It was early evening when Gauri was in the kitchen, making tea for herself.

"Hi," a voice greeted her and she sharply turned to the door.

Karan walked in with a bright smile while she returned a small one, trying to stay cool and not give any hint.

"How is married life treating you?" he asked conversationally.

"Not bad."

"That is an improvement. I thought you would just blush," he chuckled and she smiled back.

"Where is Shivaay? He didn't answer my phone."

"Maybe he is out."

"Okay, I have to take some papers which I left in his study. Just open the door for me."

"Bade bhaiyya takes the keys with him. It seems there are some important documents there," Gauri lied.

"Oh? I thought he left them with Khanna. Should I check once?"

"Uh, no. I am pretty sure he took them."

"Okay. Can you ask him to call me once he is home?"

"Sure," she assured.

"Hmm, I will leave then," he said, nodding at her.

He was just about to exit when a thought occurred to her.

"Karan ji?" she called and he stopped turning around.

"What happened to the girl you were interested in?"

"Who?"

"You said you liked a girl in the drama company."

"Ah, Ruchika. She is fine I guess."

"Didn't you take Anika Bhaujai for dinner?"

"No, she couldn't make it. I mean I had dinner with Anika but Ruchi didn't come there."

"Maybe I can come with you this time. How about tomorrow?"

Karan raised his eyebrows in surprise as he said, "You want me to take you out?"

"I just wanted to help. You always helped us and..."

"Omkara wouldn't like it Gauri."

"I will ask him today," she said and he grinned.

"Wonderful, you are a cutie pie. I was pining for one outing with you. Do you want to decide the place or..."

"I will tell you Karan ji."

"I thought you don't know Mumbai that much."

Gauri showed him her phone.

"Google chaachi hai na... I will ask it."

He chuckled as he nodded his head.

"Great, so see you tomorrow for ..."

"Lunch."

"Ah, okay. A lunch it is. Bye!," he wished her with a flying kiss and she smiled waiting for him to go out of sight.

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

"Bhabhi why do you want to go? You shouldn't have done this," Bhavya rebuked.

"You said you wanted to look into his house?"

"So? There are many other ways. I could have directly gone to his house."

"He might get a doubt Bhavya. Besides, he never harmed anyone till now."

"We cannot be sure of that unless we know his motive Bhabhi."

"You said his father is ill."

"We don't know exactly."

"But it matches right? What if that Svetlana is blackmailing him?"

"You are so naïve Bhabhi."

"There is a chance to know about it. We don't have time. As you said, if he does something before we get to him, things will only be worse."

"So, you are convinced that he is the good guy?"

"I am not but..."

"Exactly. We still cannot take things lightly," said the latter.

"Thike vo bhi baaju mein rakhte hai. (Okay, let us just put it aside) Even if he is a good guy, how will you talk to Omkara bhaiyya about this?" she pointed out.

"Now that is a problem," Gauri sighed.

"It is okay if you don't go Bhabhi. There is no need to complicate things with Om bhaiyya."

"I will tell you by morning."

"Okay Bhabhi. Take care and don't do something like this again without asking me. Your safety is more important," came the reply before the call ended.

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

"Gauri, do you know where Shivaay went?" Anika barged into her sister in law's room.

"No Bhaujai."

"I was trying to call him since some time and his phone is not reachable."

"Is it anything urgent Bhaujai?"

"No, Sahil was telling me that his principal did not accept his leave application. He is to come the day after so, I thought Shivaay will talk to that tuchi, sadu principal," the former explained.

"Sahil is coming? That is good to hear. Even maa will reach tomorrow," Gauri informed happily.

"Acha? I was about to ask you her number. Good that you called her."

"Omkaraji made arrangements. He planned a surprise for me," Gauri boasted and her sister in law raised her eyebrows.

"Are waah, Om did it? Phir to pucca French kiss mila hoga.. nahi?" she teased.

"Kya Bhaujai? Whatever I say, you come to the same topic," Gauri said in a grumble making the other one grin.

"What can I do? You won't tell me even if I probe you. It makes me all the more curious."

"Calling bade bhaiyya billu ji, you yourself have become a billi. Jigyaasu billee ho aap," Gauri said.

Anika laughed and hugged the younger one happily, placing a kiss on her temple, "Ummmha... I am happy that things are getting better Gauri."

"It feels so unreal," she said.

"Those are my exact words bhaujai. When things are going more than better, you start to fear the consequence. I feel like this is a beautiful dream."

"I am sure I would have never even dreamt of this. With the life you had, I know even you wouldn't Gauri."

