Oberoi mansion decorated with lights and balloons... colors and flowers ... looking as rich and elegant it has been from the time of its inception was ready to welcome it's elite guests who in turn waited to get a glimpse of the business mogul's darling sister.

Dressed in their rich designer wear sketched by Zara, Ritu Kumar, Manish Malhotra or other similar... the girls were ready to make the head of the empire fall for their looks while the men dressed in tuxedos and three piece suits .... handsome with their hard exercised gym bodies flexed their muscles to impress the natural beauty. The Oberoi empire's business partners both old and new stood in queue to grab the attention of their boss ready with their royal families and well trained smiles.

Everybody knew about the home coming of Shivaay Singh Oberoi's sister two years back and that she holds her brother's heart. Now that she will finish her graduation in not more than six months, they waited with bated breaths for the announcement of a groom hunt by her brother so that they could grab the opportunity for one's own son or daughter...for once the sister gets married Shivaay will think of settling down himself. As they waited patiently for the party to begin, they heard the announcement of the arrival of Gauri Singh Oberoi along with her brother.

Among the guests were also present Gauri's not so rich friends Anika, Veer along with Omkara. Needless to say they did look good in their own way but felt out of place amongst the fake smiles and make up clad faces. Omkara wore a navy blue three piece suit his hair left open looking strikingly handsome. A few female heads craned in his direction to get a glimpse of his good looking face... thinking over and over as to which business partner's son he might be... ready to go on a long drive with him if he had a Mercedes-Benz or say a yes for a lust filled night if he had a penthouse suite.

Omkara's eyes were however fixed on the beauty which descended down the stairs holding her brother's arm. Dressed in a sapphire silk halter neck, full length gown she looked breathtakingly beautiful. The gown fit her like a glove hugging her at the right places giving her slim structure the alluring shape. Her hair was made into low tendril bun...leaving her back bare till her shoulder blades giving a view of her creamy skin making men go crazy for her. She wore a set of diamond earings which surely would cost more than Omkara's one year salary...

At times like these, he felt extremely insecure and insufficient for her... his mind reminded him time and again that she is a princess who had the world at her feet while he had the status slightly higher than the security who worked for her. How can he ask her to leave this luxury to stay with him? Will it not be too selfish of him to ask her that? Lately his rickety thoughts have been bugging him non-stop which made him ask her hand in marriage... the faster he made her his, the better his mind co-operated with him.

He never doubted her love for him though... he knew she loved him unconditionally as she never held back her feelings from him. When he saw her looking among the guests he knew she was searching for him and he walked forward into her line of vision to let her know of his attendance. The moment their eyes met; she gave him that one smile which drove all those wobbly thoughts out of his head. He smiled at her having his heart at peace and his mind relaxing.

Gauri felt immensely happy seeing Omkara come for the party. He outrightly refused her request when she invited him for the birthday bash thrown by Shivaay at their Mansion saying he doesn't fit in her brother's world of which she should be a part of. She pestered him to come, saying it was her birthday and he doesn't have a choice to say a no making him agree half heartedly. Though she felt a tad bit guilty for forcing him, she shushed down that thought not wanting to mull her current happiness.

She moved to greet him when Shivaay veered her off to one of his business colleagues involving her in their discussions and she had no option but stay there...though she stole glances at him making him smile at her.

Not long after, Gauri was pulled to the dance floor by Mehta's son Suraj and she had to oblige for mere formality.

Once on the dance floor, she swayed to the music in his arms and she cannot help but feel good... the man was a pleasant companion.

"You beautifully dance Gauri.... I enjoyed dancing with you today" said Suraj and she smiled back "Same here Mr. Suraj"

"My father has been bugging me to ask you out... but I can't... I already love someone..." he said truthfully and her smile grew wider.

"That is good to hear... I love someone too" she replied and he heaved a sigh of relief... "Thank goodness... so you can help me by lying that I asked you out and you are not interested... can you do that?" he asked hopefully and she nodded a yes.

Suraj hugged her as a gesture of thanking her and she returned the friendly hug with a smile not knowing that a certain someone was getting irked by the minute with her closeness to the guy.

"Umm.... Is the person you are in love with dressed in a blue three piece suit with shoulder length hair?" Suraj asked her and she looked at him confused though she mumbled a yes.

