"Gauri... where are you" asked Jhanvi Singh Oberoi talking into the phone.

"Aunty I am on my way to the mansion... Om said that he will take me to a tour of his new office" said Gauri cheerfully.

"Don't come here... go to the office directly... Omkara left without having food... make him eat something beta"

"Wait what?? Not again... aunty... Did uncle say something?"

"Obviously.... Who else... the same old... why don't you join the company instead of competing with your own father thing" said Jhanvi tiredly.

"Ye baap bete naa...(this father and son duo) I tell you...are problem seekers... what happened to uncle's promise to me? He told me last time that he will try to talk things out with him... I thought things will settle down... why is there a new fight?"

"You know Tej and you know Omkara... they are always going to be at loggerheads... While we break our heads trying to settle things, they keep roaring at each other as if there is no tomorrow.... Forget it beta... Sometimes I feel they purposely start a fight so as to have fun in making us worry over them"

"Okay... when did he start? I gave my car for servicing... I am in a cab right now aunty... wait I will call him"

"No use... your friend left his phone at home... he will send someone to collect it I guess... should I send you a car beta?"

"No... it is okay... I will go... see you later then aunty"

"Okay Gauri...  he appointed some new staff there who might not know you yet...call me if you have a problem..... bye" said Jhanvi before hanging up.

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"What do you mean by one hour?" screamed Gauri at the cab driver.

"Sorry madam ji... the tyre got punctured and I did not keep a stepney. I will call my cab agency and you can go in that cab" apologized the driver.

"Forget it.. I will take a cab here"

"This area will not have many cars here madam ji... at least not so soon...if you need to go urgently, you will have to take an auto rikshaw" said the driver showing her an auto stand and Gauri sighed walking towards the stand having no other option.

Twenty minutes later, she exited the rikshaw in front of Omkara group of companies. Walking to the gate she was greeted by the security head.

"Good morning mam"

"Good morning Dandi... Om andar hai? (Is Om inside?)"

"Yes mam... he came half an hour back and seems like he is in 'Nandi' mood... he has a client meeting now"

Gauri chuckled and asked "I know... which floor is this new office?"

"Tenth floor... Sir excused us to have breakfast... should I show you the way in?"

"No... I will go there myself.. go have your food" she said and entered inside.

On reaching the tenth floor she walked to the reception desk.

"Hi... I need to meet Omkara... is the meeting over?" she asked the man there.

The man looked at her from head to toe and smiled "Really? And who are you madam?"

"I am Gauri Trivedi... his friend... you didn't answer my question...Mr.... Ahh...Mr. Arjun... is the meeting done?" she asked him with a smile looking at his name badge.

Arjun looked at the beautiful woman dressed in a simple slim fit yellow chudidar and matching dupatta, her hair made into a high pony...nothing posh...nothing exquisite which one expects from Gauri Trivedi only daughter of Shakti Trivedi CEO of Trivedi group of companies, one of the leading businessman and partner of Oberoi industries.

It was no secret that Omkara Singh Oberoi and Gauri Trivedi were childhood buddies though they kept away from frequent public appearances. How is he supposed to know if she really is the Gauri Trivedi?

In his career, Arjun came across many beautiful woman who take names of their boss only to get an appointment-free entry.. is she one of them? He couldn't take chances with his tyrant of a boss now... can he?

"Can I please see your id mam?" he asked politely.

"Sorry... I didn't bring it with me... I don't have the habit"

"Just a minute mam..." he said and called the gate security who sent her in... as the call went unanswered, he checked the CCTV footage of the entrance gate . When he found her exiting from an auto rikshaw his doubt increased.

"You are Gauri Trivedi? daughter of Shakti Trivedi?"

"Yes??"

"You came to the office in an auto rikshaw madam ji? If I know correctly, you have eighteen cars in your house at your disposal"

"Oh that.. those are my father's cars not mine... I gave my car for servicing so... I had to.."

"Correct... so you couldn't come in a cab too... this is Mumbai madam... now you can't say you couldn't find a cab for you"

By this time, with the interrogation Gauri's irritation got the better of her "Call Omkara now...and confirm if you want... let me in... I am warning you that you will regret this enquiry mister"

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

"Don't shout at me man... kamal hai... you are not in a good mood and you vent your anger on everybody? How is it any fair?" asked Rudra Malhotra in exasperation.

