Chapter 23 - Villans Assemble!

 Daksh marched into the Chauhan Mansion and threw his bag and shoes in different directions in anger.

A man who was talking on the phone to someone, looked at Daksh and hung up the call before coming to Daksh.

"Ducky." The man called softly and placed a comforting hand on Daksh shoulder. "Kya hua baccha ?" ("What's wrong baby ?")

"Veer bhaiya !" Daksh exclaimed and hugged his older brother Veer Chauhan tightly.

Veer hugged him back before pulling apart quickly. "Yeh tere chehre ko kya hua ? Fir se jhagda kiya ?" ("What happened to your face ? Got in fight again ?")

"Sirf jhagada nahi kiya. 3 dino ke liye suspend hoke aaya hai yeh, Danton Danton mein." ("Not just he faught but also got a 3 days suspension.")

Veer and Daksh both looked at the sourse of the voice and found that their mother had just walked in and she was the one speaking.

Veer furrowed eyebrows at his mother while Daksh rolled his eyes knowing all to well that his mother is going to scold him for it.

"Suspend ? Mein abhi uss principal ki khabar leta hu." ("Suspension ? I'll call that pathetic principal and ask him how could he suspend my brother.") Veer growled and was about to call the principal but his mother aka Roop stopped him.

"Koi jarurat nahi hai." ("No need.") Roop said. "Mein abhi uske college se hi aa rahi hu. Uss principal ne suspension cancel kar dia hai." ("I'm just coming from his college. That principal has cancelled his suspension order.") She informed.

Roop then walked dangerously close to Daksh and pinched his already bleeding lips harshly making him flinch in pain.

"Iske baad agar tu fir kisi se maar khake aaya, toh mein tujhe iss ghar se nikal dungi, samjha ?" ("If I see you coming home getting beaten by someone then I'll throw you out of this house, understand ?") Roop glared at Daksh and pushed him as she left his bleeding lips.

Roop left from there muttering something about how Daksh brought shame to her by getting beaten up by some guy, leaving both the brothers alone.

Veer made Daksh sit on the nearby couch and started cleaning his wounds.

As usual, Daksh started narrating Veer what had happened between him and Om and how Om beat him up in front of everyone in the college.

"Mein uss Omkara ko chodunga nahi. Usne pure school ke saamne meri image spoil kar di." ("I won't spare that Omkara. He spoilt my image in front of entire college.") Daksh barked out in anger.

Veer stayed calm as usual and without detaching his eyes from Daksh bruised knuckles he said, "Har bar maar pit karna is not necessary." ("It's not always necessary to hurt someone physically.")

Daksh looked at his older brother is surprise.

"Kabhi kabhi passive attacks bhi karne chahiye." ("Sometimes passive attacks are more helpful.") Veer smirked.

"Kya matlab ?" ("What do you mean ?") Daksh asked.

"Tumne bataya ki Omkara ka ek chhota bhai bhi hai right ?" ("You said Omkara has a younger brother, right ?") Veer scoffed thoughtfully.

Daksh nodded and waited patiently for his brother to explain his plan of revenge.

♠

OmRu were all ready to go to college and they were just about to exit their house when Gauri dropped in.

"Laga hi tha mujhe ki tum college ke liye ready ho gaye hoge." ("I knew you would be ready to go to college.") Gauri narrowed her eyes at Om.

"Haan ready hu. Chalo sath mein chalte hai aur raste mein Starbucks se coffee lete chalenge." ("Yes I'm ready. Let's go together and stop at Starbucks for a cup of coffee on the way.") Om smiled, totally oblivious to Gauri's sarcasm.

"Ji nahi." ("No.") Gauri said disbelievingly. "Tum yaha ghar pe rahoge aur aaram karoge aj, samjhe ?" ("You'll stay at home and take rest today, understood ?")

"Good morning Gauri." Shivaay just walked towards them with a smile. Not knowing anything about the conversation between Rikara.

"Good morning Bhaiya." Gauri smiled.

"Kya ho raha hai ?" ("What's happening ?") Shivaay asked looking between Om's grumpy face and Gauri.

