Omkara waited by the elevator while Gauri signed the bill at the reception. Omkara's eyes were fixed on her while she smiled and spoke to the man behind the reception. She was a natural at striking conversations. Being around Gauri was so easy, she made everything so, for the lack of better words, normal.

Now that they had reached to hotel again, Omkara realized that it was all just a happy bubble. He was out of it, into reality.

"Om?" 

Omkara froze. That voice, he had heard after a long time but his brain recognized it immediately. But she couldn't be here, could she? He turned around slowly to find Riddhima dressed in a pale yellow colored kurti and plazo pant. Next to her stood her mother, as usual carrying a saree. Of course, it was a day of disappointing news, couldn't be complete without running into an ex. 

Riddhima always had the best timing, always.

"Hey!" He managed to utter.

"Hi!" She mumbled, tucking behind a lock of hair, smiling at him. Omkara met her eyes, returning a cordial smile.

Awkward.

"How are you Om?" Her mother asked.

"Doing well, aunty. What about you?" He replied politely. This was very awkward. Weirdly the only memory with her mother that surface up,  was the animated expression of her mother years ago when Riddhima had broken the news of moving in with him, when they were in London. She had been visibly shaken and puzzled on hearing the news. Omkara wondered if she hated him for breaking up with his daughter after living in with her. However, she didn't show any sign of hostility.

"All well, Omkara. I will let you two catch up," Saying that she patted Riddhima's back before walking away towards the lawn.

"How have you been?" Riddhima asked softly.

Omkara's gaze fixed itself on her face. It was after a long time he was seeing that old Riddhima again. The nervous mess, who kept overthinking, who was unapologetically herself. "Okay, I guess!" He mumbled.

"I heard about Daadi, must have been so hard for you all."

Omkara's lips formed a tight-lipped smile. "It is hard, but I guess that's life." He tried broadening his smile.

"Still hiding the pain behind the smile huh?"

A natural smile made it to his face,  this time around. "Better face the world with a smile .."

"...than with a grumpy face." She smiled, completing it. 

Omkara's eyes met hers. He saw guilt in those eyes. He had not spoken to her since their last fight when she had tried to fool him into signing property papers that made him the sole owner of the factories and gave Shivaay no legal rights.

"Omkara, I... I am sorry for whatever I did. I know I was selfish and—"

"Forget it, Ridz, it was in the past." He intervened.

She nodded with a smile. Only then did Omkara realize that he had used the nickname she liked being called.

"Hey!" 

They turned to look at Gauri. Omkara glanced at Riddhima as Gauri stared at her. 

"Riddhima, this is Gauri. And Gauri this is Riddhima." He said looking between the two ladies.

"Hi, Riddhima!" Gauri shook her hand. "Those are really pretty earrings!" She complemented.

"Oh, thank you. You are.?" Riddhima glanced at Omkara, giving him the cue to complete.

"I am from the groom's side. Gaurav is my cousin." Gauri introduced when Omkara looked a little uncertain.

"Oh, nice." Riddhima smiled, rather awkwardly. "Let's catch up later, mom must be waiting for me." Riddhima said quickly, looking at Omkara.

Omkara nodded, pressing button of the elevator. Luckily for him it opened immediately. He walked in followed by Gauri.

"So, that was your secret girlfriend?" Gauri asked with a grin.

Omkara glanced at her surprised. "How did you know?"

Gauri's eyes widened, "Oh, She is? Wow! I made a guess, looking at the way you two were looking at each other."

Omkara froze. "What do you mean?" He asked. 

"I mean... that nervous, longing look."

"Please. She's an ex, that's it!" Omkara muttered, defensively. 

Did he still have feeling for Riddhima? No. No way. 

He didn't want to believe that there was anything he had for Riddhima. Agreed, that running into her suddenly brought back memories... both good and bad. But that was it. 

"Gosh, why are you explaining yourself?" Gauri smiled. It felt weird. She was still trying to sink in the fact that Omkara had a beautiful, tall, model like girlfriend who looked at him with so many emotions in those eyes,  of them all— a little love, maybe. She wondered why they broke up.

"I am just saying."

"You're being defensive!" Gauri remarked. She had never really seen him in such a strong denial. It led her to believe that he was probably close to his ex. Omkara had always been a very uptight person, who barely expressed what he felt on the outside. But for the first time she saw a lot of struggle in those eyes. Did Riddhima mean so much to him? 

