30 Kisses | Collaboration OS Series [xv updated 6/1] - Page 18

Originally posted by: starbright9

okay, i cried at the last part😭😭. this kind of stories make me so...emotional..

it was really well written, just loved it.. i can see it all infront of my eyes..keep up the gud work n do write more.

Originally posted by: LilyJames0194

Oh my god this was sooo beautiful ❤️

5 year old Priyanka wanting to discover Atlantis is probably one of the sweetest things I have ever read.

The whole OS is just too beautiful. I wish they showed something half as beautiful as this on the show instead of the garbage of anti hero falling in love with a rich damsel. It's over hyped, especially when GK seems to be on a mission to make each love story about Angry resenting guy falling in love with a gold hearted, helpless woman.

Anyway coming back, love love this OS! I can't wait for more on this thread xx

Originally posted by: dimaag

I was so engulfed in the story that I didn't realise when did it end. It was beautiful. Atlantis. I had obsession with Atlantis, Bermuda triangle and etc. So I was so happy to read some thing on it. Priyanka's Atlantis . Wah!! By the way happy to have you back dear. Missed you 😃

X| Plans

Genre: Mild Angst/Mild Humour/Romance

Paring: RumYa/Rudra Singh Oberoi X Saumya Tendulkar

Summary: [Set in the future.] They aren't what they wanted, but maybe they're more. Or, that Rudra and Saumya love each other, but they're holding back. A conversation or two, a tip from the one already through the storm, and an oh my mata! may eventually seal their fates.

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I didn't plan to fall in love with you, and I doubt if you planned in falling in love with me.

But once we met it was clear that neither of us could control what was happening to us.'

- The Notebook

The annual art fair at Mumbai's most elite grade school, had in turn, completely derailed its participants, and their families. Caught in the fray, every single person in the Oberoi household had been dragged into the ordeal - some by choice, and others not so much. The dictator of the whole situation, Sahil, had demanded (with the help of his brother-in-laws) that Khanna and Mishra lead their CIA-trained task forces on a wild goose change to find everything from silken, coloured paper to rasps and rifflers of all conditions. His mentor, Omkara Singh Oberoi inspired him, and sometimes (okay, so more than sometimes) fixed his masterpiece when the young boy got slightly too trigger happy with the paint.

But everyone from his beloved Annika Di, to the rambunctious Choti Ma had a hand in the work.

Even Tej Singh Oberoi had joined in at one point, with his offer to buy Saahil the arts and craft department from Omkara Singh Oberoi's exquisite artiste line. The underhanded offer was lovingly denied, with a peck on his grinning cheek.

No one however, could argue that a certain Rudra Singh Oberoi had lived this art project right alongside the child. Instead of studying for his university finals, the man had thrown himself into the whirlwind of emotion that was a child's aspiration. Between chopping stacks of paper, and colouring in diagrams, he had conveniently not found any time to think about any newly developing feelings towards his best friend.

Because, dear god, was he terrified.

Saumya Tendulkar was the poster child of the type of females that serial playboys ran away from. She was not stick-thin, not an easy lay, and the worst thing and a complete put off, she actually had brains. Nothing that had attracted Rudra before, and that was supposed to be how it always was. He didn't want a Saumya, when he could brainlessly screw clueless women that ran after him.

But as he observed the rosy-cheeked bane of his existence prance around the kitchen, talking to her Bhabhi as she animatedly chewed on a paratha, he realised that for the first time in his life, he didn't want those women anymore.

No, he wasn't necessarily saying that he wanted her, just that those other girls didn't appeal anymore. Not in the face of her compassion, cheek and tacit charm.

For weeks now, he had run away. He liked to remind himself that they were not meant to be, even though her fingers fit perfectly into his when they held hands. Even though she brought equilibrium into his life, even though sometimes all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and never let go. When he closed his eyes, he could almost see a portrait of a promised family. His arms around her waist, both of them grinning towards the camera -

But he knew that Saumya didn't feel the same. And to be completely honest, a part of him didn't want her to feel the same. He had hurt her too much, and the fear of doing anything further that could potentially break her, kept him away. He knew that it had taken her months to recover for whatever their makeshift marriage had been, and done.

