Omkara was still eyeing that man with distaste.
He had noticed that man fixing Gauri with his lecherous stare, and he didn't like it all. Thats why he got worried when he went missing, and followed him, to ensure Gauri was safe.
Omkara kept his silence, because a) he was an outsider himself, and b) he didn't want to create a scene as that man was Mukesh's brother. Though Mukesh seemed like a good guy, his brother though, came across as his opposite.
Gauri was feeling very unsettled after her brush in with Mukesh's brother.
She knew his kind well; they would think any girl from the bride's party fair game and flirt like there was no tomorrow. If it wasn't for Richa, Gauri would've taught him that he messed with the wrong chiraiyaa, but it was her best friend's big day, so she kept mum.
The panditji decided that since Navratri had commenced, the shaadi (wedding) would take place in the evening, nine days hence, when lagna (astrological time) for Navami was over, and they had moved to Dusshera.
Mukesh and Richa were for some reason, persuading their families for an early marriage, so the Panditji came up with the closest date possible.
The rest of the functions would take place separately in bride and groom's houses, only the Sangeet was a joint event.
Gauri was glad for that, since she wouldn't have to encounter Mukesh's shady brother.
Finally the Roka got over, and Gauri sat down on the sofa, tired, after the guests left. Richa sat down next down to her, looking exhausted but happy.
"Richa, why did you want the marriage to be so soon? Aur door raha nahi jaa raha? (Can't stay away anymore?) teased Gauri.
"Its nothing like that Gauri. Its just....Mukesh and I have been seeing each other for long, with our families' permission, and anymore delay would look inappropriate, encourage more gossip. This city might be slightly more progressive than our zila in Bareilly, but not much. Bareilly reminds me, should I invite some of our friends from there?" asked Richa hesitantly.
"But why not Richa, its your wedding" said Gauri.
"Gauri, they were not just my friends, they knew you too, yet they did nothing....that time. Won't you be angry at them? I would, if I were in your place, and you are my best friend, so...." said Richa.
"So, you don't want to hurt or offend my feelings? I bear them no ill-will Richa. I really don't care about that zila anymore, just my little friends there, I hope my kids are happy, that's all" said Gauri, that signaled the end of their discussion.
Omkara overheard a part of their conversation, as he was entering his room.
Again Bareilly.
He remembered the last time when he had spoken to Richa in the hospital all those months ago, she had seemed to hint that things weren't what they looked like to him.
Omkara wasn't interested in Bareilly anymore, but Gauri's tone belied her words, she did care about that zila, those people.
***************************************
Gauri woke up early in the morning next day, and got working on the rest of the Chunris order. There was still some amount she needed to arrange for Richa's wedding.
As she was working, she thought about the conclusion she came to last night.
Dilpreet ji was definitely Omkaraji.
The fact hit her with the force of a bulldozer when Dilpreetji came out of nowhere to rescue from that awkward situation with Mukesh's brother.
Of course, Omkaraji had been looking out for her. He has before, and he was doing it now.
But why the subterfuge? Why this whole new identity of Dilpreetji?
She didn't answer his phonecalls or his messages, so did he think that by assuming a different persona, he would trick her into talking to him?
That certainly worked, but why was he doing this? Why bother?
Gauri was curious, so she was going to keep up the pretense, and figure out his motive.
"Gauri ji, tussi itna saara samaan leke kaha jaa rahe ho?"(Gauri ji, where are you going with so much stuff?) asked Dilpreet, as he saw Gauri carrying a number of packets and leaving around afternoon.
"Just to hand over the rest of the order to the buyer. We need the money now, to start preparing for the wedding. Richa's uncle is waiting for me in his shop" answered Gauri curtly.
"Oh ji, let me come with you ji, I'll help carrying all these" offered Dilpreet.
Gauri nodded. She could do with some help, after all.
Gauri collected the money from the buyer, who praised her work a lot, ably helped by Dilpreet ji, who couldn't stop gushing. Gauri eyed him suspiciously but didn't say anything.
After handing over the cash to Richa's uncle and deciding on the expenses, Gauri and Dilpreet made their way back to the house.
"So Dilpreet ji, what about your shop? Have you found premises yet?" asked Gauri.
Well, two could play this game, thought Gauri.
"Umm, yes, I mean, no, I am looking for a place, but well, I don't know this city so well....." started Omkara. Now what?
