Good olden days..................................

With a bouquet of roses in one hand, a small jewelry box containing a beautiful ring in his pocket, love for her in his heart along with a million dreams of having a family with her, Omkara entered their flat sneaking into it quietly with his duplicate key.

He took off his coat and placed the keys in the key stand quietly not wanting to spoil her surprise. 'Ridhima loved surprises' he thought with a huge grin.

He stealthily walked into their bedroom which was partly open. He knew she would be home that evening since she gets back from work by five. As he got near, he could hear voices coming out of it. He could recognize one of them as his girlfriend's and she was moaning. He stopped for a second, his heart beating rapidly not out of anxiety but with a feeling of dread. He contemplated whether to go ahead or not and made up his mind.

He looked into the room to see two figures on their bed partially naked, partially covered with their duvet, pleasuring each other. He let out a painful gasp and the bouquet fell from his hands.

Ridhima was having the time of her life. This new guy she met a week ago seems to have taken a liking towards her and she decided to have fun tonight before her boyfriend returned from work and she was glad that she did because he was good at what he was doing to her. He was even better than Ajay.

Omkara, her golden duck, the ever cool, charming persona, she used to be in love with had begun to bore her. But she cannot lose him after working so hard for three years. It is a pity that he was more interested in case files and dead bodies than making love to her. She couldn't leave him and she couldn't not take mini pleasures once in a while. She was kissing the guy and he reciprocated it when she heard a gasp.

She turned her head to the sound and saw a heart broken Omkara staring at the scene, too numb to move and tears flowing from his eyes.

Oh shit!!

She pushed the man aside and scrambled out of the bed searching for her top saying the chant that anybody would say after being caught red-handed by one's partner, making out with someone else.

"Om it is not what it looks like. It is a mis understanding. I can explain"

Omkara who came out of his shock with her sickening voice, turned around ready to leave the place and the woman in it behind.

She however caught on to him and held his hand when he jerked it off as if burnt by it.

"Om listen to me, I can explain"

"What will you explain Ridhima? I can clearly see that you were screwing him. What more is there to explain?"

Looking that her explanation would not do much good, she tried the other route.

"I am sorry Omkara, it was the first time. I feel all lonely when you do not spend your time with me. When was the last time you came home to me. It is always either your mom, your brother, Shivaay or your work. I only come last to you"

"Really? So you decide to cheat on me? Should I feel guilty that you were lonely and decided to have a fling on the side while being with me at the same time."

"Omkara it is not a fling. It was just a... a..."

"Yeah, exchange of body fluids.. I get it. Now, get out of my sight and life. Will you" he said moving away.

Ridhima was frustrated. She was angry that a small misdoing on her part is going to ruin her hard work of three years. She tried again.

"Omkara do you think this is entirely my fault? With the way you treated me anyone would have done this."

That made him stop and turn to her with his blood shot eyes. Frowning at her he asked, "Which way did I treat you?"

"You are just an impassive person. You spend days and nights working on cases and you don't have time for your partner. One phone call from your mother or brother and you rush out of the house not thinking whether I would be happy with it. Not thinking if I wanted you to be with me. You don't care if I go out with other guys, you don't even get jealous. How will I know that you love me if you don't express it to me"

"Yeah great and you realized it now. You decided to tell me that now? Out of all the times that we had our 'talks'. I was trying to give you your space. I never went after you when you were with other guys because I trusted you. Not once did I listen to anybody of my family that you were wrong. You know what Ridhima. You don't deserve me. I don't believe that I trusted your fidelity more than Shivaay's judgement."

Ridhima now looked like something hit her. Shivaay......yes it must be him she thought and she played her last card.

"Oh Shivaay!! The great friend!! Who wants you to marry his sister. I'm quite sure he planned all this. Wait I will prove it to you this moment" she said and turned around to walk back into the room to see that the guy she had kissed a few moments ago was fully dressed and ready to move out. She snatched his phone which was already unlocked and ran towards Om while the guy ran behind her to snatch his phone back.

Reaching Omkara Ridhima opened the call logs and was satisfied with what she saw. The guy still tried to take his phone back when Omkara intervened.

Ridhima smirked at him and showed him the call list which made Omkara's eye widen. His heart took blow for the second time that day. In the list was Shivaay's name and beside it there was the number of times he called the guy in the last twenty four hours which was ten times.

"Now you understand Om? Your best friend... the great Shivaay Trivedi probably paid this guy to seduce me to change your heart so that you will break up with me and then finally he can make you marry his sister. He was important to you more than me isn't it?" she spat venomously.

Omkara was mute. No words left him. He felt like the walls of the room were closing down on him. Unable to bear the suffocation he ran out of the house into the street crying like a mad man, aimless and broken.

