Omkara looked away from his canvas to glance at his wife who was on the verge of biting her nails off. Books lay scattered all over the bed and the table beside it while she turned the pages of one, anxious and worried.

"Gauri," he called her and she hummed in response not shifting her focus.

He sighed and put his brush aside. Wiping his hands clean with a damp cloth, he stood up and walked towards her.

Gauri protested as her one hand was swatted away from her lips. The book in the other was taken, only to be closed and put aside on the study desk.

"Omkara ji, I have an exam tomorrow."

"For God sake, it is an admission test Gauri. I did not study for my boards so much as you are studying for this. You will be okay," he said as he cleared off the bed and began to arrange the books neatly into a pile on the side desk.

When he didn't get a retort, he looked at her and found her staring at him with worry. Completing the task at hand, he squatted beside her on the bed and gave a reassuring smile.

"You will not be there tomorrow," she said with a sad pout and his smile turned guilty.

"Sorry Gauri but I have work. You are the one who insisted me to take it up."

"Of course, how can I not? The theme is devotional and I want you to make paintings on my Shankar ji."

Omkara shrugged and she sighed.

"I know I told you I will be fine but now am scared that I will get nervous and spoil things."

"Shivaay will be there with you and they are not going to ask you to write on quantum theory or aeronautics on the first day. It will be just the basics and I know you will do good in it. Just calm down will you?"

"Bade bhaiyya said there will be an interview too," she mumbled as she scooted near to him and hugged him close placing her head on his chest.

Her husband embraced her and kissed her hair adjusting themselves into a comfortable posture, leaning against the headboard.

"The interview will not be held tomorrow. Let us take one step at a time."

"What if they ask questions in English, in the interview?" she asked.

"First think about the written test," he stressed again but she wouldn't listen.

"Answer me Omkara ji."

"They will not," he said though he wasn't sure himself.

"How would you know?" she asked again pouting at him.

"They are going to make you learn it Gauri. If you already know everything, what is the whole point?"

"If I fail in the test, will you be embarrassed about it? Bade bhaiyya is such a big person, a friend of the principal and if I don't pass..."

"I will not mind it and neither will Shivaay. Why do think so much?"

"I don't know. With all the negative questions going on in my head I was not able to concentrate earlier."

"I noticed it."

"Hmmm."

"Should I tell Shivaay to talk to the management and cancel the test? You can get through..."

"No Omkara ji, I want to write it," she said firmly and he sighed.

"What are you actually worried about? The test or our reaction to it?"

"Both."

"I just told you I will not mind any result."

"Easy for you to say. I will feel guilty right? Sab ke saamne apka apmaan hoga to..."

"I don't care what anybody thinks Gauri. There is nothing wrong in failing a test."

"I do," she said with a pout and a frown. He smiled before leaning in and pecking her lips.

Gauri not only returned the favor but also cupped his face and pulled it towards her for a proper long soothing kiss. She parted and stared into his chocolate brown eyes.

The past week brought the couple closer than ever. Gauri rejoiced when her husband took up the responsibility of taking care of her mother while she prepared for her academics with the help of his mother.

If she had any doubt that he still held himself back from expressing his love, she lost them when he conveyed it through his actions. The small talks he would initiate where he would make her glimpse a part of his childhood or youth when he had been happy, told her that he was de-cocooning himself out of the layers of pith and pain.

Gauri knew her husband was a slow learner and he needed more than one push to walk in a direction she wanted. So, she added her parts of life into the conversation to make him feel comfortable that he isn't the only one unpeeling. Ten steps she would take for him so that he would place his foot forward once.

That day in particular, she felt the most vulnerable when the fear of his response to her failures began to gnaw at her curbing down her efficiency.

"I always felt I was lesser than you Omkaraji," she told him her deepest insecurity.

Omkara's face donned a frown.

"You were very far from my reach that for a long time I thought I shouldn't even consider taking the place of your wife," she said.

"Gauri I never saw you any less ..."

"Please let me complete Omkaraji," she stopped him, caressing his cheek and he remained silent letting her speak.

"We belong to two entirely different worlds," she started.

"I am a simple girl who always wanted to marry a normal guy from my village who earned enough to support me and look after my mother, not a celebrity personality like you who can by the whole village. We did not start on a pleasant note and all I ever saw in your eyes for me was anger, hatred. Pure hatred."

When she saw him look down in guilt, she worriedly added.