"Achcha you never told us, why you decided to come so far from your pind in Punjab to set up a shop in Uttar Pradesh, and not even in a nice city like Lucknow, but here in Moradabad. People hardly know of this place" Gauri interrogated him further.
"Umm...." Omkara was stuck.
"I, er, yeah, my Rab signaled me to try my luck here" said Omkara.
Rab? God? Omkaraji was talking about God? Gauri pursed her lips and said nothing.
"Look chaat (spicy Indian street food) stall. Why don't we have some chaat?" said Gauri.
"Yes, sure" said Dilpreet.
"Lets have some Navratri special golgappas" said Gauri.
She whispered to the chaat vallah to make it extra spicy.
If Omkaraji was so willing to play this out, then she would do it properly.
"Have no, Dilpreet ji?" Gauri offered.
Of course, spicy golgappa was no problem for Gauri, but she could see Omkaraji's face contracting a little in the first bite, though he quickly covered it up with a broad grin.
Lets see how long he lasts.
Gauri's first instinct was to throw the golgappa up in the air, but she remembered how Omkaraji had called it a choking hazard, and refrained from that childish trick.
After ten golgappas or so, Gauri was doing fine, but Omkara's eyes were watering, and his throat was on fire.
Gauri looked at him eagerly, waiting for him to ask her to stop putting more golgappas in his plate, but he didn't, and kept smiling, and kept swallowing more of those. Finally, he started coughing badly.
Gauri asked the chaat wallah to stop.
Enough of this, it was unlike her to indulge in such pettiness.
"O...I mean, Dilpreetji, here have some meetha pani (sweet water)" Gauri handed him a bowl of the same.
"Oh ji, Gauri ji, I am so out of practice, that my stomach acted up. Thanks for the water" said Omkara lamely.
"Lets go, its getting late. Soon, the neighborhood kids will come for their tuitions" said Gauri.
But back home there was another problem waiting for Gauri.
*****************************************
Gauri and Dilpreetji saw her mother, Richa, Mukesh and Richa's mother huddled on the sofa, in a distressed state.
"What happened Richa? Some issue with the wedding?" asked Gauri.
"Gauri....I am so sorry" said Mukesh.
"For what Mukesh ji?" asked Gauri.
She saw Richa giving Mukesh a disappointed look.
"Gauri, actually my brother, Ajay, he saw you at the Roka yesterday, and ever since he has been rather taken with you. You've got to understand, he's always had an unnatural hold over our mother, who in turn, almost controls my father and me. And he insists to be married to you" said Mukesh in despair. "You weren't here, when I was forced to bring my family here, to ask for your hand. But your mother refused. She said you will decide your future."
Gauri sat down slowly on the opposite chair. "Then what happened?"
"Gauri, I told him that Maasiji is your adoptive mother, and your sister and uncle are in Mumbai. We can't take any decision until they are consulted as well, after all they are your elders. So, Ajay, he threw a tantrum to be married to you, and almost insisted that they will renege on their promise not to demand dowry" said Richa, looking a little disgusted.
"I don't want any dowry, and I had convinced my family for the same. But Ajay.....he wants to use that, and my wedding with Richa as a leverage, over you" said Mukesh, sad at his own helplessness.
"Hmm....let me think for a while. Don't worry, Richa, we will come to a solution for this. Your wedding will happen without hassles. That's Gauri Kumari Ssarma's promise" said Gauri cooly. "Mukesh ji, I think you better return home now, your mother wouldn't take kindly to your staying back here with Richa."
Mukesh looked embarrassed and left.
"Maa, don't worry, when Shankarji is there, why should we fear?" said Gauri.
"Gauri, how are you so calm at this?" asked Richa, a little bemused.
"Just trust me, Richa. And its not like Ajay is some gunda (goon) that I need to be scared of. He is Mukesh ji's brother, and belongs to a respectable family, even if his own behavior is shameful, he still has to subscribe to some social prescriptions" said Gauri.
Meanwhile, Omkara who was a silent spectator to the whole scene, was enraged within.
What the hell? That leech, Ajay, was planning to compel a woman into marriage? His Gauri?
And how was Gauri so calm at all of this?
He knew that tune, some wheel was turning in that mind of hers.
His stomach gave a yelp.
First, those fiery golgappas, and now this Ajay's proposal. He was burning from within.