Rikara One Shot Story Collections I

Dreaming of You

Thanks to all for voting and commenting on the previous story.

One important thing, my last story, My Adorable Darling, I kinda forgot to wrap up the watch track, so I had edited the story and just added two lines regarding Om ordering the watch online for her. it kind of slipped my mind, sorry about that.

Months ago, I was watching Malayalam movie Shubhayathra on TV and I kinda got the idea for this story. This story has no connection to that movie, just that the idea came to me when I was watching that.

Title from a book by Lisa Kleypas

"You heard Nani." Jhanvi gently tells Om.

Om nods sadly.

"We know it is your life... but..." Tej says hesitantly.

"Why me? why not Priyanka?" Om asks feeling helpless.

Jhanvi keeps her hand on his shoulder. "You're her favorite grandchild, and her eldest grandchild."

"What does my marriage have to do with her agreeing for her operation?"

"She feels that she might not get to see you married."

Om helplessly looks at her. "But this is not right."

"We know." Tej sadly agrees.

"Om, we don't have much time." Jhanvi gently reminds him.

"Fine, do whatever you have to." Om gives in and walks away upset.

**********

That evening, Om walks into his house and finds his parents. They gesture him to join them and he walks towards them. He slows down seeing the photos with them.

"Will you take a look at all these photos? And if you liked any of them, we could go and see the girl." Jhanvi requests him.

Om sits on the couch as he took the photos from her and started looking through the photos without any interest.

"You didn't like any?" Jhanvi asks sadly, realizing what they were doing to him. it was not right to force him into marriage but like her husband and son, she was helpless.

Om shrugs disinterestedly.

"Maybe if you could tell me what type of a girl you want, then I would look for that." Jhanvi asks him.

Om thoughtfully starts chewing on his inner cheek as he wondered what to tell them.

"You would have some expectations from your partner."

"Someone like Gauri." Om hesitantly whispers.

"Gauri? Priyanka's friend?" Jhanvi asks curiously.

"Yes."

"Why like Gauri? Why not Gauri?" Tej asks confused. "We'll take the proposal for Gauri."

"She has an elder sister. She is not married." Om tells him shaking his head.

"Hmmmm."

Hearing his father, Om looks up and sees his parents studying him silently. Having enough, he quickly gets up and offers the photos to his mother, "You decide. It doesn't matter who it is. You both decide." Then without waiting for further discussion, he walks off.

**********

The next day, Om was walking out when he notices Priyanka and Gauri walking in. He slows his pace as he slyly looked at Gauri. Gauri smiles seeing him.

"Hi." Gauri says with a smile.

"Hi." Om smiles at her.

Om was about to stop to talk to her when she nods at him and continues to walk off with his sister. Om sighs as he walked on then stops noticing his mother sitting nearby and curiously watching him. He hurries off without saying anything.

**********

"Who was that?" Harshvardhan asks Nayantara as she joined him at the breakfast table, hanging up the phone.

"It was Jhanvi Oberoi." Nayantara informs him. "They wanted Gauri to marry their son."

"Omkara?" Gauri asks shocked looking up from her plate.

Nayantara nods.

"But for me?"

"Yeah, Jhanvi Oberoi's mother is not well, and she wants to see Omkara married."

"But me?" Gauri asks shocked though her heart was beating fast in excitement.

"Yeah!" Nayantara replies in surprised exasperation. "I told her that till Anika is married we are not even thinking of your marriage."

"Why did you say that?" Harshvardhan asks her shocked.

"What do you mean by that?" Nayantara asks him shocked.

"We should have talked about this before you said no."

"What is there to talk?"

Harshvardhan turns to Gauri and asks her, "Have you talked to Omkara?"

"Not much." Gauri replies confused at the question.

"I've heard good things about him." Harshvardhan informs her. "What do you think about him?"

"He is nice."

"What are you talking about?" Nayantara asks him shocked.

Harshvardhan turns to Nayantara and replies calmly, "Gauri got such a good proposal and why did you say no?"

"Should I have said yes then?"

"After talking to Gauri, yes."

"What are you saying? Have you gone crazy?" Nayantara asks him exasperated.

"You are the crazy one. Gauri got such a good proposal. Maybe one of the best. Such a good, well to do family. And an equally good boy. And Gauri also likes Omkara, so what right do we have to say no? what reason do we have?"

"Reason? Right? Anika is not married!"

"So? Just because Anika is not married, we will refuse Gauri her good fortune?"

"They said they can't wait for Anika's marriage. They were talking about marriage in a week."

Gauri who was gaping at her parents, felt sad hearing that. She wondered why she was reacting like that. She never thought of Omkara like that. He was always Priyanka's big brother... then why was she feeling all these new feelings?

"Think about it, Nayantara... how many stories we know about girls suffering after marrying into the wrong family? Nowadays, to get a good life partner and a family is nothing short of a miracle. And this is one of the best proposal we could get for Gauri, and they had come asking for Gauri. We know the family and Omkara, Gauri knows them... we should think about this."

"NO! What about Anika?"

"There is no rule that children should be married in the order they were born. Just because Anika is not married, we shouldn't refuse Gauri a good life. And what guarantee is there that we would get such good proposal for Gauri later?"

"Such things are not done!" Nayantara says furiously then turning to Gauri she asks her, "Do you want to marry now?"

"Don't scream at her." Harshvardhan tells her sternly, then turning to Gauri, asks her gently, "What do you think, Gauri?"

"If I get married now then Jeeji might not get good proposal, so, no."

"HAPPY?" Nayantara asks him.

Harshvardhan sighs as he looked at Nayantara in irritation, she had heard what Gauri said, she didn't hear what Gauri didn't say.

Harshvardhan was about to talk to Gauri when his mobile starts ringing. "It's Tej Oberoi." Harshvardhan informs them and without waiting for a reply he gets up from the table.

"Now, don't give him any word!" Nayantara calls out to him.

Harshvardhan turns to her and tells her, "You're her mother, Nayantara. I wouldn't even dream of taking a decision concerning our daughter, without consulting you and Gauri first."

Nayantara was too dense to recognize the stab in his words.

Gauri nervously sat as she picked on her food. She wasn't sure what she was feeling. She never saw Omkara like that, he was always Priyanka's brother. But now, it felt as if she was going to lose something precious. And she knew her father's words on never getting a proposal as good as Omkara's would be true, because from now on, every guy would be judged against the handsome, soft spoken, gentleman and ever smiling Omkara.

"What did you tell him?"

Hearing her mother, Gauri quickly looks up to see her father walk back.

"He is saying, they are ready for a secret wedding."

"Secret wedding?"

"Yes, just theirs and our immediate family. Gauri would continue to stay here till Anika gets married."

"What kind of none sense is this? I have never heard of anything so preposterous."

"I told him we will think about it."

"Not before jeeji's marriage, Papa." Gauri quickly tells him, not wanting to start another fight between her parents.

**********

Gauri was in her room when she hears her mobile beeping. She checks her mobile to see a message from her sister.

LMAO. Papa called.

Gauri sighs and replies, What did he say?

I guess the same thing that he told you.

Hmmm.

How is this guy?

He is nice.

Then stopping being stupid and get married, you idiot!

What are you saying?

Then what? I am not planning to get married for another year. Why should you wait for me to get married? Just get married, Gauri. And whether you're married or not, I'll get the guy that is best suited for me, I've that faith in myself.

Secret wedding?

LOL drama! I tell you.

Ma is very angry.

Gonna call her.

What are you going to tell her?

There was no reply.

**********

An hour later, Nayantara and Harshvardhan come to Gauri's room.

"Gauri, we're thinking of asking Omkara's family to come tomorrow. What do you think?" Harshvardhan asks her.

"What do you think, Ma?" Gauri asks her worriedly.

"Anika and Harsh convinced me to go ahead."

"Hmmm."

"But Gauri, you've to be careful, not a soul should know about your marriage till Anika gets married."

Gauri nods in reply as her heart slammed against her chest.

**********

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The next day, Omkara and his family had come to meet her family. They were left alone to talk for a few minutes. She was too nervous and all he had asked her was whether she was happy about the relation and she had simply nodded in yes. And that was that. Then all too quickly she was sitting in a mandap in her house with Omkara Singh Oberoi and their marriage was taking place. Nervous, she turns to look at him, and noticing that, he turns to look at her, then he lovingly smiles at her, and for the first time, looking at his face, she blushed.

After the wedding, Gauri leaves with Omkara and his family to his house.

Omkara and Gauri were in his car alone. Om turns to look at his wife and sees her lost in thoughts.

"Are you upset about the simple wedding?"

Gauri shakes her head in negative.

"I promise we'll have a grand remarriage."

Gauri smiles at him hearing that.

"You're happy, right?"

Gauri nods. "And you?"

Om smiles at her, "Yes."

Gauri was welcomed into her sasural with all the rituals. After all the rituals were done, Gauri sat with his family talking to them while Om sat opposite to her.

"Should I start calling you Bhabhi from now on?" Priyanka asks her.

"No. Gauri as usual." Gauri tells her smiling.

"Never even for jest call her Bhabhi, Priyanka." Jhanvi tells her. "people could get suspicious."

"Oh yeah, I forgot that."

Nani takes Gauri's hand and says happily. "I was worried that I would never see my Om's wife. You don't know how happy I am today."

Gauri smiles hearing that.

"Why is that you wanted to see his wife and not my husband?" Priyanka asks offended.

"Do you want to get married?" Nani asks her excitedly.

"No."

"Then why did you say that?"

"Ma, you should rest now." Jhanvi tells her mother, seeing her starting to look tired after all the excitements of that day.

"How can I rest when my new bahu is here?" Nani asks stubbornly.

Jhanvi turns to Om and tells him hesitantly, "Maybe Om, it is time to take Gauri home."

Hearing that, Gauri felt her heart break for the first time. She quickly looks at her husband and sees him looking at her. "Let's go?"

Gauri nods and stands up. Soon, she was biding bye to her new family and within minutes, she was back in the car with Om driving her back home.

**********

Gauri and Om walk back into her house.

"You guys are back so soon?" Anika asks them surprised.

Gauri looks at Om and sees him silent as he gently smiled at Anika.

"Ma, they are here!" Anika calls out to her parents.

"Ah! Finally, I was thinking why it was taking you so long." Nayantara says as she joined them.

Om stayed with them for a few minutes chatting with Anika, Harshvardhan and Nayantara while Gauri remained silent. "I think I should leave." Om says getting up. "Tomorrow, we are admitting Nani in the hospital."

"Have they given an operation date?" Harshvardhan asks him.

"No... they will tell us tomorrow."

"Okay."

"I'll see you all later." Om says as he looked at everyone, his gaze ending on Gauri.

Gauri also looks at him a little sadly.

Seeing the way, they were looking at each other, Anika tells her parents, "We should go in."

"I'll call you later." Om tells her as he moved closer to her.

Gauri nods. God, she wanted to cry, and she wasn't even sure why.

Om gently caress her cheek. "I should go."

"Okay."

Om turns to go then he stops. Om hesitantly steps closer to her and asks her, "Can I hug you?"

Gauri looks at him nervous, scared and a little bit excited. Seeing him watching her intently, she nods her head in yes. Om wraps his hands around her. Gauri hesitantly wraps her hand around him. he hugs her tight and Gauri snuggles into his arms.

"Before your mother catches us, I should go." Om whispers to her.

Gauri couldn't help giggle hearing that, looks like he had noticed how her mother is. She steps back.

Om smiles at her. "I'll call you later."

"Okay." Gauri says smiling.

**********

Hearing her mobile ring, Gauri answers the call closing her bedroom door.

"Hello?" Gauri answers the phone feeling excited.

"Hi." Omkara replies as he smiled a little.

"How are you?" Gauri asks him.

"I don't know." Om says honestly.

"why? What happened?"

"It all feels so strange. Feels like a dream. We are married."

"It happened so fast." Gauri agrees.

"Then you are there. I am here."

Gauri blushes hearing that. Today was supposed to be their suhaag raat.

Om sighs loudly. "Anyway, here everything is a little gloomy. Everyone is worried about Nani."

"When are you going to the hospital?"

"tomorrow morning. They need to conduct some tests on her, once the results are in, they will tell us when we can go in for the surgery."

"Okay."

Gauri hears someone trying to open the door and followed by Anika calling out to her. "Jeeji is here."

