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Previous Story : Someone to Watch Over Me (Posted on 20-Jun-2021)

After that super long story, I just felt like writing a short story and actually I was feeling out of ideas, and drawing a big blank when I thought of something to write.

So, I am just going to randomly write something, I haven't thought through the story, so if it feels disjointed or stupid, please forgive me.

P.S : Haven't proofread it.

Gauri was chatting with Anika, as they made plans on what to do that weekend.

"Tomorrow Rudra has invited us for dinner." Anika tells her.

"Who is Rudra?" Gauri asks her curiously.

"Our friends. When we told them that you would be coming, Bhavya, Rudra's wife insisted on dinner at their place." Anika tells her.

"But I don't know them, Bhabhi." Gauri tells her uncomfortably.

"They are nice people. And you'll have fun. When you stay away from your country, then friends become your family." Anika tells her.

Gauri nods giving in, she had come to stay with her brother and sister-in-law for two weeks in UAE.

"When will bhai reach?" Gauri asks her curiously.

"He should be reaching in 10-15 mins." Anika tells her checking the time. "Office hour traffic is pretty bad." Anika tells her.

Gauri nods.

Hearing the landline ring, Anika starts to get up and Gauri quickly holds her back. "You sit; I'll answer the call."

"You are here for vacation not look after me." Anika tells her irately.

"You should rest." Gauri tells her as she ran to grab the landline.

"I'm pregnant, not sick." Anika tells her.

Gauri grins at her as she checked the phone. "Omkara home." Gauri informs Anika.

"He is Shivaay's friend. Might be calling for Shivaay." Anika tells her.

"Okay." Gauri says and answers the call. "Hello?"

"Ermm... Hello?" Omkara says from the other end, in a confused tone.

Gauri smiles realizing he was confused hearing a stranger's voice and wondering whether he called the right number. "Bhai hasn't reached yet." Gauri tells him.

"Ah okay... Gauri?" Omkara asks her.

"Yes." Gauri replies surprised.

"Shivaay told me that you would be reaching yesterday." Omkara says.

"Ah." Gauri says then having nothing else to say, she tells him, "I'll tell Bhai that you called."

"No... I called for Anika. Is she there?"

"Yeah. One sec." Gauri says and walks to Anika. "He wants to talk to you."

Anika nods and takes the phone. "Hello, Omkara?"

Gauri watches as Anika softly starts laughing hearing whatever he said then she says smiling, "Come."

"He is coming here?" Gauri asks after Anika cuts the call.

"Yeah, he is hungry and was asking whether leftover lunch is there." Anika tells her.

"Why? No one is there at his home?" Gauri asks curiously.

"He stays alone here. He hates hotel food, and might be craving home cooked food."

"But bhabhi, the food wasn't that good." Gauri tells her worriedly.

"That is okay." Anika waves it off. "Come, we'll make some rotis for him. And I was meaning to talk to you about something."

********

Gauri was chatting with Shivaay and Anika when they hear the doorbell.

"That should be Omkara." Shivaay says as he went to open the door.

Gauri nervously looks at the door as she followed Shivaay and Anika to the door.

"Hey!" Shivaay says with a smile.

"Later!" Omkara says and looks at Anika. "I'm starving."

Anika chuckles hearing that, "Food is on the table."

"This is why I say you are the best." Omkara tells her smiling as he headed to the dining table.

"My wife is not going to cook for you like this again." Shivaay tells him.

"Why?" Omkara asks turning to him confused.

Shivaay grins happily, "she is pregnant."

"Wow... congratulations." Omkara says happy for them.

Shivaay and Anika smiles happily.

They head to the dining table.

"By the way, this is Gauri." Shivaay tells him as he stood next to Gauri.

"Hi Gauri." Omkara says with a smile as he pulled the chair to sit.

"Hi." Gauri replies with a slight blush.

"Your first time in Dubai, right? How do you like it?" Omkara asks conversationally as he sat down and served for himself.

"Nice. We haven't gone out anywhere yet." Gauri tells him slightly nervously.

Omkara nods and starts eating. He chews on the food and frowns and asks, "Pregnancy affects your taste buds?"

"What?" Anika asks confused.

"This is not as great as your usual food." Omkara tells her.

Gauri's smile drops and she scowls at him.

"Actually, Anika didn't cook today. Gauri made them." Shivaay informs Omkara with a chuckle.

"Ah okay." Omkara nods and says. "I wondered what happened to Anika."

Anika looks at Gauri and sees her scowling. She embarrassedly smiles at Gauri and Gauri glare at her.

Anika turns to Omkara and tells him, "She is just learning cooking, and since I am pregnant, she is not letting me do any work."

Omkara chuckles as he continued to eat, "Reminds me of the time when you were learning cooking and I was your Guinea Pig."

Anika turns to Gauri and tells her, "However bad the food was he would eat it. Your bhai would order food from out, but Omkara used to eat it."

"After he criticized the food, which I never did." Shivaay points out.

"If I don't tell her honestly how is she going to know where she went wrong?" Omkara asks Shivaay. Then turning to Gauri, he tells her, "For instance, Gauri... the gravy is a little watery, and this dish is a little salty. The rotis are perfect."

"Bhabhi made those." Gauri tells him.

"Ah that is why." Omkara replies as he continued to eat making Gauri furiously glare at her brother.

Shivaay grins at her in worry.

Gauri sat by as Omkara, Shivaay and Anika chatted.

