Location: Sharma house

Blood !!..... blood splashed everywhere on the walls, on the floor and ceiling of her room. She looked at her hands covered in blood and screamed. Wanting to get out of the place she ran into darkness without looking back. After a while she reached a watersmeet. One of the paths lead her to a tunnel which seemed to have a light at the end of it and the other path led her deeper into a forest. Gauri contemplated for a while then deciding , she walked towards the tunnel. The path seemed to be never ending and the light appeared to be nothing but a mirage . She almost took a u turn when she saw someone move on the other end of the tunnel. Relieved, she called for help. The man who had his back to her , continued to move forward. Gauri increased her pace to reach him but the distance between them only seemed to be increasing . Fatigued and breathless she reached out to him and managed to grab his hand. The man stopped and turned to face her. Gauri looked at his face which was covered in darkness. "Please get me out of here!!" she pleaded taking his hand. The man opened his blood shot eyes and smirked at her. SHE IS MINE he said coldly making Gauri scream in terror.

"Gauri!! Gauri utho beta... please wake up my dear , its just a bad dream", said gauri's mother Suman worriedly.

Gauri opened her eyes to look at her surroundings. Only when she found herself in the safe confines of her house and had looked into the eyes of her mother did she calmed down her thudding heart.

"I'm sorry maa, did I wake you up", she apologized.

"No dear, I wasn't completely asleep when I heard your screams and rushed to your room. You were doing so well past two weeks that I was shocked to hear you scream again. What happened dear is it the same dream??" She queried .

Gauri could only nod her head at that statement. Two months!! Its been two months after that fateful night which turned her life upside down. Two months since she saw his blood shot eyes ... two months after his declaration of love for her. Gauri shuddered again remembering the coldness in his voice. "She is mine" he had said. Heaving a sigh, she turned to her worried mother. "I am alright maa you go to sleep now. I was a bit tired today and slept early". She smiled, reminiscing the events of the day. It was the annual function of her college and she had been prepping up her students for their performance. They did extremely well today making her proud. After their performance, she along with her students went for a samosa party when she felt his presence. Omkara singh oberoi ...the name strangely gave her a sense of security in contrast to his cold voice which send chills down her spine. Where did he vanish for the past two months ? she wondered . Did he see that she doesn't love him and decided to leave her alone? Or is he waiting for her to come to him on her own. Well, if that is the case, he would be waiting forever . Gauri was still in deep thoughts when she was disturbed by her mother.

"I am sorry Gauri, if not for me you wouldn't be stuck here in this village . Neither would have Omkara seen you in your college nor would he have fallen in love with you as he claimed" ...said Suman remorsefully "But beta..." she continued ... "he never showed up after the incident . what he did that day was in the heat of the moment. He is not a monster dear. The Oberoi family is a well-respected family in our village. They build many schools, colleges and orphanages not only in our village but also in the neighboring villages as well. I agree that they break the law at times but all in good faith".

"Maa!! what are you saying and why are we discussing Oberois now?? Are you seriously considering marrying me off to him?? Bloody hell! he just came, declared his love for me and shot a person dead in front of me. Who is he to take law into his hands?? And you want me to marry him??".

"I am not saying that you need to marry him Gauri ...don't put your words into my mouth" ...she quipped smiling. When she saw Gauri glaring at her she explained ... "i am just saying that you need to get that image of him out of your head only then would you get over your nightmares. Do not forget that if not for him, we would have been disgraced by the whole village with what that moron did to you. As cold as he was to that pest, I can't ignore the fact that he was so warm and caring towards you ".

Gauri could not counter that. No matter how much she denied, it was true that if not for him, she would have been tarnished beyond damage. Dandi bhaiyya his loyal man never left her alone after the incident. Though initially she made a fuss about it and tried to make them leave, she eventually understood that he was just following orders. She liked Dandi and accepted that he was looking out only for her safety.

