Thank you so much for all your likes and comments..They encourage me way too much dears🤗
But I have a request to all the silent readers, please do hit the Like button if you enjoyed the update..😳
PART 2
Delhi, 6 p.m
Priyanka was sitting in the balcony of her room. She was thinking about her wedding, which was going to be held in one month's time.
She felt happy and little apprehensive at the same time. She had liked Ranveer Singh Randhawa at the very first glance. Moreover, he was Om bhaiyya's choice for her; he had to be the best person for her.
Just then Jhanvi came into the room of her daughter, and found her in the balcony.
Jh: Prinkuu..
Pr: (turning around) Yes, Maa..
Jh: Omkara called up just now.. He is planning to visit our haveli in Udaipur tonight itself..
Pr: Tonight..!!..But why, Maa..!
Jh: (smiling) Dear, that haveli is supposed to be your wedding venue..!
Pr: I know..But the wedding is only after a month..Why is he going there today itself..?!
Jh: Well, he was telling that some people from Mumbai will be arriving there, tomorrow..to visit our haveli..And yes, they are your Wedding Planners..
Pr: Oh is it..? Then they might be coming for the venue inspection..!
Jh: Right..Omkara also mentioned the same..(smiles wide) Well, Prinku..you have told everything regarding your likes and dislikes to your brother, right..?
Pr: (excitedly) Of course, Riddhima knows everything..I have told her..
Jh: Hmm, anyways Om is taking her along to Udaipur..And, Riddhima is the one who contacted those wedding planners..And Om was telling that those people organize weddings with such grandeur..
Pr: (smiles) Riddhima is the best..! She knows everything regarding such things..
*******************
Mumbai, 7.45 p.m
Gauri was packing her things into her suitcase. Bhavya was also in the room, she was also helping her sister.
Bh: Gauri..you guys are leaving for how many days..?
Ga: We will be back, day after tomorrow..
When Gauri looked at Bhavya, she understood that Bhavya was not happy.
Ga: Bhavya, what happened..? you look upset..!!
Bh: (shakes her head) Not at all, Gauri..(tries to smile)
Ga: It's not the first time that I am going for such trips, for the venue inspection..
Bh: Of course, but you always go alone..this time Rudra is also coming..!
Ga: (surprised smile) so what..?!
Bh: (pouts) you guys will have so much fun, that too without me..
But they didn't notice Rudra who arrived into Gauri's room just then.
Ru: Why, Bhavya..are you feeling jealous..?(winks at Gauri)
Bhavya was shocked to hear his voice, all of a sudden.
Bh:(then smiles happily) Rudra..!
Ru: Well, Gauri.. I finished packing..
Ga: Mine is also almost finished, Rudra..
Ru: Remember, our company car will pick us at 8.30 p.m sharp..finish your packing quickly..We can't be late..!
Saying so, he went back to his apartment. Gauri continued her packing, but Bhavya's eyes followed Rudra as he walked away.
Bhavya knew that she loved him, and she hated the fact that he was more close to Gauri than her. And now they were going away for this Udaipur trip, she knew she would miss them both, especially Rudra.
***************************
As Gauri and Rudra got into the car, their mothers Pinky, Shobhita along with Bhavya bade them goodbye.
Pi: Rudra, you take care of yourself and Gauri, ok..
Ru: Yes, Mom..
Sh: Gauri..you must call me, once you people reach there, ok..
Ga: Of course, Maa..
Bh: Don't forget to take a lot of pics, and whatsapp me, ok..
Ga&Ru : Sure, Bhavya..
And then the car started its journey to Udaipur, the city of Lakes.
****************************
Delhi, 8.30 p.m
Omkara and Riddhima were seated in the backseat of his car. They were on their way to airport, to board the flight to Udaipur.
Omkara looked outside his car window and glanced at the moon. The same strange longing for something profound, which he had experienced from his childhood whenever he gazed at the moon, strained his heart.
Just at that moment, Riddhima chose to snake her arm around his arm and leaned onto his shoulders. Omkara was shaken off from his reverie with a start.
Om: What are you doing..?!
His voice was harsher than ever and he regretted it immediately. Riddhima's face fell and she distanced herself from him with hurt expression.