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Location: Abhay's flat, Mumbai

Late evening

Abhay and Gauri were going through the case files dealt with Tej and Shakti together before Tej became the deputy commissioner of police.

"Most of the cases were dealt with both of them. They have been together since more than 10 years Gauri. The official reports give equal credit to both of them and they had equal chances of getting a promotion. May be the fact that Tej sir getting promoted early had sparked some jealousy in him?" wondered Abhay.

Gauri was still looking at the screen in thoughts. As far as she knew and observed Shakti Khurana, he didn't seem to be the jealous or power hungry type. There is something more to this. She shook her head in a no.

"No Abhay there is something more to this. We have to find out what case was Shiv bhaiyya dealing with at that time. What were the files that you helped Bhaiyya with?"

"The files I have with me were dated before 2010. I stored them in my system when we first went to hack the headquarters' files in Hyderabad. The files that Shivaay wanted were cases after 2010. I just retrieved the passwords from Shakti sir's computer from the bug I installed. I never saw them. Shivaay retrieved them himself. It was not a difficult job because luckily Shakti sir indeed was made the in charge of the confidential files involving undercover cops."

"Okay. So you have the passwords with you already and you need to just access the system to get those files. Am I right?"

Abhay thought for a moment before he spoke "If the password is not changed then definitely yes. We can retrieve the files. But.."

"But?"

"If Shakti sir changed the password then it is not possible. We need to get the new password again"

"Can we check it in Omkaraji's computer?" Gauri asked.

"Yeah we can check it whether the password is correct or not but we cannot retrieve it obviously because Omkara will not have access to that information. It can only be retrieved from Shakti sir's system by getting his password when he types it in that system. Best part is that the bug I installed is not easily detectable or erasable. It still must be in sir's system. So even you can go to just retrieve it" explained Abhay.

"Okay then come to Oberoi mansion tomorrow, I will make some excuse. It is the right time as Omkaraji is not at home. We will not have a better chance."

"My dear Gauri for that you need to know the password to his system. Do you know that?" he asked and Gauri nodded a no.

"Right. So let your husband come, get the password and then we can check if Shakti sir had changed the password. Now let me drop you to your house. It is late already" saying this, Abhay got up with Gauri.

At the same time in Oberoi Mansion

"Om what happened beta, you called earlier than usual today? any problem" asked Jhanvi.

"No mom, he must be missing me. I did not talk to him properly yesterday being busy with my deal. Hain na O" asked Rudra.

"Yeah. Exactly" smiled Omkara. "Actually mom, I'm done with the case here. I will start for Mumbai tomorrow. There are a few formalities pending and they will get finished by afternoon. I will be home probably by tomorrow night" he explained.

He was working nonstop since the past one week to get the case over with. He wanted to come back soon because the Nisha's case will not move forward until they take a definitive step. Of course he will not agree with the other reason that he was missing his wife. It can't be right? No definitely not. He is work focused. By the way where is she? Didn't she know that he called them?

Jhanvi saw his son's eyes search for Gauri and she smiled teasingly "Looking for something Om?"

"Uh.. nothing Mom" said Omkara smiling.

Rudra was praying that his brother doesn't ask the dreaded question but God wasn't in his favor today it seems.

"Rudy, where is Gauri" asked Omkara as he noted the panicked expression on his brother's face.

Why did his Bhabhi have to be late on the same day his brother called in early cursed Rudy.

"Ummm... she went out Om. She will be coming anytime soon" answered Jhanvi trying to rescue her younger one.

Omkara did not like the superficial answer especially when his mother was clearly trying to avoid further conversation. What is the issue? He turned towards his brother and asked in his 'tone' that demanded proper answer 'Where?'

Rudra closed his eyes for a second and opened them. He knows that tone. He finally answered "Gauri Bhabhi is at Abhay bhaiyya's house O. She is helping him in his project" he said and as expected Omkara's face reddened in anger.

"When did he become bhaiyya to you and what do you mean by 'house'? Did he shift to Mumbai so soon?"

"He shifted three days back O. He is looking for a sponsor for a startup and I offered help. We gelled up over it and he is a nice person O. you will like him once you know him. He is so similar to Shi...."

"Rudy!!" roared Omkara. "Not him... please" he said his voice cracking at the end and Rudy sighed.

"Okay mom. I will see you all tomorrow then" Omkara said and didn't wait for a reply.

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Omkara stared at the phone in his hands his tears threatening to fall from his eyes. How did his brother almost take his name. He missed him but he still remembered that night when he broke his heart. He shouldn't have done it. Shivaay knew how afraid he was with commitment and he knowingly put him through the pain of a woman he loved cheating on him. For what? To get him married with his sister. Was it that important to him? No, he is still not ready to remember the incident.

With shaking hands, he called a number again and waited for her to lift the call.

"Hello Omkaraji?" asked Gauri curious that her husband has called her. She looked at the time and noted that he called early today.

