~ll RiKara OS:: The Sweet Revenge ll ~

Hi Rikarians 🤗

I know I'm supposed to wrap up the Rambling thread, but her I am with my serving of something that started as a drabble which then went on to become a full-fledged OS.

Geez! RiKara ❤️ made me do this or was it ShreNal ❤️ with the photo-shoot.

I'm not sure if we will get any headstrong story for them or a generous amount of fluff to keep us going. So here's me trying my hand at fluff.

Foreword: Yup the usual one- Brace yourself from the typos. One sleepy soul here who does not know to write too fluffy.

This piece is dedicated to Farri25 🤗 Keep Dazzling Farri⭐️

Avi credit: Mais

~ll The Sweet Revenge ll ~

Travel stuff really sucked. He was never a keen traveler and yet he had to set out most of them with his art exhibitions wanting his attention. He would always have preferred his studio to the mighty exhibition halls; his room to the penthouse suite courtesy his hosts; his warm bed to the cold one at the 5-star hotel and his petite little birdie of a wife to the feather filled pillows hell no they weren't even soft as her. She was... she was... Hmmmppff!!!! He missed her.

Had it not been for the most awaited art exhibition of the decade, he wouldn't have left for Germany in the first place. His pleas had fallen to deaf ears as she and his family had sent him packing. He could still remember the way she teared up at the airport when he left. The only solace being that he had his family who loved her... most of the times more than they loved him.

But now he was back, and he would make up to all those tears that she had shed. Oh how he missed her.

A call, a pit stop at the caller's place is all it took for him to rush home at a lightning speed.

***

As he entered the warm lights of his home, he was greeted with the laughter and giggles of his family. But he strained for that one voice.

"Yay!!! Choti Maa's now." That chirpy tone had to be his little birdie.

The sight took him by surprise. The last time he checked it was Rudy and Anika who were being tutored on her candy popping skills; and now he had the whole Oberoi clan working their way to be at par with her. The O My Mata signaled the defeat of Pinky Oberoi and then to his surprise stepped in Mr. Tej Oberoi.

Though not all was right between the father son duo, they were making progress at amending their ties... thanks to his chiraiyya again. Among all the family members, Tej had come to love Gauri as his own daughter, for she was the one who saw him beyond his debacles. Debacles that had cost him his relations, his family. The ones which she tried to knit back together. So the present sight of Tej singh Oberoi trying his hands at her play wasn't out of place.

"How could you lose Papa?" she complained.

"That's just because I want my daughter to win". That's all that he could conjure to save his skin.

"Awww" chimed the younger Oberois when she ran into her Papaji.

Seconds later she was all set to fling the candy to display her stint when his baritone rang clear within the walls of his home, "Only if someone remembers the missing son?"

"Om" they all yelped with delight and the brothers made a dash towards him. This felt home or was something amiss. Where was she?

The family deciding to meet at the dinner time, retired to their rooms.

He had been expecting her to be in their room when he entered. Rather had also imagined that she would have arranged some surprise for him. She could go a la Bollywood to surprise him. But no traces of her. Probably busying herself with the family, Sometimes I feel she has been an Oberoi ever since and I'm adopted' he thought. While unpacking his baggage, a frown made its way to his face as he recollected what the caller had said. They needed to talk.

His thought was interrupted by the tinkling of the anklet as the feet neared him, Ah! the music that he missed. Two delicate arm wrapped him in warmest of hugs from behind, with her head resting on his back and her palm resting on his heart. "I missed you" she whispered, pushing herself more into him and breathing his scent in, as if making up for all the lost breaths.

If only she knew how this left him. It would have taken him a nanosecond to get into the caveman mode with all the primal instincts that she was capable of arising in him. But his noteworthy logical thinking, guided him the other way. He needed to keep calm. They needed to talk before things got out of hand.

Not giving in to her babyish cajoling he unclasped her hands and turned, only to go on his knees. Holding her now slightly visible baby bump he left a chaste kiss over and went on to greet his baby "Hey princess... Daddy missed you...and loves you".

"And forgets the Mommy. How rude. Do you know how much I missed you?" she gasped dramatically.

"Well I could see out there how much of me you have missed" he commented sarcastically.

"What do you expect? That I come running into your arms in front of the whole family?" she said, exasperated at him even saying those things.

