*The next day, at the resort reception*

Rudra: Accha toh aaj ka plan kya hai? Beach toh chalenge na?

Shivaay: Nahi, actually Anika ko foot massage chahiye tha, uska pair soojh gaya hai

Gauri: (Worried) Kaise?! Dard ho raha hai ka?

Anika: Arre nahi nahi,pregnancy mein aisa hota hai. Waise bhi, beach jaane ke mann nahi kar raha

Gauri: Hume bhi beach nahi jaana hai...Darasal, hume paani se bahut darr lagta hai

Rudra: Arre bhabhi tairna kaha hai? Bass pair paani mein rakhna hai! Ek baar try kar lo, agar accha nahi laga toh aap aur O kahi aur chale jaayie!

Om: Kahi aur matlab? Tu kahaan jaayega?

Rudra: Uff O! Beach mein itni khoobsurat ladkiyaan hongi, unke saath rahunga, obviously!

Shivaay: Yeh pakka phir se jail chala jaayega!

Om: Seriously!

Rudra: Accha toh chaliye bhabhi aur O! Hum beach ke liye nikalte hai!

Anika: Bye! Apna khyaal rakhna!

[Om and Gauri went ahead, while Shivaay winked at Rudra, again indicating that this was their plan.]

*In the car*

Rudra: O, Aaj tu gaadi chalaa, mera mood nahi hai

[Gauri was about to sit on the car backseat, until Rudra immediately stopped her.]

Rudra: Bhabhi! Aap front seat pe baithiye, main peeche baithunga

Gauri: (Whispering) Rudy bhaiyya, hume saamne nahi baithna! Bahut ajeeb lagega

Rudra: (Whispering) Bhabhi, Main kuch nahi sununga! Jaayie!

[Gauri sighed and sat in the front, next to Om, while Rudra sat in the backseat, excited.]

*At the beach*

Om: Accha ab Kya karna hai?

Gauri: Aap dono jaayie, jahaan bhi jaana hai, hum yehi theek hai

Rudra: Bhabhi, darr ka saamna karna chahiye!

Gauri: Nahi Rudy bhaiyya, hum theek hai! Hume paani pasand nahi hai!

Om: Chod na, Rudra. Usse kyun force kar raha hai? Mujhe bhi paani mein nahi jaana hai

Gauri: Arre! Aap Rudy bhaiyya ko daant kyun rahe Hai? Aap jaayie Unke saath, unka bahut mann hai jaane ka

Om: Arre? Main Kahaan dant raha hoon? Aur Kya zabardasti hai! Mujhe nahi jaana!

Gauri: Bhai ki khushi ke liye yeh bhi nahi kar sakte? Chee, laanat hai!

[Om and Gauri continued their argument for about five minutes, while Rudra observed them with a wide smile on his face.

Even their nok-jhoks were a sign that things were slowly going to be better.

Om and Gauri stopped their argument when they saw Rudra staring at them, with a wide smile on his face.]

Om: Tu aise ghur kyun raha hai?

Rudra: Bass old times ki yaad aa gayi! Waise, itne waqt baad bhi, aap dono ki tadi abhi bhi zinda hai!

Om: Ho gaya Tera bakwaas? Ab chalein?

Rudra: Gauri bhabhi, aap humaare saath aayie na! I promise, Aapko samundar ki ore jaana nahi padega! Please! Meri khaatir?

Gauri: Accha, theek hai, theek hai

[Rudra and Om stood on the either sides of Gauri and walked with her, but as they got closer to the sea, Gauri's pace slowed down.

The fear and nervousness was clearly visible on her face and Om and Rudra immediately noticed this.

Rudra knew this was the right time.

The right time to leave!]

Rudra: Arre! Main bhool hi gaya!

Om: Ab Kya hua?

Rudra: Yaar Maine gaadi galat jagah park ki thi! Abhi aata hoon!

Gauri: Arre Rudy bhaiyya---

[ Rudra ran off before Gauri could complete her sentence, leaving her alone with Om.]

Om: Tum aage nahi jaana chahti toh theek hai, hum kahi Aur chalenge

Gauri: Nahi koi baat nahi, h-hum chalenge

[Om and Gauri continued walked towards the shore, until Gauri stopped in her tracks, too scared to move ahead.

She was incredibly nervous, and then saw someone's open hand in front of her. She looked up and saw Om keeping his hand open and giving her a reassuring look.

Should Gauri take his hand in hers?

It would basically mean that she trusted him!

Gauri got rid her thoughts and gently placed her hand in his, after which he held it in a tight grip.

It had been so long since the 2 of them were this close.

It had been so long that they almost forgot what the other felt like.

But somehow, as Gauri walked towards the shore, whilst holding Om's hand, her worry and fear instantly dissolved.