He felt something ache in his chest, as Saumya giggled about something, and high-fived Annika. Like a starved man that had found his oasis, Rudra stared shamelessly as she transformed into his mirage. As she saved him.

The realisation struck Rudra like a storm.

He knew that this always hungry, weirdly wonderful, intelligent woman was his, and now that he saw her for who she truly was, he couldn't let her go. In that moment, all his doubts faded away to nothingness - she was this beautiful, ever blooming miracle that he wanted. Needed.

So, as he sat with Sahil, sprawled around the living room, surrounded by stacks of coloured paper and clay, Rudra Singh Oberoi took a chance. He chose to forget that she wasn't his ideal woman, that he had no idea where any of this was going, and just took a goddamn chance.

Tentatively, he cleared his throat, garnering Sahil's attention. Scissors precariously tilted, and one eyebrow arched, the young boy nodded expectantly.

"Sahil, er...we need to have a man-to-man talk. Share some advice and so forth."

"Oh my, yes! I've actually been wanting to ask you, there's a new girl called Shanaya in town and -" Sahil dropped his scissors in his excitement, arms flailing around as he attempted to narrate his predicament, only to be interrupted.

"No, no! This time, I need your help."

"Well, if you are desperate." The boy smirked mischievously for a second, before sobering up as he saw the worry etched on the older man's voice. He really did need help, and who better to help him than the serial womaniser himself -

His thought process was interrupted with a question that left him completely floored.

"How do you know if someone is the one?"

"Huh?" Sahil had expected a question about brushing girls off, or the perfect Valentine's Day gift, or even fantastic make out tactics. What he hadn't expected was something as deep, or introspective a question as this one was. He hesitated and tried to form a response, but now, almost in a daze, Rudra repeated the same question.

"How do you know if someone is the one?"

"As in, the one?" Sahil looked back, wide-eyed, and swallowed grimly when Rudra nodded fervently. This was really not his place, seeing as he experienced love at first sight ten times a day.

"Yeah, as in the one that does things to you."

Still dazed and slightly blurry-eyed, Rudra tried to explain the situation better, but the child in front of him just huffed.

"Rudra Bhaiya, explain please."

"There's this girl...yeah, just this girl that I know. I used to find her annoying and bossy, and just ugh, but now, I just don't know." Rudra rubbed his temples, frustrated and Sahil reached out and rubbed his forearm in a proffered display of comfort.

"You don't know what?"

"What changed. I don't know what changed, one day I hated her and then now I think I lo- "He stopped abruptly, avoiding the telling gaze that had Sahil's lips curling into an involuntary smile.

"Hmmm, this is very interesting."

"I don't need you to judge the entertainment quality of my predicament, Sahil." Rudra glared at him, lips sealing into his trademark pout as he watched the little boy's grin get wider.

"Did you just say predicament?"

"Yeah, Saumya taught it to me." Involuntarily, Rudra found himself smiling now as well, as Sahil smirked openly. His suspicions were being proved correct.

"Uhuh."

"Don't give me that look!" Rudra snapped out of his daze, and narrowed his eyes at the boy waggling his eyebrows suggestively, still beaming fanatically.

"What look?"

"You know the, I-know-all-your-secrets-type-look."

"Well, I can't really help it if I'm all knowing."

Rudra sighed, and Sahil found something in himself break a bit. His Rudra Bhaiya, the dashing debonair of the Oberoi family, the serial Casanova of Mumbai was in love. And the goddamn idiot didn't even realise. It was time to get the gears in action.

"Sahil, I actually need help."

"You know, when I found out about SSO Jiju had done to Annika Di when they got married, I genuinely thought that I could kill him." Voice more sombre, Sahil scrunched and unscrunched a piece of paper as he recalled the day he had found out about the forced marriage. He had wanted his brother-in-law's blood that day, because his arrogance and adamance had potentially ruined his sister's life. And now?

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

"But?"

"I saw something, in his eyes, that I hadn't seen before in anyone else's...He looked at her with this sort of wonder, in awe, almost. And it broke my heart."

