Location: Oberoi mansion

The mansion was decorated like a newly wed bride welcoming the new heir of its master . Velvet drapes framed the windows, fairy lights in the foyer and flowers decorated every nook and corner of the house. But nothing was more beautiful than the laughter that radiated from the insides of the mansion.

Leaning on the window of his room, he smiled looking at the moon. He closed his eyes to bask in the serenity remembering her smile, her hazel eyes and petal like lips. Ahh!! how he missed her these days, it has been a week since he last saw her. His private moment was disturbed by a booming voice from the door.

"Omkara .....!!! what are you doing here you are supposed to look after the gifts, greet the relatives a good-bye and then look after Anika.." scolded Jhanvi.

Omkara smiled at his mom and walked towards her holding her shoulders, he lazily said "Mom relax! Rudy is looking after it I just came to have a moment of respite. It has been a tiring day for all of us. You should take a break as well".

"Ahh!!! tell me about it", smiled Jhanvi looking at her son. I cannot believe you brothers grew up so fast. "I still remember Shivaay running behind his naughty friend Anika trying to pull her pony-tail and now they are all grown up, ready to welcome their first born. Pinky and Shakti are just so happy", she said with a wistful look on her face. "When are you going to give me that pleasure my dear??" Looking at the peaceful smile on her son's otherwise serious face she couldn't help but ask "So, what is the reason for the smile on your face... I hope it is about my future daughter in law", she teased.

Omkara answered with a chuckle, "Soon mom soon but for that she needs to know me first isn't it? I think I need to give you people some time to recover yourselves from the tiring ceremonies of baby shower of Anika then probably the first birthday of the little champ and then might I think about my marriage" he quipped.

Jhanvi looked at her son exasperated "Om!!! That's too late...I can't wait forever. You need to make things move faster beta. Kal ka kya pata ...what if I die early".

"MOM!!" Shouted Omkara, the smile on his face now replaced by a frown. "Acha khasa mood kharab kiya aapne... what is the need to talk about death today".

"Sorry Om I was just joking , I am sorry that I spoiled your mood" with a forlorn look on her face she continued "I miss your dad Om ...I wish to be with him sooner but before that I want you and Rudra settled in life with wives to look after you and your children to put you on your toes", she laughed. "Tej loved Anika, he would have been so happy today and being the competitive parent he is, he would have forced you to give him a grand-child immediately lest he would be left behind in the race with Shakti".

Omkara looked at the smile on his mom's face when she talked about his father Tej singh oberoi. He could help but feel guilty. His one wrong decision had costed him his father's life. He would do everything and anything to bring him back but sadly life doesn't give second chances.

Looking at the guilty look on Omkara's face and teary eyes Jhanvi cursed herself for her non-filter mouth. She just couldn't help not talk about her husband whenever she is happy. Today being Anika's baby shower function, she is too happy for her nephew Shivaay, who was her personal favorite among the three brothers and couldn't help but blabber and boast about it to every guest attending the function. Now after the day's tiring events when the guests were leaving had she got time to look back and think how happy her husband would have been seeing Omkara and Rudy looking over the celebrations as the responsible brothers especially he would be very proud of Omkara, the man he has become given the circumstances. In spite of the darkness that surrounded the Oberoi empire, he never let the darkness cloud his heart.

Keeping her hand on her son's cheek and wiping of the lone tear, she assured him "Let it go Omkara , it is not your fault beta, I know you have not overcome it but believe me Tej would be very proud of you looking at you now". Then immediately trying to decrease the melancholy, she said "Acha ye sab chodo, go help your brother Shivaay. Anika was giving him a pretty hard time with her mood swings by the time I came looking for you. Shivaay was close to tears" she laughed.

Omkara's smile returned in full swing imagining a crying Shivaay and fuming Anika. Yes mom!! I better rescue my brother. I'll just come, saying this he left the room to look for his best friend and brother.

"SHIVAAY!!! I asked for a simple pav bhaji can't you just let me have what I want instead of breathing down my neck every damn second of my life" Anika shouted at a visibly tired and frustrated Shivaay.

