Gauri was getting ready for the day in her room, moving about like a zombie. She had a restless night yesterday and woke up to the voice of her mother yelling at her that it was past seven and she needed to come down for breakfast. It was rare that she slept past six at home because her mother was relentless in making sure she does not forget her healthy habits.

She was dressed only in her blouse and saree petticoat and was draping a saree when Pinky entered her room only to exclaim.

"Oh my maata... Gauri... you did not lock the door? What if someone else had come?" she scolded her daughter.

"Maa... the bottom lock of the door turned rusty... if I lock it once I struggle to open it again and the lock above the door is too high to reach... anyways no one will enter without knocking except for you.. don't fret" she casually said continuing her work.

"Hmm.. you look tired... what happened? Everything okay?" she asked as she helped her tying the threads of her blouse.

"Yeah... I am okay... had a nightmare last night... not a peaceful sleep maa" she explained and Pinky frowned.

"That is why I ask you to do pooja daily... all these bad thoughts won't touch you. Shankarji will look after everything mera bacha... don't worry" she said and kissed her daughter's cheek.

"Why did you come anyway? Did you want something maa?"

"No... I just came to see what is taking you so long to come for breakfast... Radhika ji is also downstairs waiting for you" she informed and Gauri looked at her worried.

"Omkara? Is he also there at the dining table?" she asked her mother.

"Daamad ji hai... Omkara kaise bulati hai... Omkaraji bolo( He is my son-in-law...Why are you calling him by his name? call him Omkaraji)" said Pinky making Gauri roll her eyes.

"He doesn't like me calling him Omkaraji maa..."

"Offo... you asked us not to call him daamadji because he doesn't like to be called so and now you say he doesn't like being called Omkaraji too? What else should we call him?" asked Pinky frowning and Gauri laughed at her mother.

"Maa... you are so cute" she said pulling her cheeks and Pinky pulled her hands away..

"Dhatt.... First tell me what he wants everybody to call him" she asked seriously.

"He doesn't have any problem with you calling him Omkara.... He only asks me not to call him with respect because we have been friends for a while before I became busy with work. He feels weird.. that's it maa... I call him Om"

"Om" said Pinky as if testing the sound and smiled "Sounds good... can I also call him that?" she asked and Gauri again laughed.

"You can ask him yourself in a few days... now let us go downstairs" she said pulling her mother along.

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Omkara tried not to look in his mother's direction but it is hard to ignore her when she stared at him so lovingly.

'What does she want now... new drama?' he couldn't help but think negative when it came to his mother. Shivaay was sitting beside her. Shouldn't she focus her entire attention on her loving son? Where is this love for him coming from all of a sudden?

"Omkara...have this too" said Kalyani serving him another paratha and he smiled at her.

"So Shivaay... you didn't tell us about Anika... how is she?" asked Shakti and Shivaay glanced at Omkara before answering "She is fine papa... she is working in one of Oberoi offices. I asked her to take the charge of the Pune branch"

"Oh.. when are you both planning to mar...." started Shakti when Shivaay started coughing loudly.

"Here take the glass of water" said Radhika putting the glass to his mouth and worriedly patting his back making Omkara clutch the spoon tightly while he turned his face away from the scene.

"Papa... I asked you not to talk while eating food right?" said Gauri as she came towards the table "Come on finish your breakfast first you can talk to Shivaay later" she said coming to rescue and Shakti nodded his head making Shivaay relax.

"Maaji... do you want anything else? you are not eating" asked Gauri looking at Radhika and Omkara glared at her.

"She will eat Gauri.... come sit first" said Omkara unable to stop himself and Gauri smiled at him before taking a chair to sit on his right side, making him calm.

A few minutes into her breakfast, Gauri felt something creep up her leg and she jerked it away moving the table along with her.

"What is wrong?" asked Shivaay who sat in front of her and she nodded a no looking at the man to her left trying hard to control his smile.

Not long after, a hand grazed her waist which was left bare due to her saree and she sucked in a breath not moving lest people notice her discomfort.

She gulped down her food as fast as possible trying to get away from the place to escape her Mr. Perfect who suddenly turned wicked. She was about to have her last bite when he touched her upper thigh giving it a not so gentle squeeze and she stood up from her place panicked.

"I am done" she said with a smile and ran away into the kitchen taking her plate with her.

Everyone looked at her confused except Omkara who tried and stopped himself from laughing out loud.

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Where is this girl? Thought Omkara as he searched the mansion for his Gauri. She disappeared after the breakfast and he couldn't find her since then. He walked towards the study when he came face to face with his mother coming in the opposite direction. He was about to turn back when she called him making him stop in his tracks.

"Omkara..."

"Yes aunty?" he stressed on the last word making her squirm.