"Okay... I will talk to you tomorrow then. I have to take care of somethings now as we will leave to the hospital in the morning." Om tells her.

"Okay. good night."

"Good night."

Hanging up Gauri walks to the door to open the door.

**********

Two days later, Omkara informs Gauri that his Nani's surgery was scheduled for the next day. On the day of the surgery, Gauri and her parents went to the hospital. They spent time with and spoke to Nani before she was taken in for her surgery. Gauri eagerly kept looking for Om but he was nowhere to be seen. He had gone to take care of the bill, some formalities and other works with Tej.

"We should leave now. I've to drop them home before I go to the office." Harshvardhan says as he got up and gestured Nayantara and Gauri to go.

Just as she stood up, the door opens and Omkara and Tej walks in.

"Hello." Tej says smiling surprised. "I didn't know you had come."

Om walks to Harsh and Nayantara, bending down he touches their feet. Then turning to look at Gauri he says smiling, "When you said morning, I didn't think you would come this early."

"Papa has office... so." Gauri tells him with a shy smile. Then noticing Tej smiling at her she walks to him and starts to touch his feet when he stops her.

"How are you, Gauri?"

"Fine, Tej Uncle." Gauri tells him smiling.

"You can call me Dad." He tells her smiling.

Gauri happily smiles at him.

"But not in front of others." Nayantara interjects. Making both Harsh and Tej to roll their eyes while Gauri nodded.

"We were about to leave." Harsh informs them.

Om turns to look at Gauri in shock. Seeing him look at her, silently asking you are also going? Gauri nods.

Hearing the phone ring, Om goes to answer it. "Hello? Yes.... Okay... thank you." then turning to his family, he informs them, "It's the nurse. Surgery started."

The family nods, and almost everyone immediately closes their eyes to say a silent prayer.

Gauri watches Om as he kept his hand on his chest and eyes closed, prayed. Her heart went out to him.

"Let's go?" Harsh asks his wife and daughter.

"Papa... I will come later." Gauri tells her father. "I'll come after Nani is out of surgery and back in the room."

"But Gauri..." Nayantara starts to say when Priyanka cuts her off.

"Aunty, our friends said they would come. So, Gauri will have to come back here again, so it is better she stays back. And I'll have some company."

Nayantara looks at her husband for guidance.

He nods, "Okay. Anyway, she has no college today. Let her stay."

"Okay."

Gauri turns to look at Om and sees him smiling at her. she smiles back at him. Once her parents left, Gauri walks to Priyanka and sits next to her.

"I didn't know everyone was coming. No one told me anything. There was nothing in the group chat also." Gauri softly whispers to her.

"Why would they come here?" Priyanka asks her cheekily. "Enjoy, bhabhi."

Gauri's mouth drops open hearing her. then blushing she tells her, "Idiot your nani is in surgery."

"I know... I need to take my mind of it. You are here for that."

Saying that both Gauri and Priyanka giggles.

Few minutes later, Tej decided to go to office as there was no use in simply sitting there. Om had walked out with Tej.

Gauri and Priyanka spoke in whispers as Jhanvi sat in the single seater next to them lost in thoughts.

"Mom, are you okay?" Gauri softly asks her.

"Yeah, I am fine." Jhanvi says smiling lovingly.

"Mom, we had no choice other than to go in for this surgery." Priyanka tells her as she held her hand.

"I know." Jhanvi replies sighing.

"The growth is really dangerous."

"Yes. But the surgery is also risky."

"But we have to remove it, right?"

Jhanvi nods.

Hearing the door open, they all look up and sees Om walk in talking on the phone.

"Yeah, I'll give it to her." Om says on the phone as he walked to Jhanvi. "Mom, Shivaay." Om informs her as he passed her the phone.

Jhanvi takes the phone and starts talking to him. Om sits on the end of the couch next to Jhanvi.

"Is he coming?" Priyanka asks Om curiously.

"No. He'll reach only next week." Om informs her. "But he is not sure if he will be able to come here."

"He is in US now." Pryanka tells Gauri. "That is why he couldn't come for the wedding."

Gauri nods and then looking up, she sees Om watching her. she softly smiles at him.

Noticing them looking at each other, Priyanka stands up and tells Om, "Bhaiyya, sit in the middle."

"What?" Om asks shocked.

"I want to sit next to Mom. You sit in the middle."

Om moves to the middle and Priyanka sits at the end, and lovingly holds Jhanvi's hand as she spoke to Shivaay. Om looks at Gauri and she blushes slightly as she looked down.

They remained silent as Jhanvi spoke to Shivaay, then Priyanka took the phone to talk to Shivaay.

Gauri watches Omkara looking at his sister as she spoke to Shivaay. She could see that he was really worried. her heart went out to him and she wanted to console him, she had no idea how to console him. She just wanted to hold him and tell him everything would be fine, but with Priyanka and their mother there, she couldn't do it. Finally, unable to fight her temptation, Gauri keeps her hand on his knee and squeezes it softly. Surprised Om looks up at her but she was looking down. Om turns to look at his mother and sister and sees that they were busy. He takes Gauri's hand off his knee and holding her hand, he keeps his hand on the couch, his leg hiding their hands. He interlinks their fingers and holds her hand tightly. They sat like that for a while, not speaking.

They decided to order lunch to the room, and after lunch Priyanka had took the seat next to Gauri, so Om had moved to sit next to his mother. He got busy on his mobile as he started replying to official mails.

Hearing the phone ring, Om answers it.

"Hello? Yes... okay... thank you." sighing in relief, Om turns to his family and informs them, "Surgery went well. After she gains conscious, they will bring her to the room."

"Thank God." Jhanvi says in relief and quickly takes her mobile to inform Tej.

"I am going to get coffee. Anybody wants?" Om asks no one in particular.

"We can order here." Jhanvi tells him.

"I just want to take a walk. I'll go to the cafeteria downstairs. So, anybody wants?"

"We'll order." Jhanvi tells him.

"You go with him, Gauri." Priyanka tells her.

"What? Me?" Gauri asks shocked as she looked at Priyanka and Om.

Om also looks at Priyanka in surprise.

"Yeah, Gauri. You go. You have been scooped up here, all day. You'll feel fresh. Take a walk and come." Jhanvi tells her.

Gauri nods and looks away, as she couldn't control her blush, not only her, even Priyanka and Mom had been sitting in the room whole day, they were surely giving them some alone moments.

Gauri gets up and walks to Om. He holds the door open for her and follows her out.

**********

As they waited at the lift, Om smiles at her.

"Thank you for staying back." Om tells her.

Gauri smiles at him and asks "You were so worried in the morning. Are you fine now?"

"Yes. This surgery had been scaring all of us. I am so relieved everything went fine."

Gauri smiles. Then she asks a little worriedly, "Now that Nani is fine, do you regret marrying so fast?"

Om looks at her and seeing how worried she looked he tells her, "Only thing I am sad about is that I can't tell anyone that you are my wife."

Gauri smiles hearing that then she looks down sadly realizing that even she couldn't tell anyone that he was her husband.

The lift opens and they get inside. Since there were other people inside, they remain silent.

They take the coffee and walk to an empty table. They sit opposite to each other. They remained silent as they had coffee. They didn't know what to talk about as they were just now getting to talk to one another properly. Seeing Gauri's hand on the table, Om holds her hand. Gauri quickly pulls her hand back as she worriedly looked around.

"There are people here." Gauri whispers to him in worry.

Om couldn't help smiling at her panic. "And if there were no people around?"

Gauri blushes uncontrollably and tells him, "Shut up."

Om chuckles hearing her.

"Your parents... they have no problem if people see us?"

"No." Om tells her. "Your parents wanted it like this."

Gauri nods, "Jeeji doesn't want to marry now."

"I know. On the day of our wedding, she spoke to me. She wants to get settled in her work before she can think of marrying."

"She told me." Gauri tells him smiling. "Jeeji... she is so brave. If she feels something is right, then she will do it no matter what anyone says. If she feels something is wrong then she will never do it."

Om nods.

Gauri's mobile rings and seeing that it was her mother, Gauri answers the call.

"Hello Ma?"

"Hello Gauri? Is the surgery over?"

"Yes, Ma. It went well."

"Thank God. So when are you coming?"

"I will come as soon as Nani is brought to the room."

"Okay. if it is going to take time, then you come. you can go see her tomorrow or day after."

"Okay, Ma." Saying that Gauri hangs up.

"Time to go?" Om asks her.

Gauri nods.

"Let's go." Om tells her as he stood up.

Gauri stands up and starts to walk with him.

"Why did you say yes to a secret wedding?" Om asks her.

She asks him, "Why did you decide to marry me?"

Om curiously looks at her.

"Was it because of Nani?"

"I was ready to sacrifice my love for Nani." Om tells her.

"Love?" Gauri asks as her heart skipped a beat. Was he in love with anyone? But he seemed so happy with her.

"I knew your parents wouldn't think of your marriage before Anika's. So, I told my parents they can choose anyone."

"What?" Gauri asks confused feeling her heart break, was she his parents' choice?

"My parents knew that I was being forced into marrying. So, they felt, if I am to marry then I should marry the one I love."

"You love me?" Gauri asks shocked out of her wits.

Om turns back to see that Gauri had stopped walking and was gaping at him.

Chuckling he asks her, "Why did you think my parents called both your parents back-to-back to convince them? That they were willing to have a secret marriage?"

Gauri couldn't help smiling at him shyly.

Om smiles and asks her, "And why did you?"

Gauri walks to him and tells him, "I felt if I didn't marry you it would be my loss."

Om smiles hearing that. They start walking.

"But since when?" Gauri asks him.

"Long time. You never gave me a second glance. So, I was kind of sure you would have said no if I proposed. So, I was actually waiting for your sister to get married."

Gauri grins hearing that.

"You would have said no, right?" Om asks her as he pressed the button for lift.

"I would have said no without even considering it."

"Hmmm."

"You know other than me, none of Prinku's friends come to your house unless it is a function, right?"

"I thought you were her only best friend." Om tells her curiously.

"You know how brutally honest she is."

"Yeah." Om chuckles.

"Well, she told our friends that I am the only friend that would be allowed inside her house because she is sure that I wouldn't eye her brothers like the rest."

Om chuckles hearing. "That is why you never looked at me."

Gauri nods.

"Well, Prinku never thought that her brother would start eyeing her friend."

Gauri grins as they got in the lift. They remained silent as there was another person in the lift.

They kept stealing glances at each other as they stood in the lift. The lift stops and the man gets out. Once the lift door closes, Om and Gauri turn to look at each other. Then they move close to each other and without a word hugs each other.

**********

Happily, Om and Gauri walk back into the room. They find that Tej had come back. Within minutes Nani was brought to room. Everyone started fussing around Nani. After some time, she had slept off and Gauri decided it was time to leave.

"I should leave now." Gauri tells everyone as her gaze ended on Om.

"How are you going?" Priyanka asks her.

"I'll take an auto."

"No... no... Om drop her home." Tej tells him.

Om nods. "Come, Gauri."

Saying her byes, Gauri walks out with him.

**********

Gauri walks into her home with Om. Harshvardhan and Nayantara welcome them. As they talked, Anika walks into the room.

"Hello, Om."

"Hello." Om smiles at her.

"Sorry, I couldn't come. I had some office calls and mails. Tonight, I am going back to Bengaluru, so I couldn't come."

"That's okay." Om tells her smiling.

Anika smiles and they spoke for some time.

Noticing Gauri sitting silently, Anika asks Om "Have you seen our house, Om?"

"No." Om replies a little confused.

"Gauri, show him our house and our room." Anika tells her.

**********

Gauri takes Om around her house as she showed it to him. Finally, they walk into her bedroom.

"This is our room. Jeeji and I share this room." Gauri tells Om as she turned to him. Then she stops in confusion as he was looking outside the room. "What happened?"

Om slightly closes the door and walks to her, making Gauri blush. Om takes her hand and pulls her towards him. Blushing Gauri moves towards him, Om wraps his hand around Gauri and kisses her cheek. Gauri clutches his shirt as he continued to place tiny tiny kisses on her cheek.

"I love you." Om whispers to her.

Blushing and feeling ecstatic, Gauri hugs him tight.

"Someone will come." Gauri whispers to him after sometime.

