Gauri nervously looked at the door of her brother's study contemplating again as to how to brooch the subject... Obviously he wouldn't be happy but the optimistic part of her urged her to come clean... let him have a proper introduction of Omkara, why she loved him and why she trusted him with her life.

She knew her brother's fetish for blood and lineage but she also knew he loved her... now that Omkara asked her hand in marriage it is time to test if her brother loved her more or his principles. She was prepared to put up a proper fight to win his brother's blessings for her love. Nevertheless, a nagging thought that she might lose what she had now... her brother's immense trust in her.. is what sacred her.

Should she tell him everything? That she lied to him every other day since the past two years whenever she had to spend time with Omkara? Does she have to tell him that she even lied to him that she went on a college excursion once in every six months...when she actually was with Omkara betraying her brother?

No... she cannot... but how will he get to know the extent to which she loved him... how will he understand the comradery and comfort she shared with him for which she wants to marry him and make that friendship permanent in her life?

May be she should start by explaining that from the day Omkara entered her life, she saw nothing but good days...felt nothing but happiness... since the day he stepped into her life, he guarded her from the darkness that never seemed to leave her since her childhood.

She doubtfully opened the door only to close her ears while her brother roared at poor Khanna.

"What the hell were you doing if people could walk in and out of my mansion as if it were a society park.... What kind of security do you provide then Khanna... answer me"

Khanna was about to open his mouth when Shivaay noted the presence of Gauri at the door.

"You wanted to talk something?" he asked in a calm, no nonsense tone.

No warmth in those eyes... no smile on his face... no calling her Gudiya? thought Gauri staring at her brother.

"What happened bhaiyya? Are you alright?" she asked and he nodded "Nothing of importance... there has been a security breech which I came to know of today... This man here... is good for nothing" he said pointing towards Khanna while the later hung his head low.

"Bhaiyya... that is rude...I told you..."

"Why are you here Gauri... shouldn't you be sleeping? Do you need anything" he said cutting her off.

He is definitely not in a good mood to talk.

"No... I.... I just wanted to wish you good night" she said and he nodded muttering a good night before turning his attention back to Khanna...

Did he just dismiss her? No forehead kiss before bed or wishing her a proper good night?

May be she could talk to him tomorrow when he calms down... she thought before walking to her room disheartenedly.

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Shivaay twisted and turned in his bed, his heart scolding him for being cold towards his sister. From the time he heard of Ajay's plan, his thoughts were all over the place.

Growing up in a family of business, he knew people who betray you will first gain your trust, make you their pawn before playing their final card and destroy you. It was not the first time that he met someone like Ajay. People like him can steep to any lows to gain the heights of power. The moment he heard of the unethical scheme, he asked Ajay to get out of the house and not to show his face again.

The fetish for lineage...is something which he breathed in during his childhood... something which is fed to him like water and resided in every cell of his being. It is hard to erase it from his mind. Lack of a good upbringing, good culture will influence one's behavior is what his grandfather taught him. He cannot expect more out of people like Ajay who were born and brought up in poverty.

Poverty gives rise to need...which when not fulfilled will give pain leading to failure to thrive. The basic instinct of not wanting pain will give rise to immorality, selfishness and greed. He met hundreds who resorted to deceit out of one of the three reasons...

Gauri's guardians were selfish and greedy for money; Ajay was greedy for power. For certain extent he thought he was wrong in assuming that people not belonging to class are betraying in nature when he worked with Anika. But in the end she proved his grandfather's thinking right by outrightly lying to him and showing immorality in her work. If he is not wrong, the same might apply to Omkara.

It is right that he didn't have a good opinion on the man his sister loved... he might be prejudiced but his thinking always helped him in business.

If he went with the facts...Omkara is an undercover police officer who came across his sister in a train when she was chased by goons... if he helped her, what is so great about it? isn't it his job profile? Should that mean he should marry her off to him? If the man had a sense of professionalism in him, he wouldn't have trapped his sister only because he saved her life.

If a doctor saves a patient life, it his duty... does that mean he should marry everyone he or she saved? If Omkara helped his sister, he can always ask for anything in return of his favor... he is prepared to give everything the former wished for.... Anything except his sister. Gauri has suffered enough living in a poor household till he met her... now she deserved to be pampered... he won't allow her to go back to her earlier life.

