"Girls and their bonding!!... We are going to be late" Shivaay sighed looking at his watch.

"She never took so much time before... I wonder what they are doing in there" Omkara said making the other one chuckle.

"Those two surely must have forgotten that we are waiting outside Omkara"

"Really?"

"No doubt there... They are going for a party after three long months... what do you think?... They would be decking up each other"

Was Gauri that much into make up? In the few months he knew her, she never looked like a girl needing so much caking... she was naturally beautiful and he loved her that way.

Even when he took her for his high end business parties, she never overdid herself. Yet, she stood out as the most stunning women of the lot and it felt extremely satisfying to show her off as his wife.

"You don't know how close they are?" Shivaay asked and Omkara smiled nodding a no.

"I don't know if I am the only one who finds it disgusting, but Anika once mentioned that they shared the same toothbrush"

"Ewww" Omkara exclaimed making a face and Shivaay chuckled nodding his head happy that someone agreed with him.

"I had to beg your wife to leave us alone for some time after my marriage coz I was sure if I had not, they would have shared the same bed even on my wedding night, throwing me out to sleep in the other room"

Omkara laughed aloud at the piece of information while Shivaay continued "I was denied the right to choose my wedding costume only because your wife wasn't happy with my choice... In her words... it was old and boring"

"Ohh..poor you..."

"Yeah" Shivaay sighed "I hated Ms. Gauri kumari Sharma"

Omkara smiled correcting "Gauri Omkara singh Oberoi"

Shivaay raised an eyebrow and gave a teasing smile "You sure your marriage is arranged? I got a shock when I knew of it from her father a week ago. I asked Anika and she freaked out making me halt my work to come back to India"

"I don't know her a lot but Gauri isn't the one who would go for an arranged marriage.... Have you known her before?" Shivaay explained.

Omkara's smile faltered a bit before he recovered and deftly changed the topic "We have met before but not more than that... So you hate my wife and is that why you took off to Texas with Anika immediately after your wedding?"

Shivaay smiled "Partly that and partly because I had planned to expand my venture... It needed some field work"

"Interesting idea you have got... I am thinking of setting up a franchise outside India as well... Can I.."

"Of course... I am ready to help you Om... can I call you that?"

"Sure... It was nice meeting you man" Omkara said smiling and shaking hands with the blue eyed man.

"Like wise" Shivaay said. Then taking out his phone, he dailed his wife's number saying, "Now I think we should call and remind the girls that we have been waiting since forever"

When he heard his wife's typical ringtone getting louder and nearer, he looked up to find her elegantly dressed in a short skirt, exiting the house with her friend

"Ahh... Finally" Shivaay exclaimed.

Omkara turned to the entrance of his house and sucked in a breath.

Gauri walked towards him dressed in a baked pink georgette maxi dress which gathered around her waist and shoulders with a tie up detailing at the shoulder for style. The overlapping V neckline made her cleavage play a peek a boo which she tried to cover with her long hair cascading down her shoulder.

He gulped looking at the slim waist and abundant lower, sway as she walked towards him with a fit a flare silhouette. At once, he looked at her neck and hair line and grinned in satisfaction when the signs of her being taken stay put.

But question of the day.... How the hell was he supposed to keep his hands to himself tonight?

"Hei... did we make you wait for long?" she asked in a whisper on reaching his side and he shook his head in a no.

Gauri smiled at him before gently taking his arm and leaning onto him. She then turned to look at the other couple bickering with each other and heartily laughed.

Omkara stared at her hands which wound around his limb in confusion. He thought she doesn't like him being physically close to her. In fact, he often felt her stiffen when his hand merely grazed her bare skin.

Was he wrong in that assumption?

Didn't she herself tell him that she did not like him?

No she didn't... she just told she loved someone else... one part of his mind argued with the other.

Though she never appeared that heart broken with their marriage, he doubted if he can risk a step and ask her for a mere kiss.

No.., he wasn't guilty of marrying her against her wish. He knew Shakti was neither orthodox to not accept his daughter's love if he knew the man was suitable to her nor was he a tyrant to make her marry him by force.

Also, he himself gave her the freedom to walk out on him... He even asked her to continue her love after marriage. Despite that if she married him and decided to stay loyal to him, it only meant that she chose him over the guy she loved for reasons unknown to him and whenever he tried to talk on that topic, she turned into an angry bird.

He was left with no choice but to give her time to come to terms with the fact that he was her husband now and they had to address the issue at some time or the other.

May be two months were enough time?? She seemed to be pretty well adjusted... being his wife... Can he now ask for a sweet kiss?

"Okay guys... stop your silly fight... we are getting delayed... let us leave now" Gauri said and he shushed his thoughts for later, turning his attention to Shivika.