"Hmmm... glad I am far away from him... I think he is planning of ways to kill me" he quipped and she looked at Omkara who was visibly glowering at them.

Mr. Mehta on the other hand was extremely happy to see his son dance and smile in Gauri's company... that seemed like a good sign... isn't it?? he looked at Shivaay and started a conversation.

"So Mr. Shivaay... what do you think Gauri would do after her graduation... have you decided whom she should marry? I am sure there would be a long line of suitors waiting to become your brother in law" said Mr. Mehta and Shivaay smiled at him.

"She is just a kid Mr. Mehta... she will marry when she wants to" he said and the elder man nodded his head.

Once the song ended, Gauri and Suraj exited the dance floor and joined Shivaay.

"Uhh... bhaiyya... can I go wish my friends for a while?" asked Gauri pointing towards Omkara making Shivaay stiffen.

"Come I will take you there... I will wish them too" he said excusing himself and walked her to the trio.

"Hi... hope you are enjoying the party?" Shivaay greeted formally looking at Veer and he nodded his head with a smile before he looked at Omkara.

"Hi Mr. Shivaay" said Omkara and Shivaay just started at him when Gauri nudged him.

"Hi... Omkara... nice to see you again" he said as he faked a smile and got a genuine smile in return "Yeah"

After a brief period of uncomfortable silence,

"Okay... enjoy the party... I will meet you later?" said Shivaay gently taking Gauri along with him when Omkara stopped her holding her free hand.

Shivaay turned around when his sister stopped and looked at Omkara who held her hand firmly. If he was not in his sister's birthday bash, he would have Omkara thrown out of the mansion to have dared to do such a thing but since he was in the presence of hundreds of guests... he tried to keep his calm although he threw daggers at the offender.

"Mr. Shivaay if you don't mind.... We met Gauri after a long time... we would like to talk with her for a while" he said and Gauri looked alternately between her positively raging brother and a determined looking future husband.

She knew this will happen sooner or later in life when she has to choose between her brother and her love.... Glad that today the matter was not as serious as she expected the situation could have been. When she saw Omkara stare at her asking her to speak, she sighed and turned to her brother.

"Bhaiyya... vo kya hai na... you go... I will not take much time to join you... please bhaiyya... just for a few minutes" she said giving him her best puppy eyes that could make rocks melt.... and her brother was no greater.

Shivaay closed his eyes to ward of the bad feeling that crept into his heart... it made him feel weak ....made him fear that his sister will be snatched away from him. But he trusted her with his life.... Trusted her that she wouldn't do anything against his wish that would compromise their family's name ...

She knew how important lineage was for him and he believed that she will never betray his trust. Sighing heavily he caressed her cheek and giving her a kiss nodded his head and left her with them not before passing a deathly glare towards Omkara.

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"Happy birthday Gauri" greeted Anika hugging her tightly diffusing the tension in the atmosphere.

"Happy birthday Gauri" repeated Veer smiling at her and she thanked both of them.

"Wooah.... That was a pretty intense drama to watch.... I was almost going to bet with Veer as to who will punch whom first" said Anika and Gauri gasped at that.

"Chill Gauri.... Love story mein masala honi chahiye ( there should be entertainment in a love marriage) what a stare game it was... ufff... " she said fanning herself and Veer chuckled at her.

Gauri looked at Omkara who remained calm not looking at her and understood that he was trying his best not to utter anything which might hurt her...

Yet, he didn't leave her hand which he held earlier. Gauri put her other hand on his and gripped it gently moving her thumb over his dorsum making him look at her. She looked at him with love and smiled, her eyes assuring him and asking him to calm down.

Seeing the couple lovingly look into each other's eyes... Anika and Veer gagged dramatically ... "Eww... kindly spare us from your PDA guys... our eyes got better things to see" said Veer and Anika agreed.

Omkara gave them a furious look which meant "SHUT UP" and they zipped their mouths not uttering another word. He walked away from them into the garden pulling Gauri along with him.

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Scanning the area for people who might be trouble, Omkara led Gauri to a secluded place in the Oberoi garden far away from the main building. He then pulled her into a warm embrace and Gauri hugged him back wordlessly. She gently rubbed his back placing a kiss on his chest while he held on to her like a scared child.

"I told you I won't come here... but you were adamant"

"Omkaraji it is okay... nothing went wrong... you don't need to feel jealous of anybody... not Suraj nor my brother... you know I will never leave you" she said parting from him and cupping his face.

