are you giving Ma a wild card?"

"Di has only one more card to discard. I am full, I am trying to reduce my points." Gauri explains.

Jhanvi happily takes the wild card. "Thank you, Gauri."

"She is going to win!" Omkara tells her in exasperation. "And I am also full here!"

"I won't be able to complete the phase, I need 4 cards minimum. So, I am reducing my points." Gauri tells him.

"So? You would discard a wild? What if the game goes for 5 rounds?" Omkara asks her.

"Let her play her game, Om." Jhanvi tells him cheekily as she played the wild and discarded a card.

"Can't believe that you would discard a wild." Omkara mutters.

The game goes for one more round and Gauri draws a skip card. She turns to Omkara and glaring at him, she keeps it in front of him.

"Seriously?" Omkara asks offended. "Me? I am full! Those two have only 1 card each!"

"You are screaming and shouting at me!" Gauri argues.

"Because you are playing absolute nonsense!"

"I taught you the game!"

"And I am playing it better than you!"

Gauri glares at him. "You are getting the skip card. You sit there!"

"Fine! You are going to get all my skip cards!" Omkara says pissed.

Jhanvi and Anika look at each other and grin.

*********

"I am stuck in phase 8 and they are in phase 10. Why are you giving me skip?" Omkara asks Gauri offended.

"You said you will give me all your skip cards!"

"But I didn't give you any!"

"Because you didn't get a skip card!"

"Not playing this game with you ever again." Omkara says pissed.

Gauri scoffs. "Screaming at me here just like in class!"

"Don't forget, Monday you are going to be back in my class!" Omkara reminds her.

Gauri turns glares at him angrily.

Omkara quickly looks away. God, when she glared at him like that, he wanted to kiss that glare away.

"Done!" Anika says with a sigh as she finished her cards.

"Thank God." Jhanvi sighs in relief. Omkara and Gauri were fighting like cats and dogs. "We should play some other game, not this."

Gauri and Omkara glare at each other. Then Gauri starts gathering all the cards.

"Did you bring any other games?" Anika asks Gauri as she helped her pack up.

"Monopoly Deal." Gauri tells her as she kept the phase10 pack to the side.

"Do you guys know how to play?" Anika asks.

Omkara and Jhanvi shakes their head in negative.

"Di, you explain the game. I am hungry. I'll get something to eat." Gauri tells her as she got up from her seat.

"Okay." Anika nods. "So basically the aim of the game is to get 3 sets of properties." Anika frowns seeing Gauri walking to the kitchen instead of her flat. "Gauri, where are you going?"

"I'll just get something to eat. You explain." Gauri tells her.

"Gauri, this is not our house!" Anika tells her in shock.

"Huh? Jhanvi Aunty and Professor Oberoi won't mind, Di." Gauri tells her shaking her head.

"That doesn't mean you be shameless!" Anika tells her in shock.

Chuckling Omkara tells her. "Gauri considers our kitchen an extension to your flat."

"Gauri, go and take whatever you want." Jhanvi tells her smiling.

Gauri smiles at her and walks to the kitchen.

"Sorry, Aunty... Omkara... when she likes some people she just becomes like this." Anika tells them embarrassed.

"No formalities, Anika. Just be like how Gauri is." Omkara tells her smiling.

"And, this might become Gauri's house one day." Jhanvi cheekily tells Anika.

"What?" Anika asks confused.

"Ma!!" Omkara shouts in shock.

Jhanvi cheekily points at Omkara.

"Stop it, Ma!" Omkara glares at her.

"What? Gauri and Omkara?" Anika asks shocked.

"She is just making up stories. Nothing like that." Omkara tells her embarrassed.

"I tried a lot to fix you guys up. She was in that 'I hate Professor Oberoi' phase because of you screaming at her in class. This is so great." Anika says excitedly.

"She is friends with Ma and I am here... that is all... Ma is just making up stuff." Omkara says feeling awkward.

"And you know, I think your father also hates him." Jhanvi tells Anika laughing.

"Oh yeah, Gauri told me, you complained about Gauri to him, right?" Anika asks laughing.

Omkara chuckles. "He asked me and I couldn't lie."

"He doesn't hate you. he was scolding Gauri." Anika tells him then winking she says. "So, you are safe in that aspect."

"Just stop!" Omkara says feeling a blush creep up as he looked away. "Explain the game."

Anika was explaining the game when they hear microwave sound. They all stop for a second and curiously look at the kitchen door.

"We were planning to have left over food from the last few days for dinner tonight, right?" Anika asks worriedly.

"Yeah." Jhanvi nods wondering whether Gauri was having that food. "You both only said not to cook anything and we'll finish off the remaining food."

"God, this girl." Anika says in exasperation. "She might finish the food."

"Anika, it's okay. let her eat. If there isn't enough, we will order something." Omkara quickly tells her.

"What kanjoosi is this, Professor Oberoi? No snacks at all." Gauri says as she walked towards them with a bowl.

"What are you eating?" Anika asks her as she glared at her.

"Noodles. I found a packet in the back of the shelf." Gauri tells her as she took her seat. "Anyone wants?"

They shake their heads in negative.

Gauri keeps the bowl to the side. "Did you explain the rules?"

"Yeah, doing that." Anika tells her as she continued to explain the game to them.

Gauri eats the noodles while Anika explained the rules.

Omkara curiously turns to look at Gauri and she also looks at him.

"You want?" Gauri asks him.

Though he wasn't much of a noodles person, Omkara was so tempted to share that noodles with her. Omkara nods and Gauri passes the bowl to him.

Omkara takes the fork and takes noodles and eats it. he could have sworn that noodles were extra yummy that day.

"I'm so excited to eat the fish curry from yesterday, Jhanvi aunty." Gauri tells her excitedly.

Omkara turns to Gauri in shock. "How, Gauri? where is it all going?"

"Oh... nazar na lage." Gauri says shaking her head in worry and a frown.

Omkara grins and passes her bowl.

Gauri takes it and eats it. only after she took a fork full, she realized that they had shared a fork, Gauri couldn't hide her blush.

"Tell me when you are hungry, Gauri. I'll serve dinner." Jhanvi tells her.

"Then we will have to eat now itself." Anika says dryly.

"Not now. maybe after 10-15 mins." Gauri replies as she ate.

Omkara stares at her in shock.

"I hear there are lot of credit cards now that give good cash back for grocery shopping, Omkara." Anika cheekily tells him. "You will need it in the future."

"Lots." Jhanvi says shaking her head.

Omkara glares at his mother.

"It is waste for him. I had to get inside the cupboard to find this noodles packet." Gauri says shaking her head, her full concentration on the noodles.

*********

Omkara plays the rent card.

"15 million." Omkara declares smugly.

The ladies wait with baited breath to see who he is going to pick to pay rent.

"Gauri." Omkara says smiling.

"What?" Gauri shouts in outrage. "Take from Di. She has money. I've no money."

"He can pick whoever he wants." Anika quickly says. "You have to give."

"I have no money." Gauri tells Omkara with a frown. "SEE!"

"Pay with properties." Omkara tells her smiling.

"You are such a bully! Why can't you take from Di. She has lots of money."

"The aim of the game is to get properties. Give."

Gauri starts sorting her properties and checking Omkara's to see how she can give without letting him have a complete set.

"I hate you." Gauri tells him as she gave him most of her properties.

"Give that pink instead of this orange." Omkara sweetly tells her.

"Why? So you can have two complete sets?" Gauri glares at him.

Grinning smugly, Omkara takes another card. "My second turn is sly deal." Omkara then smiles at her.

"Why me?"

"Because you have what I want." Omkara says grinning.

Growling, Gauri gives him her property. "Take!"

"And my third turn is wild property card and I win."

"I haven't won even one game today because you are after my life!" Gauri says glaring at him.

"Don't be such a sore loser, Gauri." Omkara tells her smugly.

"We'll play team games from now on and put them in same team. So, they won't fight so much and we can play peacefully." Jhanvi says.

"We've sequence. We'll play that after dinner. We will be one team and they will be one team." Anika declares.

*********

"Why are you building over there?" Omkara asks Gauri in shock. "I am building this side."

"No, discussion!" Anika warns them.

Gauri looks at Omkara and tells him, "I can build only with the cards I have."

"At least, try to co-ordinate." Omkara tells her.

"No discussion!" Anika tells them glaring.

"Okay... sorry." Omkara says in an appeasing tone. "Gauri, play well."

"Professor Oberoi!"

"Yeah?"

"You build around me." Gauri tells him.

"Stop discussing, you two!" Anika tells them fed up.

"We are not discussing." Gauri tells her. "Just telling. Build around me." Gauri tells Omkara.

"I can only play with the cards I have." Omkara tells her exasperated.

"Same here!" Gauri tells him. "Now, let me concentrate." Gauri tells him as she looked at her cards and bend down and looked at the board to find the spot.

"We are never going to play any games with these two." Jhanvi tells Anika.

Anika nods. "Never. Even if we die of boredom, no playing with them."

"Stop looking that side and look at this side." Omkara tells Gauri seeing she was again going to build on the empty side of the board instead of where most of their tokens were.

"No talking!" Jhanvi glares at him.

"Fine!" Omkara mutters.

"Sorry to tell you this, Jhanvi Aunty. If this is how it is going to be, you will not have any grandchildren." Anika tells her.

"I can see that." Jhanvi replies tired.

"What is wrong with you two?" Omkara asks them exasperated.

Then they hear Gauri's voice.

Gauri was still bend over the board and she says, "If he is going to be this competitive about baby making then his wife will be forever pregnant."

There was silence in the room. Omkara had turned completely red. Jhanvi's mouth fell open. Anika stares at Gauri.

Gauri quickly grabs Anika's hand and pulls her towards her. and asks in a worried whisper. "Did I say that out loud?"

"Yup."

Gauri worriedly looks up at Omkara and sees him looking at her awkwardly. "I..."

"Just play." Omkara tells her shaking his head.

*********

Omkara walks into the class and his gaze automatically goes to Gauri's seat. Gauri smiles at him and he smiles back at her. then he turned to the class and started talking.

Confused Bhavya turns to Gauri and looks at her.

"What?" Gauri mouths to her.

Bhavya shakes her head and turns her attention back to class wondering whether she had imagined that exchange.

Class ends and Omkara starts to leave the class and just before he left, he looks at Gauri. Gauri smiles at him. Omkara smiles and leaves.

"What is happening?" Bhavya asks shocked.

"What?" Gauri asks confused.

"You and Professor Oberoi."

"We are kind of friends now." Gauri brushes it off.

*********

Few days later, Shivaay came back and Gauri goes back to her house.

After spending time with her parents, Gauri was kind of feeling a sense of missing and homesickness. Gauri checks the time and sees that it was dinner time at Professor Oberoi's.

Meanwhile, at his house, Omkara just couldn't concentrate on the conversation at the table. They had invited Shivaay and Anika for dinner, but his thoughts were going to how they used to have dinner the previous days.

"Omkara, where are you lost?" Shivaay asks curiously.

Omkara shakes his head and smiles.

"I think Omkara is missing someone." Anika teases.

"Stop it, Anika!" Omkara says tired. "There is nothing between Gauri and me."

"I didn't say Gauri." Anika replies acting shocked. "I thought you were missing your other friends."

Omkara embarrassedly looks at her. "I am not missing anyone."

"You were silent, Om." Jhanvi gently tells him.

"I was just listening." Omkara says dismissively as he turned his attention back to his food.

"What were we talking about?" Jhanvi asks him.

"What?" Omkara turns to his mother, raking his brains on what they were talking and sees her grinning ear to ear. "You need to stop it!" Omkara tells her.

"What is happening?" Shivaay asks Anika. "Omkara and Gauri?"

"No!" Omkara says while Anika nods her head grinning.

"Oh man!" Shivaay turns to Omkara in surprise and shock. "You have one uphill task." Shivaay tells him chuckling.

"She doesn't hate him anymore." Anika informs Shivaay with an exaggerated wink.

"Really?" Shivaay ask shocked as he turned to look at Omkara and sees Omkara lightly blushing.

"Nothing like that." Omkara argues.

"Gauri was practically living here!" Anika tells him.

