The next two-three days, she took excellent care of Lucas and made sure everything was 'okay' according to her. She gave the house nurse all the information and instructions on the do's and don'ts. She was now ready to leave for India.
Priyanka being one of the Oberoi's, she had planned her wedding at the Jaipur Amber Mahal, which was under the Oberoi hotels.
Boarding her flight from Los Angeles after a long set of goodbyes from Lucas , Caroline, Stephanie, Jack. She had now boarded her flight, excitement filling her about the wedding, her best friend's wedding but mostly about meeting Om and seeing what was kept in for their future. Questions had taken their usual and prominent spot in her head, 'what will happen now?'.
After a long 23 hour journey all the way from Los Angeles, with long naps and crappy flight food, and tons of shitty rom-coms she had now reached Jaipur- The Pink city. She smiled widely, taking in the beautiful view of her motherland- India. She took in a long breath, filling her nostrils with the smell of spices, and a homely smell that was nothing but welcoming. Her drive to the hotel was fulfilled by her photographing landscapes of her land, beautiful views, and many smiling faces.
She reached the hotel and soon was directed to her room. The room was beautiful, obviously. Decorated in a beautiful marble, a big canopied bed, a majestic canvas covering the canvas giving it a tent-like feeling, yet very royal and elegant. Needless to say, like any other Oberoi hotel this room too had a wonderful view. Opening into a beautiful lawn through a big white window, Gauri adored the view. She had already been given the itinerary of the whole wedding and today was the engagement and three days later was the cocktail party. Knowing how hard her jet-lag was going to hit her after the long journey she decided to take a good, long nap; because if she didn't she'd have to experience a bad jet-lag. None in the family of Oberoi's, including dadi, was a light drinker. Knowing the Oberoi's drinking capacity, she knew why they had kept a good gap of three days between the cocktail party and other ceremonial days.
They were all going to be drunk on happiness, literally and hypothetically.
After the nap, she got ready to surprise her best friend who was still to be informed about her arrival in India. Taking out one of her favourite sarees, she draped herself in a yellow-pink saree with a bright magenta blouse that looked pretty normal but was a fabulous piece of clothing once put on. She checked herself one last time. Her beautiful long hair curled up lightly to give them a wavy feel, rested a little below her shoulder covering the backless portion of her blouse. The earrings added to her beauty, the heels giving her height and confidence of that of a stallion and the little pearl head accessory being a literal cherry on top. She neither looked hot, nor a senseless fashionista. It was somewhere in between.
Checking herself one more time in the room, she smiled and went towards the venue. The enclosed area was beautifully decorated with lights, and flowers. It didn't look gaudy or too much but simple and gorgeous. As she stepped inside she saw many faces, some familiar from the day of Roka which she had attended a few weeks ago at the Oberoi Mansion. As she walked further in, she noticed one of her favourite members of the Oberoi clan, Anika.
"Hey!," Gauri went forward and Anika immediately engulfed her in an embrace.
"Hey, when'd you get here?" Anika asked releasing Gauri from her embrace.
"I got here in the morning." Gauri answered with a smile.
"Oh? Why am I getting to know it now then? Why wasn't I informed in the morning?" Anika asked with a frown.
"Because I had planned on getting some sleep and avoiding a terrible jet-lag. So, I decided to surprise you now." Gauri replied and Anika agreed.
"How's my niece or nephew?" Gauri asked, looking down at Anika's tummy which was hardly showing.
"We're good. Oh, you were right by the way, the mood swings have been a blast." Anika replied, rubbing her tummy a bit and laughing as Gauri joined in.
"I'm sure Shivaay bhaiya knows." Gauri answered laughing.
"Oh, have you met Priyanka yet? She must be waiting for you." Anika asked.
"How could I? I knew I would get an earful from you if I didn't meet you first. Anyways, I'm planning on surprising her." Gauri joked.
"Very nice, I love that you've met me first and I'll say we go with your plan." Anika patted Gauri's back dramatically.
Gauri and Anika roamed around meeting Shivaay, Rudra and Bhavya, dadi, and the elders. As Anika and Gauri wandered most around the food section because Anika was craving and well, Gauri had missed Indian food.
"Oh, hey look. There's Om." Gauri said as she saw Anika stuffed a spoonful of sweet rabdi in her mouth; paying very less heed to what Gauri was saying and maintaining all her focus on her food.
"Good, go meet him." Anika said, her voice muffled due to her mouth being full.
"You've not even had dinner yet and you're filling yourself with deserts." Gauri stated, tilting her head to a side looking curiously at Anika.
"Talk to me about eating without any regard when you get pregnant and hormonal and are craving the weirdest of things." Anika replied in a straight tone, looking up quickly to take a glance at Gauri.
Gauri chuckled and shook her head in disbelief; told Anika that she was going to go meet Om to which she questioned herself if Anika had even heard.
Gauri walked with a smile towards Om's direction. Focussing her eyes on Om, hoping to not lose him in the big crowd. As she neared Om, she saw him talking to none other than Bella. Her smile faded immediately and she looked at him with a frown but he was too busy talking with Bella to even notice Gauri's presence. She kept looking at Om, who was smiling and giggling as he talked to Bella. They high-fived each other, laughed as if the world's best jokes were being discussed there. Out of frustration, she huffed lightly and went back to Anika's side who looked up at her with a questionable expression.
"Back so soon? I thought you guys could go on for hours and hours." Anika questioned and Gauri looked at her with an angry face. Gauri turned around and picked up one of the rabdi that was beautifully served in earthen pots. She scooped out a spoonful and stuffed her mouth. As the heaven like desert melted in her mouth touching her taste buds, her anger subsided a bit. Very tiny bit.
"Ohh, we're angry. I see." Anika read her expression and Gauri continued savouring her desert.
"You've not even had dinner yet and you're filling yourself with deserts." Anika teased and Gauri once again gave her di 'the angry young woman look.'
"Alright angry young woman, why are we angry at the middle Obro?" Anika asked, leaving a chuckle and waiting for Gauri to answer.
"He's too busy to talk with me." Gauri spoke as she continued eating the desert that was kinda helping her to cool down.
