Hey guys💞

Thank you everyone for all the votes and comments. Even though the number of people who votes and comments are becoming less, I still wanted to update for the ones who truly like this story. Once again thank you all.

Ps - Have made some changes in the previous chapters since I felt that it mismatched with the storyline. (A very minute one)

Let's jump into the story......

Enjoy......

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Gauri woke up when she heard the distant chattering of Avanthika. She sat up on the bed and rubbed her palms over her face, and smiled when she saw her sister enter the room with her phone.

"Bade Papa, if you keep stressing out for these silly issues then your hair will completely turn white soon. Your hair has already started greying and I don't want my handsome hunk to look like a oldie. God! I can't even imagine it." Avanthika said dramatically to Vishaal through the video call, as she sat beside Gauri on the bed.

"Papa, now are you agreeing with what I told you yesterday?" Gauri asked her father cheekily grinning.

"I shouldn't have underestimated my child." Vishaal shook his head smiling.

Avanthika proudly smiled while Gauri chuckled.

"Now you both go freshen up and have your breakfast. I have an other call to make." He told them.

"Hmm. Hmm. I can understand. You must be missing Badi Maa so much, right?" Avanthika asked him teasingly.

Vishaal looked as if he was caught red-handed for a moment before he masked up his expression.

"Of course, I miss my wife. And it's normal for a husband to miss his wife. Anyway, who am I even saying this to. Good bye, will call you later."

Gauri and Avanthika looked at each other when Vishaal hanged up the call. They bursted out laughing and hugged each other.

"Good morning, Avanthi."

"Very good morning, di." Avanthika replied kissing her cheek.

"Go downstairs. I will just take a bath and come." Gauri told her sister.

"Yeah, come fast. Badi ma asked for you earlier." Avanthika said before she made her way out of the room.

After getting ready for the day, Gauri was about to descend the stair downstairs when she saw Omkara, all ready in his business suit and his long jet black hair combed and gelled upto perfection, rushing from the opposite side.

She slowed down in her steps once he noticed her and flashed a charming smile at her.

"Good morning!" Gauri wished him with a smile.

"Good morning, Gauri." He wished back stopping in front of her.

"Going to office?" She asked eyeing his laptop bag.

"Yeah!" He replied, as he gestured her to descend the stairs along with him.

Gauri nodded and accompanied him.

"So, what plans for today?" He asked her.

"Nothing specific. If Papa doesn't give any sort of work to me today, then we will go for shopping, maybe watch a movie too." She replied with an excited smile.

Omkara smiled seeing her excitement.

"Ah! Good that you both decided to grace us with your presence atleast now. I was about to call you guys." Avanthika said, as soon as they reached downstairs.

"Why did you want to call us?" Gauri asked.

"For having breakfast. What else for?" Replied Jhanvi as she came to the living area.

"Sorry, Mom. I can't stay for breakfast today. I am already late." Omkara told as he handed over his bag to Dandi, his personal assistant.

"But Om, breakfast is all set. Atleast have some-"

"I'm really sorry, Mom. I will have from the office canteen." He told, hurrying out with Dandi.

"This boy!" Jhanvi sighed tiredly.

"Is he always like this, Jhanvi Aunty?" Avanthika asked, still looking at the main door, through which he went.

"Now what should I even say? Nothing is more important than work to him, not even his family. That is why, I have been hoping for his marriage. Atleast then, he will take some time for himself."

"Don't worry, Jhanvi Aunty. Om bhaiyya's life is going to change for good very soon. Now that the heroine has made her entry, hero is definitely going to fall in love. That is for sure." Avanthika said smiling dreamily at Gauri, already feeling excited about playing the cupid role again, that too in her sister's life.

"What? Who are you talking about?" Jhanvi asked confused.

Avanthika abruptly stopped smiling.

"Uh, I.. I mean since you are looking for a bride for him, it's just a matter of time for Om bhaiyya to get married, your daughter-in-law will come to this house and he will fall in love with her. Then whole day, you can see him sitting in this house, feeling love sick. Isn't it so nice, Jhanvi Aunty?" She asked smiling nervously.

"Uh yeah?"

"She is just messing with you, Jhanvi Aunty. You go, I guess Mumma is calling you." Gauri said moving towards her sister.

Jhanvi shook her head with a smile at them and left from there.

"What was that?" Gauri asked.

"What was what?" Avanthika replied acting clueless.

"Don't try to play with me, Avanthi. I know what is going on in your little head."

"If you know already, then why are you asking me, Gauri di? Now I am very much sure that something has definitely happened to you. Since yesterday you are behaving weirdly. So what exactly happened to you?" Avanthika asked back, tying her hands against her chest.

Gauri stared at her sister, as she went back to yesterday night's events. The conversation she had with Omkara was something that she could remember forever. She didn't know that she could talk to someone this comfortably, other than her sisters. He had some special effect on her.

"Hello?" Avanthika waved her hands in front of Gauri's face.

Gauri came out of her thoughts and looked at her.

She raised her eyebrows at Gauri, who glared at her and went to the kitchen, leaving her to stand there dumbfounded.