Rd: You are not even driving, right now..what is the problem, then..?!
Om: I am sorry..I didn't mean to hurt you..I was thinking about something..and suddenly when you did that, I was..
Rd: (smiles) It's ok..For the first time we are not going for a business trip..I think I became a little bit over-excited, for a moment..ok, never mind that..But, let's just enjoy this trip..
Om: (nods) Ok..
**************************
Meanwhile, Gauri was looking at the same moon, from the moving car. She loved the way the moon travelled with them, and she smiled at it.
She looked over at Rudra, who was looking out of the other window, and thought, "I never told him about my feelings towards him..I know I still don't have the courage to confess..But for the first time, just the two of us are going somewhere together..I can't miss this opportunity..If ever I get a single chance to tell him, I will surely tell him that I love him.."
Ga: Rudra..
Ru: (turns towards her) Hmm..?
Ga: When are we reaching, Udaipur..?
Ru: Tomorrow morning, around 10 a.m..
Ga: Ok..
**************************
Udaipur 9.30 a.m
Next day morning, Omkara and Riddhima arrived at Omkara's ancestral haveli, which was a beautiful palatial mansion. Riddhima loved it at the very first sight, as she got out of the car she exclaimed aloud.
Rd: Wow..This is incredible..!!
Omkara raised his eyebrows with a smile and got out of the car, too.
Rd: (turning to him) I just love this place Omkara..!! You people have such an awesome haveli over here and you are all staying in Delhi..! Too bad..!
Om: This had been built by my Nanaji's (maternal grandfather's) Dadaji (paternal grandfather)..! Ever since Nanaji had passed away, my Maa owns this property..
Rd: Oh so this is not your Dad's ancestral home..!
Om: Exactly..Dad is from Punjab..But he chose to start a business in Delhi, and settled there..After he married my Maa, he took her also to stay there..And I was born in Delhi..So I too love Delhi..
He continued as they walked into the building.
Om: My parents' wedding took place here in this haveli..and Maa thinks that Priyanka should also get married from here.
***************************
When Gauri and Rudra arrived at the haveli, Rudra called up to inform Riddhima. At that time, she was sitting inside the huge drawing room with Omkara. She disconnected the call and turned towards Omkara.
Rd: They have arrived, Omkara..!
But just then he too received an important call from office.
Om: (into his phone) Hello Mr.Agarwal..? Oh is it..! Ok..Just give me a minute..
He disconnected the call and turned towards Riddhima.
Om: Riddhima..you please take care of it..I have got to attend a video conference, right now..I will join you later..You deal with them now..
Rd: Ok..
Omkara retired into his Nanaji's study room, which was situated at the far end of the hall.
***************************
Riddhima went outside and welcomed Gauri and Rudra inside. As they walked along the ornate corridor, which led into the huge drawing room, Gauri was amazed by the sheer magnificence which the place exuded.
Rd: So this is the wedding venue..What do you think about it..?
Ru: Its magnificent, Miss.Arora..!
Rd: You can call me, Riddhima, if you want to..
Ru: Ok, Riddhima M'am..!
Ga: Riddhima M'am, can we have a look around this place..Just to have an idea about how to arrange everything..!
Rd: Why not..?!.. You guys had your breakfast ..?
Ru: No M'am..But it's ok..
Rd: It's not ok..!! I will just go inside and make arrangements for your breakfast..(then smiles politely) Till then, you are free to have a look around..!
And she walked away.
A crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling, and Rudra was enthralled by its finery. Just then Gauri saw a door at the farther end and she decided to have a look inside.
It was a huge study room, and feeling impressed she looked around. Against a wall, was a huge bookshelf filled with books. And another wall was full of framed photographs. Gauri moved forward to have a look at those photos. As she stood there, in front of a particular photograph and was busy admiring a beautiful lady in it, she was startled by a rich baritone.
Om: Who are you..and what are you doing here..?
Gauri turned and looked into his eyes. "He is handsome", was her first thought. Omkara looked into her doe-like eyes, and he felt something stir inside his heart. But he was offended by her audacity, to have come inside his study room without permission.