She is just a child who is being taken advantage of because of her innocence and pure heart. He will not allow her to make an impetuous mistake in something as important as deciding a life partner. He feared that if he talked to his sister, he might fall weak and change his mind.

He got up from his bed giving up on his sleep and walked towards his sister's room. Opening the door he noiselessly walked to her side to see her sleeping peacefully while a naughty tendril of hair fluttered over her face threatening to disturb the peace of her sleep. He gently tucked the hair strand behind her ear and kissed her forehead gently muttering a "Sorry Gudiya". Pulling her sheets close to her and making sure she is comfortable he walked out to make a few phone calls.

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Ajay was fuming in his cabin thinking of the change of events. He thought of getting close to Shivaay by letting out information about his sister and thereby gain a favor or two. After all, who would say no to the great SSO.... Not even the high command. But the man outrightly refused him when he suggested that he crushed Omkara along with his family and monopolized Gauri. What came as a biggest shock was the news of Omkara's promotion as the Assisted Commissioner of Police that too on Shivaay's recommendation.

How dare he insult him this way.... Not only did Shivaay throw him out of his mansion he also made Omkara's rank equal to him in the department... why would he do that? Any plan behind? ........ plan or not... he isn't going to keep quite... this has become an issue of personal interest now... to irk Omkara and in turn irk the great Shivaay.

"Congratulations Omkara" said the commissioner of Police giving the promotion orders to a smiling Omkara.

"Thank you sir"

"You can join the duty as ACP from tomorrow... if it is okay with you" he said and Omkara agreed without complaint.

"Good... I will meet you tomorrow"

"Sure sir.... Thanks again" said Omkara before taking his seat in the station cabin.

Once left alone Ajay gestured his junior officer to come to him and he obeyed.

"Come Pandey sit... kya haal chaal hai.. is everything okay at home?" asked Ajay.

Why are you suddenly worried about my family? Kamina... thought Panday but obviously smiled at his superior nodding his head in a yes.

"Hmmm.... See what has become of the department..."

Correct.... When you are here on my head as an ACP... what worse can happen to the department ... he thought though he said, "what happened sir?"

"We heard people getting gifts from brother in laws... have you heard people getting promotions?" asked Ajay smirking at Omkara who stopped doing his work to give an ear to the conversation.

Subah subah kya hai ye...kiska din kharab karna hai tujhe...bail insaan (whose day do you want to spoil early in the morning)... "I didn't understand sir".

"I wonder what the occasion of the gift is... any 'good news' from his sister?" he said and Omkara fisted his hand.

Maaroo... maaro mujhe.....ya khud mar jao... (kill me or die yourself) "Sir... I can't understand anything you said" said Pandey tiredly.

"You don't know? Your Omkara sir who says he doesn't take favors from people got his promotion on the great Shivaay singh Oberoi's recommendation" he said and Pandey's eyes widened.

Ayooo.... Pandey looked towards Omkara who had a shocked and hurt look on his face.

"So much for honesty... loyalty and dedication... it is easy to give speeches Pandey...but in real life, it is difficult to follow them...huh... till yesterday your Anika madam and Omkara sir were discussing how I got my rank here... now what will he say?... bloody hypocrites" said Ajay and laughed out loud when he saw Omkara angrily rush out of the station.

Goodness....This man is definitely evil... God... can you please let him die sooner... kisi ki Khushi bardaash hi nahi hoti isse (he can't bear anyone's happiness) thought Pandey.

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Shivaay was going through an important file when an incredibly angry Omkara barged in unannounced with Shivaay's assistant behind him profusely apologizing for the interruption.

Shivaay waved off his assistant turning his attention to Omkara.

"Yes?" he asked sitting confidently on his chair.

"What do you think of yourself? Did you recommend my name for the promotion?" roared Omkara.

"Ohh... about that... I think I am a good brother and yes I recommended you"

"Why? To insult me?"

