"Daadi why is everybody hell bent on frustrating me? You know I don't like palak... why is that the only dish for dinner?" growled Omkara making Shivaay and Rudra look at him in astonishment.

What happened to him? Hitler se panga?

"O??" nudged Rudra who sat beside him.

"Whatt?? Now you have a problem too?" said Omkara turning his glare towards his brother.

Kalyani gave an assessing look to her cranky grandson before she smiled.

"I am sorry Om beta... come... I will make you dal khichdi" she said and stood up from her place making the brothers gape at her sweet tone.

"Come!!" she said again walking to him.

When Omkara did not get up, she held his hand and made him stand before dragging him towards the kitchen. Shivaay and Rudra gave a look to each other before they ran towards the kitchen to satisfy their curiosity.

After half an hour when Omkara cheerfully put a spoon of hot and spicy khichdi into his mouth, his brothers lost their cool.

"Daadi... what is this... he threw a tantrum at the dinner table and you are feeding him instead of giving him a lecture??? Why so much partiality?" asked Rudra with a pout and Shivaay too waited for the answer.

Daadi looked towards her middle grandson, hands folded on her chest while he cleverly avoided their inquisitive looks, happily gulping down his food.

"Omie..!!" she called him lovingly and he stopped eating. Alarm bells began to ring in Omkara's head warning him of a catastrophe.

Oh God...Nickname... she isn't angry and this much love is too good to be true. He is averse to sweets and his grandmother's saccharine tone is beginning to be too much for his tongue.

"Sorry Daadi" he said hurriedly earning a chuckle from the elderly woman.

"That is okay but tell me what got you so irked that you dared to yell at the table Om" she asked and he sighed relieved that she understood.

"Gauri" he answered and she smiled expecting it.

"What about her?" chorused Shivaay and Rudra making their brother sigh again.

"Daadi... I am beginning to doubt my decision... can I back out now?" he said earning a gasp from them.

"Aree... what happened that you sound so disheartened?... chalo... let us go to your room... what has been happening since the last two weeks?" she said and turned to her other grandsons.

"Shivaay, Rudra... go complete your dinner and go to bed" she ordered.

"What?? Why? Daadi... itna interesting baat ho raha hai... aur aap chahte ho ki hum na sune? (you don't want us to hear to such an interesting discussion?) why..why.. why?" whined Rudra earning a glare from Kalyani.

"Jitna bola hai.. utna karo... (follow my orders...) I don't want any questions"

"Daadi... let Omkara tell us what is wrong with him and Gauri... We will see what we can do to solve it" said Shivaay.

"This is what I don't like... you are brothers and have a right to know about each other... but there is no rule that you should know about each other's wives... give some privacy to each other Shivaay" said Kalyani.

"But what if he needs us" countered Shivaay.

"Then he will ask you... for now I don't think you need to know anything... specially when your brother is still in doubt" she said making them shut up and follow her orders although they decided to pound their brother later to fill them on the details.

**********************************************************

"Hmmm... now tell me what happened" asked Kalyani sitting on one end of the bed in Omkara's room while he casually laid on the other.

"I don't think she is interested Daadi... she runs away whenever I try to get close.. I thought her to be a forward and strong woman... but..." he left the sentence incomplete.

"She might be shy Omkara..."

"Itnaa?? I know she comes from a different background and has her restrictions but I didn't ask her to come to movies and parks with me and neither did I ever initiate any proximity more than a cheek kiss.... All I wanted was to know her personally" he said his voice laced with concern.

"I mean come on... we will be married in a month and we just know each others faces and something about our career choices... how can you marry someone based on it... when you don't like the person... it is not difficult for me because I like her... but how would she do it.. she doesn't even like me"

"Did she say that?"

"Not in words"

"Means?"

"I called her mobile to talk and she gives me some excuse everytime I call her... it has been fifteen days since we met at the café and had a conversation... I thought something changed in the equation when she looked at me that day bidding a bye... but damn... I might have been dreaming"

"She must have been busy"

"Really? Twenty four * seven, fifteen days? If you remember I am the one who is busy... with exams.. I still need to work on it... I am fed up now... I don't have time for her daadi... this. Is it"

"Chup... khotiya... I told your brother you are not yet ready for marriage but he didn't listen.... But what can anyone do when you like each other... you are possessive and she has to tolerate this immature, angry, non-understanding long haired husband" she said playfully slapping his arm and he rolled his eyes.

