Hey Readers

To Be Honest --Still I am not relaxed but I tried myself to pen and this was the outcome of penning the whole day --So PLEASE LEAVE A WORD --IT MEANS A WORLD TO ME!!

PRAY FOR MOTHER LANKA 

Chapter 20

"Do I look creepy?" She chuckles while pressing her forehead to his . Gauri's eyes goes big as She sees him stirring and opening his eyes , Omkara blinks his eyes twice surprised to find her so near that her breath ghosted across his face .

Her hairs fall over them acting as a curtain. A smile makes though his lips seeing the pink hues in her cheeks .He leans up as she looks up at him intently. He brushes his nose with hers making a shy smile appear in her lips . He looks up from her eyes to her lips . Her lips part as her eyes falls close . His nose touches her cheeks

"Ithu Sari Illa ! (This is not good!)"

Gauri pulls her head back startled while Omkara straightens himself and sits beside her and looks at the Old Man who were glaring at them , The same Old Grumpy Man who had spoiled their moment . Omkara glares at him back irritated by his disturbance . Maybe he wouldn't have kissed her –He wouldn't –He respected her so much and he knew how much each small intimacies means to her but He loved seeing her close , the shy gaze while her button nose turned pink or the amber eyes looked at him with affection. He wanted it all . He wanted to be close to her and study her how her she expresses .

The loud hammering of her heart against her skin , Her eyes soften as she looks down tucking the tendril behind her ear as she looks out . Before moving her slender fingers from her tendrils – Her mind flew back to the time he had tucked it behind her ears . The heat seeping through her skin or the Goosebumps perhaps had irrupted and tingling sensation or the churning feeling she feels in her stomach was no help.

Letting her hairs fall across the side of her face Gauri looks out of the window – in the pretext of enjoying the scenery. Her cheeks heated up just by his mere touch . She couldn't stop herself from grinning What would have happened if the old man hadn't interrupted ?-Would he have kissed me? –Would I have let him?

Omkara throws his head back leaning onto the seat . He looks through the corner of his eyes to see her looking out but the rosy tinge in her cheeks made him involuntarily smile . Trying to catch some sleep he looks front at the Old man who was gazing the sceneries Damn this Man! see the way he is sitting as if he didn't do anything!

Omkara sees her right hand placed in the seat , He takes her palm in his , He smiles as she jerks and turns her head to face him looking at him with her charcoal orbs but soon her eyelashes lowers down as he plays with her ring .

She faces away from him as her lips twitches as she bites onto her inner cheeks to fight the smile that was trying to break. She always loved when he slept playing with her fingers during the nights . May be he never knew that she was awake even during the past month when he held onto her palm and took it back early mornings before she opens her eyes . She let it be –because She loved how his fingers played with her ring .

Her breaths fall shallow, Omkara looks up from her fingers feeling the surrounding awfully silent to see her sleeping with her head placed on the headrest. Seeing her tossing her head to a side he knew she wasn't comfortable . Debating with himself whether to or not too. He puts his arm around her shoulder and pulls her close to his chest . Omkara's lips twitches as he grins seeing the way her fingers had bunched his shirt in her little palms .

He wraps his arm around her fully while placing her head on his shoulder so she could sleep comfy . Her arms wrapped around his waist made his smile bloom as the tip of his nose turned pink . He is not going to accept the fact front of her that She , Her mere closeness made him Shy. The feeling wasn't something alien but back then he was a teenager but Now he is a grown up man but yet She had that effect on him .

"Ithu Sari Illa (This is not good!) "

Again the Old Man . Omkara lets out a sigh seeing the heated glares he was getting from the opposite side .

"Thatha En Sari Illa? Ithu En Ponjathi (Why No Good Grandpa - This is My Wife!) " Omkara says with pride in Tamil Thanks Ron for making me watch Tamil movies
while Gauri cuddles more in the crook of his neck while tightening her hold on him due to the chilling breeze.