It was almost as if Om had just eased her worries and fears away.

The moment the wave hit Gauri's feet, she jumped with a start and instantly clinger on to Om's arm, while he looked at her in a caring manner.

Gauri couldn't lie to herself about the fact that she felt safe around Om.

She still knew deep down that despite all their history and past together, that she trusted him a lot.

Maybe it was Avyaya, or Om's change in behavior, but she was slowly able to trust him, and everything he did.

Gauri slowly moved away from his arm, but her hand was still clasped in Om's, and for the first time, she wasn't afraid of the sea or water.

It was almost as if Om's presence had an effect on her!

As Gauri's feet were in the water, her mischievous side immediately came into effect. She quickly let go off Om's hand and bent down, before splashing some water on Om and letting out a laugh.

Om immediately moved away and wiped his face, slightly annoyed and irritated, but somehow, the moment he saw the laugh on Gauri's face, something instantly happened to him.

He just couldn't be annoyed at her.

Om had waited so so so long to see this side of Gauri, and here it was.

Om too, bent down, and splashed a large amount of water on Gauri, startling her, after which she wiped her face and began chasing Om.

The smiles on both their faces were pure, genuine and symbols of happiness. It felt just like how it was 10 months ago. Nothing artificial or fake. ]

Gauri: (Chasing Om) Rukiye! Ab dekhiye hum ka karte hai! Rukiye---Ee ka kar rahe hai aap?

[Gauri immediately stopped when Om turned around and had wet sand in his hands, ready to throw at Gauri.

Gauri instantly screamed and ran ahead, while Om began chasing her.

She felt so free.]

Om: (Chasing Gauri) Mere peeche bhaag rahi thi, ab kya hua? Haan?

Gauri: Dekhiye, aap dur rahiye! Humaara suit kharab ho jaayega!

Om: Ab dur rehna mushkil hai! Ab nahi chorunga!

[Gauri continued running until she turned around and couldn't see Om anywhere .

Scared and confused, she stopped running and looked around, trying to figure out where Om could disappear, until she felt a hand on her cheek, which felt mushy and dirty. She turned around saw Om grinning widely, as he put the mud on her cheek, and his fingers gently brushed against her lips, making Gauri blush.

Om then used his other clean hand and gently wiped the mud off her face, and then ran her fingers over her lips trying to wipe the mud off, as he gazed into her eyes.

Om missed how Gauri's face felt. Her soft cheeks, her petite lips, her dark and fierce eyes.

Om missed Gauri.

So so so much.

However, the moment Om became conscious of his actions, he immediately moved his hands away and distanced himself from her, and Gauri too looked away.]

Om: (Embarrassed) Sorry, woh...

Gauri: Koi baat nahi

Om: I think hume waapis jaana chahiye, Rudy humaara intezaar kar raha hoga

Gauri: Haan, chaliye

[Gauri, Om and Rudra soon got in and headed back to the hotel and met Anika and Shivaay, who were rather confused by Om and Gauri's state.]

Shivaay: Yeh kya hai? Gauri, tum par itni mitti?

Gauri: Woh---

Rudra: Bhaiyya! Personal question! Lekin mujhe lagta hai dono ke beech zoro ki romance hui hai!

Om: Shut up Rudra!

Anika: Accha tum dono haath-muh dho lo, phir hum khaana khaane chalenge!

*In Om and Gauri's room*

Om: Tum jao, nahao, main tumhaare baad jaaonga

Gauri: Ji theek hai

[Gauri gently removed her earrings and jewellery, and felt Om's gaze on her.

This time she didn't feel intimidated or afraid.

She felt shy!

As Gauri was about to head for a shower, she heard Om's voice.]

Om: (Walking towards her) Ek minute, ruck

Gauri: Ka hua?

[Om placed his hands on her hair, whilst gently removing sand and mud particles from her wet hair. Om and Gauri immediately looked into each others eyes.

Gauri liked the way Om would close, but she still couldn't forget the past.

Looking into her eyes made her remember the past, and almost immediately, her eyes began tearing up,shocking Om, who immediately caressed her cheek.]

Om: Kya hua? Kissi ne kuch kiya?

Gauri: (Crying) Kyun kar rahe hai aap ee sab? Kyun humaare liye aur mushkil bana rahe hai?

Om: Kya matlab?

------------------------------

(Continued in the next chapter!)

So sorry for late update! I had a personal emergency to attend to!

ALSOOOO!!

I'm not too sure what time it is in Pakistan, but AZAADI MUBARAK TO ALL MY PAKISTANI READERS!! You've turned a beautiful 70 years old!! Have a safe, fun and amazing jashn-e-azaadi! (sahi hai na?DilBoleGaurika )

Thank you for reading my loves! Please vote if you liked it!!