Mr Maheshwar Sharma and Oberoi's were coming together for a project and have been on discussions and Gauri came to know about it a while ago.

Gauri knew Oberoi's were becoming partner with Ahalya enterprises but she never knew Ahalya enterprise had her father as the chairman, she never knew the Mr Sharma who never attended the discussions was her father. 

Coming to know that now and already having her heart broken by the way her father ignored her, she was contemplating whether to go home or attend the meeting since she'd be needed there as Omkara's PA.

Mr Maheshwar Sharma had awfully ignored Gauri's presence once again,making her question whether her father had recognized her or not. Then he wasn't much aware about her for the past four years, he never visited her after she had completed graduation.  Even the meetings would last for a ten minute but she was glad that he remembered her to atleast spare her a ten minutes of his life. He used to visit her school and college just for a ten minutes once in every year. Gauri had already informed her mother about the same and she had no issues provided he didn't hurt her.

Having seen her father beat her mother daily , not having a peaceful sleep at night , watching him coming home sloshed , for Gauri the one who had visited her in the school and college was a different human who dressed well and was clean and tidy.

She had never questioned her mother why did they fight, she just knew her mother had tolerated much. Neither her paternal grandparents were in favor of her or her mother. She didn't know if her parents had a love marriage or an arranged marriage,  all she knew was she suffered the most.

Not having a father had always made her insecure and aloof just like not having a roof over the head.  She couldn't tell her mother , she was what her mother had, her mother lived for her. But she'd miss her mother at times too , when she was home alone but her mother had work. She felt neglected and unloved then she'd remind herself she's loved and her mother is toiling out there to build a life for her.

Omkara had enough and directly thought to ask Gauri, he was done acting.

In the car , one day returning home from work , he asked  her “ You okay. You seem troubled,  what is it Gauri ?”

Startled Gauri didn't answer but just stared at him for a good one minute.  Omkara had refused the driver today saying he'd drive home.

When she didn't reply , he asked again and received a reply as “ I'm okay Sir. ”

She had been titling him as Sir and he cringed at it everytime,  “ You can call me Omkara.”

“ How can I?”

“ Why can't you?”

“ I'm your PA , I work for you and you're my boss. ”

Hearing her , he shockingly stared at her.
“ Sir you're blocking other vehicles .”

Coming out of the shock , he managed to drive home forgetting he needed answers from her. She didn't value the marriage ,  thought he hurtful. 

On a sunday evening,  Omkara walked into their room to find Gauri sitting on the couch reading a book , he too sat next to her scrolling through the phone.  Gauri could feel him so close to her and she contemplated whether to walk off or be seated when she felt a hand wrapping over her shoulder and pulling her close to him.  Shocked she glanced at him to see him lost in his phone , he knew she was looking at him but he didn't show any emotion. 

A while later Gauri had enough and she tried to stand when he held her and asked
“ Where are you going?”

“ Huh ? Work ?”  She wasn't even sure of what she was saying , she wondered what she did wrong , fearing he'd scold her.

“ Today is sunday hence no work,  so be seated .”

“ Work in kitchen .”   “ We have helpers for that Gauri .”

“ But..” “ No buts and ifs , it's been three months to the marriage and we haven't spent a single minute together,  so be seated.”

She didn't answer,  she was confused. Doesn't he hate her ? thought she.

“ Who am I to you Gauri?”  “ Boss .” 
“ What??” “ You're my boss.”

“ Boss ? Is that what you think of me?"

Omkara was more hurt then shocked.
“ Were you forced to marry me?"

Should she answer or just stay quiet ? No she should , what if he shout at her. She negatively nodded because she didn't want to say that she married him because her mother said and that's not forcing.

“ Then why don't you consider me your husband?"

Now she was speechless, does he consider this marriage? Don't he hate me ?

“ I, sir ?"

“ Sir ? Seriously,  I thought everytime you called me sir was out of habit but now I know it's not."

“ Can you call me by my name ?"

“ But how can I? "

“ Why can't you? "

“ You're my boss."

“ I'm your husband first."

“ But you hate me ?"

“ Who told you?"

Gauri couldn't say that everytime when something goes wrong he shouted at her and made her sit in his cabin and work. So she simply looked down.

“ Look at me Gauri ,please."

She did raise her head to look at him with tears filled in her eyes.

“ Now why are you crying?" “ I didn't know what I did wrong, but you always scolded me and made me work for others mistake too." She said tears spilling out of her eyes and Omkara couldn't hold anymore but hug her closer to his heart.

“ I'm sorry love,  please don't cry ."

Gasping she pulled herself from him and stared at him. Gulping he said, “ I'm sorry,my intentions were not to hurt you ,I just wanted you in my vicinity so I had to cook up something to make you work in my cabin. I'm sorry Gauri"

Gauri obviously didn't hear anything he said but only love , that means he love her. He love her ? She couldn't believe.

“ You love me?" Before she could think she said rather questioned.

“ Yes I do. Since the first time I saw you ."

“ First time? At office?"

“ No, college."

“ We studied in the same college?"

“ Nope , I came to drop mom one day and I saw you with your mom,  you were scared and it was showing evidently on your face. It was your first day."

Shocked out of her wits , she stared at him as if he'd grown two horns, seeing her confused Omkara chided himself for jeopardizing everything.

“ I'm sorry Gauri, please don't leave me.  I did some mistakes.  I'm really sorry.  Please forgive me."

Seeing him apologising and in a state which she never thought would see ever even in her wildest dreams,  she muttered “ Please sir , don't apologise."

“ No Gauri , you should know , you have the right to know,  but please don't leave me,  I won't be able to live without you."

Signing off