The doors opened at her floor.  Gauri walked out and turned to him. "Today was fun. Thank you!"

Omkara's smile returned to his face. "Thank you!"

Gauri smiled walking down the passageway. Her smile faded. How stupid she was to think that Omkara would be interested in her, in a romantic way. He was clearly, still disputed about his ex girlfriend just like she was for him. Gauri let out a sigh, a lot of thoughts occupying her mind, most of them about Omkara.

Omkara walked towards the room. He didn't know why but he was awkward around Riddhima. Maybe it was just the overwhelming memories that came back, so many memories. After a long time, he saw genuine emotions in her eyes. He could be right or wrong about that. The last time he was so wrong about her. Fortunately, she was a closed chapter. He didn't want to revisit it. He had enough people in his life that plagued his mind. 

"O, where were you?" He heard as soon as he stepped into the room. He shut the door and walked in. He was surprised on seeing Shivaay in the room too. 

"Hey!" He greeted them, putting the paper bag onto the table.

"What's that?" A curious Rudra asked, lazing on the bed.

"A few organic paints." Omkara answered.

"Wow, I thought we were here for a wedding, to have some fun together. But you go off shopping all alone and he was in a meeting..." Rudra complained.

Omkara glanced up at Shivaay to catch his weird nervous expression. He met Shivaay's eyes and he knew Shivaay had lied to Rudra. He gave a knowing smile to him to let him know that he had caught his lie and looked at Rudra, "You didn't find anyone to hang out with?" 

"I was with Tarun Bhaiya. He was doing boring socializing, I couldn't stand that for more than ten minutes. Then j went and arranged for some boys party with Gaurav. People around are so boring. No offense but Gaurav isn't even excited about the party."

Omkara and Shivaay exchanged grins.

"Yeah, yeah mock me! Oh, God, I miss Sumo. At least she isn't as big a party proper as you two."

"Shut up!" Was all he received from his two brothers.

"I am going to go look for Anika Bhabhi!" Rudra said getting up.

Shivaay immediately spoke up, "No, Ru. She's sleeping!"

"What? Why! We are here to have fun not sleep." Rudra cribbed, walking over to table. "Wait, how do you know? You .."

"She called me to tell," Shivaay answered quickly, further adding, "so that I don't disturb!" 

Omkara smiled catching Shivaay's poorly delivered answer while Rudra bought it. "Of course," He muttered glancing at Shivaay.

Rudra's phone's ringtone got the attention. He grinned, "Sumo! You two... talk boring, bye!" Saying that he left the room.

"So, meeting huh?" Omkara turned to Shivaay. 

Shivaay leaned back on the chair, "Shut up!" He smiled. 

"Does Rudra really not catch the lie or he let's it pass?"

Shivaay chuckled, "grateful either way. You tell me, where were you?"

"Went sightseeing and local shopping." Omkara answered.

"Did you happen to talk to Gauri?"

"Yeah, I did."

Shivaay sat up, taking interest, "And?"

"We revived our friendship!" Omkara answered, removing his shoes. He crwalee up on the bed.

"Can you talk, Om?"

"What?" Omkara shrugged his shoulders. "I told her about Daadi, she understood and we are cool."

"What is it that you're not telling me?" 

"That I was with her all this while. We went out together." Omkara answered, with a smile.

Shivaay grinned. "Okay, so?"

"So, so what. Two friends, having fun." Omkara smiled.

"Well, at least she made you happy." Shivaay sighed, leaning back on the sofa. 

Omkara's smile slowly faded. "I ran into Riddhima downstairs!"

"What? She's here too?" Shivaay asked, sitting up again.

"Yeah. I am so done for today. I am not going out of the room!" Omkara murmured, laying comfortably on the bed. 

"Om, the Sangeet is tonight!"

"Count me out!" Omkara muttered, turning away.

"Not an option. Besides, Gauri is going to be worried if you don't show up."

Omkara rolled his eyes, he wasn't going to react, because he knew that's exactly what Shivaay was looking for.

"I might as well get some sleep too." Shivaay remarked, shifting to the bed.

"Rudra's going to feel left out and land in the middle! Go sleep in your room!"

"He is too excited to want to sleep!" Shivaay muttered turning away.

"I love afternoon naps!" Omkara murmured.

Had a busy Monday as always! 

Hope you liked the chapter. Hopefully, the story is living up to its name. ;D

- Anami!♡