"Haven't you done that before. For God's sake Ri, you even kissed me in front of my brothers and their wives when you thought I met with the accident, and you never had a second thought."

"That was entirely different. And I don't see the connect. I'm here right now. I hugged you few minutes back, held on and you go ahead avoiding me. What's with the nasty mood swings? I thought I am pregnant?" she lashed out irked at his words and hurt with his acts. Her nose had started to turn pink with all the anger.

"Ri... I remember saying WE are pregnant the day we declared it to the family. I guess I could do with some consideration here." He was miffed that she thought she was alone in this whole pregnancy and parenting phase that would follow.

"Fine. We are pregnant. So could you please enlighten me as to why we are arguing? I don't get it? What's up Om? Why are you so so... so... argh...! What wrong?" she fumbled with her words.

"What's wrong? You ask me what's wrong?" He scowled and walked past her and got something that looked like a file. Shoving the same onto her hands he said, "Well... here it is ... This is wrong."

"I don't get it' she said leafing the papers within, her eyes finally looking up at his for explanation.

"Yes you don't because you are busy popping the candies with the entire family that you miss out to collect your reports which alarmingly state the levels your blood sugar has risen to. Congratulations Mrs. Gauri Omkarasingh Oberoi, Happy Realisation to you too" he was at his sarcastic best.

She stood there for a few minutes, not uttering a word and then went past him. Right at the doorstep she waited, wanting him to call her back, hold her. But when nothing came she vented I out. "I love the candies, I do, but I love our baby way more than anything Om. How could you even think that I would indulge in them if they would hurt the baby. Get your facts right Mr. Omkara Singh Oberoi." Her words sounded hurt and she left wiping the tears making their way to her pink cheeks.

Gosh He dint mean it to go this way. He was just worried for them. Running his hand over his hair he started walking across his room.

"Chutki" called out Anika thrice before entering, just to avoid the embarrassment in case the lovebirds were all lovey-dovey.

"Bhabhi she isn't here" he said ruefully.

"Okay. I just came in to hand back the candies that Rudy had bought the other day. She had been saving it for you from all the prying eyes here. I'll leave them here." She said placing them on the table and just when she turned to leave he blurted.

"Bhabhi I think I just screwed up!" lamented Omkara and went on to narrate the happenings making it sound as decent and mellow as possible. But he had taken Anika for granted.

"Omkara, how could you? You know Chutki would never do that. Yes she loves the candies but she loves your baby way more than anything. And so help me if I sound like her. She's my Sis for God's sake. What's up with the men of this house. Shivaay behaved the same way when I was expecting Ansh. I thought you had some better sense Om." She was in full swing with the verbal lashes.

"Bhabhi" he uttered meekly.

"Do not Bhabhi me after you accuse my Chutki of something she never did. If at all it was Bade Papa who ordered the custom made box of orange candies from Banwarilal's mithai ki dukaan right from Bareily. Do you even know how tempted she was to have one, to top up the temptation it was something that Papa bought for her just because she had a craving and her morning sickness was at its peak? Bade Papa was so in for a grilling session when Daadi was tipped off by Rudy, even if those were sugar free. It was Chukti who promised Daadi she wouldn't have any until all agree to it, and that's when Daadi agreed to leave Bade Papa scot free. She never mentioned about it I guess. She has been making all the members of the family eat it and has kept a generous amount for you. She never ate even one of them."

"I screwed it up, didn't I?" he said dejected and sat down fisting the mane of a hair in his hands.

"You screwed it up big-time... and just for a candy?" questioned Anika in an unbelievable tone.

"Bhabhi her reports suggest a rise in ..." he tried to put forth his point.

"Her blood sugar level?" she completed it for him.

"Yes" he said hoping that his sister in law would see sense in it.

Rolling her eyes Annika sat beside her brother in law "It runs in the family Om. Remember it wasn't easy during Ansh but I made it because I had you all with me at every step. Why do you feel it would be any less when it comes to Chutki?"

"Just that she's so young and fragile. And she has this tendency to run into problems. I just can't see something go wrong with anything that has to do with her. I m scared." There, he had let out his fears.

"You love her Om don't you" it wasn't much of a question for she knew what her sis meant to him.

"Of course I do Bhabhi" answered Om not knowing the need for these queries.

"And you believe her?" she asked before raising her eyebrows.

"Yes I do" he replied without a blink.

"You know the kind of woman she can be when it comes to her family their protection and happiness as well"

"Yes I do". He should have known.