"Where are you?" he asked in return.

"I am on my way home Omkaraji. Did you call maaji?"

"Are you with someone" he asked again and waited with bated breath for her answer.

"Haa, I am with Abhi. He offered to drop me home" she replied and Omkara released a breath he was holding, relieved that she did not lie.

"Okay, call me when you reach home" he said and Gauri replied a yes before he hung up the call.

Gauri was still looking at the phone when Abhay asked her what was wrong.

"I don't know. He sounded disturbed Abhi" she answered.

Abhay chuckled at it and she frowned at him "What is new in it. You mentioned my name right. He must be jealous that's it" said Abhay.

"No Abhi. This is something else" she disagreed.

"Okay" Abhay nodded. "We almost reached. Call him back and ask him yourself" he said and Gauri nodded.

Later at night, when Gauri called her husband, he appeared to be alright. No traces of the anguish that she heard in his voice before. He informed her that he would come home next day and she was happy. She missed him over the last few days. She won't deny it though it has been easier to meet Abhay. How long will this go on. She thought.

"Okay, good night Gauri. I will see you tomorrow"

"Good night Omkaraji" she replied and added after a moment of thought "I...I miss you Omkaraji."

Omkara smiled on the other end and replied "You have no idea how much I missed you Gauri. Take care see you soon."

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Next morning in Oberoi Mansion

"Maa ji how close is Shakti uncle to bauji?" Gauri asked Jhanvi.

She wanted to know more about her target and get close to him. Afterall it is only then that they can access those files.

"Tej and Bhaisaab have been friends since college Gauri. We were remarkably close as families. But two years back Priyanka moved to London for her studies and Pinky had to go along with her daughter to help her with her stay there. He stays alone now" answered Jhanvi.

"Ohh!!" said Gauri "We can visit him once in a while then yes? He won't be feeling lonely" she added.

Jhanvi smiled "Yes Gauri you are right. Rudy and I visit him sometimes during the weekends. Omkara usually stays busy in his work."

"This time can I join too?" asked Gauri skeptically not to sound too needy.

"Of course Gauri we will go sometime during next week" said Jhanvi and Gauri nodded with a smile.

Jhanvi hesitated for a moment before she asked "Gauri, did you talk to Om yesterday?"

"Yes maa ji he said he will return today" replied Gauri with a smile.

Jhanvi smiled relieved that Omkara did not create a fuss about Abhay yesterday. She and Rudy have been worried ever since the call.

"Gauri, Om is a very straight forward person. If he doesn't like anything he expresses it immediately" started Jahnvi. "He was a very patient child Gauri. I know me and Tej never had time for him. He always craved for love but never threw a tantrum. May be that is the reason when anyone shows him love, he reciprocates it in abundance. He never trusts anybody that soon but if he decided to trust then he will never question them"

Gauri looked at her mother in law with smile nodding her head occasionally yet she was puzzled as to where this conversation lead to.

"He was heartbroken two years back" Jhanvi said making Gauri stiffen "He never talked about it but I know that woman is not his worth" she sighed.

"My Om was never the same Gauri" said her mother in law with a hint of tears in her eyes "Make sure that you understand him and move forward in life. Take care of him and please don't lie to him. He doesn't tolerate it" she asked adding to Gauri's guilt.

"He seems to be love struck now" she teased and Gauri tried to blush despite her mind being occupied, thinking about ways to not lie to her husband yet still try to get her work done.

"Oberoi men are possessive by nature yet Omkara wasn't that kind...or at least I thought so until that day on Holi when he was ragging mad. Don't mind him Gauri he will understand that Abhay is important to you. You just need to make him understand it and I'm pretty sure you are good at that by the way he considerably calmed down after the incident. What happened behind the closed doors that day may I ask?"

This time Gauri blushed genuinely thinking of their kiss and the moments after it, making Jhanvi laugh out loud.

"Good that you have my son in your grip then. Make sure he stays that way" she quipped and Gauri gasped saying "Aap bhi na maaji."

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Okay... so that is chapter 14.

I realized that since the start I have been focusing on the main case, Shiv-gauri, shiv-om-ru and Abhay-gauri. Omkara as a character himself has never been dealt with. I'm glad that one of my readers pointed out that Omkara was the only one without lies in their skeleton. Everyone has some ulterior motive to them. That made me add this.

One more point to be noted. Omkara and Abhay are two entirely different personas. You can love both of them without hating the other. LOL.

So, I think the chapter clears some part of why Omkara is so insecure. The guy is just hurt. He was betrayed not by Ridhima alone but also Shivaay who had been more of a brother to Gauri than his friend. Things could have been dealt with in a better way but may be Shivaay had his own reasons.

Let me know your thoughts........

Signing off till then............ yours Soujanya.