Day of Mehendi,

"Welcome Kalyani ji..." greeted Shakti Sharma smiling at the three brothers and the relatives behind them.

"Sorry for the trouble Shakti ji... Omkara wanted to see Gauri... all this effort for your son in law" she teased while the subject of her teasing ignored her and looked around eagerly to find his bride.

Shakti looked at Omkara and chuckled "Of course... stubborn he must be..... Gauri is inside with her friends.. please come in"

As they entered the large tent arranged in the garden for the function, the groom's family and their guests could hear "Mehendi lagake rakhna" in the background while a few girls danced to the beat. Some of them clapped in encouragement while the rest laughed and chit chatted.

Omkara noticed Anika and Richa on either side of the center table on which sat his bride dressed in simple green saree and silver jewelry, the end of the saree raised to her knees while two mehendi artists worked on vigorously. Her hands were also busy with two other women concentrating on completing their masterpiece.

As Omkara started to walk in her direction, Shivaay pulled him back with a glare "Where are you going... look at your side.. you can see your Gayathri daadi throwing daggers at you" he said and Omkara sighed looking at the woman who was clearly not so happy with them breaching rules... Their grandmother on the other hand tried to pacify her handing over gifts and sarees.

"Kamal hai... I don't understand her problem O... you are marrying her grand-daughter... what is so wrong if you meet her?" asked Rudra annoyed.

"Rudy... she is old school...come let us go together... otherwise she won't like it" said Shivaay before dragging them with him.

"What is your fiancé's name mam?" asked the mehendi artist.

Gauri smiled and opened her mouth to answer but her fiancé bet her to it.

"Omkara" he said "The name is Omkara" his voice was laced with possessiveness making his brothers roll their eyes while the women fangirled.

As their eyes locked, Omkara greeted Gauri with a winning smile and a sexy wink while she looked away shyly.

Anika grinned at him "Ahh... so you did not back down... you are finally here" she said and stood up from her place, hugging him.

Shocked gasps and whispers arose from the guests present there and the brothers looked at each other confused. Shivaay turned to Gayathri again and seeing her murderous gaze on Anika, gestured his brother to break the hug to which he obliged understanding.

Once freed, Anika was pulled into a hug by Shivaay shocking her as well as his brothers.

"After me, hug Rudra too..." he whispered in her ears which made her shiver slightly though she nodded in response.

However, getting over the initial shock Anika happily hugged her fake boyfriend tightly taking full advantage of the opportunity. After what felt like forever, Shivaay broke the hug with a fake smile and she grinned at him before she went and hugged Rudra merrily.

"Ummm... Shivaay...?" called Omkara in a whisper and his brother hummed in response.

"You hugged her?? I mean like really hugged her??"

"Shut up Omkara... what is the big deal about it"

"You know that she likes you right?" Asked Omkara and got a glare.

"I don't want her to be fried with questions and accusations before you marry... you should have looked at Gayathri daadi few minutes ago"

"Yeah... I understand but whatever happened to "you should not encourage somebody when you are not interested" philosophy??"

"Bhai ke liye jaan haazir hai... philosophy is nothing my dear brother" quipped Shivaay and Omkara gripped his heart dramatically.

"Dil chuu liya hai bhai tune aaj(you have touched my heart bro)"

"Okay... stop the drama and continue to ogle at your wife" said Shivaay smiling and Omkara made a face looking at Rudra joining the trio of girls and laughing on some joke.

Omkara stepped forward to look into Gauri's hands when Richa covered them with her own.

"Omkara... no cheating... you can't see your name now... that is a custom for some other time" said Richa and he grimaced retreating to his place beside his elder brother.

"Not here Shivaay... I want to talk in private... these guys will not allow me to go nearer" he said and Shivaay rolled his eyes.

"Sure why not... let me ask Gayathri Sharma for permission"

"Shivaay... I really need to talk to her man... please make it happen... just for a few minutes"

"How the hell am I supposed to do that Om... there are at least a hundred people surrounding us... how can you escape the hawk eyes of all of them"

"I don't know.... You just said you can lay down your life for me... this shouldn't be a problem... call Anika and think of something... I am going to your room"

"What... why my room?"

"If our favorite daadi finds Gauri missing... she will come looking for her and the last place she would go to is your room... so... yes... I'm taking advantage of your innocence bade bhaiyya" he explained and left the place grinning.

Gauri looked at the retreating back of her fiancé confused... Why did he come if he is to leave this early?

Her doubts increased when Shivaay called Anika with more love than necessary.

Twenty minutes later Gauri was walking towards the room allotted to Shivaay in their house with Anika following tow giving her company as well as security.

"Uhh... Gauri" said Anika looking around for trouble.

"Hmm?"

"Shivaay said he brought you a gift and it will be in his room.. to be exact in the bedside drawer... umm second rack... go and get it" she lied.

"But di.. why did he not give it himself? Why ask me to go get it? you could have done it for me... how am I supposed to find it with my hands now..." she said showing her hands which were freshly designed.