"Thank you for the food, Gauri." Omkara says as he stood up after he was done with the food.

Gauri nods.

The moment Omkara walked off with his plate to the kitchen, she turns to her brother and sister-in-law furiously and asks in a whisper. "And that is the guy you wanted me to consider for marriage?"

"What is wrong with him?" Shivaay asks confused.

"Gauri... he speaks his mind... very straight forward guy. But he is very sweet." Anika tells her.

"You asked me to consider and I did. And it is a no!" Gauri tells them. "Now, I am going to sleep. Good night!"

"But it is just 8." Shivaay tells her confused. "Let's go out."

"I am jet lagged." Gauri tells him glaring at him.

"What about dinner?" Anika asks her.

"My stomach is full!" Gauri mutters and starts to walk off then turning to Shivaay and she tells him, "You! You clean up all this and wash all the plates, don't make Bhabhi do it!"

Hearing Omkara walking back, Gauri quickly walks off to her bedroom.

Omkara joins them and was about to say something when he hears Gauri slamming the door shut. He jumps in shock and looks at the corridor leading to the bedroom. "All okay?"

"What is wrong with you?" Shivaay asks him as he started taking the leftover plates.

"What?" Omkara asks confused as he gathered everything else from the table.

"I'll do it." Anika tells them.

"You sit. We'll do it." Omkara tells her as he followed Shivaay to the kitchen. "What happened?"

Shivaay starts packing the remaining food and tells Omkara. "You said you were thinking of getting married. We thought, you and Gauri would be good together, and told Gauri about it. Asked her to see if she likes you and if she did then we would proceed with a marriage proposal."

"Gauri and me?" Omkara asks surprised as he looked at him.

Shivaay nods and passes the empty plate to him. Omkara thoughtfully takes the plate and starts washing it. "You should have told me; I didn't even talk to her." Omkara says.

"There is no need for that." Shivaay tells him sarcastically. "The little that you talked to her, she said no."

"She did?" Omkara asks turning to him shocked. "Why?"

"She felt insulted when you criticized the food."

"She would rather, I lie to her?" Omkara asks shocked.

"There is something called first impression."

"Hmmm." Omkara nods as he took the next plate and washed it. "She got pissed, huh?"

"Yeah. So pissed that she went off to sleep."

Omkara chuckles hearing that. "Anyway, I'll talk to her the next time I see her."

"Why?" Shivaay asks confused.

Omkara thoughtfully looks at him, then chuckling he shrugs.

********

Next evening, Gauri was sitting with Shivaay and Anika at Bhavya's and Rudra's place. Gauri was making polite conversations with them when they hear the doorbell.

"That should be Omkara." Rudra says as he got up and walked to the door.

"He is their friend too?" Gauri asks Anika in a whisper.

"Yes."

"Why is he invited?" Gauri asks in irritation. "I thought dinner was for us."

"Because we meet up every weekend." Anika replies.

"Stop making that face." Shivaay whispers to her as he stood up and walked to the door.

"What happened?" Bhavya asks curiously.

"Nothing." Anika replies with a smile shaking her head.

"Hi." Omkara says as he walked to them.

"Hey." Bhavya and Anika says with a smile, while Gauri acted busy with her phone.

"Hi Gauri." Omkara very sweetly says.

Gauri looks up in shock hearing him address her. she sees him sweetly smiling at her. "Hi." Gauri replies shocked.

"How are you?"

"Fine." Gauri replies as she darted glances at Anika who was gaping at him in shock.

"Sit." Shivaay tells him as he pushed Omkara towards the couches.

Omkara walks to the couch and sits. "So, what did you do today?"

"Nothing... we were home." Gauri replies as she looked around and sees Shivaay and Anika gaping, while Rudra and Bhavya looked on listening to Omkara making polite conversation with her.

"Oh how come?" Omkara asks curiously.

"Bhabhi wasn't feeling well in the morning."

"Oh you okay now, Anika?" Omkara asks her in concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Anika replies. "They were just worrying too much. I was feeling a little tired in the morning."

"Ah okay."

"I'll serve dinner." Bhavya says and heads to the kitchen.

"I'll help." Gauri quickly says and hurries behind her.

Once Gauri left, Anika and Shivaay turns to Omkara in shock.

"What was that?" Shivaay asks shocked.

Grinning Omkara says, "Making a new impression."

"Whatever for?" Anika asks shocked.

"To see if we would work out or not." Omkara shrugs.

"She said no." Shivaay reminds him.

"What?" Rudra asks confused. "I thought you met her for the first time yesterday."

"Yes." Omkara replies.

"Then what is happening?" Rudra asks feeling lost.

Anika walks off to the kitchen while Shivaay filled in Rudra about what had happened.

********

It was a buffet and Gauri was taking her food. Seeing that, Omkara walks to her and starts serving for himself as he stood next to her. noticing him, Gauri starts to move away.

"I hear there was this marriage proposal talk regarding the both of us." Omkara tells her softly.

Gauri turns to him in shock, her mouth drops open, and her eyes going wide, feeling as if she was caught red handed. "What?" Gauri asks in a shocked whisper.

"And I hear you said no." Omkara tells her as he curiously looked at her.

Gauri goes a little white in shock and she turns to look at her brother and sees everyone eagerly watching them. the moment she looked at them, they quickly look away and act as if they were busy talking.

"Did you want me to lie? Then you would have known I was lying, right? you obviously had that food, right?" Omkara asks her.