"How long was I gone?" Shivaay asks shocked.

"Will you people stop it?" Omkara asks exasperated. "Gauri came here for food and Ma."

Hearing her mobile ring, Anika curiously checks her phone. "Talk of the devil."

"Gauri?" Omkara asks unable to hide his smile.

Everyone burst out laughing as Anika answered the call.

"You guys are having fun." Gauri accuses them frowning at them.

"We were just talking." Anika tells her chuckling. "What's up?"

"What's for dinner?" Gauri asks.

"You called for that?" Anika asks exasperated.

Jhanvi and Omkara chuckle.

"It's so boring here." Gauri tells her sadly.

"Whom do you miss the most?" Anika asks cheekily.

"Hmmmm Professor Oberoi's house."

"Jhanvi Aunty?" Anika asks cheekily.

"Yeah, I miss her."

"And Omkara?" Anika asks as she looked at Omkara.

Omkara's heart skips a beat hearing that and though anxious, he glares at Anika.

"Yeah, him too. Show me them! I called to see them!"

"Oh!" Anika turns the phone screen.

"Hi Gauri..." Jhanvi sweetly smiles at her.

"Jhanvi Aunty! I miss you!" Gauri tells her excitedly.

"Aww I miss you too Gauri."

"Hi Professor Oberoi." Gauri tells him smiling.

"Hi Gauri, how are you?" Omkara asks her smiling.

"So bored!" Gauri says sighing. "You know, Professor Oberoi." Gauri says chuckling. "I am missing Jhanvi Aunty's food so much that I even miss you."

"What?" Omkara asks shocked. He didn't even know whether he should be offended or happy.

Gauri laughs. "Yeah, of all of them, I will see you tomorrow. Still I am missing you. how silly is that?"

Omkara turns slightly red hearing that. "Erm... yeah."

Omkara looks at everyone and sees everyone grinning at him.

"Are you guys missing me?" Gauri asks eagerly.

Everyone looks at Omkara to reply.

"Yeah... we were just talking of you." Omkara says uncomfortable with everyone's attention on him.

"Very much." Anika says cheekily.

Gauri smiles.

"Gauri, is that Anika you are talking to?" Vasundhara asks curiously.

"Mama... meet Jhanvi Aunty and Professor Oberoi." Gauri says excitedly as she ran to her with her phone.

Vasundhara smiles at Omkara and Jhanvi and they also smile at her as they got introduced.

"Gauri hasn't stopped talking about your place and the food there." Vasundhara says.

"I'll get Papa." Gauri excitedly says and runs to call her father.

As Vasundhara was talking to them and thanking Jhanvi and Omkara for the homely care they showed Anika and Gauri, Harsh joins them.

"Hello Sir." Omkara awkwardly says remembering their previous meeting.

"Hello Professor." Harsh says smiling. "Hello Jhanviji. Gauri was telling us about you both. She really enjoyed her stay there."

"It was nice to have Gauri here." Omkara says ignoring all the teasing stares.

"She was like a family member here." Jhanvi tells them.

"Even she felt the same." Harsh says then chuckling, he says, "She was saying even though Professor Oberoi is a monster in college, outside college, he is a sweet guy."

Omkara turns pink hearing that.

Chuckling Harsh tells Omkara, "We almost fainted. This is the first time, Gauri has ever said anything nice about a teacher."

Omkara turns completely red as he looked at Gauri and sees her smiling at him.

"Professor Oberoi is chill, Papa. We made wine together. But he is a bully when we play games."

Omkara chuckles hearing that.

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

Gauri couldn't sleep at night. The sense of missing was engulfing her. She takes her mobile and thinks of calling Anika, but she didn't feel like talking to her. she wondered whether to call Jhanvi Aunty and she realized that she wasn't really in the mood to talk to her.

Professor Oberoi?

Gauri wanted to talk to him.

She takes her mobile and looks through her contacts. Not finding his number, she messages Anika for his number. And Anika shares her his number and asks why she wanted his number.

Gauri had no reply to that question.

Why did she want to call him? she didn't know. She wanted to talk to him because she realized that she was missing him the most.

so she replies, Simply.

Omkara was in his bed as he thought of Gauri. when he was alone, he admitted to himself that he missed Gauri. but how did things come to this? what changed between them?

Hearing his mobile ring, Omkara curiously picks the call noticing it was an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Erm... Professsor Oberoi?" Gauri nervously.

"Gauri?" Omkara asks shocked, his heart skipping a beat.

"Erm yes. Did you sleep?"

"No... what happened?" Omkara asks feeling nervous.

"Nothing... felt like talking to you."

Omkara gulps and he takes a nervous breath.

Gauri waited for him to say something, when he remained silent, she worriedly asks "Did I disturb you?"

"No. I am glad you called." Omkara confesses then he couldn't control and he smiles happily. "Even I wanted to talk to you."

"Really?" Gauri asks smiling happily. "Talk to me then." Gauri tells him excitedly.

Omkara chuckles. "About what?"

"Anything."

"Hmmm. How does it feel to be back home?"

"Nice, but I am missing everyone there. did you all miss me?"

"Yeah." Omkara tells her smiling.

Gauri smiles and they spoke for some more time.

*********

Few days later, it was time for Jhanvi to leave for her home town. So, Gauri decided to visit her and her parents and Anika also joined her.

"When will you come next, Jhanvi Aunty?" Gauri asks her.

"Haven't decided, Gauri." Jhanvi tells her. "You should come to my home."

Gauri nods thoughtfully smiling. "When is Professor Oberoi coming? Di, Jeeju and I'll plan and come with him."

"He will be coming for vacation." Jhanvi tells her smiling. "You should come."

Gauri nods then she gets up and asks curiously. "Where did Professor Oberoi go?"

"He went to get a few things for me." Jhanvi tells her.

"Ah okay." Gauri nods.

Though they met in college, Omkara would be mostly busy with his classes and students, and she would be busy with her classes and friends. They would only see when he could come to her class and that time, they wouldn't be able to talk. Only after class hours and in the evening, they spoke on the phone.

Gauri walks to the kitchen and opens the fridge to check whether she had anything to snack.

Finding sweets, she takes them and starts snacking on them as she walked back to the living room.

Seeing that, Vasundhara looks at her in shock. "Gauri?"

"What Mama?" Gauri asks curiously.

"What are you doing?" Vasundhara asks her in whisper as she glared at her.

"I found kaju katli in the fridge. You want?" Gauri asks her.

"Did she just raid their fridge?" Harsh asks Vasundhara confused.

"Stop making a big issue. Jhanvi Aunty doesn't mind." Gauri tells them as she sat down.

Vasundhara and Harsh look at each other, wondering what glutton did they create.

Hearing the door open they all turn to look curiously and Omkara walks in.

The moment he stepped in, he notices Gauri. "Hi." Omkara says smiling happily seeing her.

"Hi!" Gauri says smiling happily seeing him.

Jhanvi smiles seeing the way they were smiling at each other.

Noticing Anika, Harsh and Vasundhara, Omkara walks to them smiling. "Hello... Gauri didn't tell me you all were coming."

"I thought to surprise." Gauri tells him.

"You should have told me. I would have been home then."

Hearing that Harsh quickly says, "Please... we can imagine the last minute shopping and all. We were actually planning to come here for quite some time now, and only today Gauri told me that Jhanviji was going, that is why we came unannounced."

"Gauri and Anika told us how you both took care of them when Shivaay was away." Vasundhara tells him smiling.

Omkara politely smiles, having no idea how to reply to that.

They all spoke for some time.

Noticing Gauri, Harsh says amazed. "First time, I am seeing Gauri not trying to run away from a teacher. Actually second time." Harsh chuckles remembering his first meeting with Omkara.

Omkara chuckles hearing that. Gauri also grins.

"How is Gauri doing in class?" Vasundhara asks curiously.

Gauri glares at her mother hearing that while Harsh also worriedly looked at Omkara, ready to be insulted once again.

Omkara looks at Gauri and sees her very uncomfortable and nervous. He smiles at Vasundhara and tells her, "Tomorrow they have a class test, let's see."

Vasundhara and Harsh nods.

"You didn't tell us that you had to study, Gauri." Vasundhara tells her.

"I'll study at home." Gauri quickly says.

"We should leave. Gauri has to study for her test and you will have last minute packing and many things to do." Harsh says as he stood up.

Soon they bid their byes.

"Bye Jhanvi Aunty." Gauri says hugging. "Call me when you reach."

"Bye Gauri, take care." Jhanvi says hugging her.

Gauri turns to Omkara and smiles at him. "You will call later?"

Omkara quickly looks at his mother and sees her gaping at him. he awkwardly smiles at her.

"What happened?" Gauri asks curiously.

Omkara shakes his head. "I'll call you."

"Okay, bye." Gauri says smiling and leaves.

Omkara uncomfortably looks at his mother and sees her staring at him.

"We are friends now." Omkara tells her. "You go, get ready otherwise you will miss your flight." Omkara tells her in a bid to escape.

*********

Hearing her mobile ring, Gauri switches off the music and answers the call. "Hey Jhanvi Aunty left?"

"Yeah, just got back after dropping her off at the airport... were you studying?" Omkara asks her wondering whether he should call later. "Should I call later or tomorrow?"

"No... no... I'll study later." Gauri tells him.

"Hmmm..."

"Or you can tell me what to study." Gauri cheekily tells him.

"How convenient, Gauri." Omkara chuckles.

Gauri laughs. "I was just joking. How does it feel to be back home without Jhanvi Aunty?"

"House is so silent." Omkara tells her sighing.

"Aww... I didn't realize, otherwise I would have stayed at Di's place and given you company."

"How sweet." Omkara says smiling. "When are you coming here next?"

"Hmmm soon. Papa and Mama are going to go away for a few days. So, I'll be staying at Di's place mostly."

"Ah nice." Omkara says smiling, feeling excited about Gauri's next visit.

*********

Gauri was walking to her class when she hears Rudra call her.

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

Rudra gives her a letter. "Give this to Bhavya."

"Letter? Message her on WhatsApp duffer! Who writes letter now?" Gauri asks shaking her head.

"Idiot!" Rudra says as he lightly hits her on her head. "I message her all the time. she wouldn't expect me to write a letter for her. it will be a surprise for her and she would feel happy."

"Because you took the trouble of writing it down?" Gauri asks confused. Rudra was her senior and he was dating Bhavya.

"It's romantic, idiot." Rudra says as he flicked her nose. "Give her."

Gauri takes the letter from him. "Okay."

Gauri turns to go to her class when she notices Omkara watching her. he turns and starts to walk off.

"Shit! Is he going to complain?" Rudra asks worriedly.

"Why should he complain?" Gauri asks confused.

"Some teachers are so narrow minded and a pain." Rudra says.

"What would he complain?" Gauri asks confused.

"that I gave you love letter, duffer!" Rudra tells her exasperated. "Anyway, let me know if he asks you anything." Rudra tells her and walks off.

"What?" Gauri shouts in shock. Her heart skipping a beat wondering whether Professor Oberoi thought that there was something between Rudra and her.

Without thinking, Gauri runs after him.

"Professor Oberoi!" Gauri calls him.

Omkara stops and turns to her. "Yeah?"

"This is not for me. Rudra gave it for Bhavya." Gauri tells him.

"You snitching on your friend, Gauri?" Omkara asks her with a teasing grin.

"What?" Gauri asks confused.

Omkara chuckles seeing her confusion. "What what?"

"That letter was not for me. I don't want you to think that." Gauri hurriedly explains to him.

"Oh." Omkara didn't ask her why she cared what he thought, because he knew just like she did that things were changing between them. they were not yet ready to address it. So, he instead tells her. "I've seen Bhavya and Rudra together around the campus. Bhavya is your best friend. So, I assumed it was for her."

"Rudra scared me." Gauri sighs in relief, smiling. "By the way, you are not going to complain about them, right?"

"What? Whatever for?" Omkara asks shocked. "It's their personal matter. College shouldn't interfere in that."

Gauri smiles then she asks him. "So, how is it at home without Jhanvi Aunty?"

"Boring." Omkara tells her.

"Oh... and your food?"

"Ha... ha... You always come around to food. I am cooking now."