"Why?"

"Because she wasn't what he wanted, not at all. Jiju wanted some plastic witch who could smile and look pretty for the camera, and instead, he got someone who made him smile, just not for the anyone but himself."

Rudra furrowed his brows as the young child kept talking. His worldliness was almost unnerving, and it reminded him of a certain long-haired Oberoi who flaunted the same thoughts on a daily basis. He internally speculated if Sahil had been possessed, or there had been a Freaky Friday type of situation that had gone down.

"I'm lost, Sahil. What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, its hard. Changing the way that you think, your plans, how you see the world because of one person is huge. It's terrifying, and that's why I don't blame Jiju or Didi for pushing each other away, when they did." Sahil smiled at him weakly, rubbing his forearm again to comfort him. His eyes watered as he saw the man before him grow up in a matter of seconds, as he asked him quietly, in defeat.

"Yeah, and how do you become okay with changing for one person?"

"How did they do it?"

Rudra looked back at the young boy, and thought about his brother and sister-in-law. If Shivaay Bhaiya could redeem himself, and Annika Bhabhi could forgive him, if they could fall in love, then they could do it too.

And this time, it would be planned.

"You've been around O too much." Rudra swept the boy into his arms, endearingly and squeezed him until Sahil was roaring about being swallowed by his biceps. When he finally set him down, and was set to leave to fulfil a now very, important engagement, he was stopped once more.

"Rudra Bhaiya?"

"Yeah?"

"If you don't keep Saumya happy, I swear to everything that I am going to kill you."

*

From her perch on the kitchen alcove, Saumya watched as Annika Di marched around the kitchen, musically clattering and clanging pots and pans in a way only she knew how too. As her incessant chatter faded away in the background, she found herself peering outside into the living room. Smiling, she watched as Rudra and Sahil engaged in what looked like a heated conversation, and subconsciously found that her heart was beating faster.

Probably because Sahil is so cute.

But still, it brought back uncharacteristic memories of a family holiday, because she had felt the same way then too. A few months ago, the whole family had spent a week on the beach that Omkara had brought for Gauri, for their second anniversary. On a night where all the married couples had retreated for some alone time' Rudra, Saumya and Sahil had been left alone on the enigmatic, moonlit beach. Sahil had dragged her to help him build sandcastles, and she had enjoyed the young child's company until she had felt a wet, trickling coldness slide down her back. She turned around, slowly, to face the grinning Rudra Singh Oberoi, looking endearingly cheeky.

Saumya had pulled the seaweed out from under her shirt, and then proceeded to chase a giggling Rudra around the beach, seaweed still in hand.

Her heart had beaten faster then too. As it had, every time since then.

Two years of being Mumbai's go-to-love-advisor had honed her, and taught her to acknowledge what was happening. It just hadn't prepared her for what was to come.

Rudra Singh Oberoi was not supposed to be the one she fell in love with.

He was childish, annoying, self-obsessed, arrogant, a complete idiot -

The list could go on, and even as she strove to remind herself of exactly this, not to mention the fact that he had repeatedly broken her heart, and rejected her, it was all she could really do to stop feeling.

She had tried to distract herself, with the kind and compassionate Rehaan Chabra, but all that did was make her feel manipulate and cheap. Rehaan had been nave and accepting, infinitely accommodating, and yet, all she had done was break his heart, for a man that she knew didn't love her. She didn't deserve him.

And Rudra didn't deserve her.

He had hurt her, and the blow of his denial had cut a bit too deep. It had opened old wounds from times past, ones that Rudra hadn't inflicted. Losing someone, to love or to hate, was like suicide. She had always dreamt of falling in love with a man who treated her right, and instead, she had managed to fall in love with a selfish, arrogant little prick. One that had broken her heart, again.

And Saumya didn't think that she had it in her to forgive anymore. Did anyone?

She had only seen one woman that had had it in her to forgive someone that she shouldn't have, and the chance she had taken had been rewarded. But Shivaay Bhaiya and Annika Didi were meant to be, and so they had been rewarded for their tolerance. Would she be rewarded for taking the same chance?