"Ohh that... hmmm... yeah... I" Anika blabbered finding answers "... Baat ye hai ki... Omkara wanted to see you so he dragged Shivaay giving him less time to think of it then" she started

"He couldn't get it himself now because you saw he was talking to your dad... when he told me, I offered that we could go together and get it ourselves.. you... haa... you need to stretch your legs after sitting for so long right?"

"Ohh... then go inside and take the gift... give it to me... I'm right here" said Gauri and Anika shouted "No" making the bride frown.

Then realizing, she fake smiled "How can I go to his room Gauri... we aren't married yet right... I cannot rummage through his things... you on the other hand own the house... you know the exact position of the drawer Shivaay talked about...so.."

"Okay... let us go together then"

"Yeah.. you go... I am right behind you" she said and Gauri nodded still in doubt before entering the said room.

Once Gauri went inside., the door behind her shut with a bang making her turn around confused.

"Anika di?... why is did you close the door? ... come inside... I can't even knock this door with my hands now... forget searching for the gift" she spoke in a loud voice.

When she didn't get a response, "Anika di... is this a prank... what..." Her sentence was shortened with a gasp emitting from her throat when she was pulled back to a hard chest and a hand snaked around her waist.

As he bent low to place a kiss on her cheek, his musky male scent filled her nostrils making her close her eyes and say "Omkaraji"

"Hmmm"

"What is all this? Leave me"

"Nope... I like it here..." he said turning her around with a smile as she stared at his face.

"Omkaraji... someone might come"

"No one will... I have people covering the perimeter... they offer good security until I finish my task" he said and she frowned in confusion.

"Task?"

"Hmmm... but before that..." he said hugging her close kissing her temple "I missed you Gauri"

When she couldn't return the hug and remained silent, he parted and cupped her face "haven't you?"

"What is your task Omkaraji" she said and he smiled despite the hurt of his question being ignored.

"I wanted to talk about our wedding night" he said making her widen her eyes.

"W... What about it?"

"Umm... how would you like it... I mean... you must have had your own set of dreams about it" he said as if discussing a newspaper article making her go pale.

Looking at the aghast expression he joked "Don't tell me you are going to make me take the couch..."

When she didn't respond, his smile faltered "Oh my God... are you serious... Gauri... don't say you don't know what happens behind the closed doors..." he said in his dramatic fashion and she laughed at the weird expression.

He sighed in relief... "Thank god... you scared me... so tell me.. what..."

"Omkaraji... can we not wait until..."

"What?? Why?? I know you like me... why shouldn't we?"

"But this is an arranged marriage right... we don't know each other"

"Then we will get to know each other soon... Gauri... couples get close by various means.... There is no hard and set rule that we should not be physically intimate before we get there... in fact we can get more closer than we have ever been, after it" he said and she sighed.

"I want to focus on my career Omkaraji... what if I get pregnant?"

"As if I want children immediately... we will use protection"

"They are not hundred percent protective" she tried to argue.

Omkara looked at her closely and asked "Tell me one thing correctly... without lying to me"

When she nodded a yes, he asked "Do you find me desirable or not?"

God... why should she of all the people get a brutal and blunt husband like him... Does he even think before opening his mouth?

"A simple yes or no would suffice Gauri"

Taking a deep breath, "Yes" she said without hesitation "Yes I find you desirable but I am worried for my career"

"Which I assure you will not get affected... I will not impose it on you... but just... think about it..." he said on compromising note and she nodded a yes.

He pulled her to him grabbing her waist and she spread her arms, away from him in a reflex so as to not smear his clothes... "Perfect opportunity for me to take advantage" he said looking at her hands, smirking and she couldn't help but blush.

"There it is.... my favorite" he said getting another excuse to kiss her. He bend his head to land his lips on her cheek but this time when she turned her head to him, his lips accidentally landed on hers making both of them go absolutely still.

Omkara parted at once to gauge her reaction... Is she okay if he kissed her or is she angry that he crossed a line ...although God knew it was completely unintentional on his part.

Gauri on the other hand felt excited, aroused, nervous and curious simultaneously... all of which were alien to her till then.

God...Those lips felt heavenly against hers... Can't he stay still for a few more seconds? She thought still looking at those forbidden ones when they descended again on hers' the next moment... this time intentionally.

The way she looked at him, Omkara found it awfully hard to hold back the desire to kiss her senseless and as a person who doesn't waste chances, he jumped to do just the same.

As their breaths mingled, lips contoured hers, he could hear his own heart thump blood in his ears. He pulled her closer, his hand grazing the exposed skin through her saree and he noticed her getting restless and impatient. His heart fluttered happily, singing a romantic song...knowing she wants him as much as he wanted her ... no matter how much she tried to hold back. If her hands were free, he was sure she would pull him hard against her running her fingers through his hair and that thought made him groan.

Gauri whimpered against him as his tongue teased her lips and his teeth nibbled her lips. She was surprised by the intensity of lust that rose in her the moment his lips touched hers.

At the back of her mind, a voice did say 'stop' but her body refused to listen to it taking as much pleasure in what he offered though she knew she might regret it later.