Sighing Om leaves her. Gauri shyly looks at him, feeling happy knowing that he loved her.

"Never thought it would be this difficult to stay away from you." Om whispers to her.

Hearing him, blushing happily Gauri hugs him.

**********

Gauri and Om met only once after that day. It was when she had gone to see Nani and since Nayantara was also with her, she wasn't able to spend time alone with Om. Om and Gauri kept in touch through phone calls. Every chance they got, they were talking on the phone and getting to know each other better.

A long weekend was coming up and Gauri's friends were planning a trip to Goa.

"Hello?" Gauri answers the call in a dejected tone.

"What happened?" Om asks her hearing her tone.

"Ma told me I can't go to Goa." Gauri tells him sadly.

"Why?" Om asks her in surprise.

"She is saying not to go like that with my friends." Gauri tells him. "Anyways, you tell me. how was your day?"

"Is your mother nearby? Put her on the phone."

"Why?" Gauri asks surprised.

"I want to talk to her."

"Okay."

"Ma... Om wants to talk to you." Gauri tells her mother then noticing her mother busy with cooking, Gauri puts the phone on loudspeaker.

Nayantara smiles hearing Om wanted to talk to her. "Hello Om... how are you, beta?"

"I am fine, aunty... how are you?" Om asks her with a sweet smile.

"I am doing good."

"Aunty... Gauri and her friends are planning a Goa trip."

"Yes, she told me. But I told her not to go. It is not nice, na beta."

"Aunty, I think you misunderstood me." Om tells her.

"Yeah? How?" Nayantara asks confused while Gauri frowns in confusion.

"I wasn't asking you." Om politely tells her. "As Gauri's husband, I was informing you that Gauri is going for a trip with her friends."

"What?" Nayantara asks shocked.

Gauri's mouth drops open in shock.

"She wants to go for the trip so she is going. I'll book her tickets along with Prinku's."

Gauri looks at her mother to see how she was reacting. If it was her father who had said such a thing to her mother, then she would have brought the whole house down.

Before Nayantara could say anything, Om very smoothly switches the topic. "So, how is uncle doing, aunty? All good?"

"Yes." Nayantara replies still reeling from the shock at Om's authoritative behavior regarding his wife.

"Okay aunty... is Gauri there?"

"I am here." Gauri says as she quickly turned off the loud speaker and kept the phone to her ear.

"You are going for your trip. Let me just check whether Prinku has booked her tickets. If she hasn't then I'll book both yours together otherwise I'll book yours. I'll call you back after I book the tickets." Om says and hangs up.

Gauri turns to look at her mother and sees that she was busy with the cooking.

"Ma?"

"Hmmm?"

"Are you okay?" Gauri asks worriedly.

Nayantara looks at her and smiles, "If your husband says you're going what can I say?"

Seeing her mother smile, Gauri smiles.

"Loving husband you have." Nayantara tells her smiling happily.

Gauri happily blushes hearing that. "Yes."

Then she kisses her mother loudly on her cheek and runs to pack her bag.

Gauri excitedly started going through her cupboard to look for nice tops. Because she realized that Om was planning a surprise to come to Goa to see her. they never got a chance to spend time with each other. Even the handful seconds they got it was always marred by the fear of getting caught. After going through her whole cupboard, she didn't find anything that she could wear when spending time with Om. Gauri excitedly decided to go shopping.

This was going to be the best trip ever.

**********

It was the worst trip ever.

It didn't go as she had dreamt.

He never came.

Gauri was excited at first then hopeful and finally depressed when he never came to Goa.

The night she returned, hearing her phone ring, Gauri answers her phone. "Hello?"

"What happened?" Om asks her in concern. "Why do you sound so glum?"

"Nothing."

"Tell me."

"I said nothing." Gauri says upset at Om for not coming.

Om sighs hearing her. "What happened, love?"

"I said nothing."

Om smiles and decides to ask her after a bit. "How was your trip?"

"Worst trip ever!"

"Woah... what happened? Here Prinku hasn't talked of anything other than your trip." Om says confused.

"She had a good time."

"And you didn't?" Om asks in concern.

"No."

"Why?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Not even to me?" Om asks a little upset.

Hearing him ask her like that, Gauri felt even more upset that he didn't come. "You didn't come."

"Where?" Om asks confused.

"To Goa."

"I was supposed to come?" Om asks utterly confused.

"When you got me permission to go..."

"What?" Om asks confused. "I didn't get you permission. You don't need anyone's permission to do what you want."

"But I thought you were planning to surprise me and come to Goa."

"Oh achcha." Om says smiling. "How can I crash your girls' trip?"

Gauri sadly looks down.

"And I didn't know you wanted me to come."

"I really thought you would come."

"Oh... I am sorry, love. You should have told me."

"Then you would have come?" Gauri asks in regret having lost a golden opportunity.

"No." Om chuckles.

"No?"

"You were going with your friends; how can I disrupt your trip? And before wedding, I had promised your mother that I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize Anika's future."

"Oh."

"Once we start our life together, I'll go with you anywhere you want." Om promises her.

Gauri smiles hearing that.

"And Gauri..." Om lovingly calls her.

"Yes?"

"Even I miss you like crazy."

"Why can't we meet?" Gauri asks sadly.

"Maybe you should ask your mother that." Om chuckles.

**********

"Anika had called." Nayantara informs Harsh as they sat for breakfast.

"How is she?"

"She is fine. Her flat mate is getting married. And after marriage she and her husband are planning to stay in her flat. So, Anika has to find another flat."

"When does jeeji has to move?" Gaur asks.

"4 months. She has already started looking for a flat."

"She will stay alone?" Harsh asks curiously.

"She said once she gets the flat, she will look for a roommate."

"I hope she gets a nice roommate." Harsh says hopefully.

Hearing the door bell, Nayantara goes to check.

The Oberoi driver had come with Gauri's sargi, surprising Gauri and her family.

As Gauri was going through her sargi excitedly Jhanvi calls Nayantara.

"It's Gauri's and Om's first karvachaut and we wanted Gauri to come home for that." Jhanvi tells Nayantara.

"But how can we do that? If people find out..." Nayantara worriedly says.

"We really want Gauri to come, so this time we are not calling anyone. It is going to be just family."

Nayantara turns to Gauri who was sitting next to her. "Jhanvi wants you to go to their house for karvachaut, do you want to go?"

Gauri excitedly nods her head in yes.

"You are fasting?"

"Yes." Gauri replies smiling.

"Okay." Nayantara says smiling. Then she tells into the phone. "Will send Gauri."

"You and Harsh also come."

"We already promised our friend that we would go to their house." Nayantara informs her regretfully.

"Oh okay. In that case let Gauri stay here."

Nayantara was a little worried to let Gauri stay with the Oberoi-s then she decided to let it be. She should trust Om and Gauri at least that much. "Okay." Nayantara says with a smile.

Hearing her mobile ring, Gauri excitedly answers the call.

"Hello Om."

"Gauri, Mom was saying you would be coming here."

"Yes." Gauri replies happily. She was so excited to finally see him.

"You are going to fast?"

"Yes."

"You don't have to, Gauri. I don't believe in all that."

"I want to fast."

"Seriously, Gauri. you don't have to."

"I want to."

"Gauri, I don't like the idea of you staying hungry for me."

"I am not asking your permission, Omkara. I'm telling you that I am fasting."

"Oh." Om stops in shock hearing her. "But Gauri..."

"I want to fast, Om. I feel happy fasting for you."

"Why?" Om asks shocked hearing that.

"Because I love you."

"You love me?" Om asks with a surprised smile.

"What? Don't act as if you didn't know that." Gauri tells him grinning.

"Of course, I know. But I didn't think you would tell me that so soon," Om tells her smiling happily.

"Why wouldn't I tell you? you are my husband."

Om smiles. "Tell me then."

"When I see you." Gauri tells him happily. Then blushing happily, she says, "Like how you told me."

"With kiss?" Om asks shocked and surprised.

Gauri laughs happily hearing that. "Let's see."

"I love you, Gauri." Om says too happy to control his excitement.

Gauri smiles hearing that. "I'll see you on karva chaut."

"So you are fasting?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll also have to fast. I can't handle hunger, Gauri." Om sadly moans. "Please don't fast."

"You don't have to fast."

"I can't eat when you're staying hungry."

"Awww. Then stay hungry." Gauri says happily smiling.

**********

Om wanted to pick Gauri from her house for karvachaut but since she had to get ready, Jhanvi had send the car for Gauri around afternoon. Jhanvi and Priyanka helped Gauri wear saree and get ready. After they got her ready, Jhanvi had gone to her room to get ready.

Hearing her mobile, Gauri checks her message.

How many more hours left?

Gauri chuckles. Poor Om was having a hard time fasting.

4 hours.

Can we break our fast now?

Gauri chuckles and quickly replies.

You can break.

And Om replies.

Together.

Gauri smiles and replies.

Then when it is time

I think I'll faint by then.

Gauri giggles.

Gauri was sitting in Priyanka's room alone as Priyanka had gone to have her evening tea as she had no fast. She opened her bag and took her mangalsutr and sindoor dabba. Three months since her marriage, Gauri was wearing her mangalsutr and sindoor for the first time. As she wore her mangalsutr Gauri felt her eyes fill up.

Gauri calls up Om.

"Let's break our fast?" Om asks eagerly as he answered her call.

"No." Gauri sadly tells him.

"What happened?" Om asks hearing her sadness. "Are you that hungry? I told you no need to fast."

"It is not that you, bhukkad."

"Then? What happened?"

"I was wearing my mangalsutr." Gauri sadly tells him.

"You are wearing it?" Om asks smiling softly.

"You know since we got married, I haven't been able to wear it."

"Hmmm."

"I am feeling so sad, Om."

"Is it becoming so hard for you, Gauri?" Om worriedly asks her.

"Isn't it for you?" Gauri asks him.

"Gauri, if not this then I would have had to marry someone else and that would have slowly killed me."

"Am I being ungrateful?" Gauri asks feeling guilty hearing him. "My parents agreed in spite of jeeji not getting married and they only asked me of this. I shouldn't complain like this, right?"

"No, love. Don't think like that. what you are asking for is what every wife wants. So, don't feel guilty about it."

"I got emotional when I wore my mangalsutr and sindoor." Gauri confesses to him.

"One day, you can wear it all without hiding from everyone. For now, I know you're my wife and you know I am your husband, we can be happy with this, right?"

"Yes." Gauri says smiling. "Are you on your way?"

"No, I am waiting for Dad. He is in a meeting. We will reach on time."

"Okay." Gauri replies then smiling shyly she tells him, "I'm waiting for you."

"I love you." Om tells her feeling so happy.

They hang up the phone. Gauri realizes that one day, when she would be official Mrs. Omkara Singh Oberoi then like every wife she would be waiting for him to come home from office like this. And she just couldn't wait for that day to come.

**********

Om was so pissed at his Dad because his father insisted on going home together and he wasn't even ready to leave just yet. Finally, after what felt like ages, he was finally able to get home. He was a little disappointed in not finding Gauri the moment he entered his house. Then before he could look around for her, his mother had asked him to freshen up and join the puja.

After freshening up, Om had come back down to join the rest of his family as he kept looking for Gauri. and sees that everyone had sat for the puja.

"Om, come and sit for the puja." Jhanvi instructs him.

Om sees Gauri sitting for the puja and there was an empty spot next to her. realizing that he was to sit with her, Om walks to her. Gauri was sitting with her head down. Om sits next to her.

"Hi." Om whispers to her as he slightly leaned towards her.

Gauri continued to look down but he could see that she was smiling happily.

Soon the puja started. Once, everyone was busy with the puja, Om felt Gauri look at him. He turns to look at her and sees her smiling at him shyly.

Gauri's heart was beating so fast, she was seeing him after 3 months in real apart from video calls, and it felt like years. Then she was smiling at her so lovingly that she had a hard time controlling herself, she just wanted to hug him tight.

Seeing her looking so beautiful in saree and with her sindoor and mangalsutra, the signs that she was his, his heart started beating so fast. He wanted to hug her then and there. Kiss her. and tell her how much he loved her.

And he understood why Gauri had been so emotional when she was wearing her mangalsutra. Seeing her adorned like a married woman, he finally felt the pang for hiding her from the rest of the world. He wanted to scream to the whole world that the girl who had been starving since morning for him, belonged to him and he belonged to her.

