"You do that again and I'll chop off your head and feed it to 16 of Mrs Jinkin's cats! Rudra yelled, throwing his protein shake bottle at his roommate.

Om had his head buried in his pillows and he was groaning, screaming and wriggling on his bed like a worm and it was annoying the shit out of Rudra.

"Shut up, he grumbled back at Rudra as he got up and threw his pillow at him which Rudra dodged like a ninja!

He couldn't get that kiss with Chulbul out of head. He knew it stupid, stupid thing to do! Chulbul was a big fool! And just like they said, they should forget about it, but Om couldn't get the images out of his head. It was like they were superglued inside his head or something.

"Rudra?

"Hmm

Rudra was just not Om's roommate but also one of his closest buddies.

"What would you do if a guy kisses you? He tried to keep his voice as casual as possible.

"Give him a flying kick in his shins,

That is what any guy would do

"These amazing lips are god's gift to just girls, why you asking buddy? Did someone-"

"What?! No! I was just..trying to make a conversation, Om rambled, panic getting best of him.

Rudra flatted his lips at Om and sighed.

"From the next time try topics like soccer or COD, Rudra grumbled.

***
For next two weeks things seemed right between them from afar but they were really messy when looked closer.

Gauri tried to avoid Om without making it too obvious or hurt his feelings. She thought if she would stay away from him, her crush with eventually die.

But Om did notice it, it was hard not to when all his attention was subconsciously always on Chulbul.

And it did hurt his feelings. Chulbul was a great guy and one of the few people around him who genuinely cared about him. He wanted to protect their friendship at any cost. But he also didn't want to give wrong impression to Chulbul..it might lead to really messy situation so he decided he needed to make a few things clear.

At the first chance he got, he pulled Chulbul into an empty room and checked to see if anyone saw them before closing the door.

Chulbul looked at him with wide eyes.

"The other day..when you kissed me I could have decked you, but I didn't,

"But if you do it again, I will deck you Ok? He whispered.

Gauri nodded immediately.

"Because it's what who I am. I know I am. I am mean I am not! I-I am not what you think, ok? His voice was rough and panicky.

"Okay, Gauri said with more emphasis than required.

***

It was Friday and Om and Gauri would go and watch some action movie at the movie theatre every Friday.

It had become their norm.

And Gauri loved those three hours she got to spend with him.

When she reached Om's car, her worst nightmare stood there, in a short red dress and killer heels.

A girl with long black hair and really really good legs that even Gauri had to appreciate, stood pressing her body against Om's, running her fingers across his shirt in imaginary patterns.

When they saw Gauri approaching, the girl moved away and smiled at Gauri.

"You must be Chulbul right? It's so nice to finally meet you. I am Ridhima, Om's girlfriend,

Was it wrong that Gauri felt like clawing her face?

"Hey,

Pretending to smile back at her was more painful than waxing. Moreover Gauri couldn't decide what hurt her more- the fact that Om had a girlfriend or that he never mentioned about her.

Either way, her heart was crushed!

"I asked Ridhima to join us, it's alright right?

It was alright. Heartbreakingly-soul crushingly alright!

"No problem,

Smile Gauri..Just smile..

***

Ridhima was hell bent on watching some romantic drama and Gauri wanted to gag!

They got three tickets for some sappy romantic movie and got inside the dark movie auditorium.

Om sat in the corner seat and Ridhima was about to seat beside him when Gauri jumped and rushed to take her seat and ended up sitting between them.

When the movie started, Gauri could feel Ridhima glaring at her but she pretended not to care.

Tonight she just surpassed all the levels of pathetic!

But all's fair in love and war right?

While watching the movie Om and Gauri reached for popcorns at the same time and-

Krrr..

Their eyes locked.

"S-static, Om muttered.

"Yeah..definitely. Gauri gulped.

A romantic kissing scene came on screen and Gauri felt temperature rising.

She gulped again and licked her dry lips. Maybe she should have not sat beside Om because now she couldn't get the idea of kissing him out of her head!

She was fishing for popcorns when Om decides to had them too and instead of popcorns, he held her hand.

Her heart stopped!

Great, now he had this weird control over her body organs!