"Oh yeah, Jhanvi Aunty told me that you cook well." Gauri says smiling then frowning in displeasure she tells him, "But you never cooked for me."

"You come home, I'll." Omkara tells her smiling.

"When? Tonight for dinner?" Gauri asks excitedly.

"Tonight... no. Tomorrow. I need time to cook to fill you up." Omkara tells her jokingly.

"That you can never!" Gauri says waving it off.

*********

"Professor Oberoi!" Gauri calls him as she ran behind him.

Omkara turns to her as he stopped.

"You were going without me?" Gauri asks him shocked.

"What?" Omkara asks confused.

"I am coming to your place for dinner tonight, right?" Gauri asks him.

"Yeah... I thought you would come home later in the evening. I didn't know you were coming with me." Omkara tells her smiling.

"Good thing I saw you leave." Gauri tells him. "Otherwise I would have waited outside the staff room."

"Come." Omkara tells her as he headed to his bike.

"I have to be home by 10:30 since it is a college week." Gauri tells him as she stood by while he got on his bike.

"Oh I thought you would stay with Anika." Omkara tells her as he reversed his bike.

"Jeeju just got back home last week after being away for so long. I didn't want to intrude on them." Gauri tells him as she hopped on the bike.

"Oh yeah." Omkara agrees a little disappointed.

"Anyway, I would be coming when Papa and Mama would go away." Gauri tells him as she kept her hands on his shoulders and held him.

Omkara smiles for both her holding him and for her coming to stay with Anika.

*******

While Omkara went to freshen up, Gauri went to meet Anika.

"Mama and Papa knows that you are having dinner at Omkara's?" Anika asks curiously as she watched Gauri dry her hair after her shower.

"I told Mama that I won't be home for dinner tonight. she didn't ask any questions. Just said to be back by 10:30." Gauri tells her.

"Hmmm so she might have thought you are going for dinner with your friends."

"Professor Oberoi is my friend." Gauri tells her.

"Just friends?" Anika asks her curiously.

Gauri stops as she looked at Anika thoughtfully through the mirror. "I don't know." Gauri says shrugging thoughtfully.

"What do you mean?" Anika asks her.

"He is not just a friend. He is more than that." Gauri tells her as she turned to look at Anika. "But I don't know how much more."

"And he feels the same?"

"I think so. We never spoke of it." Gauri tells her then smiling she says, "What's the hurry? There is time. we'll take our time and decide."

"So, this is not a date?" Anika asks her teasingly.

"Does it matter what we call it?" Gauri asks her grinning.

*******

"You are early." Omkara tells her as he opened the door.

"I thought I would help you." Gauri tells him as she smiled at him.

"I'm almost done." Omkara tells her as he closed the door after she had walked in.

"So, what's special for me?" Gauri asks excitedly as she walked to the kitchen.

Omkara smiles as he followed her.

"Mutton!" Gauri excitedly says as she opened one of the dish then opening the next, she smiles ever more, "Mushroom? Oh my God, prawns. All these are my favorites."

"I know." Omkara grins.

"How?" Gauri asks shocked.

"Gauri, we used to have dinners almost every day." Omkara tells her.

Gauri smiles. "So, what's left?"

"I was about to set the table." Omkara tells her.

"Let's do it together." Gauri tells him smiling.

*******

"Hmmm.... This is amazing." Gauri moans as she relished the food.

Omkara smiles hearing that. "Thank you."

"You should be a chef, Professor Oberoi."

Omkara chuckles hearing that.

"Why didn't you? why did you become a professor?" Gauri asks curiously.

"I started cooking after I became a professor and started living alone." Omkara tells her.

"This is not ready yet but I thought." Omkara says with a shrug as he poured wine.

"Wow!" Gauri excitedly takes it and takes a sip. "Not bad."

"It needs to sit for some more time." Omkara tells her.

"Can't believe that I made this." Gauri says proudly as she sipped it.

"You?"

"Us." Gauri corrects as she chuckled.

They were talking when Gauri remembers and tells Omkara, "I forgot to tell you. It is Jeeju's birthday this weekend. Di is planning a surprise party for him. just few friends and us."

"Nice."

"She asked me to stay that night."

"That's great. This Friday?" Omkara asks her.

"Yeah. We'll go out on Saturday?"

"Where?"

"Don't know." Gauri replies shrugging.

"We'll plan something." Omkara tells her smiling.

Gauri smiles excitedly.

After dinner, Omkara had dropped Gauri to her house.

*******

Next day, the bell rings, and Gauri excitedly looked at the door because it was Omkara's class.

"We might get our marks today." Bhavya tells her.

Gauri's heart skips a beat hearing that. Omkara had been busy preparing for their last night's dinner that he hadn't got time to correct the papers. She didn't ask him, but over conversation he had mentioned it. Gauri sighs as fear gripped her heart.

Omkara walks in and Gauri worriedly looks at him. the moment she looked at him, she knew he had finished correcting the papers.

Gauri nervously looks down, her heart slamming against her chest.

Omkara distributes the papers. When he calls out her name, Gauri nervously looks up. Ready to hear his scolding. Omkara looks at Gauri and hands her the paper.

Gauri takes the paper and looks. She had got 7 out of 50. She looks at him and Omkara doesn't say anything, he just sadly looks at her and moves away as he called the next name.

Gauri couldn't take his silence, the sadness and the disappointment in his face. the whole class, she had sat through engulfed with guilt and regret. If he had screamed at her like usual then she wouldn't have felt this horrible.

The moment the class got over, Omkara leaves the class. Gauri runs behind him.

"Professor Oberoi!" Gauri calls him.

Omkara sighs and stops. He turns to look at her.

"I am sorry." Gauri tells him, her eyes filling up in regret and pain seeing his disappointment and hurt.

Omkara shakes his head.

"I'm really sorry." Gauri tells him.

"I don't know what to tell you, Gauri."

"I'll study well for the next exam." Gauri promises him.

Omkara looks away. "You've said that before."

Gauri regretfully looks down.

Seeing her upset, he says sadly. "You used to hate me for screaming at you, but I never hated you, Gauri. no teacher hates their student. All I wanted was for you to do well. The least, pass for your tests."

"I'll pass. I promise." Gauri tells him.

Omkara sighs.

"I'll make you proud of me. please give me one more chance." Gauri pleads him.

"Don't cry." Omkara tells her as he wiped her tears.

"Please?" Gauri asks him again.

Omkara nods. "Okay. There is still time, Gauri and you can do well."

"I will." Gauri vows.

*******

That weekend they all had met for Shivaay's birthday. Omkara and Gauri were back to normal, neither spoke of the test marks. After the cake cutting and dinner, they all decided to play games.

They were playing truth or dare.

"Truth." Gauri declares.

"Okay, tell us who do you love the most here." Shivaay cheekily asks her.

Gauri looks at Omkara and sees him watching her.

"Gauri?" Shivaay calls her.

"I think di." Gauri replies.

"You think?" Anika asks.

"You're my sister."

"Apart from Anika." Shivaay says.

"How do I answer that? Di is my favorite sister. you are my favorite brother. Professor Oberoi is my favorite teacher."

"Tough choices you had from the one million brothers and sisters you have." Shivaay points out. "So, the real winner, I guess is Omkara."

Gauri and Omkara grin hearing that.

After few rounds of truth and dare, it was finally Omkara's turn.

"Truth." Omkara decides.

"I've a question for you." Anika tells Omkara, and she asks, "Who is your favorite student?"

Omkara immediately looks at Gauri and she also looks at him.

"Teachers never have a favorite student." Omkara says.

"Still you'll have that one student who is above other students, a little special." Anika cheekily insists.

Omkara looks at Gauri and realizes that she was waiting for his answer. "Gauri." he says as he looked at her.

Gauri blushes shyly as she looks down.

*******

Omkara notices Gauri standing outside in the balcony and walks outside.

"What are you doing here?" Omkara asks her as he stood next to her.

"Thinking." Gauri replies as she looked at the night sky.

"Thinking about what?"

"About you, about us."

Omkara smiles hearing that.

"I wanted to say your name." Gauri tells him.

"It is just a game."

"Omkara..." Gauri calls him softly.

Omkara turns to her in shock. "what?"

Gauri turns to him and looking into his eyes, she again says, "Omkara."

Omkara gulps and he says softly. "I'm your Professor."

"Not forever." Gauri points out.

"True."

Gauri steps close to him and nervously asks as she looked into his eyes. "Do you want me to be yours forever?"

Omkara nervously sighs. Then he softly replies. "Yes."

Gauri's face breaks out into a smile. She half laughs and sighs as her eyes filled up.

Seeing her like that, Omkara couldn't control his smile. He smiles as he stepped closer to her. then he gently cups her face and leaning down, kisses her forehead.

Gauri keeps her hand over his, then leaning up, she kisses his cheek.

"Gauri... Omkara... what are you..." Anika stops in shock seeing them like that.

They both turn to look at her.

"Oh..." Anika embarrassed looks at them then recovering, she says. "Behave, okay?" then she runs back inside.

Omkara and Gauri look at each other and chuckle.

*******

After everyone had left, Anika walks into the kitchen and sees Gauri.

"So..." Anika says with a smile.

Gauri smiles seeing her.

"What happened to your taking time and deciding?" Anika asks with a teasing smile.

Gauri smiles at her and says with contentment. "I love him, di."

Anika walks to her and hugs her. "I'm so happy for you both. ever since I met him, I wanted you both to get together."

Gauri smiles hearing that.

"What are you making?" Anika asks surprised seeing that Gauri was boiling water.

"Black coffee."

"How will you sleep if you have black coffee?"

"I don't want to sleep. I am going to study."

"WHAT?" Anika shouts in shock.

Gauri sadly looks at her. "I had a class test and I failed."

"Omkara's subject?"

Gauri nods as she turned to look at the water. "He was so upset. So hurt. Seeing him like that, it killed me. and I realized that this was no longer friendship or more. I love him."

Anika smiles hearing that. she lovingly keeps her hand on Gauri's shoulder.

"I am going to study, di. I am going to do well. I want Omkara to be proud of me. proud that he loves me like how proud I am that I love someone like him."

"Aww my baby." Anika hugs her from behind.

"In a month and half, I have my mid semester exam. I am going to pass for all my papers. I want to get good marks."

"You will."

"And Omkara is going to be so happy." Gauri tells her smiling in excitement.

*******

Hearing the doorbell ring, Omkara opens the door. "Hey."

"Good morning." Gauri tells him smiling then she moves towards him and hugs him tight.

For a second, Omkara was taken back by the hug, then he happily hugs her.

"You ready to go out?" Omkara asks her as he closed the door.

"Oh we were supposed to go out today." Gauri remembers surprised.

"You forgot?"

"I didn't exactly forget." Gauri says smiling as she hugged him again. "I was just thinking about us."

Omkara smiles as he hugged her. "So, where do you want to go?"

"Can we stay in? just the two of us?" Gauri asks him.

"Yeah." Omkara smiles liking the idea.

They sit on the couch facing each other.

"I'm so happy." Gauri tells him as she took his hand.

"Me too." Omkara tells her.

Gauri looks at him and asks him a little worriedly. "This is forever, right?"

Omkara cups her face and promises her, "It is."

Gauri smiles. "I love you."

"I love you too." Omkara tells her.

Gauri leans to him and gently pecks his lips. Omkara pulls her close to him, and gently takes her lips in his. Gauri nervously kisses him back.

*******

Hearing his mobile, Omkara picks his phone to check.

"It is Ma."

"I'll answer." Gauri says excitedly as she takes the phone and answers it. she changes her voice and says "Hello."

"Erm... hello... is Om there?" Jhanvi asks confused.

"He is busy."

"Oh... who is this?" Jhanvi asks confused.

"Aapki hone wali bahu." Gauri tells her laughing happily.

Omkara chuckles hearing her.

"Gauri?" Jhanvi asks surprised and excited.

Gauri laughs happily hearing Jhanvi's excitement. "Wait I will put it on speaker."

"Ma..." Omkara says.

"Om, is it true?" Jhanvi asks excitedly.

"Yes." Omkara replies as he happily looked at Gauri. "We love each other."

"I knew it. I don't know why it took you both so long."