"Oldie... you are being mean to me... I just wanted to talk.... How is it so wrong"

"Who the hell did you call oldie?" she glared at him though he replied her with a sarcastic grin.

"Ok sexy bolu?"

"Besharam... kahika... just shut your mouth and listen"

"Hmmmm....Okay... go on baby"

"Point number one... we should know if she is interested... number two you should know if you are up for it"

"What??... of course I am up for it... I was doubtful about her"

"Okay then stop trying to contact her and concentrate on your exams for the time being"

"Oh!! Reverse psychology? When I don't go behind her she will realize her love for me?"

"When did you start watching serials? You used to switch the channel when I stumbled on one good soap... dil bole..."

"Daadi... we are deviating... tell me why I should stop talking"

"She will get space and she will know if your presence will matter or not.... Love is too early for you people... she should first get habituated with your presence in her life... that is how relation starts in an arranged marriage Om... You have been going behind her now stop it and she will know if she enjoyed your presence or not... so..."

"Seems good... so plan on.. I will ignore her... till next month"

"That is like my boy... she will come around... how can anybody not like my most honest munda" she said bending and kissing his cheek. Omkara grinned and rolled over settling his head on her lap.

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"Gauri... are you done with the sketch? show me the design" asked Richa with eager.

Gauri smiled and gave her the sketchbook on which she was working soulfully since many days.

"Hawww.. how beautiful... OMG" gushed Richa making her friend chuckle.

"It is just a simple design Richa... you are exaggerating"

"Nope... I haven't seen such a simple yet sophisticated suit design.... Kiske liye hai ye??(whom did you design it for?")" Richa asked smiling and nudging her.

Gauri rolled her eyes and shook her head "No one in particular"

"How boring Gauri... you are engaged to the most eligible bachelor of the college and you seemed to be the least excited species"

"Richa... you know I.."

"Stop... stop that dirty excuse... not the time for love... I am getting nauseous... this is the limit ... do you have any idea how many girls drool over him? you have him entirely to yourself and you are wasting time... introduce me to your stupid friends who instilled in your mind a very bad concept that you cannot read if you fall in love"

"But Richa... I can get deviated... he is so distracting... it was very difficult not to talk to him since a month"

"Poor guy... he got you... God is so mean yaar... jinhe jo chahiye unko vo nahi dete (he doesn't give what one wants)"

That statement did make Gauri frown at her friend... "What do you mean?"

"I meant that had he got any other girl he would have enjoyed this courtship... Gauri the time between engagement and marriage is so important to a couple... it could have been beautiful but you are successful is ruining it"

"I never asked him to stop talking"

"You never showed interest either... I wouldn't be surprised if he lost interest too"

"Means?" asked Gauri this time in panic.

The idea of her wicked fiancé not taking interest in talking to her or look at her with so much love is disheartening... she liked him doing it... the reason she ran away from his charming ways.

Richa just shrugged in response and Gauri pouted "Is that why he didn't call me since a month?"

"May be that or may be due to his exams"

"Daadi said he is done with his exams two days back" she said and Richa grinned.

"Someone is keeping a tab on their fiancé"

"Nothing like that... Daadi told me yesterday ...We are going to their house today to decide on some pending Wedding preparations... We will start for Bareilly tomorrow... You should come a week prior too... no arguments on that Richa"

"Of course I will my pyaari Gauri... how can I miss the chance to tease you" she said hugging her friend.

"It is good that you will meet him today... you will know what the reason is that he lost interest in you" said Richa giggling and Gauri glared at her friend getting up from her place to move towards the canteen.

"I am leaving ... come if you want a cup of tea" she said walking away and Richa grinned. After her friend was out of sight she took out her phone and dialed a number.

"Hello Richa? What news?" asked Omkara and carefully listened to the other side. At the end of the chat he smiled impishly and looked towards his daadi sitting beside him giving her a thumbs up.

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Location: Oberoi Mansion

"Kalyani ji... where is Omkara" asked Shakti smilingly and Gauri looked at her future daadi expectantly.