Her humble house was near to the village lake and the shiv mandir. Whenever she steps out of her house, she often felt that she was being constantly followed. Though her dandi bhaiyya assured her otherwise, she is not a kid to believe him. There were the same faces coming to the temple everyday which she never saw before the incident, same faces who went to feed homeless dogs along with her, same faces she would magically encounter subtly looking at her and watching out for her when she goes to the school nearby to spend time with the school kids.

Till when is this going to continue?? She wondered. Would he ever come in front of her again? But then did she really want to see him again. She was not sure of that. One encounter left her restless with nightmares she wouldn't want to think of what would happen if he kills anyone before her again. Sighing heavily ,she asked her mother to go to sleep , rejecting her offer to sleep beside her for the night. She settled again on her bed welcoming sleep with thoughts of Omkara still in her mind.

Gauri was taught to be independent early in her life after all, she was an orphan, adopted by Suman sharma and Shiv sharma on her twelfth birthday. Her father Shiv Sharma who had been a priest in shiv mandir, was a kind man at heart . He never failed to instill the idea of hope and belief in her heart making her believe in herself and her Shankarji. Her adoptive parents raised her with all the love and respect she deserved never saying no to anything she asked. Since her village was not developed early in her childhood, her parents left their ancestral home to go live in the city for her education. It was only few years back that her father wanted to return to their home. Unfortunately, her father's sudden death made her the sole bread earner of the family. When her mother requested that she wants to stay in the village to be close to her father's soul, Gauri obliged. The day she got the job of a dance teacher in Prithviraj institute of arts and technology with a reasonable salary and chance to spend more time with students which is her favourite norm, she felt contended. She believed that everything happens for a reason and nothing happens unless her Shankarji wants it to happen. So, does that mean that her Shankarji wants Omkara in her life?? Did he send her to save her from destruction that day?? That thought had been bugging her mind since some time now. Guess she will find it out soon.

The next morning, Gauri decided to go to the Shiv mandir and talk to her friend, her Shankarji. As usual, Dandi accompanied her and she saw the familiar faces in the temple greeting her. Gauri smiled in return and looked at her Shankarji's idol. She closed her eyes and prayed for her nightmares to go away, she prayed for her mother, her students and little friends at the school. She also prayed for her Dandi bhaiyya and the people who are trying to protect her , hidden to her yet felt by her.

Gauri was sitting on the steps of the temple, lost in thoughts, which were interrupted by a voice.

"Gauri is that you !! what a pleasant surprise" he said with a charming smile settling beside her .

Arjun Shastry, the handsome mathematics professor of their college, who joined a month back had been the talk of the staffroom since the first day he joined the institute. He was polite, good looking and cordial to everyone and an eligible bachelor which fulfilled the criteria for most of the female professors and students to gossip and dream about him. One of her students also quipped that he seems to be interested in Gauri which she smilingly ignored having no interest whatsoever in the good-looking professor. But now that he himself came and sat beside her like a well-known friend in spite of the fact that they hardly had a conversation before, Gauri began to question his intensions. He better don't mess things up for himself, she thought looking at Dandi who was already frowning at him.

Seeing Gauri looking at Dandi, Arjun casually asked "Who is he Gauri ? Is he your brother? You always seemed to be with him ".

Gauri smiled forcefully at Arjun and just nodded. She looked at Dandi and made the necessary introductions.

"Hello Dandi", greeted Arjun extending his hand towards him while Dandi only glared in return. Trying to hide his embarrassment, Arjun laughed and looked at Gauri. "Your brother seems to be very protective of you. Are you his only sibling? You live with your mother right?"

Gauri not wanting to prolong the conversation, just nodded in answer with a forced smile on her face. She was about to tell him that she should return home when Arjun asked her for a moment of privacy. Dandi was about to object when she cut him.

