He tied the nuptial chain around her neck, he filled her hairline with sindoor, he took the vows with her in presence of the holy fire. For him, everything was an adjustment done for his daughter. But for her it wasn't so.

It is true that Gauri was doing everything for Riya. But a part of her hoped for a better tomorrow. A bright future with him. She knew it wasn't easy as she thinks. But she was not ready to accept the defeat without even trying. She decided not to be the fake, masked Gauri anymore. She wanted to the real self of her. With new hope and determination, started her new life.

"I promise that I will try to understand you Omkara ji." Gauri thought.

"I promise that I will try to be a friend for you Gauri." Om thought.

...

Om was cursing Bhavya under his breathe for making Riya sleep with Pinky and Shakthi. Even though he agreed for this marriage, he never thought of something called first night. It wasn't really special for him. But still he found that awkward.

Soon the door was opened. Gauri wearing a simple salwaar entered the room. Om maintained his posture seeing her. She smiled at him.

"Where is Riya?" Gauri asked.

"Bhavya made her sleep with Mummy." Om said.

"Why? She could have slept here." Gauri said.

"Then bring her back here." Om mumbled.

Om was trying hard not to be awkward. But Gauri could see him being nervous.

"I am so sleepy. I will take the right side of the bed. Even if you want the right side, I won't give that to you."  Gauri said and went to the right side.

Om looked at Gauri going to the right side of the bed and laying there. He smiled and went to the other side.

"I don't want to make this awkward. I.... I know this won't be easy for both of us. We know we are doing this for Riya. But let's be open to each other. Living in the same room as good friends is better than living in the same room as strangers. Let's give a new beginning to this relationship Gauri. Let's be good friends hoping for each other's goodness." Om said.

Gauri smiled at him.

"Will you be able to take my friendship?" Gauri asked.

"Was that a question or...."

"Let me tell you! I am really crazy and weird." Gauri said excitedly moving closer to him placing the pillow on her lap.

"Your sister knows that very well. If you want to be my friend, then you will have to bear all my craziness. I will pull your leg, make fun of you, tease you, at certain situations, invoulantarily I might slightly hit you, I will irritate you to the core." Gauri said excited.

She looked at Om sitting on the bed with his mouth open.

"Kya hua?" She asked innocently blinking her eyes.

"Who are you?" Om asked.

Gauri slowly turned back scared thinking that there was someone behind her. She turned to see nobody.

"You were asking me?" She asked.

"Aur kisse? You were not like this when we talked for the first time." He said.

"I was exactly the same when we talked for the first time." She said smiling sadly.

She noticed his confused face and quickly changed the topic.

"See! I told na, you won't be able to handle me. I am weird and crazy. Now only I told you about my character and look at you. How can you bear me after being your friend? You can't do this." Gauri asked.

"I am Omkara Singh Oberoi and these are just silly things for me. I handle my company single handedly." He said.

"Kyu? Use both hands." Gauri said.

"So this is where Bhavya learned to crack lame jokes from?" Om asked chuckling.

"Oh come on! She was the one who taught us all these lame jokes." Gauri said.

"Us?" He asked confused.

"Haa! Me and Ishu! We were sick of hearing th-" She was telling it in a flow and then realised.

She noticed his cheerful expression changing to that old, cold one.

"Uh.... I.... I am sorry." She said.

"Why? She was your friend and you were just telling your old stories. I was just listening that. That's what friends does na?" He asked with a small smile.

"You still want to be my friend?" Gauri asked.

"I hate sharing my room with strangers." He said chuckling.

Gauri laughed.

"You don't have to stop when it comes to Ishaana. It's true that I might get hurt and sad but I really wanted to know about her old stories. And you both were more close right?" Om asked.

"Yes! Just like sisters." Gauri said smiling.

"She used to talk a lot about you." Om said.

"She did!?" Gauri asked surprised.

"I never knew you were that Gauri about whome, she used to talk about. When Bhavya told that you are that same Gauri, I wasn't really able believe that. Because the Gauri about whome Ishu told and the one whome I met was completely different. But now I guess you are the same Gauri about whome Ishu talked about." Om said smiling.

"She must have told that i am crazy as hell! I used to fight with her for the silliest issues. Right?" Gauri asked.

Om nodded no.

"I wish I could tell you those. But I don't want to make it awkward. Let's just be friends. I am liking this new colour of you Gauri." Om thought. "She said many things but now, I am damn sleepy."