"Thatha? Who is Grandpa? - I am Young at Heart - Little Boy !"

"Little Boy?" Omkara frowns and moves a bit forward while Gauri groans against his nape irritated while tangling her arms around his neck .

He lets out a sigh while snaking his arms around her waist and holding her securely in his arm. He sees the blanket which she had wrapped around him . Taking it he covers her – a small smile appears on her lips . Her lips touch his nape as he closes his eyes sighing. It's going to be a long night .

The Old Man had gone back to sleep which was a relief for Omkara Singh Oberoi. He is getting some alone time with his wife . He tucks the tendrils which was disturbing as the creases in her forehead disappears . He places his palm on her cheeks leaning down he gives her a small kiss on her forehead

"Wifey!" He chuckles while placing his head on top of hers .

"A Peaceful night –Indeed!" He whispers while closing his eyes and pulling her more closer to him .

Gauri yawns while snuggling more closer to the warmth . "When did My Pillow get so hard?" She mumbles while stretching her arms . Stirring and opening her eyes slowly Gauri finds her trapped by two muscular arms . Feeling something heavy on the top of her head . She looks up to see his head on top of hers .

Her lips curve up seeing his pout and the innocence his face masked up . She pulls him by his forearm while letting his head rest on her shoulder . Her palm patting his cheek .It was just 4 in the morning . Still it was dark around . Seeing the blanket which had pooled up on her lap she smiles he wrapped it around her .

"This Feels---" She whispers to his sleeping form and grins not getting the correct word to describe how ecstatic she feels right now . May be I should give it a thought?

Her finger tips graze her forehead Sure she felt someone kissing her and it was him! .. Her face fills with affection towards the man who was next to her She knew she shouldn't be keeping hopes but how She cannot? When he was so caring?—Feeling him moving Gauri pulls her hand back feeling self conscious . She feels tingles as she lets out a shy smile playing on her lips as his lips brush her nape unconsciously as he wakes up and straightens himself . Sukoon as he defines her – He had a peaceful sleep with her in his arms .May be the Journey to Mussorie was the new start to their lives – A gracious smile making its way towards their shining orbs as they look away from each other blushing and ecstatic .

***

Omkara opens the door of his car which he had left it in the station before they went to Delhi. Gauri gives him a small smile before taking the passenger seat . Omkara walks around and sits in the driver seat. Gauri for the first time hated how her cheeks had heated up and the redness was at its peak that it wouldn't leave. Those few moments in his arms made her feel tingles in her skin and the way She smelled now more like him, his earthly musky unique scent , wasn't helping her get out of the sensation and tickling she felt in the pit of her stomach .

Omkara drives in silence but the lips which had curved up did not even fall for a minute . Shaking his head to get rid of the feels She had made him feel – He chuckles silently Why was he behaving like a hormonal teenager?

Few minutes passes by , Omkara decides to break the ice as he asks her " Gauri?"

She hums in reply now facing him away from her staring session of the misty smoke that had filled with the streets .

"Shall we stop by the restaurant?"

Gauri shakes her head negatively and shifts her gaze down to her lap fiddling with her fingers. She couldn't forget the incident last time . He had left her alone and the embarrassment.

"Gauri" He calls her again breaking her out of her thoughts . She moves her gaze towards him who was looking at her concerned .

"What happened Titli?" He asks slowly taking her palm in his

Gauri shakes her head and slips her palm away from his – instantly feeling the loss of warmth She lets out a sigh Why is her heart fluttering this much? and Its hammering falls when his warmth doesn't fill her?

"Nothing" She says softly not meeting his eyes

Omkara lets out an exasperated sigh "Do you fear that I would leave you alone like last time?"

Gauri puffs out a sigh as she looks at his fallen face , She couldn't lie right onto his face – Not looking into his eyes .

"Gauri" , He was upset She knew with that tone "I didn't leave you for work last time!"

