Hello everyone

How are you all?

Thanks to all for voting and commenting on the previous part. The Office (Posted on 30- Nov - 2022)

I have decided to take a break from writing as lately I am not able to write much.

Another thing I wanted to inform you all is.

There is this book called My Possessive Husband by Bhavana Singh. Someone had told me this, but that time I didn't realize it, but after reading the book, I realize that there are a lot of similarities between that book and my story Tere Liye.

Like in my story, Omkara lies to Gauri that he loves her to get out of marrying Ridhima while in the book, the hero lies for a bet.

Omkara leaves his home for Gauri while she hasn't forgiven him, the hero also leaves his home for the heroine though they are married in that, and she forgives him after he leaves his home for her.

Omkara and Gauri move into an apartment, and Omkara's cards are blocked and he sells his watch for immediate expense. Same in the books.

Omkara enrolls Gauri for evening school. Hero decides that the heroine should pursue her studies rather than work to manage expenses.

Omkara meets with an accident. His leg is fractured while in the book, hero falls into a coma.

Seeing the heroine's love for the hero, the girl is accepted by the family and something similar happens in the book.

I just want to clarify to all that my story is not inspired from that book, I read that book only like last week. My story was written way back in September 2021 and according to amazon, the book was published on July 28, 2022.

"Ta... tara... hmm...hmmm...tara... taraaaaaa..." Gauri was softly humming, lost in the world of music when a commotion breaks her concentration.

Curious, Gauri opens her eyes as she removed the earphones from her ears and looks to the head of the class.

Shivaay, Rudra and the other boys were bullying the class outcast, Omkara. They were pushing him around and throwing his books and stuff around while they all laughed.

Gauri watches in shock as everyone just looked on mildly amused.

Omkara was not like the rest of the class. He was the son of working class parent. He was one of the first student of the initiative of the school management. Free education for one student per year who was a brilliant student but from an under privilege background.

Omkara had joined last year in 11th and he didn't have much of friends because everyone looked down on him and the many hated him because he was the class topper who surpassed all the privileged students, bruising their egos and superiority complex.

Having enough, Gauri furiously keeps her iPod on the table and walks to the boys. "STOP IT!"

Hearing her furious shout, everyone curiously looks at her. The boys stopping, momentarily distracted from humiliating Omkara.

"What is wrong with you all? Can't you all leave him alone?" Gauri asks as she helped Omkara up.

"Relax, Gauri. It is just fun." Rudra tells her, feeling embarrassed for having screamed at in front of the class.

"This is no fun." Gauri furiously tells him as she bend down and started picking up Omkara's stuff.

Omkara reeling from the shock of having someone stand up for him, for the first time in school, just stares at Gauri.

"We were just joking." Shivaay tells her.

"Do you see him laughing?" Gauri asks him.

"Relax, Gauri. There is no harm done."

"You guys leave him alone." Gauri furiously tells him. "I am sick and tired of you guys picking on him. If you trouble him once more, then I will break your bloody nose." Gauri warns them.

Taking Omkara's hand, Gauri walks to his seat. She dumps his stuff on his desk.

Omkara watches her in shock. Unable to comprehend what was happening around him.

"You okay?" Gauri asks him.

Omkara nods in yes.

"Good." Gauri nods and tells him in a pissed tone. "Now, stop being a bloody chicken!"

Omkara stares at Gauri in astonishment as she walked off to her seat and putting her ear phones in her ears, she starts listening to music.

********

Next day, Gauri gets into the school bus from her stop. She walks to her usual seat, third row, next to the window. That was her usual seat, as her stop is one of the earlier stops and when she boards the bus, there would be hardly about 8-10 kids.

Gauri was about to sit when she notices an envelope kept on her seat. On the envelope, with Gauri on top. It was not written but rather each alphabet was cut out from magazines, with hearts all over it. Curious, Gauri opens the letter and sees big cut out letters of, I LOVE YOU, GAURI.

Gauri's heart skips a beat, and she looks around the bus to see who it was from. Some were busy chatting, some sleeping and Omkara as usual studying.

Gauri turns back to look at the letter, and she couldn't help the blush and smile. She gently runs her hand over the letter. Then closing the letter, she puts it inside her bag as she wondered who it could be from.

********

The rest of the day, Gauri was curiously looking out to find who was behaving differently with her. But she couldn't find anything out of the ordinary. The whole day, her mind had been filled with this person. This was not the first time someone had told her that he loved her. Many guys had proposed her from her class, seniors and even one junior once, but she never felt anything for them. This guy, it kind of felt special because no one has done anything romantic like this. And with this romantic gesture, he had caught her attention.

She wanted to find him.

********

Next day, Gauri got on the bus and in anticipation walks to her seat. She sees an envelope on her seat. Excited, she takes it as she looked around. Nothing out of ordinary. She sits down, and opens the letter.

