Hello everyone...
I'm here with a short light hearted story. i hope you guys will like it.
Previous Story : Baaware Se Iss Jahaan Mein Baawara Ek Saath Ho (Posted on 28 – Jul – 2021)
Thanks to all for the overwhelming response to Baaware Se Iss Jahaan Mein Baawara Ek Saath Ho. I'm sorry for not replying to the comments, I was held up with something. Please forgive me.
Couple of you had asked me for a college romance, I don't remember who all, hope you guys will like this college story.
"Please can I go?" Gauri worriedly asks.
"Stay right there!" Ridhima glares at her.
"What do you want her to do?" one of her friends asks her.
Ridhima thoughtfully looks at her.
"I know, she should say I love you to someone." Ishana says excitedly.
"Childish!" Ridhima mutters as she thoughtfully looks around and she notices Omkara walk into the canteen. She starts grinning seeing Omkara, "Let's do that!"
"Awesome! who?" Ishana asks as she looks around.
"Who else? The college heartthrob Omkara Singh Oberoi." Ridhima says pointing at him.
Gauri worriedly turns back and sees Omkara walking in. many were waving and greeting him while he had swaggered on as he waved at them.
"Go tell Omkara that you love him." Ridhima tells her.
"But I don't love him." Gauri tells them worriedly.
"Yeah right! and we believe you!" Ishana mocks her.
"Go!" Ridhima tells her.
"But he doesn't know me." Gauri points out.
"Does anyone know you here?" Ridhima asks her sarcastically.
"Not many." Gauri honestly replies softly.
"Go, don't waste our time." Ridhima tells her.
Gulping worriedly Gauri walks to Omkara.
Omkara stops seeing a girl blocking his way. He was about to walk around her with a frown when she speaks to him.
"Please don't misunderstand, okay?" Gauri tells him.
"Misunderstand?" Omkara asks confused.
"Yes. It's ragging... okay?" Gauri nervously tells him.
"Are you ragging me?" Omkara asks her shocked.
"No... no." Gauri vehemently shakes her head.
"Oh you are being ragged?" Omkara asks her.
"Yes." Gauri replies. "So, don't misunderstand okay?"
"Okay." Omkara replies confused as hell.
"I love you." Gauri tells him.
"Oh." Omkara nods understanding.
"Thank you for your time." Gauri tells him and turns to hurry back.
"Wait!" Omkara stops her. "Aren't you..." Omkara stops in confusion.
Gauri worriedly turns to him.
"Who is ragging you? my classmates?" Omkara asks her curiously.
"No... no." Gauri shakes her head.
"Then?" Omkara asks her confused.
"Those people." Gauri points to the table.
Omkara curiously looks and frowning, he asks her, "Isn't that Ridhima?"
"I don't know their name."
"Pink and white stripes is Ridhima. She is my family friend." Omkara tells her.
"Oh okay." Gauri nods though she had no idea why he was telling her that.
"She just joined college. She is a first year student. Aren't you a senior?" Omkara asks Gauri confused.
"Yes." Gauri nods.
"How is a junior ragging a senior?" Omkara asks confused out of his wits.
Embarrassed Gauri looks down, "I was trying to rag them."
"What?" Omkara asks smiling, though he wanted to laugh out loud hearing that. "Then what happened?"
"Last year, I was a first year student... throughout the year, I was ragged by the seniors. So, now, I am also a senior, even I wanted to rag someone." Gauri confesses.
Omkara bites down on his lips so he doesn't laugh a loud and embarrass the already distressed girl.
"They scolded me and they took my bag. They said they won't give it back till I do what they wanted me to. My assignment is in my bag." Gauri confesses to him sadly.
"Come, I'll get your bag for you." Omkara tells her.
"It's okay. I completed the task, they will give me my bag now." Gauri tells him smiling, the Omkara Singh Oberoi was actually a sweet guy.
"You don't know Ridhima, I know her. come." Omkara tells her.
"Thank you." Gauri tells him smiling.
"Ms. Darpok, you look cuter when you are smiling." Omkara tells her with a teasing smile.
Gauri gapes at him in shock, no one had ever called her cute. With her curly wild hair, thick rimmed glasses and forever falling down, Gauri Kumari Sharma was not cute.
"You are weird." Omkara tells her seeing her gaping hearing his compliment.
"I know." Gauri nods looking down.
"Aww you're a cute weirdo." Omkara tells her grinning.
"Are you flirting with me?" Gauri asks him confused.
"Wow what a cute smart weirdo?" Omkara says with a teasing smile.
Gauri looks at him confused. She really couldn't understand why the most popular guy of college, who everyone wanted to be friends with, was trying to talk to her, who was pretty much the college clown and had just a handful of friends.
"What's your name?" Omkara asks her as he gestured her to walk.
"Gauri."
"I'm Omkara."
"Everybody knows your name." Gauri replies.
"Still it is polite to introduce oneself." Omkara tells her.
"That is true." Gauri nods.
Omkara stops at Ridhima's table while Gauri stood behind him. Ridhima frowns seeing Omkara with Gauri.
"Hey Omkara." Ridhima says.
"Where is Gauri's bag, Ridhima?" Omkara asks her.
Ishana quickly hands him the bag as she looked at him love struck. "I'm Ishana. Ridhima's friend."
Omkara nods and turns to Gauri, gives her the bag.
"Thank you." Gauri whispers to him in relief.
"Welcome." Omkara replies to her with a smile. He then turns to the group of friends and asks them, "Why were you ragging a senior?"
"Don't involve yourself in all this Omkara." Ridhima tells him as she frowned at him.
"I thought you involved me in this when you picked me to embarrass her."
"It was just fun." Ishana quickly says while Ridhima glared at him.
If Gauri hadn't tried to rag them, he would have scolded them about ragging being a crime and against college rules, but Gauri started it and he couldn't warn them against it. So, he instead says, "It was not fun for her. and you are juniors. So stay juniors. Don't go ragging seniors!"
"Which senior?" Ridhima asks him with a mocking smile.
"Gauri." Omkara replies frowning.
"Who?" Ridhima asks him again chuckling.
Frowning, Omkara turns to point at Gauri and finds the spot empty. He looks around and sees Gauri running out of the canteen.
"What the..." Omkara stops in shock.
********
Gauri was worriedly sneaking out of her class at the end of the day so no one decides to rag her again.
"You ran off." Omkara tells her frowning.
Gauri jumps in shock and turns around to find Omkara leaning on the wall next to the classroom door.
"Sorry." Gauri whispers regretfully.
"Why did you run off?"
"How did you know this was my class?" Gauri asks him confused.
"I looked inside all of the second year classes. I saw you inside this."
"Oh. There are so many classes." Gauri tells him in shock.
"You ran off." Omkara reminds her.
"I didn't want them to notice me, and come after me again." Gauri confesses.
"Notice you?" Omkara asks her shocked. "They were directly talking to you."
"Yeah, but I am very forgettable." Gauri points out to him. "People rarely remember me."
Omkara frowns hearing that. "Last year, for fresher's day, you had come on stage to introduce yourself and didn't you fall on the stage?"
"You remember that?" Gauri asks him shocked.
"I don't think anyone can forget the way you had fell and was sprawled on the stage like that. that is how I knew you were not a fresher." Omkara explains.
Gauri looks down, hurt remembering one of the most humiliating moments of her life. "Did you also laugh?" Gauri asks him softly. The thought that he had laughed at her was hurting her, he was so kind to her earlier and the thought that he could have laughed was too hurtful.
"I don't find it funny when someone falls down." Omkara tells her remembering how ¾ of college had laughed at her falling down. He had felt bad for her then, maybe that is why he had recognized her even after a year of the incident.
Gauri smiles in relief hearing that. "I've balance problem. I keep falling down." Gauri confesses to him. then chuckling, she tells him, "I even fell down when I was running away from the canteen."