The Sharma family reached the Oberoi mansion an hour ago and the elders have been conversing about the last minute arrangements of the wedding. With the date fast approaching in two weeks, not much time was left for them to make major changes but the motto of the visit was to acclimatize the bride to the house of her in laws in disguise of an official talk.

Gauri was dressed in a simple yellow kurta and contrasting blue sharara.... with only a pair of matching earrings and sets of bangles being the jewelry she wore. The look was to her liking.... Comfortable and stylish...much to the chagrin of her grandmother who pestered her to wear a saree.

"O is in his room uncle... he is preparing for a meeting... Shivaay bhaiyya is busy with the wedding work and I am helping him. So until Bhaiyya gets back to office O is managing certain important deals for the company" answered Rudra.

"But... he is the groom... he should enjoy his wedding period.... Sab kaam humare daamad ji se hi karva rahe ho kya? (are you making him do all the work?)" said Gayathri looking towards Shivaay earning a glare from Rudra.

Shivaay however smiled at the taunt "Yeah daadi he must be finished with it... the deal is important and he was looking over the project since its inception so he didn't back down when we asked him to relax for a bit"

"Hmm... where is that girl? Your lover?" asked Gayathri again "I thought she would be here... after all she would be a part of Gauri's family... I would like to know about her too"

Shivaay gulped and looked at his grandmother who came to rescue "Uhh.. vo Gayathri ji... Anika still has her studies to continue and she doesn't want to get married early"

"Ohh.... But she has time to get into love affairs?"

"Maa... what are you saying..." said Shakti in a scolding tone. He then turned to the others "Kalyani ji... don't mind my mother... she is just worried what people might think if Omkara gets married before Shivaay and Gauri is the reason for it.. we don't want any rumor to spread or anyone pointing fingers"

"I understand Shakti ji... Shivaay and Anika will marry at a later date... I never took people's accusations seriously... My grandchildren will marry whenever they want and whomever they love... No one should have a problem with that and if at all anyone has... it will not be our concern" she said directing her gaze towards Gayathri.

"Of course.. we all know how respectful your grandson was when you gave them such freedom... I was just worried Kalyani ji" said Gayathri giving a fake smile and Shakti changed the topic to avoid the tension... profusely apologizing again for his mother's inquisitiveness.

"Gauri come I will show you the house" said Kalyani getting up from her place and Gayathri got up along with her grand daughter.

"Gayathri ji... you have seen the house right... I will just take Gauri around" said Kalyani.

"But... let me come too... she..."

"Are daadi ji... sit... why are you taking trouble.. you must be having arthritis... knee pain... why do you want to aggravate it... we have more important matters to discuss" said Rudra.

"Like?"

"Like O's new business ventures and future projects... aree you should know how skilled your daamadji is"

********************************************************************************************************

"This is the pooja mandir" said Kalyani showing the future Oberoi daughter in law their family deity Shiv-Parvati.

Gauri folded her hands, closed her eyes in prayer and Kalyani too sought the blessings of the Neelkanth (blue throated one). She later guided Gauri towards the stairs.

"This is Shivaay's room and immediately beside it is his study. Rudra's room is the next" said Kalyani showing her the rooms and turned to Gauri who was looking at the other side.

"Hmmm... what are your eyes searching for?" she asked when Gauri mentally bit her tongue and looked at the elder woman trying to look clueless.

Kalyani gave her a knowing smile and said "Omkara's room is on the other side... there.." she showed her the room opposite to the section.

Gauri's cheeks colored making her laugh aloud before she caressed her head with her hand.

"When you want to meet him... why do you keep running away Gauri.." she asked making her bahu look away.

"Come... let us meet him" she said and proceeded in the direction of her grandson's room when Gauri shook her head in a no.

"Nahi daadi ji.... Let us go down... he...he must be busy"

"Nonsense... nothing should be more important... come with me"

"Daadi ji... but..."

"Gauri... Omkara is like any other man...outwardly tough and inwardly sensitive... you know he loves you... if you keep this distance between you when he tries to come closer... he will get offended... if you have anything in particular to tell him... talk to him openly... misunderstandings are not the best stepping stones for a successful relationship"

Taking her silence as the cue, Kalyani continued "Go and talk to him... Gauri" she said and left her to contemplate.