He said and went to the left side of the bed.

"Good night." He said.

She smiled.

"Won't you wish me back?" He asked.

She nodded no. He smiled and took the left side.

"Good night Omkara ji." Gauri whispered smiling, turning to the other side and slept.

...

The new morning bought freshness and glory to everyone. It was a new beginning to all. Riya was more entusiastic than usual. Bhavya was more happy, Pinky was loving how the new things happened. Shakthi was trying not to make blunders.

Gauri was in the kitchen with the Junior chef Riya helping her.

"And bake it?" Riya asked.

"Yes!" Gauri said.

"Brownies are this simple to make?" Riya asked surprised.

"Haa! Very easy and tasty." Gauri said.

"Brownies!" Bhavya exclaimed seeing the bater.

"Not for you! Only for me." Riya said smirking.

"You will have all the brownies made from these many bater?" Bhavya asked.

"Haa! Riya is a big girl and big girl needs more food for more strength. So all the brownies for me." Riya said.

Bhavya made faces.

"Good morning beautiful people!" Shakthi exclaimed.

"Dadu! I won't sleep with you from today! You snore too loudly." Riya said.

"Tell him! When I tell him, he doesn't believe." Pinky said.

"I don't snore" Shakthi said making faces.

"Then who is snoring in our room? Your ex lover?" Pinky asked.

"Vo kab aayi?" Shakthi asked.

Everyone except Pinky giggled.

"Brownies?" Shakthi asked seeing the bater.

"Mere liye." Riya said.

"See! This devil is not even ready to share a small piece of her brownies." Bhavya said.

"Tho kya hua? You are an expert in stealing food right? Do as how you did in college days." Gauri said.

"Haawww! Bhavya aunty! You used to steal food?" Riya asked.

"Gauri!!!!" Bhavya yelled.

"Kya hua? Meine tho sirf sach bola." Gauri said smiling sheepishly.

"Didn't you get food from home? Didn't Dada give you money to buy food?" Riya asked.

"Bhavya! What were you doing with all those money which we used to send? You stole food?" Pinky asked.

"Vo... Aisa nahi hai. The food Gauri used to make was so tasty. We didn't get enough food so before lunch break I used to take her tiffin box." Bhavya said and smiled sheepishly.

"Still stealing is stealing!" Riya said.

Gauri chuckled.

"Dont laugh!" Bhavya warned.

"She will laugh if she wants! You are no one to control her." Riya said.

"Riya ki bachi! Aaj you are dead!" Bhavya said taking the bater from Gauris hand and poured it on Riya.

...

Om after taking bath came out of the bathroom. He heard loud sound of laughter coming from downstairs.

"Ye kya ho raha hai neeche?" Om wondered.

He changed the dress and walked towards the stairs. The amount of sound was increasing with each step he was taking and finally he reached downstairs to see Gauri hiding behind the pillar and sound coming from the direction of kitchen.

"What are you doing here?" Om asked from behind.

Gauris eyes widened. She turned to him and placed her fingers on his lips. A sudden sensation of electricity passed through him.

"Shhh!!! Don't make noise. If they find me i am gone." Gauri whispered.

"Who?" He asked.

"Shhh! Don't make noise." She said.

"Ok sorry! Who?" He asked lowering his voice.

"Bhavya, Riya, Mummy and papa!" Gauri said.

"Why are you hiding from them?" He asked confused.

Before she could answer both of them heard their sound and footsteps approaching them. Gauris eyes widened. Just before they could notice Om, Gauri pulled him towards her behind the pillar. Due to the sudden force his entire weight fell on her.

After a long time, he looked into her eyes. For the first time he saw something other than those cold and hidden feeling inside her eyes. It was HAPPINESS! He heart thumped hard and fast.

"If they find me i am so gone! Hey bhagwaan! Please make them go from here." She said.

He was completely lost in her and she wasn't even aware that he was leaning on her her. The only thing which revolved around her was Bhavya and Riya seeing them. Om saw her peeping though him to see if they were gone. Slowly their footsteps and sounds were not audible. That was when Gauri realised their position. She saw him looking at her. His hair not completely dry, and open. His neatly trimmed beard, his soft breath fanning her neck. She was sure that he was lost in her. She blushed seeing him looking at her without even blinking.

"Omkaraji!" She called.

He didn't respond.

"Omkaraji!" She called again shaking him.