You mean the world to me, Gauri.

But she couldn't hide her smile.

She again looks around. And just as she looked at Omkara, he looks up from his book at her.

Gauri waves at him. Confused and awkward, Omkara waves at her.

Gauri gets up and walks to him while he watched her nervously.

"Hi." Gauri says as she stopped next to him.

"Hi." Omkara replies.

"Did you see who kept this on my seat?" Gauri asks him as she waved the letter for him.

"No." Omkara replies.

Gauri sighs disappointed.

"Do you know who gets on the bus first?" Gauri asks him.

"Erm me."

"You?" Gauri asks excitedly.

"Yes."

"So, tomorrow can you keep an eye on my seat? See if anyone goes near my seat and keep anything?"

Omkara nods unsurely.

"Thanks." Gauri says and walks back to her seat while Omkara simply watched her.

********

Next day, Gauri gets on her bus and stops in confusion as there was no letter. Confused she looks at Omkara and sees him watching her.

Gauri walks to him.

"I didn't see anyone particular go to your seat."

Gauri nods. "I know." Gauri says disappointed.

"Pretty much everyone has to walk past your seat." Omkara tells her. "Most of them prefer to sit at the back. Then those guys always sit in the seat behind you."

Gauri curiously looks at the boys and they were her juniors.

Gauri sighs disappointed wondering why there was no letter for her today. "Anyway, thanks." Gauri says as she walked off to her seat, wondering why there was no letter.

********

Gauri sits on her seat and open her desk. She stops in shock seeing a letter inside her desk. Excited and surprised, she opens the letter.

Keeping spies... huh?

Find me if you can.

Love you.

This time, it wasn't all big letters, there were small magazine size font letters too.

Was he running out of magazines?

Gauri laughs feeling excited. She realized why she didn't get the letter in bus because somehow he found out that she had asked Omkara to keep an eye for her.

Smiling, Gauri reads the lines again. "Challenge accepted." Gauri says softly.

********

Next day, Gauri wasn't expecting to find a letter in the bus and she didn't. She opens her desk excitedly and sees there was no letter. Gauri sighs feeling excitement in anticipation of when and where she was going to find his letter.

Later, during free hour, Gauri goes to the library to work on her assignment.

After getting the reference book, Gauri walks back to the seat where she had been sitting.

She opens her bag to take out her notebook and the first thing she notices is the letter. Excited Gauri opens the letter. The first thing she noticed was that it was a print out and not alphabet cut outs.

Did he run out magazines? Or did he run out of patience?

Gauri reads the letter.

I see your eyes looking around for mine.

Know this, my love, just like you even I wait in anticipation for your eyes to lock with mine.

Gauri excitedly looks around and her eyes lock with Omkara's.

Seeing Omkara, Gauri excitedly gets up and hurries to him.

"Did you see who kept this for me?" Gauri asks him, waving the letter to him.

Omkara shakes his head in negative. "I just got in here now."

Gauri sighs disappointed as she looked around. She couldn't find a familiar face.

"Who are you looking for?" Omkara asks her.

"I don't know." Gauri says sadly.

Gauri turns to look at Omkara and sees him watching her. Excitedly, she sits next to him.

Omkara nervously looks at her. For a second he was scared that she would be able to read what is in his heart from his eyes.

"Someone is leaving these notes for me." Gauri tells him as she picked up the letters from her bag.

"And you think it is me?" Omkara asks shocked.

"That is not your style." Gauri brushes it off.

"My style?" Omkara asks shocked. He had a style? How? When? Where?

"You are always into your studies." Gauri tells him.

"Ah."

"And these letters reek of confidence." Gauri hesitantly says.

"Oh." Omkara awkwardly says.

"I've only seen you confident when we get our marks." Gauri explains seeing that he felt awkward.

Omkara nods.

"Here, see." Gauri tells him as she extended the letters to him.

Curious Omkara picks up the letters.

"These two I found in the bus. This one in my desk. And this one now inside my bag." Gauri explains to him.

Omkara nods as he read the letters, his heart slamming against his chest.

"Will you help me find him?" Gauri asks him excitedly.

"Me? How can I help?" Omkara asks shocked.

"Help me find him." Gauri requests him sweetly.

"Why won't you ask your friends for help?" Omkara asks confused.

"I don't know who it is. So, I could be asking him for help and what if he is the one and mislead me?" Gauri asks him.

"What about your girl friends?"

"They will tease me." Gauri tells him feeling disappointed.

"Hmmm."

"You help me then I'll be your partner for graduation dance." Gauri promises him.

"What makes you think I've no dance partner?" Omkara asks shocked.

"It's you." Gauri says rolling her eyes.

"You don't have a good opinion of me." Omkara says as he looked away, feeling his heart break.

"Nah... not much." Gauri says. "You never bothered to make any friends here."

"What?" Omkara asks shocked.

