Omkara checked his watch after he had parked his bike in the parking lot of the crowded pub. Gauri had told him while leaving from work to meet her at ‘Drunken Monkey’ at 7.30 P.M. He smiled, noting that there were still fifteen minutes to go. He checked his hair in the mirror of the bike, and combed them neatly after he had locked his helmet with his bike. Then, he slowly made his way towards the entrance of the pub, while softly bobbing his head to the rhythmic loud beats of the music inside.

Omkara paved his way through the crowd, and smiled lazily as one of the girls in a bodycon dress slyly smiled at him. ‘Pretty hot, definitely a 9 on 10’, he mentally noted and nodded like a gentleman when she slowly waved out at him. He looked around for any boyfriend or crazy exes around. The last thing he wanted was a crazy-ass guy wanting to pick a fight with him for simply trying to say hello to the girl.

Omkara turned in the girl’s direction, and that was when someone familiar caught his sight. He saw Ajinkya at a farther distance with his back turned to him. Omkara narrowed his eyes to check if it was actually him. Nope, without a doubt, it was the very same man; Gauri’s to-be-fiance, Ajinkya. The man looked a little upset as if he was trying to have a conversation with someone. Omkara peeped a little further, now forgetting all about the hot girl who’d waved at him, and was quite surprised to see a girl standing in front of him. A girl, who was not Gauri! The girl looked pretty upset too and was on the verge of tears as he told her something. Omkara could sense that Ajinkya was being pretty rude to her, going by his expressions and his body language. The girl, now in tears, had held his forearms as if pleading him. But he had simply pulled his arms away, and given her shoulders a nudge as if pushing her away.

“Get lost, bitch” was what Omkara heard him say to her, pretty shocked that someone who looked so sweet and polite could be so rude. Omkara frowned as Ajinkya turned around, and their gazes met. But since Ajinkya hadn’t met Omkara yet, he simply walked past him with the scowl intact on his face. Omkara inched closer to the girl, who was now crying hysterically. The music outside was relatively softer, which is why he heard the girl desperately telling someone on the phone amidst bitter tears, “He said he’s getting engaged to someone else whom his family has chosen for him. What do I do now?”

Omkara frowned, knowing that it was serious. The poor girl looked heartbroken. What if the matter involved something that Gauri should know? Ajinkya was her to-be-fiance, and if he was hiding something, she ought to know! Omkara was determined to find out more. He was about to talk to her when he felt a hand on his shoulder from behind. Omkara swiftly turned around to see Gauri, who shook her head at him with a broad smile. “When will you stop being such a flirt, staring at every girl?” she asked with a soft chuckle. Omkara shook his head and said, “I wasn’t… I was just…” he said, pointing behind him, where the girl was nowhere to be seen. He turned around, trying to locate her, and sees her leaving from the exit. Omkara wanted to follow her, but Gauri held his hand, “Kya kar raha hai, tu Oberoi? Andar Ajinkya hamara wait kar raha hai! Chal…” Gauri dragged him along with her, as she went inside the pub.

Omkara and Gauri walk into the pub to see Ajinkya seated at the VIP lounge, slightly away from the crowded area. “It’s good he made reservations, right?” she said leaning towards him, trying to be audible over the loud music. Omkara simply nodded, keeping his gaze on Ajinkya, still remembering the scene he saw outside, unable to shake that weird feeling off his mind. There was just something odd about the man!

As Omkara and Gauri neared the table, Ajinkya stood up with a broad smile and instantly hugged her. This time, she hugged him back with no hesitation. “You look stunning!” he whispered in her ears, making Gauri blush with a giggle. No doubt, Gauri looked really amazing in a knee-length black dress, with her hair left open and minimal makeup. But Omkara mentally rolled his eyes. The person he saw outside, screaming at the crying girl, seemed to be like an altogether different person from the one standing in front of him.

“Ajju, this is Omkara Singh Oberoi, my best friend!” she said to him, introducing them. The moment Ajinkya turned to look at Omkara, he recognized those eyes, quickly realizing he had seen him earlier talking to the girl. With the way Omkara looking at him as if trying to read into his soul, Ajinkya knew it wasn’t long until Gauri knew about it. The last thing he wanted was for any misunderstanding to crop up between him and Gauri. And given how she spoke so highly of Omkara, there was a high chance that she would believe Omkara over him, if and when he dropped the bomb on what he’d witnessed outside.

“Hey, Omkara!” Ajinkya said, composing himself, and bringing a bright smile to his face, as he shook hands with him. Omkara gave him a tight-lipped smile, still looking intently at him. Ajinkya said with a soft smile, “Didn’t we cross paths outside, a while ago, when I was talking to my friend? If I had known that you are the best friend Gauri was talking about, I would have spoken to you outside!” Omkara smiled with a nod, and with an edge in his voice, he asked, “So you were talking to a friend? She seemed to be in tears after you were done talking to her!”

