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Part 1: The Eye-lock

As he took a step inside, Gauri's eager eyes stiffen and her mouth slightly drops. "Om. . ." She trailed off a whisper, never in her life expecting 'Om' at her doorstep with an alliance.

She hid herself behind the doors of the kitchen, feeling her heartbeats increase while her nervousness froze all her emotions. She released a sigh, trying to control her unwanted feelings, which were building a wall in between her 'thinking practically'. She impatiently started walking forth and back, wanting to keep herself away from his view.

"Come, take a seat." Mrs Sharma says, pointing at the sofa's and he nods, resting his body on the sofa.

While he was making himself feel comfortable, he glances around the hall. Hoping to spot a photo of the woman he was here to see on behalf of his Daadi's insist.

"Hello Aunty." Mrs Sharma smiled at Rudra as he greeted and took a seat besides his brother, Omkara Singh Oberoi.

"Is it just you two?" Mrs Sharma wonders, facing the two.

"No, actually. . ." Before Omkara could complete, they hear a bickering and he points at the door, indicating what he wanted to say.

Mrs Sharma stares outside the door, seeing two couple walk inside while arguing.

"Shivaay, you were late."

"Don't blame me Anika, you took ages getting dressed!"

"I was already dressed, you had taken a long time to come!" She argues back and Rudra, who was sat on the sofa palms his forehead, tired of hearing their continued argument.

"Bhaiyya, Bhabhi. Please, we're already here so there's no point in arguing!" Rudra interrupted, sighing to show his annoyance with hearing them arguing.

Shivaay and Anika face Rudra, realising they had already stepped inside the house.

"Sorry." Anika apologises, turning her head towards Mrs Sharma.

"No, don't be. Come take a seat." She utters and both Shivaay and Anika nod at her, heading towards the Sofa.

"Aunty, Daadi couldn't make it because of her knee pains and Chhotimaa and Chhote-Papa stayed with her." Omkara tells, answering Mrs Sharma's unsaid questions and she nodded at Omkara, closing the main door.

Omkara was obviously nervous, this was the first girl he was seeing after his Daadi had insisted and begged him to settle himself with a life partner. She couldn't see him grow the rest of his life alone, she wanted him to be a soulmate to someone who would take care of him and stand besides him through thick and thin. Most importantly, she wanted Omkara to have a choice as forcing him to get with someone of her choice would merely ruin the life of the two.

Mrs Sharma takes a seat opposite the Oberoi's, feeling nervousness slipping down her spine yet happiness controlling her heart. "I'll call my daughter and you can meet her." She utters and they nod at her.

Omkara wasn't sure if he would like her, he just wanted to meet her and get it over and done with, so he can request his Daadi to stop searching for girls.

"Nervous?" Rudra whispers and Omkara shakes his head negatively. "What if you like her?" Omkara shrugs his shoulders, not having an exact answer to Rudra's second question.

"Gauri!" Mrs Sharma calls, turning her head towards the kitchen and as soon as her name echoed in the awkward hall, his eyes lift up, keenly staring at the kitchen door. His heartbeats skip a beat and he sucked his breath in, seeing her walk outside with a tray of tea and biscuits.

Her hands were shivering but she made sure she restricts her eyes to meet his. Rudra looked at Omkara, confused to see his reaction and then stared at Gauri, seeing her hands shake. A suspicion flows in his mind, spreading amongst his other thoughts.

Anika and Shivaay smiled at Gauri after she placed the tray on the table. "I like her." Anika whispers to Shivaay, who nods, agreeing with his wife Anika "Me too." He responds with a whisper.

Gauri's courage to look up couldn't support her thoughts, all she wanted to do right now is run inside but she knew she had to stay otherwise she would've been accounted for running away by her mother, due to which the truth she wanted to hide for long, could slip out.

"Gauri, give it to them." Mrs Sharma softly utters and obeys her mother's order, yet again.

She picks the tea cups and hands the first one to Shivaay, after successfully handing him the cup she manages to ask "Tea or Coffee?"

"Coffee." He responds and she picks the coffee jug up, pouring it inside the tea cup.

"I'll take tea." Anika says and Gauri nods, looking at Anika and she places the coffee jug down, picking the tea one up and pouring it in the glass.

