Chapter 27 - Brothers

 Veer was in his bedroom in Chauhan Mansion. He was surrounded by bottles of alcohol as he was trying to drown himself out of the trouble he was in.

Just then his phone went off and he received it without looking at caller id.

"Bhaiya !" Daksh's cry sounded from the other side.

"Kya hua Ducky ?" ("What's wrong Ducky ?") Veer immediately came out of his own trance and asked in worry.

"Bhaiya bahot hua passive attack. Ab un Oberoi's ko sabak sikhana hi hoga." ("Bhaiya, enough of passive attack. Now we've to teach those Oberoi's a lesson.") Daksh said with a hint of venom.

"Sahi kaha tune Ducky. Inn Oberoi's ko sabak toh sikhana hi hoga ab." ("You're right Ducky. We need to teach them a lesson.") Veer barked.

"Vecha ki madad le lo bhaiya. Ab attack karne ka waqt aa gaya hai." ("Take Vecha's help bhaiya. Now it's time to attack.") Daksh said cunningly.

"Vecha ?" Veer asked.

"Haan. Mere pass ek plan hai. Suno..." ("Yes. I've a plan. Listen...") Daksh started narrating his plan.

"Nice plan Ducky." Veer praised with a smile. "You're so smart."

"Thanks bhaiya." Daksh smiled on the other side of the call.

Veer hung up the call and dialled another number.

As soon as his call was received, he said, "Hello, Vecha."

*

"Bhaiya kab aa rahe hai ?" ("When will bhaiya come ?") Rudy asked for the umpteenth time as he stood in the balcony waiting for his Shivaay bhaiya.

"Aa jayenge, raste mein honge." ("He'll come soon, he's on his way.") Gauri replied as she stood beside Rudy.

"Shivaay bhaiya ko call karke pucho na." ("Call Shivaay bhaiya and ask him where he is.") Rudy said impatiently.

Om smacked Rudy lightly. "Thodi der wait nahi kar sakta ? Bhai gadi drive karte waqt phone kaise receive karenge ?" ("Can't you be a bit patient ? How will bhai receive the call while driving ?")

Rudy nodded with sudden realisation. "Point." He mumbled.

"Woh dekho..." ("Look...") Gauri yelled suddenly with utter excitement as she pointed at something. "...Bhaiya ki car ! Bhaiya aa gaye." ("...that's bhaiya's car ! Bhaiya's here.")

OmRu looked at the car which was zooming in from a mile away and recognised it at once.

"Bhaiya aa gaye, chalo jaldi. Jaldi chalo." ("Bhaiya's here, let's go. Fast.") Rudy said urgently and ran inside.

Rikara smile at Rudy's excitement and followed him inside the house.

Shivaay parked his car and looked at the entrace of the bunglow. He was expecting OmRu to be there, waiting for him but to his dejection no was there at the entrance.

He pushed aside his expectations and pulled on a smile as he entered the bunglow.

"I'm home." Shivaay yelled with a smile but soon his smile flattered when he saw there was only darkness in the living room.

"Om ? Rudy ?" Shivaay called but didn't get any reply.

Shivaay was again going to call OmRu when he was startled by the sudden light. He looked towards the source and saw that a projector screen was turned on.

The projector screen was showing the picture of ShivOmRu from when they had celebrated Rudy's 3rd Birthday with Gopal Kaka.

"Bhaiya." Rudy's voiced boomed throughout the living room but Shivaay couldn't see him so he assumed that it was Rudy's pre-recorded voice.

The picture disappeared and instead of it, a video started playing. The video was of 5 year old Rudy learning how to ride bicycle from Shivaay.

"Bhaiya, mere bhai, mere teacher, mere best friend, mere MasterChef, mere strict instructor aur....mere papa." ("Bhaiya, my brother, my teacher, my best friend, my MasterChef, my strict instructor and....my dad.") Rudy said.

Shivaay's eyes teared up when he heard 'mere papa' ('my dad').

"Aj tak mujhe apne bahot pyaar kiya aur aj bhi karte ho lekin mein hi woh heartbreaker nikla jisne apka golden heart tod diya." ("You've always loved me and you still love me a lot but I was the only one, the heartbreaker who broke your golden heart.") Rudy said sadly and his face appeared on the screen.

