"I hope you cleaned and mopped your guest room for my stay, till I find an apartment of my own." Gauri said to Anika.

"I cleaned and mopped every corner, I even changed the sheets and drapes to your favourite blue colour, see." Anika said as she turned the camera to show the room.

"Good, you owe me that." Gauri said as soon stuffed her clothes in her travel bags.

"You are never going to forgive me, do you?" Anika asked.

"If not for you, I would have been living my dream by now, instead of wasting my precious youth in a boring business school trying to earn a certificate that was going to be nothing but a show piece in Papa's office." Gauri huffed. "Your backstabbing betrayal is still as fresh as a daisy in my mind, incase you forgot let me remind you."

3 years ago.

"Anika, please don't cry, we surely can find a way to escape this predicament." Shivaay said as Anika sobbed.

"No Shivaay, we don't have a choice now, my father was all set to introduce me as his heir and company's COO next week, and on the same day, I am going to get engaged to Samar Malhothra." Anika cried.

"I won't let that happen, Anika." Shivaay vowed.

"It's too late, Shivaay. I already spoke with my father about us, he was furious and you still haven't spoke with your parents about us."

"My parents are as strict as your dad, besides there is Dadi, who was hell bent on getting me married to Tia Kapoor. If I reveal to them about us now, then they will hurry up the things and puts me in pressure to marry Tia." Shivaay explained.

"So, you are okay if I get engaged to Samar?" Anika asked furiously.

"No.. No... I am saying that we can't just reveal it now. But... If you are okay with it, we can elope and get married next week and keep our marriage under covers from my parents for few days." Shivaay said.

"No way, I can't run away from my home, I am scared." Anika panicked. "Besides, dad keeps tabs on all my accounts and transactions."

"It's the only way, Anika. Either we elope and marry each other or stay home and marry some other." Shivaay said exasperated, "It's your choice now, I have a friend in California, who can arrange everything in two days. We just have to go to California to get married. I will let this on you, the ball is in your court now." Shivaay said as he disconnected the call.

"Finally, I can't wait to live my dream, freedom here I come." Gauri exclaimed as she came dancing inside her and Anika's room.

"Di... I am so happy todayyyy.... " Gauri exclaimed as she jumped onto her bed, too happy to notice Anika's tears. "Ask me why."

"Why?" Anika asked wiping her tears.

"I got the ticket to my freedom, ticket to California, to pursue my dreams..." Gauri said showing the ticket.

"You are running away from home!" Anika asked shocked.

"Yes." Gauri asserted, "I can't stay under this roof and let our Father rule my life, so I did part time jobs and brought a ticket with my own money, Papa won't even know where I am. This way I will be able to pursue my dream career."

"How are you going to get away without making people suspicious." Anika asked in wonder.

"My flight is at 6AM and at 5AM tomorrow, I would go out wearing my track suit, if anyone asks I will say I am going for a jog. I hired a ride that will be ready at the Park's gate to pick and drop me at metro, I will buy a ticket to Delhi, but I will get off in the next station and from there I will go to airport, take the flight that will take me to my destination." Gauri said falling on the bed sighing dreamily as Anika looked at her little sister, who was taking the dare of her life.

"I will miss you, Anika di but I will face time you every night, Papa will be angry for few days but I am sure, he would come around eventually, after all we are his daughters he can't stay angry on us for long time." Gauri kept in talking but Anika was in deep thoughts.

"Gauri... " Sunaina Sharma cried making Gauri wake up startled.

"What happened Ma, why are you crying?" Gauri asked confused about why her mother was crying early in the morning.

"Anika eloped!" Sunaina cried hugging Gauri.

"Eloped?" Gauri asked shocked.

"Yes, this morning she said Khanna that she is going for a jog and Ramu kaka said that he saw her getting into an unknown taxi by the park, her phone is switched off, and now when I came to ask you about that see what I found." Sunaina cried hugging a very shocked Gauri, who looked towards the mirror, where the familiar handwriting was found.

I am going Ma and Pa, I can't let go of my dreams, love you all, sorry Gauri.

The letter written on the mirror with red lipstick was forever imprinted in Gauri's mind reminding her of the back stab from her own sister.

The alarm clock she set for 5AM magically rang at 6AM trying to wake Gauri from her horrible nightmare, which sadly was a harsh reality.