"Rudy... just get the work done... I want this deal to be finalized and I can't trust anyone else when my father's company is in competition... you know his ways... he will do anything and resort to any means when he wants his work done"

"I understand... that is the reason you and me are not part of that company... but sometimes I wonder why I still stick to your side bearing your temper... I am the CEO of this company.. I deserve some respect"

"I am the chairman and managing director Rudy" said Omkara with an arrogant smirk making his friend huff.

"Fine...you have money and I don't that doesn't mean ...."

"Okay enough... sorry... I did a huge mistake in yelling at you... although in private... you seem to have grown massive self-respect issues these days... nahi? That Bhavya is rubbing off on you."

Rudra grinned at his friend "Yes... you have to deal with it... I am not your Gauri to please you and calm you down... By the way where is she? You said she will come here today"

At the mention of Gauri's name Omkara cursed and got up from his seat  "Oh my god... I asked her to come to the mansion to bring her here.. I forgot... she will kill me... I will just be back Rudy" he said hurrying to the door with Rudy following him.

They just walked out of the chairman cabin when Rudra spoke making Omkara stop and turn to him.

"Wait you stay... I will bring her... you don't have your phone with you and we have a meeting in an hour O..."

"Yeah.. seems like that is better..." Omkara started and stopped when he saw Rudra widen his eyes looking at something behind him and mumble "Satyanaash.. ye to gaya kaam se (great... he is gone for today)"

He turned back to see his assistant ushering Gauri out... correction... dragging her out holding her hand making him see red.

"ARJUN!!" he yelled making people jump in their seats and Rudra facepalm.

Arjun stopped in his tracks at the voice and turned around in panic... Looking at his boss marching towards him angrily, he sucked in a shaky breath freezing in his place.

"How dare you... leave her hand now!!" he roared and Arjun obeyed without a word.

Omkara grabbed his collar ready to land a punch when Gauri came to rescue "Om.. stop it.. he doesn't know me"

"So?... is this the way you behave with people coming to my office?"

"S...Sorry s..sir.. I"

"You are fired... get out of my sight.. now!!" he screamed and Gauri dragged him away after assuring Arjun to resume his work.

"Om... please... calm down... he was just doing his job.. I am the one at fault" she said as he was being an arrogant boss and took him back into his cabin.

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

"Om... that is extremely barbaric of you to shout like that... he is your employee... you need to respect them" she scolded him once inside the cabin and he rubbed his face irritatedly.

"How dare he... can't you just call me or Rudy?"

"I didn't think Rudy was there with you today... I thought he was in Bangalore for the textile deal and you left your phone at home"

When he still looked positively fuming, she hugged him gently rubbing his back and just like that he sighed calming down putting an arm around her. After a while when she was satisfied that he was okay , she parted.

"Sit" she ordered showing him the chair and he obeyed.

"Take this" she offered a glass of water and he drank it without complaint.

"Are you back to human mode?" Said Rudra slyly and earned a glare from both of his friends.

"Only you can make him do things when angry...... mujhse nahi hoga yaar Gauri (I am not able to do it)... when are you joining us?" asked Rudra in a complaining tone.

"Soon Rudy... let me enjoy my holidays for a while... I just got my MBA degree... thoda chill karne dena yaar... may be in a month or two... I will be back to work."

"Tera chill karte karate... ye mujhe zinda kha jayega...(by the time you complete your chilling holidays ...this man will eat me alive)... I don't even have a good insurance policy... you know"

"Shut up Rudy... stop the drama... show her the office while I will go through the file for the next meeting" scolded Omkara and Gauri sighed.

"Are you okay now?" asked Gauri ruffling his hair making him glare at her.

"Gauri... not my hair..." he warned taking her hand away while she grinned.

"Okay baba... sorry" she said and kissed his cheek in compensation making him faintly smile.

"Don't fire him Om...please" she said in a request referring to Arjun and Omkara nodded a yes.

"Good boy" she appreciated her friend before turning to Rudra who had a smile on his face.