****************************************************************************************

It was a fancy place they decided to go for the night, one of the most happening pubs in Mumbai known for its DJ and excellent choice of liquor.

The place was illuminated only by age-speckled bar lights and along the wall was every hue of amber liquid in their inverted bottles. In the center of the pub was a huge dance floor where people grooved and vented the stress of their work life.

As the two couples settled themselves in the plush seats surrounding the dance floor, facing each other and subtly hummed the tune of the current song being played, they ordered for food and drinks.

"Lets dance?" Anika asked after food, grinning at her husband.

"I was wondering what made you wait till now" Shivaay said and nodded at Omkara before following his wife on to the dance floor.

Gauri watched the pair twirl and sway to the latest beat with longing while Omkara stared at his wife, calmly sipping on his drink.

"Umm... you don't want to go?" he asked and she turned to him with a smile.

"You don't like to dance and I don't want to go alone" she told him.

Omkara rested his glass on the table before he stood up and offered his hand to her making her widen her eyes at him.

"May be I can dance for a while and return your favor of coming to my boring business parties whenever I asked you to" he said and she jumped up to give him a hug.

Omkara chuckled "Let us go?" he asked and she nodded her head walking to the dance floor.

The next song was a peppy number from a famous Bollywood movie and the couples danced to their own salsa.

After the first awkwardness, Gauri began to feel good dancing with her partner... He started with basic steps first to see if she matched up to him and once he was assured, he let the performer in him take charge.

Gauri twirled laughing, as her husband slightly pushed her away and in the next moment pulled her back smiling at her, to collide with his chest.

"You dance like a dream Omkara... why don't you do it more often" Gauri whispered to him as they continued danced to the tune.

"I never had a good partner before" he said looking right into her eyes and she looked away, the intensity in his eyes somehow unnerving her.

The next time when he twirled her again and pulled her, his hands latched on to her waist with intent, just to check for her reaction. When he saw her gasp and look at him with wide eyes, he leaned towards her whispering a "What?" playing ignorant.

Gauri shook her head in a no trying to push the feeling of tingles and tension to the back of her head deciding to go with the flow when his moves turned bolder.

With every step, his touch became more provocative than a mere tease leaving her in a pool of desire.

Was she misinterpreting?

She again looked into those chocolate brown eyes exuding passion.

No... definitely not.

Does that mean he desired her?

But how?... all of a sudden?...

She looked around for a second, as the lights dimmed just before the start of the next song in the playlist.

Omkara took his chance leaning to his wife and brushing his lips with hers emitting a shocked gasp as expected.

Dream???... yes... this is surely one of her stupid fantasies... she thought laughing and shook her head while he frowned at her response.

"What is so funny?"

"Nothing... me and my silly thoughts... leave it" she dismissed him and his frown deepened.

"Why are you frowning?"

"I try to kiss my wife for the first time and she laughs at me... what do you expect me to do Gauri?"

"W...What? You kissed me?" she asked in wonder and he took a double take gaping at absurd question.

A few awkward seconds passed during which numerous questions ran through each other's head after which Omkara dragged her away from the floor, his expressions inscrutable.

Gauri flinched when he gripped her hand tightly as he pushed his way through the crowd and led her to a closed counter away from the buzzing music. Once he was sure that they were in a safe hidden corner, not attracting too much attention, he pushed her to the wall and kissed her full on her lips removing any room for doubts.

As his mouth crushed hers in force, she stilled not anticipating the sudden outburst of passion. Soon, as his hands pulled her closer, rubbing and easing her to relax and she wound her arms around his neck giving in to the pleasure.

Omkara smiled into the kiss as he got entrance into her sweetness without much effort. She raised on her toes to match his height taking support of his immensely broad shoulders and his hands gripped her waist firmly holding her against the wall of the counter.

Like a moth drawn to the flame, Gauri felt herself being driven into his flaming desire, their touches and noises getting dangerously inappropriate for a public place, though they were covered in an envelope of darkness and away from earshot with the loud drumbeats.

Just when she attempted to trace her fingers wantonly over his shoulders to glide them over his chest and lower, Omkara hastily parted from her with a groan.

She looked at him stupefied and disappointed at his withdrawal before he gave her a sexy smile and gruffly breathed out his next words in an order "Let's go home"

************************************************************************************************

"What!!!" Anika's gasp echoed through the silent room where Gauri sat on the bed her head hung low.

"Are you saying that last night you guys...."

"Can you stop repeating what I said?... It just happened"

"No wonder Shivaay pulled me back when I was about to follow you two, wondering what happened so suddenly that you had to leave without us... I always thought he was better at interpreting people's looks... I was right" she said making her friend turn red.

"You were the one who told me to get close to him"

"Oh madam ji... I asked you to first talk to him, tell him that you lied to him and once he knows the truth, you both can go with the flow depending on the then situation... get close in the sense to talk your heart out... but you..."