Gauri looks surprised as she looks to meet into his eyes "It was—" He trails off "Something related to her – I wasn't in my senses – " He trails off but seeing her questioning gaze he takes her palm in his "It isn't easy Titli –but I will let you know everything but just give me sometime please?"

She nods slightly and turns the other way It was Her Who ruled his heart and his emotions even if she was far away from him ! It pained her more than she thought, Why does this bloody heart hurt? She places her palm on her heart stroking it slightly while looking down .

Omkara does not stop by any place as he drives straight to their home, Seeing her mood fallen. He opens the door for her before she could sprint leaving him behind . He holds her wrist .

"We will walk together!" ,Gauri knew it wasn't just mere words but deep down it had a wider intensity but she isn't going to expect and hope expectations and hopes would kill her slowly if the bubble breaks .

His palm around her wrist was tighter and he wasn't even in a mood to loosen his hold around her . Not when She tried helping him with the luggage's but her CEO of a husband had taken up the responsibility all by himself .

"Stubborn head!" She frowns as he does leave the hold at least once inside the lift.

"Titli" He winks back seeing her glaring he loved to tease her just to see the redness peaking on the tip of her button nose . She looked cute .

"Now what?" Gauri yells at him whispered as he doesn't let her enter the house .

"Wait here –I'll be back!"

Gauri sees his figure vanishing inside the flat as she taps her feet impatiently . She sees him returning back with a clay board . He places it in the entrance and steps out to stand beside her .

"Why is this for?" She asks softly

He takes hold of her palm tugging her closer to him as he whispers "We both are going to print our foot in it –so that it lasts long "

"Why—"

"Sshh" He places the index finger on his lips asking her to be quiet . Holding her palm together they place their right foot on the clay board and step in .

Despite her protest a small grin breaks out seeing their foot prints . It looked beautiful although her foot was like an ant next to the hulk's .

"My Little Minion!" He chuckles while admiring their prints and almost walks in faster steps taking the board in hand

"I am not Little —Clock tower!" Gauri shouts at him . Soon she hears a bubble of loud laughter erupting and vibrating across the room. She stamps her foot and walks in to Their Room scrunching her nose .

Gauri dries her hair with the towel and comes out of the room freshly showered. Her eyes goes big seeing him in the kitchen .

"What are you doing?" She almost ends up yelling shocked

"Any problem with eye-sight Titli?"

Gauri shakes her head still mesmerized by the sight in front of her "You made them?"

"No—The next door Aunty did!" Omkara mocks making her scrunch her nose and slap his cheeks slightly . Her eyes go big as she looks down fiddling with her fingers "Sorry—I didn't mean too-"

Omkara chuckles at her as he walks around standing right behind her "I love when your shy and I am the reason!"

Damn Damn let earth swallow me up – Why do these stupid cheeks go red when he is close?

"See I made Waffles and Green Juice!"

"You know to cook?" She asks surprised with a smile

"I do—Most of the time I am alone – So to pass time I used to cook and –"

"And what?" She asks curiously

"And Call Ron and experiment on him" He lets out a chuckle

"You experiment on my Bhaiya?"

'Oye –He is your Bhaiya only now but before that He is My friend !"

Gauri walks up to the plate filled with waffles as she helps him to carry them to the dining area . Omkara places the jug of green juice.

Gauri takes a waffle excitedly in her right hand as her stomach grumbles but she stops right in front of her opened mouth . Omkara pulls the chair to take a seat

"Omkara"

"Yes" He replies while serving himself

"You aren't experimenting on me right?"

Gauri frowns seeing him laughing at her , "No—Titli –I wouldn't try on Minions "

She slaps his arm which was placed in the table and proceeds to eat . His lips twitches as he takes a bite seeing her moaning while enjoying the sweet dripping onto her taste buds . Her eyes closed .

"This is heaven!"

