"Mumma! Rapunzel had long hair na? Then I also want long long hair, like you." Riya said looking at Gauris long, black, wavy hair.

"Acha! Tho, you have to maintain your hair so dearly. Lekin in your age I didn't have much hair. Not even this much." Gauri said pointing towards Riyas hair.

"Why?" Riya asked.

"Because I never wanted to be Rapunzel. I wanted to be myself." Gauri said.

"Matlab?" Riya asked curiously.

"Matlab, instead trying to be like someone, or trying to change myself for someone, I wanted to be the real me. You won't understand it now. Jab thum badi ho jaaungi tab tab samaj mein aaoongi." Gauri said.

Riya looked at her confused.

"How much hair did you have?" Riya asked.

"Bas short hair thi. Yaha thak." She said pointing towards her shoulder. "That too till my college days."

"You had short hair?" Om asked surprised.

"You didn't sleep?" Gauri asked even more surprised.

"Vo, I was listening to your talks." Om said.

Gauri smiled at him. He smiled back and turned to the other side.

"Shit! Why is this so awkward? We became friends and talked to each other casually right? Ab kya hua? Why can't I talk to her?" Om thought.

"Why am I doing this? My heart tells me not to keep distance. But my mind reminds me that in the end I will have to cry if I get close to him. Why God! Why are you doing this to me?" Gauri thought.

...

"Now what are you waiting for? Can we cut the cake?" Tej asked excited.

"Ys! Lets cut. But you won't get to eat Tej! Your sugar level is high." Jhaanvi warned.

"Arrey! It's my grand daughters birthday today! I want cake." Tej said.

"You won't get one." Jhaanvi said sternly.

Tej pouted.

"So what are waiting for? Let's cut the cake?" Jhaanvi asked.

"Mom told super Chachu will come to meet me!" Vani said excited!

Tej and Jhanvis eyes widened.

"Rudy will come?" Came a voice from behind.

"I am not sure Shivaay! But I invited him today." Anika said.

"We call him for every functions. He doesn't come na?" Shivaay said.

"I don't know why, but today I have a gut feeling that he will come." Anika said.

Suddenly they heard the calling bell ringing. Tej went and opened the door. He saw Rudy standing there nervously playing with his fingers. He had a gift box in his hand.

"I never knew Anikas invitation had this power to bring you here." Tej said.

"Can I come in?" Rudy asked nervously.

Tej moved aside indicating him to go in. Rudy went inside to see the house decorated with colourful balloons and ribbons. He saw Anika standing near little Vani with a smile. And behind them stood him, who claims to be his brother. The one who he loves, but just shows that he means nothing.

"Hi Rudy." Shivaay said with a small smile.

"Hi..... Mr Kapoor." Rudy said.

Rudy turned to Jhaanvi and gave a small smile to her. He saw Vani looking at him curiously. He smiled at her and gave the gift box to her.

"Is this for me?" Vani asked.

Rudy nodded.

"Can I open it now?" Vani asked.

"Not now Vani! You can open it later." Anika said.

Vani pouted and looked at Rudy.

"Aren't you going to wish me, super chachu?" Vani asked.

"Super Chachu?" Rudy asked confused.

"That's what she calls you." Anika said.

Rudy smiled at Vani.

"Happy Birthday" Rudy wished her.

"Thank you!" The little child said excited.

...

Gauri closed her eyes and tried hard to sleep. But sleep was far away from her. She looked at Riya who was sleeping with a cute pout. It reminded her of Ishaana.

"I wish this innocence and good heart doesn't fade away as you age." Gauri thought looking at Riya.

Gauri smiled thinking about how Riya called her Mumma for the first time. But the smile was soon replaced by hurt due to the things happened after that.

"Just get that out of your mind Gauri. Everything takes its own sweet time. He needs time. And he never said anything to you. After that also he wasn't being rude or arrogant. He was trying not to be harsh at you." Gauri said to herself to calm her down.

She got up from the bed to calm herself and saw Om sitting on the other side.

"You didn't sleep?" Gauri asked surprised.

"You didn't sleep?" Om asked back.

"I asked you first so you answer first." Gauri said.

"But I stood up first" Om said.

"Shhh! Riya is sleeping. Don't make voice." Gauri said.

Om looked at Riya and carassed her head.

"Icecream?" Gauri asked excited.

"At this time?" Om asked.

"Haa! Eating icecream at midnight is the best feeling ever." Gauri said and walked out of the room.