Realizing that he wasn't going to let it go, Gauri turns to him and tells him, "You could have just shut your mouth and ate too, right?"

"Ah, I could have but then I thought Anika made it when I said that." Omkara says.

"If you are so particular about home cooked food, then you can cook by yourself and eat, right?" Gauri asks him.

"But I don't know cooking... I am learning actually." Omkara tells her.

"So, when someone does something that you are not even an amateur at, don't you think you shouldn't criticize?"

"Have you made any movies?" Omkara asks her.

"What?" Gauri asks completely confused.

"Have you?"

"No."

"Even then you have criticized movies, right?" Omkara asks her.

"Ermm..." Gauri gulps as she looked at him.

"Now, don't say you pay for them because your brother jokes that with the amount of movies that you download, you could start piracy business." Omkara tells her cheekily.

Gauri turns completely pink hearing that. "But I don't go to the people who painstakingly made the movies and criticize them without caring about hurting their feelings and insulting them." Gauri tells him and walks off.

Omkara grins as he watched her walk to the couch and sit down to eat. He serves for himself and walks to Shivaay and Rudra who were curiously looking at him.

Omkara stands by the wall next to Shivaay and Rudra.

"What were you guys talking?" Shivaay asks him.

Omkara looks at Gauri and sees her talking to Bhavya and Anika. Then he sees her looking at him from a corner of her eyes. He smiles and she quickly looks away.

"What is happening?" Rudra asks.

"She has got a temper." Omkara tells Shivaay.

"Yeah." Shivaay agrees frowning.

Omkara watches Gauri and realizes that she was fighting herself to not look at him. "I like her."

"She said no." Shivaay reminds him.

"I'll change her mind." Omkara replies.

"Dude, that is my sister!" Shivaay tells him offended.

"I'll take care of her and keep her happy." Omkara promises him.

Shivaay frowns and looks at Rudra, and sees Rudra wink at him, and flick his head in a let-him-try gesture.

*******

"You told him about the proposal?" Gauri asks Shivaay the moment they got into the car.

"Yes." Shivaay replies hesitantly.

"You told me only if I said yes then you would even talk to him about it!" Gauri accuses him.

"He said he likes you." Shivaay informs her.

"WHAT?" Gauri shouts in shock.

"He did?" Anika asks excitedly.

"He likes me?" Gauri asks again in shock.

"Yes."

"Is that why you told him about the proposal?" Gauri asks him.

For a few seconds, Shivaay considered lying and then he simply shrugs.

"what does that mean?" Gauri asks him.

"Gauri, why don't you reconsider? He is a nice guy." Anika tells her gently.

"No, thank you. and what does he know about me to like me?" Gauri asks them.

Shivaay turns to her and tells her, "If he hadn't criticized the food then you would have most probably told me to talk to him about it."

"No." Gauri replies looking away.

"Oh please!" Shivaay says in exasperation, "We all saw you blushing when he spoke to you."

"Erm... nonsense. Nothing like that." Gauri says turning pink. "Start the car, let's go."

Shivaay was about to start the car when they hear a knock on the door. they look and sees Omkara. Shivaay rolls down the window.

"All okay?" Omkara asks.

"Yeah... yeah." Shivaay replies.

"I was leaving and I saw your car. So came to check." Omkara tells them.

"We were just talking."

"Okay then." Omkara says and starts to leave when he sees Gauri.

The moment he looked at her, Gauri quickly looks at her phone. Grinning, Omkara turns to Shivaay and asks, "You going via my place?"

"Your place?" Shivaay curiously looks at Gauri through the central mirror.

Gauri glares at him and shakes her head.

Seeing that, Omkara grins. "Drop me to the metro then."

"Metro?" Shivaay asks surprised.

"Yeah." Omkara nods. Then he opens the back door, and Gauri looks at him in shock. "Hi Gauri." Omkara says smiling at her.

"Hi." Gauri whispers.

Omkara gets in and closes the door. Shivaay starts the car while Anika and he grinned at each other.

"How was the food, Gauri?" Omkara asks her conversationally.

Gauri scowls at him. "It was nice."

"Even I thought the same. I told Bhavya also."

"Hmm." Gauri grumbles as she looked away.

"Did you hear?"

"What?" Gauri asks him frowning.

"I not only criticize someone's cooking. I appreciate it too." Omkara tells her.

"I don't care!" Gauri replies.

"Since you said no because of that, I thought it is pretty important to you."

"Seriously?" Shivaay asks Omkara in exasperation. indirectly asking, is that how you make an impression?

Omkara grins at him through the mirror.

Gauri scowls seeing the grin and she tells him in anger, "Listen, I am not interested!"

"Interested? In what?" Omkara asks confused.

"In you!"

"Oh... but I didn't ask you whether you were interested." Omkara tells her confused.

Gauri turns pink hearing his nonchalant reply and looks out the window.

"Bhai... isn't that a metro station?" Gauri asks pointing at one.

"That is the red line. I have to take the green line to go home." Omkara informs her.

Shivaay who was about to pull over, continues on.

"I thought there were interconnecting stops." Gauri says confused as she looked at him.

"There is. Two stops actually. But it is a hassle." Omkara tells her.

"Oh really?" Gauri asks confused.

"Hassle as in I have to get out of one train and walk to the next platform and get into the next train." Omkara explains seeing Gauri was believing what he had said.

"Oh!" Gauri nods and looks away.

"So, Gauri what plans for tomorrow?" Omkara asks her.

"I thought you weren't interested." Gauri mutters to him.