"Thank you!" Omkara bows making her giggle

"Now drink this!" Omkara pours the juice into the glass while passing it to her

"What's this?" Gauri frowns seeing the juice greenly

"It is called as Green Juice"

"What does it contain?" She asks while scrutinizing the glass of juice

"Lacinato , Spinach ,Cucumber , Lettuce , celery—"

"Yuk!" Gauri cringes "I don't like green leafy vegetables!"

"I know !" Omkara says as a matter of fact "Mama could not make you have them but I , Your husband , will make you have them , Dear Wifey"

"It has green apples too" He adds making her glare at him

"No—I am not having them! –it is going to be bitter!"

"Titli –have them before I count ten –and it is not bitter ---tasty!"

"No!" She says stubbornly

"No tantrums have them—those are healthy –and the reason My wife is still tiny is because of not having green leafy vegetables!"

"No—no—I am not going to"

"You'll regret Gauri"

"What will you do?" She raises her brow

"I'll kiss you !"

She opens her mouth and closes back shocked on his shameless warning . Seeing him looking at her with a smirk . Gauri grabs and sips it hurriedly scared –What if he does?. Gauri stops halfway as her taste buds gets the sweet taste of the flavor . She drinks slowly enjoying its yummy! But she keeps a poker face not to show it front of him He would tease the hell out of her.

Gauri walks into the room after putting away the dirty dishes to clean to see him walking out of the washroom with only his pants on. As much as she hated him walking half naked around She got used to it but the effect his perfectly sculpted abs on her was dangerous .

"Are you going –to work?" Gauri frowns

"Titli" Omkara calls out to her with so much affection that her feet directed towards him instantly

"Make me wear" He hands the white shirt

"Yes" He replies seeing her questioning gaze "Randhir is not here and I have an urgent meeting to attend with the Italian clients"

Gauri nods and takes the shirt without a fuss not looking into his eyes she makes him wear . She helps him with the cufflinks . All the while aware of his unmoving gaze on her . She helps him with the tie .

Omkara lets out a grumble as she tightens the tie around his neck making him choke as she giggles biting her lower lip .

"Rebel!" He mutters under his breath while Gauri twitches her nose at him and giggles again.

Once done brushing his hair and spraying cologne. He turns around to see her unpacking the luggage's .

"Titli"

Gauri feels her heart fluttering hearing him call her 'Titli' with so much affection . She was scared to hold the hand which was waiting for her in between the pit 'called heart break' .

"Yes" She replies still pretending to busy with the unpacking but truth was she was scared she'd lose herself into the orbs which held affection.

"Won't You Send Me Off?"

Gauri looks up as he walks out . She had made him upset . She knew he had understood that she was trying to ignore him but it did hurt her . She didn't want the beautiful morning to end up with him upset.

She runs behind him and stops right at the entrance . he stops on his steps and turns around . Gauri chuckles mentally seeing how his eyes lit up seeing her . Gauri walks up to him standing right in front of him with a safe distance She says "Drive safe –and Thank you for the breakfast and" and come home soon She wanted to say but it was like her tongue had got tied.

"I'll try to come home soon " Omkara replies smiling as if reading her thoughts . He wraps his arms around her shoulders taking her in a hug without gasping she smiles for the first time He pulls back as she looks down while tucking the tendril behind her ear .

"Take care" He places a small kiss on her forehead. Her eyes falls close as euphoric warmth embraces her . Her Morning had just started .

***

"Gauri" Bhavya envelopes her happily as soon as Gauri opens the door . She chuckles pushing Bhavya "I'll run out of breath!"

"I missed you"

"Awwhh—baby—Me too" Gauri chuckles while pulling her in

"You look flushed –Does it has anything to do with a Certain Omkara Singh Oberoi?"

"Shut-up!" Gauri says sternly her eyes big but the pink hues has just increased with the mere mention of his name

"OHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Bhavya teases while dumping herself on the couch

"I'll get to the door" Bhavya yells at Gauri who was busy making lunch for both of them.

The apple in her mouth falls seeing the guest "Rudy?"

"Bhavya?"