"Please Omkara.. don't call me that... you can call me by my name if you cannot call me mom"

"What do you want?" he asked uninterestedly and she sighed "I need to talk to you" she said and he rolled his eyes.

"I am currently searching for someone... I will talk to you later" he said walking away.

"Who are you searching for?" she asked eager to help him.

He thought for a second before he replied "Gauri"

She smiled knowing the answer "She is in the library" she said showing him the door of the study and he muttered a thanks before walking in the said direction.

Radhika looked at her son's retreating back longingly... She cannot blame him for being angry at her... after all she broke his father's heart and told him lies. She learnt her lesson late and she wished she never did what she did... betraying her husband and her only child.

'Hope you have the heart to forgive me' she wished silently and wiped off a tear before she started walking towards the living room to meet Shakti.

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"So here you are" said Omkara seeing Gauri cooped up in her favorite place in the house, reading a book by the window of the library.

"Yeah... you need something?" asked Gauri looking up from her book.

"Yes... I need you" flirted Omkara smiling at her making her roll her eyes.

"When have you become so cheesy Om" she asked getting up from her place.

"Thanks" he said and taking her hand, pulled her with him.

"Om... where are you taking me" she asked when he without answering her, walked further into the library and stopped in a corner between two racks of books.

He looked around to see if they were alone and pulled her to him making her gasp.

"Om... what is this ... leave me now" she glared at him and he nodded a no.

"I have this dream of romancing with my girlfriend in the library... one of my youth fantasies" he explained and her eyes widened.

"What has gotten into you Om.. you are behaving out of character since the last few days... what is wrong with you?"

"You... my girl... is making me come out of my comfort zone... I am just trying to woo you" he said raising his hand to trace her lips and she stilled.

"God Gauri..." he uttered huskily "I want to kiss you so badly... can we? ... please only once" he asked with a pleading look and she hit his arm.

"Fine" he said making a face "Hug me now... and I will leave you for the day" he demanded and she almost laughed looking at his expressions.

She always wanted to see him like this... playful and carefree. Now when she felt like pulling his cheek and kissing him full on his mouth, she had to hold back... she better get away from him before she herself molests him for acting so cute.

Deciding to grant his wish, she hugged him quietly lest he threw a tantrum and Omkara grinned into the hug satisfied.

Finally....!!! He thought happily as he closed his eyes and breathed her in, his hands gently caressing her hair. This is what he wanted... for her to give in and he was sure now that she forgave him... all this was an act for which he needs to find a motive. She isn't the one to hold grudges and he knew she isn't going to give him answers.

Maybe it is her family? They might have promised Shivaay's mother and she didn't want them to back out on their word. Yes... that must be it... He can get the information from Pinky... she has a soft spot for him he knows and he wished to utilize it to get the needed information.

Excuse me?? Can you please put the investigation for a later time and let me enjoy the hug and feel her love? his heart chided his brain and he agreed, his smile widening.

He held her waist firmly with one hand and with the other, he started to caress her smooth back making her shiver slightly. The hand holding her waist raised up to move her hair to the side and he kissed her free shoulder and heard her gasp as she tightened her hold on him.

Oh god... this was a bad idea... thought Gauri as he felt him pepper kisses form her shoulder to her neck. She wanted to stop him but her body refused to obey happy that it got the attention of its mate.

You and your plans can go to hell... I don't care anymore woman... It said when she pleaded it to stop responding to his onslaught.

He slightly parted from her to cup her face looking at her with dilated pupils and she felt her thudding heart stop for a second. If he decides to kiss, there is no stopping him her body decided for her and she gave in closing her eyes as he leaned in to first kiss her cheeks and then her forehead.

He kissed her chin and grazed his teeth over it slightly biting there which earned him a moan. He smiled satisfied with the response before he gently brushed his lips over hers.

"Raman... where are the files I told you to bring" Shakti's voice boomed destroying the silence around them and Gauri pushed Omkara away getting back to her senses.

Caught off guard Omkara held the book rack for support as he stumbled which resulted in a few books falling down creating noise.

He cursed out aloud...What a timing her father had.

"Who is there?" asked Shakti ready to walk further into the library and Gauri started to bite her nails in tension.

Omkara put her hand down and grabbing her waist pulled her close to him making her gasp.

"Om... leave me... papa will see us" she said and he grinned.

"Very good... at least there won't be anything left to explain when he sees me hugging you... better if we kiss ... I guess" he said tightening his hold and Gauri made a crying face... "No... Leave me.. now" she whisper yelled while he silently laughed at her plight.

Shakti began to walk towards them and Gauri continued to struggle against a grinning Omkara. Just when her father reached one book rack before them they heard Radhika's voice.

"Shakti ji" she called him and the three of them turned in her direction.

"We were about to discuss the NGO program to be held in two weeks right? What is the status of the sponsors' list? Any idea?" she asked him and Shakti walked back to her making Gauri sigh in relief and Omkara frown at his mother.