Gauri looked at Ajinkya with confusion on her face, as Ajinkya looked at him blankly. Then with a sad sigh, he drew a long breath and said, “That girl I was talking to, her name is Suhani” Turning towards Gauri, he said holding her hand, which didn’t go unnoticed by a slightly frowning Omkara, “Suhani and I were best friends in college. I sort of lost touch with her when I went to Canada. I caught up with her recently when I came down to India, and that was when she told me she had feelings for me. She said she saw me more than a friend and wanted to pursue a relationship. I had told her that I never saw her in that way and that she was just a friend to me. I told her that I am looking to get married soon to the girl my family chooses. She went crazy when I said that; she tried to force me to get into a relationship with her, telling me that she would talk to my parents, and if needed, talk to the family of the girl whom my parents chose for me! I told her that I cannot be in a relationship with her, and told her that it’s best if we called our friendship off. I broke all ties with her because she refused to remain just friends with me.”

Ajinkya pinched the bridge of his nose, and Gauri instantly cocooned his hand in between hers. Omkara looked at Gauri, who was looking at Ajinkya with a worried frown on her face. Ajinkya continued, making Omkara look at him. “Today, she crossed the limit. She followed me from home today and caught hold of me at the pub, just a couple of minutes earlier. She said she knew I was meeting my to-be-fiance here, and would tell you that I am in a relationship with her. But I told her that my Gauri would never believe the lies she spoke!” Gauri smiled at that with a hint of tears. She couldn’t explain how and why, but she did trust Ajinkya, knowing he wouldn’t betray her.

“When I told her that, she began to cry, saying that I broke her heart. She challenged me that she would not allow me to get married to you and that she would separate us. I got pissed and said something really rude to her, which I would never even dream of saying to any woman!” Ajinkya held both of Gauri’s hands in his, and looking into her eyes, he said, “Believe me when I say this Gauri. I want ‘us’ to work out. I don’t want anyone coming in between us. I know it's just been two days since we’ve known each other, but it feels like -” “- Like, I’ve known you for an entire lifetime!” Gauri said, completing his sentence. “yes!” Ajinkya nodded as he ran his thumb over her soft cheek.

Gently squeezing her hand, Ajinkya said, “Gauri, I’m really, really sorry. I should have told you this earlier. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to unnecessarily worry about it.” She shook her head in a no, as she said looking at their hands, “It’s not your fault, Ajju. How would you have possibly known that Suhani is going to be after you to ruin your life!” Ajinkya placed a soft kiss on her knuckles, making her blush, as he promised, “Henceforth, no matter what, I will not keep anything from you. I don’t want to base the foundation of our future to be on secrets.” Gauri nodded, sincerely, looking to the depth of his eyes, seeing nothing but only love and sincerity in them.

Omkara furrowed his brows, glancing between Gauri and Ajinkya! For some odd reason, he refused the believe the whole load of crap that just came out of Ajinkya Agnihotri’s mouth. Something didn’t fit right. He had seen the girl weeping hysterically. It looked more than a mere heartbreak. The girl looked entirely broken and shattered as if her spirit had broken. And Ajinkya had behaved so coldly with her as if ripping her heart out of her chest and spitting on it before throwing it to the ground. If Suhani was truly his best friend, would Ajinkya have behaved that way with her?

Ajinkya looked at Omkara to see the uncertainty and doubt in his eyes. Sighing sadly and leaving Gauri’s hands, he said to Omkara, “I know you find it hard to believe me, Omkara. And rightly so! If I were in your place and saw my best friend’s fiance screaming at a sobbing girl, I too would’ve doubted that there’s something more to it. Looking at you so concerned, actually warms my heart, knowing that my Gauri has such a sincere and protective friend.”

Gauri looked at Omkara with a warm smile, nodding her head at him, as if asking him to believe the man in front of them. Ajinkya continued with a soft, nostalgic smile, “I used to be so protective about Suhani too. I too had the same equation with her, just as Gauri shares with you. But then, I don’t know how she began to perceive it as if it was beyond friendship. Pata nahi yeh love wali feeling kahan se aa gaya uske dimaag mein. As far as I remember, I have always maintained a friendship with her, and never given her any occasion to feel as if I am romantically interested in her. But then, who can control the matters of the heart, right?”

Omkara gave him a sardonic smile, still unable to believe him. Even if Omkara wanted to trust the man, there was just something that wasn’t letting him do so. Something that he couldn’t place a finger upon was off about him. Omkara’s gut told him to stay vary of him. But the way Gauri looked at the man as if he was her sun and moon, Omkara knew it would be pointless to even try knocking some sense into her. He frowned slightly; what was wrong with Gauri! Since when did she blindly start trusting people? As far as he knew, she always had her guard up around those whom she was meeting for the first time; at least till she knew them well enough. What was it about Ajinkya that she was blindly eating up anything he told her as if she was some starving puppy?

Ajinkya looked at the two of them, and then around. Changing the topic, he said with a frown, “I wonder why the waiter hasn’t come to take our order!” Leaning closer to Gauri, he asked her in a husky voice, “What will my lady have to drink?” Gauri smiled as asked for a Cuba Libre. He nodded and looked at Omkara, who got up from the seat. “I’ll come with you,” he said with a nod, and Ajinkya smiled as he patted him on the shoulder. “Will you be okay alone for a moment?” Ajinkya asked, and Gauri nodded with a smile. “I’ll be right back,” Ajinkya said, running his index on her cheek, making her feel flutters in her tummy as he looked into her eyes with his intense gaze. Omkara simply looked away.

