Dedicated to @Anukritisingh007 for the beautiful cover.
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"Gauri... I don't want to hear your views on this marriage... I am just informing you that you have no choice but to accept the proposal if you want to continue your studies... otherwise forget about that dream... you can get married to someone here in Bareilly" said her grandmother Gayathri Sharma.

"Daadi... please... I don't want to marry now... please make baba understand. You are my only hope" she pleaded again.

"You were promised to them Gauri... this isn't something negotiable...you know your father cannot back out on a promise... he is the village head... if he goes back on his word what will be left of the family's honor... you will have to marry him... they are a good family... you will be happy with them..."

"But... I don't want to marry now...why can't you people understand that... if my mother were alive, she would have supported me" saying this Gauri ran to her room crying.

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"I have a meeting today Daadi... I won't have time to see the girl today" said Shivaay to Kalyani Singh Oberoi.

"Okay... I will inform them that we will go tomorrow... is that okay for you?" she asked and her grandson nodded his head.

"They are planning to send her to college today... seems like she is eager to start her academic year... didn't take my help though... they said she got the admission without much difficulty" he informed earning a nod.

"I have made arrangements for their stay in our guest house.... Did you talk to them?"

Kalyani Singh Oberoi shook her head tiredly "Omkara and Rudra got into another college fight Shivaay... I went to meet the principal yesterday... jab dekho jhagada... tera laad pyaar ne hi bigaada hai unhe.....(they get into fights every other day... your pampering has spoilt them)" she said ready to start her usual complaining session about her naughty grandsons.

"Daadi... they are youngsters... Om will complete his exams next month... if he joins me in business these fights will come down on their own... Moreover Omkara gets into fights only when he finds rules broken... it is not like he fights unnecessarily... you know him..."

"Rudra is no less... he has a year more to complete his studies... He follows Om's footsteps... I am sure he will be getting into more fights than his brother"

"Daadi... you are talking as if they are some goons... my brothers are smart and good at academics... You will see for sure... Omkara will pass his exams with honors... it is just that he gets irked when it comes to people crossing lines"

"Haa too (So?) ... is he the only one in college to take all the problems of the student community on his head?"

"Daadi he is a student leader... it is obvious that if anyone has a problem they will go to him for help"

"Talking to you against your brothers is like blowing a trumpet before a deaf ear... leave it... no one in this house understands my worry" said Daadi with an irritated pout.

Shivaay smiled at the elderly woman "Acha thik hai... I understand your concern... I will talk to Om today... are you happy now?"

When Kalyani nodded her head with a satisfied smile Shivaay laughed and shook his head "Sometimes I feel like I have to deal with not two but three kids daadi... why don't you act your age"

"Haaaw" exclaimed Kalyani dramatically "How old do you think I am.... It is just that I got married when I was eight.. otherwise I would have been only a mother... not a grandmother... I stopped counting my age after sixteen.... Don't I look like that?" she said righting her appearance making her grandson chuckle and say "Absolutely right"

"By the way... your laadlas didn't come for breakfast yet... I will go now and see if they woke up or not" said Kalyani and got up from her seat to walk to her grandson's room. Just as she walked a few steps, Shivaay called her again.

"Daadi... you can go meet them in the afternoon... inform them that we will go see them tomorrow... they should not mind the delay" said Shivaay putting another piece of scrambled eggs in his mouth and Kalyani nodded.
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"Hey beautiful" greeted Omkara grinning and hugging the elderly woman when she entered his room.

"Ohh... you are ready to go... why are you late for breakfast then?... come your brother is waiting for you" said Kalyani dismissing the former's love for her still angry at his misconduct.

"Nothing... just slept late last night.. I will be down in two minutes... wake up Rudy by then" he said.

"Haaw... it is eight thirty and he didn't get up? When will he go to college" said Daadi and picking up a glass of water hurried to the youngest brother's room.

Omkara devilishly smirked at her back... Good morning Rudy... your punishment is on the way... he thought and turned sidewards to find his other brother coming towards him.

"Shivaay!!" he greeted and the later smiled "Heard about the recent war at college..." he said instead.

"Of course... daadi's spies are placed everywhere" he said rolling his eyes and Shivaay chuckled.

