Chapter 21 - College Life

 "Rudy pass !" Prince yelled as he bounced on the ball of his feet, all alert and ready to catch the basketball.

"Yeh le !" ("Here !") Rudy yelled back as he passed the basketball which swiftly landed in Prince's hands.

Rudy was practising basketball with his teammates since past 1 and a half hour. He was after all the vice captain of the college basketball team.

"Basket ! Yay !" The team cheered as Prince threw the ball straight into the rim.

"Bas yar aj bahot ho gaya, waise bhi aj humara captain absent hai." ("Enough for today, anyway our captain is also absent today.") Vedant, one of the basketball team member, panted.

A cheer of 'yes man' & 'enough for today' echoed through the basketball court.

"Ok guys, let's wrap up." Rudy said and his smile only widened when he saw his teammates cheered again.

Rudy and his teammates skipped towards the changing room and dispersed to change.

"Hey Rudy, yar please yeh basketball kya tum coach ko de doge please ?" ("Hey Rudy, mate will you please give this basketball to the coach ?") Vedant came towards Rudy with a pleading look.

Rudy pulled his t-shirt down his neck and look at Vedant with a frown. "Aj teri turn hai balls coach ko dene ki toh mein kyu du ?" ("But it's your turn today, why should I do it for you ?")

"Please na Rudy..." Vedant tried. "....yar Gisha mera wait kar rahi hai." ("....Gisha is waiting for me.")

"Accha bacchu, date pe tu jaa raha hai aur coach ke pass mujhe bhej raha hai ?" ("Oh thats the reason, you're going on date and sending me to the coach ?") Rudy narrowed his eyes at his teammate. "Chal thik hai jaa, lekin agli baar tu jayega." ("Ok go, but I won't help you next time.") Rudy sighed and took the basketball from Vedant.

"Thanks dude !" Vedant grinned and presented Rudy with a quick hug before running off to find his girlfriend.

"Chale ?" ("Let's go ?") Prince asked Rudy as soon as Rudy reached the exit of the changing room where Prince and Chubby were waiting for him.

"Haan chalte hai bas mujhe yeh basketball deke aana hai coach ko." ("Yeah but first I've to give this basketball to the coach.") Rudy replied.

"Tu kyu jaa raha hai ? Aj Wednesday hai toh aj toh...Vedant ki turn hai." ("Why are you going ? Today's Wednesday so...it's Vedant's turn today.") Chubby furrowed his eyebrows as he read the schedule pasted on the door.

Rudy explained them both everything and Prince glared at Rudy.

"Tu humesha aasani se maan jata hai. Sabka kaam karne ke liye nahi baithe hum yaha. Sab tera faida uthate hai aur tu unhe uthane deta hai." ("You always get convinced easily. We're not here to help everyone. Everyone takes advantage of you and you let them do that to you.") Prince said.

"Prince aisa nahi hai. Mein sabki help nahi karunga, toh woh bhi mujhe help chahiye tab help nahi karenge." ("It's not true, Prince. If I won't help them then how will they help me when I'll need help.") Rudy replied calmly with a smile.

"Tujhe jo karna hai kar, mein jaa raha hu." ("Do whatever you want, I'm going.") Prince grumbled and dashed off from there angrily.

"Arey Prince ! Prince suno toh..." ("Prince ! Prince listen...") Rudy yelled after Prince but he went off ignoring the calls.

Rudy sighed and looked at Chubby. "Tu aayega mere sath ya fir mein akela chala jau ?" ("You're coming with me or shall I go alone ?") He asked.

Chubby agreed to go with Rudy and both of them started walking towards the staff room which was a bit far from the basketball court.

"Prince bahot hi gussel nahi ho gaya hai aj kal ?" ("Isn't Prince losing his temper more often nowadays ?") Chubby asked.

"Aaj uska jhagda hua na uss Daksh ke sath isiliye uska mood jara kharab hai, tu chinta mat kar jaise hi uska gussa shant ho jayega woh firse hasne lagega." ("He is just in foul mood after morning's fight with Daksh, don't worry he'll come along once his anger dies down.") Rudy replied.

"Waise Prince bada brave hai...Usne uss Daksh ke lips burst kar diye. Mein toh uss Daksh ki taraf dekhne se bhi darta hu." ("Prince is so brave...He burst Daksh's lips. I even get scared to look at Daksh and he punched him.") Chubby shuddered.