The two of them walked to the counter to place their order. Ajinkya said, “One ‘Cuba Libre’ for the lady, and a ‘Little-White-Lie’ for me.” Turning to Omkara with an undecipherable smile, he asked with a glint in his eyes, “What about you, Omkara? What will you have?” Omkara smiled as he leaned against the counter, and told him in a cryptic tone, “I’m confused between ‘Perfect Storm, ‘Shark Eye’ and ‘The Last Laugh’” Then looking at the bartender, he said, “What do you suggest?” The bartender asked him the preference of his alcohol, and after Omkara told him, the man suggested trying the last laugh. Omkara looked at Ajinkya and with a look as calm as the sea, said, “Then I will most definitely have ‘The Last Laugh’” making Ajinkya’s smile slightly waver, in spite of his attempt to keep smiling brightly.

Omkara and Ajinkya came back to where Gauri was seated after they placed an order. “Oberoi, what did you order?” she asked excitedly. She always knew Omkara’s fondness for trying new things. He barely repeated his orders, be it food or drinks. He grinned at her, saying, “The last laugh” His gaze shifted to Ajinkya who looked slightly lost in thoughts. Gauri turned to Ajinkya and asked him in a softer tone, “What did you order?” Looking at him so distant and lost, she had to tap his hand to draw his attention. “Sorry?” he said, composing himself and looking at her. “I was asking, what did you order?”

Before he could answer, Omkara said with a teasing grin, “Ajinkya asked for a ‘Little White Lie’” Gauri instantly made a face, that both the men noticed. “Have you tried that earlier?” Ajinkya shook his head in a no, saying that he ordered it because he found the name very fancy. Turning to Om, Gauri asked him with a small frown, “Wasn’t it the same drink we tried at Riteish’s wedding reception?” Omkara nodded, looking at Ajinkya, “Yepp, the very same!” Gauri shook her head, “That is so bitter! Personally, Omkara and I would never order it ever again!” Smacking Omkara’s arm playfully, she said, “You could have told him! He probably didn’t have an idea, since he hasn’t tried it earlier!”

As Ajinkya looked on at Gauri holding Omkara’s forearm, Omkara grinned at him slyly, saying, “I wanted to, but he insisted on the ‘Little White Lie’. In my opinion, and going by his persona, he could’ve asked for a ‘Punch in the Mouth’ instead.” “Excuse me?” Ajinkya frowned, causing Gauri to look at him with a smile, “Yea, it’s got raspberry vodka in it! One of the best cocktails Oberoi has ordered for me!” She turned to look at Omkara with a find smile.

Soon the drinks were served on their table. The three of them raised their glasses. “To a long life with a pretty wife!” Ajinkya said clinking his glass, looking at Gauri and then at Omkara. Gauri looked at him, flustered, saying, “How can we toast to that? We have Oberoi here too!” Ajinkya looked at him with a deliberately sheepish grin, “Ah, so true. But we definitely cannot toast to living single and drinking double, right?” Omkara chuckled at Ajinkya’s lame attempt in trying to berate him, making Gauri turn pink at his uncalled teasing. Omkara shifted forward, with his gaze on Ajinkya, saying, “How about this: To getting what we all truly deserve!” Gauri smiled at him sweetly, as she clinked her glass with Omkara’s, and then clinking her glass with Ajinkya’s, she said, “To getting what we truly deserve!” Ajinkya smiled at her momentarily and took a sip while his gaze was still locked with Omkara’s.

A while later, the three of them were on the dance floor. Omkara and Gauri had their steps in sync, while Ajinkya swayed to the music. As the two of them laughed and dance, poking fun at each other, Ajinkya slowly wedged himself between the two, coming closer to Gauri. Omkara watched Ajinkya’s back with a frown as he held Gauri’s hand to draw her closer, making her freeze for a moment as his hand settled on her waist.

Omkara was about to say something when the dance number changed to a romantic slow one. Ajinkya took Gauri’s hands in his, and placed them on his shoulder. Then stepping closer to her, his hands settled on her waist. In seconds, Gauri was lost in Ajinkya’s eyes. the two of them swayed gently to the song. Omkara stepped away slowly, and went back to his seat, his gaze refusing to shift away from Gauri and Ajinkya. 

The hot girl whom Omkara had seen right at the beginning slowly made her way to him. Omkara recognized her and politely said a hello. She asked him if he wanted to dance with her. To his own surprise, he declined with a sincere apology. The girl smiled at him, and standing closer to him, scribbled her phone number on a paper napkin. Omkara smiled as she mouthed to him, ‘Call me’. However, the moment she went away, his gaze settled back on the two of them on the dance floor, and he swallowed the contents of his glass as he saw Gauri sharing an intimate hug with Ajinkya.