To her surprise he didn't let it go this time, instead he rubbed his thumb across it lightly, sending jolts of electricity across her body.

Gauri's breaths got short and fast and she almost tuned her head to kiss him when-

"Om can you please drop me home? I need to leave urgently. Ridhima whispered in low voice.

Om immediately let go of her hand and jumped up.

"Yeah sure! He said quickly and left with Ridhima leaving behind Gauri to wonder if it was possible to choke oneself with popcorns!

***
For the next two weeks Om and Gauri avoided each other like plague.

Gauri realised, she could never be just friends with Om without making things awkward between. She better just stay away and mind her own business.

And Om realised that something about him had changed. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep Chulbul out of his head. He broke up with Ridhimma and gladly it went neatly because they both admit they weren't made for each other.

How much Chulbul had occupied his mind and thoughts was scaring him.

It was formal Christmas party in their college and every guy was suppose to dress in a tux and could bring a date. Most of them did.

And when Gauri saw Om entering the hall in a white tux with his long hair tied in a half ponytail and his arms wrapped around a girl, she could feel the water in her eyes.

Om looked her for the briefest second then turned to his date to ask her for dance. She gladly agreed.

Gauri died watching them dance together.

So close.

She wanted to go there and pull that girl away from him and dance with him instead.

But she couldn't do it, for she was Chulbul now, not Gauri.

But when she saw him moving his head down to the girl's neck, leaving few kisses, she couldn't take it anymore.

To hell with the college! She needed to tell him!

She ran to the DJ and pulled out the wires of music system.

Then she grabbed a drink and walked towards Om and his date. She splashed her drink at Om's date and her jaw slacked.

"What the-"

"Get the hell out of here! Gauri ordered in a scary voice, pointing towards the gate.

Poor little scared girl literally ran away!

It was her chance.

"What the hell was that?!

"Om, there is something I wanna tell you, she breathed.

She realised how much she liked him because she was ready to risk everything for him.

Everything.

"Om I am-"

"Chulbul, I cant do this. Please. He said with finality in his words and walked away leaving her in tears.

Can't do this?

Was this it?

Their friendship, everything

Pushing back her tears Gauri realised how easily just four words of him tumbled down her whole world.

She felt choked and quitly walked away towards the washroom.

Maybe crying away from the crowd and for a while stop pretending to be something she is not, might help.

She stood before the mirror and stayed back at her reflection and chuckled.

She indeed is the biggest fool!

How could she even thing Om would like her? She was pretending to be a guy and even if she didn't, he won't look second time at her.

She was small and petite, unlike all those girls Om dated. She was just no match.

Maybe it was needed to give her a reality check.

She wasn't worthy of Omkara Singh Oberoi.

Suddenly the washroom doors flung open and Omkara stormed in.

"Om what are-"

He checked all the compartments quickly and when he was sure no one was there he walked to her.

"Om-"

His lips crashed down against hers in a passionate kiss and Gauri's body reacted to it almost instantly.

She wrapped her hands around his neck as he pulled her closer by her waist and they deepened the kiss.

Gauri had almost forgotten how blissful his lips felt. She would do anything for just one kiss by him. It was how crazy she was about him.

Om pulled back to catch breath.

"W-we are gays Chulbul, a
He breathed closing his eyes.

But Gauri's widen.

"No, no, no,-"

"It's Ok Chulbul, it's alright I accept what we are-"

"No Om we are not!

Gauri felt the panic coming. This was not at all how she planned it to go!

"Chulbul-"

"Om there is something I wanna tell you and you have to listen, she begged.

"What?

She pulled him into one of the compartments and took out her tux.

"Chulbul what are you-"

"Shh,

She unbuttoned her shirt revealing the bandages and took them off too leaving her in a tight vest.

Om's jaw slacked.

"My name is Gauri not Chulbul. I am a girl, Gauri said with a gulp.

Om said nothing, just looked at her with betrayal.

He thought he was her best friend and she hid such a huge thing from him.

Gritting his teeth so hard that he thought his teeth would break, he pushed open the small compartment's door with forced and stormed out of the room.

It was time for Gauri to pack her bags..

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Thank you to all those who liked and  commented on the last chapter! 💕💕