Unable to control himself, Om takes her hand in his and squeezes it gently. Gauri blushes even more. Om quickly leaves her hand as he didn't want anyone to catch them.

"How is your hunger?" Gauri asks him softly.

"Right now, I feel like, I have had a feast." Om replies as he looked at her.

Gauri blushes happily as she looked down.

**********

They go to the terrace to break their fast. Since there were no other guests, it was just Tej and Jhanvi, and Om and Gauri.

Gauri was collecting her thaali. She takes an extra matki so Om also could drink his water.

"We just need one." Om softly whispers to her.

Blushing happily, Gauri keeps back the extra one.

"Gauri... Om... it's about time." Jhanvi informs them.

Gauri and Om take their position a little away from his parents. Soon it was time and Gauri and Jhanvi starts the rituals.

After looking at the moon through the sieve then at Om, then offering water to the moon, Gauri takes the water takes it to Om's lips and offers him water. Om takes the matki from her and offers her the water. Silently telling her that he wouldn't drink water as long as she was thirsty.

Gauri takes a sip and then takes the matki from him and again keeps it to his lips. This time, Om drinks the water. Then Om takes the sweet from the thaali and offers it to Gauri. Gauri takes a bite then she takes it and offers it to Om. Om also eats it. They happily smile at each other.

"All done?" Om asks Gauri.

"Yes."

"Phew!" Om turns to his mother and asks her, "What's for dinner, mom?"

"Why, Om? Hungry? Where you also fasting?" Jhanvi teases him.

"Gauri is hungry." Om tells her too embarrassed to let his family know that he was also fasting.

Gauri gapes at him in shock but then doesn't reveal his secret.

"Just so you know, even your mother is hungry." Jhanvi informs Om.

"And your father too." Tej informs him.

Gauri turns to Om and sees him looking at his father in shock.

"Come, Gauri." Jhanvi calls her. "Let's all eat."

"I guess the whole world was fasting." Om whispers to Gauri as they followed his parents.

"Prinku wasn't." Gauri tells him cheekily.

"Even if she is married, I don't think she will sacrifice her food for anyone." Om tells her.

**********

They have their dinner with the family. Gauri sat in between Om and Priyanka. Om and Gauri didn't speak much at the table but they kept stealing glances.

They were finishing their dinner when Priyanka asks Gauri pretty loudly. "By the way, Gauri, are you sleeping with me or bhaiyya tonight?"

Hearing the question, Gauri turns completely pink, Om's heart skips a beat as he looked at his stupid sister. Tej started coughing while Jhanvi glared at her daughter.

"I think I am full." Tej says to no one and quickly gets up and leaves the table.

"What is wrong with you?" Jhanvi asks her in a whisper.

"I was just curious." Priyanka replies shrugging confused.

"You don't have to be curious about them and they don't have to give you any explanations." Jhanvi sternly tells her.

"I was..."

"I am sleeping with you." Gauri quickly whispers to her.

"Okay." Priyanka shrugs.

Jhanvi leaves the table.

Once Jhanvi left the table, Om furiously whacks his sister's head.

"Bhaiyya! That hurts." Priyanka says as she rubbed her head.

"Don't ever embarrass my wife like that." Om tells her furiously.

"Why can't I ask her whether she is sleeping in my room?" Priyanka asks confused.

Seeing Om still angry, Gauri quickly holds his hand. "It's okay."

Glaring at his sister, Om leaves the table.

"I just don't understand, Gauri. you two are married, so why are you acting so embarrassed regarding sleeping in the same room?" Priyanka asks her.

"You know our marriage is a secret."

"But everyone in this house knows that you are his wife. So, why do you have to act like you are not?"

When put like that, Gauri knew Priyanka was right, and didn't her mother-in-law also indirectly say that if they wanted to stay in the same room it was their decision? "Prinku, I am not comfortable talking about this." Gauri whispers really uncomfortable.

"I am sorry if I made you uncomfortable." Priyanka quickly tells her. "I just wanted to know if you were going to sleep in my room."

"I know." Gauri tells her as she gently held her hand with a smile.

Gauri and Priyanka were about to go to Priyanka's room when she notices Om waiting for her.

"Prinku, you go... I'll come in a bit." Gauri whispers to her.

"Okay. take your time. I am sleepy anyway."

"Okay."

After Priyanka went up to her room, Gauri walks to Om.

"Are you okay?" Om asks her as he cupped her face.

Gauri nods her head then she moves in and hugs him. Om hugs her.

"Prinku was asking why we have to act as if we are not married when everyone here knows that we are married."

"Hmmm."

"Even mom was saying we could stay together if we want."

"I know."

"But it feels wrong." Gauri whispers to him.

"I know." Om replies. "Like we are stealing something?"

"Yes."

"Gauri..." Om gently calls her.

Gauri leans back to look at him though still cocooned in his arms.

"Our marriage is a secret. But I don't want it to be a dirty secret ever."

Gauri nods.

"I know just like me, even you are waiting for the day to be mine. You are my wife and I know that no one has the right to stop us. but I want to give you the respect and rights as my wife before I ask you to give me the rights of being your husband."

Gauri smiles hearing that then leaning up she kisses him on his cheek.

Om smiles.

They walk to the couch and sit. Then turning to face each other, they sit sideways on the couch.

"How was your first karva chaut?" Om asks her.

"Best." Gauri smiles happily. "And yours?"

"Best-est."

"Really?" Gauri asks smiling. "But you were so hungry."

"But I got to see you."

"When will we see each other again?" Gauri asks sadly.

"One of these days, I am going to come to your house asking to see you. I just know it." Om tells her.

Gauri giggles hearing that. "My mother will kick you out."

"Let's see how your mother will kick your husband out." Om tells her cheekily.

Gauri chuckles hearing that, Om had proved that he had no qualms in playing the husband card if he needs to.

They spent the night talking and sometime in between both of them fell asleep like that.

In the morning, Tej and Jhanvi find them sleeping like that.

"Poor things." Jhanvi says in a whisper seeing them.

"I shouldn't have agreed for a secret marriage. Look how they are suffering. Even after being married, they can't even sit and talk peacefully, they have to hide from everyone and spend few minutes with each other." Tej says regretfully.

"Let's just go from here. If they realize we saw them like this, they are going to be embarrassed." Jhanvi tells him. They quickly leave from there.

Few minutes later, Gauri wakes up. Realizing they had slept off she gently wakes up Omkara.

"Om, wake up."

Om opens his eyes and seeing Gauri, he smiles lovingly at her. "I have been dreaming for a long time to wake up and see your face first thing in the morning."

Gauri smiles. When were they going to wake up in the morning and see each other's face like this?

Om sits up as he looked around. "You should go to Prinku's room before someone sees you."

Gauri nods and gets up. Then Gauri goes to Prinku's room and Om to his.

**********

Gauri had changed her clothes and slept for some more time.

After waking up, she had taken a shower and got ready for the day. She was a little heartbroken when she removed her mangalsutra and kept it safely in her bag.

While Priyanka took her shower, Gauri decided to go see Nani. She was coming out of Priyanka's room when she notices Om standing outside his bedroom. Gauri smiles realizing that he was waiting for her. Om nods his head at her, gesturing her to go towards him. Gauri looks around and when she was sure no one was around she qickly runs towards him. Om opens his bedroom door for her, Gauri quickly slips in. Om closes the door.

Om walks towards her while Gauri shyly smiles at him as she looked down. Om lovingly brushes her hair behind her ears.

"Tell me."

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

"Forgot?" Om asks her frowning cutely at her.

Realizing, Gauri smiles excitedly.

"Ah... tell me." Om says smiling realizing she understood.

Blushing happily, Gauri leans up and kisses his cheek. Then she kisses his other cheek. Then stepping back, she looks into his eyes and tells him, "I love you."

Om leans towards her, cupping her face, he tells her. "I love you too."

Then he leans down and takes her lips in his. Gauri wraps her hand around his neck and kisses him back.

"I have a gift for you." Om whispers as he stepped back.

"What?" Gauri asks smiling happily.

Om takes her hand in his and then he puts his other hand inside his pant pocket, he takes out a ring and lovingly slips it into her finger.

"It's so beautiful." Gauri whispers seeing her beautiful diamond ring.

"You can't wear you mangalsutra but this you can wear all the time."

"Thank you." Gauri says smiling happily as she hugged him tight.

"When did you get this?" Gauri asks curiously hearing what he had said.

"I wanted to get you a gift, I wasn't sure what to get you. After I talked to you yesterday, I just called up the jeweler and he had sent me the rings that he had available. I chose this. He delivered the ring today morning."

"The size is also correct." Gauri says amazed.

"Anika." Om tells her grinning.

"I didn't know you guys spoke to each other." Gauri says pleasantly surprised.

"Prinku didn't know your ring size. I had Anika's number when she had called to tell me she was leaving, so I just messaged her and she said you both had same ring size, half an hour later, she told me her ring size."

"Oh." Then she lovingly wraps her hands around his waist. "What all my husband went through for me."

"I will go to the end of the world for you, my wife." Om tells her as he hugged her.

**********

Om had dropped off Gauri to her place after some time.

Gauri was sitting with her mother as she showed her the ring Om got her.

"Very pretty na, Ma."

"Yes." Nayantara smiles.

"Since I can't wear my mangalsutra, Om got this so I can wear it all the time."

"I know, you both have to make a lot of sacrifices but you understand why we have to do this, right?" Nayantara asks her a little worriedly.

"Yes." Gauri replies with a smile seeing her mother's concern.

"I'm happy you got a loving husband and a lovely family, Gauri." Nayantara tells her as she lovingly caressed her face. "I hope Anika also gets a good husband and family like them."

"She will, Ma."

**********

Few days later, Gauri calls Om as he hadn't called her since morning. After the ring kept going for a while Om answers the call.

"Gauri..." Om croaks.

"What happened?" Gauri asks immediately worried.

"I am having fever. Got throat pain, can't talk. I will talk to you later." Saying that Om hangs up the call.

Panic she had never known hit her.

"Ma... Ma..." Gauri cries as she worriedly run to her mother.

"Gauri... what happened?" Nayantara asks her as she worriedly held her.

"Om has fever."

"OH!" Nayantara sighs in relief. "You scared me, Gauri."

"He is sick, Ma. He can't even talk." Gauri says crying.

Cupping her face, Nayantara asks her lovingly, "Do you want to go see him?"

"Yes."

"Then go." Nayantara tells her smiling.

"Gauri?" Priyanka calls out to her in surprise, seeing Gauri hurrying into the house. Then seeing her tear stained face, Priyanka hurries to her. "What happened Gauri?"

Seeing Gauri upset, Jhanvi asks her with a smile. "Came to see Om?"

Gauri nods her head.

"He is fine. He is in his room. Go." Jhanvi tells her in a consoling way.

Without saying anything, Gauri runs up the stairs.

"Om." Gauri softly calls him as she stood near his bed and lovingly caressed his hair.

"Gauri?" Om opens his eyes and struggles to keep it open. "Why did you come?"

"How are you?" Gauri asks sadly as she fought her tears.

"Fine. You shouldn't stay here. You'll also catch fever."

"You sleep." Gauri tells him seeing that he was struggling to stay awake and talk. "I'll be here."

"You go home. Everyone is here."

"Is it the same as having me near you?" Gauri asks sadly.

Om smiles a little. "It is not."

Gauri sits next to him and adjusts his blanket for him. "Did you take medicine?"

"Yes. Having headache. Feel like my head is splitting." Om tells her as he held her hand.

"I'll press your head. You sleep."

"I love you, Gauri." Om tells her as his eyes filled up.

Gauri gently pressed his head as he fell asleep.

Gauri sat by his side the whole day taking care of him.

Gauri was feeding Om soup when her mother calls her.

"Hello Ma?"

"Gauri, how is Om?"

"Better than morning, but he is still sick." Gauri tells her as she continued to feed him while she cradled the phone on her neck.

"Hmmm okay. when are you coming?"

"I am staying here." Gauri tells her a little worriedly.

"Gauri... you can go back tomorrow." Nayantara gently tells her.

"You go. I am feeling much better now." Om also tells her.

"No, I want to stay." Gauri stubbornly tells both Om and Nayantara.

"Okay then." Nayantara gives in with a sigh.

Gauri hangs up the phone and continues to feed Om.