"Nothing was planned okay... I just couldn't resist him anymore... I love him Anika" she said in despair and Anika sighed as she sat beside her friend gently hugging her.

"Don't regret it Gauri... he is your husband... it is okay"

"No.. I don't regret anything... I don't know how to explain..."

"You are scared he would regret it?" Anika asked and Gauri nodded a yes.

"What did he say? You must have woken up together?"

Gauri shook her head in negative "He left me a note saying he has to go to work"

Anika frowned "That is it? but..."

Seeing Gauri blush to roots and look away from her, she teased... nudging her "Ohh... he left you a love note...hmmm"

"But... he might..."

"Stop thinking of it ... just talk to him today"

"Today?"

"Of course what did you think... once they get the bliss of married life... men are not going to stop... If you deny him or distance from him now, it will make things worse... You have to do it today once he comes home Gauri" Anika explained and Gauri nodded in agreement, dreading the dusk of the day.

*****************************************************************************************

Omkara's smile refused to leave his face for the day, his good mood well appreciated by his employees.

"Are there any more meetings lined up Arjun?" he asked his assistant.

"No sir... we are done for the day"

"Okay" his boss smiled again making him raise an eyebrow "I will go home then?"

Arjun mentally gasped when he heard his boss said he wishes to wind off work soon.

Though he was not very evident, he could notice the subtle changes in his employer in the past two months. He noted how he often said 'home' to refer to the place which had always been 'mansion' a month before.

He also saw how eager he looked to finish off work unlike before when he asked for more...staying till late nights. Not to miss the calming smile he had etched on his face since the start of the day.

Marriage has been doing him some good...he guessed.

"Sure Sir... I will manage the rest... have a nice day" Arjun politely said and Omkara nodded before getting up from his place, his laptop bag in hand.

As he walked to his car, he messaged his wife that he was on his way home too busy to notice the shock on his driver's face as he sat down in the vehicle earlier than usual.

Though he knew the night before had been impromptu, he could vow it had been more than just a night filled with blind passion. He waited for his wife to stop him or talk him out of it if she did not want to be intimate.

He gave her hints throughout their drive home from the pub... stopping at the medical store and touching her not so properly during the drive letting her know of his intentions loud and clear. When all she did was blush and eagerly react to him the way he wanted her to, his resolve to make her his strengthened.

It was only when the morning rays hit his face that he began to think back and question himself.

What if she regretted it? They haven't talked about it.

The night had been so special on so many grounds...both emotional and physical that if she even showed mild signs of hesitation, he knew his heart would have taken a blow.

He ran to his place of solace giving her an excuse of a meeting, expecting her to call him once she got up.

Only when she called him close to noon asking him if he could return early in her cheerful tone that he heaved a sigh of relief.

May be life wasn't so hopeless... he had his wife to sail through it... It was the constant echo in the depths of his soul which brought out the visible twinkle in his eyes.

*********************************************************

Gauri was working in the kitchen when her husband walked in freshly showered and changed for the night.

"Hey" he greeted her pulling her into his hug and kissing her forehead.

Despite feeling the wetness of his kiss and warmth of his hold, Gauri still found it difficult to come to terms with his behavior.

What the hell happened to the cold, unpleasant man she had always heard him to be? The Omkara singh Oberoi she knew was definitely was not the lovey dovely type... They weren't even close to being friends till yesterday... how did everything change in a day?

"What are you thinking?" he murmured huskily kissing her jaw and tracing her curves with his hand making her close her eyes in nervous anticipation, all thoughts of the talk beginning to get blurred in the heat of the moment.

When he got no response from her, he continued his ministrations, pecking her neck and going down to her chest, pulling at her saree.

"Gauri you look great in everything...but in a saree...." he left the sentence incomplete nipping her neck and sucking on the skin to soothe it.

She moaned his name in a hiss desperately clutching on to his shoulders as he had his way with her.

"I swear I never felt so much in heat before but since the time I returned home today, and saw you wearing this, all I could think off was to just rip it off you" he said giving a wet kiss on her cheek.

Wait...wait... his change of behavior...saree...preparation for talk... oh no...

Gauri's brain lately caught on and cautioned her, making her pull away from him.

"What is it?" he asked looking at her in question.

"W...We need to talk Omkara"

"About what? Can't we do the talking later?" he asked holding her hand and pulling her back to him when she shook her head in a no.

He sighed sensing her seriousness "Okay... tell me"

She looked at him wordlessly taking in his handsome features and memorizing them enough to last a lifetime. In case he decides to leave her, she will let him go for his happiness.

Preparing herself for the worst was what she had been doing since morning... but will she ever get him back if she let go of him now?