"We just didn't want to rush into anything, Ma." Gauri tells her.

"Ma?" Jhanvi and Omkara asks surprised.

"Yeah... why are you two shocked? After marriage I'll be calling her Ma, so I'm starting now itself." Gauri explains.

Omkara smiles hearing that.

"I am so happy." Jhanvi says happily.

They spoke for a few more minutes.

*******

Omkara was in Gauri's class teaching. As he was explaining, his gaze falls on Gauri and she was watching him with a big smile on her face. he couldn't help it, he smiles at her and continues teaching. As he looked at the students, he couldn't control himself and his gaze again goes to Gauri.

Gauri gives him a flying kiss.

Omkara stops in shock for half a second then glaring at her, he turns his gaze away from her. rest of the class, he didn't look at her.

*******

"Omkara!" Gauri calls him as she ran behind him.

Omkara stops in shock and turns to her. Gauri stops near him gasping for breath.

"Gauri, this is college, call me Professor Oberoi here." Omkara whispers to her in shock.

"No." Gauri replies shaking her head frowning.

"What?"

"Aren't you my Omkara?" Gauri asks him.

"Yes."

"Even when we are in college?"

"Yeah but..."

"Ah then I will only call you Omkara." Gauri declares.

Omkara sighs as he shook his head though he smiles.

Gauri smiles. "Are you free after class? Bhavya and Rudra are going out. They asked me to join them. do you want to come with us?"

"Erm..." Omkara hesitates as he didn't know whether he should hang out with them as Bhavya and Rudra were his students and even they wouldn't be comfortable with him.

"They are my best friends." Gauri tells him in a bid to convince him.

"Okay." Omkara gives in.

*******

Gauri watches as Omkara sat with her and Rudra and Bhavya opposite to them. Bhavya and Rudra were unusually silent and kind of uncomfortable.

"Why are you all silent?" Gauri asks in shock.

Omkara shrugs.

"Er... nothing..." Bhavya says as she awkwardly looked at Omkara.

"None of you were saying anything." Rudra says uncomfortably.

Gauri looks at them in shock then turns to Omkara and tells him, "This is what happens when you are a strict professor."

"What do you want me to do?" Omkara asks her exasperated.

"Be with them like you are with me!" Gauri orders him.

Cheekily grinning, Omkara tells her. "I really don't think Rudra will like if I behave with Bhavya the same way I behave with you."

Gauri's mouth drops open hearing that.

Rudra and Bhavya look at each other in shock then they start laughing.

"Gauri is right, you are fun." Bhavya tells him laughing.

"Enough... enough... you don't like him as much as Gauri likes him." Rudra jokes.

They all laugh, now comfortable, they start talking to each other.

*******

Shivaay frowns seeing Gauri. "Why do you keep coming here?"

"What?" Gauri asks chuckling in confusion.

"I want to know now! do you come here to see us or Omkara?" Shivaay asks her suspiciously.

"What jeeju?"

"Tell me!" Shivaay stubbornly insists.

"Hasn't Himmat Singh taught you, jeeju? Ask no questions and hear no lies?" Gauri cheekily asks him.

Omkara grins hearing her while Shivaay gives her an exasperated look.

"Then why don't you just stay with Omkara?" Shivaay asks her.

"Okay. You'll cover for me with Papa and Mama?" Gauri asks as she turned to head to Omkara's flat.

Shivaay quickly grabs her and pulls her back. "Where are you going? Go inside!" Shivaay tells her shocked.

Gauri laughs as she went inside. Shivaay and Omkara grin at each other.

*******

"I was talking to Di." Gauri tells Omkara over dinner.

Omkara curiously looks at her.

"It is Papa and Mama's 25th wedding anniversary. So, Di and I were thinking of gifting them a trip."

"Nice." Omkara says smiling.

"So, this Thursday they are going for the wedding. Then mostly from there they would go. Di and I'll have to plan and book everything." Gauri excitedly tells him.

"So, you guys don't want to be with them for the anniversary?"

"If they are here then we will wish in the morning, give gift and just do our normal routine. This way, it would be something special for them. and they get to spend time alone."

"Yeah, true." Omkara says smiling then he asks, "and you would be staying with Anika?"

"Obviously." Gauri says excitedly. "Almost a month."

After dinner, Omkara dropped Gauri home.

*******

Once her parents went off, Gauri shifted to Anika's house. every morning, she went to college with Omkara and evening, they returned home together, spending every second they could get together.

"You are late!" Gauri accuses the moment Omkara walked into the coffee shop.

"The staff meeting went on forever." Omkara tells her tired. "Let's go?"

It was a weekend and they had planned to go for a movie with Bhavya and Rudra.

"We are late already." Bhavya says as she stood up.

"I'm so hungry." Gauri grumbles as she stood up.

"You didn't eat anything?" Omkara asks her.

"They were so sure that you would come any second now, they didn't let me order anything. I had a brownie only."

"And coffee too." Bhavya reminds her.

"I am still hungry." Gauri glares at her as she grabbed her bag.

Omkara chuckles and tells Bhavya and Rudra. "You guys go."

"What about you guys?" Rudra asks confused.

Omkara holds Gauri by her shoulder. "I'll feed her and come otherwise, she won't let us watch the movie peacefully."

Gauri makes a face as Omkara took her to the counter.

When Gauri didn't order anything, Omkara curiously looks at her and sees her reading the menu.

"Gauri, choose something from the shelf." Omkara tells her as he pointed at the sandwiches and croissants.

Gauri disinterestedly looks at the sandwiches. "I'll take 2 chicken sandwich." Gauri tells the Barista.

"I don't want." Omkara tells Gauri.

"It is for me!" Gauri tells him shocked.

"Oh okay."

Gauri shakes her head in exasperation.

Chuckling, Omkara hugs her from behind. "My darling glutton."

Gauri chuckles hearing that.

Omkara was casually looking around when he notices two students looking at them in shock.

"Shit... they are my students." Omkara whispers as he moved away from Gauri.

Gauri turns to look and sees two seniors watching them. she turns to Omkara and asks confused, "So, what?"

"They will tell everyone, Gauri." Omkara tells her in concern.

"What is wrong in that? we love each other. We are not doing anything wrong. So, why should we hide our love?"

"It's not that, there would be gossips." Omkara tells her.

"if we hide and people see us together, they will make up one million stories. If we are open about our love, then there won't be dirty stories about us." Gauri tells him.

Omkara nods realizing that if they were open about their relation then there would be only one story about them and that would be the truth. And he knew, how much ever they tried, they will not be able to keep their relation a secret because someone or the other would see them together.

*******

"You didn't sleep?" Anika asks as she poked her head in.

"I'm studying." Gauri replies without looking up from her book.

"It's really late, Gauri." Anika tells her as she walked in.

"You didn't sleep?" Gauri asks her.

"I got up to drink water that is when I noticed the light in your room. you are getting dark circles, go to sleep."

"I'll. After I finish this module. Too much to study and too little time." Gauri tells her yawning.

"Okay, good night."

*******

Omkara sighs in irritation as he heard the crunching sound. Gauri was sitting on his lap as they watched the movie. He increases the volume.

"It is too loud." Gauri tells him as she reduced the volume then taking the chips from the bag, she shoves it into her mouth and loudly crunches.

"Can you stop eating so loudly?" Omkara asks her exasperated.

"What?" Gauri turns to him frowning.

"You are eating into my ears!" Omkara tells her. "I can't hear a word, all I am hearing is crunch crunch crunch."

"I can hear everything!"

"Because your mouth is not near your ear."

"How rude?" Gauri asks offended. "And my mouth is on my face! How can you hear more than me?"

"I can't!"

"I meant my eating sound!"

"Maybe because you are forever eating and got immune to the sound." Omkara tells her.

"Get lost!" Gauri says pissed off and walks off.

*******

Hearing the knock on the door, Gauri opens the door. She stops seeing packets of chips on the floor in the shape of a heart. She looks up and sees Omkara cheekily winks at her with Anika and Shivaay sitting on the couch and watching them.

"Took you long enough!" Gauri mutters as she bend down and started picking the chips packets.

"Had to finish watching the movie." Omkara tells her shrugging.

Gauri scowls at him.

Grinning, Omkara tells her. "Check out what I got for our next movie section?"

"What?" Gauri asks frowning at him.

"Popcorn."

*******

Omkara was in the middle of teaching when Ajay comes to the door. "Excuse me, sir? Can I come in?"

"You're late." Omkara tells him shaking his head.

"I went to pay exam fees." Ajay tells him.

"You should have done it during break or after class. You shouldn't be doing it during class." Omkara tells him in a dismissing tone.

Sighing, Ajay walks off.

*******

"Why didn't you let Ajay in?" Gauri asks Omkara as she ran up to him after the period.

"Don't you have class?" Omkara asks her.

"I've... but why didn't you let him in?"

"He was late. Now, you'll be late."

"Why can't you be a little friendly to your students?" Gauri asks him frowning.

"They are my students, Gauri. I am not their friend." Omkara tells her.

"But you don't have to be so strict. Even you were a student once."

"What is the problem, Gauri?" Omkara asks as he turned to her stopping.

"I want everyone to like you like I like you." Gauri tells him frowning.

Omkara smiles hearing that.

"Remember, how I used to hate you because you were horrible to me."

"Didn't you deserve it?" Omkara asks her grinning.

Gauri glares at him. "Did that help? Did I improve my grades because you were screaming at me?"

"You should be studying for your exams." Omkara tells her.

"that I will... tell me, when you were a student, which teacher did you like the most? The strict one or the kind one."

Omkara thoughtfully leans on the railing hearing her. he says with a shrug. "My father was the Principal of my college. he was very strict in college while at home he was a fun guy. I guess, I just followed how he was."

"If he wasn't your father, would you have considered him as your best teacher?"

Grinning, he tells her, "Everyone used to call him Rakshas."

"So, he was no better than you." Gauri mutters.

Omkara smiles. "Okay, I will try to be not so strict."

Gauri smiles hearing that. "I love you."

Omkara smiles even more. "Now, run before you are late for class."

"Okay, bye."

*******

Omkara and Gauri were passionately kissing each other when they realize that Omkara's mobile was ringing.

"Ignore it." Gauri tells him as she kissed him when he turned to check his phone.

"Let me just check who it is."

"Would be some kabib mein haddi." Gauri says.

Chuckling Omkara checks the phone. "Oh, it is Ma." Omkara tells her. "I've to take it, Gauri."

"Okay." Gauri sighs.

"Get off my lap." Omkara tells her.

"Why?" Gauri asks frowning.

"It's a video call."

"So?"

Omkara stops in shock. "Get off, Gauri. Ma will see." Omkara says as he scooted her off his lap.

Gauri glares at him as she got off his lap. "She knows about us. Why are you acting like this?"

"Still..." Omkara says as he adjusted their appearance and answered the call.

They spoke to Jhanvi for a while then hangs up. Omkara turns to Gauri and asks her curiously, "When are you going to tell your parents about us?"

"They are not here." Gauri shrugs.

"Yeah... I want to meet them when they get back."

"You already met them." Gauri reminds him, shocked.

"Yeah, but I want to tell them about us."

"Mama will come back soon but Papa has some work travel. We'll tell them when he gets back."

"Okay." Omkara replies smiling, then he holds her ankles and pulls her over his lap and with a sexy smile, he asks, "Where were we?"

*******

One night, Gauri was studying when she gets a message from Omkara.

Finished! *Phew*

Gauri quickly messages him, okay, send me the questions.

He replies immediately. You wish! Going to sleep. see you tomorrow.

Good night. Gauri replies and smiling she keeps the phone aside.

She was studying when she gets a message from Bhavya. it was a photo of Bhavya wearing a new tshirt.

Rudra gifted me this.

Nice. Gaurs replies.

I found it inside my bag. I didn't know when he kept it.

Gauri smiles, Rudra was an old fashioned romantic. Writing love letters and giving surprise gifts to Bhavya.

I want to get him something. Will you come with me tomorrow for shopping?

Gauri sighs and messages her. Omkara just told me that he finished setting the questions for the exams. I've to study.

Oh he is done? How is it this time? easy or hard?

I didn't ask him.

