Delicate - A Rikara Tale (Completed!)

Two- Terms and Conditions

A/N: Thank you for all the lovely comments and the votes! Please keep encouraging me! Please imagine all the Om and Gauri dialogues to be Hindi and not English. Mera Hindi haanikarak hai aur mein aap sab ko marna nahi chahati!

A super thanks to breakingnewsghagra

Friend, your aesthetics are the reason this fic breathes.

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Silence.

Om had not expected his evening to be like this. Not this.

He was sitting on the slightly worn out sofa in Gauri's mother's house holding a cup of now lukewarm sweet tea and waiting for Gauri and her mother to pack the bare necessities while he stewed in his own thoughts.

Now what?

Omkara was always more heart than head, acted on feeling than he did on thought. All this planning and plotting was foreign to him, but he knew it was inevitable.

The first thought in his mind was telling Shivaay and Badi Maa that he had not only found a way through that loophole but made sure that Svetlana could not enter Oberoi Mansion as its mistress. While Shivaay demanded where he was and who the woman was, Badi Ma had only asked if Om was happy with the woman he had married. Omkara had hated the fact that he was torn in two by that simple question. He could tell the truth and make his Ma unhappy and guilty or he could tell a lie and make her happy but feel the lie eat away at his mind.

And so Omkara, who hated lies, who abhorred liars and cheats, told a half-lie.

"I chose to marry her Ma. No one forced me or coerced me into it. You should be happy. I know I am." Omkara stole a look at Gauri who was helping her mother carry a suitcase into the hall. "Maa I'll call you later. Please give the phone to Shivaay."

Jhanvi Maa had been reluctant, almost like she wanted to hear Om say that he had married a person who he loved.

Om had managed to stifle his anger and ensured that he spoke calmly to Shivaay. While Om had managed to secure the land, Kaali Thakur was a dangerous man who was after Gauri. Getting Gauri out of Bareilly was a matter of urgency now that she was Omkara's wife and his escape from Svetlana ticket. Shivaay didn't need to be told that it was not safe to disclose the whole truth on the phone nor would it be safe to bring Gauri into the Mansion until the marriage was registered. The Great Wall of Shivaay Singh Oberoi was brilliant at dealing with any danger to the family and Om was assured that a helicopter would be there in a few hours to take them to Mumbai. Shivaay, Rudra, Anika and Gauri's mom would be the witnesses for Om and Gauri's marriage which would be registered as soon as Om and Gauri made it to the flat that Shivaay had acquired for Om and Gauri to stay in for a few days until they had a certificate. When Svetlana would see the newly wedded couple she would not be able to point any fingers at them nor question the union.

"Thank you Shivaay." Omkar put the phone down and sighed. Now that the matter was taken care of, he needed to find a moment to talk with his wife. Alone. She had to know that she might have achieved her goals of marrying a rich man but that was it. She would not play him for a fool nor dangle him like a puppet on strings. He was willing to give her everything she deserved as his wife, everything he owed her as his wife but only as long as she played by his rules.

Om took a sip of the cold tea and shuddered.

"Omkara ji, I'll heat the tea." Gauri took the cup from her husband's hand and walked to the kitchen.

Om tried to find his mother in law and saw her smile at him "I need to take a nap beta. Don't hesitate to ask Gauri if you need anything."

Om nodded and made his way over to the kitchen. This was his chance.

"Omkara ji, The tea will be ready in a minute. Please take a seat. I-" Gauri's words died in her throat when she felt herself being gently pulled towards her husband. "Aap... Omkara ji..."

"Call me Om. You are my wife and I do not like unnecessary formalities. Forget the tea. I need to talk to you." Om was having a hard time swallowing his anger at the look on her face. Shock. Surprise. The perfect reddening of her usually pale cheeks. She was a good actress. She would play her part well.

"O..Om." Gauri lowered her eyes and nodded. She put the stove off and followed Omkara to the sofa.

"Sit down. There are somethings I need you to know before we go home. We will be living in a flat for a week until our marriage certificate is in our hands. Shivaay and Anika Bhabhi will get your maa admitted to the hospital. You and I cannot leave the house unless we have the certificate but you can videocall your maa. I will take care of all the expenses." Om took in a deep breath "I know I did not ask for your consent before I took the pheras with you and for that I apologise. I come from a family where there is no divorce and I consider you my wife. My family will insist on us getting all the proper ceremonies done so your Maa will also be able to see you as a bride."

Gauri's wide eyes told him she was not expecting this. Her eyes filled with tears and her body trembled. "I...You saved my life...You offered to help Maa." She folded her hands and looked up at him "I do not know how I can repay you. If there is anything I can do, anything at all, I will do it!"

Om's more observant side took in the gratitude and the desperate plea of the woman in front of him. The other side, the primal, the suppressed, the selfish, roared in triumph. He had her right where he wanted her. In his palm, willing to do what he asked of her, eager to please. She was lucky that all he wanted was simple. She was lucky he was not a violent man nor a sadistic one who would take advantage of her and break her.

"My needs are simple Gauri. My family means everything to me." Om smiled "I will give you everything you desire. Expensive dresses, jewellery, foreign trips, money" he took her hand in his and rubbed circles on her hand with his thumb "All your desires." He felt her shiver and take in a deep breath and knew she understood what he meant. "All I ask from you is to not cheat on me with another man. I despise cheaters and liars. Do you accept?"

"I...I...I'll do whatever you ask of me. You have done so much for me already. I don't want expensive jewels or dresses." Gauri looked up at him "I just..."

Maybe she was more hedonistic than materialistic.

Whatever her deadly sin was, Omkara was ready to use it against her and make sure she did not turn against him or use him.

He was going to be the one using her but if he gave her what she wanted and made sure she was satisfied, it would be fair, wouldn't it?