"Gauri?" her husband called her and she smiled before gently kissing his cheek "Please... hear everything out ...before you come to a decision" she asked and he nodded asking her to continue.

Taking a deep breath and looking at the words on his shirt sleeve, she said in one go "Ranveer broke your trust on the instructions of my father... Papa wanted you to marry me and made you do it putting you in a tough spot... making you believe that he was helping you out while you were being scammed"

"What? But..."

"Please Omkara... listen... let me finish first" she cut him off to continue.

"I know what he did was morally wrong but he did it for me" she said daring to look into his eyes at that moment when he widened his own, his hands slowly slipping off her body.

"I can't believe... for you?"

Gauri panicked and desperately held his hands "I promise I have no hand in it"

"I don't understand Gauri... why would he do that? Tell me the real reason... I know your dad since many years... he would never do something to hurt you and you said you loved..." he said, his anger clear through his tone.

"I loved you" she said and he stiffened in his place shock evident on his beautiful face.

"From the day you helped me with my homework when I was a teenager, I developed this silly crush on you which only grew more with years... I know it sounds childish but I always looked at you like my prince charming waiting to marry me" she said and he silently looked on.

"I know you never noticed me but whenever you were at papa's office I used to rush to his cabin with some work or the other just to make you notice me... to remind you that I exist in the same world as yours" she said desperately hoping that she could make him believe her childish love.

"I know you don't love me and I kind of accepted it but when dad forced me to tell the reason why I constantly rejected marriage proposals with weird excuses, I couldn't lie to him anymore"

"I am sorry Omkara... I never..."

"You said you loved someone else" he said, his heart slamming against his chest which he thought was loud enough against the silence of the room.

"So that you would back out... I couldn't have you marry me for a bloody contract" she explained getting angry, remembering the meet before their engagement.

"Why?"

"What do you mean by why? How could I be a mere clause on a piece of paper?"

"I meant...Why did you love me Gauri?"

Gauri looked into his mysteriously calm, dark brown orbs trying to decipher his mood.

Was he really calm or was it the calm before a catastrophe?

He withdrew his hands from her hold and before she could grab them back, he pulled her towards him in a swift move such that she embraced his waist, falling flush against his chest while he stared down at her face holding her close.

"I was a workaholic.

An arrogant businessman who barely noted your presence beside your father.

As far as I remember I was barely ever good to you except the one time I helped you out so that you would stop pestering your father who was trying to help me out that time.

We never even talked for you to know me completely.

Then how?" he asked caressing her cheek with his palm and she shrugged shaking her head saying, "I don't know".

"Honestly speaking, I don't know why I love you so much but without you my life was..... should I say unexciting?" she said in doubt.

"The curiosity with which I read those articles which wrote about your success, the constant arguments with my friends as to which cover picture of yours on the business magazines looked better... the eagerness which I used to wait to catch a glimpse of you... to be in the same room as you when you came to papa... I liked everything I did for you Omkara"

"You were a queer persona who rarely ever let people near him...who was ambitious, alert, smart and handsome... As cliché as it sounds... I wanted to solve you... get close to you... know your inner self more and be the one person who you would let into your heart"

Omkara smiled as he bent to kiss her slowly and gently tasting every inch of her lips and reaching every corner of her mouth and she melted away, her heart now free of burden of the guilt.

"You surely are a fan of romance" he sighed parting from her.

"You are not upset?" she asked breathing heavy.

"You want me to be?" he asked with a smile and she nodded a no.

"I am not some puzzle waiting to be solved Gauri... I am just a normal man who stopped expecting good from life... I wanted to be loved but I was too proud to show it and be any less of an enigma I was to people" he revealed.

"I won't lie and say that I love you now... but we will get there soon... You will stay with me always... You will love me like you did till now...  will you not?"

She smiled before nodding her head in a yes making him return it with one of his own calming ones.

"But...my father trapped you"

"Doesn't matter!"

"You contract-married me... I wasn't your choice"

"Doesn't matter!"

"I lied to you... I kept you in the dark, though I got to know of my father's doing a week ago"

"Doesn't matter Gauri" he said kissing her forehead.

"Then what does Omkara... what matters?" she asked as a tear slid down her cheek and he gently rubbed it away kissing both her eyes

"You" he whispered "You matter... The fact that I now have a person who loves me... who I could call mine... my wife... is what matters... I don't care how you entered my life neither do I care for the contract anymore" he said caressing her face.

"You are a permanent part of me...my lonely life... and that is what matters"

A sob broke of her lips which he soon swallowed, kissing her ardently and silencing her in no time, before swooping her into his arms to walk to their room upstairs.

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And there you go....How is it?

Did anyone miss "Draama" 😂😂

Do tell me how you liked it.

And kindly Vote and comment.

See you...😘🙋‍♀️

Signing off... yours Soujanya