Shivaay saw Rudy's face on the screen and recognised his background. Rudy had shot the video in his bedroom, he was holding his guitar.

"Mere emotions mein bol ke nahi, gaa ke sunaunga." ("I'll not talk out my emotions, I'll sing those for you.") Rudy said and started playing 'ddud' rhythm on his guitar.

Sang tere mera bachpan khila
Ghar hai mera khusiyo ka mela
Bhai bahut honge duniya mein
Tu lakh mein ek akela
Mere to is chhote se man ka
Sabse bada arman bhi tu...

Shivaay's lips curled up in a small smile. The song was old but he remembered it very well.

When Shivaay was 12 and upset with Om, Om had sung this song for him in a feminine voice and in girl's clothes.

Rudy paused singing but kept playing the guitar.

Oh brother, we'll go deeper than the ink
Beneath the skin of our tattoos
Though we don't share the same blood
You're my brother and I love you that's the truth

Rudy had switched the song to Brothers by Kodaline. This song had always been like bonding song for ShivOmRu.

Rudy changed the rhythm as he changed the song again.

Tu jo rutha, toh kaun hasega,
Tu jo chhuta, toh kaun rahega
Tu chup hai toh ye dar lagta hai
Apna mujhko ab kaun kahega

Tu hi wajah tere bina
Bewajah bekar hu mein..

Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm.

Rudy hummed the rest of the line. Then he switched to 'ddud' rhythm again and smiled at the camera with teary eyes.

Mata bhi tu pita bhi tu
Bhai ka abhiman bhi tu
Tere siva mera kaun hai bhaiya
Tere siva mera kaun hai bhaiya

Mera to bhagwan bhi tu
Mata bhi tu pita bhi tu
Bhai ka abhiman bhi tu...

Rudy ended his performance and wiped his tears. "Bhaiya, mere liye aap kya ho, yeh mein bata nahi sakta. Aap meri duniya ho bhaiya, mere papa ho. Please mujhe maaf kar do. Mujhse galati ho gayi. I'm really very sorry." ("Bhaiya, what you mean to me is unexplainable. You're my world bhaiya, you're my dad. Please forgive me. I made a mistake. I'm really very sorry.")

Shivaay stared at the screen with tears flowing down his cheeks.

Lights came back on as soon as the video ended. OmRu and Gauri came towards Shivaay who was still standing in the middle of the living room.

"Bhaiya." Rudy called in a low voice.

Shivaay wiped his tears and turned to Rudy.

Rudy was stood there with teary eyes and guilty face. He was holding a cake on which 'sorry' was written with white cream.

"I'm sorry bhaiya." Rudy said in cracking voice and a tear slipped down his cheek.

Shivaay wiped Rudy's tear and shook his head, telling Rudy not to cry, and pulled him in a tight hug.

"I'm so sorry bhaiya. Mein apka dil nahi dukhana chahta tha. I'm really very sorry." ("I'm so sorry bhaiya. I didn't wish to hurt you. I'm really very sorry.") Rudy cried in Shivaay's embrace.

Shivaay pulled out of the hug and held Rudy by his shoulder. "Mein naaraz nahi hu, baby, mein apne Rudy se naraaz ho sakta hu bhala ?" ("I'm not mad at you, baby, how will I get angry on my Rudy ?")

Rudy smiled through tears. He wiped away his tears and his Shivaay's bhaiya's tears too.

"Bhaiya." Rudy said slowly. "Chalo na cake kat-te hai. Meine khud apke liye banwaya hai." ("Let's cut the cake. I've supervised the baking of this cake, myself.")

Rudy held the cake up.

"Oye, Cake banaya meine hai." ("Oye, I've baked the cake.") Om interjected.

"Haan toh meine kab bola ki meine banaya hai ?" ("Yeah so when did I say I've baked it ?") Rudy retorted.

Shivaay chuckled at the Tom and Jerry of his home and shook his head. "Chalo cake khate hai." ("Let's eat the cake.")

Rudy nodded excitedly and placed the cake on the coffee table. Shivaay cut the cake and fed his lovely brothers and Gauri. Then ShivOmRu shared a group hug.

After eating the cake and enjoying the moment, ShivOmRu and Gauri settled down to watch some good film.

"Satte pe satta !" Rudy announced the name of his favourite movie and played it.

