"Its very hard to behave NORMALLY before the person who has made your life ABNORMAL."

~•~•~•~•~

Gauri slid down the door of her cabin after slamming it shut. Hugging her knees, she broke in hysterical sobs. Streams of tear flowed down her eyes, unsuccessful in ruining her waterproof eyeliner.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Gauri hurriedly wiped her tears and shut the alarm off. She took a half-day today. She would pick Rikara up from her school and get to home to prepare for the evening.

She didn't plan any surprise. From the flavour of the cake through the menu of the night to Gauri's outfit, everything was of Rikara's choice. She made her wear the saree along with the pair of anklets that were on her ankles on that awful day. She had bought another pair of anklets, but those anklets were still more beautiful.

*****

Mukesh was on the stool, trying to reach the ceiling fan, from where he would hang the big balloon filled with glitters and chocolates.

'I guess it would be easier for me', Mukesh almost fell from the stool as he jumped at surprise. Looking back, he squinted his brows to see a strange man, standing just behind him, smiling slightly.

'Um.. You..', Mukesh stated, unsure.

The man forwarded his hand, 'Hi. I'm Omkara. Omkara Singh Oberoi.'

Mukesh was about to choke on his own spit hearing the name. Yet, he joined his hand for a shake, forcing a smile plastered on his face, 'Nice to meet you Mr. Oberoi. I'm Mukesh. Mukesh Roy.'

Nodding at Mukesh, Omkara took the balloon from Mukesh's hand and climbed up on the stool. After a bit of struggling, he finally was able to attach the balloon at the center of the ceiling fan.

'Mukesh, hold the table and help in setting up the -', a lean lady of Gauri's age entered with a small center- table, but her voice died midway as her eyes dilated as saucers upon eyeing Omkara.

Mukesh smiled awkwardly. Showing his hand at her he said, 'Richa Roy. My wife and Gauri's best friend.'

Putting the table down Richa folded her hands, greeting him. He also greeted her back, folding his hands.

'Cake's here!!'

'Uncle!!'

Two different voices led three people's attention towards the entrance of the apartment. There stood Gauri with a box in her hand. And Rikara jumped in the arms of Omkara, squealing.

'You forgot me!!', Rikara pouted, once settled in the nest of his forearms.

'Sorry princess! I was busy, very very busy with my work.', he made a comic sad face.

'But you came to my birthday!! You know, mumma planned a surprise for me.. But, she is not telling me what it is. You are Mumma's boss's boss, right?? Tell her na, to let me know.', Rikara whined, clinging to his neck.

'But, surprises are made to give you unexpected happiness. When you already know what your gift is, you'll not be as interested to see it, as you would be if the gift is a surprise, Right?', he kissed her cheeks.

'You are siding mumma', she married her eyes.

'I have nothing to do if you suspect so', Omkara smirked.

Gauri felt herself heating up in unexplainable desire as soon as she stood at the door. Stepping inside quietly she used the opportunity of his engagement to Rikara to place the cake quickly on the table and snuck in the kitchen, after mouthing an I'll explain you later to Richa and Mukesh.

******

Omkara soon lost interest as he amusedly watched how the little girl was giving a tough competition to Mukesh while playing chess. Richa too sat there clueless of whom to support.

Omkara looked at the kitchen from the divan he was relaxing upon. His eyes stuck to the exposed fair back of Gauri, partly framed by the red of her blouse and the loose end of her crisp white saree was wrapped around her waist as cincture.

Mumbling an inaudible excuse me, he sat up from his seat and tiptoed inside the kitchen. His eyes never left from the curvy muscles at her almost bare back which rippled along with the movements of her hands. Numerous sweat beads popped on her skin, shining gloriously as pearls.

Leaning on the counter, he looked at her face from left. Startled, she also looked back at him. Her face was sweaty too, streaks of flour making her look cuter than she actually was.

He smiled softly at her, wiping her face with his handkerchief. After tucking some outran curls behind her ear, he asked, 'What's the menu tonight?'

Looking at the messy kitchen counter, Gauri chuckled embarrassedly, 'Menu? Um.. Naan, chhole, butter chicken, kulfi. Chhole is done.'

'Let me help you a bit', Omkara looked at Gauri concerned, 'If you don't mind.'

'Uh no! Its okay Sir, I'll manage, you're guest Sir', but she was shut up as he put his index on her lips.

'I'm not your superior outside the office', he pulled off his suit aside, opened two uppermost buttons of his shirt and rolled the sleeves up to his elbows. Taking the dough of fermented flour, he started tearing off pieces and flattened them, while Gauri got busy in sauteing the mixture of spices for butter chicken.

Their hands touched, heads bumped and they stepped on each other's feet, sparks flew from everywhere they touched each other. But they were no more acting as strangers caught in act, they played with ingredients, laughed at lame jokes, and had a nice candid time while cooking.

After cooking, he asked, 'Where's kulfi?'

She opened the shelf of the deep fridge, some moulds of kulfi kept in a tray for cooling, 'I made the mix in morning and kept them to get iced.'

'Wow', Omkara's jaw dropped to the floor.

'Its saffron kulfi', Gauri smirked knowingly at his surprised grin, I know its your favourite, Omkaraji.

******

In between cutting cake and having dinner, Dandi arrived with sets of crayons and oil pastels, a small easel and stacks of sketchbook along with a huge teddy bear, Rikara's birthday gift.

Gauri wanted to groan in disapproval, but one puppy eye look from Omkara, and Dandi, she melted. After dinner, she took Rikara before the second bedroom that remained unused.

'Here goes your surprise sweetie', she opened the door and lit the bulbs up, the whole room was decorated nicely for accommodation of kids. But, a wall of the red walled room was left all white.

'This wall is for your artworks, paint as much as you like, write whatever you want', she took her to the small cot covered with comical sketches in black ink only, 'colour this comics as you like', and finally Dandi set up her art supplies and easel beside her study table, 'Make masterpieces in here', Omkara fingered the supplies.

'This room is your room from now', Gauri announced.

Rikara looked around herself, her big black eyes bigger in amazement, 'Wow, I love this.. I have my own room now, thank you mumma!!', she hugged Gauri's waist.

'Mumma!!', Rikara jumped in excitement, 'Uncle haven't listened to your flute yet, will you play tonight?? Please', Rikara made an irresistible pout.

Obviously he has, Gauri intended to turn down, but had to take the flute gingerly, when Richa and Mukesh too joined Rikara.

Holding the flute near her lips, she blew air through its hole, adjusting the tunes, as her audiences got under some hypnotic spell of her artistry. Omkara's heart felt a tug of nostalgia again, seeing her play so unworldly, as if she was lost in an utopia of her own, her body only left before them.

Such a talented woman she is, Omkara's eyes dilated in wonder.

(PS: please listen to the YouTube video added at the top for the flute tune I refer to here.. And please ignore the piano in background)

Kinda boring, right?😓😪😌
But there's nothing more.. Just a cozy house dinner. With bits of kitchen romance where RiKara get comfortable around each other.

Happy reading!
With love,
Sarani.