Om: (frowns) This is my study..And I certainly don't like strangers invading my privacy..
He glared down at her, frowning.
Ga:(stutters) I..I am sorry..I was just..
At that, his eyes widened and Gauri was quite suddenly afraid of him. Omkara moved closer to her and she backed away slowly.
Ga: I must go..
And then she turned on her heel and ran from his room.
Omkara stood there sometime, looking at the doorway, through which she had disappeared. Then he too turned on his heels and walked back towards his work table. He sat down to work and flipped open his laptop again, but even though his eyes were scanning the content of a document, her fearful face was still etched clearly in his mind's eye. She was way beyond beautiful, he had noticed it when he first saw her face. And her face had reminded him of someone he knew, so very well.
Om: (to himself) But, who was that..?
Then he remembered that Riddhima had told him about the arrival of the wedding planners. He realized that she must be one of them. Of course, he had forgotten all about it, after attending the video conference in his laptop, some minutes earlier.
Gauri came back into the hall and met with Rudra, who was busy admiring an antique show piece, which was placed in a corner.
Ga: Rudra..
Ru:(turns) Where were you, Gauri..?
Ga: (uncertainly) Me..?? I was just...looking around the place..
But then Rudra understood that she was nervous about something.
Ru: (concerned tone) What happened..you are looking so tensed..? Is there something..?
Ga:(shakes her head) No.. Nothing at all..(tries to smile)
Just then they noticed Riddhima coming towards them and they smiled at her.
Rd: (smiles pleasantly) Ok..your food is ready to be served..Please come..
**************
When Omkara finally realized that he was only reading the document and not concentrating, he shut the laptop with an impatient sigh.
Om:(to himself) I shouldn't have done that..! I was a bit rude to her..
Just then Riddhima arrived at the open doorway and stopped cautiously, she knew Omkara hated to be disturbed while he was at work.
Rd: (softly)Omkara..your breakfast is ready..
Omkara looked up and decided that since he couldn't concentrate on work at the moment, it was better to have breakfast. Getting up, he walked towards the doorway and both of them proceeded towards the huge dining area in the haveli.
Gauri and Rudra looked up when they heard the approaching footsteps, which echoed inside the vast room. When they saw Riddhima along with him, they stood up from their seats to show respect and waited for their hosts to join them.
There, Omkara was surprised to see the same girl at the dining table. He thought, "Riddhima didn't tell me that she had asked these wedding planners to join us on breakfast."
Omkara noticed that her entire body had stiffened when she saw him walking in. She looked clearly frightened by his appearance, and this realization somehow baffled and hurt him. But his musings were interrupted by Riddhima's voice.
Rd: Omkara, they are Rudra Singhania and Gauri Sharma from "Shaadi Mubarak" Wedding Planners. (then turning to the other two) And he is Mr. Omkara Singh Oberoi..
With a polite nod, Omkara shook hands with Rudra and then held out his hand towards Gauri.
When she slipped her trembling hand into his, her breathing quickened. His palm was warm and broad, and his fingers closed around hers. She forced her gaze up the front of his white shirt, past his stubbled jaw line, until it finally collided with his dark brown eyes, which reminded her of molten dark chocolate.
She felt a jolt that made her knees tremble under his scrutinizing gaze, and her fingers tightened involuntarily around his hand.
He had sensed that she was nervous, but he was surprised when she tightened her hold. Omkara's eyes travelled towards their hands.
Rd: So, what are we waiting for, come on let us sit and have breakfast..
Gauri came back to her senses and she hastily loosened her grasp on his hand and instantly looked away. She sat down back on her chair and all of them began having the delicious looking Rajasthani food.
******************
When all of them rose from their seats, after their breakfast, Riddhima turned towards Omkara anxiously.
Rd: Omkara..(slowly and carefully choosing words) Err.. If you are free, could you take us around for a tour inside the haveli..It just that, I am here for the first time, and I don't know much about this place ..
She was afraid that he was going to refuse, but to her surprise he agreed.
Om:(nods) Ok..
************************************
So that was Part 2
Hope you enjoyed..If yes, please let me know through your likes and comments..😊
Love
Naina
Anupamaa
Naagin 7
