Rikara Redux: OS#22 The Letter pg 17 - Page 5

Om came out of the shower one night, ready to jump right into bed and sleep off the sudden exhaustion that was taking over him. Amidst work at the office on the launch of their latest software, dancing practice with Gauri and wedding preparations for Shivaay's wedding, he hadn't gotten time to rest his feet and have quality time to himself. Hair wet and dripping from the cold shower, he went to jump on his bed only to find Rudra sprawled over the duvet and intently looking at the screen of...HIS PHONE!

"Rudra, give me my phone back. NOW!"

Rudra just chuckled and threw a pillow at him, expecting this reaction.

"She looks pretty."

On the screen was a photo of a rather small, yet beautiful looking woman who was clinging to Om's side as they posed in front of the camera. From the background, it seemed like they were at a cafe, but Rudi could tell from his immense experience with the city's most happening places, that they were at Frisco's bar. The woman was dressed in a full sleeved dress that hugged her figure and exposed her legs. Yet, in the outfit, he found her cute. His brother had a black jacket on with his hair pulled back in a low ponytail. That was not what stopped him at the picture and made him stare, though. He had seen Om smile and laugh before, but somehow, his brother seemed like a different person with this woman beside him. Someone he didn't quite recognize. Before, he had time to decipher more from the picture and the mysterious woman in the photo, the phone was snatched from his hand and thrown across the room on the recliner. He followed the direction of the phone only to peer into Om's ferocious eyes. It didn't effect him in the least bit.

"So who is she?"

Om turned his face away and ran a hand through his hair in annoyance.

"None of your business."

"Is she the one you are supposedly not dating-"

"I am NOT dating her-"

"-and yet sneaking out to meet every now and then?" Rudi continued as if he hadn't heard Om.

Om turned around in a warning glare. Someday his supermodel brother was going to lose his million dollar face if he pushed any harder.

"We are not talking about this."

"And not even talking about the way you destroyed her coffee outing with the intern, what's his name? Ah, yes! Dev and then took her out for some pani puri?"

Om turned around fully and centered his attention on his brother's smirk. So, he had been stalking him stealthily. But why? And how did he find out about the coffee? And the pani puri? And Dev?Om's eyes relaxed with understanding. There could have been only one person capable of getting this information for him.

"Don't worry O, Khanna isn't going to breathe a word about this to anybody. But, who is she and why are you hiding?" Rudi asked, a tinge of seriousness taking over his voice.

Om sunk down onto the bed and sighed. He had just wanted one night to himself to rest his body and think shameless thoughts about Gauri. But, no, his brother couldn't let that happen could he?

"We are just good friends." Om started, knowing that that was the understatement of the century.

"Gee, where have I heard that tried and tested, let's-hide-our-affair-from-the-tabloids excuse?" Rudi exclaimed sarcastically, obviously not convinced.

"Do you want to know about her or not?" Om asked exasperated.

"Fine go ahead, but be honest."

"Well, I met her on the train a few months ago. Her name is Gauri and she is Annika's younger sister."

"Annika, the wedding planner?"

Om nodded. "She's funny, sweet and weirdly sexy in a cute way. She has this presence that just commands your attention. And she beats the hell out of bad guys. A lioness." Om smiled in pride, remembering an incident from the bar. "She calls herself Gundi Gauri."

Rudra burst out laughing at the absurdity of the nickname, but one look from Om had him go quiet.

"She can beat the hell out of you, you know" Om said.

"So, you like her?" Rudi asked, not believing what Om said, but not wanting to start another petty fight with him again.

That had Om go quiet. How was he going to sidestep this question without revealing too much about his budding attraction to the fair-skinned hazel-eyed beauty who lived next door?

"You like her!" Rudi said bobbing his head in excitement.

"Not in that-"

"Please O, it's so obvious that you are whipped. Bhaiya already seems like he is falling for Annika, and you are going for the younger sister. Way to go, mere bhai! Only I have to find someone."

Rudi sighed. Somehow, his thoughts wandered to a certain ACP Bhavya who was hell bent on making him pay for the nuisance he had created in her life. Rudi shuddered. Never. Not in a million years.

"Nobody said anything about being whipped." Om said, shivering at the idea. He wasn't that deep in. "I'm just low-key attracted."

"Make that high-key" Rudi said with confidence. "The first thing that you said when you described her was that she was funny and sweet, sexy came third on the list." He patted Om's shoulder. "You're way more 'attracted' than you think."

"No" Om said, but the doubt was evident in his voice.

Rudi chuckled, knowing his brother too well. "I dare you. Ask her out on a date. An official one, not the 'practices' that you keep making excuses of to hang out with her. Treat her like you would any date and see if you feel something. You can dump me in the pool, if all you feel is platonic friendship towards her."