"Why can't you be a little less revealing... everything doesn't need to end up in you bashing your college mates Om"

"I got it... Did Daadi ask you to lecture me? You are being a very good grandson... but no... I ain't the ideal one" said Omkara playfully

"Why does she even think you two will listen to me" said Shivaay sighing and the younger one winked in response.

"So when is the bride meeting scheduled? Count me out of it... I have my exams coming"

" Nothing in my hands... the Hitler decides" Shuvaay replied and Omkara made a face.

"If she isn't my pyaari daadi... I would never have let her live this long" came the blunt reply which earned him a whack.

"Omkara... badmaashi badti jaa rahi hai tera..."

"Can't help being honest now can I... by the way... what is Farid's opinion about the German shares? Anything at office seriously needing help"

" No.. I got it... I will ask you when necessary... you ..."

Shivaay's sentence was cut short when they heard Rudra screaming
"Bhaiyyaa" at the top of his voice...

Shivaay turned to see a grinning Omkara and knew something was plotted against his lesser wicked brother .

Giving a word or two of reproach, he jogged towards Rudra's room to rescue him.

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"What is with your mood today Rudy.... You seem to have got up on the wrong side of bed" commented Daksh when the former scolded a junior for no mistake of his.

"Rather he woke up in an interesting way Daksh" Omkara answered for his brother.

"Shut up O... why would you do that... I'm not talking to you today" said Rudra complaining.

"That is the punishment for setting me up with that Ishana yesterday... you know how clingy she is... I gave an excuse that I got some family function and you couldn't keep your mouth shut... you gave my lie away and she pestered me until I had a boring dinner with her"

"You two keep revenging and avenging each other... seriously... what are you guys.... are you in kindergarten?" said Daksh shaking his head giving up on his friends.

"Shut up Daksh" chorused both Omkara and Rudra.

"Fine... what about Shivaay bhaiyya's marriage proposal? When are you going to see the girl?" Daksh asked instead.

"Kyaaaaa" screeched Anika who walked upto them.

"God Anika... stop screaming... we told you Shivaay bhaiyya is betrothed... why are you reacting as if you heard this for the first time in your life?" said Rudra irritatedly.

"Doesn't hurt any less" she said clutching her chest while the boys rolled their eyes.

"What??... you know I crush on your brother... why can't you be good friends and play match makers?" She asked and Omkara smiled.

"We would love to.... if not for my Hitler daadi... she will start a lecture on Family's name... father's promise... etc etc... sorry... we love you but we love our sanity and life more Anika"

"But..."

"Now where were we... right....When are you going to see the girl?" asked Daksh... completely ignoring Anika's glare.

"Daadi was saying we should go tomorrow...but I have no mood to go there" said Omkara sitting up from his place to walk to the library... the final years were relieved from clases as they have their exams in less than a month.

"But I am going for sure... I need to approve of my bhabhi" said Rudra.

"Where to... library..? I will come with you" said Daksh while Rudra and Anika nodded at them to go to their class... They stopped when a group of students neared them.

When they saw a girl amongst them crying her heart out while two others consoled her, Omkara at once asked the problem.

"Sir... she is Fatima.... a fresher... someone named Vikram who belongs to the nearby Thakur College came inside the campus following her and misbehaved with her... we already complained to the higher authority but since he belongs to an influential family... no action is being taken..."

"Where is this Vikram now?" asked Omkara his temper raising.

"He is still roaming in the campus Sir... he has friends in our college... no one stops him to enter.. he is at the chemistry lab as of now... " said one of the girls and he along with Daksh moved to the chemistry department, Rudra in tow.

Anika shook her head sighing "Lord... save the poor man from death" and walked towards her class... Nothing new to see that her friends would beat the pulp out of the offender....

She better get her attendance and if possible give a proxy for Rudra as well.

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A few students were loitering around the chemistry lab by the time Omkara reached there.

"Who is Vikram here?" he asked them.

"Yes?" answered Vikram frowning at the long haired man before him.

"Are you from this campus? Why are you here?"

"How does it concern you?? I am from a nearby college... I came....."

He didn't complete the sentence when he was punched squarely by Omkara.

In no time Daksh and Rudra joined Omkara to punish Vikram while he screamed in pain beaten to the floor. The trio were too involved in breaking bones that no one heard a scared girl's pleas to stop the atrocity.

When Omkara roared at him for misbehaving and came near to punch him in the gut, he was pushed back and a slap landed on his handsome face.

