Omkara had folded up the sleeves of the designer kurta, as he entered the hall. He then smoothened the front portion of the waistcoat. Thankfully, the evening was cooler and the hall where the arrangement had been done had good air conditioning. Back in Mumbai monsoon had begun and the weather was cool and pleasnt while here in Rajasthan the summer was enjoying a long stay.

"Thank God there's no gender discrimination for this function!" Rudra exclaimed with a wide smile his eyes scanning the room. "This seems to be fun!"

"I am going in for a refreshment!" Omkara announced.

"We just came in," Shivaay said, glancing at him.

Omkara tolled his eyes.

"The paneer tikka is already being served," Anika pointed out with a wide smile. Omkara grinned while Shivaay rolled his eyes.

"Shivaay, why don't you and Rudra go around talking to people, whole Anika and I will go and test the paneer Tikka."

"Are you serious?" Shivaay muttered. 

"Good idea!" Anika grinned and dragged away Omkara. Omkara glanced over his shoulder giving Shivaay a victorious smile. 

It was when Omkara was biting into the second piece of paper tikka when a feminine voice greeted them. He turned to the side to notice Riddhima in a deep maroon saree, the one that looked like a gown.  

"Hi!" Anika greeted Riddhima with evident smile on her face. Her eyes meeting Omkara's.

"Hi!" Omkara greeted giving a reassuring glance to Anika. 

Fortunately, for Omkara, Anika engaged in a small talk with Riddhima. Omkara looked around for any idea to escape. His eyes landed on a petite figure clad in pale pink lehenga. His breath hitched. She looked splendid in the pink skirt and blouse, that was paired with a studded translucent shrug on her blouse. Her hair tied up in an elegant bun. He didn't miss all the jewelry on her neck. But what made a smile to appear on his face was her face — blushed and glowing as she laughed. 

His gaze finally drifted to the other person and his smile wavered noticing Tarun. They seemed to be engaging in a pretty fun conversation grinning and laughing. Watching her eyes closely, even from the distance, he could tell she was genuinely involved in the conversation. 

His gaze drifted back to Tarun and then back to her. The two of them seemed to like each other. Who wouldn't like Gauri! He looked back at the two women standing in the vicinity when Anika grabbed his arm. He hadn't even realized when Riddhima had left.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Anika asked.

Omkara's gaze immediately went back to Gauri. 

"Shivaay told me."

"Of course he did," Omkara mumbled to himself.

"Come on, introduce me to her!" Anika repeated, holding his arm, dragging him to walk towards Gauri and Tarun.

"Hi!" Anika greeted the two of them. 

Omkara forced a smile. Anika could be overbearing and annoying at times, not as much as Shivaay though. A couple made for each other.

"Hey!" Omkara greeted. Gauri's eyes met his. Omkara felt strange for a beat. He didn't know what it was. He blinked, glancing at Tarun. 

"Anika Bhabhi!" Tarun greeted with a smile. "How have you been!"

"Good Tarun!" Anika smiled, her eyes drifting back to Gauri. She nudged Omkara. 

"Oh, Gauri, meet our Bhabhi, Anika." Tarun introduced before Omkara could speak a word. Omkara swallowed the annoyance he felt.

"Anika bhabhi, this is—"

Anika cut Tarun's sentemshort by saying, "— Gauri, I know. Omkara told me about her." She smiled at Gauri. "Come on, let me introduce you around to a few people and leave the brothers to talk." Anika said, smartly moving towards Gauri, whisking her away. Gauri looked at Omkara uncomfortably. He quickly gave her a reassuring smile.

"Hey, Om, for whatever happened this morning," Tarun spoke up, clearly uncomfortable with the topic.

"Let's stay out of it. It's between our fathers, let it be that way."

"Yeah," Tarun agreed, with a nod of his head, smiling in relief. "Where are Ru and Shivaay, I thought we were supposed to meet now outside the hall for practice?"

Omkara turned to meet his eyes, "REALLY?" He asked. 

"Yeah, Ru texted."

Omkara rolled his eyes. "Let's go then!" He muttered, gazing around. He'd prefer to be a part of Rudra's ridiculous plans than be around businessmen looking for opportunities to make business deals, mothers amd aunties hunting young men and women of marriage-able age to make the next match and an ex lurking around looking for an opportunity to revisit old feelings. Too much to handle!

* * *

Omkara found his way out of the hall later in the night, when all of the young crowd was grooving to the DJ's music on the dance floor. Shivaay, Anika and Rudra, all three of them were fond of dancing. He missed Priyanka, the only one who'd accompany him in such situations.

He took a deep breath and walked intio the wide balcony. He got rid of the waistcoat and instant felt better. It was suffocating inside the hall. Tarun was definitely trying to make an impression on Gauri. He had watched them have dinner together. From what it looked like, she enjoyed his company. If he thought of them in that light, they'd actually make a good couple. But for some weird reason he felt uncomfortable with that thought. 

You're jealous because you more than like Gauri! A voice in his head said.

That's rubbish. Gauri is just a friend. Another voice argued.