"You are always by yourself. Never bothered to talk to any of us."

"I didn't think you all would want to talk to me." Omkara tells her shocked.

"So, judgmental." Gauri mutters.

"You know how the guys are with me." Omkara says softly.

"Not all. A few." Gauri points out. "You just judged that everyone is going to judge you. So, never made any effort to make friends. And there are not only guys, but girls too in our class. Who are genuinely nice people."

"They never bothered to talk to me." Omkara reminds her.

"And you didn't bother to talk to them. So, don't make any accusations." Gauri tells him.

Omkara sighs as he looked away thoughtfully wondering whether he went wrong in assuming that nobody would want to be his friend because he was poor.

"You never bothered to make a friend. And you expect me to believe that you bothered to find a dance partner?" Gauri asks him.

"I found you." Omkara tells her cheekily smiling.

"I found you." Gauri corrects him.

Omkara chuckles.

"So, we are a team now?" Gauri asks him excitedly.

'"Yeah."

"Great."

********

"I got another one." Gauri tells Omkara as she ran to him in bus. "This came in post."

Omkara curiously takes the letter.

Found a partner?

Interesting.

I'll let you in on a secret. I've partnersssssssss.

Good luck, baby.

"I've to find him!" Gauri declares as she sat next to Omkara.

"He is popular." Omkara declares.

"How can you tell that?" Gauri asks shocked.

"So many s. That means, he has lot of friends to help him around to deliver his letters."

"He could be lying." Gauri points out. "He himself could be delivering the letters."

"Possible." Omkara nods.

"Hmmm." Gauri thoughtfully shakes her head. "He is challenging me, Omkara. I've to win this."

"And what?" Omkara asks her softly.

"And?" Gauri asks confused.

"What happens after you find him?" Omkara asks her, his heart beating fast.

"I don't know." Gauri replies with a confused shrug.

"Would it matter?"

"Would what matter?"

"Who it is when you find him?" Omkara asks her curiously.

Gauri was silent for a few seconds as she thought about it. "It would, right?" Gauri thoughtfully asks him. "It will all depend on who he is."

Omkara nods hearing that.

"Before I forget, I don't have your number. Yesterday when I got the letter, I wanted to inform you and realized I don't have your number." Gauri tells him as she took her phone to save his number.

********

"Where are you?" Gauri asks as soon as Omkara answers the call.

"DTP center."

"Okay, I'm coming."

Gauri walks into the DTP center and looks at the students who were waiting to find Omkara.

"Gauri!" Omkara calls her from inside the counter.

Surprised Gauri walks to him. Omkara opens the door for her to get inside.

"How come you are inside?" Gauri asks confused.

"I work here during break time." Omkara tells her as he walked to the photocopier and started working.

"Oh. I didn't know that." Gauri tells him. "Why didn't you tell me?" Gauri asks as she realized something.

"I make pocket money from this. What is there to tell?" Omkara asks confused.

"What if he is taking print outs from here?" Gauri asks excitedly.

Omkara shakes his head in negative. "Only teachers come here to take print outs. And among the students, then it is me or those who want to get copies of someone else's notes. Everybody has printer at home."

Gauri sighs disappointed. "How do I find him?"

"We'll try."

Gauri shakes her head. "I feel like I am losing in some competition or game."

"What happened?" Omkara asks her.

"I got a letter." Gauri tells him as she handed the letter.

My darling Gauri,

You are determined to find me. I'm thinking we should have a deadline.

How about till the night before graduation day?

If you can't find me then I'll come in front of you before the graduation party.

Who knows, maybe I'll even be your dance partner ;)

As Omkara finished reading it, Gauri tells him. "No matter who it is or what happens, you'll be my dance partner Omkara. I promised you that and I don't break my promises."

Omkara looks at Gauri and awkwardly confesses. "I don't know to dance, Gauri."

"What?" Gauri asks in shock.

"I don't."

"No way!" Gauri says in shock.

Omkara gives her an embarrassed smile.

"My school graduation dance is one of the most important and memorable moments of my life. You can't ruin that." Gauri tells him freaking out.

"Gauri..." Omkara gently tells her with a sweet smile. "Your first day of college. Getting degree. First job. First salary. First kiss. Marriage. Baby. First wedding anniversary. 20th, 25th, 30th 40th birthday, parents' 50th birthday, 25th and 50th wedding anniversary. Those are the most important and memorable moments of your life."

"Right now, the big event of my life is graduation and graduation dance."

"what about board exam?" Omkara asks confused.

"Have been writing exams all my life." Gauri says in disgust. "You will not ruin my dance."

"You find another partner." Omkara gently tells her.

"No, you are going to learn to dance."

"What?" Omkara asks shocked.

"After class, you'll come to my house and we'll practice."

"You are not serious."

"I am dead serious." Gauri tells him. "Today you are getting down at my stop and we are going to my home."