"You should go. Anyway I am sleeping throughout."

"What if you need me at night?"

"Everyone is here and I will be fine." Om tells her smiling lovingly at her.

"I will not be able to sleep peacefully if I go home."

Om takes her hand and keeps it on his chest, then tells her smiling. "You do whatever you want then."

Hearing a knock at the door, Gauri calls out, "It is open."

Jhanvi comes in. "How are you, Om?"

"Better, mom."

Jhanvi smiles as she kept her hand on his forehead to check his fever. "Fever has come down."

Lovingly keeping her hand on Gauri's cheek, Jhanvi asks her, "Are you okay, now?"

Gauri nods her head.

"She got so worried." Jhanvi tells Om.

Om lovingly looks at Gauri.

"It is getting late, Gauri. driver will drop you home." Jhanvi tells her.

Gauri worriedly tells her, "I am staying here."

"He is looking much better now."

"I am staying." Gauri softly repeats.

Jhanvi nods understanding. "You sleep in Priyanka's room. I don't want you also to fall sick."

Gauri nods her head in yes.

"Did you tell your Ma? Or should I tell her?"

"I told her."

"Okay then. You didn't eat your dinner?" Jhanvi asks frowning seeing Gauri's food kept there.

"I'll after Om is done."

Jhanvi nods and leaves.

"You eat now. I'm done." Om tells her.

After Om had slept off, Gauri had sat with him for a while longer. A little after midnight Priyanka had come to call Gauri to sleep. making sure that Om was fine, Gauri goes with Priyanka.

Gauri wakes up from her sleep and checks the time. it was 3:30 am. She decides to check on Om.

"Gauri?" Priyanka sits up sleepily seeing Gauri unlocking the bedroom door.

"Yeah?"

"Where are you going?"

"To check on Om."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, you sleep. I'll stay with him. Don't tell Mom... okay?"

"Okay."

Gauri gently closes the door and walks to Om. she touches his forehead to check his fever.

"Didn't you sleep?" Om asks her.

"Didn't you sleep?" Gauri asks him surprised.

"I did. Was feeling thirsty so woke up."

"Did you have water?" Gauri asks his as she started to get the flask to take hot water for him.

"Yeah, I did. Why didn't you sleep?"

"I did then I woke up." Gauri tells him.

Understanding, Om pats on the bed. "Come."

Gauri gets on the bed and lies on top of duvet as the room was pretty hot without the AC and fan.

"Go to sleep." Om gently instructs her.

Gauri lies on her side and keeps her hand on his chest.

"Om..." Gauri sadly calls him.

"Hmmm?"

"I don't want to take everyone's permission to be with you when you are sick." Gauri sadly tells him.

Om smiles at her. "When did you take permission? You were telling everyone left, right and center, that you are staying with me."

Gauri smiles and blushes.

"Now, go to sleep." Om tells her.

"You also."

By next morning, Om was feeling much better. By evening, Gauri had gone back to her house.

**********

Couple of months later, Anika calls Gauri telling her that she was shifting to new flat, and whether Gauri could go to Bengaluru for the weekend as she got settled in her new flat.

"That is nice. When do you have to go?" Om asks Gauri as they video called.

"I'm thinking."

"Go for this weekend and come back. Next weekend is your birthday, right?"

"You know it is my birthday?" Gauri asks him surprised.

"Of course, did you forget that I was behind you even before our wedding?" Om asks her chuckling.

"But you never wished me before." Gauri tells him pouting.

"Because you never came to my house on your birthday and we never spoke that much for me to wish you." Om reminds her rolling his eyes.

"Will you meet me on my birthday?" Gauri asks hopefully.

"Yes." Om promises her.

Gauri happily smiles at him.

"When you go to Bengaluru, Shivaay will come and meet you." Om tells her.

"Okay." Gauri says smiling.

"He has been dying to meet you."

"I'll call him when I get there."

"He will call, and come and see you wherever you are." Om tells her.

"Okay." Gauri replies excitedly. Om was very close to Shivaay bhaiyya and because of that she already liked and considered Shivaay as a brother.

**********

Gauri reached Anika's place by next evening. Anika had got a nice apartment with two bedrooms, a kitchen and a small living cum dining room. Gauri was excitedly catching up with her sister when Shivaay had called her.

"Hello Gauri?"

"Yes."

"Hi Gauri... I am Shivaay, Om's brother."

"I know Shivaay bhaiyya." Gauri tells him happily. "Om told me you would call."

"Yes... I just wanted to drop in and meet you. are you free now? Or should I come tomorrow?"

"I am free now. you can come now." Gauri tells him. She had already told Anika about Shivaay's visit.

"Okay great... can you WhatsApp me your location?"

"I'll ask jeeji to message her location and address to this number. Is that fine?"

"Yes. That would be great."

**********

"When will you start looking for a roommate?" Gauri asks her.

"My colleague is looking for a place, so if everything works out then she would move in within 2 weeks."

"That is nice. But will you stay alone after I leave?" Gauri asks her in concern.

"Of course!" Anika tells her chuckling. "I am not scared to stay alone. If it was up to me then I would have moved to one-bedroom apartment and stayed alone. Ma is worried to let me stay alone."

Gauri giggles and says "I didn't know you would listen to Ma also."

"She would unnecessarily worry. That is why." Anika tells her. then she cheekily adds, "You are way too obedient that is why you think I am rebellious."

"At times, I wish I was like you jeeji." Gauri tells her sadly.

"Om?" Anika asks her.

Gauri nods sadly.

"You are married. You should just start staying together. Why are you worried about all other things?"

Gauri sadly tells her, "Om promised Ma and Papa."

"Tell him, Gauri." Anika gently tells her. "I don't know when I will get married. You shouldn't put your life on hold for me."

"Hmmm."

Hearing the doorbell, Gauri quickly hurries to open the door. "I think it would be Shivaay Bhaiyya."

Gauri excitedly opens the door and finds Shivaay at the door holding a flower bouquet.

"Hello." Shivaay says with a big smile.

"Hello Shivaay bhaiyya." Gauri tells him smiling happily. "Please come in."

"Hello." Anika politely smiles at him.

"Hi... I am Shivaay Singh Oberoi." Shivaay says smiling as he extended his hand to Anika.

"Hi... I am Anika." Anika says as she shook his hand. "Please sit."

Shivaay nods and walks to the couch.

"Excuse me, I'll just come now." Anika tells them and walks to the kitchen.

"This is for you." Shivaay tells Gauri as he handed her the flowers.

"Thank you so much. Did Om tell you I love flowers?" Gauri asks him as she took the beautiful bouquet.

"Yes."

"He has told me a lot about you." Gauri tells smiling.

"Even he has told me a lot about you." Shivaay tells her then frowning as he watched the kitchen door that Anika had disappeared into, he says "But he never mentioned that you had such a beautiful sister."

Gauri's mouth drops open hearing that.

Before she could say anything Shivaay's mobile starts ringing.

"It's office. I need to take it. Excuse me." Shivaay tells her as he walked out to attend the call.

"Gauri?" Anika calls out to her once Shivaay had gone out.

"Haan jeeji?"

"Where did he go?" Anika asks her.

"He got a call." Gauri answers her as she stood next to Anika and watched the saucepan as the coffee was boiling. "Are you making coffee for me also? I don't want, jeeji."

"Ah okay... by the way, you never told me that Om's brother was good looking."

"What?" Gauri asks shocked.

"Yeah, he is damn hot." Anika tells her as she continued to make coffee.

"He was asking me the same thing about you." Gauri tells her excitedly.

"Really?" Anika asks smiling.

"Gauri..." Shivaay calls her from behind.

Realizing Shivaay was back, Gauri turns to him. "Haan Shivaay Bhai..." and stops in shock seeing Om.

"Om?" Gauri whispers in shock seeing him after months.

"Hi Gauri." Om tells her as he smiled at her.

"Om." Gauri says his name again and runs to him and jumping on him, she hugs him happily.

"You are here?" Gauri asks as she felt her eyes fill up in joy for seeing him.

"I owed you a surprise visit." Om whispers to her as he hugged her.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" Gauri asks him as she hugged him tight.

Om immediately realized that she was crying. Even he hugs her tight as he smiled at Anika.

Anika smiles at Om then she takes Shivaay's coffee and leaves the kitchen to give them privacy.

**********

"I can't believe you are here." Gauri tells him as she looked at his face.

Smiling Om wipes her tears.

Gauri leans up and Om leans down, and they kiss.

"I thought we would celebrate your birthday a little early. Back home, we won't be able to spend any time with each other. So, I thought tomorrow you and me will spend the whole day together."

"Really?" Gauri asks as she sniffed happily. "When did you get here?"

"Well... yesterday I told you I was sleepy and went to sleep early, right?"

"Yeah."

"That was because I had to take the midnight flight." Om tells her grinning.

"How long have you been planning this?"

"With Shivaay for a month then with Anika for about a week."

"You asked her to call me here?"

"Yes." Om chuckles.

"Thank you for the best birthday ever." Gauri tells him as she hugged him excitedly.

"But we still haven't celebrated your birthday."

"Still it is the best. Most special."

**********

Few minutes later, they join Shivaay and Anika.

"So, everything went according to your plan?" Anika asks Om smiling happily.

"It did. Thank you, Anika." Om tells her grinning.

Anika smiles then looking at Gauri, she winks at her.

"I'll just get your coffee." Anika tells Om and walks back to the kitchen to get Om's coffee reheated.

Shivaay, Om, Anika and Gauri had spent the rest of the evening together at Anika's flat. After they had dinner, Shivaay and Anika notices that Om and Gauri were stealing glances at each other.

"Gauri... Om... you can use the spare room." Anika tells them.

Gauri turns completely pink hearing that while Om says a little hesitantly, "I am not staying. I'll be staying at Shivaay's."

"Oh... I thought you were staying here." Anika says a little embarrassed realizing that she had made it awkward.

Om shakes his head. "Actually, we should get going."

Shivaay nods and stands up to leave.

Om turns to Gauri to say his bye and sees her looking at him a little sadly. Seeing her like that, Om just couldn't leave then.

"Shivaay, give me 5 mins."

"Sure."

"Gauri..." Om gestures her to come aside.

Gauri nods and guides him to her bedroom.

Om closes the door and turns to Gauri.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Om promises her.

"Every time you have to go away from me." Gauri tells him sadly as she hugged him.

Om hugs her tight.

"Can't you stay here tonight?"

"Gauri Omkara Singh Oberoi, do you want us to have our suhaag raat tonight?" Om asks her grinning at her.

Gauri blushes hearing that. "But we had decided, right? You only said..."

"Yes but that doesn't mean that if the love of my life, who is also my wife is in a closed room with me that I would behave."

Gauri giggles hearing that.

"I'll go?" Om asks her.

"Nooo." Gauri tells him as she hugged him.

"You will be the end of me." Om tells her as he hugged her tight.

Sighing Gauri leans back to look at him. Seeing her looking at him like that, Om leans down and takes her lips in his.

15 minutes later,

"I should go." Om whispers against her lips for the nth time.

"No." Gauri moans.

"God, Gauri." Om groans as he hungrily kissed her.

10 minutes later,

"I really should go." Om whispers to her as he kissed her neck.

"2 mins." Gauri begs him.

"One more minute and neither of us would be going anywhere, Gauri. I swear."

Realizing how much he was struggling, Gauri shyly steps aside.

"Now you are stopping." Om sighs, he was just a breath away from dragging her to the bed.

"You should go." Gauri tells him shyly.

"Yeah." Om sighs as he fought the urge to pull her towards him.

"Go." Gauri tells him as she slightly pushed him shyly.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Om tells her.

Gauri shakes her head in reply happily.

Om opens the door and stops in shock. "Shit!"

"What happened?" Gauri asks curiously as she walked to the door and looked out and covers her mouth in order to stop herself from screaming out loud.

Om quickly closes the door.

"Did they know each other before?" Om asks her in shock.

"No." Gauri shakes her head. "That was jeeji itself, right?"

"Yeah."

"And it was Shivaay bhaiyya that she was kissing? Or was it someone else?"

"It was Shivaay." Om tells her reeling from the shock.

"But how?" Gauri asks utterly clueless.

"I have no idea." Om replies then he asks as he turned to her in panic. "Does that mean we are going to be stuck in here tonight?"

