In the study,

"So, he visited her thrice," Shivaay said looking at the paper.

"Correction, he called her twice. Had he visited her, it would have been recorded on the CCTV. The number obviously is stitched off. So yes, we are stuck," Karan concluded.

"Why so much secrecy?" Omkara wondered aloud.

"Simple, he knows we would recognize him," Shivaay provided.

"We can ask that lomdi directly. What if she slips and gives us a clue?" Rudra asked.

"For now, don't let her know anything. She wanted to talk to me. I will try and get something out of her," said Omkara.

"Hmmm, anything else you want me to take a look at?" Karan asked Shivaay and he nodded a no.

"Thanks for the help," he smiled.

"Don't mention, I will leave now as I have something to take care of," Karan said and turned to the door.

Just as he opened it, Svetlana smiled and walked in.

"Oh, a new addition to the Obros?" she asked.

"None of your business," Rudra glared at her while Karan looked on curiously.

"Rudra, how many times should I tell you that kids shouldn't talk into an elders' conversation."

"Right, talk to me then. What do you want?" Shivaay asked with attitude.

"I want to talk to Omkara alone," she declared and Karan raised an eyebrow.

"So, you are the Vamp here?" he asked and she gave him a dirty look.

"You don't look bad to the eye," he said and Rudra gaped at him.

"How can you like her man," he whispered. "Just look at her face, botox lomdi."

Karan grinned and leaned to whisper in Rudra's ears.

"That's why I am not looking at her face," he said and Rudra gasped loudly.

"You are crazy, have you...."

"What are you both whispering about?" Svetlana asked in irk.

"Shivaay, get them out of here. I will talk with her," said Omkara and his brother nodded.

His rival smiled walking towards him and he stood at his place waiting for the talk to begin.

"How are you Omkara?" she asked him and sat on one chair.

"We aren't here to talk pleasantries Svetlana. Come to the point. What did you want to talk?"

"Why so soon? Shouldn't we catch up on each other's lives. You got married to a village girl. That doesn't mean you forget the etiquette," she said with a smirk.

"Come to the point or I am leaving the room," he warned.

"Tsk tsk, you are not in a position to order me my dear. You know I have the upper hand. Don't you?"

"I don't care for that vedio. I know the truth and so does my family. Even if you put it online, Shivaay will get it deleted in no time. You better start talking or you talk after I am gone."

"Right. But maybe your wife will have a problem with a molester being her husband," she said and he glared at her.

"She is a bit orthodox; don't you think?"

"Won't you change in this lifetime?? What is the use of living like this? Out of other's misery. Why is this unconditional hatred Svetlana?" he asked the question which had been on his mind since long.

For a moment, he couldn't believe his eyes when she looked vulnerable. But soon, the sinister smile was back on her heavily clayed face.

"You appear to be sympathising with me Omkara. Are you growing soft on me?"

"Just tell me what you want and we will be done for today."

"I just want to know something from you."

"And what is that?"

"Are you still the person who would place the truth above your family's name?"

"How does...."

"Just answer the question Omkara."

"Of course, yes."

"Good, that is all I wanted to know," she said.

"What?" he asked flabbergasted and she shrugged her shoulders.

"Great and that means you will leave now? You got your answer."

He knew she wouldn't tell him anything even if he asked.

"You have a kuldevta pooja in the evening. I decided to stay for that."

"No one invited you. It is a family ceremony."

"Don't joke now. I am part of your family Omkara, until Tej is a part of it."

He passed her look of disgust while she laughed at him.

"See you later baby. I will give my congratulations to your wife myself."

"Don't you dare go near her."

"Oh my God," she said in mock exclamation.

"Is that love or just concern I see in your eyes? Or wait, is that fear?"

Omkara's anger notched higher and he took a threatening step towards her.

"You know I don't give empty threats. Mind my words Svetlana, if Gauri ever gets a whiff of that video, I will not rest until you are behind the bars and this time I will see to it that you serve your term properly. I won't care even if I will have to use my family name for that," he said and left the room.

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

Gauri was so thankful to Kalyani when she called her, asking help for the pooja preparations. Giving that as an excuse, she escaped from her nosy sister-in-law who had 'teasing-Gauri-mercilessly' as her agenda for the day.