Rudy chuckled. "Tu toh hai hi fattu." ("You're a scardy cat anyway.") He laughed.

"Nahi hu." ("I'm not.") Chubby pouted.

"Hai !" ("You are.") Rudy pinched Chubby's pumped out cheeks.

Chubby wasn't a part of any sports club cause as his name suggests he was significantly healthy.

"Rudy meri taraf fek na." ("Rudy pass it to me.") Chubby requested on the way, referring to the basketball, after awhile.

Rudy nodded and threw the ball towards Chubby. Chubby caught it and threw back towards Rudy and Rudy caught it in one swift move.

Like this they were playing pass-pass on the way to the staff room.

On the way, Rudy threw the basketball towards Chubby a bit forcefully. The ball went past Chubby and hit a boy in the back of his head.

Rudy and Chubby stared with open mouth and wide eyes when they recognised the person who had been hit by their ball.

"D...Da...Daksh !" Chubby squealed, fear visible on his face and his voice.

"Kisne feka yeh ball ?" ("Who threw this ball at me ?") Daksh growled as he picked up the ball and glared around.

Rudy and Chubby looked at each other and gulped in fear.

Daksh walked forward and clutched the collar of one of the boy who was staring at him. "Bol kisne feka !" ("Tell me who did this !")

The boy looked scared out of his mind and he raised a shaking finger, pointing towards Chubby and Rudy.

Daksh left the boy's collar and walked up to Rudy and Chubby. He stared at Rudy for a while.

"Tum toh wohi ho na jisne subah Prince ko roka tha ?" ("You're the same person who had stopped Prince this morning, aren't you ?") Daksh asked with a straight face.

Rudy gulped again and nodded.

"Uske friend ho tum ?" ("You're his friend ?") Daksh asked again, his voice having a weirdly dangerous vibe.

Rudy nodded again wordlessly.

Daksh walked dangerously close to Rudy. "Tumne ball feka ?" ("You threw the ball ?")

By now Rudy's heart was pounding like a hammer in his chest, his sweat glands were activated and he was shivering a bit.

"Tumne ball feka ?!" ("Did you throw this ball ?!") Daksh yelled at Rudy's face making him jump out of his skin.

"H..haan." ("Y..yes.") Rudy spluttered.

Rudy didn't dare look up at Daksh. All he wished right now was to get away from Daksh and feel safe.

'O kaha ho ? Please yaha aa jao. Please.' ('O where are you ? Please come here. Please.') Rudy thought.

In the meanwhile, Chubby ran away to find either Prince or Om who could save Rudy from that Satan's son.

♠

Om was standing against his car frequently checking his wrist watch and glancing around.

"Kaha reh gaya yeh Rudy." ("Where is this Rudy.") Om mumbled to himself. "Bola tha usey meine ki jaldi se aa jaye taki hum bhai ko airport pe pick karne jaa sake, lekin pata nahi kaha masti kar raha hai." ("I had told him to come soon so that we could go and pick Shivaay bhai from the airport, but don't know where he is fooling around.")

Om sighed and pulled out his phone. He was about to dial Rudy's number when he was stopped by someone calling his name.

"Om bhaiya !"

Om turned around and realised that Chubby was calling him.

"Om bhaiya...jaldi...chalo." ("Om bhaiya...fast...come with me.") Chubby panted as soon as he reached near Om.

"Kya hua Chubby ? Aur Rudy kaha hai ?" ("What's wrong Chubby ? And where's Rudy ?") Om asked while looking around for Rudy.

"Bhai...Bhaiya woh...Rudy...Daksh...Fight." Chubby stuttered, unable to form a sentence.

"Fight ?!" Om panicked. "Kaha pe ? Jaldi mujhe dikhao." ("Where ? Quick, show me where.") He said to Chubby.

Chubby nodded and led Om towards Rudy and Daksh as soon as he could.

Om reached the garden where Daksh was holding Rudy by his shoulders and Rudy was shivering badly.

Om's temper boosted when he saw Daksh intimidating his younger brother and he was about to go and defend Rudy when he remembered Rudy's words from the morning conversation, "Jao jao nahi chahiye tumhari madad." ("Go, go I don't need your help.") And he stopped.

Om knew he'll save Rudy but right now nothing was happening...Daksh was just holding Rudy not hitting him.