********

Omkara nervously waited at the door with Gauri.

"Will your parents mind?" Omkara asks worriedly.

"Why should they?" Gauri asks confused then she warns him. "They will mind if you don't learn to dance properly."

Omkara couldn't help roll his eyes then he couldn't help smile. Gauri was so crazy but the most adorable one too.

Vasundhara opens the door and stops in surprise seeing Omkara. "You didn't tell me your friend was coming."

"This is Omkara, Mama. From now on, he will be coming with me." Gauri tells her as she walked in.

Vasundhara looks at her in confusion and surprise and then noticing that Omkara was still waiting at the door, she says, "Come in, Omkara."

Omkara politely smiles at her as he walked in.

"You two have some project together?" Vasundhara asks curiously as she closed the door.

"No, Mama." Gauri says as she dropped her bag on the couch and walked to the dining table. "Omkara is going to be my dance partner for graduation and can you believe that he doesn't know to dance?" Gauri asks scandalized as she opened the food cover to see what the cook made for snack.

Vasundhara rolls her eyes seeing Gauri's exaggeration then she tells her frowning. "Wash your hands before you touch the food, Gauri."

"My hands are neat, Mama." Gauri says as she showed her hand.

"Go wash your hands, Gauri." Vasundhara tells her. "Hygiene is not her fine quality." Vasundhara whispers to Omkara making him chuckle. "Come, Omkara. What will you have? Coffee? Tea?"

"No, Aunty. Just a glass of water."

"You sure?" Vasundhara asks him.

"Yes, Aunty." Omkara smiles at her, noting that Gauri was taken after her mother.

********

Gauri was an okay dancer. She could gracefully follow the steps that was on the video.

Somehow he had expected her to be an amazing dancer like the brilliant singer that she was.

"Got it?" Gauri asks Omkara as she paused the video.

"No."

Gauri growls.

"I'll try." Omkara nervously says.

"Okay." Gauri plays the song then she taps her foot as she picked the beats.

"Isn't it ball dancing for graduation?" Omkara asks nervously.

"Yeah. But it would be fun to do more." Gauri tells him dreamily. "Imagine, everyone watching us."

"Why would people watch us?" Omkara asks nervously.

"Because we would be amazing."

"Gauri, you said you didn't want me to embarrass you. You never said anything about being amazing." Omkara tells her shocked.

"Practice makes perfection." Gauri tells him in finality.

********

"ARRGH"

"Sorry.... Sorry." Omkara says as he jumped off Gauri's foot. He had two left foot.

"Gauri!" Vasundhara knocks on the door.

Glaring at Omkara, she hops to the door and open the door.

"Why are you screaming?" Vasundhara asks her confused.

"He is stomping on my foot." Gauri grumbles as she shook off the ache and walked back to Omkara.

"Can I watch?" Vasundhara asks eagerly.

Gauri nods and informs Omkara. "Mama watches all dance reality shows. Now, she considers herself a good judge of dancing."

"Oh." Omkara nervously looks at Vasundhara.

Vasundhara smiles seeing that as she sat down.

"Okay, lets start." Gauri says.

They did two steps and Omkara kicks Gauri again.

"My God!" Gauri screams.

"Sorry..."

"Gauri, why are making him do hard steps?" Vasundhara asks shocked.

"We are doing this dance."

"You know, he doesn't know to dance. Why are you expecting him to dance like Ranbir Kapoor?"

"She expects me to be Prabhu Deva." Omkara informs her.

Gauri glares while Vasundhara chuckles.

"Give him easy steps."

"We've to be amazing." Gauri tells her.

"It is just a dance, Gauri."

"Mama, it is one of the most important moments of my life." Gauri tells her shocked.

Vasundhara rolls her eyes. "5 years from now, you won't even remember your graduation day."

"Are you his mother?" Gauri asks shocked. "He says the same thing."

"Great minds think alike." Vasundhara smugly says making Omkara grin.

"Right now, in my life, my graduation is a big event that I am looking forward to. So, it is important for me." Gauri stubbornly says.

"Okay, lets practice." Omkara says realizing how important it is for Gauri.

"Gauri, first you teach him basic easy ball room dance." Vasundhara gently tells her.

"But Mama..."

"I know... you want amazing dance. So, first you teach him that. Once, he learns that, then it will be easy for him to pick up more complex steps." Vasundhara tells her.

Gauri thoughtfully nods.

"You've time. So, take it slow. Otherwise, one of you is going to end up with a broken leg. And my bet is on you."

********

"Psst... Omkara...."

Omkara curiously looks and sees Gauri leaning towards him. Omkara looks at the teacher and sees her busy writing on the board. He leans towards her and she passes him the note.

Omkara takes the note and reads it.

East or west?

Where is my seat?

Omkara looks at Gauri.

"Found it in my book." Gauri mouths to him.

Omkara nods and turns his attention back to the teacher noticing that she had finished writing on the board.