"Gauri" he said begrudgingly parting from her, his breaths coming short "We should stop"

Once she lost the sensuous contact, the reality switch in her head turned on and she shrunk back into her shell, stepping away from him.

Didn't she just ask him to give them time to get intimate? And at the first given chance, she did not hesitate to kiss him back with vigour which matched his. He must be thinking her to be a confused soul who does not know what she wants.

"Gauri... hey" he said his thumb gently caressing her cheeks as a tear dropped from her eyes.

"There is nothing there to be embarrassed... not before me" he said and she looked at him the film of water blurring her vision of him looking at her with a gentle smile.

"If it gives you any comfort... I kissed you and you simply reciprocated... okay?" he said and she shook her head in a no.

He chuckled and gathered her in his arms "Gauri... there are no specific guidelines or any particular time as to when one can want another... it is just an instinct... you are ready if you want to take that step"

Gauri pressed her cheek against his chest but did not utter a word.

"We will take it slow... if that is what you really want... but don't retreat when I touch you okay... I agree that I love your blush adorned face but I love the fierce woman more... the one who gives it back to people when she doesn't like something"

This time she muttered something incoherent her words muffled as they seeped through his shirt but strangely he understood her turmoil.

She was a wallflower all her life and the first sight of light is making her shrink away. He kissed her head tightening the hug as he felt his shirt getting wet with another tear...he did not like her sad mood at all.

"I thought I need to work hard on seducing you... but I don't think it would take much time" he whispered in her ears and the next minute, she struggled in his hold, parted from the hug, glaring at him.

He chuckled at her giving her a wink and she smiled in response.

"Om... Gauri..." they heard Anika's urgent whisper from outside the door "You have all your lives to romance... now come out before someone notices the bride missing and come searching for her... I can't cover for you the whole day"

Omkara gently wiped Gauri's cheek to remove the traces of any tears, gave a kiss on her cheek and took her arm leading her to the door when she stopped him calling his name.

When he looked at her in question, she gestured him to come close... He obliged when she rose on her toes and planted a kiss on his stubbled cheek bringing out a smile on his face before she almost stumbled and fell back since she did not hold him for support lest her hands left a mark.

Omkara held her in time stopping the fall and pecked her lips muttering a 'Thank you'. Taking one last look at his smiling fiancé he turned and opened the door to an anxious Anika.

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

Day of Wedding,

Gauri looked at herself in the big mirror after the beautician gave her a satisfied smile.

Maroon was the colour..... the double layered skirt lehenga which started from just below her belly button and reached below her heels, covering her mehndi clad legs was richly embroidered with zardozi work. Her blouse was of the same colour, with a modest neckline fitting her at the right places accentuating her beauty. An equally rich worked duppata was skilfully placed on one shoulder while a red netted chunri was mounted on her neatly made Indian bun studded with roses and lilies.

She wore kundan studded matching jewellery which consisted of a heavy necklace, earrings, maang teeka and maroon coloured churaas. The kaleraas on the other hand were in contrast gold hanging on her forearms interspersed with her churaas adding more dazzle to her dark brown tinted hands.

Her makeup was bare minimal just to highlight and contour her face which naturally glowed and shinned in the limelight. She looked like one tempting dark cheery ready to be devoured and ready to stump her groom at first sight.

Anika and Richa who entered the room gushed and praised her look while Gayathri smiled at her granddaughter proudly making a hand gesture to ward off evil eyes.

"You look enchanting... breath taking... magnificent... Oh God.. I can go on and on Gauri" said Anika hugging her while Gauri smiled hugging her back.

"Come beta... it is time" said Gayathri and the girls nodded walking out of the room.

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

Omkara sat on the mandap before the holy fire chanting mantras after the priest, occasional glancing at the stairs from which his bride might descend anytime soon. His family stood by the side, his grandmother helping him and his brothers smiling at his impatience.

To match his bride's lehenga he wore a maroon sherwani kurti, customised with a jacket with sequins and Zari work. His silky hair was hidden under a royal pagdi with a handcrafted sofa brooch. A long, four layered pearl necklace hung down his neck in contrast to the maroon Sherwani completing the royal look.

As Rudra saw Gauri walking down the stairs, he went to his brother and alerted him of the same.

Omkara looked at his bride and melted away into a merry land where he and her were the only occupants... where no one stopped him to take her in his arms and nothing else mattered to them. His heart thudded in his chest fidgeting and threatening to break away from him to join hers.

Taking patient breaths, he calmed it down and told himself that he must wait.... Wait till she herself takes the lead.

The rest of the wedding rituals were performed in a daze... the couple stealing glances and smiling at each other as well as at the guests.

After taking the seven circumambulations around the holy fire, the couple settled down to recite their vows. Omkara filled his bride's hair partition with vermillion and tied a mangalsutra around her neck making her his wife for the next seven lives.

The Oberois and the Sharmas stood back and cast flowers at the couple blessing them to have a prosperous and happy life ahead while Omkara and Gauri smiled at the guests bowing their heads in respect

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

Just Married...

Now what??

Vote and comment your views...

Signing off.. yours Soujanya.