"Who said so?" Omkara asks shocked. "I am very interested."

Gauri gasps turning completely pink hearing that and she looks away, blushing.

"Ah you blush pretty." Omkara teases with a smile.

"We are sitting right here!" Shivaay reminds him.

Omkara grins hearing him.

"So, what plans?" Omkara asks Gauri.

Gauri looks out the window without replying.

"What are you doing tomorrow, Anika?" Omkara asks her.

"Global Village, you coming?" Anika tells him.

"Bhabhi!" Gauri shouts in shock.

Omkara chuckles, "Sure, if you insist."

"She didn't insist." Gauri points out to him.

"She asked very sweetly." Omkara tells her smiling.

Anika chuckles hearing that.

"But I thought you hated Global Village." Shivaay says. "You say it is too crowded and it is still the weekend tomorrow, so it would be crowded."

"I hate the crowd, but I like the company." Omkara replies.

Gauri turns completely red hearing that. "Is that a green line metro?" Gauri asks pointing at the metro station.

"It is." Shivaay replies.

Gauri starts to smile in relief.

"Anyway we are all the way here, we will drop him home." Shivaay says.

Gauri sighs and looks out.

"Don't be so disheartened, Gauri. just 15 more mins." Omkara tells her cheekily.

Gauri turns to him and glares at him.

Omkara grins seeing her so angry. He looks away as he smiled, it was so much fun to rile her up.

Few minutes later, they reach Omkara's apartment.

"You guys coming up?" Omkara asks as he started to get out.

"No, it is late. We will come another day." Anika says feeling sleepy.

"Okay then. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Bye."

"Wait!" Shivaay turns to him.

"What?"

"That sim."

"Oh yeah... I'll get it now." Omkara replies and hurries inside.

"Is that the sim you told me you'll give me?" Gauri asks frowning.

"Yeah."

"I don't want his sim." Gauri tells him in attitude.

Shivaay gives her an irritated look. "It is my old sim. I gave it to him when his parents had come for visit last month. He is just returning it."

"Oh." Gauri replies then she frowning tells him, "Your friend is trying to flirt with me."

"Yeah, I saw." Shivaay replies. "I am also inside this car."

"That is all you have to say?" Gauri asks him in exasperation.

"Don't flirt back." Shivaay replies with a shrug.

"Seriously, bhai?" Gauri asks him.

"He is a nice guy, Gauri." Shivaay tells her in lieu of an answer.

"I don't like him and he is very irritating."

"You see, talk to him till you go back. If you change your mind tell me, otherwise, just forget him after that." Shivaay says.

Gauri looks away irately. "I don't want to talk to him."

"Then don't talk to him." Shivaay replies.

"But he is talking to me!" Gauri points out.

"ignore him." Shivaay tells her.

"What kind of a brother are you?" Gauri asks him in shock.

Shivaay irately looks at her.

"He is coming." Anika tells them spotting Omkara walk to them.

Shivaay rolls down the window and Omkara hands him the sim.

"Why are you looking angry?" Omkara asks confused.

"You couldn't just shut your mouth and eat the food?" Shivaay asks him pissed.

"BHAI!" Gauri shout in outrage while Omkara chuckles.

"You should have told me I was a prospective groom and I was being judged." Omkara replies.

Shivaay shakes his head and takes the sim from him. "I'll see you tomorrow." Shivaay tells him.

"Okay then, bye. Good night, Gauri." Omkara sweetly wishes her.

Gauri scowls at him in reply.

"Sweet dreams." Omkara says as he stepped back from the car while Gauri growled.

*******

Gauri was getting ready for bed. Her thoughts went back to Omkara and his outrageous behavior. She was shocked at the way he had behaved and how her brother seems to be very cool with all this. She lies on the bed and her mind still stuck on him. as much as she tried to forget him, that much she thought of him. the last thought before sleep over took her was that she was going to meet him the next day.

Omkara contemplated as he lay on his bed wondering if he should message Gauri or not. He took his mobile and flipped it in his hand as he thought of Gauri. then he throws the phone on the bed deciding not to push her. he knew he irritated her a lot but he had seen the way she had blushed. He knew even she was interested in him as he was in her. the very first time he had seen her photo, he was attracted to her but he had curbed those considering Shivaay was his friend and he felt wrong for thinking of his best friend' sister like that. but now, when Shivaay had himself wanted them to be together, he had decided to talk to Gauri and get to know her and make a decision, but the way Gauri had blasted him and her anger had made him fall hard for her. Smiling, he closes his eyes as he thought of her.

*******

Gauri was feeling both anxious and excited at the thought of meeting him. Morning, they had gone out for brunch and a drive around the city. Now, they were on their way to Global Village. She wondered where they were meeting him. would they be meeting him at Global Village or on the way?

"Is Bhavya coming?" Gauri asks Anika.

"Yeah, they will meet us there."

"So, we are meeting everyone there?" Gauri asks in a casual tone.

"Everyone?" Anika asks confused.

"We are picking Omkara from a metro station on the way." Shivaay replies giving her a pointed look via the mirror.

"I wasn't asking about him." Gauri replies looking away.

"You asked about everyone. Anika told you we are meeting Rudra and Bhavya there, and then only Omkara was left."

Gauri doesn't reply to that and she looks out feeling embarrassed for getting caught like that.

"Hi!" Omkara says as he got into the car back seat.

Shivaay and Anika wishes him while Gauri ignores him.

"Hi, Gauri." Omkara tells her.