Hmmm okie... anyway, I'll go alone. You work hard on your surprise for him 😉

Gauri smiles. Then thinking of the Rudra's surprise, she wanted to surprise Omkara.

She quickly tears out a page from her notebook and writes on it.

*******

Hearing the door bell, Omkara wakes up. He sits up drowsily as he tried to listen if there was indeed a door bell.

Hearing the bell again, Omkara goes to check.

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

"Did you sleep?" Gauri asks him smiling.

"Yeah... all okay?"

"Yes.... I realized that I never saw your bedroom."

"What?" Omkara asks confused.

"Can you believe it? I've been coming here for so long and I never saw your bedroom." Gauri tells him as she pushed him aside and walk in.

"What?" Omkara asks shocked as he followed her in. "Are you here to see my bedroom?"

"Of course not!"

"Then?"

"I am here to see my future bedroom." Gauri arrogantly tells him.

Hearing that Omkara couldn't help the smile. He follows her as she walked into his bedroom.

Gauri stops in the middle of the room.

"So?" Omkara asks her.

"I want water." Gauri tells him.

"What?" Omkara asks shocked.

"I am thirsty. I want water."

"You serious?" Omkara asks shocked.

"Yes... get me water."

Omkara points at the water bottle kept on the side table. "There."

Gauri turns to look where he pointed and stops in shock for a second. She had expected him to go to the kitchen to get her water. Then recovering, she asks faking outrage. "You won't give me anything to eat?"

Omkara sighs. "How can you eat so late at night?"

"I'm feeling hungry."

"Let me check what I have." Omkara tells her as he walked out, lightly closing the door shut.

"You will find something." Gauri tells him smiling, lately, he kept his kitchen stocked so she would always have something to munch on when she visited him.

Gauri looks around and sees his study table. She runs to the table and takes out the letter she had kept in her pajama pocket. She picks one of the books on the table and keeps the letter inside and moves back excitedly.

Smiling excitedly she looks around the room. His room was neat and organized just like him.

"Got chips." Omkara tells her as he opened the door and walked in.

"I like our room." Gauri tells him smiling as she stared at the paintings on the wall. "But these paintings have to go."

"You didn't like them?" Omkara asks curiously.

"We'll put my photo. Big one."

"Yours?" Omkara asks chuckling.

"Fine! Both of ours." Gauri gives in.

Omkara rolls his eyes as he closed the door.

Hearing the door close, Gauri turns to him. Realizing they were alone inside his bedroom, Gauri started feeling nervous. She had been alone with him, but never inside the bedroom and that was freaking her out.

"Gauri, you okay?"

Gauri nervously looks at the closed bedroom door then to the bed. She started shivering freaking out.

"Gauri?" Omkara calls her curiously as he walked to her.

"I don't want to make love before marriage." Gauri blurts out.

"What?" Omkara stops in shock.

Gauri worriedly looks at the door. "I love you, Omkara but that..."

"Gauri... the stopper is not working. So, I closed the door otherwise it would slam shut." Omkara tells her as he walked to her.

Gauri worriedly nods.

"Relax, Gauri. I didn't mean it like that." Omkara tries to reassure her.

Gauri nods. "I'll go home." Gauri worriedly tells him.

"But why? Stay for sometime."

"No... no... I will see you tomorrow." Gauri tells him as her heart was slamming against her chest. She starts to walk out then she turns and grabs the chips packet from him without looking at his face. "I forgot this. Good night." Gauri tells him and runs out, leaving an amused Omkara behind.

*******

Next day morning, Gauri and Omkara step out of their flats at the same time.

"Got it?" Gauri asks him excitedly.

"What?" Omkara asks her confused.

Realizing that he didn't find her note, she sighs disappointed.

"Got what?" Omkara asks her again.

"Nothing." Gauri says shaking her head. "Let's go."

********

Omkara walks into the class and smiles at Gauri. She also smiles at him. She notices that few of the students were looking at them. She ignores them. Even Omkara ignores them. They have been getting these looks lately, people were noticing about them. Many knew that they were together now.

Gauri smiles seeing the way Omkara was smiling and chatting with the students. Ever since, she told him, he had been making an effort and trying to build a relation with the students and not be strict like before.

"Professor Oberoi, I hear you finished setting the question paper." Bhavya says.

Omkara grins and cheekily says, "I believe you heard from a very reliable source, Bhavya."

Gauri grins seeing that Omkara also was no longer conscious about people finding out about their relationship.

"Is it tough?" Bhavya asks him.

"I am afraid, it is." Omkara tells her.

The students groan.

"It's the new HOD rule. One exam should be hard and one should be easy. So, I thought if this exam is hard then for the semester exam it can be easy." Omkara explains. "But please study hard everyone." Omkara says his gaze ending on Gauri.

Gauri nervously looks down realizing that she has to work even more harder now as the exam was going to be tough.

*****

Gauri was studying when she hears the mobile ring. Seeing it was Omkara, she answers excitedly. "Found it?"

"What?" Omkara asks confused.

Gauri sighs, how long was it going to take him to find her note? If it was going to be like this then she will definitely forget about it by the time he finds it. "I thought it was Bhavya... what's up?"

"Ah okay... what you doing? Coming over?" Omkara asks her.

"No..." Gauri says disappointed as she noticed her study material.

"Busy?" Omkara asks her.

"Yeah... I'll talk to you later."

"Okay then. See you later."

********

"You are so busy lately, you've no time for me." Omkara complains to Gauri one day as he hungrily kissed her.

"What? I see you everyday." Gauri replies against his lip in shock.

"Only in college and then when we go and come from college." Omkara tells her as he frowned at her.

"That I am busy with di." Gauri lies.

"Busy with what?"

"Erm... Di and I am watching Game of Thrones. You know the sequel... actually prequel is out. So, we need to watch that before we watch the prequel."

Omkara looks at her confused. "Shouldn't you be watching the prequel first?"

"Erm..." Gauri looks at him confused. "We want to watch it in the order it is out. So, I am busy as we have to finish it before I go back home."

"Hmmm."

"Let's go. We are getting late for college." Gauri tells him as she turned to walk out of his flat.

"Gauri..." Omkara gently calls her.

"Yeah?" Gauri turns to him.

"Exam is nearing, please study." Omkara tells her.

"I will." Gauri quickly promises and turns to leave, so that he doesn't talk much on it and ruin her surprise.

"And... do make time for me, I miss you, love." Omkara gently tells her.

Gauri turns to him and smiles hearing him. She leans up and kisses him hard. "You are my biggest distraction in my mission."

"Mission?" Omkara asks chuckling. "Are you living, breathing, game of thrones?"

Gauri chuckles and walks off.

******

"Hey Gauri." Ridhima calls her as she sat next to Gauri in class along with Ishana.

Gauri curiously looks up at her. "Hey Ridhima... what's up?" Gauri asks smiling.

"Is it true?" Ridhima asks her in an excited whisper.

"What?" Gauri asks confused.

"That you and Professor Oberoi are dating."

Gauri grins hearing that and blushing slightly, she confirms. "We love each other."

"Oh my God!" Ridhima shouts in shock.

Gauri chuckles hearing that.

"But he used to scream at you always." Ishana tells her shocked.

"Not anymore." Gauri smugly replies.

"But you and him." Ishana says shocked. "He is so serious."

"But he is so hot." Ridhima dreamily says.

"He is mine." Gauri tells her good-naturedly smiling.

Ridhima chuckles hearing that. "I can't imagine him as a boyfriend. He is so strict."

"He is fun." Gauri tells her. Then seeing them not convinced, she says, "Ask Bhavya. And he is not strict like before, right?"

"And we have you to thank?" Ridhima cheekily asks her.

Gauri smugly nods.

*********

Few days after that, Gauri left for her house when her mother got back and she got busy with her studies. She met Omkara in college and spent every free time she got to study.

The day the exams got over, Gauri was free while Omkara got busy with the paper evaluations.

Omkara was walking to the staff room when Gauri catches up with him.

"Now I am free, you are so busy." Gauri complains to him.

"I'm busy with correcting papers not watching game of thrones." Omkara replies cheekily.

"When will you finish?"

"Almost done. Will finish by tonight."

"Corrected my paper?" Gauri asks nervously.

Omkara looks at her surprised as she had never asked him before whether he corrected her papers. "Tonight. Kept it for last." Omkara tells her, because even he was a little nervous about correcting her paper, fearing that she would not pass once again.

Gauri nods taking a deep breath. Then she asks him excitedly. "So, tomorrow, after class I'll come to your place?"

Omkara grins hearing that. "Yeah... wait, when do I get to meet your parents?" Omkara asks her.

"Let's see. I am not sure whether I should tell them first or we should do it together."

"We should do it together."

"Hmmm... let me see. I will ask di 's opinion also."

"Okay." Omkara nods then hearing the bell he tells her, "Go, you'll get late otherwise."

"Only you throw students out of the class because they are one minute late." Gauri rolls her eyes cheekily and walks off making Omkara chuckle.

Omkara continues to walk to the staff room when he hears two students whispering. "What's up with them?"

"Ridhima said they are dating. Gauri told her it seems."

"But didn't Gauri hate him?"

Omkara grins hearing that and was about to walk off when he hears the other reply. "That is what even I was wondering. Who knows, maybe Gauri is just trying to pass for her exams. You know, acting as if she is interested in him."

Omkara stops in shock and turns to the students behind him furiously. Noticing that he caught them, they quickly hurries off. Pissed, Omkara walks off, wanting so badly to punch those students for degrading Gauri like that.

********

The moment, he saw the handwriting, he knew it was Gauri's. Heart slamming against his chest, Omkara takes the answer paper.

"Please pass, Gauri." Omkara prays then taking a deep breath, he starts reading what she had written.

Omkara frowns as he turned the pages again and again and checked. He keeps the answer sheets aside and looks through the rest of the sheets. That was Gauri's handwriting. He wouldn't make a mistake in that. He looks through the bunch of papers and then he picks the one he knew was Gauri's and stares in shock. 84 out of 100.

As he stared in shock, trying to make heads or tails of it, the student's voice resonated in his brains.

To pass for exams. Acting as if interested in him.

*********

"Hey!" Gauri excitedly says as she ran to Omkara in the college parking lot. "Why did you ask me to meet you here so early?" Gauri asks as she hugged him.

Omkara steps back from her as he accusingly looked at her.

"What happened?" Gauri asks him confused.

"This..." Omkara extends her answer sheets.

"Is that my paper?" Gauri asks excitedly then she looks at him and seeing his expression, her smile drops and her heart skips a beat. she asks him "I failed?"

Omkara scoffs loudly as he extended her the answer paper.

Gauri takes the paper and checks her mark. Seeing her marks, she squeals in excitement. "I can't believe that I got so much marks. You know, I have never got this high marks." Gauri excitedly says as she turned the paper to check.

"The highest that you've got is what... 9?" Omkara asks her.

"Yeah." Gauri replies and looks at him, and seeing his expression, she asks him, confused. "Aren't you happy?"

"How did you get this mark, Gauri?"

"I studied, Omkara. Like I promised you. Why are you asking me that?" Gauri asks him confused.

"You studied?" Omkara scoffs.

"I did, Omkara." Gauri tells him shocked. "Do you think I copied?"

"The day I told you I finished setting the question paper, you had come to my flat. Why did you come?" Omkara asks her, his eyes filling up.

"To see you, why else would I come?" Gauri asks him shocked.

"You went to my room and left right after that. You were shivering."

"What?" Gauri asks shocked, trying to recollect the incident.

"I closed the bedroom door and you got scared about love making." Omkara reminds her.

"I don't want to make love before marriage, Omkara." Gauri tells him softly.

"Or where you there to steal the question paper?"

"What?" Gauri shouts in shock.

"You had asked me to tell you the questions for the exam."

"That I was just joking." Gauri argues in shock.

"Was this all to pass?" Omkara asks her, blinking away his tears.

"What all?" Gauri asks hurt, her eyes filling up.

"Do you love me? Or are you acting?"

"You think I am acting?" Gauri asks her heart breaking, and tears falling down her face.

"You used to hate me, Gauri." Omkara says in pain. "How did you suddenly start loving me? I should have known."