"Dandi bhaiyya, just for 5 minutes can you please leave us?" She asked politely trying to diffuse the tension in the air. Dandi looked visibly angry and ready to argue when one of his "friends" handed over a phone to him. Listening to the other end, he slowly nodded and left the place, leaving a gaping Gauri behind.

What was that supposed to mean? Who was the person on call? Was it Omkara? How the hell did he know that she needed privacy? What does he think of himself now that he can dictate her life? Did he just give her "permission" to talk to her colleague. Is it going to be this way now? She having to ask permission for everything in her life ?? that thought angered her.

Turning to Arjun she almost snapped "What was it that you want to talk??"

Arjun gave his characteristic charming smile before dropping the bomb. "I don't want to beat around the bush Gauri so I will come straight to the point. I LOVE YOU GAURI" he said making her gasp. "I have liked you since the day I saw you. I talked to my parents about you and they were equally happy to know that I intend to spend my life with an independent woman who is beautiful both inside out", he continued. "I know it is all sudden and crazy for you but please give it a thought. Our families can easily merge with each other, enjoy each others company, we are both teachers and enjoy our time with students and are passionate about our jobs. We are independent and together we can build a perfect future for ourselves. Please give me a call if you are interested, so that I can send my parents to your house for asking your hand in marriage" he concluded.

Gauri is shocked would be an understatement. She never thought that he would propose for a marriage out of the blue. Did Omkara listen to this so-called proposal? She prayed to God to keep Arjun alive. What if Omkara kills him too. Then she reprimanded herself why is she thinking of Omkara now out of all people. Shouldn't she be thinking of how her mother would react, will she like Arjun , would they have a nice future as he mentioned?? Since when did she start giving so much importance to Omkara that now she thinks of his approval?? Irritated with herself she turned to Arjun and spoke.

"Arjun ji... I never thought of you in such a way" she clarified. " I am happy that you spoke your mind and placed your feelings out for me clearly instead of 'stalking' and 'stalling' like some people who claim to be in love do" , she added. "I will definitely give it a thought".

Arjun smiled happily at her response and gave her his number to call him to let him know her decision soon. Saying this, he left the place giving her a final smile.

Within minutes Dandi joined her and they started for home.

"Madam" Dandi started nervously but was cut off by Gauri.

"Dandi bhaiyya, how many times did I ask you to call me by my name?? I am calling you bhaiyya isn't it. Shouldn't you consider me your sister too and if you consider me so, then shouldn't you be addressing me by my name??", she glared at him.

"Ok ok, I'm sorry Gauri but please listen to me. What you did just now isn't right."

"what exactly did I not do right Bhaiyya? Can you please elaborate?"

"Gauri you just said to that moron that you will consider giving him a chance to marry you" said Dandi. "Sir will be so upset" he added worriedly.

"Which 'sir' are you talking about bhaiyya? where is he? and didn't I ask you for a moment of privacy? Where is the privacy when you people were evesdropping on our conversation?" she asked making Dandi gulp.

"Tell your sir that I don't need to ask his permission to get married and I definitely don't need people stalking me every second of my life" she angrily declared and went inside the house without letting him reply.

The rest of the day went uneventfully. Gauri decided to talk to her mother later at night regarding Arjun's proposal to know her thoughts. Somehow she didn't like the idea herself. May be her mother will help her take a decision. She indeed needs to marry then why not Arjun considering that they belong to the same class of society, same profession and passion. She returned home early in the afternoon due to a slight headache and knocked on the door. She was received by a smiling Richa Chaturvedi, best friend.

"Richa!! How are you and when did you come??" asked Gauri hugging her friend, happy to have her here ,especially now that she needed her bestie's energy filled spirit to get her mind off 'certain things'.

Richa reciprocated the hug and said joyfully "guess who is going to get married" wiggling her eyebrows.

Gauri was so happy at the news and asked her to fill in all the details. For the next two hours, the two friends talked their hearts out sitting by the side of the window in Gauri's room and sipping from a bottle of sprite and gobbling a piece of chocolate cake.

