Ishqbaaz – Rikara Trust 33

Gauri is in her room, face resting on the palm of her hands, with a confused look.

G: I am stuck. I do not know how to solve this. Internet Chachi is not helping me with this question and this is due tomorrow. I am going to ask Bade Bhaiyya.

As Gauri was walking to Shivaye’s room, Om passes by her. She does not have make any eye contact with him and just ignore him.

G(Thinking): What does an artist know about finance? There is no point of asking him.

O(Thinking): Where is she going at this time with all these books? Does she realize that she can ask me for help? I am also a business graduate.

Gauri knocks and Annika opens the door.

G: Is Bade Bhaiyya here? I need some clarifications.

A: He is actually at the office right now. He has proposal to complete by tomorrow.

G: Oh… (Thinking): What do I do now? (Says) I will just ask Ritik.

Annika knew that Gauri talking to Ritik is going to anger Om. And then she had an idea.

A: You know Om is a finance graduate from Harvard. He can probably ask your answer.

G: Harvard? You go to be kidding me? Stop lying. He is an artist.

A: Art is his passion but he was really a smart student. He could have easily worked with Shivaye and helped him develop the empire but he decided to follow his passion.

G: I will go ask him.

Gauri goes to Om’s room and he was drawing something on the canvass. He covered it up as soon as Gauri entered the room.

O: Do you need something?

G: I need some help with my school work and Bhaiyya is not home. Annika told me you are a Harvard graduate. Is that trye?

O: Yh, I graduated from Harvard.

G: But, you do not have the sass that usual Harvard graduate show.

O: A degree does not define your life. Your actions will. So come here and tell me what you need.

G(Thinking): There have been several Harvard grads that have visited our school. You should come in and teach them a lesson on respect. (Says) Can you come to my room? All my books are there.

Gauri takes Om to his room and it was a mess.

O(Thinking): Why is the room so messy. Papers everywhere. Coffee cups piling up in the corner. Pencil shavings on the floor. She was never like this in my room.

Gauri realized what Om was thinking about.

G: I am studying for an test right now so it is messy. I like things spread out so it is easier to access it when I need it. This is my room so I kept it this way.

O(Thinking): My room? She never considered my room as our room. It was Om’s room and Gauri just stayed there.

Om started teaching Gauri and he was extremely impressed. She caught stuff quickly and they have a very deep discussion about American politics and how that is going to affect the global economy.

O: So Gauri, how is school? I never got the chance to ask you.

G: School is so much fun. Can I tell you something that happened yesterday? So my classmates had a eating competition. I did not participate because I know I will lose. They ate so much, like 5 entire pizzas, 3 large cokes and 4 large fries and Sahil won. So when we were in our Hr class, because of the oil and the greases, they all started puking. The entire class smelled like puke and the professor could not take the smell and he puked too. He had to cancel class and then they had to clean up their puke. I left but it became pukefest because the people could not take the smell and puked even more until their stomachs were empty.

O: That is a great way to cancel class.

G (Frowning): But, now we have a make up class.

O: Just have another eating competition again and the make up class will be cancelled as well.

Om and Gauri were laughing and talking like friends.

O: What is this? It looks a sketch book. (He picks up the book and was about to open)

G (Grabs the book): I have to take an elective for school so I am taking Art. There is nothing in the book.

O: But, there are fingerprints caused by charcoal on the book.

G: There are not good drawings. Once I do something that I am happy with, I will show you. (She changes the topic.) Let me show you a video.

She takes her phone out and it was a video of Ritik and Gauri dancing for their annual university show. Om’s smile turned into a frustration as he noticed how Ritik was touching her.

O (Thinking): First her arms, then her hips and her face. How can a man do that? How can I ask her about their relationship? She will definitely misunderstand me and kick me out of the room and her life.

G: Oh, I also need to tell you something. A few months back, he came up to me and in front of the school, he kneeled down with a rose and proposed.

Om was writing something on a piece of paper and just drop his pen. (Thinking) What did she say? She probably said yes because he treated her better than I did. (Says) So what did you say, Gauri?

G: I said yes.

O: Ohh.. (Thinking) She has moved on. Who will wait for a person that throws an insult every single time.

Om gets up and was about to leave the room.

G: Where are you going? I did not finish the story. Come, sit here. (She did not notice how it was affecting him. She was telling him like a friend would tell a story to another person)

G: I talked to him personally and told him that I am not interested. I did not want to insult him in front of everyone so I said yes. How can I say yes to someone if I married to you. There will only be one man in my life and that is you. After the divorce, I will never marry anyone and just focus on my career.

Om just looks at her. He did not know what to say. (Thinking) Gauri, you will be the only girl in my life. He gets up

G: Also, I noticed your face when I showed Ritik’s video. This video was taken after the proposal and he was just treating me as his friend. When we acted as husband and wife, you touched me like that but you never had any s*xual intentions. The same thing applies to Ritik. After I said no, he always looked out for me and treated me as a friend.

O: You do not need to explain this to me.

G: I know that you will never suspect me but I wanted to. Thank you for all your help

O: No problem. (He heads out.)

O (Thinking) How can a girl who believes in this be involved with multiple men? I believed what I saw but I should have investigated it.

Om takes his phone out and calls a private investigator.

O: I want all the information on Gauri Kumari Sharma. I will send you the details and need it as soon as possible.