Gauri ignores him and looks out the window making Omkara grin.

"Gauri?" Shivaay calls her name in shock.

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

What? He mouths to her.

"You only said I don't have to talk to him."

"What kind of backstabbing is that, Shivaay?" Omkara asks him cheekily.

"Oh shut up!" Shivaay mutters.

"Waise, Omkara... I just remembered today..." Anika starts as she grinned at him.

"What?" Omkara asks her curiously.

"When your parents came, you begged Bhavya and me to take them to Global Village as you couldn't handle the crowd." Anika reminds him cheekily.

"Crowd and shopping, I can't handle." Omkara replies grinning.

"Then why are you coming?" Gauri asks him in exasperation.

"Because the food there is good." Omkara replies.

Gauri scowls at him and looks away.

"Seriously, Gauri... you get nice food there." Omkara tells her.

Gauri looks at him suspiciously. "You don't like hotel food."

"I don't... but I like the street food there."

"Hmmm." Gauri looks away.

"And..." Omkara pauses waiting for Gauri to look at him.

"And?" Gauri asks unable to ignore the bait.

"You are going there, so I am coming." Omkara replies shrugging.

Gauri turns completely pink hearing that and looks away so he doesn't see her blush.

*******

Gauri looks around in amazement seeing all the structures and the decorations. She looks around in amazement, her face breaking out into a smile seeing everything. As she looked around her eyes locks with Omkara's, who was watching her with a smile. She stops in embarrassment for getting caught like that. she turns to look for her brother and sister-in-law, and sees that they had walked ahead while talking to Bhavya and Rudra.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Omkara asks her as he stood next to her.

Gauri nods. "How can you hate this?"

"I don't hate it. I just don't like the crowd and Anika and Bhavya spends hours in one store, bargaining and shopping." Omkara tells her shrugging.

"It is not crowded. People are spread out."

"Hmmm."

"You were serious about the food." Gauri says noticing people walking around eating.

"Have your tried Arabic food yet?" Omkara asks her smiling.

"Mandi." Gauri answers.

"Let's get you Luqaimat." Omkara tells her.

Gauri nods and follows him as she gestured to Anika and Shivaay who were curiously looking at her.

Gauri waited as Omkara went to make the purchase. Then he turns around and gestures her over. Gauri walks to him and stood by him as they waited and watched the women make the food.

"I am sorry I realize I was rude." Omkara tells her. "I shouldn't have criticized the food like that."

Gauri shakes her head and tells him, "I over reacted."

"But I shouldn't have said that. Shivaay is my best friend and Anika is like a sister, so I am always very straight with them..." Omkara tells her.

"It's okay." Gauri replies and smiling she tells him, "You were right, the food wasn't all that great."

"Hey, it wasn't bad." Omkara tells her.

"I didn't say it was bad." Gauri points out to him frowning.

"Oh." Omkara stops realizing he offended her again.

Seeing him like that Gauri grins, "I was just joking."

Omkara chuckles.

Getting their food, they walk back towards the rest of them.

"Careful, it is hot." Omkara tells Gauri as he handed her a toothpick.

Gauri nods and using the toothpick, she picks up one of the balls and puts in her mouth.

"Hot!" Gauri gasps as she fanned her mouth. "But yum."

"Yes!" Omkara tells her as they stopped in front of the rest of the gang.

"You guys are friends now?" Shivaay asks curiously as he took a toothpick and ate.

Omkara and Gauri look at each other then cheekily grinning, Gauri replies, "Not yet."

Shivaay shakes his head in exasperation and tells them, "Let me know when I should talk to Baba and Ma."

"I haven't even reached the railway station and you are talking about the final stop." Gauri cheekily says.

Making Omkara shake his head with a smile.

They spent the rest of the night exploring the place and chatting.

*******

That night, Gauri was getting ready for her. As she thought of him, this time her anger was replaced by a smile as she thought him. as she thought of it, she did truly forgive him for his insensitive remarks on her cooking. She chuckles remembering how silly it had all been. She chuckles thinking about him.

Smiling Omkara takes his mobile as he thought of Gauri. today they had spent time together. He decides to message her and looks through the contacts, and he finds Ma (Dubai) number. Seeing Ma, he shudders and quickly edits it and changes it to Gauri.

Hey.

Gauri curiously checks the message wondering who could message her as only her brother and sister-in-law and their parents had this number. Seeing the hey, Gauri grins realizing it was Omkara. Cheekily grinning she quickly replies to him.

Who is this?

Omkara grins seeing that and replies, Sorry, I think I got the wrong number. Bye.

He goes to sleep while Gauri kept staring at her phone wondering whether it was indeed Omkara who had messaged her or was really a wrong number.

*******

The next day, Gauri was alone at home as both Shivaay and Anika had gone for work. Gauri kept looking at her phone hoping that Omkara would message her. since it was a weekday, she would be going out with just Shivaay and Anika, and none of the friends would be coming. the whole day she waited for him to either call or message but he didn't.

*******

The next day, Gauri had made plans to meet one of her schoolmates who had relocated to Dubai after marriage. So, around midafternoon she took the metro to go to her friend's place. The previous night, she had taken a short trip in the metro with her brother to get familiar with it.

Gauri walks into the metro and since it was not rush hour, she finds a seat and quickly sits. She excitedly looks out the window taking in the sites and views. Though her thoughts kept going to Omkara, she ignores it. She was feeling a disheartened also because he hadn't bothered to message or call or come home after that.