Only one way to know.

"Di, this may sound weird but - "

"Can't be weirder than that bloody baghad billa, do you know what...Saumya, what's wrong?" Annika, fully intending to fill her in about the shenanigans of her infamous Billu Ji, that had involved an allergy and layers of concealer, stopped when she saw lines of stress etched on Saumya's forehead.

"Nothing really, I'm just a bit confused about something."

Setting her tea towel down, Annika folded into a chair on the breakfast bar and pulled the younger woman next to her, clasping her hands warmly as she waited for Saumya to speak.

"How is it possible to love someone, even when they've put you through hell?"

Annika's hands subconsciously loosened in the hold, as she studied Saumya silently. She had a niggling feeling as to where this was going, but she chose to ignore it, until her hunch was proven correctly.

"As in, how or why do I love Shivaay?" She replied knowingly, the ghost of a smile gracing her features. Immediately, Saumya reddened, shaking her head furiously, in embarrassment.

"Oh my god, I can't believe I said that. I'm so sorry!" Saumya made to get up, but Annika squeezed her shoulders and gently forced her back into her seat.

"It's okay, talk to me. What's been bothering you?" Annika eased, initial defensiveness worn off, because she knew that Saumya had meant no harm. In the three years that she had been married to Shivaay, the happenings of their wedding day had remained taboo, even though they were now in love. Partly because her husband was still guilty, and partly because Annika had pushed his apologies away, as well. Not out of resentment though, but out of love.

"Bade Bhaiya hurt you, distanced himself, ran away from his feelings for you for the longest time. But - "

"But he loved me too." She snapped out of her thoughts, as she answered Saumya, with a genuine smile. The younger woman's eyes widened at she was made aware of her sister-in-law's goodness, yet again. If only she could do the same...

"But if you were built on such a shaky foundation, then aren't you always worried that things will go eventually fall apart?" The question came out before she could help herself, but Annika nodded thoughtfully. Her suspicions were being proved correct.

"He broke me, but he put me together as well. He built me up so strong, that nothing can break me anymore." She chose her words carefully, addressing her words more to herself, than Saumya.

"Except him."

"Except him."

Their words echoed in the large room as they sat quietly, emotions and experiences sinking in. Eventually, Annika started murmuring again slowly, catching her sister-in-law's attention.

"You know Saumya, sometimes love just blurs lines. It becomes a weakness sure, but you just need to learn to accept that it may only get worse. Everyone falls, and everyone breaks. What makes it okay though, is that you're only broken to become a better person." Annika smiled weakly at her, before she pulled her into a tight embrace. Soothingly, as she felt her eyes burning with tears, Annika shared one last bit of advice.

"Just take a chance on him, Saumya."

Saumya nodded, determinedly, as she finally broke the hug. Tying up her hair like she was about to go to war, she tried to walk out of the kitchen, but her feet refused to move. Sighing, she turned back again.

"But what if I'm wrong?"

"Then you're wrong, but its better to die of heartbreak than heartache." Annika sighed dramatically, face splitting into a congenial warmth as she tossed her thumbs up in a display of of support/

Saumya grinned at the cryptic, but crass allusion. This time, she was nearly out the door, brimming with a newfound confidence, but she was stopped once more.

"Oh, and Saumya?"

"Yes, Annika Di?"

"You really need to start calling me Bhabhi, love."

*

As he marched through the hallways, adrenaline coursing his veins, Rudra cursed a one such paratha-obsessed fiend, that he knew. How could someone with so much to carry, move so fast? Just let me get my hands on her today -

But before he could actually find the blasted woman, he found himself being dragged into one of the spare guest rooms. While his natural reaction would have been to scream bloody murder, the soft hands, and the dainty nails digging into his built forearms had him rendered completely silent.

Locking the door behind her shut with a definitive snap, Saumya turned around to face him, chest heaving. He was mesmerised for a second, as he took her in. Lips slightly parted, flushed cheeks, breath catching. He may have actually leaned in, if not for her irritated fingers, snapping twice in front of his face.