Om stood there shocked remembering something.

~~~

"You are boring Mr Khadoos! You haven't eaten icecreams at mid night?" She asked.

"You will catch cold." Om said.

"I only catch cold because of water! Icecream and me are buddies who cannot live without each other." She said.

"Still! Won't you have sleep! Eating ice creams at midnight?" Om asked.

"Eating icecreams at midnight is the best feeling ever." She said and giggled.

~~~

"Why does she sound exactly the way Ishu was? Am I overthinking? They are best friends and they might have same characters. But this isn't the first time!" Om wondered.

He got out of the bed and went to the kitchen. He saw Gauri standing there and making faces.

"Kya hua?" He asked.

"You people only buy chocolate icecreams?" Gauri asked making faces.

"Haa here everyone likes chocolate. So yaa we buy chocolate icecream." Om said.

"Now don't put the blame on everyone. I very well know about your fondness for chocolate icecream. And as always telling that everyone here loves chocolate icecream." Gauri said and chuckled.

"How do you know I love chocolate icecream." Om asked.

"Vo hum baath.... Uh... Vo.... You and Ishu talked about it right? So once she told me about this." Gauri said looking here and there.

"And you still remember that?" Om asked surprised.

Gauri faked a smile.

"So what flavour do you like?" Om asked.

"I love Vanilla!" Gauri said excited.

~~~

"You don't like chocolate icecream? What icecream lover are you Miss Ajnabi!?" Om asked.

"Arrey! I don't like that taste! That's all. And to be an icecream lover, it's not necessary to love chocolate flavoured icecream! Vanilla is also good." She said.

"You like Vanilla?" Om asked and chuckled.

"What's wrong with Vanilla?" She asked.

"Everything about Vanilla is wrong!" Om said trying to make her angry.

"Bye!" She said angrily and cut the call.

Om smiled.

~~~

"Kya hua?" Gauri asked seeing Oms confused face.

"Kuch nahi! I... I will get you Vanilla icecream." He said.

But his face still had a little confusion. He opened the freezer and took out a small packet of Vanilla icecream.

"This is Mummys. Only a little portion is left. But you have it." He said.

Gauri took the packet from him and started having it. Om looked at her eating it happily.

~~~

"Om! You eat Vanilla icecream?" Ishaana asked.

"Nope! But this is for you." He said with a small smile.

"Me? Par kyu? There are plenty of chocolate icecream packs in the fridge na?" Ishaana asked confused.

"That's for me. You like Vanilla icecram right?" Om asked.

"Mein? Oh ya! Mere liye! How sweet? Thank you Om. Lekin wakth ke saath aadath badal chuki hai. After knowing that you love chocolate icecream, I started eating it and now I love chocolate more than Vanilla." Ishaana said.

"You started changing your tastes for me?" Om asked surprised.

"That's because I love you so much Om." Ishaana said and hugged him.

~~~

Gauri was looking at Om who was immersed in Ishaanas thoughts.

"Excuse me Mister!" Gauri called him.

He looked at her.

"Won't you eat icecream?" Gauri asked.

"I will catch a cold." Om said.

"Still the same." Gauri mumbled making faces. "Aadhiraath mein icecream khaane ka mazaa hi kuch aur hai!"

"Ishaana used to say the same." Om said.

"Haa! During hostel day we both used to jump the hostel wall and go to Ramu kakkas icecream stall and eat icecreams. I will eat Vanilla and she will eat chocolate." Gauri said remembering those days.

"I don't know what happiness she got eating that bitter chocolate icecream." Gauri said making faces.

(Chocolate icecream lovers! Pls forgive! It's just for the story.)

"You can't simply tell that in front of a chocolate icecream lover." Om said.

"Arrey! Isn't chocolate icecream little bitter?" Gauri asked.

"It isn't actually bitter but a high flavour of cocco. And that gives the taste to chocolate icecream." Om said.

"Bitter is bitter Omkara ji!" Gauri said eating the vanilla ice cream.

Om felt butterflies flying inside her stomach hearing her calling him Omkara ji again. But no! As a chocolate icecream lover, you are not supposed to fall for this.

"Not every bitter is bitter Gauri." Om said.

"Are you drunk or what? Bitter is bitter, sweet is sweet, sour is sour, salty is salty and spicy is spicy." Gauri said.

"You vanilla lovers are spreading hate!" Om said.