"What's taking you so long?" Gauri shouts from the kitchen

"Ahh—Gauri—Rudy you here?" Bhavya asks quickly

"What are you doing here?" Rudra questions back

"This is My Friend's house"

"My sister's—" Rudra stops and chuckles "It's a small world after all!"

"Teddy" Gauri pulls him in a bone crushing hug as he closes her eyes from behind

"I missed you!" she hits on his chest "Why didn't you come to see Papa?"

"I was in touch with Maasi –and I was abroad—Moreover" He takes an apple from the fridge as Bhavya walks in and settles herself on the counter top

"Moreover what?" Gauri raises her knife urging him to tell

"Now Maasi and Maasa has their Damad cum Beta –Who needs us?"

Gauri scrunches her nose "Who needs you right?—'I've been calling you since a week and the phone was unreachable!" She sniffs "I needed you so much last week!"

Rudra embraces her while patting her head "Why where was doll's husband?"

She hits on his arm hearing him teasing "Husband came just now—My Teddy had been there since long"

Bhavya smiles seeing the siblings bantering ,

"Oops I forgot !" Gauri slaps her forehead "Bhaiya this is Bhavya and –"

Bhavya cuts her off "Rudy"

"You both know each other?" Gauri asks excited

Both shrug their shoulders and chuckle "It's a small world after all!" They chorus

The lunch went by three of them bantering and pulling each other's leg . They had teased the hell out of her when Omkara had messaged "All I wanna is run home than struck in this boring meeting! ps : I miss you!"

That night Gauri sees him sleeping next to her with a smile itched on his face as he held onto her palm. Gauri fights the urge to move away the stubborn strand that had fallen over his forehead . Giving up the urge she moves her fingers and brushes away the strand . Her lips quiver upwards in a smile seeing his pouting lips . Her face flushes as She remembers him giving her a bouquet of Lilies soon as she opened the door . May Be One Day we could be together "Can we Omkara?" She whispers the last bit while placing a small deep kiss on his forehead.

She face palms herself pulling up ,"What is gotten into me?" I am clearing my liabilities that's it! Yes that's it ! But isn't it two he gave me today?

"Shut up!" She chides herself and closes her eyes for a peaceful sleep with a warmth of affection enveloped her face that had refused to leave .

***

Seven days had passed , for Omkara and Gauri it was the same routine . He would place the shirt in her palm asking her to make him wear while she would make breakfast and pack him lunch as She could remember Randhir Bhaiya saying how many times he had skipped his lunch just because he was busy or he didn't like the food in the canteen .

The First time she had handed him over , he had looked at her in surprise and instead of one hug and one kiss –that morning she was entitled to a small kiss on her cheek and forehead . The most embarrassing thing which had happened was 'Bhavya ' had jumped in nowhere and clicked their pictures .

Gauri would never accept front of Bhavya that the pictures were her favorite . The affection and warmth in his eyes when he kissed Gauri could swear that the world fell away as she found herself hanging in heaven. She had secretly given the pictures to print and framed which she had hid it in her closet so that he doesn't find out .

The Bouquets of flowers each morning that She would receive on her doorstep was her favorite from the little gestures he did these days . Gauri wasn't a flower person but he had made her one . Lilies , Carnations , Daffodils, Daisies , Lavender to Tulips – Each day of the week had different flower on her doorsteps with a Note 'Titli' – Just one word that brought butterflies in her stomach . She could only smile shaking her head He was trying hard to gain her and her trust , it would be a pretense if she said that she wasn't slightly disappointed that She didn't Find 'Roses' . Nevertheless , She was happy – She was believing to trust on him again but still deep down she knew that he would never get over her .

She had seen him during the past two nights grazing at the moon in the midnight standing by the window with a longing in his eyes . She would duck herself into the blanket and peek through unknown to him. When she would see him turn around and pace towards the bed she would pretend to sleep. He would lie next to her and take her palm in his intertwining their fingers and place near his heart and fall asleep within minutes.

