Things had been going well for both Gauri and Omkara for the past few days since their marriage. They spent most of their time together as even Omkara had taken leave from the office for the wedding.
They would spend time talking about movies and places. They pretty much knew everything about eachother thanks to them being friends during their school years. Sometimes they would sit by the pool with their legs in the water as they talked about their childhood memories and deepest fears. Life was beautiful.
Even when he started going to office after a week since their marriage, they would spend their evening together, talking. Omkara was against the idea of joining office this early but Gauri being Gauri, convinced him that he was needed at the office. However she was to start her work after another week.
One morning, Omkara caught Gauri playing with his hair, brushing her fingers against it. On realising that he had noticed, she tried to leave panicking, but he caught her by the wrist and pulled her back. She stood on her place closing her eyes in defeat and embarrassment.
Turning around, she looked at him nervously while he mischieviously raised his eyebrows at her. She looked away shaking her head as if she didn't know what had happened there. He pulled her again and this time, she fell on top of him on the bed. Her eyes going wide by his stint.
As their eyes locked, they could see a whole another world in eachother. Omkara gently caressed the hair strands on her face, tucking it behind her ears as he looked into her eyes.
"You know you can play with it when I'm awake too." Omkara whispered making Gauri blush a deep red.
"It's nothing like that.." She said trying to get up from him, looking everywhere but him.
"Oh really? Don't hide that you're in love with my beautiful hair." He said with a victorious smile, tightening his hold on her.
"You're dreaming!" She said hiding her embarrassment.
"Am I?" He asked mischieviously, and Gauri couldn't help but blush seeing the glint of naughtiness in his eyes. "Then it's a beautiful dream, darling." He said blowing a kiss at her making her eyes go wide. Her heart fluttered hearing him call her darling.
She gently slapped him on his chest and tried to sound like she was scolding him, "Leave me! Mom will be looking for me!"
"Oh come on, you got married to me not her. Let me atleast spend some time with my wife."
"Acha? Tho aap yeh shaam aur raat ko kiske saath poolside pe baitke baathe karte hain?" She asked rolling her eyes at him.
(Translation: "Really? Then with whom do you spend time talking, sitting by the poolside at evenings and nights?")
"Par Gauri, tumhare saath jitna bhi waqt bithaun, kam lagta hain yaar!" He whined like a 3year old.
"Really?" She asked rolling her eyes and quickly getting up as his hold had loosened.
"This is cheating! You made use of my lack of concentration!" He accused her with a pout making her giggle at his antics.
Her husband was one hell of a dramatic man for sure!
"Then catch me if you can!" She challenged knowing well that he would not even get up from his bed as it was a Sunday. She left the room trying not to smile like an idiot. While Omkara stared at the retreating figure of his wife rolling his eyes with a smile. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
****
"I was thinking of getting a clean shave. What do you think?" Omkara casually asked Gauri that day as he looked into the mirror running his fingers through his stubble. He saw Gauri arranging the bed through the mirror turn stiff as the words fell from his mouth.
Omkara couldn't help but wonder why she would go stiff at that. Due to the lack of response from her, he called out to her again, "Gauri?"
"Uh yeah?" Gauri answered looking at his back with wide eyes.
"What do you think about me getting a clean shave?" Omkara repeated the question. As much as he loved his stubble, he had noticed how his wife found guys with clean shave more handsome. This was something he noticed thanks to her habit of watching daily soaps. So, he thought maybe if he would shave off his stubble, she would find him more appealing.
He could see her eyebrows furrow at the question and a tiny bit of anger rising up within her. Most of the times, he could guess what was in her mind but this time he had absolutely no clue about the thoughts in her mind.
"What!?" Gauri breathed out in a shocked whisper. Omkara turned around to face his wife curiously. "Why would you do that?!" She asked in disbelief.
"Ah..um..I...you know, just a change of style." Omkara replied confused at her reaction and not wanting her to know that he was doing it for impressing her.
"NO." She declared with finality, surprising him. "You won't do that!"
"Why?" He asked innocently still confused why she was behaving so weird.
"Because..because...I'm telling you." She didn't want him to know how much she admired his beard and how good looking she thought he was because of that stunning little stubble.