"I am talking of the rough phase we had to go through. Not now."

Omkara nodded his head in understanding and she continued.

"You have got degrees from international colleges and mere baare mein to aap jaante hi hai."

"Gauri, it never really..."

"Shhh.... I am not done yet."

He wanted to stop her, tell her that nothing else mattered to him except her pure heart but he let her complete her part. He wanted to know what else she misunderstood of him.

"Whenever I tried to bridge the gap between us, the differences in our personalities always strained my efforts. It came to a point when I believed that I cannot match up to you no matter what I do and it was only then that I decided to give up," she said.

"My mind decided to let go of you but my heart would always choose you over everything. I was all set to leave but I am glad that you stopped me because I wouldn't have known what a person you are. That in spite of the wealth surrounding you, pride never got to your head," she concluded with a smile and a kiss to his cheek.

"Are you done praising me?" he asked bringing out a chuckle from her.

"You want me to add more?" she quipped.

Omkara pulled her closer and bent lower to hide his face in the crook of her neck while she gently combed through his hair with her hand, squeezing his arm with another.

"Please don't put me above you Gauri. I do not even stand a chance to be with you."

His wife didn't seem to like his statement when she pushed him away and frowned.

"Why do you keep saying that Omkara ji. I told you that I am not doing any favor. Why do you keep belittling yourself?"

"Because I am not worthy. It is the truth."

"I want to know of the why."

"I am not particularly fond of sharing that part. If only I..."

"Then stop talking as if you are a bad person. I know you are not," she said with a glare.

The trust in her hazel eyes melted his heart.

"Even if I were a bad person, you would still love me," he jested running a thumb over her cheek.

His wife thought for a while and smiled, "I would have found ways to change you then."

Omkara chuckled and she shrugged.

His wife was too naïve that she believed in fantasies and happy endings.

"Why didn't you come to me earlier Gauri? I wish I never choose the wrong path in the first place."

"You say things like this, make me curious and then ask for time to reveal things. Is it any fair?"

He stared at her in guilt and she sighed.

"It is just that knowing things from you is different from getting to know them form others. The circumstances change, the point of view changes and till this moment, revelations have not been the best memories for both of us Omkaraji. I know you are trying but please know that I will not judge you for your past."

"I am not afraid that you will judge me. I am ashamed of things that I did and I wish I need not tell them to you ever."

"Ever?" she asked with a sad pout.

"Ever," he confirmed.

"Uhh... did you murder someone? I have an objection with that," she tried to joke but it hit the right nerve.

Gauri could have sworn that her husband stiffened and would have asked the reason for the same, if not for the sudden knock on the door.

"Shivaay," Omkara acknowledged his brother as he opened the door for him. Never was he that thankful for him for interrupting his time with his wife.

"Did Gauri sleep?" came the question and he shook his head in a no asking him to come in.

"Bade bhaiyya."

"The interview which is to be held a few days later will be held tomorrow Gauri, after the exam," Shivaay dropped the bomb making Gauri worriedly look at her husband.

"Shivaay, she is already dreading it. Is this the time to tell her? She won't sleep now," Omkara rebuked his brother.

"I am sorry but I thought she will be more anxious if she got to know of it tomorrow."

"I told you I will not be available tomorrow. I have an important meeting with the sponsor of my next exhibition," he reminded his brother.

"I know Om, but ..."

"Why the sudden change?"

"The delegate who is to take the interview needed to go on a tour at short notice."

"Bade bhaiyya, I am not prepared. Will they ask questions in English?"

"Ummm..." Shivaay lagged and his brother understood the hesitation.

"Doesn't matter. Thanks for the information, now go," the younger brother glared at his elder one.

"Uhh, yeah. Good night you two," said Shivaay before he hurried out of the room.

"I told you they will ask in English, you weren't listening," Gauri accused and her husband sighed locking the door.

"What?" she asked when he took his earlier place beside her.

"Let me take a mock interview and you will see for yourself, how good you can be," he said pulling her into his lap.

She snuggled against his chest and got comfortable before she braced herself for the intended.

"Mock kaa?"

"It means like a practice test," he explained as she sat all alert.

"Okay, I am ready," she said and he smiled before he asked his first question.

"Introduce yourself."

"Good morning," Gauri started in a practiced voice.

"I am Gauri Kumari Sharma from..."

Omkara frowned and stopped her.

"You are not Gauri Kumari Sharma now," he chastised and she bit her lip.