"Did you get hurt?" Omkara asks her in concern.
"No." Gauri replies smiling.
"Okay. if anyone tries to rag you again tell them my name." Omkara tells her.
"I don't think they will have the courage to rag you instead of me." Gauri tells him shaking her head.
"Tell them you are my friend!" Omkara tells her in exasperation.
"Oh!" Gauri nods. "Okay."
"Okay."
"But we are friends?" Gauri asks confused.
"You know, Gauri... you are such a weirdo!" Omkara tells her.
"Yeah, I know." Gauri nods with a sigh.
Omkara couldn't help smile at her cute antics. "Let's go?"
"Where?" Gauri asks confused.
"Are you planning to stay here in this corridor the whole night?"
"No..."
"So... come." Omkara tells her shaking his head.
"Okay." Gauri nods and walks with him.
"How do you go home?" Omkara asks her curiously as he started to turn towards the car parking.
"Driver will come to pick me up. I don't have a license so I can't drive to college." Gauri explains to him.
"Why haven't you taken one?" Omkara asks curiously as their college was mainly for the rich and privileged students that most come by their own car.
"I always fail. Papa said he will bribe and get me license. But I don't want to get one like that." Gauri tells him.
Omkara smiles, Gauri was different from other girls, she was so refreshingly honest and innocent.
"My car is here." Gauri tells him pointing at her car.
"Okay then, bye." Omkara tells her.
"Bye, Omkara." Gauri tells him with a smile.
*******
The next day, Gauri had gone to the canteen for her daily caffeine intake.
"YOU!"
Hearing the loud command, she curiously turns around and finds the gang from yesterday looking at her.
"Come here!" Ridhima tells her.
"Me?" Gauri asks nervously as she looked around hopefully that they were talking to someone else instead of her.
"COME HERE!"
Gauri gulping walks towards them.
"Go and get us all coffee." Ridhima tells her.
Gauri nods and turns to go then remembering she turns to them and informs them, "Omkara is my friend."
"Omkara? Your friend?" Ishana asks laughing.
"Yes." Gauri nods.
"And we believe you!" Ishana laughs sarcastically.
"GAURI!"
Curiously, Gauri turns around and sees Omkara waving at her from the canteen entrance.
"What are you doing there? come here!" Omkara waves her over as he starts to walk to her.
Gauri turns to the gang and tells them, "He is calling me, I'll go?"
Ishana, Richa Muskan, Ajay and Mukesh were gaping at her while Ridhima was furiously glaring at her.
"What are you doing here?" Omkara asks as he joined them.
"They wanted coffee." Gauri explains to him.
"Oh okay." Omkara replies and looks at Ishana, "You, Ridhima's friend, I forgot your name, sorry. When you go to get coffee, get for Gauri and me too." Omkara instructs her. "We'll be there. come, Gauri."
Gauri quickly walks with Omkara and whispers to him. "They wanted me to get coffee."
"I know." Omkara replies as he pulled a chair for Gauri to sit. "Didn't you tell them that you were my friend?"
"They didn't believe me." Gauri tells him as she sat down.
"Now, they will believe." Omkara tells her as he sat opposite to her.
"Even I'll believe." Gauri replies amazed as she looked around and saw everyone staring at them in shock.
Omkara burst out laughing hearing her, "You are such a cute weirdo, Gauri."
Gauri blushes as she looked down. "You are flirting."
"I thought that's what boyfriends did." Omkara tells her.
"What?" Gauri looks up at him in shock. "Boyfriend?"
"You only said you love me." Omkara reminds her.
"But that was ragging. I told you not to misunderstand." Gauri tells him panicking.
"But I did." Omkara replies.
"Oh no." Gauri replies in shock.
Omkara chuckles and asks her, "Why does it matter to you whether I misunderstood or not?"
"Haan." Gauri nods realizing.
Omkara chuckles, "I was joking, Gauri. I know you didn't mean that."
Gauri sighs smiling. "You said we were friends and then you said boyfriend, I got confused."
"We are friends, Gauri. and I am hoping we'll eventually get there too." Omkara tells her.
"WHAT?" Gauri shouts in shock.
"Our coffee is coming." Omkara tells her seeing Ishana coming with their coffee.
She places the coffees on their table, still looking at them in shock.
"Thank you, Ridhima's friend." Omkara tells her.
"Ishana." Gauri whispers to him as she leaned over the table. "Yesterday, she mentioned her name was Ishana."
"Oh okay. I might have forgotten. Thank you, Ishana." Omkara tells her.
"Welcome." Ishana whispers still in shock and walks off.
"I just wanted to clear something with you, so you won't have any misunderstandings later." Omkara tells her.
"Hmmm what?"
"Ridhima is my family friend. We have known each other forever."
Gauri smiles at him. "I won't misunderstand. You can be her friend and my friend too."
"It's not that. We are not friends. Maybe a mere acquaintance."
"Oh okay."
"My parents and even her parents are kind of hoping that Ridhima and I would get married in the future. My parents know that Ridhima is a little snobbish, they feel that she will become mature and level headed in a few years... you know, by the time of marriage." Omkara tells her. "But I don't feel like that for her. and my parents are not asking me to marry her, they just feel that she is a good match, that's it."
Gauri smiled understandingly. "I know she was rude to me. but I won't think you betrayed our friendship because you and Ridhima decides to get married."
Omkara gapes at her in shock. "I am not saying that, Gauri."
"Oh then?" Gauri asks him confused.
"I don't want you to think that I ever had or ever will have any kind of romantic feelings for Ridhima. Don't have any kind of misunderstandings like that. because I know, many are thinking that Ridhima and I are friends and maybe more because we are family friends. Nothing like that."
"Oh." Gauri nods confused.
"Let's go out." Omkara tells her realizing they finished their coffee.
Gauri takes her stuff and walks out with him.
*******
"Why did you say that?" Gauri asks him in confusion once they were out of the canteen.
"Because I have a crush on you." Omkara tells her.
Gauri turns to him frowning in shock.
"Close your mouth, Gauri." Omkara tells her grinning.
"Is someone ragging you?" Gauri asks Omkara in a whisper as she moved close to him.
"No." Omkara replies grinning. "Do you have any idea how cute you are?"
"No." Gauri replies shocked.
Omkara starts laughing out loud. "God, Gauri. you are making me crazy about you."
"HUH?" Gauri asks shocked out of her wits.
"I've never met anyone like you." Omkara tells her grinning.
"Yeah." Gauri nods sadly. "I'm a clown unlike all those sophisticated girls here."
"They are pretty much clones of each other. You are refreshingly different." Omkara tells her.
Gauri looks at him in shock and confusion.
"I haven't thought of anyone or anything else since the moment we spoke yesterday." Omkara tells her as he stopped and leaned on the railing.
Gauri also leans on the railing next to him.
"I know you don't feel like that for me. I'm hoping we can be friends, spend time together and eventually we both can decide whether we want to be in a relationship or not." Omkara tells her.
"But why me?" Gauri asks him in shock. "There are so many awesome girls here."
"Why me? there are so many awesome guys here." Omkara tells her.
"All the girls want to be your girlfriend. Did you know there is a bet going on, on who would become your girlfriend?" Gauri asks him.
"No." Omkara replies surprised. "Whom did you bet on?"
"I didn't bet on anyone. I didn't think it was right to make bets on relations and feelings. Anika told me. She is my best friend. She knows all the gossip that is happening in the college."
Omkara nods. "It doesn't matter, Gauri. These girls don't want to date me, they want to date the cricket team captain and the popular guy. There is life beyond these college politics, star cricket players and all."
"But everyone expects you to be with someone like Ishana or Ridhima." Gauri tells him.