"Come Rudy... show me your wonderful office... interiors are boring by the way" she said honestly making him smirk.

"What!!"

"Nothing... come" said Rudra pulling her along with him leaving Omkara to work.

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

"Okay... now your smile is irritating me... can you stop it Rudy"

"I can't stop smiling... no.. don't ask me that sweety"

"But you can tell me the reason for it.  You haven't gone mad yet... did you?"

"Naah... not yet... I just don't know why but I feel so happy seeing O and you together... I am number one shipper of you both... you know that"

"Not again Rudy... we are just..."

"Haa haa... pata hai.. just friends" he said making an irritated face and she laughed.

"What... can't I imagine you both happily married and having cute kids... it is my brain...my thoughts... my imagination" defended Rudra.

"Rudy... stop your thoughts... you are wishing the impossible... he considers me nothing more than a friend"

"And you? What about you..."

"Me too Rudy... he.."

"Yeah right... lie to my face now"

Gauri sighed heavily and closed her eyes to calm the ache in her heart and opened them "What I want is not important... if we get married only because our families want us to or you want us together... such a relationship will not last longer... furthermore our friendship which we both nourished since childhood will get affected... I cannot risk that Rudy... I just cannot"

"Of course what you want is important for him... he might have had a few friends but you are the only woman who can tame down his anger... only one who can bear his tantrums... only woman whom he considers his best friend... only woman...."

"Nope.. I am not the only female friend" she said looking at him in the eye and he stopped.

"Gauri... it was three years back... I don't even think O remembers it... he was drunk that day...why don't you talk to him"

"Drunk or not... it will not change what he did Rudy... I just can't put that image off my mind... no... I can't ask him... can we please not discuss this anymore.. please" she said her voice croaking as the pain gripped her heart.

Rudra sighed tiredly "You both are the most stupid, stubborn, spoilt and moronic friends I have ever had" he said and hugged her while she held back tears.

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

Gauri walked into Trivedi mansion that evening, right in time to witness her father hosting a group of guests while her mother as usual sat beside him mutely.

"There she is" said Shakti smiling noting her appearance "Come Gauri"

She walked to the couch beside her parents and took her seat after greeting the strangers with a practiced smile.

"Gauri meet Mr and Mrs Shetty and their son Sumedh" introduced her father "They came to ask your hand in marriage beta... Sumedh saw you in our cocktail party last month" he explained and Gauri mentally groaned.

"I am not interested in marriage at the moment... you can leave" she said directly looking at the young man while her mother softly gasped beside her.

"Gauri... where are your manners?" Shakti whisper yelled.

"I am sorry for my bluntness but I was just being honest... you can have dinner and leave but I want you to know that my decision is final" she said in a polite tone and Sumedh with his family got up from their seats.

"Sorry on behalf of my daughter Mr. Mehta" said Shakti.

"That is okay Shakti... good that we know her decision now itself without un necessary delay... we can meet in your office tomorrow... my son happened to like your daughter and I thought I can just ask... no need to have any bad feelings here" said Mr. Mehta with a small smile before he left with his family.

"What the hell was that Gauri?" roared Shakti once alone with his daughter.

She just shrugged her shoulders as if it meant nothing "I just told my decision"

"What if he cancels the deal with our company... do you know the loss that would have occurred?"

"It didn't happen right? He appeared mature to me"

"Shut up... what is with the 'I don't want to marry' thing you refuse to leave...? What is your problem after all?"

"Can we stop talking? I am hungry dad"

"You are turning a spoiled brat day by day... it is your mother's fault totally... that is what comes out when a woman who comes from a village background trains a daughter" he said knowing it will definitely irk her.

"Dad... why do you keep insulting mom? Nothing is her fault"

"Don't back answer me Gauri... this behavior... this is what I don't like... Three years back you refused to marry Omkara saying he is just a friend... we would have been a major share holder in Oberoi group if that happened... I let it go then so that you could complete your education and give the matter a thought again... now when a better offer came... you just threw it away without a proper reason... I will not let this happen again... I will choose the man for you now... I don't want to hear a no" he said in finality and left the place.

Gauri walked to the dining area tiredly to have food while her mother who followed her served her food in silence.