*******

"He is in our class." Gauri tells Omkara as she moved to him immediately after the teacher left.

"Or his friend." Omkara guesses. "He might be trying to mislead you because of the challenge."

"Hmmm." Gauri says thoughtfully then she tells him. "We haven't found a single clue, Omkara."

"We'll, Gauri."

********

After dance practice, Omkara sits on the floor tired. Gauri sits next to him.

"You're getting better. You didn't step on my foot today." Gauri tells him smiling.

Omkara smiles hearing that. Then sighing loudly, he lies back on the floor.

Gauri also lies next to him.

"You got a letter today?" Omkara asks her softly. He knew, she got it.

"How did you know?" Gauri asks softly.

"I saw you reading it."

Gauri grabs her school bag and takes the letter from it.

"It was on the floor of my desk." Gauri tells him as she hands it to him.

Yesterday, I was watching you during lab. Is it me or do you really have the most beautiful eyes in the universe?

There is no words to describe your beauty, Gauri.

Omkara looks at Gauri and sees her lost in thoughts.

"What happened?" Omkara asks her.

"What do you think of this?"

"This? What he has written?" Omkara asks her.

"Yeah."

Omkara turns to look at her and his heart skips a beat seeing her beautiful eyes looking at him.

"You've beautiful eyes."

"Is that all?"

"You've beautiful smile." Omkara says fighting the temptation to gently run his fingers over her lips.

"Is that all people see when they look at me?" Gauri asks sadly as she looked away.

Omkara shakes his head in negative but Gauri didn't see that.

"Beautiful eyes. Beautiful smile. Beautiful face. Stylish Gauri. Most popular girl. Doesn't people see anything beyond that? Am I that shallow?" Gauri asks softly.

"You're very beautiful, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

Gauri looks away sadly.

"You know which is the most beautiful feature of you?"

Gauri shrugs disinterestedly.

"Your heart." Omkara whispers as he looked at her with love.

Gauri turns to look at Omkara, her heart skipping a beat.

"You think so?" Gauri asks him in a soft whisper.

"Yes." Omkara replies. "You can be immature and stubborn but Gauri, you are all heart."

Gauri couldn't hold her smile and she smiles happily.

"Every time, I think of how you had fiercely protected me, I..." Omkara stops as he looked away.

"You what?" Gauri asks him softly.

"I feel so blessed to have you in my life. Blessed that you consider me your friend."

Gauri feels something and all hearing that. Then realizing that things were going weird, she says with fake shyness. "I'm not that awesome."

Omkara laughs hearing that making Gauri also happily laugh.

********

"How was practice today?" Vasundhara asks seeing Omkara and Gauri walking down.

"Good. He is improving." Gauri tells her happily.

Vasundhara smiles. "Harsh is home early. We'll be serving dinner soon. Omkara stay for dinner."

"It's okay, aunty... I was about to leave."

"Stay." Gauri tells him. "Lets watch TV till then." Gauri tells him as she dragged him.

********

"Who do we have here?" Harsh asks surprised to see a guest.

"This is Omkara. I told you, Gauri's dance partner." Vasundhara says as they sat for dinner.

"Oh yeah. How is the dance practice coming along?" Harsh asks curiously.

"Nice, uncle." Omkara politely says.

"Remember there was the circular from school about the scholarship for a bright student?" Vasundhara asks him.

Harsh nods as he listened.

"That is him." Vasundhara tells him excitedly. "And this Gauri, she told me only just now."

"Wow that is amazing, Omkara." Harsh says impressed.

Omkara smiles. "Thank you."

"So, what are your future plans, Omkara?" Harsh asks curiously "Engineering?"

"I want to be an architect, uncle."

"That is nice." Harsh says smiling. "Who all are there in your family?"

"My parents and I've a younger sister, Anika. Next year, we are hoping that even she will get this scholarship that I got."

"She also wants to be an architect?" Harsh asks.

"Doctor."

"Very good."

Omkara was amazed to see Gauri's parents treat him with love and respect. He had always assumed that the rich looked down on the poor. Gauri was right, he had been judgmental.

********

Gauri gets on the bus and walks to where Omkara was sitting and sits next to him.

"Hey."

"Hi." Omkara smiles as he closed his book and kept it inside his bag.

"Papa is so impressed with you." Gauri informs him.

"Really?" Omkara asks smiling happily.

"You two were talking and talking and talking." Gauri says making faces.

Omkara chuckles hearing that.

"You're set on being an architect?" Gauri asks him curiously.

"Yeah."

"I want to be a singer." Gauri tells him.

"You're an amazing singer."

"Thanks." Gauri says smiling. "I want to pursue singing. But Papa says that I should have some kind of degree so that I can have a back up in life."

"You're an amazing singer. It is going to take you places."

Gauri smiles hearing that.