"I know it is the cool thing to be in a relationship and have a girlfriend. I know one thing people expect from me is to keep jumping from one girl to the next, even cheat on my girlfriend and all. I admit, I do get tempted but then that time, I talk to my mother."
"Your mother?" Gauri asks confused.
"Not about wanting a girlfriend, about her and Dad. They met in school and they have been together since then. When she talks about their relationship, the joy, the bliss, the twinkle in her eyes... I want all that Gauri. not these fleeting fanciful relations. I want that depth, love and understanding that they share. I'm willing to wait for that." Omkara tells her.
"I don't understand what is happening now." Gauri tells him feeling lost and confused at the whole situation.
"Take your time. Can we be friends till then?" Omkara asks her.
Gauri nods.
"GAURI!"
Hearing that, Gauri curiously turns and sees Anika running towards her.
"Babes! Where were you? I've been looking for you in the canteen." Anika asks as she stops next to her. then noticing Omkara with her, her eyes widened in shock.
"You were late and we finished coffee, so we came out." Gauri tells her seeing her staring at Omkara and her in shock.
"Are you ragging her?" Anika asks him with a frown. "She is a senior now! you can't rag her. ''And when did you start ragging juniors?"
"Babes, he is my friend." Gauri quickly tells her.
"Friend?" Anika asks in shock. "But I just saw in the group that there was a ragging incident yesterday with him."
"He saved me from them. you were absent yesterday so I didn't tell you." Gauri explains to her.
"Oh." Anika whispers and turns to Omkara apologetically. "I am so sorry. Thank you so much for saving her. she went through hell last year with everyone ragging her."
Omkara nods with a smile. "I am assuming you are her best friend, Anika?"
"Yes." Anika replies with a smile.
"I am Omkara. Nice to meet you." Omkara tells her as he offers her his hand.
"I know you." Anika says as she shakes his hand.
"Yesterday's incident was on your group?" Gauri asks her.
"Yeah, about you being ragged and Omkara and some first years were involved. Since he was the senior, I thought he was the one ragging." Anika explains as she took out her mobile from her bag to show her.
"No... no... the first years were ragging me." Gauri tells her.
Anika looks at her in shock, "Babes! You are a fricking senior now! stop being scared of others. Nobody can rag you now."
"They can't." Gauri tells her smiling. "If anyone tries to rag me then I will tell them that I am Omkara's friend."
Anika smiles as she looked at Omkara. "That is sweet."
Omkara smiles.
Anika looks at her phone to show Gauri the message when she stops seeing the alerts. "Oh God! Too many messages, give me a minute. Let me just catch up. Don't want to miss out on anything."
Omkara curiously looks at Gauri.
"She is the gossip queen of our college." Gauri explains.
"What?" Omkara asks with an amused chuckle as he looked at Anika.
"She is the admin of the official WhatsApp gossip group of our college called 'Information Center'." Gauri tells him.
"Information center?" Omkara asks chuckling.
Gauri nods grinning.
"So, you two were having coffee together with Ishana playing waiter to you both?" Anika asks them.
"Yeah." Gauri nods in shock. "That is also in the group?"
"more than 10 people have reported it. Everyone is asking me to confirm why my best friend is with Omkara. I am even getting private messages too." Anika tells them in shock.
"Tell them we are friends." Omkara tells her.
"You want me to confirm?" Anika asks him shocked.
Omkara nods. "If everyone knows Gauri is my friend then no one will trouble her."
"That is true." Anika replies as she quickly types her reply. "By the way, who is Ishana? Why was she playing waiter for you both?" Anika asks, confused.
"She is a first year student. Ridhima's friend. Ridhima is Omkara's family friend." Gauri explains.
"Oh Ridhima!" Anika asks excitedly turning to Omkara. "Can you confirm if anything is going on between you and Ridhima?"
"No." Omkara replies.
"Oh okay." Anika says realizing that she overstepped.
"There is nothing going on between us. our parents are friends." Omkara explains.
"Oh. You guys are not friends?" Anika asks him excitedly.
"Only casual greetings when we meet." Omkara explains with a shrug.
"Awesome! She ragged my bestie!" Anika replies as she started typing away on her phone.
Omkara and Gauri look at each other and grin.
*******
Every chance they got, they kept meeting. Everybody was noticing how every break Omkara and Gauri were together. And Omkara was right, seeing that Omkara and Gauri were friends, no one troubled Gauri. in fact, she was getting popular now with everyone wanting to be her friend because of her closeness to Omkara.
Gauri and Anika were walking through the college corridor when they overhear Ridhima and her gang talking. Hearing Omkara's name, they both stop curiously.
"Omkara is just having his fun." Ridhima tells them. "I've been seeing him since childhood. I know him well."
"But why with her?" Ishana asks in disgust.
"He loves going after these low confident and weak minded girls. He gets a kick out of them hero worshipping him, and once he gets bored with them, he dumps them." Ridhima tells them.
"Can you believe I am actually feeling bad for that Gauri?" Ishana tells her.
"She should be knowing when of all the people, he is showing interest in her. she should at least have some self-awareness." Ridhima tells them. "She is bringing this on herself. I have no sympathy for her."
"I really didn't think Omkara was like this." Muskan says in shock.
"Why do you think I refused to marry him when our parents suggested it? he is a total dick. One asshole." Ridhima tells them.
Gauri turns to Anika worriedly, her eyes filling up.
"Don't tell me that you are believing that bullshit. Omkara already told you not to misunderstand him regarding Ridhima." Anika reminds her.
"He said that about a relationship..." Gauri worriedly tells her.
"Still, Gauri!" Anika tells her exasperated. "You are taking her words as truth?"
"No... But I still feel like asking Omkara about it but what if he feels bad?" Gauri asks her worriedly.
"If you don't ask then it is going to be in your heart and ruin things between Omkara and you. it is better that you both have a minor argument regarding this than a big misunderstanding." Anika advices her.
********
"What's up? Why did you ask me to come here?" Omkara asks her as he joined her. "Don't you want your usual coffee?"
Gauri shakes her head in negative as she continued to look down.
"What happened? You okay?" Omkara asks her confused seeing her not looking at him.
Gauri nervously grips her hand as she fought her tears.
"What happened my gummy bear?" Omkara asks her in concern as he cupped her face and made her face him. seeing tears in her eyes, he asks worriedly, "Gauri, what happened?"
Seeing his concern for her, Gauri tells him as she looked down. "I overheard Ridhima talk."
"Gauri, I already told you that there isn't anything between Ridhima and me. and there will never be." Omkara quickly tells her.
"It is not that." Gauri tells him softly.
"Then?"
Gauri tells him what she overheard.
"And you think that whatever she said is true?" Omkara asks her angrily.
Gauri helplessly looks at him.
"Are you believing her over me?" Omkara asks her.
"No." Gauri replies as she looked at him.
"Then why are you upset?" Omkara asks her confused.
"I don't know." Gauri tells him sadly. "I feel sad, I feel hurt and scared, Omkara."
Omkara quickly pulls her towards him and hugs her. "Gauri, I am not playing with you. I am not like that. I don't prey on women like that."
Gauri hugs him hearing that.
"Do you think I am like that? don't you trust me?"
"I do. But I just..."
"Gauri, why do you see yourself as a low confident and weak minded girl? You are more than that." Omkara tells her.
"I just felt so bad, Omkara." Gauri tells him as she looked at him. "There are so many girls better than me here, and you still wanted to be my friend."
"Stop comparing yourself with other girls. You are very special to me, Gauri."
"I trust you, Omkara but when she said what I have been wondering, I just..."
"Gauri, I really don't know how to clear this misconception that you are not good enough. You are so different from all of them. so real. You shouldn't compare yourself to them, they can never match up to you."
Gauri gapes at him in shock hearing that. "You are the real weirdo." Gauri tells him.