"What are you say, Omkara?" Gauri asks him hurt. "I love you."

"Why did you come that day, Gauri?"

"To see you, Omkara. Why else would I come?" Gauri argues hurt. "You think my love is an act?"

"You keep procrastinating when I talk about meeting your parents."

"They were not here."

"Ever since the night I set the question paper, you've been avoiding me, Gauri." Omkara accuses her.

"I was studying!" Gauri angrily tells him. "I promised you I will pass, so I was studying."

"Or you got what you needed so you didn't have to continue being with me?"

"I was with you! I am always with you!"

Omkara shakes his head. "Not like before that night. I've to report you, Gauri."

"What?" Gauri asks in shocked whisper.

"I've to inform the Principal everything. I don't care if they take action against me. I can't let this happen. It is unfair to other students who studied hard for their exams."

"I studied hard, Omkara. I swear I did. I didn't cheat." Gauri tells him crying. "I love you, Omkara. Please believe me."

"I don't believe you."

********

Gauri was in the Principal's room with Omkara.

"I didn't cheat." Gauri argues as she cried. She turns to look at Omkara helplessly, "Why won't you believe me?"

Omkara gulps as he looked away.

Gauri turns to the Principal and tells him helplessly. "I love him. I went to see him, I didn't steal the question paper."

Principal looks at Omkara confused, not knowing what to believe. Hearing the knock, he looks at the door.

His assistant pokes her head inside, "her parents' are here."

"Ask them to come." Principal tells her.

Gauri looks at Omkara in shock. "Why are you doing this?"

"I called them." Principal informs her.

The door opens and Harsh and Vasundhara walks in. Gauri turns to look at her parents and they glare at her angrily.

"Please sit." Principal says as he gestured to the seats.

Harsh and Vasundhara sits down shamed face, and noticing Omkara, they sigh embarrassed.

"This is Gauri's marks for her Economics exam." Principal says as he extended the answer sheets.

Harsh takes it and dreadfully looks at it. Seeing the marks he stops in shock. "She passed?" Harsh asks smiling happily.

"What?" Vasundhara asks shocked as she took the papers from him. "She passed!" Vasundhara exclaims in joy. "She passed!"

"Oh my God, never thought this day would come." Harsh says laughing happily as he turned to look at Gauri. He stops in shock and confusion. "If you passed why are you crying?"

"What happened, Gauri?" Vasundhara asks confused as she walked to Gauri. "We thought you failed like usual and that is why they called us. But you passed."

Gauri hugs her and bursts into loud tears.

"What happened, Gauri?" Vasundhara asks as she hugged her worriedly.

"Gauri..." Harsh quickly stands up then turning to Omkara, he asks, "What happened?"

"You know about your daughter's closeness with Professor Oberoi?" Principal asks him.

"Yeah, he is my son-in-law's friend. They are like family friends now." Harsh replies confused.

Principal looks at Omkara and Gauri awkwardly then he turns to look at Harsh.

"What is the problem?" Harsh asks.

"Seeing her marks, aren't you surprised?" Principal asks him.

"Of course, I am. She used to fail."

"Exactly."

"What?" Harsh asks confused. "What do you mean?"

"We think that she stole the question paper from Professor Oberoi's house." Principal tells him.

Harsh turns to Gauri in shock. "You cheated?"

"No, Papa. I didn't. I studied hard." Gauri tells him as she cried out. "I stayed up at night and studied."

"Stop crying, Gauri." Harsh sternly tells her.

"Sshh.... Calm down, Gauri." Vasundhara gently tells her.

Harsh turns to the Principal and Omkara tells them. "My daughter has very rarely passed for her exams. At times, we have had to beg her teachers to promote her to the next class. But never has she ever cheated. Gauri might be lazy but she is not a cheat. If she makes a mistake, she has always accepted the mistake, how ever big or small it is. So, if she says she didn't cheat then we believe her."

"She has been studying hard." Vasundhara tells them. "I've seen her study. She stopped going out and used to stay at home and study."

Omkara gulps in shock hearing that as he looked at Gauri in confusion.

"But how can you explain this mark?" Principal asks confused.

"We just explained!" Harsh furiously reminds him.

"Instead of congratulating her for her good work, you are accusing her?" Vasundhara asks him angrily.

Principal looks at Omkara for guidance.

Omkara looks at Gauri helplessly, unable to make up his mind.

Seeing his confusion, Gauri tells her parents sadly. "I love someone. He wanted me to pass for my exams. He was so heartbroken when I failed last time. I studied for him, so he would be proud of me like I am of him."

Omkara's heart breaks hearing that. His eyes fill up hearing that, realizing that Gauri had been telling him the truth. "I believe her." Omkara whispers in guilt as he stared at Gauri.

Gauri accusingly looks at him as she gulped her sob.

"I am sorry, Gauri." Omkara whispers as he started to walk towards her.

Hearing the door open, he stops and sees the HOD walk in.

"I've asked all the other Professors to correct her papers asap." Nayantara says.

Principal nods hearing that. "If she has really studied then she would definitely pass for those exams too."

Gauri worriedly looks at her parents and says, "I mostly studied for Economics. I won't get this mark for other papers."

"It doesn't matter." Harsh reassures her.

"It matters." Nayantara says. "She was a regular visitor to his house."

"She went there to meet them and have her meals. Not steal question papers!" Vasundhara furiously tells her.

"I was wrong. Gauri didn't cheat." Omkara regretfully says. "I shouldn't have accused her without any proof." Omkara says filled with regret, wanting to hug and console Gauri, ask for her forgiveness for accusing her like this.

"Proof is her marks." Nayantara says.

"All this while, you had issues when she failed her exams. And now, she has passed with good marks, you have issue with that too?" Harsh asks angrily.

"Nobody passes like this after failing miserably for so long." Nayantara says.

"Gauri worked hard for this marks." Omkara argues.

"You are the one who came with this suspicion." Nayantara reminds him.

"And it is cleared now. I was wrong and Gauri was right." Omkara argues.

"Your proof is she said she studied?"

"Yes." Omkara furiously replies.

Nayantara shakes her head.

"Anyway we will know when her other marks come. If she passes for those paper we can know that she didn't cheat for this exam." Principal says.

"Not this high marks." Nayantara argues.

"What do you want her to do? Write the exams again?" Vasundhara asks angrily.

"Yes."

"Are you serious?" Omkara asks her in shock.

"Very. Prepare a question paper fast. She will rewrite her exam now." Nayantara declares.

"Is that necessary?" Principal asks.

"it is. If one of the students complaints then we will be in trouble." Nayantara tells him.

Principal nods giving in. "Professor Oberoi..."

"No." Omkara replies sternly.

"What do you mean no?" Nayantara asks frowning.

"It means no. I trust Gauri and I will not do this to her." Omkara tells her.

"You are the one who accused her." Nayantara reminds him.

"I did and I was wrong!" Omkara furiously tells her. "So, I am not going to to continue making this mistake. I will not take her test."

"Fine. There are is one more Economics Professor in our college." Nayantara tells him.

"Do you have some enmity with my daughter?" Harsh asks her in shock.

"I don't. But it is our duty to make sure there is no cheating happens in the college. I find no joy in this." Nayantara tells him. "I am the HOD and it is my duty."

Harsh furiously turns to Gauri and then holding her in a loving way, he tells her gently. "Gauri, you've to write this exam. If not for anything else, then to shut their mouth. They are accusing you of cheating and you've to prove them wrong."

"Why should I, Papa? I studied for this mark." Gauri tells him sadly.

"I know, Gauri. It is wrong to ask you to prove your innocence but at times, we have to, so no more fingers raises on us." Vasundhara tells her.

"Will you do it?" Harsh asks her.

"Please don't, Gauri." Omkara requests her regretfully. Hearing him, Gauri looks at him. "It was my mistake. You don't have to take the punishment for it. I am so sorry."

Gauri looks at him for a few seconds then she turns to Harsh and nods. "I'll write, Papa."

"Gauri..." Omkara calls her as he started to walk to her. "Please don't do that."

"I've to." Gauri tells him as she wiped her tears.

Omkara helplessly looks at her, wanting to kill himself for the torture that Gauri had to go through because of him.

"I'll get the previous year's question paper. You can sit in the library and write the exam." Nayantara says.

Gauri looks at her then Omkara then she finally looks at her parents and says, "I used the last few years question papers to prepare for this exam."

Vasundhara turns to Nayantara and asks her, "So, if she gets more marks for this exam then that would be considered, right?"

"Whatever she gets for this exam. Yes." Nayantara agrees. "come with me, Gauri."

"You can leave. We will inform you the result." Principal tells them.

"We are staying." Harsh replies. "till she gets the result for this exam, we are staying."

*********

Omkara helplessly waited outside as Gauri rewrote her exam. The guilt for the pain he had caused Gauri was killing him. He had acted without thinking and now, Gauri was paying the price for it. He had accused her of faking her love for him when she did all this because she loved him.

Seeing her walk out, Omkara hurries to her. "Gauri..."

Gauri looks at him, then she walks by him as she walked to her parents.

Omkara guiltily watches her walk off.

********

Omkara looks at Gauri's mark sheet and sighs regretfully. She got the least for French, which she managed to scrape through with just 1 mark. Rest everything, she had scored between 50-60 marks. Fighting his tears, he walks to Gauri. Gauri looks up at him and he extends the mark sheet to her.

Gauri takes it and looks at it. As Omkara watched her, he sees a drop of tear falling on the paper. Then he sees her shaking as she gripped the piece of paper.

"Gauri..." Vasundhara gently holds her, Gauri quickly hugs her and cries.

"I'm so sorry, Gauri." Omkara tells her as he knelt down.

"Gauri, stop crying. Your Professor made a mistake and he is trying to apologize." Harsh gently tells her.

Omkara nervously looks at Harsh wondering whether he should correct him.

"Professor Oberoi, they are calling you inside." One peon informs him.

Omkara nods and looking at Gauri for a few seconds, he walks off.

*******

"Stop crying, Gauri. It is all going to be over soon." Vasundhara tells her.

"Yes, for the first time you passed for all the papers. We should party not cry like this." Harsh tells her as he gently caressed her hair.

Gauri sniffs as she tried to fight her tears.

Wanting to distract her, Harsh teasingly asks her, "By the way, you love someone and you never told us."

"Who is that boy, who managed to get our lazy and irresponsible daughter to want to be serious about her studies?" Vasundhara asks her. Then smiling at Harsh, she says, "We already love this wonder boy."

Hearing them, Gauri bursts out into tears as she broke down completely.

"Gauri... baby.... What happened?" Harsh asks shocked seeing her reaction. "Who is your boyfriend?"

"Oh my God..." Vasundhara whispers in shock as realization was quick. "You love your Professor Oberoi?"

Gauri nods as she cried.

"And he thought you cheated?" Harsh asks shocked and outraged.

"He thought I was acting as if I love him." Gauri tells them in anguish.

Harsh and Vasundhara look at each other, helpless and angry seeing their daughter's condition.

********

They walk into the Principal's room. They sit down while Gauri stood behind them. Omkara yearningly looks at her, hoping she would look at him. But Gauri was looking down.

"She got 96." Principal uncomfortably informs Harsh and Vasundhara as he passed them her answer sheets.

Harsh and Vasundhara accusingly looks at him.

"This mark will be recorded for her." Principal informs them.

"You can go to class, Gauri." Nayantara tells her.

"Class? You tortured our daughter for no fault of hers. Whole day the mental and emotional torture she went through, you expect her to go to class?" Harsh asks angrily.

"You can take her home. Anyway, only one more hour is left." Principal tells him.

"And you're going to mark her present for the full day." Harsh tells him angrily as he started to get up.

"We heard her Professor apologize to her, we didn't hear you both do that." Vasundhara tells them challengingly.

"What?" Nayantara asks in shock.

"You accused her of cheating and made her retake her exam. And she scored more marks and proved her innocence." Vasundhara points out to them.

"You are right. We are sorry, Gauri." Principal says.

"It's okay." Gauri replies.

Vasundhara pointedly looks at Nayantara. "We don't have whole day."

"Sorry." Nayantara mutters. "I was just doing my duty."

