Chapter 19

7AM Oberoi Mansion

Omkara laying in bed contemplating if he should reach out to his old friend. Its been over a decade since he left that life. Om picks up his phone:

Om: It's me.

Khanna: "O?"

Om lips curved up to a satisfactory smile: Yes its me.

Khanna feeling excited: O! How you been?

Om: Pretty good. Khanna I need you to do something for me.

Khanna: Are you coming out of retirement??!!

Om laughs: No. Nothing like that.

Khanna: Why not? It's been boring without you.

Om: My thirst for blood has been quenched by a woman.

Khanna surprisingly: A woman?! My big brother actually getting tamed by a woman?! If this gets out how are you going to live up to your reputation?!

Om chuckles: What are you talking about. No one knows of my real identity but you.

Khanna laughs: Yes. If people knew that Mumbai's top hitman for hire was a rich Oberoi they would probably die in shock.

Om: Hitman? Don't insult me Khanna. We extract the problem. I am not a lackey for hire. Don't spread such rumors to defame our network.

Khanna: okay..okay...so what is it you need.

Om: I need you to tell our men to keep an eye on Ms. Gauri Kumari Sharma. If they see anything out of the ordinary then report to me immediately.

Khanna: Don't tell me your woman is her?! Wow!!!

Om smiles: Assign two of our best men to watch her and for the rest to resume work as usual but if they hear chatter regarding her they need to tell me immediately.

Khanna: Okay I will get on it now.

Om: Khanna. She is extremely smart. Make sure to choose our top two men. They need to be invisible. She has two highly trained bodyguards that you should not underestimate.

Khanna: Okay. Will do.

Laying back down into the bed Om couldn't believe that it has been 10 years. It took him 10 years to build up a network so strong that nothing could escape his eyes and ears in Mumbai. A network consisting of men and women highly trained to extract any problem, but of course at a price. His people were scattered everywhere throughout the city. His network is not some kind of vigilante group either, their methods of extraction could be sum up in one sentence "Leave not a single trace behind." During his young days Om enjoyed taking out corrupted officials as well as mafia bosses. During those days as long as the client could gather up the funds and the target was someone who deserved it he would accept the contract. Throughout the years Om's network has helped shape the crime world today. Crime is everywhere, it is how you control it is what's important. Right now there is a balance between the underworld and the police of Mumbai and his network maintains that balance. In the last 10 years Om has seen everything. You think that only bad people do bad things but in reality PEOPLE do bad things. People in high government positions can be just as bad as a mafia boss, because people in power only crave more power. What started out as a way for him to vent out his anger in a justifiable way has now turned into a large network that plays a crucial part in keeping the balance between good and evil. The people that know of their existence are those in the highest of positions, be it the underworld or the government but most importantly his network will never choose sides. If the price is right and the target is disrupting the balance then his network will always accept the contract, simple as that. What makes his network so powerful is the ability to erase any traces of fowl play. What you see on TV is never the full story, one should really ask "is it really a suicide?..Did they really overdose?..was it really an accident?" It is due to his network that people can be extracted without any repercussions later on, something no one else could do. But now Om can only laugh at the fact that because of Gauri he is using such means to protect her. First he thought his presence was enough but his stubborn wife is so secretive and now a man from outside name Kali Thakur is after her forcing Om to reach out to his "other" job.

He has always separated his Oberoi identity from his "O" identity, never did he let them mix until now. He just couldn't trust Bhavya to gather all the information he needed. Ever since the lack of information on Gauri Om has been a bit suspicious but since it wasn't anything truly important at the time he brushed it off. Since back then Gauri Kumari Sharma was just a woman who was causing trouble for his brother. But now things has changed. How can he let others lurk around his woman. Leaving everything for Khanna do deal with the past 10 years has been nice. It was like a long vacation where he could laze around and support his brother who went through such a tough time when there were so many kidnapping attempts on Annika. Good thing he was there to foil every attempt and it was nice to have a change of pace. At first it was fun messing around with these so called high class women but became boring fast until he met Gauri. The only woman to challenge him and trick him into a marriage where he later on willingly accepted. Thinking of the whole Khurana debacle Om could only laugh. If it wasn't for him being Omkara Singh Oberoi at the time he would have made the Khuranas disappear without a trace but because he wasn't "O" he let it be and let them live. "Now how to snatch this woman's heart. This is harder than taking down and entire crime syndicate."

7AM Sharma Mansion

Sitting at the breakfast table with her dad Gauri suddenly sneezed "Achoo"

Tej: Gauri? You have a cold?

Gauri wiping her nose: No. Just sneezed suddenly.

Tej teases his daughter: Ah. That Omkara must be thinking of you.

Gauri: Dad. It's not like that.

Tej studies his daughter's stone expression: Hm. Gauri.

Gauri looks up from her coffee cup to meet her dad's gaze "Tell me the truth. Do you like him?"

Gauri hesitantly: Yes. But.....

Tej: You are afraid of Kali Thakur?

Gauri: Not afraid. But I just don't want to involve others.

Tej: Gauri. I don't want you to sacrifice your happiness. This is my problem that stemmed from my younger days. Let me handle it. You should enjoy life.

Gauri smiles: Dad. I know you will protect me at all cost but at the same time I can't be naive to think that you are invincible. I have seen too much to have that misconception.

Tej sadly: Sometimes I wish you weren't so smart and sensible.

Gauri: It's okay dad. We have each other. Whenever we together can take down Kali than I will focus on being happy. But for now I just can't risk it..especially him. You should understand. You sacrificed our relationship to save me and I can also do the same for him.

Tej smiles at his daughter: Im sorry Gauri. My sins have caused you to pay such a price. I wish you weren't so much like me.