Omkara chuckles hearing that. "Anyway, we decided to be friends, right? we'll take it slow."
Gauri nods. "Are you sad that I asked you about it?" Gauri asks him worriedly.
"I'm happy that you asked me about it." Omkara tells her smiling.
Gauri smiles hearing that.
"You fine now?" Omkara asks her.
Gauri nods smiling in relief.
"Let's go then." Omkara tells her.
"I want to get my coffee before bell rings." Gauri tells him hurriedly.
"Okay... where is Anika?" Omkara asks her curiously.
"She is there in the canteen."
********
"Come with me." Omkara tells Anika.
"Okay... where?" Anika asks confused as she stood up. "Did you guys sort it out?"
"Yes, now you just come with me. take your phone too." Omkara tells her.
"Do you want me to come?" Gauri asks him confused.
"Of course." Omkara replies.
Anika and Gauri follows him to the table where Ridhima and her friends were sitting.
"Take a video and put it in your group." Omkara tells Anika.
Anika's face breaks out into a big smile as if Christmas came early. "Of course. give her good."
Omkara grins hearing that. then he stops in front of Ridhima's table. Seeing Omkara with Gauri, Ridhima looks at him worriedly.
"Action." Anika softly whispers as she started recording.
"What are you doing?" Ridhima asks Anika and Omkara seeing her taking a video.
"What are you doing, Ridhima?" Omkara asks her.
"What do you mean?" Ridhima asks him frowning as she looked at Gauri and him.
"You are making up stories about me." Omkara accuses her.
"What the hell, Omkara? When did I do that?" Ridhima asks offended.
"When have I played with a girl's feelings? You were saying I play with women? Name one girl that I did it with. Name at least one girl who was in my life before Gauri." Omkara furiously asks her.
"I didn't say anything like that." Ridhima says offended. "Obviously this girl is lying." Ridhima says pointing at Gauri.
"I didn't say that Gauri told me that." Omkara points out. "Then how did you know she told me? Gauri is not a liar like you, Ridhima that she would make up stories about someone. You were trying to create misunderstandings between Gauri and me, and you were making up stories about me. you knew Gauri was there and you said those things." Omkara furiously tells her.
"Get lost, Omkara. I don't want to talk to you. and you stop recording that." Ridhima says turning red in anger and humiliation.
"I'll but before that one more thing. When did our parents talk about our marriage? it was your parents who suggested that we get engaged. The moment I said I wasn't interested in you, my parents dropped that topic. Then when did you ever refuse to marry me? it was me, who said I didn't want to marry you. because forget marrying, I can't even imagine being friends with someone like you. And Gauri... she is my friend. And I sincerely hope that we will be more than friends one day. even if, we don't, I would still want her in my life as at least a friend always. And that Ridhima, is the difference between Gauri and you for me!" Omkara furiously tells her.
"You can stop, Anika." Omkara tells her.
Anika nods and stops recording, and she quickly shares it in her group.
"Stay away from Gauri, Ridhima." Omkara warns her.
Then turning around, he looks at Gauri and sees her staring at them in shock.
"Come, let's get your coffee." Omkara tells her as he took her hand in his and walked off.
********
Few weeks later
"She is forever glaring at me." Gauri whispers to Omkara, as she slyly darted glances at Ridhima.
"Is it troubling you?" Omkara asks her back.
Gauri shakes her head.
"Then ignore her." Omkara tells her.
Gauri smiles and nods.
"I've to go early today." Omkara tells her. "Cricket practice."
"I have free hour next, I'll come to watch?" Gauri asks him.
Omkara smiles hearing that. "Yeah, let's go."
Smiling happily, Gauri grabs her stuff. "I'll message Anika to come there."
Omkara nods as he offered her his hand. Gauri takes his hand. Hand in hand, they walked out.
*******
"Wohooo!" Gauri cheers for Omkara as he hit a six.
Hearing her, Omkara turns to look at her and grin.
"He is so smitten." Anika tells her seeing the way Omkara was smiling at her.
"We are just friends." Gauri tells her shaking her head at her.
"He told you he has a crush on you." Anika reminds her.
"Look at all the other girls here. And look at me." Gauri tells her dejectedly.
"You are not like them and that is why he likes you."
Gauri shrugs. "Anyway he said that we'll take our time."
"Hmmm... Shivaay is hot, isn't it?" Anika asks seeing that Shivaay had joined to bat.
"Oh hooooo." Gauri cheekily grins.
"Nothing like that... I just..." Anika says blushing.
"He is a sweet guy." Gauri tells him, having spoken to him many times as Shivaay was Omkara's best friend.
"Hmmm."
They turned to watch them practice, Gauri cheering every time Omkara lifted his bat.
"NOOOOO!" Gauri screams in disappointment seeing Omkara getting out.
Hearing her disappointed scream everyone including Omkara turns to look at her. seeing everyone looking at her, Gauri quickly look down. Chuckling, Omkara hands the bat to the next player and walks to where Gauri was sitting.
Smiling he sits next to her. "It's okay. it is just practice."
"Did I embarrass you?" Gauri asks him softly as she looked down worriedly.
"You can never embarrass me, Gauri." Omkara tells her lovingly. "And all these are what I like about you."
Gauri looks at him and smiles at him happily. seeing her smiling at him like that, Omkara lovingly flicks her nose with a finger making her giggle happily.
"I'm going to freshen up." Omkara tells her.
"We'll go to class then, bell will ring now." Gauri tells him as she stood up.
Omkara nods. Gauri was about to walk when she trips and Omkara quickly catches her before she fell.
"Careful, babe." Omkara tells her in concern.
"I am forever falling." Gauri tells him embarrassed.
"That's okay." Omkara tells her with a smile as he lovingly caressed her cheek.
Blushing, Gauri looks down.
Omkara smiles seeing her blush. "Okay, I'll see you later then."
"Okay." Gauri smiles at him and watches him leave.
"Look at all of them glaring at you." Anika happily whispers seeing Ridhima and gang furiously watching her.
"Omkara told me to ignore them." Gauri tells her as she started walking.
"That bitch Ridhima might have realized that Omkara is never going to marry her." Anika tells her happily.
"You are acting bitchy." Gauri tells her.
Anika grins hearing that. "And she is losing her popularity after Omkara's video."
"I kinda feel sorry for her." Gauri tells her regretfully because Omkara had been ignoring Ridhima all these while and he did what he did was because of her.
"She should have thought of that before trying to creating misunderstandings between you both." Anika tells her.
*******
The next day, Omkara and Gauri were sitting together in the canteen and chatting with Shivaay and Anika. Feeling someone stop near their table, they both curiously look up and sees one of the faculty.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am?" Gauri says as she stood up.
"I came to check. So the complaint was right." Roop says frowning.
"Complaint? What complaint?" Omkara asks as he stood up.
"Come to the Principal's office." Roop tells them.
Nodding, Gauri quickly grabs her bag to follow her.
"For what?" Omkara asks as he held Gauri's hand to stop her.
"For this." Roop says pointing at their hands.
"What?" Omkara asks confused.
"Aren't you both in a relation?" Roop asks them.
"No, we are just friends." Gauri quickly clarifies.
"Not yet." Omkara replies at the same time.
Gauri turns to him in shock and sees him frowning at Roop.
"When did the college management get concerned about all these?" Omkara asks her.
"Your family sends you to college trusting us and it is our duty to make sure you don't do anything wrong." Roop tells him getting irritated at the way Omkara was questioning her.
"First of all, Gauri and I am not in a relation yet. We are just friends. Even if we were in a relation, there is nothing wrong in it. and secondly, in this canteen itself there is at least one another couple who are actually in a relation. so, why aren't you going after them?"