At present:

"I am sorry for that, Gauri. That day I couldn't think of anything else, yes I was selfish back then but then I didn't have a choice, I knew that you are a strong girl who will find a way out, but I still regret doing that to you." Anika said sadly.

"I thought to kill you at sight, but I forgave you." Gauri said smiling, "Yes, you are right, I found my way to get out of Papa's monarchy even though I got three years late, I finally did."

"I am happy for you Gauri, Shivaay is finding an apartment for you near your college, once you come here, we can finalize and start interiors."

"I can find one on my own Di." Gauri smiled.

"I known you are a strong and independent girl but still Shivaay and I wanted to do it for you as a token of apology from our side, even though you are kind enough to forgive us." Anika said.

"Okay, see you tomorrow." Gauri said as she completed her packing.

"Mama... I am going to Papa's office to say bye to everyone." Gauri said running out of the home.

"Have a nice day Veer Bhaiyya, I will miss you all." Gauri waved to the security Guard near the doors as she walked inside the elevators.

The fact that she is going away from her father's clutches tonight, was making her all thrilled.

"Hey, are you new here?" Gauri asked her companion in the elevator.

"Hi, are you speaking with me?" Omkara, who was in the elevator with Gauri asked surprised at her question.

"Yes, I never saw you here before." Gauri said drinking coffee from the paper cup casually.

"Uh.. Yes, I joined recently." Omkara said too surprised to find the girl, who occupied his thoughts ever since he saw her, in reality as a first thing in the morning and top of that she was speaking with him!

"Ah.. I guessed so, other wise I know everyone who works in this office by their first and last names." Gauri smiled, and then in a hushed tone she said, "First names to call, when papa is not around and Last times to call when Papa is around."

Omkara nodded his head in amusement.

"How long has it been since you joined the office?" Gauri questioned.

"It was yesterday that... "

"Ah, a newbie then, since you are new here, I will show you around the office and introduce you to the canteen and staff." Gauri said cutting off Omkara, "And also I will give the directions to the Magic cup Cafe, where you can find the best coffee and snacks around."

"Thank you." Omkara said as he adorably looked at Gauri, who was speaking with him animatedly. "Is that coffee from there? It is smelling great." He asked gesturing at the cup Gauri was holding in her hand.

"No, this coffee is made by me, I brought it from home. But thank you." She laughed, "If I get a chance I would make one for you, but Magic cup's coffee tastes divine too, it is the best place to find coffee, I could have taken you to there personally, but you see I am leaving for California tonight, for my internship." Gauri said happily as the doors opened at the top floor.

"My stop." Gauri said as she was about to get out of the elevator, but turned around to look at Omkara, "Where did my manners go," Gauri said smacking her forehead, making Omkara smile, "I am Gauri Sharma, you can call me Gauri, when my father isn't around and you are... " She asked forwarding her hand towards Omkara.

"I am...

"Mr. Oberoi?" Shakti called making Gauri turn around to look at her father.

"Papa." Gauri frowned looking at her father.

"Gauri, great that you both met already but let me formally introduce you to Mr. Oberoi." Shakti said holding Gauri's hand and making her face Omkara.

"Mr.Oberoi meet my daughter Gauri Sharma, and Gauri, this is Mr. Omkara Singh Oberoi, the one with whom our company is collaborating with." Shakti introduced.

"Nice meeting you, Ms. Sharma." Omkara smiled emphasizing on Ms. Sharma. "I heard from you father, that you are a very talented person."

"Thank you." Gauri mumbled politely.

"That she is," Shakti said, "She is very interested in business, she graduated in first class and now she is going to California to intern under Mr. O'Connor." Shakti boasted proudly looking Gauri, who gave a awkward smile.

"Well, Mr. Sharma, if you don't mind I have a suggestion." Omkara said looking at Gauri for a brief moment.

"Yes.. "

"I know you are very excited to about sending Ms. Sharma to US to intern under Mr. O'Connor but don't you think it would be great if she interns in her own company, that way she would be able to know how things works here from basic level and would be able to learn better." Omkara said as Gauri looked at him wide eyed.

"That's a great idea but I am always away attending meetings and conferences, so she won't get a good scope to learn things." Shakti said and Gauri nodded with a smile.

"In that case, I would be glad to take her under my wing and teach her, that way she will also get a chance to learn about this merger."