Gauri felt equal measure panic and excitement at the possibility.

Seeing her looking at him like that, Om starts moving towards her when his mobile buzzes. It was a message from Shivaay.

I think I'll bounce.

"Coast is clear." Om tells her in relief and quickly replies.

I am coming.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay."

"Let's go?" Om asks Shivaay as he stepped out.

"Yeah." Shivaay replies as he nervously checked his mobile. "I'll get the car. Bye Gauri."

Then without another word he quickly left. Om also quickly leaves.

"Good night, Gauri." Anika tells her and hurries to her bedroom.

Gauri just stood there gaping at the empty living room.

**********

Gauri was getting ready to go out with Om.

"Ready?" Anika asks her as she stood at the door.

"Yeah." Gauri tells her as she turned to look at her sister.

"I have to tell you something." Anika tells Gauri nervously as she walked into her room.

"Tell me." Gauri tells her realizing that she wanted to talk about Shivaay bhaiyya.

"Last night... after you and Om went to room." Anika says as she nervously looked at her.

Seeing her so nervous, Gauri tells her softly, "We saw jeeji."

Anika closes her eyes in dread. "Om too?"

"Yes."

"I am sorry, Gauri." Anika says regretfully as she sat on the bed. "I have no idea how it happened. I have never done something like that before. You know me."

"I know, jeeji." Gauri sits next to her and reassuringly keeps her hand on Anika's shoulder.

"I've never thought about all these things. I wanted to get my career in track first... but last night..." Anika says covering her face.

"It's okay, jeeji."

"We were just talking. We were just talking about rents." Anika tells her in exasperation. "He said he just moved into a new place. I told him even I just moved in. then I was asking him about the rent at his place. He is living in this posh area, and we were just talking about difference in the rents... and I don't know how it happened, next thing I know, we are kissing."

"I am so sorry, Gauri."

"You don't have to say sorry, jeeji." Gauri tells her as she hugged her.

"I feel so embarrassed."

"It's okay, jeeji." Gauri tells her chuckling. "You don't worry."

Gauri's mobile rings. "It's Om. he is here."

"Yeah, you go."

**********

"Where are we going?" Gauri asks excitedly as she got in the car.

"Wherever you want to go." Om tells her smiling.

Gauri smiles hearing that. "Can we just go for a drive?"

"Just a drive?" Om asks surprised.

"Just you and me. no one else." Gauri tells him and wistfully asks him, "When will I get you all to myself again? please?"

"Okay." Om tells her smiling. "Anything you want."

**********

Om and Gauri had spent the better part of the day driving around. And nothing had been more blissful for them than that. they only stopped for breakfast and lunch.

By evening they go to the restaurant for their dinner.

"I forgot to tell you."

"What?" Gauri asks curiously.

"Shivaay asked if he could ask out Anika."

"Really?" Gauri asks excited.

"I told him to wait till we left so that Anika won't feel awkward."

Gauri smiles hearing that. "Jeeji was telling me about their kiss."

"Even Shivaay told me."

"But I don't know what Jeeji will decide, she wants to concentrate on her career."

Om nods. "I did tell him that. Anyway let them talk and see."

"Happy birthday to you."

Hearing the song, Gauri turns to the sound in surprise and sees a couple of waiters walking to their table with one holding a chocolate cake. Gauri turns to Om and smile excitedly.

Gauri happily cuts the cake and they feed each other.

"Happy birthday in advance, wife." Om wishes her as he hugged her happily.

"Thank you, husband." Gauri tells him smiling happily.

Om offers her a gift wrapped box.

Gauri excitedly opens the box to find a beautiful bracelet.

"Thank you." Gauri says excitedly as she tried it on. "This is so pretty." Gauri gushes excitedly.

**********

Very soon, their time together had come to an end and it was time for them to fly back. Om had booked the same flight as Gauri, so they could travel together.

"I told jeeji that Shivaay bhaiyya wants to ask her out." Gauri informs Om.

"And what did she say?"

"She is not sure. She said she wants to think about it before she made a decision."

Om nods. "You told her that even if she wants to say no, it is okay, right? that it is not going to affect us or change things between all of us."

"I did." Gauri tells him.

"I'll wait in here, so uncle doesn't see me." Om tells Gauri as they started to walk out of the airport.

Gauri nods. "I had an amazing time, Om." Gauri tells him smiling.

"Me too." Om smiles at her.

"Now, when will we meet next?"

"Soon." Om promises her as he hugged her.

"I'll just call Papa and see if he reached." Gauri tells him as she switched on her mobile.

First thing, Gauri noticed was a message from Anika.

"Jeeji send a message." Gauri tells Om as she showed him the message.

Gauri, Shivaay called.

I don't know why... I just couldn't say no to him.

We are going for dinner tonight.

Gauri turns to Om and sees him thoughtful.

"What are you thinking?" Gauri asks him seeing that he wasn't as happy as her.

Om turns to her and smiles, "I was thinking about you."

"What about me?"

Om cups her face and tells her gently, "I don't want you to get your hopes up."

"Hopes?"

"Shivaay and Anika are adults and we should just support them whatever their decision is. I am just telling you that they might decide that they are not suited for each other."

"Oh." Gauri nods as she looked down.

"They are just starting their journey and till they are sure of each other; I don't want you asking Anika about marriage. Don't pressurize them."

"Okay." Gauri nods and then she softly confesses, "I thought once jeeji finds someone then we could be together."

"Aren't we together now?" Om asks her lovingly.

Gauri smiles hearing that.

**********

Gauri was excited to know about how Anika's and Shivaay's date went but remembering what Om had told her, she willed herself not to call her sister. She would give them the space that they required.

It was midmorning when finally, Anika messages her.

Hey

Gauri excitedly replies to her.

Hello jeeji, how are you? how did it go?

It was nice :)

Gauri quickly thanks the Lord. And was about to message Om when Anika sends another message.

We are meeting tonight.

Gotta go. Talk to you later.

Bye jeeji.

Gauri excitedly calls Om, since he was in office they couldn't do video call.

"Jeeji messaged." Gauri excitedly tells him.

"And?" Om asks smiling.

"They are meeting tonight again. She said it was nice. Did Shivaay bhaiyya message?"

"Not yet." Om tells her.

"Oh." Gauri says disappointed.

Om chuckles. "I told you not to get your hopes up."

"I am not."

"Liar." Om teases her.

Gauri closes her eyes embarrassed.

"Okay... I have to go now... got work." Om tells her.

"Okay, bye."

Once the professor left the class, Gauri curiously takes her mobile to check if Om had called or message. She sees a missed call from him and a message.

Shivaay called. He seems very happy. He really likes Anika.

**********

Things went on like that for a while. Om and Gauri didn't get a chance to meet after that. Anika and Shivaay were in a steady relation now.

It was Om's birthday and since Om was a little held up with work, they couldn't take a trip to Bengaluru to be together.

So on his birthday, Gauri had planned with Priyanka and had left for college early. Instead she had gone to his house after collecting his birthday cake.

After keeping the cake in the kitchen, Gauri and Priyanka goes to Om's room.

"Bhaiyya." Priyanka calls him as she knocked on the door while Gauri stood to the side hiding.

"Going to take a shower." Om calls out to her.

Priyanka turns to Gauri asking what to do. And Gauri gestures her to knock.

"Open bhaiyya, I just want to wish you."

"Fine!"

Om opens the door and looks at Priyanka in exasperation. "Wish."

"Happy birthday, bhaiyya." Priyanka says as she hugged him.

"Thank you." Om replies unable to hold his frown. He smiles.

"I got your gift too."

"Yeah? Where?" Om asks smiling.

Priyanka gestures to where Gauri was standing.

Om curiously turns to the side and Gauri excitedly jumps to stand in front of him. "Happ..." and she stops seeing Om in only a pyjama.

Gauri gulps seeing the most tantalizing image of her life.

"Gauri..." Om softly calls her very aware of his state of undress.

Seeing Om and Gauri awkwardly staring at each other, Priyanka declares, "You guys talk. I'm going." Then she quickly leaves.

"Gauri." Om softly calls her name.

Realizing she was staring, Gauri quickly looks down blushing uncontrollably.

"Do you want to come inside?" Om asks her gently.

Gauri nods and seeing him step aside, Gauri quickly runs into his room.

Om locks the door and turns to her. the moment they looked at each other, they hurried to each other and slams their mouth on each other and starts hungrily kissing.

"We should stop." Om whispers to her.

Gauri leans up and kisses his shoulders and neck, while she ran her hand all over his chest.

"You shouldn't touch me like that, Gauri." Om whispers to her as he nervously breathed.

Gauri stops as she looked into his eyes and tells him. "I want to."

With a groan, Om leans down and takes her lips in his. She was hungrily kissing him when he stops and she felt him lift her in his arms. Gauri looks at him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Om passionately looks at her as he walked to his bed. Then he gently places her on his bed.

They were hungrily kissing each other when Gauri's phone starts ringing breaking them out of their passionate haze.

Om quickly moves back.

"Where is my bag?" Gauri asks as she tried to calm her raising heart as she looked around everywhere instead of him.

Om looks around and finds her bag on the floor. He quickly retrieves it and gives it to her. Gauri takes out her phone from her bag.

"It is Prinku." Gauri informs him and answers the call.

"Gauri... Dad wants to go to office early. So, why don't you and bhaiyya come down so we can cut the cake?"

"Yeah, coming." Gauri replies and hangs up. "We have to go down." Gauri says as she looked down.

Om gently keeps his hand on her cheek. "You okay?"

Hearing him ask that question so lovingly at her, Gauri moves to him and hugs him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah give me five minutes." Om says then he lightly chuckles.

Understanding what he had meant, Gauri blushes. Then she lovingly kisses his cheek. "I love you."

"I love you."

"Happy birthday husband." Gauri tells him as she kissed him again.

"Thank you." Om tells her smiling happily.

"I've a gift for you." Gauri tells him as she grabbed her bag.

"If it wasn't for my sister, you would have been my gift."

Gauri blushes hearing that. "I'm yours. You know that, right?"

"I know. But I told you earlier..."

"I know." Gauri tells him smiling. "And I love you more for that."

Om smiles hearing that. "Give me my gift."

Gauri takes out the watch box from her bag and gives it to him. Om takes out the watch and looks at it with a smile. Gauri nervously looks at him look at the watch.

"I know it is not as expensive as the ones you use. I don't have a job now... and my pocket money..." Gauri worriedly tells him.

"I love it. Thank you." Om tells her smiling happily at her.

"You do?" Gauri asks smiling happily.

"Yes. Thank you." Om tells her as he pecked her lips.

"Okay... you get ready and come down."

**********

By the time, Om had come down, Gauri and Priyanka had set the cake on the table. She had got a vanilla cake because that was his favorite flavor. Gauri watched as his parents and nani wish him.

"Let's cut the cake." Priyanka calls out to them while Gauri light the candle on the cake.

After lighting the candle, Gauri moves to the side so Om could stand in front of the cake. Everyone stands around the cake and starts singing happy birthday for him. Only when he took the knife to cut the cake did she notice that he was wearing the watch she had gifted him. Gauri smiles happily seeing that.

Om takes the first piece and looks at her.

"Gauri." Om nods his head, gesturing her to join him.

Blushing Gauri walks to him though she did look at his parents and nani to see if they were offended that the first piece he was offering to her, but they looked happy. Gauri takes a piece of cake and offers him. They feed each other as they happily smiled at each other.

"Come here." Om whispers to Gauri once everyone had a piece of the cake.

Gauri goes with him to the side. Om takes his wallet and gives her his credit card.

"Keep this with you."

"Why?" Gauri asks shocked.

"I should have given you my card earlier, it didn't occur to me. I am sorry."

"But why?"

"Earlier you said you didn't enough money."

"But I am still living with my parents." Gauri tells him then seeing he was about to argue she tells him, "Papa might feel insulted if I take this."

"You are my wife, Gauri. I feel insulted when you take money from your parents." Om tells her.

"If I need money, I will ask you." Gauri tells him.

"Keep the card with you." Om insists.

"If I keep the card then I might not use it. But if I need money, I will definitely ask you. I promise."

Om nods and keeps his card back.

Seeing that he was a little upset, Gauri quickly tells him. "Okay, give me some money."

"Really?" Om asks smiling surprised.