After having breakfast, Gauri went to the kitchen to look for some dessert since Avanthika had a habit of eating sweets after having food.

She saw Jhanvi packing the food in a tiffin box.

"Are you packing this for Omkara, Jhanvi Aunty?" Gauri asked as she stood beside her.

"Yes. I am hundred percent sure that he is not going to have his food on time. He might say that he will do this thing, he will do that thing, but when work comes nothing will matter to him. If I don't go to his office and force him to have his food, he will not even hesitate to eat anything at all the whole day. But I had promised Anju that I will accompany her to the Shiv Temple today. Now I have to go to our office, make him eat his food and then come back here to go with your mother." Jhanvi said with a sigh.

"If you won't have any problem, then I will give the food to him. Anyway, Avanthi, Rudy and I am going out today, why not give this on the way?" Gauri suggested.

"No, no. It's okay, beta. You guys enjoy your day. I will give this to him. Don't trouble yourself." Jhanvi replied.

"What are you saying, Aunty? How will it be a trouble? I hope the office is on the way to the City Mall. Rest everything is fine." Gauri said with a smile.

"Okay, then. Rudy will take you to the office. It's on the way itself." Jhanvi said with a smile as she gently caressed her cheek.

"Wow! This is so amazing." Gauri said in wonder, standing in front of the sky high building in front of her, the Oberoi Corps.

"Well, well, well. Welcome to the Great Oberoi Group of Companies, ladies." Rudra grinned as he led them inside.

"Good morning, sir." Everyone started greeting him, as soon as he entered the office with Gauri and Avanthika.

Rudra greeted them back with a smile, while leading the girls to the lift.

As soon as they reached the required floor, Rudra saw Dandi hurrying towards them.

"Why didn't you tell us you were coming, Rudra sir? The receptionist just called me to inform that you came. Why are you here suddenly? Do you want something to have? Tea, coffee or juice? Or do you want something else?" Dandi blabbered nonstop.

"Dandi yaar, stop it. We just came here to give O his brunch. We will go after that."

"But sir, Tej sir will scold me if he get to know that you didn't get proper attention from here." Dandi said worried, already having palpitations at the mere thought.

"We are not kids, dude. Don't worry about Dad scolding you for us. Now leave all that and tell us where is O." Rudra told his brother's ever trusting assistant.

"Boss is attending a meeting. It will end within a few minutes. You can wait in his cabin. I will bring something for you to eat by then." Dandi said quickly.

"Arre yaar, first of all we didn't come to a restaurant that you are hell bent on making us eat something. And secondly, we will go right after giving the food to your boss since we have plans for the day. So please, let us peacefully make your boss eat something and go from here." Rudra said exasperated.

"Sorry, sir. Let me lead the way." Dandi said hurriedly making way for them to go.

Gauri and Avanthika chuckled while Rudra shook his head with a smile.

On reaching Omkara's cabin, Gauri was completely awestruck by the interior works and the view of the city in front of her. It was so simple yet elegant. Through the glass window, the entire city could be seen.

"Sir, are you sure you don't want anything? Can I bring a coffee for you atleast?" Dandi asked again.

Rudra sighed loudly.

"It's okay, Rudy bhaiyya. Poor Dandi bhaiyya is requesting us for so long. We shouldn't reject him like this. However, I was hoping to have a coffee as soon we reach the mall. Why not from here?" Avanthika told.

"Exactly, madam. I will bring the best coffee that you will ever get in the Mumbai City now. Please take a seat." Dandi happily went from there.

"Rudy bhaiyya, can you show me around your office till then?" Avanthika asked him excitedly.

"I would gladly do that. Gauri, are you coming with us?" He asked.

"No, you guys carry on." Gauri said looking around the paintings and artworks on the wall.

Omkara came out of the meeting room with an exhausted sigh. He already knew a meeting with the Kapoors was going to be so frustrating. The never ending rivalry they had against each other was only going to affect the Kapoors, not the Oberois. But the Kapoors were too stubborn to accept their reality and they were getting on his head now. And today he realised that it was time for him to get into action and terminate the Kapoors forever since things were starting to get personal.

He was thinking of whether to inform his father about the happenings or not when he stopped in surprise seeing Gauri in his cabin.

Seeing her watching the paintings in wonder, a sense of deja vu hit him. She still hadn't realised that he was in here now. With a smile he walked towards her and stood behind her.

"Omkara might have made this too." Gauri said out loud in amusement.

"You are right, Gauri. I painted all this." He said from behind her.

Gauri got startled and turned around, only to see Omkara smiling at her.

"Hey!" She said in a whisper, still reeling from the small shock she received.

"Hello again and sorry for scaring you." He said grinning at her.

Gauri chuckled.

"It's okay. I just zoned out." She said waving off her hand.

Omkara nodded.

"So what brings you here? Anything urgent?"

"Oh yeah! Did you have your breakfast?" She asked.

"No, actually I was planning to have after the meeting." He replied in a confused tone.

"So Jhanvi Aunty was right. Don't you know that skipping breakfast is not good for your health?" She asked in an admonishing tone, as she kept the bag she was holding on the table top.

"So Mom had sent you with my food?" He asked with a chuckle.