Your eyes searched for her in the crowd and you couldn't look away when she was dancing on the stage. The first voice pointed out.

Just in a platonic, friendly way. The second voice defended.

You wanted to kiss her last night. The first voice mocked.

No. The other voice stubbornly rejected. 

Reject it as much as you want, but the truth won't change. You like Gauri,  a lot, and now that Tarun is interested in her, you're envious. Because you want to be the only prospective bridegroom for her. The first voice said.

Omkara was brought out of his mind by the soft voice he heard. 

He looked at the source of the voice to find Gauri standing beside him. "Still shutting out the world?" 

Omkara didn't answer that. He was still recovering from the dilemma in his mind. 

"You didn't dance with your brothers, why?" 

"Not my cup of tea." He answered, deeply bothered. Why was his heart behaving strangely when he was around Gauri? He feared the answer. It made him anxious. He couldn't deal with attachments anymore. He didn't want to have one for Gauri. Probably a little late to think  because he already felt one with her. He had to back off now. The longer he stayed around her, the faster he would fall and the lesser wpuld be the chance to save himself from it. 

He needed to shut her out. For his own sanity and peace of mind. But his heart refused to agree.

"Your Bhabhi is a fun person." She said. "You are so lucky Omkara, you have a wonderful family."

Omkara wanted to laugh at that. She had barely met them to conclude that.

"Omkie?"

He glanced at her, hesitantly. She plucked at the strings of her heart every time she addressed him like that. 

"Where are you lost?"

"Was just... so you don't like dancing?" He deviated the topic, mid sentence.

"I love dancing. But... I came to check on you."

Omkara's gaze melted into hers. She looked like a beautiful dream. So real, so soothing yet far from reality. His eyes lowered to her lips. Did he really not ever want to kiss her? Who was he kidding?

You are falling for her, Omkara. You can't deny that. A soft voice echoed in his head. He looked away immediately. 

"Omkara," she said softly, looking hesitant for a moment.

"What is it?" He asked, offhandedly, trying his best to put up a cold wall and still not hurt her.

"I met your dad." 

Omkara looked away letting out a breath. Just the mere mention of the man made his blood boil. 

"Papa and him seem to be good friends. And they ..."

Omkara turned to look at her again. The grim expression on her face said it all. She looked nervous too.

"They?" He prompted wanting to see her reaction.

"They were taking about us. In the sense that, your father, he was..." Her voice trailed off.

Omkara's lips fell into a straight line. His father would never stop interfering in his life. 

Gauri took a deep breath and continued, "I guess you know it already. I don't know, until a week back Papa wanted me to get to know Tarun and now he wants me to talk to you." Gauri sighed. She had been confused when her father told her that he was talking with Tej Singh Oberoi instead of Sujeet Singh Oberoi for her marriage.

Any other day, she would have erupted with anger. What did her father think she was? One day one man the next day another. Of course she was an investment, her father would be making. And there were so many options out there. Each having its own pros and con. The reason why she hated her father, most. 

But somehow when he suggested Omkara's name. It made her heart see a hope. Maybe Omkara was the one for her. Probably, it was a sign of fate. 

"What do you want Gauri?" Omkara asked with a sigh. He was entangled in a mess of thoughts. Had she started liking Tarun? Was that the reason she seemed a little off about the whole thing. He low-key wanted Gauri to choose him. He knew it was wrong but he couldn't help but indulge himself in it.

Gauri stared at him. She just wanted to be happy, to be with someone who could love her. 

Omkara turned to look at her when he didn't receive a response. Their gazes met. 

Gauri remembered all those small moments when he took care fo her, was protective, was concerned for her. She felt happy with him, at most times. "I like you, Omkara." She confessed.

"And Tarun?" He asked, placing his elbow on the railing, turning his body to face her completely.

"He's nice..." She answered honestly, "But I think I know you more than I know him."

Omkara stared at her silently. His mind begging him to not put himself through the torture again. He liked Gauri too, more than liked. If this feeling grew any deeper he'd give her the power to hurt her. 

"What about you Omkara?" She asked nervously.

"I like you, Gauri, but as a friend." It took immense courage to lie. Omkara didn't want her to stand there and wait for her to ask anything further. She already look disappointed with what she heard. The feelings in her heart somehow always appeared on her face. 

Omkara walked past her. He knew he was breaking her hopeful little heart. But he couldn't let himself to fall for her despite being aware that he was falling. There was no room for love in his life, no room for people who could hurt him. 

A tear rolled down Gauri's cheeks. She was stupid to believe that Omkara would be excited with the prospect of the new proposal too. She was stupid to brush off the thoughts about Omkara and his ex. She was an idiot to think he would want to let her in, let her be the special person to be his companion. More tears stained her cheeks. Rejection hurt, terribly. Once again, Omkara had hurt her. Maybe she had given him way too much power over her than she should have. How stupid she was!

The votes dropped on the last chapter... is something off? Would love to have your feedback.

Do hit the vote button on the chapters, if you're looking forward to read more of this story!

-Anami!♡