"Bhaiya chalo na Rudy ko bachav !" ("Bhaiya save Rudy !") Chubby exclaimed when he saw Om staring at them both doing nothing.

Om ignored Chubby and sat down on the nearby bench.

"Bhaiya..." Chubby looked at Om disbelievingly. "...chalo na aap yaha kyu baith gaye ?" ("...let's go, why are you sitting here ?")

"Waha jaake kya karu ? Daksh Rudy ko maar thodi na raha hai bas baat hi toh kar raha hai, karne do usey. Aao baith jao." ("What shall I do ? Daksh is not hitting Rudy, he's just talking to him, so let them talk. Come sit here.") Om replied calmly, his eyes still fixed on Rudy.

Chubby didn't sit down, he stood beside Om anxiously watching the scene unfold.

Rudy had no idea that Chubby had left him alone. He was too scared to look around let alone realise that his friend had left.

"Tumhari himmat kaise hui Daksh ko maarne ki ?" ("How dare you hit Daksh ?") Daksh barked at Rudy, startling him.

"I...I...I... I'm s..so...sor...sorry." Rudy managed to choke out, with a whimper.

"Kya ?" ("What ?") Daksh asked and held his ear towards Rudy. "Firse bol, aur jor se bol." ("Come again, and say it out loud.")

"I..." Rudy started again in low, scared voice.

"Meri taraf dekh aur bol !" ("Look at me and say !") Daksh growled yet again and lifted Rudy's chin up harshly.

Rudy's eyes started wandering around as he was too afraid to look at Daksh.

Rudy's scared eyes soon found Om's calm ones. He also saw Chubby and relief crossed his soul but Rudy frowned when he realised that Om was enjoying the scene rather than helping him.

"O kya kar rahe ho help me !" ("O what are you doing, help me !") Rudy pleaded through his eyes to Om.

"Kyu ? Subah toh badi baatein kar raha tha, ab kya hua ?" ("Why ? You were saying a lot of brave things in the morning, now what happened ?") Om smirked as he replied through his eyes too.

"O please !" Rudy requested through his eyes.

Om turned his face away pretending that he doesn't care.

"Waha kya dekh rahe ho ? Meri taraf dekh aur bol !" ("What are you looking at ? Look at me and speak !") Daksh growled as he held Rudy by his collar making Rudy yelp.

Rudy looked at Om again with pleading, puppy dog eyes but Om was still glued to his place.

"Bolte ho ya...!" ("Are you going to speak or...!") Daksh raised his fist up.

Rudy tightly closed his eyes shut and yelled, "Bhaiya !"

As soon as the word left Rudy's mouth, a punch was thrown at Daksh's face making him let go off Rudy's collar and stumble backwards.

Daksh recovered from the sudden shock and looked up to see Om standing before Rudy protectively.

"Tum ?!" ("You ?!") Daksh spat.

"Haan mein." ("Yes, me.") Om growled. "Subah toh meine tujhe chhod diya tha kyu ki uss waqt tune mujhse panga liya tha lekin agar mere bhai ko pareshan karoge toh kahi muh dikhane ke layak nahi chodunga samjhe ?" ("I had spared you in the morning cause you had messed with me but if you ever try to mess with my brother then I'll not let your pretty face stay pretty anymore, understand ?")

"Accha toh yeh tera bhai hai." ("Oh so he's your brother.") Daksh said and eyed Rudy before turning towards Om and cracking his knuckles. "Tujhse toh mujhe hisab barabar karna hi hai. Aj toh tu gaya." ("I had to clear your account anyway. Now I'll not leave you. You're done for today.")

Daksh pounced on Om and Om did the same. They both started throwing punches, kicks and slaps towards each other.

Even though Daksh was 3 years older than Om, Om was not backing off. His anger pumping all the bravery and nerve required to keep on fighting.

How dare that Daksh tried to hurt his baby brother ?!

"Om ! Daksh !" The Principal yelled and successfully separated them both. "In my office. Now !"

⏩

OmRu stood at the either edges of the Principal's desk. Both had there heads bowed down.

Where Rudy was looking nervous and a bit anxious, Om still looked angry with his burst lips, untidy hairs and ripped t-shirt sleeve.

Daksh, who had been suspended for 3 days from the college by the Principal a few minutes back, didn't had any better looks than Om. Daksh's lips had already been burst by Prince but now he had a big bruise forming on his cheek and he definitely had got a broken nose from Om.