"The tea smells nice. . ." Rudras trials of while inhaling a deep sniff. "I'll like to try out the tea." He adds, exhaling and Omkara looks at him with serious expressions.

Rudra gracefully ignored Omkara and looks at Gauri pouring the tea jug inside two other cups. After placing the tea jug down, she hands Anika her tea and then holds Rudra's and Omkara's in her hand. She successfully passed the tea cup to Rudra, who took it with a smile.

Gauri passed the last cup to Omkara and lifted her gazes, loosing against her willpower and staring into those brown orbs after many years, still experiencing the same effect.
He couldn't have thought to see her after years and still she has the charm to leave the same impact as she did in the past.

The tea cup drops out of her hand and the piping hot tea spills on Omkara's trousers, she moves away gasping in shock while he stands up.

"Sorry." She apologised and he looked at her while rubbing his hand against his trousers.

Mrs Sharma stood up, not pleased with this, she instantly spoke "Gauri, take him to the washroom."

Gauri nods her head and Mrs Sharma calmed herself down from panicking.

Gauri started leading the way while Omkara followed and as he went past Mrs Sharma, he closes his eyes with a sigh. Dwelling into the flash from the past. . .

Kolkata, 2012

"Gauri, why did you come here?" Mrs Sharma worriedly asked and Gauri brushed her hair while standing in front of the mirror.

"Maa, why are you worrying and what's wrong with Kolkata, it's not that bad."

"How can I not worry Gauri? The local ladies that live in the neighbourhood had said the college you applied to, is rubbish and has a bad reputation!" She exclaimed, not comfortable at all to send her daughter to the college she had selected. "The internship was much better! You could've did that in Mumbai." Mrs Sharma continued, pouring all her worry out, hoping her daughter would change her mind.

"Maa, why are you worrying? How can anyone dare to mess with me? Haan? You know I'm fearless and brave so stop worrying!" Gauri responded, blinking at her mother with assurance of being safe, even though Gauri is capable in defending herself but still the small 'what if' had given the worry an advantage to be the sole expression on Mrs Sharma's face.

Mrs Sharma was a mother after all, her heart was tensed for her daughter though she knows Gauri had taken martial arts classes from the age of 6. Despite being a girl, late Mr Sharma wanted his daughter to be independent and capable of fighting all the trouble on her own if she is ever in danger.

"Maa I'm getting late." She uttered and bent down, touching her mother's feet to take blessings. "Bye." He hurriedly said, rushing out and Mrs Sharma sighed, trying to console her heart.

It was Gauri's first day at college and more than being nervous, she was excited. She also knew about the bad reviews the college had received but she strongly believes the teachers aren't at fault, the students who don't have the will to study are solely at fault.

**

He was stood in front of the mirror, staring at himself. He holds the cologne and starts spraying it on his neck, behind his ears and on his clothes, after he had taken the lid off.

His body was adorned with black chinos, plain white t-shirt and a leather black bomber jacket on top. He starts to walk towards the exit in his black and white trainers, feeling confident and stylish.

While he walked out, he clashed with his cousin, Lakshya Maheshwari, who sighs at him.

"Ommm!" He moans and Om, stares at him. "It was you!" He exclaimed and Lakshya sighed with a frown.

"Aren't you coming college?"

"I got rusticated for a month, remember! And don't rub this look on my face." Lakshya irritatedly sighed, rolling his eyes at Om's outfit.

Om, who was smirking curls a fake frown, "Poor you. You'll miss out on all the fun."

"I'll be back, it's only a month!" Lakshya confidently utters, giving Om a look.

Om was related to the Maheshwari's through his mother Janvi, who was Durga Prasad Maheshwari and Ram Prasad Maheshwari's sister, who had eloped with Tej Singh Oberoi, an Punjabi which had caused a rift between the brothers and sister. After many years, Durga Prasad and Ram had decided to forgive Janvi while she was visiting Kolkata with a young Om and Rudra.

Ever since, on every vacations Om had been traveling to Kolkata to hang around with his cousins and his main was his cousin Lakshya.

Now Om was in Kolkata for over 6 months, studying in the local college with Lakshya.