"Anika you are not supposed to eat anything unhealthy it is not good for the baby. You ate pav bhaji just yesterday and ended up vomiting your guts out in the morning why is it so hard for you to understand a simple instruction" told Shivaay patiently.

"Where is Omkara?? I want my best friend in my defense now. OM!!!! "She shouted.

Omkara was at the base of the stairs when he heard Anika shout for him. He rushed to his brother's room only to see him sitting on the couch holding his head and Anika standing before him hands on her hips ready to scream for him another time.

He was met by Rudy who also rushed to the room hearing Anika's scream. Deciding that it is time to diffuse Anika's anger and Shivaay's plight, the brothers walked into the room with a huge smile on their faces, ready to play their respective roles Rudra -the ever obedient Shivaay's brother and Omkara- the ever dependable best friend of Anika.

After half an hour of cajoling, pitying Anika and rebuking Shivaay the brothers collectively decided that Anika is to have ice cream now as compensation with a plan to have pav bhaji made by Omkara a week later.

While a grinning Anika enjoyed her flavor of ice cream , the brothers had an eye chat thanking each other and appreciating themselves for not going mad with the never ending drama.

"Om!" said Anika looking at her dewar. I am seriously pissed off with Shivaay and his never-ending tantrums.

"TANTRUMS !! ME!!" said Shivaay exasperated. Anika ignoring him continued "I want my Dewrani soon to give me company and stand by me when he ill-treats me".

Shivaay was about to argue when he was cut by an offended Omkara. "Anika! Why do you need a sister in law when I myself am in your team against Shivaay. Main akela kaafi huun to combat both Rudy and Shivaay".

"Aww Om. I know you are my ever dependable dewar unlike Rudy who is Shivaay's sidekick. But I need my "girl" friend to accompany me to shopping, chat house, movie nights and many more girly things".

"When are you bringing Gauri home??"

Listening to his angel's name Omkara's face broke into a grin .

Looking at his brother's love-struck face, Shivaay decides to tease... Does she even know you exist?? Wiping the grin off his brother's face.

"He is Omkara singh oberoi the second heir of the Oberois, of course she knows he exists" said Rudra proudly, while Shivaay and Omkara rolled their eyes. Their little brother thinks the world revolves around the Oberois and nothing else is more powerful than their family name.

Given he is the charming brother and the ladies' man of the family, people often mistake Rudra singh oberoi to be the carefree and irresponsible brother but they wouldn't know that he is the most cunning and name-respecting out of them. The youngest Oberoi, the body of Oberoi empire, wouldn't blink an eye before shooting the person down if he thinks them to be a treat to his family name or brothers. Shivaay singh oberoi on the other hand is the face of the Oberois giving the impression of strict and ruthless ruler of the empire while he in real is the family man amongst the brothers. And then there is Omkara singh Oberoi, the most dangerous of the brothers. As cool, mature and sensitive he is to his family, to the world he is the most ruthless leader who never gives second chances to people who stand in his way. He is essentially the mind of the Oberoi empire.

Anika is the beloved princess of the brothers. She being the daughter of Shakti and Tej singh oberoi's most trusted man Mohan Trivedi, grew up with them and has known them her entire life. While Shivaay is her husband, Omkara is her best friend and Rudra is her laadla brother.

The Oberoi empire established by late Prithvi singh Oberoi the grand-father of Shivaay, Omkara and Rudra, the then respected panchayat head of Bareilly flourished in the hands of Shakti and Tej singh oberoi . Owing to the monarchy and monsterity of the said Khandani people of Bareilly and the then circumstances, Tej singh oberoi was killed in the name sake honour killings and Shakti singh oberoi avenged his brother's death by killing Vikram Thakur. This led to a series of riots and disagreements amongst the two khandans of Bareilly – the Oberois and the Takurs. These two families have been arch enemies since two generations and fights, killings between the people supporting the families are as common as sunrise. With Shivaay taking over the reins two years back, the fights decreased reasonably owing to his non dispute nature. But danger always lurked in the corner with Kaali Thakur brother of deceased Vikram Thakur being their opponent. Kaali still awaits to avenge his beloved brother's death and take down the enemy given the slightest chance. Walking in his father's path is Daksh Thakur, the ever-obedient son and the now heir of the Thakur family. Both the families aren't at peace, constantly looking out for danger from their nemesis, while one wishes for the enmity to end, the other wishes for a "chance" to end the enemy.