"We need to talk." Her voice was deceptively calm, and if Rudra was suddenly so afraid, he would have picked up on it. Instead, he slowly nodded, and waited for her to continue. When she didn't, he got the message.

And started rambling.

"So, I'll have you known that you are really, really not my type." Rudra cleared his throat as he spoke, words jumbling in his mouth, but eyes not leaving hers. In turn, Saumya just listened, eyes widened as she silently agreed with every symptom he was describing.

"...and I know I used to think you were pretty weird and annoying, but now I just find you pretty - "

"Why did this even happen?" Ignoring the compliment that had sent her nerves into overdrive, Saumya finally interrupted Rudra's mile-long rant. God, but the idiot could go on.

"I don't know." Stunned, Rudra looked down sheepishly, but she persisted. This time, she needed answers, even if it meant she had to force them out of him.

"How did this even happen?"

"I don't know?" Rolling her eyes at his obliviousness, she pushed past him as she started pacing around the spacious guest room. Tired, Rudra sank onto the bed as well, eyes following her as she cursed and spluttered.

"Well help me, Rudra, because I have no idea what this is."

"Neither." He tossed in a quip, with some of his trademark charm, that had Saumya throwing a glare his way. She continued again, resuming her marching, footsteps padding loudly on the luxurious carpet.

Her next words had him standing up as well, struggling to grab on to her as he tried to reply, solemnly. So that she understood.

"You rejected me, demeaned me, hurt me."

I was stupid, I know. So stupid, and I'm so sorry -" Finally stopping her from moving, Rudra took her shaking palms in his and squeezed. And maybe, that was exactly what she had needed, because she burst into tears.

Worried now, he led her towards the bed, willing her to sit next to him. Their fingers were still intertwined as she buried her face in her chest.

"I forgave you in a heartbeat, but I'm scared that I won't forget what happened in a lifetime." Involuntarily, he found his hands moving out of the lock to smooth her hair back as she continued to sob. This was not how he had expected things to play out.

"But what we have..."

"What do we have, Rudra? Tell me." Saumya's reddened face moved up from his chest, as she suddenly edged back - and came back in full force. Pushing at him with both her palms, she beat against him - tears still flowing.

Frustrated, he glared back at her, and yelled out the only thing he knew would stop her.

"Oh for god's sake woman, you know I love you."

She froze.

Lips quivering, all movement stopped, she stared at him. He looked back at her, face earnest, as he matched her surprise at his outburst.

"Just like that?"

Rudra nodded, half in defeat, and half in excitement. The words had sounded so beautiful when he had said them, maybe even more than when he had said them in his head. When he loved, he loved wholeheartedly.

"Saumya, I know that I've hurt you, and that I was a dick, but give me one chance. Give us one more chance, and I promise to all the gods that you will be happy. We will be happy." His voice cracked finally, as he tried to offer her his usual charmant smile but failed. But dear god, was he desperate.

"I don't know, Rudra. I want to say I do, but I'm afraid." His smile faded, as he felt something crumble within him. He had tried so hard, so hard to fight his feelings, and now that he had finally come to terms with them, could she really just disregard it all?

He didn't have to wait long though, because Saumya's hand found his as she said, equally as emotional, but assured, too. She smiled as she felt his reaction, before he even looked up.

"But someone once told me to take chances, so I guess we could give this, give us a try."

For a second, nothing moved.

"Oh my mata!"

His lips captured hers before she could say anything more. Unlike every other girl he had been with, this kiss was sweet. Not hungry and lapping, no groping, but a sweet, chaste embrace that still had both of their hearts sent into a tailspin.

When they finally pulled away from each other, cheeks bright red and heated, Saumya still managed a quick retort.

"Did you really just say Oh my mata before our first kiss?"

As he grinned, and pulled her into a bear hug, Rudra found his face hurting from the grin that he couldn't fight back. A grin that he didn't want to fight back anymore. Something about a first kiss, had awoken something more already.

The first of many more to come.

We fell in love, despite our differences, and once we did, something rare and beautiful was created.'

- The Notebook