"Correct, not even in dreams," the younger one said still hugging her sister in law.

"Hai Rabba... kitna pyaar," Kalyani said as she entered the room with Jhanvi.

The sisters parted from each other and stood up from the bed, smiling at the elders.

"Sit, we just came looking for Anika," Jhanvi said walking to her daughter in law.

"I think my prayers are finally answered Jhanvi. I got grand daughters-in-law who won't be at each other's throats all the time," Kalyani quipped.

"Come on mummy ji. You know who always starts the fight," Jhanvi justified herself.

"Yeah, Pinky starts a fight and you add spice to it."

"Because she knows exactly what to say, to rile me up or to upset me."

"Okay leave it. This will never end; I have come to terms with it. At least these two have each other's backs."

"You said you were looking for me Badi maa ji?" Anika asked, lest the discussion turned to a bigger argument.

"Oh that, we came to tell you that the designer will be coming in the evening. You both should be there to get your measurements done," Kalyani informed.

"What is the need daadi ji, I have enough clothes in my cup board. Maa ji has given me only yesterday after the pooja. I haven't even tried them," Gauri said.

"She started again," Kalyani said and Jhanvi chuckled.

"Those are a few I thought will suit you for daily wear Gauri. You don't have many sarees and you might need them for small gatherings or to attend some emergency press meets. You are an Oberoi bahu now. This will be your routine," Jhanvi explained.

"Oh."

"Yeah, and today you need to choose clothes for the wedding."

"Gauri's mother will be coming tomorrow," Anika supplied.

"Oh, that is great. You should take some for her as well."

Gauri smiled though she knew her mother would never be happy if she gave her a saree bought by her in laws.

As if sensing her doubt, the older one reassured her.

"Don't worry about your mother Gauri. You do not know about my negotiating skills. I will make sure she will take whatever presents we give her unless they are extremely bad to look at," Kalyani said.

"Good, it is settled then. Mummy ji, we have to talk with the florist as well."

"Anika, you said you have the number?"

"I have the card in my room daadi ji, come with me," Anika said and lead Kalyani away.

"Do you need help maa ji? I haven't been of much help after me and Omkaraji returned with the idol."

"I have lots of staff to help me Gauri. I will tell you when the daughter in law of the house needs to work. By allowing you to work till now, I made people think that they can talk in any way with you. You are my son's wife and you should be only concerned of him, nothing else," Jhanvi said.

Her mother in law's voice was laced with anger and disappointment but Gauri knew it was not for her.

"Maa ji, I told you I did not take Choti maa ji's scolding to heart and even you shouldn't."

"Sometimes I feel that despite all the years, I don't know Pinky at all. It is true that we had fights but it was mainly because Pinky and Tej were in constant argument about who should be the Oberoi heir. When it came to supporting each other, she never back stabbed me Gauri."

"Yes, her words were laced with venom but that was because I used to be irresponsible by walking around the house with a scotch in my hand. She used to scold me when I did that and she was the only one who talked to me that time," Gauri heard her mother in law say.

"Even when Roop tried to frame me as a thief in my own house, she had my back. I wonder if that is the same Pinky I see now. This version who fails to see her own son's happiness, who would go to such lows just to make sure Anika doesn't stay with Shivaay, she wasn't this person before."

"It happens Maa ji. People do get blinded when they feel that the only thing they love is being snatched from them. We all know she loves Bade Bhaiyya the most and anything which she considers bad for him has to suffer her wrath. On top of this, after the revelation, even you and daadi ji stopped talking normally to her. Please don't do that."

Jhanvi considered the advice when she heard her daughter in law question.

"Who is Roop?"

"Oh, I forgot that you haven't met her. She is Tej and Shakti's sister. She is not a good person to have in the mansion. The house was a box of misunderstandings and problems while she was here."

"Omkara ji ka bua?"

"Yeah."

"Aren't you inviting her to the wedding then?"

"None would like it Gauri. You don't know her," Jhanvi said when they heard Kalyani call for her.

"Come down in the evening, I will call you when the designer comes," her mother said and left the room after getting a nod in response.

Once alone, Gauri got back to thinking of ways by which she will make her husband agree to her lunch date.

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

Omkara frowned at his wife.

He liked it when she gushed over his unhealthy eating routine and made it her job to keep his stomach full. That day however, looking at the platter of dishes before him and her over enthusiastic behavior, he concluded there is something wrong.

"Why are you looking like that? Eat," she said with a bright smile and he nodded taking the spoon.

Just as the spoon touched his lips, she asked, "How is it?"