"I know" he said and she pulled his face down to kiss his forehead.

That brought a smile on his face and he said "I love you Gauri... I know I should feel insecure but you are this rich princess and I am..."

"My prince..." she cut him off "You are my prince Omkaraji... and I am going to marry you either by hook or by crook" she said and winked playfully making him sigh.

"What!!...end of discussion... Now stop being pessimistic and give me a kiss... it might further lessen your insecurity...you know" she said as she encircled her hands around his neck pulling him closer and he leaned to take her lips in his.

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Shivaay's eyes have been searching for his sister from the past five minutes when he was greeted by one of his close associates.

"Hello Mr. Shivaay..." greeted Ajay Vastav ACP Mumbai.

"Oh.. Hi Ajay... how are you doing" said Shivaay smiling at him.

"I am doing great Mr. Shivaay... thanks to you"

"No... I just put in my word...you deserved it... hadn't you informed me about inspector Anika hiding the truth, I wouldn't have found my sister" replied Shivaay and Ajay nodded his head with a smile.

"It was my duty Mr. Shivaay... I couldn't let any wrong happen in the department" he said and paused before he spoke again "I need to talk to you about another important issue sir"

Shivaay gave him a confused look and asked "About?"

Ajay hesitated for a moment before he said "About your sister sir"

"What about Gauri?" asked Shivaay when Ajay asked for some privacy since the issue was a bit sensitive and he didn't want others to get a word of it.

Once in Shivaay's study, Ajay started "Your sister is fooling you sir... she ... she is having an affair with Omkara" he said and the next moment the sound of a slap echoed in the room.

Ajay was yet to recover from the slap when Shivaay held his neck to the wall and growled "How dare you... how dare you bad mouth of my Gauri"

Ajay panicked looking at the former's anger... he struggled to loosen the grip coughing out and rambling in between "Sir.. be... believe me... if.. if y...you know what I said is a false...acc..accusation... I will myself come and sur...render to you"

Shivaay left him and roared "I don't need you or anyone else to give a character certificate for my sister... do you understand? I trust her and I will never listen to you"

"Sir... you are getting it all wrong" Ajay coughed out still rubbing his neck "I am not saying your sister is wrong... she was merely being made a fool by Omkara...if you don't intervene, he might get her to marry him... situation will go out of your hands Mr. Shivaay... please believe me" he pleaded and Shivaay was left in doubts.

He didn't doubt his sister but what if she was being duped.... No... she cannot let any harm come near her.

"How do you know all this and where is the proof" he finally said and Ajay smiled at him before taking him to the garden simultaneously explaining to him how he heard Anika make plans for Gauri's birthday.

"Sir.. you should save your sister before she falls neck deep into the pit.. I even have a plan to rescue her" said Ajay and Shivaay barely kept himself from strangling him.

"First show me your proof" he whisper yelled as they stepped into the garden and Ajay nodded before walking forwards.

A few minutes later Ajay pointed to a couple merrily laughing in the garden. As Shivaay stared at Gauri hugging and laughing with Omkara, without a care in the world, he felt the earth slip off his feet. He felt his heart breaking into bits along with his trust in her.

How could she do this to him... did he not matter to her enough that she didn't even feel an ounce of guilt while she fooled him... lied to him... If his heart had a voice, it would have screamed... Kya kami reh gayi thi mere pyaar me ki tune itna bada dhoka diya mujhe Gauri? (What was lacking in my love that you betrayed me like this Gauri?)

"Sir.. are you alright" Ajay asked from beside him and Shivaay turned away wiping a tear off, walking back to the party.

"I know this might be difficult but..."

Shivaay cut him off as they entered the main building "What is the plan?"

"Sir?"

"You said you have a plan to save her... what is it?" Shivaay made his question clear and Ajay smirked before he started to explain the scheme in detail.

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Yaay... early update...

There you go.... Loads of drama ... and more drama awaiting....

Let me know your thoughts... about Shivaay... Omkara... and also Gauri...

Shouldn't Shivaay feel betrayed?

Shouldn't Omkara feel insecure... do you think it might pose a trouble further into the story?

Should have Gauri continue to lie to her brother for two years?

I am waiting for your comments....

Till then... signing off... Yours Soujanya...