Kyun teri yaadon me mujhe rula diya

Chapter 10

Omkara slowly climbed stairs to his reach his room. He was not drunk but was feeling light. As he gazed at his bedroom door, a strange sense of desire engulfed him. Gauri had dozed off on the futon. When he entered the room and locked the door, Gauri woke up startled. Her eyes were red from constant crying. "Kya hua Gauri? Ro kyun rahi ho? Kisi ney kuch kaha kya? Tell me, abhi khabar leta hoon uski", Omkara was concerned. "Nothing like that. I was just...", she didn't complete. "I can't see tears in your eyes, Gauri. I want to fill your life with happiness", he told her. He softly cupped her face. He kissed her eyes, her cheeks , her chin and proceeded to reach her lips. But she moved away and held nearby chair firmly to control her. She knew she will melt at his touch. His control over her senses was magical and petrifying. She wanted to keep distance however he was in no mood to leave. He backtracked his steps to her and kept his hands on her. He slowly unclasped her fingers and brought her hand to his lips. Taking his own sweet time he kissed each fingers, until she moaned his name. He moved her mane and pressed his lips on her nape, caressing his love bite on her creamy skin. "Omkara, please...don't", she managed to utter . "I love you, Gauri. Don't you trust me , Jaan?", he said while removing her duppatta. As answer, she turned and embraced him. He swiftly swept her off the ground and placed her on the bed. "Hum pati-patni hain, Gauri. Aur aaj humari suhaag raat hain". Her brain finally managed to bring her out of temptation and she managed to stop him, "Omkara, I haven't done this before. I couldn't. I wasn't able to allow myself, not then and not now". Om was bit tipsy and couldn't make sense out of it. Despite the serious situation, he laughed slightly, "What?... What do you mean?". She stood up and moved away , "Dadi was right. These wedding rituals and customs are not child's play. They have their importance and meaning. I respect them. However modern I may pretend to be , I was never able to cross my limits".  Omkara was confused. Wasn't she living with Rudra? Were they not lovers? What does she mean by not crossing the limits?, he asked himself. He pulled her back and asked sternly "Tell me the truth, Gauri". "It is the truth, Mr Oberoi. A fact that you never tried to clarify with me or Rudra. You all assumed that we were intimate and that led to our decision to marry. You all assumed that if a girl works in bar , she is a wh**e. If an orphan girl who lives alone has boyfriend, she is characterless. If that boy happens to be rich , then she is a gold digger. Why ? Why be so judgmental, Omkara?", he pulled his collar. "Is it my fault that I am an orphan? Is it my fault that I am poor? Tell me", she asked him ."No, it isn't Gauri. It's fault of others that they misunderstood you", he protectively closed his arms around her while she wept against his chest.

IN SPAIN.

Rudra was watching the waves, he appeared calm but his mind was in turmoil. Bhavya noticed his drink to be untouched and asked "How did you meet her?". He raised his eyebrows, "Who?". "You know who I am taking about", Bhavya said. "When you are married to hansome hunk who had many girlfriends, you need to be more specific Wifey", he humoured her. "Well, the one I mentioned is unique. A diamond among many precious stones", she clarified. When he grew restless, Bhavya asked, "I really want to know Rudra. You always avoided the topic. If you are still uncomfortable, then let it be".  She started to walk off but stopped by his voice, "I saw her first on my debut ad shoot. She was just an assistant photographer, typical tomboyish kind of girl, always in loose jeans and oversized shirts. But she was talented and intelligent, with a sharp mind and eye for details. People could never ignore her. I was not particularly interested in her then, she was not my type. Well one day when I came for shoot, the talk of the day was Gauri Kumari Sharma slapping my colleague, Ranveer. Out of habit, I pulled his leg a lot that day and finally he dared me to bring Gauri to my bed in next 7 days. I took the challenge and my life was never the same". He paused and looked at Bhavya, he wanted to be sure that she wanted to hear further. When she nodded affirmatively, he continued, " I started to pursue her. She was a tough cookie. Time passed, as I spend more and more time with her, we became good friends but still my motive was to win the bet. The cast and crew already assumed that Gauri had fallen in love with me but it wasn't the truth  When I had only one more day to complete the dare, I took a drastic step which I regretted always. I spiked her drink and got her into my caravan for the night"

BACK IN OBEROI MANSION.

