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

Rudra looked at his brother lying on his bed in his room and his mother crying before him.

Two days ago his brother was so happy, exuding an air of confidence on the day his won the match. He remembered how he and his Shivaay bhaiyya together made him embarrassed with their match making. How he scolded them for irritating him.

Now, he cannot recognize the man before him, lying almost lifeless, staring into the abyss. Two days...... and he was snatched off a happy family... his happy family.

He frantically searched for his brother when he knew of what that evil woman did to him that evening when he went to propose her. He was scared out of his wits when he got a call from a random person informing him of what had happened and the state his brother was in when he walked out of that house. He found him that night at a bar wasted away mumbling Shivaay's name.

He brought Omkara home and was still figuring out how to support his heartbroken brother when he got the second blow. Shakti informed him about Shivaay's demise the next day and he felt his world collapse. Why did it have to happen to them? He thought as a tear dropped from his eye.

Why didn't his brother believe him when he told him repeatedly that the woman was not good for him. Why did his Shivaay bhaiyya leave them when they needed him the most.

When Omkara knew about Shivaay's death, he was beyond shocked and didn't know how to react. All he felt was guilt and remorse. In his hangover state, he pleaded his mother to let him go to the site who vehemently denied him saying that he was not in a state to face it. She informed him that Shakti will be looking over the formalities and nothing remained for him to do.

That was the last time he spoke to his mother or anybody, after which he angrily locked himself in his room and refused to come out of it until today when Rudra broke the door open getting no response from him. They found him lying on the floor unconscious and called the doctor who informed them that the fainting spell was probably because of weakness resulting from starvation.

When Omkara regained consciousness he refused to talk to anybody until now when his mother broke into uncontrollable sobs pleading him to talk to her.

"Please Om!!" She sobbed "You need to eat something beta. We will talk once you eat. I'm sorry I stopped you from going there but please understand that you were not in the mental state to handle that stress. Please forgive me beta. We lost Shivaay, I cannot lose you too."

Omkara looked to his side where his brother sat looking at him, his eyes pleading him to come back to him, telling him that he needed him. He knew how Rudra adored Shivaay. He must have been equally broken. How can he be selfish to ignore the pain of his family. His family needed him and he is supposed to be strong. His dad would have wanted that. Shivaay would have wanted that.

"Please don't cry mom. I am sorry I didn't realize what I was putting you through" he finally said in a weak voice and Jhanvi hugged her son thankful that he responded. Omkara hugged his mother back and looking at Rudra, he extended his other hand. Rudra came running to the mother son duo and hugged them tight crying like a child.

"We will get over this... together" said Omkara and Rudra mumbled a "yes we will" still hugging him.

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Location: CEO cabin, Oberoi industries, Mumbai.

Rudra and the board members were discussing about the idea of the start up proposed by Abhay.

"I think it is a good investment Mr. Oberoi let us move forward with this venture. We can make this official after the legal procedures" said one of the board members and the rest of them nodded in agreement.

Rudra smiled at them and said "Okay gentleman. We can arrange a meeting after a week with Abhay and sign the agreement. I will call him now and that will be it. We can disperse."

Once all of them were out of the cabin, Rudra called Abhay and informed him of the news. Abhay was very happy and thanked him gratefully.

"Only a thanks wouldn't do Abhay bhaiyya. I want a treat" said Rudra smiling.

Abhay chuckled and said "Why not Rudy let us go out with family then when ever it is convenient to you"

Rudra hesitated for a moment before he said "Umm... O will be busy I guess but the rest of us can go sometime this week. What say?"

"Yeah sure."

"Okay see you later then" said Rudy and hung up the call.

It feels weird that he can talk so friendly with Abhay even though he met him a few months back and barely knew him. But he gets this familiar feeling of someone dear to him like his Shivaay bhaiyya.

Out of blue he called Bhavya and talked about Abhay and his feeling of dejavu.

"He looked cool to me the first time I saw him Rudy. He is handsome and cute" said Bhavya which earned a frown from Rudra.

"You call him bhaiyya from tomorrow" he said and Bhavya laughed

"So all handsome and cute boys become bhaiyyas to me? While you continue to flirt with beautiful women. Not fair Rudy" she said and Rudra ignored her.

"Leave that discussion for another day. For now let me ask you one thing didn't you feel that Gauri Bhabhi has features of Ms. Sherni?"

"Rudy kucch bhi bolta hai tu. You know that Gauri Bhabhi has a family in Bareilly right? How can she be Shivaay Bhaiyya's sister?"