"Bhaiya, ab aap hi issey batayiye ki issey aj ghar pe rehke aaram karna hoga." ("Bhaiya, now you only tell him to stay at home and rest.") Gauri said and looked at Shivaay expectantly to say something to Om.

"Gauri...thik...bol rahi hai Om." ("Gauri...is right...Om.") Shivaay started, Om was about to protest but Shivaay cut him off. "You deserve to have a day off. Take rest."

"Ok bhai." Om agreed half-heartedly.

Rudy grinned and extended his hand forward.

Om looked at Rudy's open palm. "What ?" He asked.

"Car keys." Rudy replied. "Aj mein drive karunga." ("I'll drive today.")

"JI NAHI !" ("NO !") ShivOm said at the same time.

"Mein drop kar dunga tumhe aur Gauri ko aur sham ko driver ko bhej dunga tum dono ko pick karne ke liye." ("I'll drop you and Gauri at college now and will send driver to pick you both up in the evening.") Shivaay added.

"Lekin mein kyu nahi drive kar sakta ? I'm 18 years old." ("But I'm 18. Why can't I drive on my own ?") Rudy pouted.

"Because you haven't received your licence yet." Om patted Rudy's cheek making him huff.

Om waved bye to his brothers and his best friend as they all sat in Shivaay's car and drove off.

♦

Rudy exited Shivaay's car along with Gauri and Shivaay bid bye to them before going to his office.

"Accha Rudy, agar tujhe kuch bhi chahiye hoga ya fir koi problem hui toh mujhe call kar dena mein aa jaungi okay ?" ("Ok Rudy, I'll go now but if you need anything or if there's any problem just call me okay ?") Gauri smiled and fixed his hairs. "Enjoy your day Ruru. Bye."

"Bye Gauri didi." Rudy smiled and started walking in the opposite direction.

Rudy was just looking for his friends, Prince and Chubby, when a boy came and stopped before him.

Rudy looked up and saw Jigar, Daksh's best friend, looking down at him angrily.

"Tere bhai ne kal Daksh ko maara ?!" ("Your brother beat Daksh yesterday, didn't he ?!") Jigar growled.

Rudy nodded, shook his head then again nodded. He was so scared cause he knew his brother was absent today and so no one will come to his rescue.

"Haan ya naa ?" ("Yes or no ?") Jigar barked and held Rudy by his collar.

"Jigar stop !" Daksh yelled making Jigar get off of Rudy and stare at Daksh. "Uski koi galati nahi hai, leave him." ("It's not his fault, leave him.")

Jigar rolled his eyes and muttered 'whatever' before leaving.

"What ? Shows over, guys and girls, go back to your own business." Daksh growled at the crowd which had gathered around.

Rudy flinched at Daksh's sudden yelling which didn't go unnoticed by Daksh.

Daksh gave out a lil smirk before pulling on a concerned face and asked Rudy, "Are you okay man ?"

Rudy looked up at Daksh and nodded after gulping.

"Hey, hey relax." Daksh smiled in fake-comforting manner. "Rudra, I'm ... I'm sorry." Daksh sighed.

It was taking everything in Daksh to say that small 5 lettered word, 'sorry'.

"What ?" Rudy asked with wide eyes, not believing his ears.

"I said..." Daksh gritted. "...I'm sorry."

"Oh." Rudy blinked before coming out of trance and saying, "I mean...It's alright."

A moment of silence passed.

"I gotta go. Bye." Rudy said quickly and was about to flee away from Daksh but Daksh stopped him.

"Wanna hang out with us today ?" Daksh asked. "I just wanted to make it up to you for beating up your brother."

"Actually..." Rudy was just forming up an excuse when Daksh cut him off.

"...I know you must be busy. After all who would want to hang out with an ill-mannered boy like me." Daksh pulled on a sad face as tears brimmed his eyes. "Pata hai, mein itna bura hu ki meri maa bhi mera chehra nahi dekhna chahti. Kal unhone mujhe bahot daanta, bahot gussa kiya." ("I'm so bad that even my mom doesn't want to see my face. Yesterday, she scolded me a lot.")

Daksh looked at Rudy with tear filled eyes.