"Hi!" Omkara says as he sat next to her. "Thinking about me?"

Gauri turns in shock at having a stranger sit next to her like that and stops in surprise seeing him.

"YOU?" Gauri almost shouts in surprise unable to control her smile.

"Awww missed me?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri frowns and asks him, "How did you know I was going to be here?"

"How would I know that?" Omkara asks her confused. "I was in the train and I saw you standing in the platform, so I came looking for you."

"Oh!" Gauri nods. "What are you doing here?"

"Taking the metro!" Omkara points out to her.

"Don't you have a car?" Gauri ask suspiciously.

"Haven't got my license yet."

"How come?" Gauri asks surprised.

"Failed twice."

"Oh you are that bad?" Gauri asks him with a teasing smile.

"Your brother got in his fourth attempt." Omkara points out. "And here it is pretty difficult to get."

"But bhabhi got her license."

"Women get license faster than men here."

"Really?" Gauri asks surprised.

"You would get it fast." Omkara tells her.

"Why would I want a UAE driving license?" Gauri asks him with a flirty smile.

Grinning, Omkara tells her, "You can take the metro then, it is also comfortable. Saves me from buying two cars."

Gauri looks away feeling herself blush.

"So, where are you going?" Omkara asks her.

"To meet my friend."

"Your friend will pick you up from the metro station?"

"No, I am meeting her at a restaurant near the station."

"Shivaay explained to you how to get there?"

"Yup. All written down." Gauri tells him as she took out the paper where Shivaay had written full instruction.

"Hmmm." Omkara nods as he went through the detailed instructions. "Your friend should have picked you from the metro."

"I can manage. Why trouble her?"

"But still it is your first time here..." Omkara says shaking his head.

"I thought this is a safe city."

"It is but you could get lost." Omkara says.

"I've all the instructions. A phone. I'll be fine." Gauri tells him with a smile seeing his concern for her. "Where are you going?"

"I have a meeting. I'm heading there."

"Okay."

"So, how was Dubai Mall and the fountain show?"

"Amazing. But how did you know we went there, yesterday?" Gauri asks surprised.

"Shivaay told me."

"Oh then how come you didn't come?"

"Why? Did you want me to come?" Omkara asks her with a teasing smiling.

Gauri turns pink and quickly looks away.

"I had to go to Abu Dhabi yesterday."

"Ah okay." Gauri nod and smiles realizing that was why he hadn't come.

"So, what plans with your friend?"

"Just catching up and some shopping. Bhai will pick me after work. Then, I don't know. We haven't planned anything."

Omkara nods and notices the metro stopping. "Yours is the next stop."

"Oh okay." Gauri says as she quickly grabbed her bag.

"Relax there is time." Omkara tells her seeing that she was all set to go and stand by the door.

Gauri nods. They remained silent as they waited for her stop to reach.

"You will be fine, right? Will you go alone?" Omkara asks as the train came to a stop.

"Yeah, I'll be fine." Gauri tells him smiling as she walked to the door.

"You sure?" Omkara asks her.

"Yeah. Bye." Gauri smiles at him and walks out.

Gauri was walking towards the escalator when Omkara calls her. curious, Gauri turns back and sees him hurrying towards her.

"What are you doing?" Gauri asks in shock seeing the train leaving.

"I'll take you to the restaurant."

"I am fine. I'll go. You'll be late for your meeting."

"I'll take the next train." Omkara tells her as he walked with her.

Gauri smiles and tells him. "I'll go alone. I can manage."

"Anyway, I missed the train." Omkara tells her shrugging. "And your orientation sucks."

"What? Why?" Gauri asks offended.

"You are new here and you don't know the places."

"I take a little time in learning new places but I'll go. You'll miss the next train if you come with me." Gauri tells him with a smile, seeing he was about to say something she tells him, "I know how to get there, take exit 2, walk to the left side for about 200 meters and there is the restaurant."

Seeing Omkara hesitating she tells him, "If you come with me then you'll miss the next train and will be late for your meeting."

"Hmmm." Omkara thoughtfully sighs. "Okay, you call me as soon as you see your friend."

Gauri was about to say yes when she remembers their previous texting debacle and lies, "but I don't have your number."

"You do!" Omkara arrogantly tells her.

Gauri turns a little pink hearing that. "Okay, bye."

"Bye."

Few minutes later, Gauri walks into the restaurant and spots her friend. She happily waves at her as she took her mobile to call Omkara. Just then Omkara calls her.

"I was about to call you. I saw her." Gauri says as soon as she answered the call. "Did you get the train?"

"Yeah, I did."

"Okay then." Gauri says with a smile.

"Okay... and Gauri..."

"Yes?"

"I thought you didn't have my number." Omkara teases her.

Gauri blushes hearing that. "Now, you know it is no wrong number."

Omkara chuckles hearing that.

*******

Reached?

Gauri smiles seeing the message from Omkara.

Yeah. How did your meeting go?

Went well. Had fun catching up with your friend?

Yeah... it was nice 😊

What plans for tomorrow?

Nothing. Staying home tomorrow.

Hmmm

What about you? office?

Yeah, busy day at office tomorrow.

Ah okay...

Then what else?

Hmmm who all are there at your home?

Papa, Ma and me.

Tell me about them...

Gauri and Omkara continued to message and talk to each other for the next couple of days.

*******

Shivaay, Anika, Rudra and Bhavya stood by and watched as Omkara and Gauri leaned against the car and talked.