"Do you want more?" asked Pinky making her daughter look at her.

"Did you eat mom?" Gauri asked and was answered by her silence.

"Mom!!"

"Go to sleep.... I will ask Raman to clean the table" her mother said and was about to leave when Gauri held her hand.

"Are you angry?"

"What difference does it make to anybody Gauri... leave me... I need to get up early tomorrow... your father has a meeting"

"Mom... please"

"Why do you not want to marry?" asked Pinky and this time Gauri stayed mute.

"Should I talk to Om? You won't say it to him... let me at least see what he has to say" said her mother and she shook her head in a no.

"I don't want to be a charity case... if he loved me... he would have said it to me by now... wouldn't he?"

"Gauri... you love him"

"Yes... I love him mom... but he doesn't..."

"How do you know that? Did he ever say that to you?"

"Sometimes... actions speak louder than words... just know that he did something which he wouldn't have done if he ever loved me" said Gauri with a disturbed look on her face and Pinky caressed her head.

"Sometimes what we see with our eyes might not be true Gauri... just talk it out with him... because at some point in life... after you lose him... you will have one regret in your life that you didn't give your love one genuine chance by confessing it... Om will never hurt you Gauri... at least not knowingly... I trust him on that" said her mother leaving her in thoughts.

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

Gauri walked into the Oberoi mansion late that night, her overnight bag in hand and Dandi let her in. After the conversation with her mother, she had this uncontrollable urge to talk to Omkara...but his phone was switched off.

Not wanting to wait the night in sleepless torture, she decided to meet him at his house... it wasn't an uncommon occurrence, taken she frequented the mansion anytime of the day say for her studies when Omkara helped her...or for their movie nights when Rudra joined them sometimes and no body questioned them...neither his parents nor hers.

Opening the door of his bedroom, she looked inside to see her friend fast asleep covered in his favorite motorcycle duvet.

Well, who would have thought the great Omkara Singh Oberoi had a fetish for sports bikes that he slept in a duvet which had prints of various bikes on it.

She locked the door and walked to the bed to shake him awake but looking at the look of peace on his face decided against it. Lifting the duvet she got on the bed beside him and snuggled closer... her favorite habit since they were kids.

As she watched him sleep, her thoughts went back to their childhood and moments they spent with each other. Omkara was an addiction to her... she liked every bit of him.. his personality.... his carefree laughter... and his choices in life to always stand by what is right. She also liked his workaholic nature, uncontrollable temper... and when it came to her...his protectiveness with possessiveness... everything... including the way he breathed now slow and rhythmic like a song.

She couldn't exactly tell at what point of time she started feeling things for him... but she knew without doubt that she wanted him more than a friend... she scolded her mind for thinking that way... chastised herself to mellow her unfriendly thoughts of him...but her heart refused to listen.

She grew up in a family where his father considered his mother not worthy of him only because he was not given a choice when he married her mother. Her mother loved her father and never spoke a word against him... but she always knew what her mother felt when she used to listen to her silent cries at night. She never wanted that for herself... never wanted to be an unwanted responsibility and become a doormat.

Because she knew... even if Omkara doesn't love her... she will continue to love him forever... she can never leave him in case he married her just to not hurt her feelings... and she neither wants to be another Pinky Trivedi nor risk losing her best friend.

As she continued to look at his face with a smile... he wrapped an arm around her bringing her close to his chest making her smile widen.

"Did you fight with your dad again?" he asked in a sleepy tone not opening his eyes and she mumbled a yes.

"Hmmm... dads can be irritating" he stated in a matter of fact tone.

"Hmm.."

"Can we talk about it tomorrow? I am tired Gauri" he asked and she hummed again.

He kissed her hair and resumed his sleep his breathing regularizing while she snuggled closer breathing his musky scent in.

Can she survive without him? What if he decided to marry soon? It would kill her to see him with someone else but it is a matter for another day...For now... she will live in the moment... close to his heart... she thought and gave in to exhaustion.

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Hi guys... this is the first shot...

Let me know your thoughts....

What do you think of their friendship...

What must be Omkara's POV?

Vote and comment...

Till the next update... signing off... yours Soujanya.