Om pretended not to think about the dare, but his mind was already thinking of ways to rise up to the challenge. He knew that there was a slim chance that he was going to get to dump Rudi into their pool, but the thought of going on an official date with Gauri was too good to resist. He would have to convince the Gundi in her though.

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"So why did you ask me to come to your college again?" asked Om as he stood in front of the gate of Gauri's college campus waiting for her come out of the building.

"Om, quit being so impatient. I have a surprise." Gauri said on the phone as she descended the stairs of her college and walked to the spot where Om was leaning on his bike. When she reached him, he pulled her into a tight hug and took in the scent of her perfumed kurti and the tightness of her small frame. Somewhere his heart skipped a beat.

Gauri smiled at the familiar scent of his dress shirt and cardigan as he wrapped his hands around her shoulders in greeting. This had lately become a routine now and meeting him would feel incomplete without a hug.

They pulled back quickly and then Gauri pulled him to the stairs and to the first floor of her rundown college where the miniscule Art studio was. Ever since she had mentioned her sketching and her Art to him, he had been pestering her to show him some of her art pieces. She had refused initially because they weren't that close and because Art was something very personal to her. But as days went by and their friendship grew to the strength and purity that she was proud of, she had been anxious to show him the latest piece she had been working on. This time, she had really outdone herself when it came to design. Her canvas had expanded to contain the fierce inspiration that ran inside her. Colors were bold and beautiful instead of the monochrome grey that she had grown too comfortable with. Her brush strokes were striking and her interpretation was wild. She couldn't wait for him to see what she had created.

Om panted behind her as he was dragged up the stairs in excitement. He hadn't expected this tiny woman to be so fast and strong when it came to stairs. All he had been used to were the elevators in his office. They stood in front of the Art studio and Gauri turned to Om, her eyes twinkling with excitement and curiosity. "Ready?"

Om nodded, feeling excited himself.

Gauri pushed the door open to reveal a whole wall of the Art studio covered in her interpretation of 'Mobile Lovers' painted in bold blue, red and hues of purple that lit up the room. The artwork had been inspired by the anonymous grafitti artist Banksy, but the work and the colors had been her own and she couldn't be more proud of the result.

Om stared in astonishment at the painting in front of him. He had, no doubt, seen the original version of the art when in was released in Bristol a few years ago, but this was beautiful and he couldn't believe that his Gauri was such a talented artist.

"OH MY GOD! I can't believe you were hiding this from me. You are amazing, you know that right?"

Gauri smiled in pride. "Shakti sir let me use the whole wall for the assignment."

"And why wouldn't he? You are amazing!!!" Om exclaimed again spellbound by the beauty in front of him.

"You are the first one to see it."

That had him turn around to face her. His eyes went soft with something akin to tenderness. He was the first one. Somehow, he realized that this might not have been in reference to just the painting. A lot of things that they had done together were her firsts. If we went out on an official date, that would also be her first, Om thought as Rudi's dare sneaked into his mind.

"It's a good thing you showed it to me first, because you know what I am going to tell you to do with it."

Gauri's eyes widened. "No"

"Why?"

"Because, it isn't Sancham Publisher's material." Gauri said, knowing in her heart of hearts that that was a lie. Her company had launched a recent version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice set in the modern times and they were looking for the perfect picture to go with the cover of their novel that was going to be releasing next month. There was no way she was going to submit her creation and make a fool out of herself.

"You know that is a lie, because this," Om pointed to the wall work, "is freaking amazing. You are just scared to release your art to the world."

Gauri sighed, not saying anything. She felt uncomfortable talking about this, but she knew he was right. Om walked towards her and lifted her chin. "I dare you. Submit the painting. If it doesn't work out, then you can punch me and I won't mind." Om said, knowing that that was never going to happen.

Gauri's eyes lit up at the challenge. She thought it through. Submitting the art piece for the book cover would be scary, but at least if it didn't work out then she would get to flex her Gundigiri on him. Waise bhi, he was getting a little too cocky these days, now that he had mastered the waltz.

"Fine. " she said.

"But, wait. I have one condition, if it doesn't work out."

"What?"

"You can't kick me in the balls."

And with that Gauri burst out in laughter as they headed out of the college campus and to the waiting bike outside.

__________________

Sure enough, Om was right.

Two weeks after she had submitted a photograph of the wall painting to the editor of the book, she was called into her boss's office and explained in calm yet excited tones that her artwork would not only be the cover of the hard copy, it would also make its way to the translated versions that were going to be distributed in France and Italy. Gauri couldn't be more ecstatic at the thought of her talent finally coming out to the entire world and she had only one man to thank: her lambe baalon wala attractive best friend who was currently on his way to pick her up from her office.

________

When they had made their way through the shared plate of biryani and talked through Om's nervousness of his new launch, the conversation lulled to stop as both sat comfortably in silence.