"One?" Gauri asks him in shock. "There is at least ten here." Gauri informs Omkara shocked at how clueless he was. "There is Robin and Tanu, Karan and Preeta, Ajay and Muskan... actually no... Ajay is dating Richa, Muskan and he are just doing it, then there is..."
"Gauri?" Omkara turns to her in shock seeing her outing all the couples there.
Gauri turns to Omkara curiously and seeing the shock on his face, she realized what she did. Gasping in shock, she covers her mouth.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Richa furiously shouts. "YOU BASTARD, YOU WERE CHEATING ON ME?"
Everyone turns to look at them curiously. And sees Richa slapping Ajay.
Shocked Gauri turns to Anika and whispers to her, "You should stop telling me all these gossips."
"You know, I can't help it." Anika whispers to her helplessly.
"AND YOU BITCH, YOU WERE MY FRIEND!" Richa screams as she turned to Muskan furiously and slaps her.
"I think you should handle that instead of getting involved in matters that doesn't concern you." Omkara tells Roop softly.
Roop furiously turns to him.
Omkara looks at Ridhima and sees her watching them angrily.
"I've seen you at the parties at the Kapoor's. aren't you friends with Ridhima's mother?" Omkara asks her softly.
Roop turns pink in embarrassment realizing that she was caught. Then without saying anything, she quickly walks off.
"I didn't mean to tell everyone's name, it just slipped out." Gauri worriedly tells Omkara. "I don't want anyone to get in trouble."
"She is not going to cause trouble for them. Ridhima was trying to get us in trouble." Omkara tells her.
"Now looks like her clique is going to reduce in number." Shivaay points out seeing how Ajay, Richa and Muskan were fighting and arguing.
"Serves her right! bitch!" Anika mutters.
Shivaay grins hearing her. "By the way, can I join your this WhatsApp group? I didn't know half of them were couples."
*******
Next day, Gauri walks into canteen alone as Omkara hadn't reached yet and Anika was with Shivaay. Deciding to get their coffees, she heads to get it. she was walking when she stumbles and falls flat on her face. seeing that, soon people started chuckling. she turns to look to her side in shock and sees Ajay walking past her. she quickly tries to stand up when she stumbles again and fall, making the laughter to get louder. She looks down feeling humiliated.
"GAURI!" Omkara calls her as he ran to her.
Seeing him run to her, her eyes fill up. While most of the students stopped laughing seeing Omkara.
"You okay, love?" Omkara asks her as he knelt down next to her, cupping her face worriedly.
Gauri nods as she looked at him.
"Please don't cry, baby." Omkara whispers to her seeing her tears. He kisses her on her temple.
Gauri's eyes widen in shock when he kissed her. and those few who were still chuckling, had stopped in shock seeing Omkara kiss her.
"Can you stand up?" Omkara asks her.
Gauri nods and tries to stand up. Omkara helps her up. She starts to walk and winces in pain.
"What happened?" Omkara asks her.
"my leg is paining." Gauri tells him.
"Come sit here, let me check." Omkara tells her as he pulled a chair for her and made her sit.
He kneels down in front of her and takes her leg on his lap.
"It' s okay, Omkara. It is just a light pain." Gauri tells him seeing everyone looking at them in shock.
Omkara nods as he checked. Then he gently massages the point that was hurting her.
"I tripped." Gauri tells him, deciding not to tell him that Ajay had tripped her in revenge for what happened the previous day.
"It's okay. it happens." Omkara nods. "Better?"
Gauri nods. "Thank you."
Omkara smiles at her then he stands up and looks around the canteen at all the students still watching them curiously. He furiously says, "Next time, I see anyone laughing at Gauri, I'll break your fucking legs."
*******
"Gauri, babes... you okay?" Anika asks worriedly as she ran to her.
"It was in the group?" Gauri asks her shocked.
"Yeah." Shivaay replies. "Are you okay, Gauri?"
"Yeah, I am fine." Gauri replies.
"We hear there was a kiss involved too." Shivaay says as he looked at Omkara with a raised eye brow.
Omkara awkwardly looks at Gauri and she also nervously look at him.
"Stop it!" Omkara tells them.
"Where were you two?" Gauri asks them.
"Oh that reminds me." Anika says as she turned to Omkara. "Will you take part for the drama for college day?"
"Drama?" Omkara asks shocked.
"Nice!" Gauri says excitedly.
"Yeah, Rudra backed out. So, we need someone else to do his part. Will you do it?" Anika asks him.
"Why did he back out?" Omkara asks curiously.
"He said that he is building his body muscle, so he doesn't want to go shirtless on stage before he achieves his goal." Anika tells him.
"What does that have to do with the drama?" Omkara asks shocked.
"I don't know. He is adamant. So, will you do it?" Anika asks him.
"Sorry, no."
"Why not?" Gauri asks him shocked.
"because I don't want to." Omkara says.
"Come on, Omkara, help out a friend." Anika requests him.
"Shivaay you do it." Omkara tells him.
"I'm already doing a part." Shivaay replies.
Omkara sighs. "You look for someone else, Anika."
"Why not, Omkara? Do it." Gauri requests him.
Seeing her cutely requests him, Omkara finally confesses. "I can't go shirtless on stage."
"Why not?" Gauri asks him in shock.
"I can't." Omkara replies.
"Are you also building muscles?" Shivaay asks him curiously. "Is that why you don't change in the locker room since the last few days and go to the bathroom to change before practice?"
Omkara uncomfortably looks at the three of them. "I'm just not comfortable, okay?"
Seeing him so uncomfortable, Gauri lovingly holds his hand, "If you are not comfortable then don't do it."
"Thank you." Omkara tells her smiling.
*******
"Shivaay is planning to ask Anika out." Omkara tells Gauri as they sat in the auditorium and watched them practice the drama.
"Really?" Gauri asks him excitedly. "Anika has been crushing on him for a while now."
Omkara wanted to remind her that even he was crushing on her for longer but then decided against it. maybe on college day.
Omkara smiles and takes her hand in his and holds it. Gauri smiles and holds his hand.
*******
"Gauri, aren't you done?" Omkara asks her on the phone, she was helping Anika and the team get ready for the drama.
"Yeah, I am done. Coming. where are you?" Gauri asks him as she hurried out of the green room.
"I'm here." Omkara says as he hung up the phone.
Gauri smiles seeing him right outside the green room. "Sorry, there was some confusion with the costumes. Did you get bored?"
"No... My parents are here. I want you to meet them." Omkara tells her.
"Nice. Even my parents should be here." Gauri tells him as she walked with him.
Omkara takes Gauri to where his parents were.
"Dad... Mom... this is Gauri." Omkara tells them smiling excitedly.
Tej and Jhanvi look at Gauri in surprise. They look at Omkara in shock and surprise and sees him happily smiling. Smiling, they turn to Gauri.
"Hello, Gauri." Jhanvi tells her smiling.
"Hello, Jhanvi Aunty."
"Hi Gauri, I'm so happy to meet you." Tej tells her smiling warmly at her.
"Me too, Tej uncle. I've heard so much about you both from Omkara."
"He never mentioned about you to us." Jhanvi says cutely frowning at Omkara.
"It was supposed to be a surprise, Mom." Omkara tells her rolling his eyes.
Tej and Jhanvi smiles.
"Papa and Mama are here." Gauri says excitedly waving at her parents. "Omkara, Jhanvi Aunty and Tej Uncle, come, I'll introduce you to my parents."
"Yes, let's meet." Jhanvi says excitedly.
"Okay." Gauri excitedly hurries to her parents.
"Dad... Mom... I don't want you two to misunderstand." Omkara quickly whispers to them.
"Misunderstand?" Jhanvi asks confused.
"Aren't you both..." Tej asks confused.
"Yeah, we are." Omkara nods. "But the thing is except for Gauri, the whole college knows that we are in love."
"What?" they both asks confused.