"Letter?" Omkara asks Gauri as he noticed it in her hands.

"Forgot. It was in the mailbox." Gauri tells him as she handed it to Omkara.

Omkara reads the letter.

"No clue. Nothing to identify him." Gauri says disappointed.

"You're right actually." Omkara says thoughtfully.

"About what?" Gauri turns to him curiously.

"He could be from our class. He is not writing any letters. So, there is a possibility that you can identify his handwriting. So, it means, there is a high chance he is from our class only."

"Yeah, you're right." Gauri says smiling excitedly. "How many boys are there in our class?"

"18."

"So, we need to watch these boys."

"You need to watch your school bag." Omkara tells her rolling his eyes. 7 letters she got from her school bag only.

********

"I forgot to tell you." Gauri tells him as they stepped out of the bus.

"What?"

"It's my birthday this Sunday. Usually, we go somewhere but this time, it is 12th board exams and all. So, Papa said we are not going anywhere. He promised to take me somewhere for the vacation instead."

"Okay... nice."

"So, this time, I am going to have a birthday party. You're invited. Sunday 5 pm."

Omkara nods.

Seeing Shivaay's car stop near the school gates they look. Shivaay gets out of the driving seat and Rudra gets out of the passenger side. Shivaay hands the keys to his driver and walk towards the gate. Shivaay or Rudra always drove to school even though they didn't have a driver's license. Omkara always felt so inadequate seeing that.

"Hey Gauri." Shivaay says as he waved at her.

"Hey Gauri." Rudra also waves at her.

"Hey." Gauri waves back. "I'll tell them about the party. Come."

Omkara watched as Gauri spoke to Rudra and Shivaay as she invited them for the party. He couldn't help watch Shivaay's car leave. He and Rudra drives to school everyday in either of their cars. They would obviously give Gauri some nice birthday gift. What was he going to give her? Omkara sighs realizing that he won't be going for the party.

********

"Where are you, Omkara?" Gauri asks on the phone. "Everyone is here."

"Gauri, I won't be able to come."

"Why?" Gauri asks shocked and upset.

"I've some work, Gauri. You enjoy the party."

"Come, Omkara." Gauri requests him.

"Sorry, Gauri. You've fun with everyone. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Are you not coming because the whole class is here?" Gauri asks him softly.

"I'll feel odd out there." Omkara says the half truth.

"But I am here. Mama and Papa are here."

"Sorry, Gauri... you carry on. Please?"

"Fine." Gauri says upset as she cut the call.

********

Gauri watched as her friends had fun. She was not able to enjoy the party.

"What happened to Omkara? Why didn't he come?" Vasundhara asks curiously as she walked in with food and served everyone.

"He would feel odd." Gauri mumbles.

"Why? You all are in the same class, right?" Vasundhara asks confused.

"They are not friends with him." Gauri says, so upset that Omkara decided not to come for her party because of that. Damnit! She was his friend. He should have come for her!

"Why?" Vasundhara asks shocked. "He is such a lovely boy. Why aren't you all friends with him?"

"He doesn't talk to us." Rudra informs her.

"You guys bullied him till I put a stop to it." Gauri reminds them frowning.

"What?" Vasundhara asks in shock as she turned to them. "Why would you boys do that?"

Rudra, Shivaay and their gang nervously look at each other.

"Very bad, boys. That is no the way to treat a friend." Vasundhara tells them and starts lecturing them.

Gauri didn't stop her mother, she just listened as her mother gave a tongue lashing to all the bullies.

They shouldn't have hurt Omkara.

********

Noticing Gauri taking her usual seat, Omkara gets up and walks to her seat in bus. He sits next to her.

"Hi."

"Hi." Gauri uninterestedly says as she looked out the window.

"I am sorry, I didn't come." Omkara says realizing that she was upset with him because of that.

"I am your friend. You should have come for me."

"Sorry, Gauri. How was your party?"

"Horrible."

"Gauri... don't say that."

"I am your friend and you gave more importance to all the other people there."

Realizing that he had hurt her, Omkara decides to tell her the truth. "It is not just that."

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

"They all would give you such nice gifts." Omkara says sadly.

"I didn't want a gift from you, Omkara."

"Still, Gauri... all I could get you was this chocolate." Omkara says as he took out a chocolate bar from his bag and offers her.

"Stop feeling so insecure, Omkara." Gauri tells him softly as she took the chocolate from him. "This means more to me because you worked for this. Everybody else gave me a gift that their parents paid for."

Omkara smiles hearing that.

"And for your information, everyone didn't give me gifts." Gauri informs him as she opened the chocolate wrapper.

********

"Forgot to ask, any special gifts?" Omkara asks as they walked into class.

"Nothing out of ordinary." Gauri says shaking her head. "Either he didn't come or he knew I would recognize him from the gift."

"Omkara!" Rudra calls out to him.

Surprised Omkara turns to look and sees Rudra, Shivaay and their friends sitting together.