"This is unacceptable Mr Oberoi !" The Principal boomed and glared at OmRu after giving an unpleased look to Shivaay.

Shivaay nodded and glared at Om.

Shivaay had just landed from London and the first call he got after touching his feet in Mumbai was of Principal, calling him to his office to talk about OmRu.

"I agree, sir. I do not support them in promoting violence in anyway." Shivaay replied in a firm tone.

"I know, Mr Oberoi." Principal nodded satisfactorily.

"I deeply apologize for their deeds, sir. Please forgive them this once, I promise this won't be repeated." Shivaay assured.

The Principal nodded. "Omkara, I'm letting you off the hook this time with a warning as this is your first, and I hope last, mistake."

Omkara nodded with an inaudible sigh. "I'm sorry." He muttered but didn't sound or look sorry at all.

The Principal then ordered OmRu to stand outside of his office as he wanted to discuss something with Shivaay in private.

"Mr Oberoi, mein Om ko saza nahi dena chahta tha.." ("Mr Oberoi, I didn't want to punish Om...") The principal dropped his stern demeanor as soon as OmRu left. "..lekin Om ne jisse maara tha woh trustee ka beta hai aur fight start bhi Om ne ki thi isliye mujhe aapko bulana pada." ("..but Om's opponent in the fight was trustee's son and Om had started the fight so I had to call you.")

"Koi baat nahi, sir. Galati Om ki thi toh..." ("It's okay, sir. It was Om's mistake so...") Shivaay was cut off by the Principal.

"Ji nahi. Meine fight ke waha khadhe hue bacchon se suna ki Daksh ne pehle Rudra pr haath uthya tha aur usey bachane ke liye Om ne Daksh ko maara." ("No. I enquired about the fight to the students who had witnessed the fight and they told me that Daksh was trying to hurt Rudra so Om came in between and defended him.") The Principal explained honestly.

Outside Principal's office...

OmRu were standing tensed as to what Principal must be telling to Shivaay.

After a while Shivaay walked out with a straight face and started walking off towards his car. OmRu followed him silently.

"Gadi mein baitho." ("Get inside.") Shivaay said coldly as he unlocked his BMW. He looked angry and didn't look at OmRu.

"Mein apni gadi leke aata hu, tum dono jao aage." ("I'll come by my own car, you both go.") Om said and tried to escape from Shivaay's warth.

This was the first time Om had got into a fight and Shivaay had called in by the Principal to complain about it so neither Om nor Ru knew how Shivaay will react.

"Mein bhi O ke sath ghar aata hu." ("I'll go with O.") Rudy said and quickly got beside Om. "Aap jao bhaiya. Bye." ("You go bhaiya. Bye.") He waved at Shivaay.

OmRu were about to dash off when Shivaay stopped them.

"Tumhari gadi leke driver kab ka ghar pohonch gaya hoga, ab agar tum dono ka ho gaya ho toh gadi mein baith jao chup chap." ("Driver has reached home with your car hours ago, now if you both are done, get inside the car.") Shivaay said and slid into the driver's side.

OmRu looked at each other nervously before walking towards the car. Both of them reached the passenger side door and looked at each other.

"Rudy, aj tu aage baith ja." ("Rudy, you sit on the front seat today.") Om said and was about to go towards the back door when Rudy beat him at it.

Rudy opened the back door and said, "Humesha toh khud aage baithte ho mujhe kabhi nahi baithne dete aur aj jab bhaiya gusse mein hai toh mujhe aage bitha rahe ho ? Very bad O." ("You always sit in the front and never let me, and now that bhaiya is angry you want me sit there ? Very bad O.") He said and quickly sat on the back seat.

Om grumbled under his breathe and slid into the passenger seat beside Shivaay.

The car ride was silent. No one dared to speak a word while Shivaay himself was silent, he looked agitated.

"I'm disappointed !" Shivaay said at last after a while. "Tumne ek ladke ko maara Om ?!" ("You bashed up a boy, Om ?!")

"Bhai meri galati nahi thi." ("Bhai it wasn't my fault.") Om started. "Iss Rudy ki thi !" ("It was all Rudy's mistake !")

"Meri ? Meine kya kiya ? Punch toh aapne maara tha." ("Mine ? What did I do ? You had punched him first.") Rudy exclaimed.