Shocked, he turned to the side to see a tiny but beautiful girl with tantalizing hazel eyes glaring at him. She moved from him to stop the remaining two who already paused hitting Vikram hearing the slap and were gaping at a still shocked Omkara.

"Are you students or some gangsters?... is this the way you treat a fellow student" she screamed at them... before crouching down to the victim.

"Vikram... get up... Vikram are you alright?" she worriedly asked and Omkara who got out of the shock roared at her.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"Rescuing a human from animals" she said helping her friend to get up.

"Really? I am the student leader here and some freshers complained that this guy misbehaved with them... I was merely teaching your guy a lesson" he shouted stopping her from leaving with Vikram.

"Vikram will never do that... you are mistaken... you are the student leader you say... you shouldn't be the misjudging person here...confirm again if he is the man you are looking for" she said and took a limping Vikram with her not caring for Omkara's shouts.

Daksh and Rudra still stared at the dabang girl's back with eyes wide enough to accommodate the entire college mumbling a "what the hell just happened"

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"Damn man... we should have have listened to him properly" cursed Daksh after knowing that they cornered the wrong person.

"Yeah... it was O's fault... he didn't let him finish his introduction" said Rudra adding on to his brother's guilt.

"Oh really... you weren't in the mood to listen too my dear brother... I just punched him in the face and would have tackled him alone... you two were the ones who joined me... even you didn't ask the details ... did you?"

"Good that she stopped us... otherwise he would have left with a fracture or two... he was declared safe to walk home by the campus doctor after the x ray"

"Who is she? The girl who ..."

"Slapped you?" asked Rudra controlling his smile.

"It doesn't take much time for me to slap you... you remember that don't you?"

"Haa... but it would be different right... you got slapped by a beautiful girl...while I will be slapped by a ego wounded brother"

"Rudy ... you"

"Stop it guys... she is a fresher Omkara... not a localite... that guy came to meet her since it was her first day in college... we need to go and apologize.. her name is Gauri... Gauri Sharma"

"Gauri..." Omkara took her name relishing each syllable... Wierd to say that he was impressed... that she slapped him... but he liked that fire in her...the fire that wanted to stand up for what was right.... just like him.

Out of reflex he asked " What is that man to her?"

Daksh and Rudy looked at each other before turning to Omkara with a grin "Why does it matter to you?"

"Uhh... just like that.. she seemed pretty protective of him that she stopped three men to get to him"

"Courageous ...she is... we will find out soon... if not for us.. we will find it out for you my dear brother" quipped Rudra while Omkara rolled his eyes and left for the library.

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"Did you just say that you slapped Omkara... our senior? ...the Omkara Singh Oberoi? Are you crazy Gauri?" screamed Richa looking at her nervous friend who just recited her adventure on the very first day of her college.

"Richa... they were beating up Vikram... he is the only bread earner of his family... tutions se chalta hai unka ghar...(his income is via the tutions he takes)what if something happens to him... Ramu kaka would have no one to look after him... you were not present there to see how mercilessly they were hitting him"

"But you slapped him..." Richa said in a low voice earning a glare.

"Can you stop your fangirling? He is not that good looking... he is a man right... why did he grow hair like a rookie??" she said earning another ear splitting scream from her friend.

"Did you just insult his hair?? Girls die for such lustrous hair... he is the most handsome man of our college and you say he is not so handsome??... you must surely be mad"

"Urghhh... stop screaming... I just said my opinion... not necessary that everyone will have same likes right"

"That is not the point... you cannot not like Omkara... the Omkara"

"Richa.... can we concentrate on the main issue here... it is my first day today and I slapped the student leader... What if he plans on some revenge? I came here to study and I don't want anyone to interrupt that Richa... You know what all I had to sacrifice to reach here" said Gauri her eyes turning moist and Richa felt bad for her friend.

"I am sorry Gauri... don't worry... Omkara is not that kind of a guy... he is just an angry young man"

"And I am afraid of that very anger... he was uncontrollable... I was screaming since much time but my screams fell on deaf ears Richa... otherwise why will I resort to such means?"

"Hmm.. I understand... if you are worried we can talk to him tomorrow and may be make peace... what say?"

"I can't come to college tomorrow Richa.. the family I am getting married into.. will be coming to see me and talk to my family... may be the day after? Will you come with me please?"