"It's my husband's birthday, I will treat my friends. I'll take them for lunch." Gauri tells him.

"You never take me for lunch." Om tells her pouting sadly.

"We'll go today?" Gauri asks excited.

"Hectic day at office." Om tells her sadly.

"And Ma will kick your ass." Gauri tells him as she opened his wallet and took out all the cash, then she puts back 100 rupees. "In case you have some emergency."

Om chuckles but loving her for this gesture of hers. It wasn't about spending money on her, it was about she considering what was his as hers.

**********

Gauri was in her college when Om calls her. quickly moving away from her friends, Gauri answers the call.

"Hi." Gauri says with a smile.

"I just spoke to Shivaay." Om tells her very excited.

"And?" Gauri asks feeling happy realizing his excitement.

"He is going to propose to Anika." Om tells her excited.

"Really? When?" Gauri asks unable to contain her excitement.

"Tonight." Om tells her happy. "I am so happy."

"For them or for us?" Gauri asks him in a teasing tone.

"I am happy for them but very happy for us. finally, my wife is going to be just mine."

"And my husband is going to be just mine."

**********

At night, Om calls Gauri.

"What happened? Did you talk to Shivaay bhaiyya?" Gauri asks him excitedly.

"Shivaay just messaged me." Om tells her in an upset tone.

"What happened?" Gauri asks as worry gripped her heart.

"Anika said no."

"WHAT?" Gauri shouts in shock. "But why?"

"I don't know. Shivaay just messaged that she said no. I am going to call him. I thought I will just let you know." Om tells her and hangs up.

Gauri felt like crying. She was feeling anger. She wanted to break things, scream out loudly. She was feeling so much anger at her sister. She couldn't believe how selfish her sister was being at that instant.

Hearing her mobile ring, Gauri answers the call seeing that it was Anika.

"Yeah jeeji." Gauri says unable to hide her anger from her voice.

"You know." Anika states sensing her anger.

"Don't you love Shivaay bhaiyya?"

"I do." Anika sadly confesses.

"Then why did you say no?" Gauri asks sadly.

"Everything is happening so fast, Gauri." Anika confesses.

And Gauri stopped herself before she said, "Everything is at standstill for us."

"You know how Shivaay and I happened. It all feels like a big blur. It is all going so fast and it would kill me if we jump into marriage now and Shivaay regrets it." Anika tells her.

Gauri stops in shock realizing that her sister was insecure. "Jeeji... why do you think like that?" Gauri asks her in concern.

"We have been together for only months and we are just getting to know each other, what if once we get married we regret it? And..."

"And?"

"Many times Shivaay has told me how he feels sorry that Om and you have to stay apart. I can't shake this feeling that one of the reasons he wants to get married is so that you both can be together."

"Hmmm."

"Gauri, the first thought I had when Shivaay proposed was that I should marry him that way Gauri can be with Om. and I realized how wrong I was. Shivaay deserves better than that."

"You're right, jeeji." Gauri tells her realizing that her sister was right. "You should get married only when you are as sure of the guy as I am of Om. I am sorry, jeeji. For a while I got selfish and thought you were being selfish. You are the reason, Om and I am together, and I... I want you to get married only when you are 100 percent sure. Om and I can wait. You don't worry about us."

"Thank you, Gauri." Anika says feeling relieved.

"You have the right to live your life the way you want." Gauri tells her smiling.

"Even you have that right too, Gauri." Anika tells her sadly. "You are sacrificing your happiness for me."

"You don't worry about me, jeeji." Gauri tells her smiling confidently. "You don't know my husband. If it becomes too difficult for me to stay without him then all I have to do is tell him, the next second he would take me home. So, you don't worry, jeeji."

Anika smiles hearing that. "There is another thing."

"What?" Gauri asks curiously.

"I told Shivaay that I want us to live together before we decided on marriage."

"What?" Gauri shouts in shock.

"When I told him all my reasons, even he agreed. He even said that he wasn't sure whether he proposed marriage for us or for you both."

"But will Ma and Papa agree?" Gauri asks shocked.

"Gauri... we are not telling them." Anika tells her shocked.

"What?" Gauri asks shocked out of her wits.

"He wants me to move into his apartment. So, I am moving to his apartment."

"What if Ma and Papa find out?" Gauri asks shocked.

"I will deal with it when that happens."

**********

"So they are moving in... huh?" Om asks as soon as she answered the call.

"Yeah. I told her that I would support her." Gauri tells him.

"Hmmm."

"What about you?"

"Same. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am fine." Gauri tells him sighing. "What about you?"

"I am fine... a little disappointed." Om confesses.

"You kept telling me not to get my hopes high."

"I know... for a second I thought my wife was coming home." Om tells her sadly.

"Do you think if we were just engaged then we would have found it this hard?" Gauri asks him curiously.

"If we were engaged or just dating it would have been different. It wouldn't have been difficult. You are my wife, you are mine and that is what it makes it so hard."

"Soon, husband."

"Yes."

**********

Very quickly Anika had moved into Shivaay's apartment. She even lied to their parents about having renovation done on her bedroom. Now she video called their parents only from their bedroom and Shivaay would stay away that time. she even lied that her new roommate was a workaholic who was forever busy with office work.

It was going to be their first wedding anniversary, and Om and Gauri wanted to spend it together. Since, Gauri was a little scared to ask her parents to go to the Oberoi house for that particular reason, Om had decided that he would handle it.

Gauri was waiting for Om to call her parents when Om had come home. Her parents were happily talking to him while Gauri sat near them.

"Actually, Uncle... aunty... tomorrow is our wedding anniversary." Om informs them.

"It's been a year?" Harsh asks as he looked at Gauri with a sad smile.

"How time flies... huh?" Nayantara asks as she sadly smiled at Gauri.

"We wanted to be together. So I came to take Gauri home. She'll come back tomorrow." Om tells them.

"I understand that you are married..." Harsh hesitantly says. "But if someone finds out... you understand right, Om?"

"Uncle, I think you misunderstood me." Om politely tells him.

Gauri quickly covers her mouth to stop her smile from showing.

"Ah then, there is no use." Nayantara says giving up.

"What am I misunderstanding, Om? And what no use, Nayantara?" Harsh asks confused.

"That is his way of saying." Nayantara tells him while Om chuckles looking down.

"Saying what?"

"Saying 'shut up, Gauri's husband has spoken'."

"what?" Harsh says shocked as he looked at his wife, his son-in-law, his daughter and finally at his son-in-law again.

Om sweetly smiles at him then he says, "We are getting late, uncle." Then turning to Gauri, he asks, "Let's go?"

Harsh's eyes widen in shock then he seeing the way Om was still looking calmly he turns to his wife, "At least he is polite."

Om chuckles hearing that.

Nayantara then tells Om gently, "I know we are being unfair to you both, but please be careful."

"I know aunty that if we go out together, people will notice. I know too many people know us in this city. Don't worry. We are not going out. We will be at home only."

"Home? Your family is there at home, right?"

"Yes."

"So nothing special?" Nayantara asks surprised.

Om shakes his head in negative.

Om walks into his house with Gauri.

"Gauri... how come you are here?" Jhanvi asks surprised seeing her.

"Why is that no one remembers that tomorrow is our wedding anniversary?" Om asks a little offended making Gauri smile.

"It is?" Jhanvi asks smiling. "We should celebrate."

"They are not celebrating it. They are not even giving each other gifts." Priyanka tells her.

"Really? Why?" Jhanvi asks shocked.

"What is there to celebrate? They have been staying apart all this while. They haven't started their life together as husband and wife. So, they are just celebrating their journey."

"How do you know all that?" Om asks her shocked.

"Did you forget that your wife is my best friend?"

Om turns to Gauri and sees her cheekily grinning at him. He shakes his head at her.

**********

While Om had gone to freshen up, Gauri was with Priyanka.

"Prinku... there is something I want to tell you." Gauri nervously tells her.

"What?" Priyanka asks her frowning.

"I hid something from you."

"What?" Priyanka asks curiously.

"I always tell you everything but this..."

"Oh God." Priyanka says freaking out as she sat up. "Please don't tell me all your adults-only secrets. I don't want to know."

"What?" Gauri asks shocked. "It is not that, you idiot."

"Oh... for a second I got scared." Priyanka says feeling relieved.

"And there is nothing to say about that." Gauri mutters as she sits.

"Is it that bad?" Priyanka asks shocked.

"WHAT? NO! we haven't done it."

"WHAT?" Priyanka asks in shock as she stood up.

"what?"

"But you guys went to Bengaluru."

"Yeah... I told you I stayed with jeeji and he with Shivaay Bhaiyya."

"You said you went for long drive... actually the whole day."

"Yeah we did." Gauri replies confused.

"You mean long drive and not "long drive" ?" Priyanka asks shocked.

"Why would I call that long drive?" Gauri asks her shocked.

"Oh." Priyanka says shocked. "So you guys haven't..."

"No."

"But it is one year now."

"I know." Gauri tells her feeling a little sad.

Seeing her sad, Priyanka asks her, "Is that the secret?"

"No... it's something else." Gauri turns to her and tells her, "It is a secret... okay?"

"Yeah okay. tell me."

"You know, jeeji,..."

"Hmmm?"

"Jeeji and Shivaay bhaiyya,,,," Gauri nervously smiles. "It is a secret, okay?"

"Are they dating?" Priyanka asks shocked.

"They are living together."

"WHAT?" Priyanka shouts in shock.

"Hi jeeji." Gauri says smiling as soon as Anika answers the call.

"Hey Gauri... where are you?" Anika asks seeing the new background.

"Is Shivaay Bhaiyya there?"

"Hey Gauri." Shivaay slides towards Anika coming into view.

"Shivaay bhaiyya, please don't scream at me." Gauri worriedly tells him.

"Why would I scream at you, darling? You are my darling sister." Shivaay tells her smiling.

"Really? Then what about me?" Priyanka asks as she came into the camera's view.

Shivaay's eyes pop open seeing Priyanka then he turns to look at Gauri, "WHAT DID YOU DO, GAURI?"

"She is my best friend... I can't keep secrets from her." Gauri tells him in a pleading tone.

"Nothing stays in her stomach!"

"I can't believe none of you told me!" Priyanka says offended.

"Now please go tell everyone, okay?" Shivaay tells her while Anika chuckles.

"Okay. I'll tell Mom first."

"I was being sarcastic!" Shivaay tells her in exasperation.

"She is also joking. She promised she won't tell anyone." Gauri tells him.

Shivaay looks at Priyanka suspiciously.

"So you guys are together?" Priyanka asks excitedly forgiving all for hiding it from her.

"Yeah." Shivaay tells her smiling.

"I am so happy for you guys." Priyanka tells them smiling. "You know, jeeji... I never let my friends come to my house other than Gauri, because I didn't want my friends to eye my brothers."

Anika chuckles hearing that. "Really?"

"Only Gauri was allowed and Om bhaiyya fell for her and now, Shivaay bhaiyya fell for her sister."

Shivaay chuckles hearing that.

"Only friend I trusted with my brothers and because of her, both my brothers slipped out of my hand." Priyanka says laughing.

Priyanka and Gauri were chatting with Anika while Shivaay just sat by and listened.

"Babe... is there cake left from yesterday?" Shivaay asks Anika.

"Yeah, one piece is there in the fridge, do you want me to get it for you?"

"I'll get it." Shivaay tells her and gets up and leaves.

Few minutes later, Shivaay comes back with the cake as he ate it.

"Shivaay, I told you no food in bedroom." Anika tells him frowning.

"I'm done." Shivaay says as he jumped on the bed and licked his fingers clean.

"ewww Shivaay, wash your hands!" Anika says in disgust.

"Why should I? my hands are clean." Shivaay says as he tried to pull her cheeks and Anika kept swatting his hands.

"Stop it, Shivaay."

Seeing them, Gauri looks down as she felt a little sad.

"Look at you both." Priyanka says amazed. "You guys are not married but still living bindaas."

Shivaay and Anika stops as they looked at Priyanka a little embarrassed.

"And here these two, they can't even meet each other. They are married but has to take everyone's permission to even celebrate their first wedding anniversary."

"It's your wedding anniversary?" Shivaay asks shocked.

"Tomorrow." Anika tells him as she sadly smiled at Gauri.

Gauri smiles at them.