"I am Gauri Oberoi," she corrected but his expressions turned grimmer.

"You are doing this wantedly. Aren't you? Can't it be just Gauri Omkara? Sweet and simple."

Gauri smirked and aired her nails in leisure.

"Did you confess or did I miss it accidentally?" she asked and he rolled his eyes.

"So? I am not your husband; you won't take my name?"

"Awww, bura laga?" she asked pulling his cheeks and he swatted her hand away.

"I won't tell people your name. Not until you tell me what you feel for me," she declared stubbornly.

"I told you why I did ..."

"I am Gauri Oberoi," she stressed cutting him off.

"I wish to join in your institute to pursue matriculation and then secondary education," she said getting back to the interview.

"Fine. Why did you choose this institute may I ask Mrs. Oberoi?" he asked making a face.

"My brother in law recommended it since it has good academics and also extra-curricular activities."

"You seem to share a good family bond then."

"Of course, they are very supportive," she said and he smiled.

"What does your husband do?"

"He is a painter."

"The word is artist Gauri, I told you this before."

"Yeah, artist. A very big artist," she said proudly and his smile widened.

"I heard that your husband is handsome too, is it true Mrs. Oberoi?" he asked and she raised an eyebrow.

When his hand stealthily grazed her waist and his eyes stared at her lips with meaning, she knew his intention was to divert her mind on the pretext of helping her.

She wanted to rebuke him to be serious and help her out with her test but she loved the playful side of him way too much to interrupt him.

Melting in those chocolate brown eyes, she admired his features in silence.

God, can she love him more?

Omkara flicked her nose, making her yelp and come back from her dreamland.

"Is it true?" he repeated with a smirk and she shook her head in a no.

"You heard wrong sir."

"Oh? Then tell me what is the truth Mrs. Oberoi."

"He doesn't have muscles like my Salman, cannot dance and doesn't confess his love."

"He is a long haired hippie who has anger issues," she said and earned a pinch on her waist.

"Ouch."

He couldn't help the chuckle as she glared at him and he raised his hand to touch her face.

"You are not supposed to bad mouth about your husband. Ill-mannered lady," he whispered, his thumb tracing her lower lip.

"Kahee? Humare pati, humari marji. Do you have an objection?" she countered, meeting his forehead with hers.

"Very much."

"Tsk, tsk. What would you do about it then?" she lured him.

"Simple, I will make you take my name yourself," he replied before he locked his lips with hers.

***************slightly mature content ahead**************

By then, Omkara was well versed with the ways by which he could make his wife obey him, forgetting the rest. Deftly using her sensitive spots, he seduced her enough to make her eagerly mold herself to him.

Unclothing did not take much time with practice and they excelled in that field so far. As she writhed under him while they were wrapped in the soft bed sheets, he took pleasure in kneading her and kissing her senseless.

"Om," she screamed when he pushed her into the mattress with his weight and entered her without preamble.

Gauri was yet to get accustomed to her husband's intimate ways when the controlled, perfectly polished gentleman, loses to the beast in him. He was a different person when in bed claiming her with unabashed love, almost as if he were impatient to give her time.

Not that she was complaining but often she found it both endearing and frightening.

He gloatingly smiled and gave her a gentle kiss just beneath her jaw before he moved towards her neck, sucking, and biting her skin. She knew she should stop him and she should care that he was marking her again which would prolong her time before the mirror the next day but she didn't.

Beneath his hunger was his possessiveness for her, his confession of love and she grabbed onto it with everything in her.

As he moved faster, they adjusted and spurred each other towards pleasure, their breaths finding a sync as did their moans.

Just before she could scream his name again, this time in ecstasy, he shushed her, his mouth coming down on hers, warm and wet.

In the aftershock, Omkara's mind took time to come back to reality. He realized it wasn't just the need for her body or for pleasure but he desired for something deeper, a connection which he was just beginning to understand.

As he stared at his beautiful wife with love, she pulled him again for an appreciating kiss.

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Did it get very cheezy?

The idea was to give you a glimpse of what their equation is before adding a trouble in their paradise.

Also, a Rikara loaded update is what everyone might expect after the long gap I took, or so I thought.

Let me know your thoughts through comments.

I Love you all and missed you but I guess I am a procrastinator too and I got a bit lazy to come up with this sooner.

Let me see how much you missed the updates.

Vote and comment.

Until the next update, signing off...yours Soujanya.

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