After singing Christmas carols and mingling around, all of them were having dinner.
Shivaay, Anika, Om and Gauri were sitting at one table.
Om and Anika had gone for a refill.
"Bhaiyya, where is Rudy?" Gauri asked.
"That's what I was thinking...Oh!" Shivaay was replying when he saw Rudra talking to a beautiful girl.
Shivaay pointed Gauri in that direction. Gauri was too surprised to see Rudra. Although she knew that Rudra was a women's loveliest, he seemed quite a tad bit smitten than he talked to any other girl.
While Shivaay and Gauri were enjoying the Rudy show, Om and Anika returned to the table. They saw Gauri and Shivaay eyeing Rudra and saw him with a girl.
"Is that Bhavya Rathore?" Anika asked
"You know her?" Gauri asked
"Not exactly, but I know that she is a very well-known detective of New York and is very good at her job." Anika responded.
"Oh right! I was wondering where we had seen her." Shivaay stated remembering he had seen Bhavya solve a case in Ney York, when he and Anika had gone there.
"She seems nice." Om stated.
"I think Rudra feels the same way." Gauri said and everyone laughed at the statement as it was true.
Later at midnight, the ball was over and everyone returned home and directly went to sleep after changing clothes.
Next Morning:
Gauri woke up and wore a kurta and palazzo and stayed in her room. Although her stomach was screaming for food Gauri didn't go out of her room. She was in turmoil whether to go out of her room and join others. After all it was Christmas; a family festival, how could she barge in?
Just then Anika knocked the door to see an idle Gauri sitting on the bed. Anika was wearing all Christmas themed.
"What are you doing here? Are you not hungry? Everyone is waiting for you at the breakfast table." Anika asked.
"Di, actually I was not hungry..." Gauri, tried hard to lie but do tell, how does a person not express hunger?
"Liar, look at your face. You are not a good liar, come now; because I am hungry like hell and so are you." Anika said almost pulling Gauri out with her.
Anika then suddenly stopped midway and asked Gauri,
"Tell me honestly, did you feel that you should not interfere in family celebrations? Is that why you were staying in your room?" Anika asked with a serious face.
Gauri quickly looked at Anika,
"How come?" she asked surprised.
"How come I knew? Believe it or not, but even I felt the same way when I was here the first time and you and I seem to have a lot in common. Trust me; this family is a lot more than a big name. They are big at heart too." Anika said with a loving voice.
Gauri was now ready to come. She started walking towards the breakfast table when Anika stopped her again.
"You look good, but it's Christmas today dear. Go and change, wear something peppy." Anika said, almost not trying to tease Gauri. (In a loving way.)
Gauri obeyed and wore a beautiful red and white dress that she had luckily packed.
As she came down she saw a big Christmas tree decorated in the living room's corner. Lots and lots of gifts were placed at the bottom of the tree. Gauri was mesmerized by the view. She then saw the Oberois near the breakfast table. Om, Shivaay, Rudra were cooking while Anika and Jhanvi aunty were serving and arranging plates. Gauri wished them good morning and merry Christmas and helped them too.
Just then dadi came.
Dadi's Pov:
I so like this view, Shivaay and his wife, Om and his mostly to-be wife; now only Rudra needs help. This is how a perfect morning should be; family laughing and making good memories.
Pov ends
Dadi was just standing at a distance and smiling.
Later when Om and his brothers came with the food; everyone was amazed.
What could these brothers not do? Pastries, croissants, Danish, waffles and what not.
Later they were joined by the rest of the family and finished their breakfast.
Later when everyone had breakfast they exchanged gifts. Even Gauri got a handful of gifts; but Om didn't seem to give her any gift.
In the afternoon:
Gauri wanted to give Om his gift, she couldn't give him earlier as he and Shivaay got a call and they both rushed out apparently for some business emergency.
She was completely in a mayhem; whether to go to his room or not; whether to call him or not?
Finally after thinking for almost what felt like an eternity she decided to go to his room for herself.
Gauri's Pov:
I was overwhelmed with the family's gesture towards me. They gave me so many gifts. I have got one for Om too but he is too busy. I had decided to go to his room, I asked the servant for his room.
When I went in his room, I knocked like a very well-mannered person, twice that's it. Not more. Ugh, why on earth am I so nervous? I was anyways going to give this gift to him when he was with everyone..."
Pov ends
Om's Pov:
I heard two knocks on my door, which was strange. Who would knock exactly 2 times? None of my family had the respect to knock. They announced themselves just a second before entering and entered anyways. Even the servants of this house had given up knocking and entered by banging doors early in the morning.
As I opened the door I saw Gauri standing making weird faces as if she was thinking something with deep thought to it.
"Hello, earth to Gauri" I said waving my hand in front of her.
She quickly jerked and looked at me. She smiled at me in a nervous way and went back to her thinking.
"If you are done talking to yourself would you do the honors of telling me the reason why her highness herself is here?" I said, this finally grabbed her attention
"Hey, sarcasm and humor is my department." She replied, finally she is back to being Gauri from confused Gauri. Earth back on its axis.
I made way for her to enter in my room and she came in. her eyes fixed on me.
"Merry Christmas" she wished.
"Merry Christmas" I wished back.
She was about to leave when she turned back.
"I got this for you." She said placing a wrapped cuboidal box.
"What is this?" I asked surprised.
"Christmas gift. I did not get a chance to give this to you in the hall."
"Gee thanks!" I said opening the wrapped box.