'Chance is always powerful. Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish'

"The world doesn't revolve around the Oberois Rudy" said Shivaay. I wouldn't be surprised if Gauri doesn't know about us.

"Om, tell me more about her", asked Anika "When did you see her, how did you fall in love??"

Omkara reminisced his first meet with his angel with a fond smile and looked at Anika. You know everything Anika, I saw her a year back and fell in love.

"How unromantic of you Om, is that the way you start to describe a love story?? Where is the artist in you when I need him... and for your kind information you never said anything other than her name is Gauri, studied B.A economics and she is a dance teacher in our college."

"What else do you want me to say Anika ... She is a simple girl. The first time I saw her, she was dancing gracefully without a care for the world teaching and laughing with her students. She is the most beautiful girl I ever saw in my life" said Omkara with a dreamy sigh.

The words "beautiful" and "girl" piked Rudy's interest who immediately asked "Ohh beautiful? If she is half as beautiful as the girl in your paintings, then she must be bewitching" wiggling his eyebrows.

"Rudy !!" scolded Anika, "Bhabhi hai teri talk with respect."

"Ahh Bhabhi she isn't my Bhabhi till she marries Om. Till then its fair game."

"RUDY!!" shouts Omkara fuming , making Rudy raise his hands in surrender.

"Om" said Anika trying to cool him down, "you said she studied B.A economics right, Shivaay also told me that she is a gold medalist, then why is she working as a dance teacher in our college??"

"That's what I said Anika my angel is a beauty inside out. She gives importance to relations and feelings than riches of the materialistic world. She looks after her mother who doesn't agree to move away from their ancestral home where her dad passed-away. If she wished, she could have handed her mother to one of her relatives to make a better future in the city occasionally visiting her but she choose to stay by her mom respecting her wishes", said Omkara proudly.

"Awwwwwww" cooed his family making him blush.

"She finds happiness in small things life has to offer like talking and playing with school kids, feeding stray dogs, likes gardening and might I tell you again she dances like a dream" which in turn was followed by more teasing.

"Waah" exclaimed Rudy faking wonder phir to humari khoob jamegi I hate kids, Shivaay bhaiyya hates dogs and Anika bhabhi hates flowers.

"Oh Rudy!! I don't hate flowers I just don't like them in my hair" said Anika.

Okay that's enough its eight in the clock, let's eat dinner. Said Shivaay coming to his brother's rescue.

The family engaged in a playful banter at the dining table with Pinky, Jhanvi, Daadi serving while Shakti and younger generation praising the cooking skills of their respective moms, which was disturbed by Omkara's phone ringing.

Omkara looked at the caller id with a frown before answering it. When Shivaay questioned him, he replied its Dandi one of his most trusted men. Within minutes Omkara scrambled out of the chair cursing loudly.

While Rudy followed his brother wordlessly, Shivaay shouted for Om to make him stop. Seeing Anika's worried look Shivaay explained, "It must be about Gauri let me go Anika he won't wait".

"Shivaay I will come too please I need to be with her if she needs me" pleaded Anika. Since there is no time to convince her, Shivaay gives a reassuring nod to his family and took Anika with him.

"One of Gauri's colleagues misbehaved with her in college" explained a furious Omkara while they were on their way to Gauri's house. "She escaped him and returned home while the guy followed her and tried to molest her when Dandi came to her rescue. Let me get my hands on that bastard. How dare he touch her."