"Huh!?" Om asked coming out of the daze.

"They went! Let's go." She said.

He noticed their positions.

"Are you going to make me stand like this for the whole day?" Gauri asked.

"Kya!?" He asked and quickly stepped backwards. "First of all, you are the one who pulled me with you."

"I helped you!" Gauri exclaimed.

"Help?" He asked confused.

"Haa! If they saw you, I am sure they will pour the remaining bater on you. Moreover you just bathed now. Saaboon acha hai. Nice smell. Which one? You still use lifeboy?" She asked giggling.

"Haa mein life-" He stopped realising what she asked. "I don't use lifeboy." He said maintaining his posture.

"Lekin you smell like lifeboy soap only." She said holding her smile.

"Are you making fun of me?" He asked making faces.

"Mein? How can I make fun of THE GREAT OMKARA SINGH OBEROI?" She asked chuckling and ran from there.

A small smile formed on his lips. Sudden realisation hit him.

"Did she just call me OMKARA JI!?" He exclaimed. "Wait! Why do I feel good? And, Omkara ji! Why does it feels like she has called me this before?"

"You feel good hearing that na?" He heard Bhavya saying that.

He closed his eyes in embarassment.

"No Om! Atleast not in front of Bhavya. You shouldn't fall weak." He thought and turned to her.

"Mummy!!!!" He shouted scared, seeing Bhavya completely covered in Rice flour.

"Kya hua!?" Pinky asked running from the wash basin.

Seeing Pinky covered with the same rice flour surprised him more.

"Ye kya hua?" Om asked.

"Your cutie pie daughter did this." Bhavya said gritting her teeth.

"Riya!?" Om asked.

"Haa Riya! She emptied the entire tin of rice flour on me." Bhavya said angrily.

"Par kyu?" Om asked.

"Because she emptied the entire bater for brownie on Riyas head." Pinky said glaring at Bhavya.

"You poured that on my daughter?" Om asked shocked.

"How rude Bhai! She made me like this and you are asking me! About pouring the bater on her?" Bhavya complained.

"Hua kya hai actual mein?" Om asked.

Pinky narrated what happened.

"You used to steal food?" Om asked.

"Bhai! I am warning you. Don't start it now." Bhavya warned.

Om gulped.

"Ok fine! Par how did the rice flour land on you?" Om asked pointing to Pinky.

"She was laughing at me and Riya. So we took another tin and emptied it on her." Bhavya said smiling sheepishly.

"Don't smile. I am getting scared. Go and wash this." Om said.

"Riya and Papa are using the wash basin." Bhavya said.

"Papa?" Om asked.

"A good wife always shares everything she gets. So I shared this rice flour with him." Pinky said smiling sheepishly.

"Tell me something, actually did you people get mad or am I mad?" Om asked.

"Offcourse you are!" Pinky said with attitude and walked towards the wash basin.

"I agree with her." Bhavya said and followed her.

...

"I don't believe you! You! And O? Became friends!?And you teased him. You want me to believe this? No way!" Rudy said.

"Then don't believe me. Ask directly to your so called O!" Gauri said making faces.

"Are you serious?" Rudy asked shocked.

"Yes Idiot." Gauri said.

"Are you Gauri itself?" Rudy asked.

"Omkara ji asked me the same thing." Gauri said while chuckling.

"Gauri! Don't keep high hopes. Over expectations leads to heart breaks. He is just trying to make you comfortable." Rudy said.

"I know Rudy! He loves Ishu! I know that." Gauri said.

"And you aren't ready to reveal the truth to him." Rudy said.

"It's been a long time and now there is no use in telling these to him." Gauri said.

"There is! You can lead a happy life with him." Rudy said.

"It's true that I want to lead a happy life with him. But not this way. I don't want to create a bad image of Ishu in his heart. Truth always hurts Rudy and I don't want him to be hurt." Gauri said.

"Exactly! Truth hurts! But there is one thing which you are forgetting! Truth can't be hidden forever. Have you ever imagined what will his condition be when he realise all these when it is too late. Better late than never. But the final decision is yours. This happiness which you are having now is nothing compared to the happiness which you will get after revealing everything to him." Rudy said.

"I know that. But I will never reveal the truth to him myself. If we are destined to be together, even if I don't say anything, we can be a happy family." Gauri said.

Rudy sighed.

"Your life, your wish."

Gauri smiled and cut the call.

#OkThanksBye