"Gauri puttar, can you get the diyas from the storeroom? They are in the upper most shelf of the cupboard. I am not keen on anybody else touching them for the day. They are old and they might break, so be careful," Kalyani instructed and the other nodded.

"Was the idol also kept in that room daadi ji?"

"Yes. I asked it to be shifted there before placing it in the mandir. We are supposed to clean it before we do the pooja today. First bring the diyas and then we will take care of that," the elder one said.

Gauri opened the storeroom and was surprised to see the light on. Frowning, she walked inside and saw that the cupboard was open.

On observation of the place, she concluded with surety that someone meddled with things.

She remembered that she carefully packed the idol before bringing it to the mansion but now looking at the way someone roughly wrapped the cloth over it, questions arose in her mind.

Keeping her thoughts to a side, Gauri removed the diyas from the shelf that her daadi saas instructed and returned to the mandir.

"Daadi ji did you ask anybody else to unwrap the idol to dust it or something?" she asked.

"No, it came yesterday only and I thought of cleaning it today beta," the latter answered.

"Come, I will tell you how to prepare the diyas," she said and Gauri carefully listened though doubts still poked at her.

It took some time for them both to finish their work after which Gauri dropped Kalyani to her room.

Later, she was ascending the stairs to go to her room when he saw her father-in-law deftly enter the room of her enemy.

Gauri looked around the place and gasped to see that Svetlana has come out of the study and was walking towards the staircase, typing something into her phone.

Turning around, she descended the few steps she climbed and purposefully pushed her rival, getting a glare from the woman.

"Have you become blind to not see a person walking here?"

"Where is the person you are talking about?" she said looking around.

"I can only see a shameless animal."

"Gauri, don't act smart," Svetlana spoke in anger.

"Eehh... muuh band kar apnaa... ek jaap se deewar pe sat jaay be," she said in her signature style.

"I cannot imagine how a woman can stoop so low as to blackmail people to get her things done."

"You seemed to have developed a spine didn't you?" Svetlana smirked.

"I don't have anything against you, not personally. You are good with the brain and I would have loved to work with you. The only set back is your illiteracy and uncultured behaviour."

"I am not looking for a job, madam ji. You need not give me your assessment."

"I won't be giving you one even if you beg. Even if it is out of pity."

"Really, pity?"

"You thought marrying Omkara is a good decision? If you ask me, I would have told you that he is the most unpredictable man I had ever met. He uses women for his purpose and doesn't hesitated to throw them off once he is finished with them."

"I don't know who you are talking about. If it is about the same person I married, then you are utterly mistaken."

Svetlana laughed and said, "You should reconsider your choice dearie. If I showed you..."

"Svetlana!" yelled Jhanvi as she walked towards them.

"Oh, hi Jhanvi. I still have a confusion as to how to address you. Should I call you mummy ji because I was Omkara's fiancé or should I call you by name because I am Tej's love?"

"Can you hear to your own words? How shameless can anyone be? In spite of all the insults you still find your way here," Gauri asked in disgust.

"Oh, in that case we are not different from each other. After all the insults your current husband put you through, you are still in the same place as him."

"You don't talk to my daughter in law like that. How would you, a home wrecker, know about the importance of relationships. Go to your room and do what you like. If possible, get out from here soon," said Jhanvi.

Svetlana rolled her eyes and said, "Everybody in this house is a hypocrite. Gauri was your daughter in law even at that time when Omkara called her a gold digger and used her against me. Why didn't you stand up for her then?"

"This relationship ka draama, strikes you once in a while, other times you won't acknowledge anyone ..."

"Save it Svetlana," Tej's voice stopped the women.

"Go to your room. No need to prolong the discussion," he said.

"Of course, I shouldn't waste my energy on a lost cause," Svetlana said before she walked around them and ascended the steps.

Tej looked at Jhanvi for a guilty moment and silently left from there while the latter continued to glare at his back.

Gauri who noticed the exchange couldn't help but feel sorry for her mother-in-law. To think that the very woman who destroyed her marriage had almost been her son's wife was something unbearable. No woman should deserve such a fate.

She squeezed the elder one's arm.

"Please don't mind her words," she heard her mother-in-law say in a low voice.

"I won't maa ji."

"I... I will just come," said Jhanvi and walked away.