Shivaay and Rudy were equally angry and worried. knowing their brother's temper, the scene was not going to be any good for Gauri or for that matter them. Angry Omkara singh oberoi is a force not to be reckoned with. They looked at a worried Anika reassuringly though they weren't sure if it was a good idea to bring her with them.
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Location : Outside Sharma house

On reaching the spot, Omkara ran out of the car towards a scared Gauri crying in the arms of her mother. If Omkara was furious till then he was raging now. He reached her in a few seconds and asked breathlessly "Gauri!! Are...are you okay..."

Gauri looked at Omkara confused and asked "Who are you??"

"I'm Omkara...Omkara singh Oberoi... please say you are okay" he repeated worriedly. Her tears pulled his heart out squeezing it and the pain was too intolerable. He searched around to look for the pest responsible for her tears.

"Dandi!!" he yelled "Where is the bastard"

Few of his men dragged a very reluctant man towards him who on seeing him whispered 'Omkara' in shock and fear.

"Oh so you know me" uttered Omkara menacingly.

"I know you, please leave me I'm sorry I didn't know she was your girl. I will never come near her please let me go this one time."

"Ohh you don't need to worry about coming close to her again. You should have to live for that" said Omkara before punching the daylights out of the guy making him scream.

Omkara continued to punch the guy kicking him in his stomach "How dare you even think of touching her you bastard... she is mine .. do you get it... She.IS.Mine" he yelled punctuating every word with a kick.

Hearing to the screams, Gauri who was silent till then found her voice and shouted. "Stop it !!! that's enough" Hearing Gauri's scream, Anika started to move towards her when she was stopped by Shivaay "Anika now is not the time for introductions stay by my side for now" saying this he looked at Rudy who ran to his brother trying to stop him.

Omkara was unstoppable his knuckles were bleeding and throbbing, still he didn't stop punching the guy. Finally having enough he stood up and reaching for his gun, he unlocked it pointing it towards the guy.

"What the hell are you doing. Stop it now" screamed Gauri. "Please stop it now".

"Om" shouted Shivaay "Stop it. Not here, not before Gauri"

"She needs to know Shivaay. She needs to know that she need not fear anyone until Omkara singh Oberoi is alive"

Anika again tried to free herself to go towards Gauri when Shivaay turned her towards himself, her back facing Gauri and hugged her tight. One look at her husband and Anika hugged him wordlessly. If Shivaay doesn't want her to see then she as well not do it but she asked her husband worried for Gauri. Om wants her to see it Anika. You know him if he wants something he will make it happen. Anika hugged shivaay worried for her dewar and dewrani.

Three shots rang out minutes later accompanied by ear splitting screams of Gauri following which she collapsed in the arms of her mother.

Omkara was quick in lifting her up in his arms and rushing into the house to place her on her bed. He looked at the scared face of Gauri's mother and explained "Maaji, I will send a doctor she must have fainted due to shock please don't worry I won't let anything happen to her. Im sorry we had to meet like this but I'm Omkara and I'm in love with your daughter."

Gauri's mother was too shocked to respond to him.

When he realized he wont be getting a response from her anytime soon, he gently said " I am leaving now , please call me if you need me. I will be here within minutes. I am leaving Dandi here for your help".

Giving a last look towards a very pale and unconscious Gauri, he left the place not before kissing her forehead and safely tucking her in bed. 

Omkara was giving instructions to Dandi when they were returning home in their car, while Shivaay securely gathered Anika in his arms running his hand through her hair.

"I'm sorry you had to see that Anika" said Omkara regretfully.

"Gauri shouldn't have witnessed it as well Om"

"She had to Anika, you know I don't sugar coat things I love her and she has to know what I am and what I'm capable of doing. I cannot see her scared for anything in her life. She needs to know that no matter what, danger should pass through me before touching her".

Anika hugged him without arguments. She knew he was right to certain extent but she wished circumstances were different. Omkara hugged her tight closing his eyes. At the moment he needed comfort and no one can give it better than his best friend.

Shivaay looked at the pair with concern filled eyes while Rudra remained silent lost in his thoughts. 
*********************************
So,  that's the first shot

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With lots of love ....signing off...
Your Soujanya