For some reason, Om couldn't get his mind away from Rudi's dare. And now that Gauri sat lounging in the spacious chair in front of him, caring the least about the way that she looked when she devoured the biryani, he couldn't help but still find her attractive. High-key attractive. There was some pull towards her that just kept getting stronger the more he saw her. It felt as though it was deeper than he could ever imagine, as though he was meant to be with her forever in which ever world they were born in. He gasped at the feeling, scared that it was way too strong for the kind of feelings he was comfortable with. He didn't want something that serious with her, if they ever thought of anything beyond this friendship. Did he?

"...Om are you listening?"

"Huh, what?"

"Nothing, I was just saying that you have been staring at that waitress for way too long. See something you like?" Gauri asked with teasing. On the inside though, she felt uncomfortable.

Om glanced over at the waitress and saw her smiling at him.

"You've got it wrong, honey. She was staring at me."

Gauri raised her eyebrows. She was right, he had gotten a little too cocky for his own good. Well, she was no less.

"Prove it." She leaned closer on the table so that their faces were less than inches apart. "I dare you. Get her number and I'll believe that she has the hots for you and not the other way round."

Om leaned closer if possible and scoffed at her. "This isn't even a challenge."

Leaning back and adjusting his body in a practiced casual stance, he politely called for the waitress and when she danced her way to their table, he put on his best smile.

"Hey, beautiful. Do you mind ringing up our bill?" Om whispered in his husky voice.

Gauri sat back mentally laughing at the Om that she was witnessing right now. She could easily see through his moves and yet, she was impressed.

The waitress on the other hand bent towards him to take the credit card that Om currently held in his hand. As she advanced closer, Om could see the pounds of make up that she had put on her oval face. He mentally gagged.

"See now my friend here thinks that you look great, but I said she was wrong." Om continued luring the waitress's attention. "You look gorgeous." Om waited for a beat and the went in for the kill. "Call me when your shift at the restaurant ends?"

Gauri waited in anticipation to hear what the waitress had to say.

The waitress smiled a full smile and said, "I'd love to, but I have my evening booked with my girlfriend. Maybe next time, when you use a better pick up line." And with that she walked away with a slight swing in her hips.

Om and Gauri waited in shock for a minute before Gauri burst out in laughter that had the whole restaurant turn to them for a minute. "Ouch" she said looking at Om's dumbfounded expression. "Bet, you didn't see that coming."

"Most girls would kill for a date with me." Om grumbled, embarrassment slowly seeping in at the thought of being turned down.

"Awww, I'm sure they would." Gauri said. She meant it.

"Let's get out of here." Om said, not liking the attention he was receiving from the other waitresses in the restaurant.

Gauri just laughed and pulled him with her out of the restaurant.

Once outside, the sky began to darken with thunder and rain came pouring out of nowhere onto the street outside. Om ran for cover, but Gauri walked headfirst into the first few rainfalls of the season and spread her arms out wide, the way she had when they first went up to the peak. She had a blissful smile on her face as she jumped at the thought of having heaven's raindrops run down her face and intensify her beauty. Wet she was, but that didn't stop her from twirling in the rain and enjoying every moment of the monsoons.

Through the covers of the restaurant, Om saw Gauri dancing and twirling to the beat of the rolling thunder and his heart jumped in his mouth. For one, she looked like a monsoon princess with her kurti drenched and clinging to the sides of her bare waist. Unknown to the world around her, she danced and jumped as the rain kissed her face and trickled down and touched her lips and then travelled down her throat to her breasts. Om's heart skipped yet another beat. This one, he thought.

Yet again, Rudi's challenge invaded his mind, stronger than he thought it would. Date her. Official date. Date.

He couldn't resist the thought of having this princess all to himself for a night and treating her like the royalty she was. A smile spread across his face as he felt at peace with what his mind was thinking about doing. Slowly he made his way to Gauri and ran his hands through his now wet hair as the rain drops between them diminished with their reducing distance. Gauri stopped twirling and smiled when she saw Om join her in enjoying the monsoon, but when he invaded her personal space and put his arms on her waist, she stood in shock.

Om blinked a few times, making sure he caught her eyes and spoke the words that were now circling his mind. This was huge for both of them, but he now knew that he wanted this.

Gauri relaxed into his touch as her heart began to quicken at their close proximity. While waltzing he had held her close many times before, but there was an excuse for that. What was the reason here?

Through the shudder of the thunder and the pitter patter of the raindrops on the emptying street, she heard him sigh and then lean closer to her ear and whisper in his husky voice.

"I dare you-"

Gauri closed her eyes. Even in the cold of the rain, she could feel his warm breath on her cheek.

"- to go on an official date."

Her eyes opened in shock. If she was expecting anything from what he was going to say, it wasn't this. She pulled back in his embrace and looked into his deep dreamy eyes.

"With whom?"

Om smiled and leaned a little closer so that their noses were touching.

"With me..."

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Ciffhanger, sort of?

Hope you all still liked it!