"Wow so you say that this Omkara killed a man for you, publicly declared his love for you, protects you from every evil by having you followed by his men, yet he kept his distance without imposing himself on you . Ahh! how romantic of him" sighed Richa dreamily, while Gauri gaped at her best friend.

"What did you have for your breakfast Richa, dhatura ??" glared Gauri. "How do you find this romantic? He is a criminal, a law breaker , he stalks people and he encroached my privacy."

"Well, it depends on the way you take things Gauri. He really seemed to be taken by you that he goes to such lengths only because he is worried for your safety".

"Can no one understand my problem here? He is a law breaker and I'm a teacher. What example am I going to set for my students?? We cannot be together Richa. And he claims that he loves me he hasn't proved it yet" says Gauri irritated.

Richa sighs understanding her best friend's thoughts and falls silent. Seeing Gauri looking at the floor and her mood turning sour, she decided to lighten the atmosphere.

"Ok tell me Gauri how does he look?" Gauri was about to answer her with a slap on her arm when she is interrupted by the door-bell ringing. She was about to go open the door when her mother said that she would do it.

Turning to Richa, she scolded "why does it matter to you if he is handsome? will it change anything ??"

"Of course, it will" said Richa and then paused.

"Gauri??"

"Hmmm"

"Uhh... is he tall? Well built, handsome with shoulder length hair??"

Hearing to her very specific questions, Gauri looked at her friend who nodded her head signaled towards the bedroom door making Gauri gulp. She hesitantly turned towards the said direction and her breath caught in her throat.

There stood Omkara singh Oberoi in all glory gazing at her as if she is his whole world.

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Omkara looked at the angel before him, giving her his undivided attention. He needed to fill his eyes, heart and brain with her picture , needed to breathe in the same air as her and feel her essence . It has been two months sixteen days and fourteen hours since he last saw her and he missed her terribly. His first instinct on seeing her now is to hug her and never let her go away from him but he didn't want to scare her away. He decided to stay away from her when he knew about her nightmares lest she would see him as a monster and the last thing he wanted to see was,  fear of him in her eyes. He indeed felt guilty when his mother rebuked him for scaring her in their first ever meet but if he went back in time and the circumstances repeated , he might do the same thing because he is what he is and she has to accept him the way he is 'a lawbreaker'. Seeking work as an excuse, he went away from his family for some much needed 'de-weeding' in the neighboring village when he came to know about Kaali Thakur's disturbing activities. Though it took a bit longer than he judged, he is happy that he came back right in time for his angel's dance performance on their college annual day and his best friend's delivery date. Anika would have his head if he had missed it. In a week or so, they would be welcoming the heir of the then Oberoi clan. He was also relieved that his to-be mother in law Suman does not hate him and he hoped that Gauri would come to accept him soon. He was ecstatic to know that Gauri talked about him to his mother and wanted to meet him if he considered her words to Dandi today morning. "Where is your sir? she asked his man" it surely means she wondered where he was and probably wanted to talk to him or else scold him for invading her privacy. Did it not? He would gladly listen to her scolding him if that's the only way she wants to talk to him.

Gauri saw the handsome man before her and for a moment forgot that he is the same man who killed a person right in front of her eyes. He couldn't have done that. could he?? Is it really her Omkara standing before her? Wait what??? When did he become 'her Omkara'? What is wrong with you Gauri ...she scolded herself. Normal girls would love guys who gave them wet dreams not nightmares. Wet dreams, love and Omkara? Urghhh Gauri focus. What is he doing here again? Did he come to talk? Where was he all these days?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a throat clearing followed by an embarrassing statement by her best friend. "Take a picture guys, it would last longer" she quipped. Gauri closed her eyes and looked at the floor asking it to open up and swallow her. Richa then turned to Gauri and mimicked her saying "will it change anything?" well, surely it does she concluded. Gauri was sure she would have turned into a tomato by now.