"Be glad you didn't flash into DugguBai, or else he would've taunted you like a repeat telecast." Om chuckled and Lakshya curved a small smile, knowing his funny banter always does the magic to make people smile.

"I'll get going cause I'm getting late for COLLEGE." Om says, pronouncing the word 'college' loud and clear as Lakshya would hear it as a taunt.

"BYE!" Lakshya responded loud and clear and Om drifted his way out of the Maheshwari Mansion.

**

After half an hour, Om whizzed through the college entrance, feeling great. He actually loved the college life as he believes you should live it to the fullest with some fun. Om wasn't really into studying but whenever he sits an exam, he manages to pass and surprise everyone, including the teachers cause they merely see him as a tension-free and careless student who gives no importance to his future. They do not know that he prepares for the exam last minute, knowing he has a gift from god, which is memory and memorising. Whatever he sees or reads, he can't get it out of his head for at least a 5 days and that is what helps him pass his tests and this ability is his strongest point, which only his family and friends are aware of, that's why he never shows interest in class because he knows why and how he gets lucky.

He felt several of eyes glued to his face and glances around, finding many girls staring at him. He felt a little uncomfortable but knew he was to be blamed for looking the best.

"Om, where were you? We've been looking everywhere for you." She sighed, stopping in front of him and he blinked at her with a small smile. "We found a new fish, come cook it." She adds, clearing his confusion.

"The fish better be tasty." Om warns and she giggled "It looks tasty and delicious." She replied and Om grinned, knowing this fish, which is referred to a girl, going to be awesome.

Om's friend, Ishana holds his hand, taking him towards the 'fish' they were talking about.

*

Gauri crossed her arms across her chest and yawns, waiting for the 'leader' who the boys and Ishana were on about after stopping her from entering the class.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and turns, seeing Ishana. Her eyes move to the Om, who was stood behind her.

Om started examining her while Gauri did the same. "He's your leader?" Gauri questions and the two boys along with Ishana shake their head positively.

Gauri wasn't definitely expecting a figure like Om to be the leader of the ragging group in this college, she had expected more of a bulky guy to come forward for the face of a 'leader'.

Gauri suppresses her lips together, controlling her laugh which Ishana, Om and the two boys noticed.

"What happened?" Om asked in his husky tone, crunching his eyebrows.

Gauri shakes her head negatively, controlling her laugh and smile.

"Oh hello, why are you showing so attitude? Stop smiling and tell us what's so funny?" Ishana harshly uttered, staring at Gauri who looks at Om.

"I'm sorry, I thought a strong and bulky guy will come as your leader, but him. . ." She trailed off, touching her mouth to stop her chuckle.

Omkara, Ishana and the two boys and crease their forehead, finding nothing funny.

"This fly is your leader? He looks so weak and he has been sleeping well hasn't he?" She insults, questioning them. "Even you would suit as the leader." She added, pointing at the boy with a cute dimple.

Om turned his face towards his friend, Ravi who Gauri had pointed at. "The other one looks too simple to be a leader." She added yet again, staring at the other boy, Aman.

Om looked at Gauri, feeling insulted as she was the first ever girl to insult him like that.

"Oye! How can you insult us like that? Who are you?" Aman asked, glaring at Gauri.

"And who were you to stop me?" She asked, silencing him.

"Enough!" Om sternly pronounced, annoyed with the taunt he had received because of Gauri.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I don't have time for this." She replied to Om, who was glaring at her and walks away.

Om had clenched his fist, storming away as the bell rang to alert the students to attend their classes.

"Stupid girl! How can she insult Om and Aman!" Ishana sighed in annoyance, looking at Ravi and Aman.

"I know Om won't leave her for this, he will definitely give her a fit reply for mine and his insult." Aman confidently says, walking away, leaving Ravi and Ishana to start thinking.

"The washroom." She uttered, bringing him out from the past and he looked at her, seeing her avoid him.

"Thank you." He says, heading towards the washroom while looking at Gauri, wanting her to look at him but he knew why she wouldn't.

Gauri turns to the other side after he was near the bathroom and before she could walk away, he holds her hand and stops her.

She feels a shiver pass down her spine and gasps, not wanting to face him.

To Be Continued. . .

Up Next: Gauri and Omkara to talk and the continuation of the next part. . .

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