"What's your favorite season?" Gauri asked as she noticed the leaves on the ground. It was really awkward to walk in silence.

"Summer," was his crisp answer.

"I like winter. Everything is decorated with snow. You can be indoors snuggled up under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book." Gauri answered.

Omkara heard her out but didn't give any reaction. Winter was cold. Period. He hated winters. He said nothing though.

"So, where are you from?" Gauri asked, something she was curious about.

"Mumbai," he gave a tiny and to the point answer, again.

"Oh, that's nice. I have heard Mumbai is best in the rains."

"And, most troublesome too," Omkara added. "Where are you from?" He tossed his question at her.

"I was born a brought up in Nashville. Although, I have been to Udaipur a couple of times when I was young. It was my mother's hometown."

"Oh, that explains your accent." Omkara remarked.

Gauri threw her head slightly back and laughed turning to look at him. "I don't have an accent."

"You definitely have a very strong one." He stayed put on his observation as they walked towards the crossing 

"I don't think so. I sound very Indian in accent that's what I have been told at college."

Omkara held her hand when she was looking at him and going ahead. "Look ahead," he spoke as they reached the start of the zebra crossing. Gauri's eyes momentarily fell on his hand, stopping her strides and then she looked up to realize that they were at the edge of the sidewalk. She ignored the fact that he still held her hand very securely as they waited for the running traffic to pause. Once it did, they walked across to the other sidewalk.

"So what have you majored in?" Omkara asked trying not to sound curious. But ever since she told him she got a job in the cafe he was wondering why not something better.

"Computer Applications with specilaization in Database Management," she answered looking down at his hand that still held hers. Omkara's gaze followed hers and realization dawned. Tossing a smile he released his hand muttering a 'sorry'

"You don't have to apologize for being thoughtful about me." Gauri said immediately with a smile. She missed the warmth of his hand. "Besides, I am counting you as a friend. And as the classic saying goes, No Sorry and Thank You in Friendship.

Omkara stared at her amused. "How much of a Bollywood buff are you?" It amazed him that being brought up in the States hadn't deterred her from being a big time Bollywood fan.

"Oh, don't ask." Gauri muttered as they kept walking. "All my knowledge about India and it's different cultures is from Bollywood. What would I not give to meet Ranbir Kapoor or Hrithik Roshan, or Big B or Akshay Kumar or Shah Rukh Khan or Shahid..."

"Gauri, your feeling is well understood, you really don't have to make a verbal list." He mocked the fan in her with a disdainful smile. 

Oh, how he missed throwing those at Rudra.

Gauri gave him a disapproving glance. "I am crazy about India. I wish I could somehow just... go there. That diverse crowd in the markets, the humid weather, the loud noise when you step out of the house, the aroma of wet earth, joss sticks, tandoori marsalas. I can really go on..." She smiled longingly before glancing at him.

"With that comes a lot of ugly stuff you missed out on. The troublesome mosquitoes that are ready to attack you at whatever time of the day, the stink from the ill maintained drainage system, the potholes on almost every other road, the smell of sweat in the air, the scorching heat and unpredictable rains. And finally, the stinky, backward and selfish mentality of people." Omkara muttered irked. 

He didn't like the picture Gauri painted because it was something he used too. Finding the good in everything. It took him no where. Just broke his heart into pieces and crushed those pieces into ash.

Gauri put a up a thoughtful smile after being astounded for a minute at his words. "That's why you are here, aren't you?"

"Well," he shrugged his shoulders as his hands were now in the pockets of his jacket. 

Yes, he had runaway from a troubled life. A very troubled life.

"We'll make great friends then!" Gauri muttered cheerfully, grinning to herself as she looked at the shops around.

Omkara looked at her confused but she was looking elsewhere. "The way I see it, there's nothing really that is common between us." He pointed out.

Gauri turned to look at him again, "That's why we will make good friends. You will keep trying to show me things how you see it and I will try to show you an altogether different version of the same things as I see it. We'll always have topics to argue about and maybe a few places where we both can maybe improve."

Omkara stopped momentarily, sinking in her perspective while she kept walking ahead noticing the neighborhood. With long strides he caught up with her. She seemed like a simple happy go lucky woman but her mind was way sharper and deeper than be perceived. She was like a blast of colorful confetti. He was yet to deeply analyze the colors. 

Omkara furrowed his brows, when she stopped suddenly looking across the street. He took two steps back and stood behind her trying to follow the direction of her gaze. "Why did you stop?" He asked trying to figure out what she was thinking looking at the supermarket. 

"Look at the board, it says urgent requirement for employee for morning shift. Do you think they'll take me? I mean, I am a little shorter than usual, so I won't be able to reach the top racks without a stool of good height. I can handle the billing stuff. I wonder what kind of requirement they have."

"Gauri, why would you want to work in that store?" Omkara asked puzzled.

"I am free during the morning shifts. And, the payment will help."

"Okay, now, I am confused. When you have a degree in computers and in a domain that surely has so many job openings, why are you considering these random jobs?" Omkara asked.

She slowly turned to look at him and realized he was standing way closer than she anticipated. His scent was strikingly hitting her nostrils, a scent she actually liked. But it sent her mind to a very dizzy state, in a toe curling good way.

"Uh, I... don't have anything to prove my degree." She shrugged.

Omkara rolled her eyes. He seriously wondered where people lost their common sense at most times. "Why don't you just contact your college and explain that you don't have access to your stuff and request them to issue another one? They may take another few dollars and that's it."

Gauri pondered on his input. "I am scared that my dad may just find me easily if I take up a job at a decent company. I did try applying at a few small local companies but they wouldn't a accept me without a proper degree certification."

"Seriously?" He asked looking into her eyes. There was a raw sadness in them.

"I don't want to be found," she said softly looking away. 

Omkara could somewhere relate to that feeling. That feeling when you're done with your reality and you want to run away from it and never be found. 

He looked at Gauri who seemed disputed in her thoughts staring at the small advertisement poster. A bulky man wearing an ID card walked out of the store to smoke. She definitely mustn't work at a place like that. Without any thought, he held her hand, and said, "let's go, you will find something better."

 He was definitely not letting her work in the neighborhood. He had seen all sort of drunkards like around this specific block, even witnessed eve teasing on the very street. He wasn't going to let her put herself into all of that nonsense.

Gauri was surprised at Omkara's behavior. He was generally very closed and distant but suddenly he was very protective and opening up to her. She didn't mind that he took the decision that she was supposed to make. Despite the fact that she hated when people made decisions for her, or maybe that was just limited to her father. 

They rounded down the block making their way back to their small apartment. He didn't speak much but he heard her out when she listed probable job roles she could fit it. 

He would just throw a Drop that off your list  gaze when she said something irrelevant. 

Gauri particularly, absolutely liked that face that screamed loudly, "Duh, that is the most stupid thing to say". And just to  get that expression thrown at her she said the most silly things which made him roll her eyes and shake his head in disapproval. Maybe being friends with Omkara was going to be a very satisfying decision of her life. 

I am so happy that I could update this chapter!🙆‍♀️

Please let me know your thoughts.

Also, comment on the pace of this story... slow, fast or okay?

Hope you liked this chapter! 

-Anam!♡