"And you do realise that you have messed it up big-time today" she declared rolling her big eyes ready to falloff their sockets.

"Yes I do" he whispered putting his face against his palm.

"She's angry but Thank God she is not as tadibaaz as me. You just need to share what you feel. You are good with words and you'll work your way out. As a backup plan we will be ready but I don't think you will need us" she said patting his head in a motherly way.

He looked up and smiled. What would he do without his family?

"Stop smiling and go get your Chirraiya... She awaits her Jatadhari Hippie" she made the pompous declaration.

With sprint in his walk he went towards the door and then stopping for a moment he turned back and said "Thanks Bhabhi".

"Anytime Om. Remember we are in the same team. Well until you mess with my sis" she reciprocated with the I'm watching you gesture to go along with her words.

"Just a query. Does dramebaazi also run in your family?" he quipped and left before she could answer.

He could hear his Bhabhi yelling an audible Ommm that rang in the entire Obeori mansion; and Shivaay had once called her subtle'. That memory made him chuckle as he made his way to his little birdie.

***

There she was at the poolside with her feet dipped into the water. With one hand resting on the baby bump and the other drawing doodles on the water she looked as cherubic as possible. Just that his little cherub had a pout on her face and a few tear stains. What had he done.

Sighing deeply, he walked up to her. Folding his trousers till the knees he sat down engulfing her. She was caged by his legs on both sides and his chest making its way to her back as he tried getting closer. Working his one hand around the baby bump he rested it on her hand there and the other hand made its way to the doodling one. Entwining his fingers with hers he brought the hand to his lips. He waited for her to respond but she was still stiff to his touch.

"Sorry Baby. I should have known; you wouldn't do anything that would harm the baby. It's just that I was missing you all these days and while on the way back home the doc called in for the reports and I was miffed that you forgot to remind someone to get them, but now I know that Rudy needs a round of lashing. I didn't even know Mr Oberoi got you those candies. It's just that it was so upsetting to see you being hit with the morning sickness when I left. And I wasn't around and... this constant fear to have you safe... and..." he fumbled with words with a certain unease in his voice.

"You do realise that you are repeating yourself right... the words are in loop there" she said as a matter of fact manner.

Okay, I was scared... for you." he confessed.

"It hurts Om" she sounded in pain.

"I'm so sorry baby" he whispered to her ear, meaning every word of it.

"Om my hand is hurting. You have been holding it midair for so long. Might as well finish what you intended to do with it." She knew her man in and out and knew his vulnerabilities to the most, so she always kept everything light, trying in every way to keep him from any guilt. This had to be dealt the same way. To say that Omkara was delighted would be an understatement. She had thought that he would just leave a small peck on them, but she was in for a pleasant surprise when he went ahead with kissing every finger and the mid of her palm.

"So you are not angry with me anymore?" he mused.

"Well let me see what I get in this deal" she said scrunching her tiny nose which he so wanted to kiss, but the deal thing caught on to his ears.

"You sound so much like Shivaay" he complained.

"I'll take it as a compliment and going by your records of misjudging me, let's just say that I'm trying to be on the safer end of the deal." Boy oh boy, she knew how to make her stand clear.

"Can I have a moment with my princess here before we go on with the deal?" he pleaded.

As she nodded in approval he moved his hand from over her hand to under it, just above the swell. Rubbing it gently he seemed to lull his little one to sleep "Daddy has been a meanie today. He just acted on impulse and lashed out on Mommy. That's a very bad thing to do to someone you love. Daddy will try to be more careful with his reactions. Okay princess?"

This wasn't new to her. Omkara had made it a point to connect with their child from the day they knew they were to become parents. It was the way he connected that made her love him more.

"Just when I think I can get better of you. You just do something that leaves me in a mush" she sniffled a sob.

"Is it a good thing or bad thing? If bad, then I can change" he asked completely clueless. Her hormones were all over.

"Don't you even think of changing. Do you get me? I need you to hold me when I hold you... sometime even when I don't know I need a hug... You will have to figure it out somehow." There she had served the ultimatum.

"I will" he promised holding her more into himself.

"I need you to talk to me no matter what. No silent treatments even if I fumble." She hated it when he turned mum.

"Okay".

"No jumping into conclusions before checking out the possibilities".

"Noted".