"Kya tum please mujhe maaf kardoge ?" ("Will you please forgive me ?") Daksh asked with desperation. "Agar tum aj mere sath hang out karoge toh mein samjhunga ki tumne mujhe maaf kar diya." ("If you'll hang out with me today then I'll take it as you've forgiven me.")

Rudra was now in the middle of a big whirlwind. On one hand he didn't want to hang out with the evilest boy of the college but at the same time he didn't wish to hurt Daksh either.

"Jaane do, mein samjh gaya ki tum mujhe maaf nahi karoge." ("Leave it, I understood that you didn't accepted my apology.") Daksh said lowly and turned around. He started taking slow steps away from Rudy, silently hoping that Rudy would stop him.

"Wait." Rudy called after Daksh and sighed. "Let's hang out."

After agreeing to hang out with Daksh, Daksh took Rudy to the backside of the college where Daksh's gang hung out.

Daksh introduced Rudy to his friends and vice versa.

"Aj subah jo tumhe chhodne aaya tha, woh kaun tha ?" ("Who was that guy who had came to drop you off today morning ?") Jigar asked, now he seemed less intimidating as he talked calmly.

"Woh mere sabse bade bhai, Shivaay Oberoi the." ("My eldest brother, Shivaay Oberoi.") Rudy replied with a small smile.

"Shivaay Oberoi yani Oberoi Reality and ShivOmRu Industries ka malik ?" ("Owner of Oberoi Reality and ShivOmRu industries, Shivaay Oberoi ?") Rasham amused.

Rudy nodded.

"Tumhe college mein drop karne ke liye tumhare bhai aate hai ?" ("Your brothers come to drop you off into the college ?") Jigar snorted.

"Haan, mere bhai mujhse bahot pyaar karte hai aur mere liye bahot possessive bhi hai." ("Yes, my brothers love me too much and they're very protective and possessive about me.") Rudy explained as he distantly smiled.

"Aww...Rudy tu toh ekdum baccha hai. Baby Rudy." ("Aww...Rudy is still a kid. Baby Rudy.") Rasham made fun of Rudy and hified Jigar as they both snorted.

"Aisa nahi hai." ("No, I'm not.") Rudy protested. "I'm not a baby." He clenched his jaws.

"Accha ?" ("Really ?") Rasham challenged. "Thik hai toh fir aj tu humare sath ghumane chal, classes bunk karke." ("Okay then, bunk your classes and come with us.")

"What ? No way ! Aaj mere important lectures hai." ("What ? No way ! I've important lectures today.") Rudy said.

"See ! You're still a kid, a baby. Be a man, like us." Jigar smirked.

"Ek din ke liye classes bunk karega toh kuch nahi hoga. Ek din rules break karke dekh. It's fun." ("Bunking classes for one day is not a big deal. Try breaking rules for once. It's fun.") Daksh encouraged.

"No, no. Bhaiya would never allow me to do it." Rudy replied.

"Arey yeh toh baby hai, apne bhaiya ki permission ke bina kuch nahi karega." ("He's baby, he won't do anything without his brother's permission.") Rasham laughed. "Baby tu class mein jaa." ("Baby go and attend your classes.") He said to Rudy in a baby voice.

Rudy's eyes blazed with anger. "I'm not a baby !" He growled.

"Prove it." Jigar interjected. "Bunk your classes, come with us and prove it."

"Fine." Rudy exhaled.

How could he back out ? He cannot let people call him a baby, now, can he ? No, of course not !

"Bolo kaha jaana hai ?" ("Tell me where we're going ?") Rudy asked.

♦

Rudy reached home in time after bunking the college.

Rudy's friends and Gauri asked him where he was the entire day but he made a logical excuse and they belived him.

Neither Om nor Shivaay had suspected him of bunking college so now, Rudy was feeling so much amazing.

Rudy felt like he was some sort of secret agent, he had lived a secret life ! Just for one day but still... He had this lil moment, a day in his life where he broke rules and tasted being reckless and carefree for once.

Daksh and his friends had no rules. In fact, Daksh let Rudy drive his new cat Porsche till the college. And neither one of them troubled or tortured him.

The only thing which made Rudy a bit sad that day was... Daksh, Jigar, Rasham all got calls from their moms and they all had a small talk about how annoying their mom's were while Rudy stood there feeling sad, as he missed his mom.