"Why are they not coming?" Bhavya asks confused.

"If Ma and Baba find out this is happening here, then they will kill me." Shivaay tells them as he gaped at his sister and best friend.

"When are you going to tell them about Omkara?" Anika asks him.

"I thought after she goes back. If I tell them now, then they will give us tons of dos and don'ts."

"She goes back?" Rudra asks surprised. "Do you think she will go back?"

"Even if she agrees, I don't think Omkara is going to let her go." Bhavya says.

"Stop freaking me out, you people!" Shivaay tells them. "Don't put ideas into their heads."

They chuckle hearing that.

"GAURI! Omkara!" Shivaay calls them over.

Gauri and Omkara look up and sees them waiting for them.

"Got tickets?" Gauri asks as she walked towards them.

Shivaay scowls in reply.

"Tickets are online." Omkara tells her.

"Oh then why were we waiting here?" Gauri asks confused.

"You weren't waiting. We were waiting, for you both!" Shivaay tells her.

"Oh." Gauri turns completely pink hearing that.

Omkara grins hearing that.

"Let's go." Shivaay tells them and walks off.

Gauri and Omkara look at each other and grins as they followed everyone.

They go to the top of Dubai Frame.

"Wow." Gauri says in amazement as she stood on top of the glass floor and looked down.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Omkara asks her as he looked down at the view beneath them.

"Yeah... and scary too. I feel as if I'll faint." Gauri says with a nervous chuckle.

Omkara chuckles hearing that. "Hold my hand." Omkara tells her as he offered her his hand.

Gauri looks up at him and he looks at her as he held his hand out for her. blushing Gauri holds his hand. Omkara tightens his hold on her. holding hands, they look down.

"I'm going back day after." Gauri tells him softly.

"You can't extend your trip?" Omkara asks her.

Gauri shakes her head in negative.

Omkara sighs as he held her hand tight.

*******

The day before Gauri's flight, she had gone alone to the mall for some last minute shopping. She was finishing her shopping when Omkara calls her.

"Hey Omkara..." Gauri says smiling happily.

"Hey Gauri... Where are you?" Omkara asks her.

"Mall of the emirates. I told you."

"I know that." Omkara rolls his eyes. "Where in the mall?"

"Oh." Then realizing, she asks happily, "Are you here?"

"Yeah, just getting out of the metro."

"I just finished shopping, I was thinking of grabbing something and heading home as I have some packing left."

"Okay, let's do lunch and leave." Omkara tells her. "What are you in the mood for?"

*******

"When will you come to India next?" Gauri asks him as they sat in the metro.

"I just went home two months back. So, not soon." Omkara tells her regretfully.

Gauri nods as she looked down sadly wondering when she would meet him again.

"We'll figure something out." Omkara tells her.

Gauri smiles as she nodded.

"that is my office." Omkara points out to a building as the metro passed by.

"that?" Gauri asks excitedly as she pointed at the building.

"Yeah... and that is my flat." Omkara says as he pointed to another building.

"Your home and office is that close?" Gauri asks surprised as she looked at the building.

"Yeah." Omkara replies smiling.

"Which is your flat?" Gauri asks excitedly as she looked at the building.

"Second floor with the plant."

"Oh that?" Gauri asks as she looked at it.

"Do you want to see my flat?" Omkara asks her curiously.

"Me? Your flat?" Gauri asks shocked.

"Yeah... decide fast, we have to get down in this stop."

"But..."

"After you go back... don't say, I couldn't see the flat." Omkara tells her.

"Will Bhai get mad?" Gauri asks worriedly.

"I don't know about you, he trusts me." Omkara tells her smugly.

Gauri glares at him.

"Come." Omkara tells her as he stood up and gathered her shopping bags seeing the station has reached.

Gauri quickly gets up and follows him.

*******

Omkara opens the flat door for Gauri and she steps in. she smiles seeing his studio apartment. It was a neat apartment with minimal décor and furniture.

"Studio?" Gauri asks surprised as she stepped in.

"I am alone so, there was a need for studio only." Omkara explains.

"Hmmm." Gauri nods as she looked around and sees the kitchen and grins. "Kitchen..."

Omkara chuckles. "I'm learning."

"I'll also learn." Gauri tells him smiling.

Omkara grins hearing that. Gauri walks around the flat and walks to the balcony.

"Amazing view." Gauri tells him as she saw the metro line and the road.

Omkara smiles as he walked to her and stood next to her. "You like the flat?" Omkara asks her. "Or would you prefer a one or two-bedroom flat?

"I like this." Gauri tells him smiling. "But have to redo the interiors."

Omkara nods.

Her phone rings and Gauri takes her mobile out. "It's bhai. What should I tell him?"

"that you are here." Omkara replies in what's-wrong-with-you look.

"Hello bhai..." Gauri nervously answers.

"Gauri... where are you? I'm leaving office now."

"I am at Omkara's flat." Gauri nervously tells him.

"How the hell did you get there?" Shivaay asks shocked.

"Omkara came to the Mall for lunch... then we were coming back home... so on our way back we passed by his flat... so I just came here to see the flat." Gauri explains.

"Hmmm okay." Shivaay replies.

"We'll be leaving now." Gauri tells him.

"Okay, I called to check where you are and whether you wanted me to pick you up."

"Ah okay."

"Do one thing... Bhavya and Rudra are coming home. You guys come with them." Shivaay tells her.