She turned her head to look at him and placed her palm on his stubble cheeks "I know this isn't easy. We have our family here with us and yet we will have moments of doubts. But we are in this together as we promised. I need you to believe in me as I do in you. And keep loving me as I love you."

He was in tears by now. He knew exactly why she was doing what she was doing.

"Pyaar se darr nahi lagta mere Jatadhari Hippie in aasuon se lagta hai" she said in a dramatized Bollywood style before rewarding a kiss each on his eyes and the tears as well and finally leaving a sloppy kiss on his cheek. That made him break into a throaty chuckle.

"So we are done with the deal?" he tried his luck at being excused.

"Mr. Omkara Singh Oberoi- you still have to learn a lot of business. Don't you know you need to seal the deal?" she said in her bedroom voice with her fingers grazing his nape. Her feet were working on his, getting into a tease in the pool water. She still had the naughty grin up her face and he so wanted to wipe it of her face. He would have his sweet revenge.

"Well I would love to seal it to the best of my artistic abilities Mrs. Omkara Singh Oberoi but it's just that my little princess and her mommy have their dinner awaiting" he said leaving a quick peck on her smirking lips.

Scooping her up inhis arms he took her back to the room, for she had to dry her feet before she could catch cold. She could only thank her stars that he hadn't made her wear the socks and mittens.

***

Amidst the muted buzz of far off conversations, giggles and outright laughter and gentle clang of dishes for dinner they spent a happy family time. Now as they entered their room, he pulled her for the much missed hug. This felt home. He was finally home and so was she.

"And now for sealing the deal he said as he dipped down to take her supple lips. The persistent knock on the door made him groan and he yelled "Who is it?"

"Manners Om... It could be Daadi" she chided.

"I bet its Rudy. No one dares to mess with my timing but him"

"Puttar open the door" was a frail voice that had Omkara stop in his tracks.

"That doesn't sound like Rudy Bhaiya to me" she quipped.

"I'll get the door" he said and opened the same while she sat on the bed.

"Puttar you seem to have forgotten the ginger ladoos today" Daadi said handing over the bowl with two ladoos to Gauri.

"But Daadi..." Omkara had just started when Gauri held his hand, indicating not to talk further.

"I'll have them Daadi. Thanks"she piped in

Kissing her head and that of her grandson, Daadi bid goodnight.

"So you have been eating ladoos" He eyed the ladoo and her alternatively.

"Not again Om!" she groaned.

"Okay" he said while advancing towards the ladoos and picking up one he fed her the half and tried putting the remaining half into his mouth when she lunged in and eat it off his hands.

"Ri!" he was flabbergasted.

She looked cute with her puppy eyed look and her cheeks swollen to glory, thanks to the ladoo that she was trying to munch on; but he had to maintain his reprimanding look.

"This is so not done. You broke the deal Ri" he complained like a child; while she was tried telling him something animatedly with her muffled verbal talks and tears brimming in the eyes. "Yup you can do all the tell-tale and puppy faces. And no ... no waterworks Ri... not this time. You aren't getting your hand on this one" and with a swift move he put the ladoo from the bowl right into his mouth.

Her eyes widened like saucers and she gulped the remains of the namesake sweet in her mouth. She knew what was coming her way. 5 secs down and he was coughing up like there would be no tomorrow. "Gosh Om! I told you not to have them. You can't stand the spice in there. I hate them too but have them for the baby" she ran to get the water. While he kept drinking the water, she ran her hand over his back in a soothing manner. Tears brimming his eyes he looked up at her. "Feeling better?" she asked to which he shook his head in denial. "It'll subside in another half an hour, stay put" she ordered. She cleaned the mess and went on to dab his face with wet towels. " Sh shh sh shh... Its Okay... Its Okay."

"Shouldn't I be the one fussing over you, cajoling you and soothing you?" he asked between breaths.

"Hmmm Hmmm...! WE are pregnant and I think you too need a consideration" she had one of her mirthful smiles. "Oh and we did have a deal to seal. So are you up for a sweet revenge, love?" she eyed him with a smile hinting on mischief, holding his face within her hands and letting their breaths mingle.

"I love You" he declared softly, not leaving her eyes. As she lowered him on the bed.

"I love You too and let me show you how" and with that she sealed their lip for a soul searing kiss. The sweet revenge had just begun.

***

So?

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So long friends

Loads of love and Hugs

Till we meet again

Sneha ❤️