Gauri chuckles: It's not so bad. Oh. I will not be going to the office today.

Tej: Why?

Gauri takes a sip of her coffee: I am meeting with a friend.

Tej frowned: Bring Dandi and Ranveer.

Gauri knew it was useless to argue with her father about this matter: Okay but they need to stay away. I don't want to alarm my friend. It shouldn't take long either.

Tej: Okay. Call me when you are done.

Gauri stands up and kisses her father's cheek before heading back upstairs to get ready.

**Kali Thakur's temporary residence in Mumbai**

Sitting at his own table trying to enjoy his breakfast but everytime he thinks of the night before Kali could not help but break a cup or two. "Damn them! Why is it so hard to deal with Tej and his daughter!"

Man 1 enters: Sir. I have asked around to see who is running Mumbai's underground activities and it seem there are at least 2 groups dominating.

Ever since Kali had arrived he decided that he should also lay down roots here in Mumbai. He practically owned Bareilly and now he was ready to spread out.

Kali: Did you find out how to get in touch with a person they call "O"?

Man 1: No sir. His network is up and running but as for him personally he has vanished 10 years ago. Only is associates are running the business.

Kali: I see. Reach out to them and tell them I have a job that I would like them to take on.

Man 1: Yes Sir. But I heard that money won't buy them. If our reason does not perk their own interest they will never agree.

Kali sneers: Money buys everyone. Just go!

Servant soon comes to notify Kali that he has a guest.

Kali: Who can it be so early in the morning!

Servant: It is Abhay Kapoor Sir.

Kali grins: Let him in.

Abhay furiously stomps in: When are you going to help me get my revenge!!

Kali furrows his brows "boys show him how he should respect me!"

Out from the corners two of Kali's men can and grabbed Abhay's arms and forcing him to kneel in front of their Boss.

Abhay can be seen struggling "Get your hands off of me!!!"

Kali throws a piece of bread onto Abhay's face "Shut...up... Seems you are nothing like your brother. All bark but no bite."

Abhay still struggling "What did you say?!!"

Kali stands up and puts in foot down pushing Abhay to the floor "You better show me some respect before I get angrier than I already am!"

Kali grabs Abhay by the collar and throws him onto the hard floor. "Since you want to bark like a dog you can talk to be while sitting on the floor!"

Abhay was so angry being treated so lowly but he knew he had to grit his teeth because he wanted revenge more than anything.

Looking at how Abhay had finally submit Kali sat back down to continue eating breakfast.

Kali: I told you I would give you an opportunity to kill Omkara Singh Oberoi. Why are you being so impatient.

Abhay: Because!! My brother is still hanging by a thread!! Someone has to pay!!

Kali evilly smiles: And they will. All you have to do is wait till I call you. I have sent my men to follow him and when the time is right you will get the opportunity to pull the trigger.

Abhay: when is that going to be?!?!!!

Kali: Do you know that killing someone is not as satisfying as making them live in pain for the rest of their lives. With this you can kill Omkara and at the same time Tej's daughter will be in so much pain she will wish to die!

Abhay finally calmed down hearing the ultimate plan "then the two will suffer?"

Kali: Yes. So be calm and wait for my call. Don't do anything! I don't want them to suspect anything at all!! So be a good dog and stay put!

Abhay forced himself to swallow the humiliation and quickly left to tend to his brother.

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

9AM coffee shop.

Gauri had ordered hot tea this time since her father purposely brewed a fresh pot of coffee this morning for her and she didn't want to be wired all day. Wearing a simple black tee with jeans and a black cap made Gauri look like a little teenager due to her petite stature. But one look into her eyes the waiter's heart beat rapidly as he comes over to ask if there was anything else she needed. With a soft voice that soothed his ears "No thanks. I am just waiting for someone." Before the waiter could ask if she was waiting for her boyfriend he felt someone push him aside "Gauri! Sorry I am late. Traffic is so bad in the morning. Why do you always pick this place? So out of my way!" Gauri smiles at her friend "You are the one who needs a favor and yet you want me to go out of my way?"

Bhavya smiles: Come on...don't be like that. Did you get what I asked for? Dear..lovable...cute ..friend?

Gauri: Stop that. Begging is not your thing. You have to look cute in order for that to work.

Bhavya pouts: That is so mean. I am cute!

Gauri chuckles as she hands over the file. "Here. This is all I could come up with."

Bhavya's eyes lit up seeing how thick this file was "my boss will be so happy. Do you know how disappointed he was when I handed over your file?"

Gauri: Well this time he should be more than satisfied.

Bhavya: Thank you! thank you! I better go now...He is probably waiting for me.

Gauri sips on her tea: Okay. Call me if he is not happy okay.

Bhavya: I doubt it! But I will call you.

Outside the coffee shop

Woman on the phone: Khanna. I'm tailing the target and it seems she was meeting someone. I have sent you a picture.

Khanna: Looks at the picture and quickly sends it to Om.

Woman: Gosh Khanna. What are we doing? Protecting the target now? She has two bodyguards that took me forever to avoid.

Khanna: Don't complain. This is from the boss.

Woman: Okay...Okay.

Sitting in his office waiting for news from both sides Om hears his phone "ping" but when he checked its content he was not so thrilled. "Bhavya...." So his wife even had his people in the palm of her hand. Om smiled and leaned back into his chair "How can I let you escape me?" "Two can play this game Dear Wife." Om smile to himself as he waits for Bhavya to arrive.

**Okay I must have been watching too many netflix shows to come up with this lol. Not sure if you guys will like it but I had fun writing it. Do let me know what you think and if you enjoy then don't forget to vote. I do want to inform you that this FF is near its end so hang on and I hope you enjoy**