"Gauri is a little clueless about these things. so, don't think we are just friends with the way she talks." Omkara explains to them as he led them to Gauri and her parents.
Tej and Jhanvi looks at each other, utterly confused as they followed him.
"Papa, Mama... meet Omkara and this is..." Gauri starts making introductions.
"Tej?" Harsh says in surprise.
"Harsh?" Tej also says in surprise. "Gauri is your daughter?"
"Yeah."
"Wow, this is such a pleasant surprise. Omkara is my son." Tej says happily.
"That is amazing." Harsh says happily as he looked at Omkara.
"How do you two know each other?" Gauri asks shocked.
"Year before last, we had collaborated on a small business." Harsh explains.
"Oh my... Vasundhara, right? we met at the success party." Jhanvi says amazed.
"Yes. Jhanvi, right?" Vasundhara asks.
"Yes."
"This is so amazing." Gauri tells Omkara. "We are friends and our parents are also friends."
"Friends?" Vasundhara asks confused.
"Oh... I thought..." Harsh says a little uncomfortably.
"No... no... Harsh Uncle you are right." Omkara quickly tells him.
"But Gauri..." Harsh says confused.
"Don't you know your daughter, Harsh Uncle?" Omkara asks him.
"Haaan." Harsh nods understanding.
"What, Omkara? I didn't understand." Gauri asks him confused.
"I'll explain later." Omkara tells her with a grin.
Gauri nods confused.
"You all sit... the programs should be starting now. we'll meet you after it is over." Omkara tells them.
*******
Omkara takes Gauri out of the auditorium where the function was happening.
"What did you mean?" Gauri asks him confused.
Omkara takes her out to an empty corridor.
"We were officially introducing us and our parents to each other." Omkara explains.
"Officially?" Gauri asks confused.
Omkara lovingly caress her cheek "Because we are no longer friends."
"What?" Gauri asks hurt, her eyes filling up.
"Awww love." Omkara says seeing her eyes fill up.
"Why, Omkara?" Gauri asks him sadly.
"Because we are more than friends."
"What?" Gauri whispers in shock.
Omkara leans down and takes her lips in his. Gauri sucks in a breath feeling his lips on hers. Omkara gently starts sucking on her lips. Gauri wraps her hands around his neck and kisses him. feeling her responding, Omkara hugs her close to him and deepens the kiss. They hungrily kiss each other.
"Understood?" Omkara asks her breathless, as he kept his forehead on hers.
In reply, Gauri takes his lips again and kisses him.
"Why me, Omkara?" Gauri asks him confused.
"Because I am in love with you, Gauri Kumari Sharma."
Hearing him, Gauri hugs him, keeping her head over his heart.
*********
Next day being a Saturday, Gauri was chilling in her room when someone knocks on the door.
"Come in." Gauri calls out.
Omkara opens the door. "Hi."
"Omkara!" Gauri says in surprise as she jumped out of the bed and ran towards him.
She was about to reach him and she stumbles, Omkara quickly catches her.
"Careful, love." Omkara tells her.
"How come you are here? You didn't tell me you were coming." Gauri asks him excitedly.
"Because I was missing you." Omkara tells him.
"Even I was missing you." Gauri says as she hugged him excitedly. "And you are here. You are the best boyfriend ever! I love you."
"Aww love you too, Darling." Omkara replies to her.
Gauri was about to kiss him, when Omkara quickly steps back.
"Wait, I'll close the door." Omkara tells her as he quickly closed the door and locked it.
Omkara turns to her and Gauri blushes seeing him looking at her.
Omkara chuckles, "What happened to you suddenly?"
Gauri blushes, "Earlier I was feeling so excited and happy."
"Now you are not?" Omkara asks her as he walked to her.
"I am but now I am feeling shy and nervous." Gauri says.
"Why?" Omkara asks her as wrapped his hands around her waist. Pulling her close to him. "It's not like we haven't kissed before."
"Yeah." Gauri nods thoughtfully. "Then why am I feeling like this?"
Omkara chuckles and leaning down, he takes her lips in his. Gauri hugs him and kisses him back.
********
They were on bed as they kissed. Omkara hungrily starts kissing down her neck while his hand runs up her chest. Gauri moans in pleasure.
Their passionate haze was broken the moment they heard a knock at the door. they both stop and look up in shock.
"Who is it?" Gauri asks loudly.
"It's me." Vasundhara calls out from the door.
"Shit!" Omkara scrambles out of the bed.
"Gauri?" Vasundhara calls her.
Omkara looks at Gauri and sees her staring at him. "God, Gauri! this is not the time." Omkara whispers to her realizing that she was staring at his erection.
Gauri nods as she hurried out of the bed. "Coming, Mama."
In a bid to hide, his erection, Omkara quickly sits on the floor, pressing his body against the bed, hiding his body from view.
"I heard your friend is home. Is it Anika?" Vasundhara asks as she walked in. then noticing Omkara, she stops, "Hello Omkara."
"Hello Aunty." Omkara replies with a nervous smile. "How are you?"
"I am good, how are you?"
"Brilliant." Omkara replies.
Vasundhara nods and she looks at both Gauri and Omkara in confusion, seeing the way, they looked nervous. "What were you two doing?"
"Talking."
"Studying."
Omkara looks at Gauri in shock hearing her. Gauri closes her eyes in shock.
"Talking and studying." Omkara tells Vasundhara who was looking at them suspiciously.
"You are her senior and in a different stream, right? isn't that what you both told us yesterday?" Vasundhara asks them.
"Yeah..." Omkara replies.
"Then how come you are studying together? What subject?" Vasundhara asks.
"Maths."
"English."
Omkara gapes at Gauri, and mouths to her in shock, "English?"
Gauri helplessly looks at Omkara.
"We did maths. We were about to start studying English." Omkara tells Vasundhara.
"You just came now, right?" Vasundhara asks him frowning.
Omkara awkwardly looks at her and Gauri. Vasundhara scowls at them both suspiciously.
"It is a holiday. Don't study so much. So both of you, come out of the room, sit in the TV room and watch TV." Vasundhara tells them.
Gauri and Omkara nods in yes.
********
Gauri and Omkara were sitting side by side as they watched TV.
Omkara slyly looks at Gauri, and she also slyly looks at him at the same time. seeing that they both silently chuckle.
"Your mother is strict." Omkara whispers to her.
Gauri grins hearing that. "What about your parents?"
"They are cool but then I don't know how they would be if they catch us like your mom caught us." Omkara tells her.
Gauri giggles and tells him, "My parents were so happy after they met you all."
"Even my parents. They are so happy and excited." Omkara tells her.
"They were not sad that it is not Ridhima?" Gauri asks him softly.
"I told you, Gauri. they just thought it was a good match. Nothing more than that. they are happy that I love you and you love me." Omkara explains to her.
Gauri quickly looks around and seeing that no one was there, she leans towards him and takes his lips in hers. Omkara quickly pulls her towards him and kisses her hungrily as he settled her on his lap.
"We should stop." Omkara whispers against her lips.
"I can't seem to stop, I like kissing you." Gauri mumbles as she kissed him.
Hearing that Omkara hungrily starts kissing her.
"We should really stop." Omkara tells her.
Gauri moans in protest.
"You are going to get me banned from your house." Omkara tells her.
Hearing that Gauri stops and moves back. Omkara grins and lovingly caresses her lips.
Gauri blushes and confesses to him worriedly. "I just want to keep kissing you. do you think I am the horny kind?"
"I am already crazy about you, don't make me any more crazier about you." Omkara tells her.
Gauri chuckles hearing that as she blushed more.
Hearing someone coming that side, Gauri quickly jumps off his lap and sits properly.
*********
Gauri gets into Omkara's car.
"Hi!" Gauri excitedly tells him as she hugged him.