"Why don't you and Om come here? Stay with us for a few days?" Shivaay asks Gauri gently.

"I have exams now, Shivaay bhaiyya." Gauri replies for lack of another answer. She no longer wanted the chori-chupe time with her husband, she wanted her rightful time with her husband.

"Gauri?" Om knocks on the door.

"It's Om. I have to go. Jeeji... Shivaay bhaiyya, I will talk to you guys later."

"Okay... bye."

"Bye Gauri."

"Bye." Gauri says and cuts the call.

"See ya, Prinku. I'm sleeping here, don't lock the door." Gauri tells her and hurries to open the door.

"Okay."

"Hey... let's go?" Om asks her smiling.

"Yeah... but where to?" Gauri asks as she stepped out and closed the door.

"Terrace."

**********

Gauri was surprised to see a table and two chairs set for dinner. She looks at Om in surprise.

"I didn't want to have food with everyone. We are completing one year, so at least today we should have get some us time." Om tells her smiling.

Gauri hugs him.

They have dinner as they talked about random things.

After dinner, they had sat on the terrace floor as they leaned against the wall.

"Are you happy?" Om asks her.

"I have you, how can I not be happy?" Gauri asks him back.

Om smiles and takes her hand to his lips and kiss it.

Gauri keeps her head on his shoulder and listened to Om talk.

"I told Prinku about Jeeji and Shivaay bhaiyya."

"Shivaay will kill you." Om tells her grinning.

"She spoke to them."

"Really?" Om asks smiling.

"Yeah."

Gauri turns to look at Om and tells him sadly, "Today, they were kind of arguing and I felt bad."

"Why?" Om asks curiously. "It's normal, right?"

"Shivaay bhaiyya was eating in their bedroom... and jeeji was pissed. Shivaay bhaiyya started irritating her. They looked so much like a couple."

"Hmmm... you know at times, when I talk to Shivaay, they would be getting ready to have dinner, and Shivaay would be setting the table... I have felt bad then."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't want you to be upset." Om tells her. "And I know, we will also have these moments in our life. sharing the house chores, the arguments, fun banter... I know we will have all that."

Gauri wraps her hand around his arms and keeps her head on his hand. "Did you think it would take more than a year?"

"No."

Feeling her eyes fill up, Gauri wipes her eyes on his shirt sleeves as she hugged his arms tighter.

"Gauri, the moment you feel you can no longer be happy like this..." Om starts.

Gauri cuts him off, "I know." She turns to him and tells him, "At times, that belief is what gives me strength to go on like this."

Om kisses her hand.

"If we could have met every day, then I wouldn't have found it so difficult." Gauri confesses.

"I know."

"We have to wait months before we can see each other."

"If I had known that things were going to be like this, I wouldn't have promised your mother anything."

"Then she might not have agreed for our wedding."

Om sighs hearing that.

Seeing Om check his watch, Gauri looks at his watch. He was wearing the watch she had gifted him. He always wore this watch. She had noticed it on his hand every time they video called. Gauri smiles and looks at the time, one more minute left. They both silently sat there as they stared at the minute hand.

"Happy wedding anniversary." They whisper to each other as they turned to each other and kissed.

They hear firecrackers and they move apart and look at the sky.

"You?" Gauri asks smiling seeing the beautiful fireworks.

"Yeah."

They sat together and watched the fireworks.

"I thought of getting skywriting. Gauri Omkara Singh Oberoi."

"Really?" Gauri asks smiling.

"Yeah, then I thought, we have been hiding our relation. And if I do that and someone sees it, it would be like pouring water over all the sacrifices you made."

"And you." Gauri tells him.

Om turns to her and tells her in a serious tone, "I am starting to find it very difficult, Gauri."

Gauri squeezes his hand.

"I don't know for how much longer I can go like this." Om tells her.

Gauri nods.

"I am getting to a point where I am not going to care who is going to be hurt, whose heart is going to be broken and the promises I made be broken. I just wanted you to know so you can be prepared."

Gauri leans up and kisses him on his cheek in answer.

**********

Unexpectedly, one weekend Anika comes home.

Gauri and Anika were lying in bed as they talked at night.

"Shivaay has also come." Anika informs Gauri.

"Really? Om didn't say anything." Gauri says surprised.

"That is because I told Shivaay to tell Om and Priyanka not to tell you, as I wanted to tell you." Anika explains.

"Tell me what?" Gauri asks curiously.

"I came to tell Papa and Ma about Shivaay. We have decided to get married."

"REALLY?" Gauri asks excitedly as she hugged Anika.

"Yes." Anika laughs as she hugged her. "I'm sorry, I made you wait for so long."

Gauri grins at her and informs her, "Om was on the verge of taking me home."

"Really?" Anika asks smiling in surprise. "You would have gone if he called you?"

"I love him, jeeji. And he is my husband. I would go to the end of the world for him." Gauri tells her smiling.

Anika smiles impressed.

"But you are sure and confident about Shivaay bhaiyya and your relation, right?" Gauri asks her worriedly.

"Yes." Anika smiles at her.

"You don't have to get married for me, jeeji. I am just waiting for the day for Om to call me."

"I want to marry him, Gauri. I want to spend my life with him. Even he can't wait anymore."

"I am so happy for you." Gauri tells her as she hugged her sister.

"Tomorrow I am going to talk to Papa... will you be there with me? I'll talk to him... you just...."

"Of course."

**********

Next day morning, Anika and Gauri goes to Harsh. Gauri sits near them while Anika went and sat next to Harsh.

"Papa... I want to talk to you." Anika nervously tells him.

"Yeah, tell me." Harsh tells her smiling encouragingly.

"There is this guy." Anika tells him. "His name is Shivaay and I want you to meet him."

"Shivaay?" Harsh asks frowning.

"I love him, Papa."

"Hmmm." Then he frowns and asks, "Do I know him? His name sounds very familiar."

"He is Omkara's brother."

"Omkara's?" Harsh asks frowning then he asks curiously, "Tej's brother's son? The one who passed away, his son?"

"Yes. Tej uncle and Jhanvi aunty raised him. They are like his parents."

"Hmmm... so should I call Tej?" Harsh asks her.

Hearing that Anika smiles in relief and she looks at Gauri and sees her smiling excitedly. "No. Shivaay will tell them today. Then they will come and meet you."

"Okay." Harsh says smiling then he asks curiously, "But how did you meet him? He was not there for the wedding, right?"

"He came to meet Gauri when she came to Bengaluru. And I met him then."

"Oh okay." Harsh smiles, "Both my daughters going to the same family."

Anika smiles hearing that.

"Did you tell your mother?"

"No, you tell her."

"Okay." Harsh tells her smiling as he stood up and went to look for his wife.

Gauri excitedly runs to Anika and hugs her.

**********

The Oberoi family had come that evening to officially talk about Anika and Shivaay's wedding. And very soon, they were watching as the Pundit looked through the charts to decide a wedding date.

"There is a good muhurat on March 7th."

"Isn't that too soon?" Jhanvi asks worriedly.

"It's not, Badi Ma." Shivaay gently tells her. "Om and Gauri have been waiting for more than a year."

Jhanvi nods and smiles. "That's true."

"So, we will fix for March 7?" Harsh asks Tej.

"Yes." Tej nods smiling.

"Punditji, this is the younger children's kundali." Nayantara says as she passed him the kundalis.

Pundit was busy looking through the charts.

"Oh." The Pundit says softly.

"What happened?" Nayantara asks worriedly while Gauri looked at Om in fear.

"There is a good muhurat on March 5th."

"March 5th would be before Shivaay and Anika." Tej points out.

"Yes but after that it is only on July 24th"

"March 5." Om tells no one in particular in a calm tone.

"Yeah but that would be before Anika's wedding and Nayantara and Harsh has issues with conducting Gauri's marriage before Anika's." Jhanvi explains to Om thinking he was just saying out the date loudly in shock.

Om turns to his mother and smiling very politely, he tells her, "I think you misunderstood me, Mom."

Harsh bursts out laughing while Gauri quickly looks down to hide her smile.

"Oh it's decided then." Nayantara says.

"Misunderstood?" Jhanvi asks confused. "And what is decided?"

"We have no issues with having Gauri's marriage two days before Anika's." Harsh tells everyone instead of giving an explanation.

"That is brilliant." Tej says smiling. "I didn't want to keep our children waiting for months again."

"We'll just have one wedding card for both Anika and Gauri, so everyone will know that both of them are getting married." Nayantara tells Tej.

Soon everyone got busy talking about the wedding details. Finally, all the major decisions were made and Oberoi family decided to leave.

Om stood up and sees that everyone had stood up to leave. "Two minutes." Om says as he looked at everyone. Then he looks at Gauri, "Gauri." he gestures his head to the side.

Gauri turning slightly pink, quickly follows Om to the end of the room.

Shivaay's eyes pop open seeing the authoritative way Om behaved with Gauri in front of their parents.

"Gauri was telling the truth." Anika softly whispers to Shivaay as she moved next to him. "Om doesn't shy away from using the husband card."

"Do you believe that they haven't done it?" Shivaay asks her in a whisper.

"I am starting to feel suspicious. You know he even put my parents in their place when it came to Gauri?" Anika asks him.

"Really?" Shivaay asks surprised. "Definitely they are lying."

"But who told you? Om?" Anika asks surprised.

"Are you mad? Who told you?" Shivaay asks her.

"That day at my flat they said they didn't want to stay together. After that Gauri indirectly said something on that effect. And who told you?"

"Prinku. Told you, nothing stays in her stomach."

"Hmmm."

They look at Gauri and Om talking, then they see Om kissing Gauri on her forehead.

"Definitely." Anika declares. "Even now, I am scared to hold your hand in front of my parents."

"Liars!"

"Are you happy?" Om asks Gauri as they stood away from their families.

"Do you even have to ask?" Gauri asks him surprised.

"No... not that." Om tells. "We had to hide our relation because your parents didn't want you to marry before Anika but we are getting married again before them... so, I was just wondering whether you feel we went through all that for nothing."

"Marrying then and marrying two days before jeeji is different." Gauri tells him.

"Yeah." Om agrees smiling.

"And I am so happy that we don't have to hurt our parents." Gauri tells him smiling.

Om smiles hearing that. "Even me."

"Om... Mom was talking about shopping and all." Gauri starts.

"Hmmm?" Om nods.

"I don't want another mangalsutr. The one you gave me for our wedding, I want you to tie that on me for our this marriage too. I'll give it to you sometime before our wedding. I don't want a different mangalsutr. That one is too precious to me and my heart had yearned to wear that." Gauri tells him as her eyes filled with tears.

Om felt his eyes fill up, without a word, he moves towards her and lovingly kisses her on her forehead.

Om and Gauri walks back to join their families.

"Let's leave?" Om asks his family.

They nod.

Om walks to Nayantara and bends down to touch her feet, "Bye aunty."

"Now that we would be announcing your engagement and wedding, I think you should start calling us Ma and Papa." Nayantara tells him smiling.

"Okay, Ma." Om tells her smiling.

**********

Now that their supposed engagement and impending wedding was informed to all near and dear ones, surprising everyone, Om and Gauri had decided that now they would meet only on their wedding day. Their explanation was that they had stayed away from each other for so long that they would continue that till their second marriage. Meanwhile Anika and Shivaay had gone back to Bengaluru and continued to stay together.

Very soon, everyone got busy with the wedding preps. And the month flew by and like Om had promised Gauri, they had a grand wedding.

"It's really late, we should sleep." Gauri whispers to Om as she snuggled on his chest. "Morning we have the Puja here for Shivaay bhaiyya then we have to go home for jeeji's Puja then evening their mehendi function."

Om hugs her as he rolled over her and started kissing her naked shoulders, "I have no idea, how many nights I have spent sleeplessly thinking of this night."

Gauri cups his face so he would look at her. "Even me." Gauri whispers then leaning up and she takes his lips in hers.

*** The End ***

For all those curious people, there was scene in Shubhayathra where Jayaram and Parvathy comes to Innocent's house. Jayaram says we will go for a walk and come, after they leave KPAC Lalita says something about how they are not able to be with each other. That scene inspired this story, a husband-wife, not able to have a normal relation. And that is how I got this story. And the part Tej and Jhanvi see Om and Gauri sleeping and sympathizing with them was my version of the above scene. Also the part where he has fever is inspired from the movie.

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- Lazy