Delicate - A Rikara Tale (Completed!)

Four- Iron and Blood

A/N: Thank you for adding this story to your lists, voting and commenting. Long comments make my day and make me want to write more so I can read what you think! This chapter turned out to be longer than expected. I hope you like it!

The first thing Gauri Kumari Sharma, no, she was Gauri Omkara Singh Oberoi now, saw was her husband's eyes. Dark and intense. He was intently glaring at her as if he was looking for something.

'What does he want? He is a riddle, a puzzle, a maze. Everything he has said has been about what he is going to do for me. He has not told me what he wants from me. Not clearly. Just vague expectations and a handful of rules. Don't cheat or lie. I would not do either of those things. He saved my life, he is my husband. Why would he think of me this way? Why did he marry me after he called me those names?' Gauri shivered and took her head off her Maa's shoulder and found that her mother was still asleep.

Gauri did not want to wake her up, nor did she want to disturb Omkara ji. No. He had told her he disliked formalities.

'Om'

She did not realise that she had actually spoken his name out loud and not just in her head.

"Yes? Do you need anything Gauri?" Om looked up. Right at her

With those dark eyes that revealed nothing.

Gauri cleared her throat and stumbled over the word "Water"

Om wordlessly handed her a bottle and resumed his attempt to focus on the printed words and not the woman in front of him. The journey which he would have normally found short in terms of the time it took seemed to stretch for endless silent and awkward hours. The words in front of him were the least interesting ones he had ever seen. Besides, what would he need them for, now that he was married to a woman who was not Svetlana?

The loop in the clause left Svetlana with nothing - no money, no way to contact Mr Tej. Singh Oberoi and no claims to the Oberoi name. Omkara could have hugged himself for being cautious enough to create a contract of his own. It was not much, but simply stated that if Om agreed to sign the contract laid by Svetlana, she would not see, contact or meet Tej Singh Oberoi. Failure to comply with the contract would mean that Om could sue for the exact amount she had asked Om for if he wanted her away from his father. Svetlana had agreed and signed her own downfall without knowing it. Om chuckled at the memory. Svelana had no idea that she had fallen into a trap of her own making and no one had to do anything underhand to make it happen. She had dug her own grave, made her own bed and that was that. When Om introduced Gauri Omkara Singh Oberoi, Svetlana would be a thing of the past. A restraining order would take care of any problems.

The few months he had spent trying to understand business and people had made him realize that people's minds were as fascinating as shapes and colours- all unique and varied in the way they interacted. Omkara wanted to learn more about how the mind worked but now he didn't need to do it as a cold-hearted business man. Omkara instantly regretted crushing his sketch.

'But there is always more time. More chances to draw her. I have missed how it felt like to want to paint again.' Omkara sighed, fighting the urge to salvage the moment his inspiration had returned to him. He tucked the crumpled ball into his coat pocket and told himself he would paint it on a canva- bigger and better as soon as he could.

And what an irony it was that what he loved had returned to him unexpectedly thanks to a woman he disliked. He could not say he hated her until he learned who she was. Hate was a powerful emotion, reserved for those who had earned it. Like Mr. Oberoi and Svetlana. Ishana and Riddhima.

Om felt like laughing at his luck with women. He had hated gold diggers and status chasers. There was a strong possibility that Gauri could be one. But first he had to know for sure. He could not make the same mistake that Shivaay made. Maybe he already had committed half of the mistake by marrying Gauri without her consent. But his intentions were to save her life. And now, he was saving more than her life- her mother's, his own mother's and if Gauri was as innocent as she looked, maybe Om was even saving his own life. It was time for him to take his life back.

The landing was smooth and yet it jolted Gauri's mother awake. Om had to assure both mother and daughter that it was fine, that they were not going to die. They got into the car and Gauri's mother seemed glad to return to the safety and familiarity of travelling via road.

"Maa, My brother and his wife will be waiting for us at the apartment. Gauri and I cannot be seen in public until we have our marriage license. The press is ruthless and I do not want people to point fingers at Gauri or you." Omkara gently explained the events to come to the older woman, making sure to assure her that he would take care of Gauri. Her maa was very relieved when she learnt that Gauri could constantly see her through video call. The news that she would see Gauri as a bride and be a part of her daughter's rituals made Gauri's mother happier.

Om led the duo into the apartment and showed Gauri to the bedroom she would be staying in. He lead her mother to the guestroom and answered a few more of her questions.

"Om beta, there's something you should know about Gauri" the older woman had looked at him earnestly "She is adopted. I know that rich families like yours put a lot of importance on bloodlines. I hope this does not change your acceptance of her."

Om realised this was a hard topic for the woman to broach. He managed to smile at her and assure her that Gauri's bloodline was the least important thing for him. He did not believe in those outdated notions and he promised to make sure that Gauri was respected and given the place in his house that was due to her as his wife.

Maa smiled and opened her mouth to volunteer more information

The doorbell rang and interrupted the conversation.

Om all but ran to the door and opened it to see not just Shivaay and Anika but also his mother.

Jhanvi Tej Oberoi stood, sober and with red eyes.

It only meant one thing. His mother had been crying.

Om accepted the hug from her as well as her muttered apologies. Those he had been expecting. But what he did not expect was to be gently pushed aside. He turned around to see what his mother was doing and was shocked to see his mother hugging Gauri tightly and sobbing.