He wouldn't want to curb her mood by rolling his eyes. So, he gave a very fake smile and said, "To taste, I need to chew it Gauri."

"Yeah, do it then."

She allowed him to put the spoon inside his mouth, chew and swallow it before she put forth her same question.

Omkara sighed and placed the spoon on the plate.

"What is it?"

"Nothing Omkara ji, I asked ..."

"No, what is it that you actually wanted to ask?"

"Ummm... eat first. We can talk later."

"Are you sure?"

"Haa..haa... suar.."

"Kya?"

"Wahi aapne jo bola.. suar.."

He bit back a smile before he started eating again.

"Why don't you sit and eat with me?"

"I had an early dinner with Bhaujai."

"What gol gappe?"

She raised her eyebrows in surprise and he smiled.

"And you say I have bad eating habits."

"It has been months since I last had it Omkaraji."

"Hmmm."

Omkara took his sweet time in finishing the food served to him and Gauri was too anxious to even ask if he wanted more.

She quickly asked the house help to clean the small table in their room unlike normal, where she would do the task herself.

"Yeah, now we can talk," he announced coming out of the washroom and stopping her vigorous pacing.

"Nothing big actually, uhh... I wanted to go out with a friend," she started as he sat on the bed.

"Oh?" he said taking her hand and pulling her to sit beside him.

"For lunch," she said with a big smile as he caressed her palm with his fingers.

"Are you asking permission?"

"Hmmm."

"You don't need to ask Gauri. I never stopped you from going out," he said looking at her.

"Thanks Omkara ji," she said in relief and he smiled.

Her palm was still secure in his hands when he asked the right question.

"Who is this new friend?"

Doomed..

Gauri gulped and sending a small prayer to her Shankar ji, mumbled the name.

"K..Karan."

"EXCUSE ME?" he roared leaving her hand and getting up from his place.

"It is just a casual lunch Omkara ji. He did so much to us and I wanted to help him. You know about Ruchika right? He told you about her. How can we not do such a small favor? It seems he went with Bhaujai but that meeting did not turn out as expected. At least this time, I just.."

"NO," he gave the order stopping her.

"You are not going anywhere near him. I don't care for what reason you even thought of doing this but thank you that you asked."

"What is so wrong in it Omkara ji? You just said you will not stop me," she said.

"We are not having anymore discussions on this," he announced before walking out of the room, not bothering to stop when she called him back.

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

It was past midnight by the time he calmed down and laid on his bed. He looked at her rolled up in the duvet sleeping on the other edge.

It been days since they started to sleep in each other's arms. Still, it felt so right and without her contact, he felt uncared.

Crawling to her side, he removed the blanket from her face and saw her tightly closing her eyes acting to be asleep.

His mood already began to get better, a smile forming on his face. Placing a kiss on her cheek, he moved back only to meet her glare.

Omkara chuckled when she looked at him in anger for a long second before she took the blanket end from his hand and covered herself completely.

He hugged her with the blanket, making sure that his hold was tight enough.

She wiggled, mumbling something incoherent but he pulled her to him weighing down on her.

Only once he put his ears to her lips could he hear a weak, "I can't breathe."

"Yeah, so pull the blanket off," he said and she did, having no other choice.

"That is your side, go away," she glared at him.

"When did we take any side?"

"We will from now. You just can't shout at me and walk off the conversation. Kya samajhte hai apne app ko?"

"Okay I am sorry for that but you were the one at fault."

Gauri gave him a look of disbelief before trying to push him away. He on the other hand, tightly clutched on to her like a nasty bubblegum making her sigh in exhaustion.

"Omkaraji."

"Yes Gauri, I am listening."

"Leave me."

"No."

"Then I am going with Karan," she said and he gave her the stink eye.

"What problem do you have? Can't you trust me?"

"No, it is not that. I just don't feel good when you are with him. Why do you want me to go through it? Even your maa will come tomorrow. Please don't go," he said in a cute plea.

Gauri melted in the next moment. She mentally patted herself that her decision to not tell him the actual purpose was right. He would never allow her to go with Karan if he knew.

"I will come back in less than two hours Omkara ji," she coaxed.

"Okay, keep your phone with you," he grumbled and she hugged him properly.

It was the time when Omkara realized he was getting addicted to his wife and this time he doesn't even want to go to a rehab.

Making themselves comfortable on the plush mattress, he dipped his head into the crook of her neck to get a whiff of that intoxicating scent.

He prayed for his control to not snap but on the side, he also started to think of ways to kill a certain irritating personnel without getting jailed.

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

Well, yeah that is the end of the chapter.

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See you until later.

Signing off... yours Soujanya.