"Hey." Omkara says. "This is new." Omkara says smiling seeing her wearing shorts to college.
"It is so hot and you've cricket practice." Gauri tells him smiling.
"Looking nice. Nice shirt too." Omkara tells her.
"Thank you. Even Anika has the same. We got it from one street shop when we went costume shopping for the drama. Mama didn't like it; she is a little brand conscious." Gauri softly confesses.
Omkara chuckles as he took her lips in his and kissed her.
He had come to pick her on his way to college. They were on their way to college when Anika calls her.
"Babes... are you on your way to college?" Anika asks her.
"Yeah."
"Omkara is with you, right? we wanted to tell you something." Anika tells her.
Gauri puts the phone on speaker. "I've put you on speaker. What's up?"
"We didn't tell you because we didn't know how you would react and didn't want you two worrying about it over the weekend." Shivaay informs them.
"What happened?" Omkara asks frowning.
"Someone saw you both kissing in college and it was shared in the group. Someone also shared with the group that you two met each other's parents and that you two were officially a couple." Anika tells them.
"Was there any photos or videos?" Omkara asks getting angry at the possibility.
"No. just these messages." Anika confirms.
"Hmmm. Then I guess it is fine, it was bound to happen." Omkara shrugs.
"You both will be scrutinized and watched today." Anika warns them.
"It has been happening for a while." Omkara replies.
"Do you think Roop Madam would complain to Principal if she hears of this?" Gauri worriedly asks.
"Why are you getting worried about that? what could be the worst that can happen? He will call our parents, and they already know." Omkara tells her.
"Ah yeah." Gauri nods relaxing.
"Gauri, do you want me to stop this group?" Anika asks Gauri worried and guilty.
"What the hell? NO! I haven't had this much entertainment and fun till I joined this group." Shivaay says.
Gauri chuckles hearing Shivaay.
"Even if you end it, Anika, someone else will start another one. This way, you would be on top of everything." Omkara tells her.
"yeah, true."
They reach college, together they walk towards their class. They notice other students curiously looking at them.
"You okay, love?" Omkara asks her. "Are you uncomfortable?"
"no. They are just curious. Once they know for sure that we love each other, they would stop." Gauri tells him with a smile.
*********
"Very hot, isn't it?" Omkara asks as he sat next to Gauri.
"Yeah." Gauri replies as she passed him a bottle of water.
Omkara gulps the water down. "Why don't you go inside? It's too hot and sunny."
"No, it's okay. I'm dressed for the occasion." Gauri tells him as she fanned herself with her hand.
Omkara chuckles as he looked at her, and his gaze falls on her thighs. For a few seconds, he couldn't take his gaze off her thighs. Realizing what he was doing, he quickly looks up and sees Gauri had caught him looking at her legs.
Looking at each other, they both chuckling shyly, looks away.
"You go. Practice is getting over." Omkara tells her.
"Then we will go together."
"Coach said he wanted to talk to the team after practice today." Omkara tells her.
"Oh okay. I'll see you later." Gauri tells him.
"Okay."
"Anika!" Gauri calls out loudly.
Anika who had been talking to Shivaay turns to her, and Gauri gestures to her that she is ready to go back. Anika nods and heads towards her.
*********
Gauri and Anika were walking back when they notice Ridhima and gang near the basketball court.
"Look at her glaring murderously looking at you. I guess, even she found out. It might be killing her that Omkara introduced you to his parents." Anika tells her.
Gauri looks at her and sees the gang looking at her. "Let's just go, Anika." Gauri tells her.
They were walking past the gang, when Ajay blocks her way.
"What do you want?" Anika asks him frowning.
Ajay ignores her and looks at Gauri. "I hear that you and Omkara are a couple now."
Gauri nods confirming making Ridhima furiously glare at her.
"Because of you I had to break up with Richa and you are..." Ajay furiously starts to say.
"You didn't break up, Richa dumped you because you cheated on her." Gauri reminds him.
"You were the reason." Ajay furiously tells her.
"You took your revenge when you made me fall in the canteen that day." Gauri reminds him.
"What?" Anika asks furiously as she looked at Gauri. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"I shouldn't have said that, so he had a valid reason." Gauri explains.
"Fucking hell, he had no reason!" Anika furiously tells her.
"You think we were even with just that?" Ajay asks her furiously. "Richa slapped me in front of the whole college."
"Because you were a cheat! Anika tells him angrily. "Let's go, Gauri."
Anika holding Gauri's hand, starts to walk off.
"Stop there, you bitch." Ajay furiously says as he tried to grab Gauri's bag which was hanging on her shoulder.
But instead of her bag, he had accidently grabbed her shirt and when he pulled, her shirt tore and the buttons broke, her shirt falling open.
Seeing the tattered shirt and all the students looking at her in shock. Gauri quickly grabs her shirt and tries to cover her chest. Gauri couldn't handle that and she starts crying.
"What the fuck, you asshole?" Anika furiously screams as she quickly kept her bag in front of Gauri to cover her chest.
"What the heck, Ajay?" Ridhima asks him in shock.
"I didn't..." Ajay tries to reply in shock.
He was cut off by a furious scream. They turn to see Omkara running towards them.
Seeing Omkara, Gauri hugs the bag to her chest and breaks into a louder sob. Omkara quickly removes his tshirt as he ran towards Gauri. he reaches her, and he gently puts on the tshirt on her.
Once he had finished putting the tshirt on her, Gauri hugs him and cries. "Mama told me not to wear this shirt, she said it is too flimsy. But I thought she was being brand conscious and I teased her instead. It's my fault."
"It's not your fault, Gauri." Omkara tells her as he hugged her. "Please don't cry, baby. it's not your fault."
"I should have listened to Mama. And not wore this shirt." Gauri sadly tells him.
Omkara cups her face and tells her sternly. "It is not your fault. And it is not your shirt's fault."
Gauri nods sadly.
"And stop crying, love, nothing happened." Omkara tells her as he wiped her tears.
"Yeah babe, don't cry." Anika tells her.
"Anika..." Omkara gently tells her as he gestured to Gauri.
Anika nods and holds Gauri.
"Ridhima?" Omkara asks Anika in a chilling voice.
"Ajay. He made Gauri fall that day in revenge for outing his affair with Muskan." Anika informs him.
Omkara furiously looks around and finds Ajay watching them terrified.
"It was an accident." Ajay tells him scared.
Omkara turns around to look for Shivaay. Seeing him, he extends his hand to Shivaay. "Shivaay."
"Omkara, listen... this is not..." Shivaay quickly starts to say.
"SHIVAAY!"
Having no other option, Shivaay throws him the cricket bat he was holding. Omkara catches it and turns to Ajay and sees him running.
Omkara runs behind him and when he was about to reach him, he kicks him down. Then Omkara starts hitting Ajay with the cricket bat.
"Omkara, stop!" Gauri starts to run towards him when Anika holds her and pulls her back.
"That asshole deserves it." Anika tells her.
"But Omkara will be in trouble." Gauri worriedly tells her.
"Omkara did warn everyone that he would break their legs if anyone troubles you." Shivaay reminds her.
Furiously, Omkara turns to Ridhima and walks to her. Ridhima worriedly movies back.
"If I find you anywhere near Gauri then I'll break your legs next. I won't care that you are a girl or that our parents are friends. I'll do it." Omkara furiously warns her.
Ridhima worriedly nods then her eyes going back to his chest in shock.
Seeing her looking at his chest, Omkara realized that he was shirtless. He consciously looks around and sees that everyone was starting to look at his chest, including Anika and Shivaay. And Gauri, as usual was completely clueless.
Gauri runs to him and throws herself at him. hugging him tight, she tells him, "I am fine, Omkara. Please don't fight."
Omkara hugs her.
"So, this is why you said you didn't want to go shirtless on stage?" Anika asks him confused.