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

Omkara entered his room to find his wife looking at the open cupboard, lost in thoughts.

He neared her and touched her arm when she jerked, moving away.

"Where were you lost?" he asked in concern and she shook her head in a no.

"Then why were you looking at the cupboard without moving?"

"It is nothing important Omkara ji."

"Tell me first and I will decide it Gauri."

"Maa ji was upset and I was worried for her," she said reciting the encounter with Svetlana.

"That video whatever she was blackmailing your parents with, must be too daunting for maa ji right? She didn't tell me exactly but I could guess from her tone that it wasn't a pleasant sight. No woman will want to see her husband like that."

Omkara's heart drummed inside his ribcage but he stood still not responding.

What will he say to her?

"Did she talk to you?" she asked and he nodded not able to form words.

"What did she ask?"

"She just asked me if I will place my family honour above truth," he answered her.

Gauri looked at him in confusion and he nodded his head with a sigh.

"Exactly, I don't understand why she wants to stay here for that question. She has some agenda in her mind. I am sure of that."

His wife thought for a moment and asked, "Is this the first time the Kuldevta idol is brought here? You said you visited the village many years ago."

"No, last year during Shivaay's wedding, Rudra brought it here. Later it was given back," he informed and she nodded.

"Why did you ask?"

"Just curious," she said when his phone rang.

He excused himself and walked out to answer the call while she looked back at the cupboard thinking of why she opened it in the first place.

Few minutes later, she remembered that she was to select a saree for the pooja today. She was in the process of picking out one, when she was hugged from behind.

Scandalized that it was her husband, she turned around saying, "Omka..."

"Oh, so he hugs you too?" she heard her sister-in-law tease again.

"Bhaujai, aap kya..."

"You are not going to escape from me now. Naah, not happening. How dare you lie to me?"

"Bhaujai, I was just shy to talk all that," she tried again.

"So, you could have told me that directly. How can you lie to your Bhaujai?"

"We really didn't get that close Bhaujai."

"Chup, you cannot repeat the same lie again."

Gauri sighed and stayed calm returning to her work when her sister-in-law tried again.

"So, it is a kiss on the cheek, a back hug, may be a French kiss too, and..."

Gauri closed her eyes and this time when she opened them, she passed a glare to Anika.

"Okay, what do you want to hear Bhaujai?"

"The truth."

"Aree... you are not ready to listen to the truth."

"No, you are lying."

"Fine, we passed the first stage, second stage and then went all the way many times," she said in irritation, making the other one widen her eyes.

"Happy? I repeat, we did it all the way many times... up and down, right and left, everything. And kyun na kare.. wo..."

"Uh.. Gauri... listen..." Anika started.

"Don't stop me now. You want to listen, so hear the whole thing. We did it and why will we not do, he is my husband and it is only natural that..."

"Gauri!" Anika snapped gesturing her to look at the door.

"What is it that ...." Gauri stopped short seeing her husband looking at the two of them in shock.

She gasped loudly closing her mouth and cursed herself mentally.

Shankar ji.... why??... she cried.

Now that you have embarrassed me enough, please let the ground open and swallow me... she prayed.

"Umm, I just remembered that I have to give something to Shivaay. I will go and check," Anika announced and slipped out of the room, leaving the couple alone.

"I ...too remembered that Daadi ji called me, I will.." Gauri tried her escape but Omkara blocked her way.

"Gayi bhais pani mein" she muttered when he caught her by her waist and locked her in his arms, not leaving any chance for her to skip the conversation.

"I... really need to go," she said looking at the button of his shirt.

White, round, it has four holes and the thread binding it is blue in colour... she studied it closely.

"You can go once I clear my doubts," he said, enjoying her discomfort.

"J... Ji?"

"How did we do it?" he asked making her go completely red.

"You can look at me Gauri," he urged, his voice lace with amusement but she didn't dare to.

"You know I don't like lies, don't you?" he whispered leaning close and she sucked in a breath.

"Especially when there is a high probability that they could be true in near future," he whispered again.

Gauri looked at him, her eyes wide as saucers. It seems he was waiting for her to do just that because he instantly lowered his head and took her lips into a searing kiss.