"I don't know Bhavya. Shivaay bhaiyya used to tell so many stories about how beautiful she was, how she could cook for hundred people at a time in their village. All that reminds me of Gauri Bhabhi. The moment I saw her I decided that she will be my Bhabhi because she was exactly like I imagined from Shivaay bhaiyya's description"

"Don't tell Om bhaiyya about this Rudy, I don't think he will be happy hearing to this. He seems to be taken by her" said Bhavya

"Taken is a ridiculously small word to describe it Bhavya. I am pretty sure he loves her already. You know he is coming back today merely a week after he went to Delhi. Did you ever know O doing that. I got to know from Dandi that he was working nonstop to get back here soon. That seems to be a good sign" he said smiling. "Now that O is settled and I completed my responsibility of choosing the best Bhabhi, let us think of our marriage"

"Yeah why not. Lets get married tomorrow. Shall we?" said Bhavya sarcastically.

"You don't need to be sarcastic about it" said Rudra scoffing "I get it your cousin and you plan to get married in the same year. I don't understand the point though. What a childish wish. She is elder than you by three years right?"

"Rudy, I told you this on the very day you proposed me. You better abide by your promise. We will marry in the same year as Anika di" she said with finality and Rudra sighed and hummed an 'okay'.

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Location: Oberoi Mansion, Mumbai.

Omkara looked at the watch in his hand and cursed again. It has been half an hour since he was struck in the traffic on his way home. It was already half past ten and he was expected to be home by nine thirty. He had a few formalities which needed his attention at his Mumbai office and he had to go there directly from the airport making his home-going delayed.

Once he reached the mansion, he hurried inside fearing his mom waiting for him with a stick, ready to give him a lecture on coming home early. But what he saw in the living room gave a tug at his heart. It was a sight he wished to be true since the time he knew the meaning of a happy marriage.

He saw his brother sleeping on the couch with his head laying on Gauri's lap while she gently caressed his head, her eyelids droopy as she tried to stay awake while keeping her head on his mother's shoulder. His mother was casually turning the pages of magazine occasional patting his wife's head.

'Your wife should bind your family together Om, she should not tear it apart' he remembered Shivaay's words.

Jhanvi was flipping through the magazine waiting for her son who was late as usual. He needs a good lecture someday on punctuality she thought when she felt a movement at the entrance and lifted her head up.

"Om, is this the time to come? You were supposed to be home by nine thirty and it is eleven in the clock now" said Jhanvi frowning at her son ignoring the look of serenity and smile that he had on his face.

"Gauri" called Jhanvi gently patting her daughter in law's cheeks "Get up beta Om is here."

Gauri opened her eyes groggily and looked around her while Jhanvi woke up Rudra.

Omkara saw the change of expression on his wife's face. It turned from groggy, disoriented to surprise and then pure happiness on seeing him which reflected in her smile and he couldn't help but smile back as he walked towards her. Damn!! she can kill people with that smile of hers.

"Omkaraji" she said and ran to him and he embraced her when she reached him. Ahhh!! How he missed this. How he missed her. This feels home he smiled hugging her tight closing his eyes and inhaling her scent. When Omkara released her he gave a kiss on her temple and she smiled at him.

Jhanvi and Rudra looked at the lovely exchange between the newly-weds and smiled at each other. Rudra was damn sure now if not before that his brother has fallen for his wife way faster than he expected.

After greeting his mom and brother, Omkara and Gauri retired to their room and he went into the bathroom to freshen up. By the time he was done, he saw his wife sleeping peacefully on her side of bed. He soundlessly got beside her and gently pulled her to his side. Hugging her he slept peacefully after a week.

The next morning, Gauri woke up with a jerk when she felt her husband's hands gently caressing her waist. She slept in her sari the night before, too sleepy to change into her nightwear. She turned to her side to see her husband whose eyes were closed. She looked at the clock to see that it was six in the morning too early for her husband to be awake.

Is he asleep? Did he unconsciously touch her during his sleep? she thought as she looked at him.

Well, may be she can test him she thought.

She tried to gently pry his hands off her when his hold tightened and she was pressed closer to him than before her bosom pressed to his chest and her face inches away from his.

Conscious or not his touch did create havoc inside her. Sighing she stopped her attempts to loosen his hold and put her hands on his shoulders feeling is muscles. He had a lean built and perfectly handsome face which is now partly covered with his hair.

She gently tucked the hair strands behind and touched his stubbled cheek. His eyes had dark circles around them and he looked tired. Poor thing, he must have been busy the last week she thought. Out of pity, she leaned forward and kissed his eyes as if her kiss should cure the signs of tiredness. Getting no response from him, she assured herself that her husband was indeed asleep.

Naughty mind that she has, she touched his lips with her fingertips. Is it bad if she steals a kiss or two from her sleeping husband? she contemplated. Well, they can't put her behind bars for it. Can they? Then leaning forwards, she kissed her sleeping husband not even feeling a fraction of guilty. When she moved her head back, she gasped seeing her husband fully awake looking at her with narrowed eyes.