*********************************************************************************************************************************

Gauri knocked on the door for the third time and sighed not getting a response. She looked at the door left ajar and decided to push it to enter inside.... He must be in the washroom... she thought.

As she looked around, she inferred that the room was way bigger than the rest of the rooms designed to have a built in study on one side, a wide bedspace on the other with an attached bathroom. She walked in further to hear the sound of water from inside the bathroom and confirmed her conclusion. When her eyes caught a flash of color at the far corner of the room in the study, she curiously moved in the direction to realize that it was a canvas incompletely covered in an interface sheet making the bright colors play peek a boo.

She looked back at the door of the washroom and turned again to the canvas trying to decide if it was in appropriate of her to rummage through his things. But curiosity having the upper hand than chivalry, she gently removed the transparent sheet to look at awe at the painting of a peacock.

So immersed was she in noting the texture and tone of the colors he used to bring the painting to life, she failed to hear the opening of the washroom door along with her fiancé coming out freshly showered.

Omkara dressed in a crisp white shirt and denims walked towards the lady dressed in yellow, his hand still drying his hair with a hand towel, a smile gilding his features.

Did his grandmother convince her fiance for the talk? He highly doubted she would say anything.

As he neared her, he duly noted his fiancé's taken-ness to the art-work. She passed her finger on the bright colors of the bird as if trying to decipher the technique and color mix.

"Liked it?" he asked in his characteristic husky tone and she jumped in her place as did her heart in her chest.

"Sorry to scare you" he at once said with a chuckle holding her hand to stabilize her when she turned around and stumbled back.

"You never told me you took interest in art"

"This... this is beautiful Omkaraji" she said and he thanked her.

"How did you bring out this color? It is not the normal royal blue right?"

"Nope not the original color... I had to try a few combinations before settling for that ... maybe I can teach you sometime in future... if you want"

"Definitely I like to see that... I sketch my designs myself and I remotely have an idea of oil colors but never had the chance to explore..." she said genuinely excited and he returned her infectious smile.

"Why did you come here? Am I that late? Let us go" he said placing his hand towel on the bed.

Gauri quickly picked it up and moved towards the veranda hoping to find a cloth dryer stand. Omkara rolled his eyes but followed her out to do the task himself.

"I thought I was late and were keeping you people waiting... I would have done it eventually" he said in a defensive tone and she only smiled in reply.

"How did you write your exams?"

"Hmm... good"

"When are you starting for Bareilly?"

"In two days... I think... or three"

"Were you busy? I mean in the last two days?"

"Nope... I was in post exam chilling mode" he said.

After a minute when she remained mute her face showing irk, he added "Why?? Were you missing me?"

Gauri turned to him and smiled satisfied. Happiness filled her heart.... He was back to his flirty mood... she was irritated with his pointed answers today. Also, Richa's words weren't very comforting.

If he was looking for any signs of confirmation, he had it. Looking at that radiant smile, Omkara chuckled and pulled her close, his hand around her waist.

"So you missed me"

When she nodded a no despite the blush that warmed her cheeks, he kissed it and said "Liar"

When she looked away from his prying eyes trying to get out of the hold, he asked "Do you want me to stay away?"

She turned to him sharply, stopping her struggle at once looking for signs of mischief but gulped in worry when she realized that he was serious.

You should tell him a yes recommended her mind.

He might not like it... you can't hurt him screamed her heart.

When she saw him look at her with so much love and expectation, her heart refused to listen to her brain.

"No" she said placing her hands on his arms allowing him to hold her. Omkara smiled, his eyes shining bright and cheerful making Gauri not regret her decision.

It is worth it.... her heart sang.

And why should it be? her mind questioned.

As he bent low and placed a sweet kiss on her forehead, her heart fluttered and said I don't know about you but I'm falling for him.

Shushing any coherent thought, Gauri just closed her eyes and basked in the love he tried to convey in that one kiss, his lips resting for a while on her before he parted and hugged her.

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Umm.... Confused about Gauri's confused behavior??

Let me know your thoughts...

Signing off... yours Soujanya.