"Okay." Gauri replies and hangs up. She turns to Omkara and tells him what Shivaay told her.

"Okay... then let's go." Omkara tells her.

*******

They step out of the apartment Omkara turns to the left.

"The metro station is that side." Gauri tells him pointing to the right.

"This way." Omkara tells her as he continued ahead.

"Wait a minute!" Gauri says stopping in shock seeing the red paint on the metro pillars. "We got in red line and this is red line, you said to go to your flat, you need to take green line."

Omkara chuckles hearing that and teases her. "You are so fast, Gauri."

Gauri blushes hearing that and follows Omkara to the next building. He opens the door for her and Gauri walks in.

"Why are we..." Gauri starts and stops as she looked around the familiar place.

Grinning at her, Omkara presses the button for lift, and it opens.

"Come." Omkara tells her as he walked into the lift.

"This is Bhavya's and Rudra's flat, right?" Gauri asks shocked as she got in the lift.

"Told you, your orientation sucks." Omkara tells her chuckling as he pressed the button for the floor.

Gauri gapes at him in shock. "So, you got in from front of your flat and we drove around for half an hour and dropped you back here?"

Omkara chuckles. "Your car was parked right in front of my building."

Gauri's mouth drops open hearing that. "Bhai and Bhabhi knew? And you guys fooled me?"

Omkara grins. "Yeah."

"You were so desperate." Gauri grins at him.

Omkara chuckles. "I saw your photo before, I had a crush on you then but then I felt I was betraying Shivaay's trust and I tried my best to ignore it. But when Shivaay told me he was thinking we were best suited..." Omkara stops as he grinned.

Hearing that, Gauri couldn't control herself and she moves to him and nervously keeps her lips on his. She was about to move back, when he pulls her close to him and hugs her, taking her lips in his and kissing her hungrily.

Hearing the beep indicating that the floor had reached, they quickly move back and the lift door opens. Blushing and smiling at each other, they walk out.

"You are staying so close to Bhavya then why did you come all the way to eat your food there?" Gauri asks him. "Did you come to see me?"

"Ha... ha..." Omkara laughs softly. "I am more comfortable asking Anika for food than Bhavya."

"Hmmm." Gauri nods.

"But I knew you would be there." Omkara tells her then looking at her, he tells her, "But I really don't know if I came to see you or for the food."

Gauri laughs hearing that.

*******

Where are you? Gauri messages Omkara as she fought her tears and waited for him at the airport.

On my way, stuck in traffic. Omkara replies.

Gauri sighs as she stood with Shivaay and Anika. She had finished check-in and dropping off luggage.

"He won't be able to get here on time, Gauri." Shivaay tells her gently.

"Where did he say they reached?" Anika asks as Omkara was coming with Bhavya and Rudra.

"I didn't ask that." Gauri replies sadly.

"I'll call Bhavya and see." Anika says and dials her number.

Shivaay hugs her, "It's okay, Gauri. You'll see him soon."

"He had some important work at office today, otherwise he would have come early." Gauri tells him.

"Are you more upset about leaving him or me?" Shivaay asks her frowning cutely.

"BHAI!" Gauri hits him feeling awkward.

Shivaay chuckles as he hugged her.

"Omkara will reach soon." Anika informs them with a smile.

"He will?" Gauri asks excitedly smiling.

Smiling, Anika tells her, "He got out of the car, and took the metro."

"He is so desperate." Shivaay teases Gauri.

Gauri laughs hearing.

"What all attitudes she showed in the beginning!" Anika teases her.

Gauri blushes hearing that.

"There he is!" Shivaay says spotting running towards them.

Gauri quickly turns around and sees him, and smiles in relief.

"Sorry... sorry." Omkara says as he came to a stop next to her.

Gauri nods as she fought her tears.

Seeing her ready to cry, he holds her hand, "Come here." Omkara says as he took her to the side a little away from Shivaay and Anika.

"I'll see you soon." Omkara promises her.

Gauri nods.

"My parents will call your parents tomorrow." Omkara tells her.

Gauri smiles hearing that. "Okay."

"Today, I'll ask Shivaay to talk to your parents. If possible, I'll also talk to them."

Gauri smiles happily hearing that. "Bhai was saying that he would prefer that we get married before Bhabhi gives birth so they can be free and participate in everything."

"That is good." Omkara smiles. "I'll tell my parents."

Gauri nods smiling.

"Send me your Indian number. I'll call you."

Gauri nods. "When will we meet again?"

"Soon." Omkara promises her. then leaning towards her, he kisses her forehead. "I love you." Omkara tells her.

"I love you." Gauri tells him smiling.

"AHEM!"

They turn back and sees Shivaay looking at them.

"Come." Gauri whispers to him embarrassed for having her brother watch their moment.

Soon, Gauri bids bye to Omkara, Shivaay and Anika and leaves.

As they watched Gauri go through immigration, Shivaay asks Omkara with a frown, "Did you just kiss my sister?"

Gauri turns to look at them after finishing her immigration and waves at them.

"I kissed my fiancé." Omkara replies as he gave her a flying kiss.

**** The End ****

I know this story sucked big time. I always wanted to write a story with Dubai in the backdrop because I love this place. But I hadn't planned the story and I just went along as I wrote it and I know, there was no flow or much interesting in it.

I was feeling completely blank as I tried to write a story, no idea or thoughts were coming to me. so, I am thinking of taking a break from writing. So, I might take a break if I am not getting any ideas for a new story.

Please do leave your comments and votes.

- Lazy