"Aapne firse cheating kiya hai Omkaraji" she whisper exclaimed. "(You again cheated me Omkaraji) you were awake all this time?"

"Ohh!! You steal kisses from an innocent sleeping me and I am the cheater?" not fair Mrs. Omkara singh Oberoi he teased with a grin.

"Umm... I wasn't stealing any...I...I was just testing you if you were indeed asleep" she tried an explanation.

"Okay, now that it is established that both of us are awake, we can get to business. Yes?"

Gauri nodded a no and wiggled out of his hold when he laughed.

"Why do you fight the attraction Gauri. I know you want me as much as I want you yet something is holding you back. What is it?" he asked and she gasped not knowing how to answer that.

Not getting an answer from her, he sighed. "There is nothing wrong in wanting me Gauri. I am your husband and we are supposed to be physically intimate with each other. You don't need to feel embarrassed about it. Of course I won't force you but know that I want you to be mine soon" he said looking at her with love and Gauri couldn't help but kiss him.

*************Warning: might contain mature content readers discretion advised***************** you can continue from the next "*******"

Omkara reciprocated it with much hunger making her know how much he wanted her, how much his body craved for her. He nibbled her bottom lip between his teeth as she did with his upper. As his tongue entered her mouth, she gasped and he dived deeper into her mouth pressing her to him and changing positions to hover over her. Gauri clutched onto him arching against him and he felt her soft parts touch him. Omkara groaned into the kiss "You will drive me crazy woman" he said and kissed her again more passionate than the last time. He kissed her jaw, and her neck nibbling the skin at her collar bone giving her a love bite.

When Gauri showed no attempt in stopping him, he continued to have his way with her, prying off her sari and unhooking her blouse. He kissed her bare shoulders and she turned her head giving him more access. When he kissed the area above her cleavage, she gasped out loud and moaned his name which made him stop.

"We need to stop Gauri" he breathed into her ears. "I won't be able to stop if we continue" he said hoping her to contradict him. When she merely nodded her head trying to catch her breath, he got off her giving a final kiss to her lips and ran into the washroom for a much needed cold shower.

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After their steamy morning encounter, the couple got ready for the day and came down to have their breakfast. Omkara expected his wife to shy away from him but breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't do so. They are improving he smiled at the thought. May be he will fall in love sooner with his wife, he wished.

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Location: Abhay's flat, Mumbai.

Gauri was still in thoughts about her husband when Abhay called her.

"Gauri!!" he called a bit loud when she failed to respond the second time which brought her back to reality.

"Are you okay Gauri? you have been zoning out since morning, reading the same page of the case file since the last ten minutes. What is the problem?" he asked while she sighed and said nothing.

"Is it about Omkara? Did he do anything to upset you?" he said and she nodded a no.

"Tell me Gauri. What are you thinking" he coaxed her.

"Am I bad luck Abhi?" she asked out of blue making him gape at her.

"Who the hell fed you such rubbish?" said Abhay after a moment, angry that someone said that thing to his best friend.

"Sorry Abhi, it doesn't matter. Forget it, let us start with the work. Sorry that I was lost since morning"

"You love him. Don't you?" he asked looking at her.

Gauri's answer was a sob and a nod of head indicating a no and Abhay quickly hugged her. "You are feeling guilty that you are hiding things from him" he stated while Gauri cried silently.

"Gauri I told you from the start. You can tell him everything taking a leap of faith. I don't think he hates you or Shivaay. You don't need to feel guilty anymore then" he tried to tell her a solution and she quickly denied.

"May be this is a better way to stay away from him" she said.

He parted from the hug and looked at her "Does this have anything to do with your luck factor? Do you think if you get close to him you will lose him?"

When she remained silent he explained "Gauri your mother died because of a medical condition and Shivaay's demise was an accident which was due to his job profile. You had nothing to do with it. Stop blaming yourself"

"No Abhi, he put his life in risk because he tried to help me getting back my father"

"No, he went there to put an end to a secret organization. He was doing his job. Getting to your father was secondary. Get that into your head now Gauri" he said.

"I don't know" she said "I don't want to hurt him but if he chose to not trust me then I cannot live with that too Abhi. I should know that he can trust me only then can I ask him for help. I cannot take a risk of not getting to Shakti Khurana now. Shiv bhaiyya was always my first priority. He will always be" she said with determination and Abhay could only shake his head at her.

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End of chapter 15.

Rudy fells the dejavu with Gauri and Abhay. Will that lead anywhere?

Yes, Omkara is not the only one with insecurities here.

The chapter might be boring but it is needed to build Rikara's relationship. The coming chapters might get a bit steamy and get ready for a roller coaster. One or two more chapters and you will know what exactly happened with Shivaay.

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