"Of course... I will accompany you to talk to Omkara... but don't ask me to come to your house... I am afraid of your father Gauri... if you can survive your father then you can survive Omkara easily" said Richa and Gauri smiled at her shaking her head.

"At least tell me you are being married into a nicer family" said her friend and her smile dimmed.

"What... they are even worse?"

"I don't care Richa... I was just asked to choose between my dream and my freedom... I choose my dream... now I don't want to know whom I lost my freedom to... I will only hate them more... I know they are equally bound by the promise as me... he must not have a choice too... Let us just say... this marriage arrangement whatever you call it... is a compromise.... And beggars don't have many options... I just know they are rich and from a good family according to my Daadi... nothing more" explained Gauri and Richa just hugged her friend helplessly praying that the man she will marry should be good to her.

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"Daadi is this jewelry compulsory? I like to dress simple... they are not going to see our family jewels and marry me right... also our marriage is anyways going to happen... what is the need of this formality when we don't have a say in this" said Gauri.

She was dressed in a red Zari saree and matching blouse with intricately designed work. Golden jhumkas hung from her ears swaying with her movements and complemented the heavy gold necklace and bangles she wore. Her wavy waist length hair neatly plaited to the side and her anklets chimed with her slightest movements.

"Shut up Gauri... you can't talk like this in your in laws home... remember you carry the respect and honor of our family with you... control your tongue" Gayathri admonished her grand-daughter successfully muting her.

"Maa ji... is Gauri ready? They are here" asked Dandi one of her father's trusted men and a distant cousin.

"Yes Daandi... we will be there in a few minutes" said Gayathri and Daandi walked away to the living in which were seated Shakti Sharma, Kalyani Singh Oberoi and the three Oberoi brothers.

While Kalyani and Shivaay sat beside each other on the sofa, Shakti sat on the seat opposite to them, the couch yet to accommodate his mother and daughter who are yet to come.

Omkara and Rudra sulked together in one corner... each one bickering and calling the other colorful names... Omkara was frowning at Rudra since his brother trapped him yet again to come there and Rudra brooded because his grandmother denied showing him the bride's picture first having heard of their recent fight at college.

"I will see that you are adequately punished" whispered Omkara.

"Let us think about it later ... I can't be the only one suffering if things get boring here" replied Rudra.

"I won't stay long for dinner...I have made appropriate arrangements... Anika lives nearby this guest house... the moment Shivaay approves the girl, Anika will barge in here... saying one of my friends meet with an accident and I need to be there... you sulk here alone"

"That is not fair... I will ask her not to come..she listens to me more"

"She wouldn't miss the chance of meeting Shivaay for the world Rudy... I will bait her" winked Omkara making Rudra pout sadly.

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"Shivaay... how is the business empire running... I know Tej must be proud of you" said Shakti smiling at his would be son in law.

"We are doing good uncle" said Shivaay formally.

"You know him Shakti... he rarely takes credit for himself... after Tej and Jhanvi have passed away he singly took the entire responsibility of both the business and his brothers... Omkara is good at studies too... he and Rudra are also to join the business in some time" said Kalyani and Shakti smiled nodding.

Rudra whispered in Omkara's ears "All these boring talks can happen later too... where is my Bhabhi... I need to see her now"

"Tera shaadi nahi hai jo tu itna uchal raha hai...(it is not your marriage that you are getting hyper)... Urrghhh why am I even here... I have an exam to write in less than a month"

"Haaaw... how can you leave me alone... amongst these old people... I can't suffer alone... I need company O... and who can give that better than you" grinned Rudra earning a glare from his brother.

"Someone seems to be in a bad mood ... missing your Gauri already O? It is only a day since you saw her and you are head over heels already?"

"Shut up Rudy" came the response and the latter just chuckled but it stopped soon when he saw his Bhabhi walking towards them along with an elderly woman.

Omkara was about to scold his brother further for teasing him endlessly since yesterday when he saw the look of shock on Rudra's face. He turned to the new entries and no sooner he felt a pang of pain in his chest.

Gauri is the girl promised to their brother?........ apparently... but why is that thought too unpalatable? he thought seeing her dressed ethereally and walking into the hall.

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Dhang... yeah yeah I know expected twist.... But you will have to do with it.

I will try to make it better for you in the next update... what say...

Let me know your thoughts...

Singing off.. your Soujanya.