She gave in without much protest though it didn't look like he was asking for permission. He had always been the dominant one in their passionate moments and though she didn't always submit without a fight, at that moment she turned a puny.

He took want he wanted with authority and she did not deny him.

Omkara couldn't believe his ears when he heard his wife talk wanton to his sister-in-law. But once the meaning sank in, he had this uncontrollable desire to kiss her.

Why is it that he cannot seem to control himself around her?

When it came to her, he is a jealous, possessive dominative, lovesick male which contrasted with his calm, composed and poetic alter ego.

It was only after she entered his life did it turn into a rollercoaster of emotions because until then the burden of being the responsible, good guy minimised it into a hushed depressive quest.

Gauri Kumari Sharma is the force which drove him crazy and it will continue to do so.... he was about to conclude when his ego snapped to correct him.

Gauri Omkara Singh Oberoi.... it said with false pride.

He groaned aloud and nipped the skin of her neck making her hiss. Never would have thought that he would become that person who would ravish his wife against a cupboard, with the doors of their room, unlocked. Parting from her, he gloatingly stared at her thoroughly kissed form.

"Do you really want to go?" he whispered, kissing her cheek.

"Huh?" she looked at him disoriented and he couldn't help the smirk on his face.

Good going.

Gauri struggled to remember the last part of her conversation but her brain was still in the aftermath of their make out.

"You said daadi called you for something," he offered.

"Right, Daadi ji..."

"Is it that important?" he asked again looking at her lips.

"Uhh..." she stuttered trying to make a choice in her head.

Things are going fast forward, maybe she should halt them for some time... she thought.

"Yes," she finally said and he couldn't help the disappointment.

Somewhere in his mind, the gentleman who was still groggy and barely out of hibernation advised him to wait till she was ready.

Nodding his head, he leaned again for a compensation kiss before he set her free and walked to the bathroom.

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

Gauri walked back to the kitchen, her thoughts all over the place.

Did she love him?... yes.

Does she want him?... yes.

Then why did she back away from him?

She touched her lips, still feeling the weight of his wicked ones. Slowly leaning back and clutching the kitchen counter, she sighed closing her eyes.

Everything seemed too unreal, too hard to believe, as if she were in a spell and she is living through a beautiful dream. She feared that once rudely shaken, she will wake up to find herself in the same lonely track she walked all through her life.

"Madam ji are you okay?" a voice called her making her open her eyes.

"Yeah, thank you," she smiled at the girl who looked almost her age.

"What is your name?" she asked.

"Vanita," came the response making her nod in acknowledgement.

"Do you want me to get anything for you madam ji. You don't look okay to me," Vanita offered.

Gauri was almost ready to deny when a thought struck her.

"Do you always work here in the kitchen? I think I rarely saw you, otherwise I would have remembered your name."

"No, we take shifts. Usually, I take the ground floor duties madam ji. Today Zarina did not come for duty and I had to take her place."

"Oh, I was wondering why I didn't find her in the morning. Is she okay?"

"Yes, she went to see her mother. She always talks sweet about you madam ji. In fact, everybody who works here does," she said with a big smile.

Gauri chuckled lightly and thanked her.

"Uhh Vanita, did you see anybody passing the corridor to reach the storeroom today?" she enquired.

Vanita thought for a while and shook her head in a no.

"Were there many visitors in the last four days?"

"Shivaay sir had a few meetings at home two days back. That time many people came."

"And none of them had a chance to walk past here?"

"No madam ji."

"Gauri madam, Kalyani madam ji has asked for you," another house help announced, coming into the kitchen.

Gauri nodded and started to walk away when Vanita called her attention.

"Yes Vanita?"

"Few days ago, I saw Rudra sir's friend ask one of my colleagues about the storeroom."

"Rudy bhaiyya's friend?"

"Yeah, the one that came to the kitchen today."

Gauri's heart started to hammer and she tried to confirm her doubt.

"Karan ji?" she asked.

"Yes madam ji, he came here once after you left," Vanita dyed-in-the-wool, making her widen her eyes.

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

Okay, I don't know why I am having pleasure writing Omkara as a dominating rough male while I am a fan of his soft side.🤷‍♀️

Does anyone have a problem with it? I will consider toning him down.

Let me know what you think.

Signing off until the next update, which will be on Sunday.

Lots of love...❤😍