Half way through the movie Rudy ordered numerous snacks for everyone while Om ordered the servant to bring him some juice.

Everyone enjoyed the movie and dispersed in their respective rooms, while Gauri accompanied Om since they were going to complete their assignments together.

"Bhaiya kitne happy lag rahe the na ? Aur Rudy bhi." ("Bhaiya was looking so happy and Rudy too.") Gauri smiled as she settled on Om's bed.

"Yeah." Om smiled contently. "All I ever want is to see Bhai and Rudy happy, and....you too." He said slowly.

Gauri blushed a bit. "Me too."

Om smiled.

"I've assignment due tomorrow." Om said and rushed towards his table where he was making a sculpture.

"Me too." Gauri said and opened her bag which held all her books.

They both started working silently on their assignments for a while until...

"Ah !" Om exclaimed and cradled his left hand in his right hand.

"Kaa hua ?" ("What happened ?") Gauri asked as she rushed beside Om.

"Pata nahi, clay mein shayad kuch hai." ("I don't know, there's something in clay I guess.") Om said as he groaned in pain.

Gauri took Om's hand gently in hers and was shocked to say the least.

There was a small red dot on his palm, indicating that something had pricked in his hand but what was more shocking was...the area around the red dot was turning blue.

"Ah...Gauri bahot dard ho raha hai." ("Ah...It's paining a lot, Gauri, do something.") Om breathed heavily. He was crying due to the unbearable pain which was spreading from his left palm to the entire left part of his body.

"Mein abhi kuch karti hu." ("I'll do something, don't worry.") Gauri said on the verge of tears herself.

Gauri ran out of the room and barged into Shivaay's room.

"Bhaiya ! Bhaiya jaldi chalo...jaldi chalo please." ("Bhaiya ! Bhaiya come with me fast... please come fast.") Gauri said urgently with tears trailing down her eyes.

"Kya hua ?" ("What's wrong ?") Shivaay looked at her from over his laptop and quickly shut the laptop and stood up. "Kya hua Gauri ? Tum ro kyu rahi ho ?" ("What's wrong Gauri ? Why are you crying ?")

"Bhaiya please chalo...Om...Om.." ("Bhaiya please come with me...Om...Om..") Gauri couldn't even form a sentence as she panicked.

"Om ?" Shivaay repeated in worry. He understood that something is wrong with Om and he ran towards Om's room, "Om !" He called as soon as he entered Om's room.

Shivaay didn't see Om anywhere in the room but then his eyes averted to the floor and widened in shock.

Om was lying on the floor, unconscious. His left hand had turned blue, rest of his skin was unusually pale and his face held an expression of pain.

"Om !" Shivaay yelled and ran towards him.

Shivaay pulled Om on his lap and tried to revive him but Om didn't respond.

"Gauri, ambulance bulav jaldi." ("Gauri, call the ambulance fast.") Shivaay ordered urgently.

Gauri nodded and called the ambulance.

Just then Rudy entered the room due to all the commotion coming from the room.

"O ?" Rudy's eyes widened when he saw Om lying on the floor. "O." He rushed towards Om and tapped his cheeks.

"Bhaiya kya hua O ko ?" ("Bhaiya what happened to O ?") Rudy cried.

"Pata nahi Rudy." ("Don't know.") Shivaay replied, while rubbing Om's right palm.

Rudy took Om's another hand which had turned blue and started rubbing it just like Shivaay.

After a small while, Ambulance arrived and Om was rushed into the hospital.

*

It had been an hour since Om was wheeled into the hospital. Best doctors of the city were working on the detoxification process of Om but there was no update on his health yet.

ShivRuRi were in tears. They were all impatient and worried.

Rudy was worse of them all. After his baba's death, the only demon he faced was that of fear of losing his loved ones.

Gauri was in front of the God, constantly praying for Om's well-being, the tears never stopped rolling out of her eyes.

"Bhaiya, O ko kya hua ? Woh thik ho jayega na ?" ("Bhaiya, what happened to O ? Will he get well soon ?") Rudy mumbled through tears.

Shivaay looked at Rudy and took a deep breath to compose himself. Rudy already looked vulnerable and scared, Shivaay didn't wish to scare Rudy more.

Shivaay sat on the bench beside Rudy and pulled him in a side hug.