"What ? Rudra drugged you ? I can't believe it", Omkara exclaimed. "Yes, he did. Over those days, I thought we became buddies and I trusted him. I never knew about the bet. When he got me the spiked drink, I didn't suspect at all and later he took me to his caravan", she said. Omkara balled his fist in anger and disgust. If Rudy was near, he would have broken his jaw. "Though his intentions were abominable, he didn't touch me. He could have done anything to me that night but he chose not to. I guess that's when he realised that I was more than a bet to him. When I woke up, he confessed everything. I was furious but also admired his character. He was going to accept his defeat and tell Ranveer that he lost. It would have been a huge slap on Rudra's ego but he decided to do it. I never had much friends, as I was too busy to meet the both ends that I lost touch with old ones and couldn't make new ones. After a long period, I found a good friend in Rudra. I didn't want to see him in pain. So I proposed an idea and he accepted, we decided to fake it all. Next day we pretended to all that we had spent the night together", she said. How could Rudra be so selfish? Exploiting virtue of a good girl to glorify his male ego? Omkara thought. He noticed Gauri sighing and brought his attention back to her. "Well things were fine for couple of days. But soon I realised that men started to treat me differently. They assumed I am ready to sleep with anyone to have a good time. Before things became difficult for me, Rudra came in for my rescue as my knight in shining armour. He acted as my shield, told everyone that I am his girlfriend and we are serious about each other. From then,  our friendship blossomed into lifelong bond. I felt I will have my happily ever after with my prince charming"

IN SPAIN

Rudra and Bhavya were walking on the beach ,hand in hand as waves were kissing their feet. "Toh tabse pyaar ki daastaan shuru hogayi ?", Bhavya asked. "Sort of. She was different. I like spending time with her. We became inseparable. I became her family and she my best buddy. She found the hidden talents in me, she encouraged me to take more modelling assignments and consider it as a career rather than just pass time. Nobody ever took me seriously at home. I was youngest baby for my brothers and family. For most of my friends I was an Oberoi, an ATM to sponsor their expenses. But Gauri, she was not like them. She was my guide, my mentor and my supporter. I realised that she was the one I need in my life and proposed to her"

BACK IN OBEROI MANSION

"I accepted his proposal. Finally I had chance to have my own family. I was in cloud9 yet frightened too. I could never trust Rudra completely, deep down I still doubted whether he will cheat me again. Maybe he sensed it too and never tried to get intimate with me. He respected my beliefs and decided to consummate our relationship only after marriage. Rudra loved my life style, the one being independent and self-sustaining. He loved to spend time at my studio apartment. His whole life he had all luxuries afforded by his family. Yet it gave him a strange sense of satisfaction when he could afford things on his own. I still remember his excitement when he gave his first assignment cheque to me for sharing the rent of my apartment. He used to come and stay there at nights, buy groceries, cook for us and sleep on couch. I didn't mind as I was out most of the nights working at the bar. I just couldn't handle the mess he left behind. He will spread his clothes & things all over the place and promise me that he will clean up later", Gauri chuckled. Omkara too grinned. "Omkara, I still don't whether it was love or friendship that we had. But it was really special and close to my heart .I was ready to spend my entire life with Rudra. It's difficult for me to let it all go in a jiffy. I need a closure. I can't move ahead otherwise", she explained. Omkara nodded as he now understood the relevance of their relationship. He gave his phone to her, "Talk to him. I will wait outside" and he left her alone.

Rudra saw O's name flashing on his mobile screen. He picked up the call and said seriously ,"Hello O". No reply from other side, just a few sighs and something that sounded like suppressed sobs. He quickly asked "Gauri? Is that you?". Bhavya was startled when he took Gauri's name but Rudra didn't notice her. He was worried for Gauri and forgot about Bhavya. He asked, " Gauri, are you weeping? Did anyone hurt you ? Talk to me, dammit". Gauri broke down and fell on the floor. "Where are you Rudra? Why did you leave me alone when I needed you the most? ", she wept. "I am coming back , Gauri. Don't worry. You are not alone. I am coming back", he promised.  Bhavya felt sad by his extreme concern for Gauri yet she hid it. "Come back, Rudra. I need you", Gauri said. Omkara was standing outside the door and was pained by her words. He was deeply hurt by her pleas to Rudra and decided keep distance from Gauri