His mother is hell bent on ruining his plans he thought begrudgingly.

After discussing for a few minutes, Shakti and Radhika walked out of the study and Gauri hit Omkara's chest glaring at him. He looked at her face which turned red with anger and chucked... "My little angry bird" he said pulling her check making her frown deepen.

"Your face won't look good with wrinkles Gauri... stop frowning" he said kissing her forehead efficiently easing her.

"Now... about the incomplete kiss" he said coming closer and she gave him a pleading look.

"Please Om..." she said and he sighed loudly.

"I am showing mercy on you today since my mood got better with the hug... this is not going to happen every other time" he said leaving her and she ran away not wasting a minute.

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"How is the progress my boy" asked Kaali and Omkara told him what he thought about Gauri holding back her love, carefully avoiding the topic of his mother.

"What might the reason be? Did you talk to Pinky then?" asked Kaali.

"No dad... she was busy with some ladies function preparations... umm..." what is it's name? he dugged his memory. "Teej...I guess" he said.

"Oh... when is it...? tomorrow?"

"No the day after... I will ask her once she becomes free" he said walking into his room.

"Hmm... seems like the path is clearing for you... I will talk to Tej about the developments.... He was very happy that Gauri will come to my house" said Kaali smiling "Yeah...I forgot to inform you... Tej told me that Rudra and Jhanvi are coming to Bareilly tomorrow... be careful... they are still angry at you... don't let them create any trouble" he instructed.

"Okay dad... it is quite late... sleep now... good night" said Omkara as he ended the call and turned around to lock his room's door when he saw his mother waiting.

"Yes?" he asked with a confused frown and she smiled "You said we can talk later.... Can we talk now? Are you free now Omkara?"

Omkara sighed and took a step back gesturing her to come in and her smile widened. He closed the door behind her and walked to the couch where she sat timidly looking around the room. He stood before her hands folded on his chest.

"What is it that you want to talk about?" he asked patiently when she didn't talk for the next ten minutes.

"I want to talk so much but I don't know where to start" she truthfully explained.

"May be you can start with explaining how you left your child because you don't like children but then you adopt your loving son and daughter. Is the hatred restricted to me only?"

"I don't hate you Omkara..." she immediately replied as she stood up to touch his arm when he turned his face way from her.

She tried not to feel hurt... she deserved it... she knew that.... Yet, her own child hating her seemed to be too painful to bear.

"Shivaay and Priyanka are my sister's children Omkara... When Shivaay was fourteen and Priyanka was barely ten, my sister and her husband Sumeedh Singh Oberoi died in a car accident" she started "When I separated from your father, my father refused to take me back... it was my sister who took me in. I worked with Jiju in the industry for eight years Omkara... I became a successful businesswoman only because of his guidance."

"Though initially I stayed with my sister, I later moved to an apartment and lived on my own. Never was I close to Shivaay or Priyanka. I thought I can never handle kids... that motherly nature was not my forte" she told him "...or so I thought until I was made the legal guardian of Shivaay and Prinku... I always maintained my distance from them keeping to formalities and guiding Shivaay until he was old enough to handle the empire on his own."

"Really? Your relationship with seemed anything but formal" Omkara couldn't cover the sarcasm in his voice.

"It was initially.... believe me Omkara...in the beginning... they used to call me mausi... but when mausi changed to mom, we don't know... Shivaay is one stubborn boy... if he wanted something he would get it done at any cost. He changed me for good" she said with a fond smile and Omkara felt his heart burn in jealousy.

How dare she come to him and talk about her love for Shivaay. It was his mistake that he let her inside. He craved for her love all the time while she never thought of him. Suddenly she started all this motherly act making him doubt his opinion about her and when he gave her a chance to speak she talks about her loving son ignoring what he would be feeling.

"I am glad that you love him... it is late can you please leave? I need to sleep" he said rudely making her look at him in confusion.

"What happened?" she touched his cheek and he jerked her hand away.

"I will hear the rest of the story some other day... I am tired" he said and she nodded walking towards the door.

Just when she stepped out of the room, her leg hit the doorstep and she stumbled making Omkara rush to hold her.

"Mom!!! Careful" he said holding her shoulder and she looked at him happily.

Only when he saw her smiling jubiliantly at him did he realize his mistake and avoided her eyes.

"Can you walk now? or Should I come to drop you to your room?" he asked formally.

"Thank you Omkara... I can go alone" she said and he nodded leaving her hand turning to walk back to him room.

"You are just like your father... full of love... I am the unlucky one that I couldn't realize my faults. I am sorry Om" she said to his back, tears streaming down her face before she left the place.

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That is the end of chapter 14.

How did you like the wicked Omkara?

Tell me your thoughts through comments...

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