"You were torturing an innocent girl." Vasundhara reminds her.

"Innocent girl? You know about her relation with her professor?" Nayantara asks her.

Omkara turns to Gauri's parents in shock hearing that. This was not how they had wanted her parents to find out about them. He worriedly looks at Gauri and sees her staring at Nayantara in shock.

"So, that was your problem?" Harsh asks her in disbelief.

"There is no sanctity to teacher-student relation now." Nayantara says in disgust.

"My daughter loves someone." Harsh angrily tells her. "Her life, her love, her decision and her relation. Who are you or this management or this college to dictate who she loves?"

Nayantara looks at him in shock.

"You bloody stay out of her personal life. If you so much as hissed at her private life, then I am going to rain down on you like hell. And there won't be much left of you to do your so called "duties". Let's go, Gauri." Harsh warns furiously and gets up.

Holding Gauri's hand, they walk out.

******

Shivaay opens the door for Omkara. "Omkara!" Shivaay sighs uncomfortably.

"Is Gauri here?" Omkara asks him.

"No." Shivaay shakes his head in confusion.

Omkara sighs disappointed. "I thought she would come here." Omkara says in a disappointed whisper. He had hoped maybe that she would come here and they could talk.

"No, man. She is at her place." Shivaay says then noticing Anika furiously glaring at Omkara, he tries to joke. "I would have invited you in, but I am scared my wife would poison you."

Omkara humorlessly sighs as he looked at Anika. "Is she okay?"

"Why do you care?" Anika asks him angrily.

"I'm sorry, Anika. I don't know what I was thinking." Omkara regretfully tells her.

"She wanted to surprise you. She wanted you to be proud. And she worked her ass off. She pushed herself, for you. And you..." Anika stops as she looked away.

"Anika..." Shivaay gently calls her to calm her down.

"I thought you were perfect for her. Calm, mature and caring. But you hurt her the most." Anika accuses him. "God, she is an innocent girl. She says she hated you but she didn't even realize that hate is a strong emotion and she was only fed up with you. I thought you were mature enough to understand that. But you turned out to be the worst! Go away, Omkara."

*******

"Omkara is here to see you." Vasundhara informs Gauri.

"I don't want to see him." Gauri tells her as she sadly lay on the bed.

"You haven't done anything wrong then why are you hiding out here? Go and talk to him."

Gauri sadly gets up and walks out of the room.

She sees Omkara waiting for her in the living room. Seeing her, he hurries to her. "Gauri..."

"Why did you come here?" Gauri asks him without looking at his face.

"I am so sorry, Gauri. Please forgive me. I don't know what I was thinking. When you scored so much, I don't know why I thought you cheated. When these thoughts started, it wouldn't stop. I am so sorry, Gauri."

"I am not angry with you for thinking I cheated. I understand that." Gauri tells him as fresh tears filled her eyes. She wipes her tears and says, "You thought I was acting. You have so little trust in me and my love?"

"Gauri, it is not that... I heard these students talking." Omkara tells her about the conversation he had overheard. "And that time I knew they were wrong but that night when I corrected you papers, their words, it kept haunting me." Omkara helplessly explains to her.

Gauri shakes her head. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters, Gauri. We love each other." Omkara tells her as he held her hand.

Gauri shakes her head and frees her hands from him. "We jumped into this without thinking. This was wrong."

"Gauri, please don't say that." Omkara quickly holds her hand.

"We will just stay away from each other." Gauri tells him as she freed herself and walks off, not listening to his pleas.

**********

Omkara sighs helplessly as Gauri cut his call again. Sighing, he calls her again and she cuts his call again. Hearing a message notification, he sees that Gauri messaged him.

Please stop calling me. I don't want to talk.

Screaming in agony, Omkara furiously throws his phone away then screaming, he starts throwing whatever he could get his hands on.

*********

"She is not talking to me." Omkara helplessly tells Jhanvi.

"Did you listen to her when she asked you to?" Jhanvi gently asks him back.

Omkara regretfully sighs.

"Give her time. You know she loves you." Jhanvi tells him in a consoling way.

"Hmmm." Omkara nods. "I've to go to college." Omkara tells her as he started picking up the books from the floor.

"Okay... don't worry, everything will be fine." Jhanvi tells him and hangs up.

Omkara was keeping the old books when he notices a paper sticking out of it with a heart sign. Curious, he pulls it out. The page was filled with hearts.

You're my Honeybunch Sugarplum

Pumpy-umpy-umpkin

You're my sweetie pie

You're my Cuppycake

Gumdrop Snoogums-Boogums

You're the Apple of my Eye

And I love you so and I want you to know

That I'll always be right here

And I love to sing sweet songs to you

Because you are so dear

I love you, Omkara.

p.s you're my mutton biriyani too.

Omkara chuckles as he started crying. How like Gauri to write the cupcake song as a love letter.

Then he stops realizing that she had come that night to keep this letter, because she hadn't come into his bedroom before or after that night.

He falls on the ground as he broke down.

***********

She didn't come to class that day or the next few days. Since, she was still not in the mood to talk to him, he hadn't attempted to meet her. So, everyday, he hopefully went to college to meet her.

"Good morning."

Omkara looks up and sees one of his colleague. "Good morning."

"Your Gauri was in class today." He informs him as he walked to his table.

"She was?" Omkara asks surprised as he checked his timetable and realized that after next hour, he had Gauri's class.

"Yeah." He says as he sat down. "I hope her marks doesn't go back to what it was. She had done so well in the last exam."

Omkara nods as he stood up. The whole college pretty much knew, what all had happened.

He hurries to Gauri's class, eager to see her.

*********

She wasn't in class.

Omkara looks around for the third time and couldn't find Gauri amongst the students. He turns to Bhavya and asks her in confusion. "Gauri didn't come?"

"She did." Bhavya uncomfortably replies.

Omkara's heart skips realizing that she had decided to skip his class. "Where is she?"

"Library." Bhavya replies.

Omkara nods and starts taking the class though his mind was on Gauri. Ten minutes before the bell, he ends the class and hurries to the library.

He looks around the library and sees he slouching on the table, busy studying. He hurries to her.

"Gauri..." he softly calls her.

Gauri stills in shock and then she slowly looks up at him. Seeing him, her eyes fill up, even his.

He keeps the letter she had written for him. "I found it." Omkara tells her fighting his tears.

Gauri looks at the paper, it took her a while but she finally remembered that she had gone to keep this letter.

"I wanted to make you feel special." Gauri whispers as she read through the lines. "I was so silly." Gauri whispers realizing what a silly letter she had written.

"This means the world to me, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

Fighting her tears, Gauri gently pushes the letter back to him.

"Please stop punishing me." Omkara pleads her as he sat opposite to her.

"I'm not punishing you."

"You are avoiding me. You are not talking to me."

"I told you, we should stay away from each other." Gauri tells him.

"Please don't do this, Gauri. I know what I did was wrong, but please don't punish me like this." Omkara urges her.

"I am not punishing you. It is better that we end this."

"Why?"

"Tomorrow if I get good marks then again..."

"I won't, Gauri. I promise."

"What if, I accidentally see the question paper? I can't go through this again."

"Gauri, I will not misunderstand you again." Omkara swears to her.

"I can't trust you." Gauri tells him as she fought tears. "You will lose faith in my love again. I can't go through this pain again."

"Gauri... please don't say that." Omkara holds her hand seeing her get up.

"Please let me be, Professor Oberoi."

"Am I not your Omkara anymore?" Omkara asks her in shock.

Gauri shakes her head in negative and walks off.

*********

Gauri was studying when she gets a message from Omkara.

Gauri... I'll not trouble you in college but please don't skip my classes. You already have so many arrears to clear, please don't add more to it. Don't let what happened between us, affect your studies.

Gauri sighs seeing the message. She quickly messages him.

Okay.

Thank you. He replies.

********

Next day, she was in class. Omkara sighed in relief though, he could see that she was looking depressed and was looking weakly. Since, he promised not to disturb her, he didn't say anything to her.

*********

"Gauri, come and have dinner." Vasundhara tells her as she stood by the door.

"I'll have later, Mama." Gauri replies as she continues to study.

"You didn't have dinner yesterday also."

"I wasn't hungry."

"Have dinner now."

"I am not hungry, Mama. You keep it on the dining table, I'll have it later."

"You are full time studying." Vasundhara gently tells her.

Gauri looks at her and says, "I've lots to study."

"But you are stressing yourself." Vasundhara gently tells her worriedly.

Gauri looks at her mother for a few seconds then looking away, she says, "I just want to be busy."

"Then go out with your friends. Spend some time with them." Vasundhara gently tells her.

Gauri stops as she thought of Rudra and Bhavya, she couldn't imagine sitting with them and see them be so happy with each other, it would kill her. "I'll." Gauri lies.

Vasundhara sighs and starts to leave. "Don't forget to have dinner."

"Okay."

Morning, Vasundhara notices the food had been left untouched.

********

Omkara was walking to the classroom when he notices Gauri coming from the opposite side. Seeing her, he stops.

"You've my class now, right?" Omkara asks her curiously.

"I've to pay my fees. I was going for that. Today is the last day." Gauri tells him.

"Okay... pay and come fast." Omkara tells her and starts to walk to the class.

Gauri stops in confusion."But you don't let students in if they are late."

"That was before." Omkara tells her. "Come fast."

******

Omkara was in the middle of the lecture when Gauri comes back.

Seeing her waiting at the door, he says, "Come in, Gauri."

Gauri walks in and walks to her seat.

"Oh my, Professor Oberoi is letting a late comer in." Someone calls out jokingly.

There were a few chuckles while Omkara ignored the comment and was about to resume the class when Ajay says loudly. "That is because it is Gauri. If we come, we will be kicked out. Gauri gets special consideration."

Omkara stops hearing that. He looks at the class and there was an awkward silence. Omkara looks at Gauri, and sees that the comment had made Gauri uncomfortable and she was disturbed.

He turns to Ajay and furiously stares at him. Without taking out his eyes from him, Omkara says. "Everyone close your books."

Then he walks to the white board and starts writing questions on it. "Arjun, please go to the staff room and get papers from there." Omkara tells her.

Arjun gets up and asks confused. "Are we going to have a test?"

"Yes and it will be counted for your internals."

********

Omkara opens the door and stops in surprise seeing Shivaay. Ever since his break up with Gauri, Shivaay had been avoiding him.

"You look like shit." Shivaay says in shock.

"I feel like it." Omkara mutters as he walked back in.

Shivaay closes the door and follows him. "What happened?"

"I did something horrible." Omkara tells him filled with guilt.

"What happened?" Shivaay asks him as he sat next to him.

"I am losing it, Shivaay." Omkara helplessly tells him. "I am losing control over myself."

Shivaay curiously looks at him.

Omkara looks away and says. "Today, I misused my position as a teacher."

"How?" Shivaay asks confused.

Omkara explains what had happened. "I know I was wrong. I knew it then but all I could do was if I didn't put a stop to it then they might target Gauri again."

"Hmmm... you were wrong, Omkara. What are you going to do?"

"I should apologize to them for what I did but a part of me knows that if I do that then they would continue to do this. And I can't let Gauri go through that."

"One boy did that, Omkara. Not all the students." Shivaay points out.

"I know." Omkara helplessly sighs.

Shivaay looks at him thoughtfully. "What happened between you two, Omkara?" Shivery asks helplessly.

"I am trying to figure that out." Omkara says helplessly.

"The families knew each other and she is your student, because of that Gauri and you took your time before taking a decision right? Then what was the confusion?"

Omkara shrugs. "Some boys were gossiping and I let it get into my head."

They remained silent for a while then Omkara says reminiscing. "Gauri didn't ask me whether I love her, she had asked me whether I wanted her to be mine forever."

Shivaay nods.

"And that is the moment I realized how much I wanted her to be mine. That I wanted to belong to her and wanted her to belong to me. That is the moment I realized that I love her. And I forgot all that when I heard a gossip."

"You should sort it out with Gauri." Shivaay tells him. "She is also miserable. Full time studying. Anika was saying she doesn't eat much."

Omkara gulps hearing that. "She doesn't want to talk to me."

"I guess she needs time." Shivaay tells him patting on his shoulder as he got up and leaves.

