She stared at the glaring lights that were hung on the Christmas tree. They looked okay. The tree was right in place, with tiny bells and reindeers hanging here and there. On top, adorned the star, completing the tree.

Then why did she feel so melancholic. It was Christmas. The season of joy! The season of love!

Oh. Love..

Love. That had to come up. It was Christmas. The season of love. All that she lost, was altogether a season!

Her fingers were occassionally caressing the end of her pashmina, trying to buy some heat in the chilling weather. She took a deep breathe before standing up and opening the door of her room as she walked in to the group of people.

"Gauri!" A smile took it's place on her lips as she heard Bhavya calling her. They were at the Christmas party in Bhavya's house. With her parents away, Bhavya had seized the opportunity to call in a few friends.

But the party was not what Gauri came in for. Her eyes had been searching for Bhavya's elder brother from start. That boy had charmed her beyond words!

"Hey! Who are you looking for?" Bhavya's question made her a bit conscious about her actions and she shook her head. "Nothing. I was looking at everything. It's nice." She said, genuinely appeased by the decorations.

"I know. Oh but the credit goes to Bhai" she said sipping on her glass of juice. Gauri nodded as she hid the smile that threatened to break out. Ofcourse it was him!

"Gauri.. hey!" Her breathe slowed down for a second as she heard that voice. Oh that voice! How it managed to cocoon her! Her eyes went up as she looked at him, his eyes, and like every other time, those depths enchanted her.

"Hi Om!" She said with a small smile, her breathe still caught up in her throat. He smiled and looked around, and then back at her as he spoke, "So, what do you think of the place?"

"Oh it's nice. Everything looks good." She said in appreciation, her mind running at light speed processing his words. Whatever he said, or whatever he did, felt surreal.

Maybe it was just the rush of the first love. She didn't care. It was good. She liked him. But he was Bhavya's brother and she couldn't cross that boundary. Besides, why would he choose her!

"Ah well, except for the Christmas tree. Something's amiss." Om said as he looked at the tree. Gauri followed his line of sight and frowned and walked towards the tree, examining it all way.

"No.. it looks fine. Or maybe.." she stalled as she searched her pocket for something. "..you could add this" she said as she forwarded him the tiny embellishment. "Clover leaf?" His brow arched and he smiled at her in confusion.

"Yeah.. it's hope after all. And Christmas is all about hopes and dreams." She said as she stared at his face, a little too long that he might've noticed. "Right. So where do we place this?" She shrugged and his gaze wandered all around the tree searching for a spot.

"How 'bout here?" He asked as he hung it right beneath the star, on a small branch, lighted enough to catch the eye. "Nice" she smiled looking at the spot he made for it.

They looked back at eachother as neither of them spoke. The voices in the background seemed to fade away for her, as she kept looking at those eyes in admiration, stealthy enough to escape being caught. She was the first to look away.

Giving him one last smile, she walked off towards Bhavya, leaving him behind, not bothering to take a second glance. She was too scared to get herself hooked in the depths of his eyes.

"Gauri!" She heard Bhavya calling her as her lips automatically rose up to a smile. "How are you?" Gauri asked as she hugged her. "I'm good. It's been so long since I last saw you! God, you've changed so much" Bhavya exclaimed as she looked at Gauri.

She smiled at that. It was true. She had lost weight, her hair was longer, and she no longer kept it in a pony tail. "Open hair suits you a lot!" Bhavya said and Gauri laughed.

"So how's everyone at home?" Gauri asked, in a hope to know something about him. "Oh they're all good. Bhai's here by the way" her heart might've skipped a beat when she heard that. Bhavya was saying something but Gauri's mind was suddenly clouded.

He was here. She had thrown a Christmas party in order to get her mind off some things. But no! He had to be there. As if the news of his engagement wasn't enough.

She talked a bit with Bhavya before walking away to meet other guests. After a while, she went back to her room, now that the door was kept open, there were few people in there too. Not too much, but enough for a small hustle.

She walked over to the Christmas tree finding an empty space there. "Gauri?" She turned around as soon as that voice reached her ears. There he stood, with a small smile lingering on his lips as always.

He had grown out his hair. They were long, almost touching his shoulders. His beard was perfectly trimmed. The boyish charm was now replaced with the maturity of a man.

"Om.. hey! How're you?" She asked trying to sound as normal as possible. Why was it so hard to hold a conversation with him!

"I'm good. How have you been? We haven't met in a long time."

"I'm fine. Work got us all busy"

"Right!" He chuckled looking out of the window.

"So, I heard you got engaged." She said as she looked down. Her grip tightened on the pashmina waiting for him to say something.

"No. I was almost engaged."

"Huh?"

"There was no engagement. It was too far from being finalised" he said and her eyes shot up. "Why?" She immediately regretted asking that. Who would ask someone such personal questions!

"Oh, I'm in love with someone." Her smile faltered for a nanosecond as she heard that. He was in love. He was in love with someone else.

The power some words hold; they break you like nothing!

Neither of them spoke after that. He quietly observed her before moving his gaze to the tree. "Something's amiss, don't you think?" He asked as he looked at it from top to bottom.

She shrugged as she looked at it. He dug his pocket and pulled out something that was quick to adorn the spot beneath the star. Gauri's eyes shot up in surprise as she saw what it was.

"Clover leaf?"

He smiled as he bent down to her height staring into her eyes. "Why do you think I kept that?"

Confusion was visible on her face.

"Who do you think I'm in love with?"

Her confusion was soon replaced with realisation as her eyes widened.
Om couldn't help but chuckle at her animated expressions.

"Wha- but- when.."

"Eight years, Gauri"

Omkara stared at the clover leaf embellishment that rested peacefully on the tree. His eyes went back to searching for its owner. Oh there she was!

If counting smiles gained money, he would've been a millionaire by now. That's how much he observed his sister's friend. It all started when Bhavya brought in Gauri for some project and she mistakenly entered his room instead of Bhavya's.

He had been observing her since then and now it was her final year at college. She would soon go away.

A sigh escaped his lips at that thought. He was currently pursuing his last year at post graduation and he too had to go away soon. They would be in separate paths.

His eyes went back at the clover leaf. Hope; it symbolised hope, good luck. He looked around to see if someone was checking before taking the embellishment down and slipping it into his pocket.

"I guess my sister's friend is also fond of me?"

She chuckled as she reeled back from the shock. The tricks life plays!

His hands slowly slipped into hers' in a soft grip as they looked out of the window. Christmas; the season of love and happiness.

Hey all! It's an update after a very long time. I'm sorry for the delay. Guess writer's block is real! This one's a last minute wrap with no much detailing.
I'm not too sure how it has turned out. Sorry for any errors.

With one more chapter, I'm wrapping up this collection. Hoping to see y'all around with another book some day.

Thank you for reading and leaving your remarks out there. I truly appreciate them.

Do let me know your thoughts on this one.

Wishing y'all a Merry Christmas 🎄.

Thank you.