"Om thik ho jayega, Rudy." ("Om will get well soon, Rudy.") Shivaay assured. "Om thik ho jayega." ("Om will get well soon.")

Rudy gave a small nod.

Just then a few people came running towards Shivaay.

"Bhaiya !" One of them called Shivaay.

Shivaay looked at them and recognised them at once. Standing in front of him were Chubby, Prince, Yash, Krish and Shashi.,.Rudy and Om's best friends.

"Omki kaha hai ? Woh thik hai na ?" ("Where is Omki ? Is he alright ?") Yash asked with a worried sick face.

"Hua kya usey ?" ("What's wrong with him ?") Shashi added.

"Hume jaise hi pata chala Omki hospital mein hai hum waise hi chale aaye. Woh thik hai na ? Bolo na bhai." ("As soon as we got to know about Omki, we came running here. Is he okay ? Say something bhai.") Krish said with tears in his eyes.

"Pata nahi, hum doctors ka wait kar rahe hai. Abhi tak kuch bhi pata nahi chala Om ki health ke bare mein." ("Don't know, we're waiting for doctors to come out. We don't know anything about Om's health yet.") Shivaay replied honestly.

"Lekin yeh sab hua kaise ?" ("But how did this all happen ?") Shashi asked.

"Pata nahi. Om sculpture bana raha tha aur uss clay mein kuch tha jo usey chubha aur...aur Om ki body mein poison fel gaya." ("I don't know. Om was making a sculpture, there was something in clay which pricked in his hand and...and poison started spreading in his body.") Shivaay recalled, trying his best to stop himself from crying.

Yash, Shashi and Krish understood Shivaay's state of mind.

Yash placed his hand on Shivaay's shoulder assuringly and said, "Don't worry bhai, humara Omki bahot strong hai, dekh lena woh fatt se thik ho jayega." ("Don't worry bhai, our Omki is very strong, you will see how fast he'll recover.")

Krish sat on Shivaay's other side between him and Rudy and gave Shivaay and Rudy a hug. "Haan, bilkul ! Lekin agar usey yeh pata chala ki aap dono itna roye toh usey bilkul bhi accha nahi lagega." ("Yes, absolutely ! But if he got to know that you both have cried so much then he'll not like it.")

"Yes, Krish bhaiya is right." Prince said and wiped Rudy's tears. "Ab no more crying."

Shivaay and Rudy managed a small smile.

After a few minutes, the doctor finally walked out of the operation theatre.

Everyone rushed towards him. Even Gauri was there.

"Doctor, how's Om ?" Shivaay asked desperately.

"We've successfully removed all the nitrate from Omkara's body, but...you should've brought him here early, a lot of his blood was contaminated by the nitrate and hence we had to perform blood transfusion." The doctor paused so that everyone could understand what he was saying. "Next 12 hours are critical for him, a few muscles of his vital organs are weakened by the poison."

Shivaay felt like someone just snatched the floor from beneath his feet.

Rudy stumbled a few steps back and without a word he collapsed on the floor, sobbing.

Shivaay quickly ran towards him and hugged him, mumbling a few soothing words in Rudy's ear, knowing perfectly well that Rudy was on the edge of a panic attack.

"Sambhaliye apne aap ko." ("Control yourself.") The doctor said. "We're shifting Omkara to room 203, you can see him but make sure you go one by one."

Shivaay felt like crying his heart out. He was on verge of fainting himself. The tightness in his chest was returning but he pushed it all aside cause he knew he had to be strong for Rudy....and for Om.

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

Hey bubblies !

So...uh...yeah...Vecha poisoned Om on Veer's request.

I don't have much to say...Lets see what happens...🙊🙈

Being the main / head person of the family is the hardest job...They're not allowed to be weak, they've to always stay strong and face everything...

Huge Respect To All The Fathers, Brothers, Mothers And Sisters Out There Who Are The Heads Of Their Families And Face Everything Bravely. 🙌

Also, Annika's entry in next chapter ! So stay tuned 💕

Bye-bye !

Saionara ! (さいおなら)

Yes I'm trying to learn Japanese. 😆😂 It was a part of my syllabus last semester so I thought why not to just master it ?

Btw I just love the song I've added in media box above, 'Brothers by Kodaline'...It's the most amazing song I've ever heard about brothers bond...💞🥰😍🙌

Anyway...

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