"Come join us." Shivaay tells him with a smile.

"What?" Omkara whispers in confusion as he walked to them.

"We are sorry for the way we treated you." Rudra tells him with a regretful smile.

"It's okay." Omkara says still in confusion.

"From now on, you're our friend." Shivaay tells him.

Confused and shocked, Omkara looks at Gauri and sees her happily smiling.

"Friends?" Rudra asks as he extended his hand.

Omkara smiles as he shook his hand.

And just like that, Omkara became one of the boys and it was also a start to a beautiful friendship that would last their whole life.

********

Physics lab at 5:45 before the graduation party starts.

Gauri sighs as she read the note again and again.

"This cat and mouse chase is going to end tomorrow." Omkara tells her softly as he lay next to her on the floor of her bedroom.

"Hmmm."

Seeing her so lost in thoughts, Omkara asks her, "Are you upset you lost the challenge?"

"Don't know."

"Are you excited to see him?"

Gauri thinks about it and says. "I don't know."

"Have you decided on what you are going to do tomorrow?" Omkara asks her softly.

"It would depend on who it is." Gauri tells him. "Do you want to practice one final time?"

********

Seeing Omkara stop, Gauri turns to him curiously. "You're not coming?"

"You go." Omkara tells her. Then he prays. "I hope you find happiness."

Gauri smiles hearing that. "Thank you."

"Go."

Gauri nods and taking a deep breath, she starts to walk towards the building where the Physics lab was.

Just before she enters the building, she stops and turns to look at Omkara and sees him watching her.

Gauri turns and walks towards him.

"What happened?" Omkara asks her, his heart slamming against his chest.

"Usually in movies, the secret admirer always turns out to be the person who was helping through out." Gauri tells him.

Omkara chuckles hearing that. "You only said that is not my style."

Seeing him chuckling like that, Gauri felt her heart break. "What is your style, Omkara?" Gauri asks him softly.

"What?" Omkara asks her confused. "Go, Gauri. He is waiting for you. You've been waiting for so long to find him."

Gauri's eyes fill up hearing him be so casual and she tells him. "When I walk in there and not find you waiting for me, it will break my heart, Omkara."

Omkara's heart stops beating hearing that. He stops breathing.

Seeing him staring at her without saying anything, Gauri's heart breaks. "Omkara?"

"It's not me, Gauri. You know that." Omkara whispers to her in shock.

Hearing him, Gauri looks away as she fought her tears. She starts to walk away when he holds her hand.

Gauri stops but she doesn't look at him.

"My style..." Omkara says as he fought his tears.

Gauri turns to look at him.

"Hide my love in my heart, so that you never find out because I know that I didn't have a chance with you." Omkara tells her.

"Idiot!" Gauri calls out as she cried softly in happiness. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think you could ever love me." Omkara confesses as he smiled through his tears.

"Bloody fool." Gauri tells him as she hugged him.

Omkara hugs her. "Since when?"

"I don't know. Last night, I had nightmares."

"What nightmares?" Omkara asks as he cupped her face.

"I come to the physics lab and I couldn't find you." Gauri says as she wiped her tears in joy.

"You won't find me there." Omkara tells her chuckling.

Gauri chuckles. "Since when?"

"Ever since you protected me from the boys." Omkara says as he lovingly caressed her cheek. "My super hero."

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

Gauri was about to walk off when Omkara holds her hand. "Gauri, him?"

"He doesn't matter." Gauri says shaking her head.

"I love you, Gauri." Omkara tells her. "Even he loves you. Respect his love. You've to go meet him."

"You come with me."

"He won't like it, Gauri."

"But I would feel like I am betraying you if I go alone."

"You won't."

"My heart would feel so." Gauri insists.

"Okay." Omkara gives in.

Gauri takes his hand and together they walk into the building.

********

"Hi." Shivaay says as he stood inside the Physics lab with a smile.

"Shivaay?" Gauri asks in shock.

"Surprised?" Shivaay asks chuckling.

"Erm..." Gauri looks at Omkara and sees him staring at Shivaay in shock.

"Ever since the day, you screamed at me for bullying Omkara, I have been crazy about you." Shivaay tells her smiling happily.

Gauri and Omkara stare at him in shock.

"Omkara... sorry buddy, I didn't tell you because, I know from the juniors in bus and library that you were helping her find me. That is the reason..." Shivaay stops in shock, finally noticing that Gauri and Omkara were holding hands.

Shivaay looks at their faces in shock. "I'm late... huh?" Shivaay asks softly.

"I love him." Gauri confesses to him.

"Ah... I guess I lost my chance." Shivaay says as he looked away, unable to look at them and to hide his pain.

"I'm sorry, Shivaay." Omkara says softly.

Shivaay shakes his head. "If I hadn't done this secret admirer thing..." then shaking his head to clear his head, he says. "I've to go." Shivaay says as he started to leave.

