RiKara SS - Girlfriend pt3 pg12 (31/7) - Page 8

Chapter Three

Wo baarish ki boonde

In 2007

He had no idea she worked in a parking lot. Omkara ran a hand through his partially wet hair as he leaned against his bike, helmet in hand and watched the girl he had been pursuing relentlessly for the past few weeks. She was wearing a dark blue cap, her hair tied into a messy pony tail, her glasses had been fixed and she was busy, writing off tickets for the parking spots, to care about the sudden drizzle that had decided to grace them. Omkara checked his wrist watch; it was six twenty in the evening ten minutes till she got off duty. He took a calming breath and watched her for another minute, deciding not to disturb her job.

A car that had pulled out of the parking lot, slowed as it approached him and rolled down the shutter, his eyes flicked towards the driver curiously. It was a young woman in her late twenties, wearing an absolutely thick layer of make up and a fake smile.

"Omkara! Svetlana greeted him, too vibrant to match the gloomy surrounding around them.

"Svetlana, he acknowledged bitterly.

"What brings you here? The woman was too nosy for her own good, he thought his hands clenched into fists.

"None off your business, he replied through clenched teeth.

"Oh come on, Omkara, Svetlana stepped down, folding her arms over her chest and that dangling neck line of her acid green top. "D'you have any idea how worried your dad is? The fake concern made her voice sound even more pathetic. He wished she would just let him be, but no, this woman always tried to coax him and Rudra into some kind of a cordial relationship with her.

"I'm sure you know better, he told her, not bothering to sound less skeptical.

"Oh poor baby, she reached out to touch him and he slapped away her hand.

"Don't! Just keep your hands to yourself, Omkara stepped away. "I'm not sure what my dad considers you to be, please don't try to be my mom. I'm better off without your affections.

Unable to stand there anymore, he walked across the road and into the parking lot, five minutes earlier than he had previously planned to go.

She had seen him approaching and stilled in her tracks, her hands on her hips and her expression defensive. He wondered what thoughts swirled behind that look, but didn't ponder on it as he pulled out the sealed folder he brought for her.

"Your assignment. He said shortly, holding it out for her. "I got it typed out. Tomorrow is the due date right?

She watched him wordlessly, biting her lower lip and her eyes narrowed. Without giving her a chance to speak, Omkara continued briskly.

"And before you jump into any conclusions let me get this straight. I did this because I promised you I'd write your answer for you, it's all that you dictated and nothing more. I don't usually go back on my word or leave things halfway through. You can either take it or leave it, it's your call. My job is done.

He exhaled deeply, looking into her eyes, still holding out the assignment for her to take. Omkara had almost pulled it back after a minute of waiting, sure, that she was not going to accept his help, when she reached out and grabbed the folder from his hand, into her shaking hold.

With a curt nod, he turned to leave, digging his hands in his pockets.

"Gauri, a small voice called after him and he stopped, turning to look at her over his shoulder. For the first time in the short span of time he had known her, she looked unsure and small, clutching the folder he handed her closer to her body, her arms wrapped around it. "My name, it's Gauri.

There were droplets of water on her glasses, and she bit her lip again, watching him cautiously as if waiting for him to say something cruel.

Omkara was not sure whether he should tell her "Thank you or "welcome, neither seemed to suit the situation. He was reluctant to offer her his friendship, for he had no idea when this time bomb off a girl would go off. And more than all of that, he liked watching her, watching him...there was as always that serene factor about the silence between them.

The sudden flash of luminous light broke off his trance and for a moment everything slowed down. He could have sworn he had seen the raindrops reflecting the yellowish light before the earsplitting honking came. He had jumped thoughtlessly, pushing her away from the path of that reckless car and catching her totally unaware.

They rolled off scraping the cement as they went and he managed to keep his palm over her head, tucking her into his embrace to avoid her hitting the ground. Her arms came around his midriff, clutching two hand fulls from the back of his jacket. They stopped a good few feet away, him on the top of her and she had her eyes tightly shut, her spectacles askew.