Hearing the weird as heck question, Gauri turns back to look at Anika. She sees Anika's finger pointed at his chest, Gauri curiously turns to look at his chest. She gasps in shock, seeing on his chest, right over his heart, it big, bold and beautiful cursive, it was tattooed Gauri.
"When did you do this?" Gauri asks him in shock as she gently ran her fingers over his tattoo.
"It's been a while."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Gauri asks him in shock.
"I did it for me, not for you." Omkara tells her smiling.
"Why were you hiding it?" Shivaay asks confused.
"I wasn't hiding it. I just wanted Gauri to see it first, before anyone else. But as usual she is the last one to see it." Omkara replies chuckling as he looked at Gauri.
Gauri leans towards him, and kisses his tattoo. Omkara stops breathing feeling her lips on his chest. She kisses it again and again.
"Babes, it's not your bedroom." Anika quickly whispers to her seeing everyone staring at them.
Gauri quickly moves back as she nervously looked around.
"Let's go inside. Let them talk." Shivaay tells Anika.
Nodding Anika and Shivaay leave. They even ask the students to disperse.
"Why didn't you tell me if you wanted me to see it first?"
"I didn't know how to tell you that I tattooed your name over my heart. then I thought, it will be a nice surprise for you when you see it the very first time we make love."
Gauri blushes hearing that.
"Did I embarrass you earlier?" Gauri worriedly asks him.
"Kiss?" Omkara asks her.
Gauri nods in yes.
"No. Did I embarrass you?" Omkara asks her back.
Gauri gently runs her fingers over his tattoo. "This?"
"Hmmm." Omkara nods.
"I believe you, Omkara. I trust you. but there was this fear in me... this confusion... that how can you love me when all these other girls were there... I had this fear somewhere that you might realize that what you feel for me isn't love. But seeing the way how you fought for me... and how you bore pain for this." Gauri says touching the tattoo. "That fear and doubt, it is gone."
Omkara smiles in relief hearing that. "You mean the world to me, Gauri. I love you."
"I love you, Omkara."
*********
Gauri had got ready for bed and was waiting for Omkara to call her. he had been busy when she called earlier and he had said he would call back.
Hearing the phone ring, she answers the call. "Omkara?"
"Did your parents sleep?" Omkara asks her in a whisper.
"Yeah. Why? Did you want to talk to them?" Gauri asks confused.
"No! Come and open the terrace door." Omkara whispers to her.
"Terrace? Why?" Gauri asks confused as she got out of the bed.
"So, I can come in."
"You are here?" Gauri shouts in shock.
"Scream a little more and inform your parents."
"But how are you in my terrace?" Gauri asks him in a whisper as she sneaked out of her room.
"I climbed the wall." Omkara tells her.
"Is it so easy to get up there?" Gauri asks in shock as she opened the door.
"It was not easy." Omkara replies offended as he hung up the phone and looked at her.
Gauri gives him an apologetic smile.
*********
"How come you are here?" Gauri asks him as she locked the bedroom door.
"I wanted to make sure you were fine." Omkara tells her as he cupped her face.
"I am fine." Gauri tells him with a reassuring smile. "It was a shock and humiliating but you made it all seem okay."
Omkara smiles hearing that and he lovingly kisses her forehead.
"Why did you have to sneak in?" Gauri asks him confused.
"Your mother would have sent us to the TV room."
Gauri chuckles hearing that.
"And I wasn't sure whether you told them about it."
"I told them. if Ajay complains that attacked him, I wanted Papa to speak to the Principal for you."
"How did they take it?" Omkara asks her.
"They were furious. Papa wanted to take action against Ajay."
"Even Dad was saying that."
"You told your parents?"
"Yeah, in case Principal calls them."
"Are you scared?" Gauri asks him worriedly.
"Gauri, even if no one supports me, I would do it a hundred times more." Omkara tells her cupping her face.
Gauri leans towards him and takes his lips in hers. They hungrily start kissing each other.
Realizing he was just a breath away from dragging her to the bed, Omkara moves back. "I should go, Gauri."
"Don't go." Gauri tells him.
"Gauri, if I don't go now... you know, what would happen?" Omkara asks her softly.
Nervously, Gauri takes both his hands in hers, then she nervously keeps it on either sides of her night shirt, at the ends.
Omkara gulps, his heart slamming against his chest. "You sure?"
Gauri nods. "You?"
"You know my tattoo story." Omkara reminds her.
Gauri blushes hearing that.
Omkara nervously steps closer to her. "I love you, Gauri."
"I love you, Omkara." Gauri whispers as she nervously held his tshirt.
Omkara takes her lips in his as he gently and nervously lifted her night shirt up.
*********
3 years later
Gauri was walking out of her class, depressed and sad. Ever since, that day she spoke to Omkara for the first time, today was the first time, she was in college without him.
He had passed out and immediately joined his father's business. After the summer vacation, today was the first day of college, and she was missing him like hell. She turns to Anika and sees her busy on the phone. Anika was pretty much used to college without Shivaay, as he had gone to abroad to do his post-graduation, and they were in a long distance relation for the last two years.
Gauri was about to turn towards the car park when she sees a familiar car at the gate. She stops and sees Omkara chatting with few of the students.
"Omkara!" Gauri says in surprise.
Excited, she runs towards him. noticing her running towards him, smiling, Omkara walks towards her. and as usual she was about to trip and he quickly runs to her and catches her.
"Careful, love." Omkara tells her as he steadied her.
Gauri happily hugs him, "How come you are here?"
"Since the day of my graduation, you have been crying how lonely it would be in college without me, so I thought I would pick you up from college today." Omkara tells her smiling.
"You are the best. I love you." Gauri tells him as she hugged him happily.
"Finally, she smiled!" Anika mutters in relief.
Omkara chuckles hearing that.
"We've to drop her. Her car has gone for servicing and I'm supposed to drop her." Gauri tells him. then realizing she says, "But my car is also here."
"Give the keys to her. your driver will pick your car from her place." Omkara tells her.
Realizing Gauri turns to Anika in shock. "You guys planned this. Your car hasn't gone for servicing."
"No, you were crying and cribbing so much, that we had to do this." Anika tells her smiling.
"Awww babes, you rock." Gauri tells her.
Anika chuckles hearing that.
Few minutes later, Gauri gets into Omkara's car while Anika left in her car.
"It was such an awesome surprise." Gauri tells him excitedly.
Omkara chuckles hearing that.
"By the way, today morning Mama was asking me whether we ever talked about marriage." Gauri tells him.
Omkara turns to her in surprise. "I think our parents are talking about it. just now, before leaving office, even Dad was asking me about it. he was asking whether we plan to get married right after you finish your studies or after you start working. And if we want to marry after your studies are over then we have to start planning for the wedding in 2-3 months as there is less than a year left."
"Exact same thing, Mama told me."
"Ah, so they were talking." Omkara grins.
"So, what do you think?" Gauri asks him.
"for how long can I climb the great wall?" Omkara asks her cheekily. "Actually, I forgot the last time I climbed it."
"Last week." Gauri replies.
Omkara chuckles then he tells. "When Dad said that I was thinking, ever since I joined work, I am so held up at work that we don't get to see each other as much as we used. I actually, miss you a lot, luv."
"I know, even I miss you a lot. Before you used to get free by afternoon, now till night you are busy." Gauri tells him sadly.
"So, what do you think? By the time you finish your studies, I would also be settled in office." Omkara tells her excitedly.
"I don't plan to work immediately after college. I told you I would be taking a year break. So, I think it would be perfect." Gauri tells him excitedly.
Omkara smiles hearing that, "So early marriage, early children and early retirement?"
Gauri grins happily hearing that.
*** The End ***
Hope you guys liked it. Please do vote and comment
- Lazy