Shivaay was about to walk past him, when Omkara regretfully stops him, "Shivaay."

"Take care of her."

Omkara nods.

"If you hurt her, friendship aside, I'll break your legs." Shivaay warns him.

Omkara couldn't help smile hearing that.

"Take care, man. I'll see you later." Shivaay says as he pat on Omkara's shoulder and leaves.

"Is he going to be okay?" Gauri asks Omkara as they watched him leave.

"Yeah."

"Let's go. Graduation party is going to start."

********

As Gauri had wanted, many had stopped dancing and had turned to watch, Gauri and Omkara dance in perfect sync.

As they twirled around and came back to each other, Omkara couldn't help as he lovingly caressed her cheek.

"I told you, graduation dance is going to be the most important and memorable moment of my life." Gauri tells him.

"Even mine." Omkara tells her as he leaned close to her and lightly brushed his lips against her cheek.

********

11 years later

Omkara was in a meeting with his team when he hears the door to his office room open. Curiously he looks up and sees Gauri walk in.

Omkara smiles at her. "2 mins." He mouths to her.

"Take your time." Gauri tells him as she walked to the couch on the other side of the room and sat down, as she waved at the team members who were politely smiling at her..

Omkara smiles as he watched her then he turns back to the team and continues the discussion.

As the team members walked out of the room, Omkara walks to Gauri.

"You didn't tell me you were coming." Omkara says as he leaned down and takes her lips in his and hungrily kisses her. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Gauri tells him as she kissed him.

"When did you get back?" Omkara asks as he sat next to her.

"2 hours back."

"It seems either I am busy or you are busy. Do you want to go away for the weekend?" Omkara asks her as he turned to face her.

"You want Papa to come with his golf sticks?" Gauri asks chuckling.

"We have been together for more than a decade, if your father thinks that you are still a virgin then it is on him, not me." Omkara chuckles.

Gauri swats hearing that. "I actually came for two things."

"What?"

"You know, like last week, Anika had come home for her break and I went to meet her."

"Yeah? What about her?" Omkara asks confused.

"Shivaay dropped me to your place since my car was at servicing."

"Hmmm."

Grinning cheekily she says, "Shivaay has a huge crush on her."

Omkara frowns hearing that. "What?"

"He says, this time, he is not risking sending secret notes and all. No wasting time. He wants to ask Anika out and he wanted to check with you before that." Gauri tells him chuckling.

"Why is he not talking to me about it?" Omkara asks confused. "I just met him and Rudra last night. We were talking till some 4-5 in the morning."

Laughing, Gauri tells him. "He is worried whether you told Anika about the bullying in school. And he is also a little concerned that you might decide to take revenge for the bullying."

Omkara laughs hearing that. "I guess he is really smitten if he is worried about me taking revenge."

"He is."

"I'll talk to Anika. Let's see what she says."

Gauri smiles hearing that.

"What is the other thing?" Omkara asks her.

"Before coming to meet you, I told Papa that I am coming to see you and he asked for how long are you going to string me along. He is asking whether you've any plans of marriage." Gauri tells him.

Omkara frowns hearing that. "He said that?"

Gauri nods.

"Those were his words?" Omkara asks frowning suspiciously.

"Not exactly." Gauri shrugs.

Omkara scowls at her. "So what did he ask?"

"About our plans for marriage." Gauri replies shrugging.

Omkara glares at her. "Did you tell him that right after I got placed in college, I proposed you and you said you couldn't think of marriage till you won that singing reality show?"

Gauri shrugs. "Not really."

"So, after that I got busy with work. Then finally, right before I started my architecture firm, I proposed you for marriage again and you said you wanted to be a playback singer before you got married."

"I'm a playback singer." Gauri reminds him. "I just got back from a concert too."

"So, it is my fault?"

"What was I supposed to tell Papa?" Gauri asks him. "I am a playback singer. You are slacking."

"Maybe because, I was concerned that you would say that you want to win some Oscar before you can think of marriage!"

"No, I can think of marriage now." Gauri confirms to him nodding her head.

"Even then you can't even bother to propose me?"

"You didn't give me a dream proposal in school. Give me a memorable marriage proposal." Gauri demands.

"You want a memorable proposal?" Omkara asks her as he grabbed his wallet and took out the ring that he had got to propose Gauri, ages ago. That ring and condoms he always carried in his wallet, as he really didn't know, when he was going to get lucky with Gauri.

Gauri excitedly smiles seeing the ring.

Omkara brainstormed on how to give her a memorable proposal, and his mind frantically rewinded on their journey together, and he remembered the incident where she had protected him from Shivaaya and Rudra.

He takes Gauri's hand in his and warns her. "Marry me, Gauri or I'll break your bloody nose."

*** The End ***

Hope you guys liked this story.

Please vote and comment

- Lazy