Omkara had a hard time controlling himself to not take Gauri into his arms and kiss her senseless right this moment seeing the blush on her cheeks in response to her friend's comment. Trying to come to her rescue he quickly said a 'Hi Gauri' unsurely.

She responded with a small smile and hi. Omkara looked at her friend and returning his gaze to his girl said, "Gauri if you don't mind can we go out for a while? I understand if you are not comfortable to go out now and prefer to talk here but in whichever place you want, we really need to talk."

Gauri thought for a second before responding with a yes agreeing to go out with him.

"Okay, I will wait for you outside then" saying this he left her room.

After a few minutes, when Gauri started to get ready, Richa started her usual teasing. "Gauri are you sure you don't like him? Because by the way you both were staring at one another, I almost thought you would be kissing each other if I were not there with you here".

Gauri had a vivid image of him kissing her and gasped inaudibly. "Stop putting ideas into my head Richa", she scolded.

Richa just laughed and helped her friend arguing that she should look beautiful for her first date. Knowing that it is useless to even scold her, Gauri kept mum and got ready. She informed her mom that she was going with Omkara and would be back soon.

Richa advised her friend to have a great time, get to know each other and asked her to give a fair chance to him before making a choice.

Once she was outside her house, she instinctively searched for Dandi. As if understanding her, Omkara informed her that Dandi was needed in the mansion. They would be going to a small café nearby and Dandi would return by the time they came back.

Ofcourse why would she need Dandi when Omkara himself was with her, she mused.

He opened the car door for her and tucked her in before getting into the driver side. The ride was silent except for the old hindi melodies from the stereo.

Once settled in the café, Omkara began to talk.

"Gauri, I came to know that you are angry with me for invading your privacy but believe me its for your own safety. After the incident when you first saw me, I mean when ......"

"you declared your love for me?"

"Uggh yes... when people got to know what you mean to me, I had to do what is needed to protect you. You might know now that I belong to the family of Oberois and we have enemies waiting to hurt us and the ones we love" he said looking at her. "Please know that I meant no disrespect towards you". "It is my way of showing that I Love You and I will always protect you Gauri".

What day is it today? Is it world's love declaration day? What is with people ambusing her randomly and proposing her today she wondered. Nevertheless, she explained "Omkaraji , I didn't get the chance before but now that we are talking , I want to thank you for everything you did for me. I owe you my life. If not for you that day I would have been...."

"Nothing would have ever happened to you Gauri" he said with conviction. "I would have never allowed it to happen".

"I am sorry that you had to see me that way and I wish circumstances were different but I believe life does not give second chances and whatever happened might have happened for a reason. If you haven't gathered it till now, I will spell it out for you. I love you and I intend to marry you whenever you ask me to. Since we met under unfortunate circumstances, you never got to know me the way I wanted you to know me. So, my question is would you give us a chance? Do you want to know me??".

Gauri looked at the man before her and asked herself. Would she want to know him? Will she be able to let him go without fully knowing him?? She looked into his eyes and all she could feel was unadulterated love for her. One thing she knew about Omkara was that he was brutally honest . Now, she knows that he really does love her. Can a person love another purely without expecting anything in return and kill people on the side for that love? Is that why he did what he did that day?? Did she mistake him to be the monster all these days?? The Omkara with bloodshot eyes in her nightmares and the Omkara sitting before her having his heart in his eyes are miles apart. She would definitely want to know 'the now' him.

She made a decision and told him so "I'd like to know you Omkaraji. I'm ready to forget what happened and give this a chance. I hate to have regrets in my life and I don't want to regret that I didn't get to know you better. You can tell me about yourself and I will tell you about me. Can we do that?"

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HOLA.....

Done with the second shot.

What do you think my dear readers will their ship sink or float?

Let me know what you think.

Your soujanya signing off........ lots of love