"No... you are someone on whom I don't waste my time on... why will I take such tedious measures to insult you? And why would you feel insulted for a promotion? I was just returning your favor... for saving my sister"

Omkara inhaled a deep calming breath "Listen Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi... I take my job very seriously... and more than that.. my self-respect... if I get a promotion it should be for my hard work not because some big shot proposed my name"

"Really? Sense of duty you say... then tell me Mr. Omkara...is it your agenda to marry anyone whom you rescue during an operation or does it confine to beautiful rich women like my sister?"

"How dare you" growled Omkara in a cold tone.

"How dare you.....!!!!" shouted Shivaay getting up from his place to walk to his opponent.

"How dare you even think of taking away my sister from me... how dare you break into my mansion without my permission... how dare you take her with you to camps without proper security" he screamed while Omkara defiantly glared at him.

"Does my sister know about Ridhima Chopra and Ishana Mathur... Mr. Omkara?" asked Shivaay and Omkara stared at him... his eyes widening at the mention of his past relationships.

"What?? Doesn't take much time for me to dig into your history... Ridhima Chopra... the one you met in your covet operation in Delhi... whom you were supposed to marry... but she being an industrialist's daughter left you to marry her equal.... Ishaana Mathur whom you tried to trap with your lies... she dated you for six months and then you decided to break up... why? Did she know you were not worth it too?"

"Mr. Shivaay... when you don't know the complete truth don't jump to conclusions. I didn't trap Ishaana... neither did I approach Ridhima" he started "I was not in love with Ishaana... we were just dating each other and when we felt we did not suit each other we broke off the relation. Ridhima's father didn't like my family background and so I backed away from her...." Omkara explained.

"I am what I am because of my hard work and mine alone Mr. Shivaay... I neither take anyone's favors nor insults especially to my self-respect... I am tolerating your taunts only because of Gauri"

"Or because of her status... because you dream of becoming a part of the rich world she belongs to... obviously it is not a coincidence that your past girlfriends are both from well off families... is it?"

"Think whatever you like... I do not care anymore... I will marry your sister irrespective of your vote in it.... She is mine and she will continue to be mine whether you like it or not" shouted Omkara making Shivaay's blood boil.

"What else can I expect from a person who does not value relationships... what more can I expect from an orphan like you" said Shivaay with an intention to hurt him and it hit the target.

"Mr. Shivaay!!!!" roared Omkara clutching his collar his eyes bloodshot and his heart bleeding with the insult.

"Omkaraji" screamed Gauri who just walked in on them and rushed to the duo trying to separate them.

"Omkaraji... please... leave.. kya kar rahe hai aap (what are you doing)" she said loosening his grip on her brother's collar and Omkara left him giving him a push.

"Omkaraji... what is this behavior... did you forget that he is my brother?" she asked angrily while he continued to glare at her brother.

"He is your brother and that is the only reason I am stopping myself from punching his face" he screamed and she gasped.

"Like I would stand here ready to get punched... thank me that you are still alive" countered Shivaay from behind Gauri.

"Gauri... I have had enough... you need to decide what you want... your brother... or me" said Omkara giving her the ultimatum.

"Omkaraji... please..." she started with tears in her eyes but Omkara was too angry to consider her feelings. He showed her his palm asking her to stop her pleas. "Decide... now... who do you want to spend your life with Gauri... I cannot tolerate your brother nor his insults anymore"

"Gauri... if you leave now... consider this as the last time that you will ever see my face" said Shivaay in warning and she turned to him.

"Bhaiyya..." she started but he wasn't ready to hear her as well.

This is the nightmare that she feared the most and it did come true... How can she choose between the two most important people in her life? How can they not know that losing anyone of them would crush the life out of her... she loved each of them to death... How can they make her decide between the two... Are they so blinded by their ego and anger that they not see her pain any longer?

"Gauri... let us go" said Omkara breaking her thoughts and she stared at him not knowing what to reply.

"Gauri... come here... let him go" ordered Shivaay.

Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes she took her Shankarji's name then opening them she turned and walked towards her brother to stand beside him making him smile at her while Omkara's heart took a drastic blow.

Without another word, Omkara walked out of the office vowing to himself to never fall weak in someone's love again.

Shivaay hugged his sister who has started to sob "Gauri... please don't cry... this is just his trap... you are better off without him" he said rubbing her back while she hiccuped.

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Umm.... Is that a mahasangram? I felt so...

Let me know your thoughts....

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