"Give me a reason."
"Don't..please.." she pleaded.
Her lack of reason was making him curious and a little irritated. "Give me a good reason and I won't. Otherwise I'm doing it now."
Panic flashed in her eyes as the words left his mouth. "What!? How can you!? Don't be so heartless. Don't kill that poor beard. Please don't shave.."
"Gauri, I'm talking about my beard not some kid." Omkara chuckled.
"Please don't shave.." Gauri pleaded yet again. "Trust me shaving off that bears is as cruel as killing a child!"
Omkara walked towards her, now getting a hint of her liking towards his beard. As if he got some power up, he was now feeling more confident than ever. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he pulled her close, earning a gasp from her.
"Omkara...what are you-" Gauri started but was cut off by him.
"I've decided. I'm shaving."
"Please rethink."
"I've made my decision Gauri."
"Why would you do that?" She asked nervously.
"I think I'll look better with a clean shave." Omkara saw Gauri's brows furrow as if trying to picture him in clean shave.
"NO!" She almost screamed, "Long hair looks good with beard only, it wouldn't look nice otherwise."
Omkara hummed in response as he looked into her eyes. "My hair huh?" He thought for a while then asked, "How about cutting it off too then?" He tried not to disclose the fact that he knew of her taste for long haired guys and her admiration for his hair.
Gauri's eyes grew so wide that he almost got scared thinking it would come out of it's sockets. "I'll kill you if you cut it off!" She warned. "Don't you dare chop off your hair Mr Omkara Singh Oberoi! I'll never forgive you if that happens! Don't you dare commit such a big crime!"
It was one thing that he looked handsome in every way. She had seen him without his long hair and with a clean shave when he was still a student, and there was no doubt that he looked dashing that way. But Gauri was literally head over heels for his hair! She couldn't bear to have it chopped off.
"Gauri, I'm supposed to look hot. I think shaving is better." Omkara replied nonchalantly with a shrug.
"No please don't. Trust me you look more handsome with the beard. I swear I won't talk to you if you shave!" Gauri let go in one breath and Omkara tried to contain his chuckle.
"Come on that's not a good reason enough."
"Don't you dare shave your beard Mr Omkara Singh Oberoi!" Gauri said with a serious tone now. "You'll look like a boiled egg if you do!"
Omkara let out the chuckle he had been suppressing for so long, soon he burst into laughs and she looked at him confused. He breathed in a sigh of relief knowing that he didn't have to shave off his beard now.
He leaned in closer, their cheeks almost grazing eachother, "So you like my beard huh?" He asked huskily while stroking his beard lightly on her soft cheek.
"Omkara.." she let out a whisper at the sudden intimacy and Omkara sensually placed a kiss on her cheek.
"God Gauri...!!" He whispered as he placed another kiss on her neck. Leaning back he looked into her eyes. "Tell me you like my beard or I'm shaving it."
"You'll see the worst of me if you mess with your beard or your hair!" Gauri replied recovering from the effects his kiss had on her. She then buried her head in his chest shyly and said, "I love both on you!"
"You're so tempting wifey!" Omkara laughed holding her tightly as if protecting her from the whole world. He loved the effect he had on her, it made him feel over the moon when she would look at him dazed. "You'll be the death of me Gauri!"
Gauri gently hit him on his chest. "Shut up!" However on hearing him call her wifey, she was definitely surprised.
Then as if realising something she asked, "Were you trying to agitate me?"
"No wifey." Omkara replied with a grin, "I was serious about the beard."
"Why would you even want to do that?" Gauri asked surprised.
"I...um..."
"You..?" Gauri waited curiously for him to continue.
"I thought you preferred it that way..." Omkara replied sheepishly.
"WHAT!? NO!" Gauri screamed in shock. "Don't even think of it. I love your beard and your hair!"
"Ok boss!" Omkara replied happily rolling his eyes although the real question he wished to ask was 'And me?' But he knew well that when it would happen, she would definitely tell him. He just had to wait. And he knew for her, he could wait his whole life.
To be continued..
Hey everyone! How are you all doing? How was the chapter? Do let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Thanks for reading!
Stay safe