Rudy entered Shivaay's bedroom after dinner with a small, sheepish smile on his face.

"Rudy ? Kya hua, kuch chahiye tujhe ?" ("Rudy ? You need something ?") Shivay asked.

"Kya mein aaj aapke sath so jau please ?" ("Can I sleep with you today, please ?") Rudy asked.

"Ofcourse baby. Aa jao." ("Ofcourse baby, come.") Shivaay smiled.

"I'm not a baby !" Rudy exclaimed, annoyance audible in his voice.

Shivaay was taken aback by Rudy's sudden out burst but didn't show it on his face.

Shivaay held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay." He said before chuckling. "Itna gussa ?"

Rudy sighed.

Realising his own mistake, he apologized to his elder brother and made Shivaay sit on the bed.

Rudy laid down with his head in Shivaay's lap and placed Shivaay's hand in his hair.

Shivaay smiled at his baby brother and started playing with Rudy's hairs, knowing very well that playing with Rudy's hairs will make Rudy feel better and calm.

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

Rudy sighed inaudibly, pretending that he never heard the word 'baby' after Ru.

"Aj college mein kuch hua ?" ("Did something happen in college today ?") Shivaay questioned softly again.

"Bhaiya, mujhe..." ("Bhaiya, I...") Rudy hesitated. "...mujhe maa ki yaad aa rahi hai. Sabki mom's unhe college mein call karti hai, unki fikar karti hai...Lekin meri maa kaisi thi yeh bhi mujhe yaad nahi." ("...I am missing mom. Everyone's mom's calls them in college, cares for them...but I don't even know what my mom was like. I don't even remember her.")

Shivaay's heart saddened at Rudy's words.

This wasn't the first time Rudy had brought up the conversation about his parents but Shivaay knew, this wasn't the last either.

"Bhaiya, kaisi thi meri maa ?" ("Bhaiya, how was my mom ?") Rudy asked as he looked up at his brother with a sad smile.

"Badi maa ?" Shivaay smiled distantly. "Badi maa was beautiful and the most kindest woman I know. She was bold, funny, loving, caring and smart."

"Duniya mein unhe sabse jyada pyaar tumse, Om se aur mujhse tha. Woh humesha humare sath khelti thi aur hume picnics pe le jati thi." ("In this entire world she loved you, Om and me the most. She used to always play with us and take us on picnics.") Shivaay smiled at all the faded but still beautiful memories of h he had preserved in the bottom of his heart.

"Yeh jhoot hai !" ("That's a lie !")

ShivRu were startled by the sudden voice and looked at the door to find Om, who looked angry.

"Woh ek bahot hi selfish aur ghatiya aurat thi." ("She was one selfish and rubbish woman.") Om growled, remembering how his mother had left them in the middle of the jungle in front of an orphanage.

"Om !" Shivaay warned.

"Unhone hume adi raat mein, jungle ke bicho bich, ek orphanage ke bahar chhod diya tha." ("She left us all in the middle of a jungle, in the middle of the night in front of an orphanage.") Om revealed ignoring Shivaay's warning and his pleading looks.

Rudy sat up with his eyes wide and filled with tears. He never knew that. He was too young to remember it and no one ever told him anything about his family or parents.

Om always restricted everyone from talking about his family or parents in the house as he absolutely loathed them.

All Rudy had known till now was their family had left them and Baba had raised them all, but he never knew that they hadn't been left at Baba's doorstep but a bloody orphanage.

"Isiliye..." ("And that's why...") Om breathed a deep breath before saying calmly. "...aj ke baad mujhe iss ghar mein unka topic nahi chahiye." ("...I don't want her topic in this house ever again.")

Om left in anger as soon as he said that.

Shivaay called after Om and left to find him and calm him down leaving Rudy alone to deal with this new found, bitter information about his family, particularly, his mother.

--------------------

Hey bubblies !

I hope you won't hate this new Daksh track...🤞

Well...how many of you were surprised by Roop's sudden entry ? .... Daanton daanton mein. 😆😆😆

Let me know if you've any suggestions, comments, ideas...tell me if you liked it or not, in the comments.

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