"Uss Daksh ko basketball kisne fekke maara ?" ("Who had hit that Daksh with a basketball ?") Om raised an eyebrow at Rudy as he turned in his seat to look at him.

"Woh galati se hua tha." ("It had happened mistakenly.") Rudy pouted. "Lekin aap toh mujhe bachane ke liye nahi aane wale the na, fir kyu aaye ?" ("But you weren't going to come to my rescue then why did you come ?")

"Waah, ulta chor kotwal ko dante." ("Wow, pot calling the kettle black.") Om retorted. "Arey mein toh aane hi nahi wala tha." ("I wasn't even going to come to your help.")

"Toh fir kyu aaye ?" ("Then why did you ?") Rudy smirked.

"Tu kyu chillaya ?" ("Why did you scream for me ?") Om asked rhetorically. "Tujhe toh meri madad nahi chahiye thi." ("You never wanted my help.")

"Haan...toh...toh...nahi chahiye thi mujhe apki help. Mein khud sambhal leta." ("Of course...I...I... didn't need your help. I would've handled it myself.") Rudy stammered, 'confidently'.

"Haan dekh liya meine kaise sambhalta, uss Daksh ke saamne toh aankh uthane ki himmat nahi ho rahi thi teri." ("Yeah sure I saw how well you were handling it, you didn't even have courage to look that Daksh in the eye.") Om remarked.

Rudy was about to counter back something when Shivaay interrupted them.

"Enough !" Shivaay said. "Om, jhagda tune start kiya tha ?" ("Om, had you started the fight ?")

"Bhai woh..." ("Brother...") Om tried to excuse himself but was cut off by Shivaay.

"Haan ya na ?" ("Yes or no ?") Shivaay asked sternly.

"Haan." ("Yes.") Om grumbled and slumped in his seat.

"Usne tujhe kitne punches maare ?" ("How many times did he punch you ?") Shivaay asked.

"3." Rudy quickly replied making Om glare at him but Rudy ignored it.

"Tune usey kitne maare ?" ("How many time did you punched him ?") Shivaay asked.

"5." Rudy was again quick to respond.

"Aur kicks ?" ("And kicks ?") Shivaay raised an eyebrow with an amused smile.

"Daksh ne O ko 1 kick maarne ki koshish ki thi lekin wo maar nahi paaya. O ne usey 2 kicks maare." ("Daksh tried to kick O once but failed. O kicked him twice.") Rudy giggled silently at the recap of fight playing in his mind.

Shivaay stifled in a proud smile and turned to Om with a serious face. "Agli baar..." ("Next time...") Shivaay started but was cut off by Om.

"....Agli baar pakka jhagda nahi karunga, sorry bhai." ("....Next time I won't get into fight I promise, sorry brother.") Om rambled.

"Nahi." ("No.") Shivaay shook his head and said, "Agli baar...2 kicks jyada maarna lekin bas itna dhyan rakhna ki pehla punch woh maare, tum nahi." ("Next time...take two swings extra but make sure your opponent throws the first punch and not you.") He smiled.

Shivaay's smile turned into a chuckle when he saw amused faces of his brothers.

"Aap gussa nahi ho ?" ("You ain't mad at us ?") Rudy asked.

"Mein kyu gussa karunga ? In fact I'm proud of Om." ("Why will I be ? In fact I'm proud of Om.") Shivaay smiled at Om. "Tumne Rudy ko bachane ke liye yeh sab kiya." ("You did it all to save Rudy.") Shivaay patted Om's shoulder.

"Toh fir aap gussa nahi ho ?" ("So you're not angry ?") Om asked in confirming manner.

Shivaay shook his head with a smile. "Pizza khaane chale ?" ("Shall we go to eat pizza ?") Shivaay asked.

A round of 'yes' sounded throughout the car making Shiv chuckle.

"Oh no !" Rudy said suddenly.

"Kya hua ?" ("What's wrong ?") Shivaay asked.

"O, accha khasa mujhe aage baithne de raha tha, mein kha ma kha darr kar piche baith gaya." ("O was letting me sit at front, I sat back myself thinking that you're angry.") Rudy groaned making ShivOm laugh.

-------

Hey bubblies !

Shivaay's entry wasn't a grand one...I couldn't think of anything to make his entry grand.

Anyway...
How was the update ?

Did you guys like it ?

Let me know in the comments below ♥️

Until the next update,
Have a safe and great life 😇