When We Fell Again...

Sea Salt or Caramel Crunch?

Hi guys! Here's the next one. I didn't introduce TejKara in this one because I feel like it deserves its own part. So, this one is purely RiKara. 

P.S. I've been watching Ek Bhram - Sarvagun Sampanna and the show rocks!!!!! I am so happy for Shrebae and the amount of talent she has shown in just 5 episodes. After I watched the episodes, I had to rewind and watch many RiKara scenes to get the feeling of Gauri back enough to write this chapter.... that is the extent to which she has changed my perception of her. So so proud!

*unedited, will edit in the morning when I get back.*

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 Sea Salt or Caramel Crunch?

That was the last they heard of Riddhima.

Or so they thought....

Gauri was busy one night recovering from a nasty bout of the flu when her doorbell rang with one ring and then a multitude of more rings that signified an impatient visitor. Who is this? Gauri wondered feeling a little annoyed for being rushed to the door on a quiet evening when she wanted to rest her legs and wallow in sickness.

Pearl, on the other hand, jumped in delight at the thought of having a visitor after a long, boring week. Gauri had been busy with books and study and so Pearl barely got time to run out and play in the mud with her other cat friends around the complex. Staying indoors had made her cranky and Gauri had noticed so today was the day they were going to go out for a nice walk. Just the two of them, with no Om in the picture for a change. It was a plan and a nice change that had conveniently gotten foiled with the shrill ringing of the doorbell. Another reason Gauri was annoyed and slightly irritated when she opened the door. Is it too much too ask for a quiet night and some time with the cat for a change?

But then the door opened and her heart went straight out the window.

"Om, what happened?" she asked. She had to because while the rest of him seemed fine, his face dropped and crumpled at the sign of defeat and exhaustion, both of which Gauri knew did not come easily to Om. She wondered why he looked so upset. Why does he look like someone's taken his insides and fried them? Gauri thought and then shook her head at the goriness. That wasn't how he was feeling, that was how she was feeling with the sickness clouding her mind. She focused on him again and found worry lines on his forehead with his hair tousled... like he had been running his fingers through them all day.

He looked at her and said nothing. Instead, he just pulled her in for a kiss that lasted longer than normal, but it was taut and tense instead of welcoming. This isn't him. So, when he pulled back, she pushed his hair back from his face and asked him again.

"Om?"

"Dad's coming to Boston." he said and his shoulders slumped as he fell into the sofa next to Pearl, not caring that she settled herself on his pants and began digging holes in them.

Gauri looked at him confused. Uncle coming to Boston should be a good thing, then why does he look so upset?

"Did he say why he is coming?"

Om nodded sighing. "He said Riddhima called him a couple of days ago and told him about you."

"She has your Dad's phone number?"

Om rubbed his face. "She called into his office to leave a message about me."

Gauri shook her head at that minor detail and then focused on the topic at hand.