Omkara braced himself on his elbows and watched her, before fixing her glasses properly on the bridge of her nose with his index finger.

"Gauri? He said softly, tasting her name on his tongue and musing how perfectly it fitted her image. Omkara brushed a strand of hair off her face before continuing. "Look at me...

She opened her eyes hesitantly and looked straight into his dark orbs, for some reason he could feel her heart rate pick up as she inhaled softly. Her warm breath fanned his face as he continued to watch her, trying to judge that strange expression that crossed her face.

"Umm...Omkara? She said slowly.

"Yes?

"You should move first.

"Wh...oh yeah, sorry, he pulled himself up and stretched out his hand for her. She sat up slowly, brushing dirt off her navy color blouse. She contemplated his offer for a moment, before placing her tiny hand in his much larger one.

Her hand was soft and cold, pale against his brownish fingers. She was in no hurry to take it off, he looked at her as he steadied her.

"Umm...I should get going, she said nervously, "I'm getting late.

"Let me walk you home, he said casually, and without giving her a chance to comment on it, started walking with her.

For her credit Gauri said nothing. She simply ducked her head against the rain and walked by his side, her hands hanging from her sides, occasionally brushing the back of her palm against his.

"What about your bike? She asked after a moment.

"I'll come back for it later. He said shortly.

There was a long pause, punctured only by the sound of their steps on the wet asphalt.

"The cafe owner is not on good terms with you right?

"Yeah, she offered him a faint grin. "He is my uncle, he is not that unwelcoming when I work the weekends for him.

"What's his problem?

"He doesn't like to spare his tables for anyone who is not a customer. He had given me an ultimatum that day, to either buy a coffee or find somewhere else to work in and...

"Let me guess I walked in...

"Not exactly, I spotted you... she said cheekily and then sighed. "You were right though, I was using you, for my selfish motives, never bothering about what could probably make you sulk there so late at night.

"I'm glad you didn't, he said honestly and she turned to look at him surprised. "I don't like people with loads of questions.

"So you''re a man with secrets? She said thoughtfully.

"Possibly darker than yours, he retorted and she looked flustered.

"What me? I don't have secrets.

Omkara raised his eyebrows.

"Really?

"I just don't like people pitying me, she shrugged saying blankly. "I'm just a normal girl, who's going through a bad phase in her life. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to withhold a shudder. Omkara pulled off his jacket and offered it to her, to which she rolled her eyes.

"There you go, you can't give it a rest can you? Playing the hero?

"I'd love to stop, but you're going to catch a cold and then it would be hard to play jhansi ki raani, he chuckled and she accepted the jacket, simply sinking her arms into it and wrapping it tight around herself.

Omkara watched her from the corner of his eye, feeling contended with himself for winning that argument.

"Do you like rains?

"I hate them, she replied, pulling a face to confirm her reaction. "Dirt, cold and germs...everywhere! He couldn't help the snort of laughter that escaped his throat. She frowned at him. "Of cause you'd think it's funny, I'm sure it looks utterly romantic when you're safely cocooned in a manor.

"I wasn't laughing at you, he clarified, choosing not to take offense on her comment at his status. "I just remembered someone who has a very similar view.

"Who? She sounded curious all of a sudden.

"My brother, Shivay. He told her with a fond smile. "He is absolutely horrified whenever it rains.

"Sounds like someone I'd agree with, she nodded, stopping at the entrance to a locality. "it's here...well then, good night Omkara.

"Good night Gauri, he stepped back, and stared after her as she walked in, stopping to chat with an old lady lighting oil lamps at the entrance of her house. It seemed the entire locality was going through some kind of a power cut, Omkara shook his head, realizing this was what she meant by writing by the candle light. Deciding to ask about it the next time they meet each other, he turned his heel and walked away, unaware of the shadows of Tej Oberoi's men that trailed after him.