"Arrey Arrey! Ithni chotti si baath ko kaha se kaha lekar jaa raha ho aap?" Gauri asked.

"Agree that chocolate icecream is tasty. Ishaana who loved vanilla icecream changed to chocolate. Then why can't you just accept that chocolate is tasty?" Om asked.

"Who are you speaking about? Ishu? She was a chocolate icecream fan from the very beginning. Just like you. She was damn annoying in these matters. She was adamant in saying that chocolate is the best." Gauri said.

"Ishaana loved Vanilla." Om said.

"Oh come on! I shared the same hostel room with her for two and a half years. And we used to go to icecream stall together. I know her very well. She loved chocolate icecream." Gauri said and ate her icecream.

Om was getting more confused now. But he didn't want to think more about it. He faked a smile at her and took the chocolate icecream. Soon his confusion vanished seeing Gauri eating it not caring about the surroundings. A small real smile formed on his lips.

"Kya hua?" Gauri asked.

Om nodded no smiling.

"Turn the other side." Gauri said.

"Kyu?"

"I want to lick the icecream box. I don't want anybody to see me licking it." Gauri said.

"You are too childish." Om said.

"So were you!" Gauri said.

"Yaa I was! But now I grew up." Om said.

"You think not licking icecream box after having icecream is growing up? You are still a child by heart. You are just pretending to be serious and grown up." Gauri said.

Om stood on the kitchen slab near Gauri.

"I am grown up. Ok?" He said.

"Haa! Very grown up. You were arguing with me few minutes back about chocolate icecream being the best. Even if it isn't, you were arguing with me." Gauri said.

"That was because....."

"Because?"

"Because..... I don't know." Om said.

"Because you are more childish than me." Gauri said and laughed.

"Your laugh sounds familiar." Om said.

Gauri quickly stopped laughing.

"Is it?" She asked nervously.

"Haa as if I have heard it many times." Om said.

"May be, someone might have had the same laugh like me." Gauri said.

Om nodded and started having icecream.

....

The night was wonderful, they talked a lot, pulled each other's legs, and they became more close. They slept late that night. Gauris morning started with her phone ringing continuously.

She opened her eyes to see Om on the left side of the bed and Riya wasn't there. She saw the door open and understood that Riya went out.

"Who is calling you at this morning?" Om asked in a sleepy voice.

"My boyfriend! Wanna talk?" Gauri asked.

"No thanks. You carry on. I have ny precious sleep to take care of." Om said.

Gauri took the phone and saw Rudys caller id.

"Why are you calling me in this morning itself?" Gauri asked.

"Morning? It's 11 idiot! " Rudy said.

"Kya?" Gauri asked and looked at phone again to see the time as 11.

She quickly got up from the bed and went to the balcony. Om opened his eyes.

"Was she serious about the boyfriend thing? She has a boyfriend? No no! She is a nice girl. But what is the problem if a nice girl has a bf?" His mind thought.

"She is your daughters mothers. She shouldn't have one." His brain said.

"God! Am I jealous or something?" Om thought.

Gauri was standing in balcony.

"God! Are you mad or something? When it comes to other things, you are the most matured guy and when it comes to this family stuff, you are the dumbest." Gauri said.

"I don't know why I did that! It's just.... I was angry." Rudy said, guilt evident in his voice.

"If you knew you were angry then why did you go to the party?" Gauri asked.

"When Anika asked me, I just felt like I should go. I was not angry then. I was angry when I heard Shi.... Mr Kapoor calling my papa as papa." Rudy said.

"Thu paagal hai! What will happen if address Tej uncle as Papa?" Gauri asked.

"I don't know. I felt jealous." Rudy said.

"And because of that you created a scene there and threw the little childs birthday cake and came back without even apologizing?" Gauri asked.

Rudy stayed silent.

"What you did was wrong! You should apologize." Gauri said.

Rudy didn't say anything and cut the call. Gauri went inside and saw Om standing there.

"Talk with boyfriend over?" Om asked.

"Haa" Gauri said and walked to the room.

"She really has a bf? God! I am jealous. But why?" Om wondered

~~~

Me: You love her idiot

Om: I know that. Just make me realise it. You are making me a villain in front of the readers.

Me: If I make you realise it, the story will be over.

Om: I don't care. Too much hatred is not bearable.

Me(smiling sheepishly): What will you do in the future story then?

Om: MISS FLOWER!

Me: Okthanksbye🏃‍♀️