Gauri nodded with a smile, bringing out the tiffin box and plate from the bag.

"You didn't have to trouble yourself. I would have eaten from the office canteen." He said feeling guilty.

"It's already noon and you still haven't had anything. And you want me to believe that?" Gauri said giving him a pointed stare.

"You could have send it with Khanna or someone else. What was the need to-"

"Wait, wait. Are you having a problem because I am here to give your food?" She asked him frowning.

"What the hell?! No. I didn't mean that. Today morning you were so excited about going out and now you are here for me. I just didn't want you to spend off your time unecessarily for me. That's it. I don't have any problem with you coming here." Omkara quickly told her.

Gauri softly smiled at him. This guy was such a sweet person.

"Don't feel guilty about that. We were anyway going this way, so thought of making you eat something at any cost, since you are only of say not action." She said grinning at him.

Omkara raised his eyebrows at her.

"Not mine, it's your mother's words." She shrugged her shoulders and started serving the food in a plate.

"Mom, what will I do with you?" He sighed loudly.

"Seriously? Nothing much. Stop worrying her for no reason. Small, small actions of us may have greater significance in other people's life. Especially our parents. Their happiness depends on their children's happiness. Do you even know how much happy they might feel when we have our food with them or spend atleast some minutes talking about your day with them? We might feel all this stupid and silly, but at this age whatever they are wishing for is spending some good quality time with their family. True that work is important for earning a living, and you have already made so much for your next seven generation to live a luxurious life. But our parents may not always be there with us. At that time, feeling guilty for not spending enough time with them will not do anything. We must realise the value of each and every single thing in our life, before it's too late. Because once gone, it might never come back to us."

Gauri turned towards him, when she didn't hear any reply from him. He was looking at her thoughtfully. She smiled at him.

"Our life is also like that. We should enjoy every single moment. The good, the bad, the ugly, the inspiring, the not-so glamorous moments. No matter what, we should savour each moment because in life, there are no rewinds but only flashbacks. It's our decision whether to make sure it's all worth it." She said handing over the served plate to him.

"Thank you!" He said taking the plate from her.

Gauri nodded with a smile.

Just then, Rudra and Avanthika came back after their small office trip.

"You guys also came?" Omkara asked surprised.

"Of course! What did you think? Gauri will come alone to give the brunch to you, your Majesty?" Rudra asked plopping down on the couch, keeping his legs crossed above the table.

Omkara frowned and lightly slapped his legs down the table.

"How many times should I tell you to not keep your legs on the table? This is not your room, Rudy."

"Started his OCD behaviour." Rudra muttered keeping his legs on the floor.

"This is not OCD. It's the basic cleanliness quality one should have." He said before gesturing Gauri and Avanthika to take their seat.

Rudra rolled his eyes.

"May I come in, Boss?" He heard Dandi's voice along with a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Dandi entered the cabin, along with a kitchen staff following his trail with a tray. He asked the staff to place the coffee mugs along with the refreshments on the table top.

"Boss, anything else?" Dandi asked.

"No, will call you if needed." Omkara told him.

After Dandi left, Omkara asked them to have their coffee.

"So, when is your movie timing?" He asked while having his food.

"We haven't booked the tickets yet. Most probably the first show." Rudra said taking out his phone.

As they conversed with each other, Rudra turned his phone towards Avanthika and Gauri.

"Are these seats fine for you guys?"

"Thumbs up!" Avanthika replied.

"Are you coming with us?" Gauri asked Omkara.

Rudra bursted out laughing hearing her ask that.

"Are you serious, Gauri? O and watching a movie, that too by leaving his work in between. No way the hell." He told clutching his stomach as he laughed.

Omkara glared at his brother, who was having a gala time insulting him for quite some time now.

Seeing Gauri looking at him expectantly, Omkara regretfully told her. "Sorry, Gauri. As much as I hate to admit what he says, I have a lot of pending work."

Gauri blinked at him in assurance with a smile.

"See, this is why I say Rudy is always right." Rudra said with a proud smirk.

Omkara rolled his eyes and went to wash his hands.

"Avanthi, why are you not speaking anything?" Rudra asked her after booking the tickets.

"I'm busy with the planning." Avanthika told him.

"What planning?" Gauri asked her confused.

"What else? Making plans for our outing today." Avanthika shrugged at her.

"But we already made our plans, right?" She asked raising one of her eyebrows.

"Uffo, you guys! Now don't start with your fight. We should leave now." Rudra said just as Omkara came back with the washed plate.

After packing back everything, they came out to the parking area.

After they entered, Rudra started the car. As the car moved out of the building, Omkara waved his hand at them.

He smiled at Gauri, who turned to look at him through the window.

Gauri smiled and waved back at him.

Omkara sighed with a smile, reminscing all the things that Gauri told him that day.

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So how was the chapter guys?

What do you think will happen next?

I don't know if I was able to make it up to you all who were eagerly waiting for an update. So sorry. I got really busy with the school reopening and exams. Now exams are over, and youth festival is coming. Hectic days have only started😂. I will try giving the updates according to the response I receive. Wait for the next update!

Till then bye
With love
Devu❤️