If holding her palm had become a ritual for him . Clearing her liabilities when he was in his dreamland was her ritual that she had religiously followed the past seven days . A small kiss on his forehead and she would run her fingers creasing the lines in his forehead and the smile that would appear in his face was what she longed for making him happy in turn made her ecstatic –It was as if she had won a lottery ticket .

But Today morning , She woke up to a cold and empty bed . She slips out of the bed only to find a small sticky note which was pasted on the mirror "Italian clients are going today so they wanted to have an early morning urgent meeting"

Gauri sighs sadly , her phone pings . Gauri swipes to see a Whatsapp message from him . Gauri smiles clicking onto his DP it was their marriage picture – The moment he was placing sindoor in her parting .

She chuckles remembering how much embarrassed he was when she had caught him red handed while hiding Their Marriage Picture in his closet. He had scratched the back of his head saying shyly that he wanted to put up in the wall "Only with her permission" , Gauri could not either nod or say no . She had silently walked out of the room making his face fall. Still she couldn't come to accept the fact he had 'her' in his heart . The Only reason he was trying to work out on their marriage was because 'he was bounded to her legally' –guilt of hurting her . Those thoughts wouldn't let her stay in peace and wouldn't let her make up her mind to accept him.

"Morning Titli" The message reads she smiles as she scrolls down "I missed wearing my shirt with your hands –I'll try to come back home soon! – Ps : I stole my 'Be Safe' Kiss" Gauri giggles while rosy tinge takes their place in her cheeks .

"Morning Clock Tower" She sends the reply and walks into the washroom to freshen up.

A look at his face she knew something was wrong soon as she opened the door that day night.

"What's wrong Omkara?" She asks softly but he gives her a small smile which did not reach his eyes and shakes his head,

"I am a tired Gauri—that's it – let me rest for a while"

She nods unsure and moves to a side giving him the way .

"I'll arrange the table for dinner" Gauri turns on her heels but he holds her wrist ,

"I am not hungry" saying he paces into the room leaving her behind to wallow in her thoughts .

Gauri leaves her food untouched . When he didn't eat how can I?. She puts the food into the freezer .Switching off and making sure the lights are off she walks into the room. She finds it surprised to see the room pitch dark and see his silhouette standing by Window gazing at the moon with a distant look . Only the moonlight illuminating through the curtains lightning the room.

"Om" A 17-year old Ishana calls him standing front of him shyly

"Yes" Omkara replies while holding onto his basketball . he had been on the way to the court.

"I—thought about –your proposal" She says shyly while her friends give thumbs up from behind Omkara

"I Love you Om" She confesses closing her eyes quickly

Omkara stands there shocked while a small smile breaks out as he pulls her into a hug.

Omkara rubs off the tears that had filled today was the day she had reciprocated his feelings. Gauri tip-toes towards him and places her palm on his shoulder . Omkara turns his face and passes her an assuring smile that He is 'Okay'. Gauri shakes her head slightly seeing the pain in his eyes. She knew that he was in pain with just a glance into his chocolate-brown orbs .

"I am here" She says softly

Omkara envelopes her in a hug too tightly making her gasp as it was sudden, he places his chin on her shoulder those were the words he needed  . Gauri balances herself on her toes as she hugs him back . This was the first time he held so close as if he was scared to lose her

"Don't leave me –Titli" His voice cracks as he pushes his face onto her nape .

Gauri stiffens hearing his words but brushes it off I will think about it later now he mattered to me most. She soothes him back by running her fingers on his scalp .

Gauri sits on the bed as he places his head on her lap and holds her palm against his heart and soon falls asleep. Gauri lets out a sigh while placing a small kiss on his forehead.

***

The Teasers would appear in the next few chappies

And A Request to The Readers Who Only Comment or Message Me 'To Update' Please Do Leave a Word to about how the chapter was!

And Those WHo are Expecting Intimacies "Sorry" Not So Soon . I do not want to rush the story.

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