******

Hearing his mobile ring, Omkara answers the call.

"Ma... "

"Om... what happened?" Jhanvi asks in concern.

Omkara sighs and helplessly tells her what had happened in class.

"You know, the students are going to keep a grudge on Gauri for this." Jhanvi tells him in shock.

Omkara's heart skips a beat hearing that. "What am I going to do, Ma? I feel like just taking a break from college."

"Do you want to run away?" Jhanvi asks him in shock.

"I feel like it, Ma. Without Gauri, I feel like I losing my grip on things."

"You haven't lost Gauri, Om." Jhanvi tells him.

"She doesn't even talk to me."

Jhanvi sighs and says, "I am not supposed to tell you this."

"What?" Omkara asks confused.

"Gauri had called me. She said that you were upset and that I should call you."

"She did?" Omkara asks surprised.

"She did." Jhanvi smiles hearing his joy.

"Shivaay came today." Omkara whispers in surprise. "Gauri called him too?"

"I don't know... maybe." Jhanvi replies.

"I think she did." Omkara smiles.

"So, see, nothing is lost. You just be a little patient and let Gauri take her time and decide."

*********

"Hi..." Omkara says as he noticed Gauri.

Gauri stops in surprise noticing Omkara. They rarely talked to each other now.

"Thanks for sending Shivaay and calling Ma." Omkara tells her smiling.

Gauri stops in shock hearing that. "That.."

"You don't have to explain." Omkara tells her. "I understand. You still love me but you have reservations. Take your time. I'll wait."

********

"Professor Oberoi, did you correct the papers?" Ridhima asks him.

Omkara looks at Gauri and sees her anxious. He looks back at the class and says regretfully, "I am sorry. I misplaced your answer papers."

He could see the relief on many students' face.

"Next monday, we can have a retest. Modules 4 and 5." Omkara says.

********

"How is everything going, Gauri?" Harsh asks Gauri conversationally as they sat down for dinner.

Gauri looks at her father and smiles softly. "All good, Papa."

"How is Bhavya and Rudra?" Vasundhara asks. "They haven't come over in a long while."

"They are fine... I see them in college." Gauri replies as she took a roti and started eating.

"You should invite them home someday."

Gauri nods.

Harsh and Vasundhara look at each other seeing Gauri's silence.

Hearing the chair scrapping sound, they both look up and sees Gauri getting up.

"You are done?" Vasundhara asks shocked seeing the half roti left on the plate.

"I'm full." Gauri tells her and leaves the table.

Harsh and Vasundhara sighs sadly.

*******

Later that evening, Harsh and Vasundhara visited Anika.

"Gauri is so silent now. Very reserved." Vasundhara tells her sadly.

"I know, she doesn't talk to me also much." Anika says worriedly. "Always busy studying."

"It is like she doesn't want to think about anything else, so she keeps herself engrossed with her studies." Vasundhara tells her.

Anika sadly sighs.

"We were thinking that Gauri needs a change. So, we are considering sending her to your Bua for a few days." Harsh tells her.

"What?" Anika asks in shock.

"She likes it there. Always wants to visit her for vacation. So, maybe it will change her mood."

"Papa..." Anika starts reasoning with him. "I'm so mad at Omkara. I feel like hitting him for what happened. But the moment Gauri and he sorts out their issue, he is going to be my dear friend again."

"Seriously?" Shivaay asks exasperated.

"Yeah, I am mad at him because Gauri is hurt." Anika tells him.

"Anika, what are you saying? You think Gauri and Omkara will get back together? Gauri was really hurt after what he did." Harsh asks confused. "And it's been a month or so."

"They love each other, Papa. And I have seen how happy they were with each other. Omkara was so good with Gauri." Anika tells them.

"Then why haven't they solved it?" Vasundhara asks confused.

"Gauri is not talking to Omkara and here, my husband told Omkara to give Gauri space and time." Anika says glaring at Shivaay.

"Time and space?" Harsh asks shocked. "So, they don't talk and just procrastinate the issue?"

Shivaay awkwardly looks at everyone. "Omkara said Gauri wasn't ready to talk to him... so, I thought..." Shivaay ends with a shrug.

Harsh shakes his head in exasperation. "We should get them to talk to each other."

"How?"

*******

"But di's birthday is in three weeks." Gauri says confused.

"Shivaay wants to throw a surprise party for her. He says he is going to be out of town that time." Vasundhara tells her.

"But..." Gauri looks at her confused.

"We've to go in the evening." Vasundhara tells her and leaves.

******

"I don't think Anika would want me there." Omkara tells Shivaay.

"Come on, you are our friend." Shivaay tells him.

"I really don't think, Anika would be happy to see me. Specially when Gauri and their parents are there."

"I don't want to hear all that. You are coming and that is it!" Shivaay tells him and hurriedly leaves.

*********

There were very few people for the party. Omkara noticed Anika's family, Shivaay's parents and their very close friends. Omkara watches Gauri as she stood by her sister's side, silently.

After the cake was cut, Omkara watched as Gauri went into the guest bedroom. Omkara sighs seeing that.

"My daughter was not like this." Harsh tells him as he stood next to him.

Omkara turns to Harsh and guiltily looks at him.

"If there is a party, she would be in the middle of it." Harsh says. "Now, she prefers to stay alone."

"I didn't want any of this to happen." Omkara tells him.

"But you are not doing anything to change it." Harsh accuses him.

"I don't know what to do." Omkara helplessly tells him.

"Don't you love her?"

"I do."

"Then go and talk to her."

"She asked me to give her space."

"So, you would let her be miserable?" Harsh asks him angrily.

"No." Omkara whispers.

"Then go and talk to her. Sort out the issues between you both." Harsh orders him.

Omkara nods and starts to walk to them room when Harsh holds his hand. Omkara turns to him curiously.

"One more time you hurt my daughter, I'll kill you."

Omkara nods then he couldn't help the smile that escaped his lips.

********

Hearing the door open, Gauri curiously looks up from her book. Seeing Omkara she stands up in shock.

"What are you doing here?" Gauri asks him.

"I came to talk to you, Gauri." Omkara tells her as he walked to her.

"There isn't anything to talk about." Gauri tells him sadly.

"I know what I did was wrong but is it so unforgivable, Gauri?" Omkara asks her sadly.

Gauri looks down sadly.

"I know you still love me, Gauri. And I love you too. Can't you please forgive me?" Omkara asks her.

"How could you think that I was acting?" Gauri asks him her eyes filling up.

"I don't know." Omkara says helplessly. "When I heard those boys and like they said when you scored so well for your exams, I couldn't help think of it. Then I remembered how you used to hate me, and I think I just go insecure. You are such a fun and vibrant person and I am a boring lecturer, I couldn't help wonder how you could love me."

"Because in my eyes, you were the best." Gauri tells him angrily as her tears spilled.

"I'm sorry, Gauri. I got insecure and I got so confused." Omkara tells her as he cupped her faces. "Please forgive me, Gauri."

"You broke my heart." Gauri complains to him as she broke into tears.

"I am so sorry, love."

Hearing him, Gauri hugs him and cries.

"Please don't cry, Gauri." Omkara pleads her.

"If I hadn't hid from you about studying then you wouldn't have misunderstood." Gauri laments.

"You wanted to surprise me."

"And I shocked you instead." Gauri wails.

Hearing her, Omkara bursts out laughing.

Gauri stops in shock hearing him laugh. "You are laughing?" Gauri asks angrily as she wiped her tears.

"You are so funny, honey." Omkara tells her still laughing.

"Get lost!" Gauri says angrily as she pushed him and walked out of the room.

Gauri opens the door and stops in shock seeing her family curiously outside the door and Jhanvi also with them.

"Ma? When did you come?" Gauri asks surprised.

"Ma?" Omkara asks curiously as he followed Gauri out. "When did you come?" Omkara asks shocked seeing her there.

"That is what I asked!" Gauri points out to him. "You are so dumb, how are you my professor?"

Omkara rolls his eyes.

"I see, you guys are fine now." Harsh asks.

"Yes." Omkara replies grinning.

"You all planned this?" Gauri asks shocked.

"We had to do something." Vasundhara says.

"Even you?" Omkara asks Jhanvi.

"Harsh and Jhanvi called me told me what they were planning. So, I thought even I will come." Jhanvi tells them smiling.

Omkara and Gauri smiles hearing that.

Harsh walks to them and tells them gently. "Jhanvi was talking about your marriage. But I told her, it is both your decision. If you two feel that you both need time to get married then take your time. There is no hurry."

Gauri and Omkara nods hearing that.

"You both might have lots to talk about, you guys talk." Anika tells them then turning to Omkara, she warns him. "If you do anything stupid again, I'll slap you senseless."

Omkara grins hearing that. "I've wisened up."

"Good."

Everyone starts to move away, when Harsh warns Omkara. "Remember what I told you?"

"Yes." Omkara replies with a smile.

Harsh nods and smiling he also walks away.

"So, what do you think?" Omkara asks Gauri. "You are still studying... but I don't think that would be a problem in marriage..." Omkara starts as he turned to Gauri. He stops seeing Gauri staring ahead, lost in thoughts. "Gauri, what do you think?"

"What?" Gauri asks confused.

"About marriage."

"You know what?" Gauri asks him.

"What?" Omkara asks curiously.

"I'm hungry." Gauri tells him as she turned to stare ahead again.

Omkara follows her gaze and sees that she was looking at the food counter.

"I'm starving." Gauri tells him as she walked off to the food counter.

Omkara follows her to the food counter and smiles seeing Gauri stuffing her mouth with food. Finally, his Gauri was back.

*******

A year later

"I love you." Omkara sighs as he hugged Gauri and pulled her close to him.

Gauri hugs him and says, "I'm hungry."

"So fast?" Omkara asks with a sexy smile as he rolled over and gently nibbled on her lips.

"Omkara... I'm very hungry." Gauri tells him as she kissed him.

Omkara leans up and asks confused. "Not for me?"

Gauri looks at him in shock. "Erm for food."

Omkara sighs with a loud groan.

"After that for you." Gauri quickly tries to appease him.

Omkara gives her an exasperated look.

"I need energy, right?"

Omkara shakes his head as he sat up. "Come, lets go find something for you to eat."

"I'll go by myself."

"First night and leave my wife alone for even a second?" Omkara asks her.

Grinning Gauri sits up and asks, "Or you want to make sure that I don't get distracted with all the food in the kitchen and not come back fast?"

Omkara chuckles as he picked his kurta pants and shook off all the flower petals. He wore his pant and starts looking for his kurta.

"Let's go." Gauri tells him.

"I can't find my..." Omkara stops seeing her wearing just his kurta.

"What? I am not going to wear my wedding dress to go to kitchen." Gauri tells him shaking her head and walks off.

Omkara sighs as he watched Gauri ransacked the kitchen as she ate the banana.

"What are you looking for?" Omkara asks her.

"That fried rice was nice. Where do you think Ma kept it?" Gauri asks as she poked her head inside the fridge.

"The fridge was full and I heard her ask Anika whether she could keep a few stuff in their fridge." Omkara tells her.

Gauri groans loudly.

"What are you two..." Jhanvi stops in shock seeing both Gauri and Omkara partially dressed.

"Erm... Ma." Omkara awkwardly looks at her.

Jhanvi embarrassed looks away.

Oblivious Gauri, asks her curiously. "Ma, where is the fried rice?"

"Green container." Jhanvi says and quickly hurries off.

"Great!" Gauri says excitedly as she picked it up. "You want som...?" Gauri stops realizing Jhanvi already left.

"Hurry." Omkara whispers to her.

"What happe..." Gauri gasps and asks in shock. "Do you think Ma understood we came to snack in between sex?"

"Just know this, Gauri. If a burglar comes into our house, Ma is not going to come out of her room and check, because she would be terrified that she would find us instead."

*** The End ***

I know the story was a going haywire after a point, I've been writing this story for almost 3 weeks now, and at some point, I kind of lost interest in the story. I guess it shows in the story. Very sorry about that.

The reason, why they got married while Gauri was still studying was because the other two Professor-Student stories, they were married while Gauri was still his student, so thought to keep it like that.

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- Lazy