Chapter 34 - The Half Truth

Hospital staff wheeled Shivaay inside the OT and asked Annika, Janvi and Pinky to stay out in the corridor and complete the formalities.

"Ma'am." Annika turned to Janvi. "Kya mein aapka phone use kar sakti hu, please?" ("Can I use your phone, please ?")

Janvi nodded and handed her phone to Annika.

Annika quickly dialed a call to her baby sister.

*Phone conversation*

Bhavya : Hello ?

Annika (trying to steady her voice) : Bhavu mein hu.
(Bhavu, it's me.)

Bhavya (worriedly) : Di ! Aap kaha the ? Meine kitne calls kiye aapko, aapka phone kyu off hai aur aap hai kaha ? Raat se ghar kyu nahi aayi ?
(Di ! Where were you ? I called you so many times, why is your phone switched off and where are you ? Why didn't you come home since last night ?)

Annika : Bhav...Bhavya shant. Mein thik hu, mera phone kho gaya hai. Tu tension mat le, aur ek kaam kar please mujhe iss number pe Shivaay ke friend ka number send karde.
(Bhav...Bhavya calm down. I'm fine, I lost my phone. Don't worry and do me a favor, send me the number of Shivaay's friend.)

Bhavya had Aritya's number. Aritya and Bhavya had exchanged numbers at the airport where they had befriended each other.

Bhavya : Ok, lekin apko unka number kyu chahiye ?
(Ok, but why do you want his number ?)

Annika (irritatedly) : Itna waqt nahi hai mere pass ki tujhe sab samjhati baithu...Number send kar abhi.
(I don't have time to waste, I'll tell you everything later...send me the number ASAP.)

Bhavya : Okay. okay. Done.

Annika : Thank you.... Aur sunn tere admission ke liye all the best.
(Thank you.... And listen all the best for your admission.)

Bhavya : Thanks di. Bye.

*Phone conversation ends*

Annika quickly dialed a call to Aryan and told him that Shivaay's been shot and asked him to come to the Blueberry Hospital.

Aryan and Om were in the same area so Arry told Anu that he'll be reaching there soon.

Annika turned to Janvi after hanging up the call.

"Mujhe samajh hi nahi aa raha ki mein apka shukriya kaise ada karu..." ("I cannot thank you enough for helping me...") Annika started as she handed Janvi's phone back to her. "...Apne aj meri bahot help ki hai. Mein apko jitna thank you bolu, kam hoga." ("...you've helped me a lot today. I'm very grateful.")

Pinky smiled and placed hand on Annika's shoulder. "Koi baat nahi, beta. Insaan agar insaan ke kaam nahi aayega toh kaun aayega." ("It's no big deal, dear. If humans won't help each other then who will.")

"Thank you Ma'am." Annika said gratefully.

"Hum ab chalte hai." ("We'll take your leave now.") Janvi said to which Annika nodded while mumbling another thankyou.

Janvi and Pinky left and just after a minute, Aryan appeared.

"Kaha hai Shivaay ? Woh thik toh hai na ? Kya hua usey ? Tumhe woh kaha se mila ?" ("Where is Shivaay ? Is he alright ? What happened ? Where did you find him ?") Aryan bombarded Annika with questions.

"Doctors unhe operate kar rahe hai." ("Doctors are operating him.") Annika replied and then started narrating the story of their kidnapping to Aryan.

♠

Om was standing outside the hospital waiting for Nitya, Rudy and Gauri who were going to come there.

Janvi and Pinky walked out of the hospital and stood right behind Om a few feet away.

"Pata nahi humare bacche kaha honge, kis haal mein honge." ("God knows where our kids are, and in what condition they are.") Pinky said with a cracking voice. "Hume toh yeh bhi nahi pata ki woh ab kaise dikhte hai." ("We don't even know what do they look like.")

Janvi too became sad after hearing Pinky's words, but she had to be strong for the sake of his sister-in-law.

"Hopes mat chhodo Pinky, dekhna humare bacche hume jald hi mil jayenge." ("Don't lose your hopes Pinky, we'll find our kids soon.") Janvi assured.

"Mein driver ko call karti hu." ("I'll call the driver.") Janvi said and dialed a call.

Due to poor network reception, driver was not able to hear Janvi so Janvi yelled at the top of her lungs. "Driver ! Gadi le aao, hume nikalana hai." ("Driver ! Bring the car, we need to leave for home.")

Om was about to dial a call to Gauri to ask where they had reached when-

"Driver ! Gadi le aao, hume nikalana hai." ("Driver ! Bring the car, we need to leave for home.")

He heard a familiar, feminine voice and stopped in his track.

"Y..yeh toh...mo...mom ki awaz.." ("Th... that's mo...mom's voice..") Om mumbled to himself in disbelief and was about to turn around to see who's voice it was, when someone called him and he looked ahead of himself to see Gauri, Rudy and Nitya's fear stricken faces.

Gauri, Rudy and Nitya halted before Om, who was still in a trance.

"O, bhaiya thik hai na ?" ("O, is bhaiya alright ?") Rudy cried.

Om didn't reply or react, he just stared at Rudy in a trance before turning around but in the meantime, Janvi and Pinky's car had arrived and they had been long gone.

Rudy shook Om. "Bolo na, O !" ("Say something, O !")

Om came out of his trance and shook his head to get rid of that weird feeling.

"M..mujhe nahi pata." ("I...I don't know.") Om replied honestly. "Chalo chalke dekhte hai." ("Let's go and see.")

OmRuRiTya started walking towards the OT where Shivaay was getting treated.

♦

Annika finished narrating everything to Aryan.

Aryan was too shocked to say anything.

"Tum Harshad ko kaise jaanti ho ?" ("How do you know Harshad ?") He finally managed to choke out.

"Mein Delhi se hu, Harshad wahi pe ek gali ka gunda tha aur ek mahnus din uski nazar mujhpe padi aur woh mere pichhe pad gaya." ("I'm used to live in Delhi, Harshad was a goon there and on one inauspicious day his eyes landed on me and he started bugging me.") Annika gritted.

Aryan nodded slowly with a sympathetic look on his face.

"Mujhe ek baat samjh mein nahi aayi." ("I didn't understand one thing.") Annika started absent-mindedly. "Shivaay ne meri jaan kyu bachayi ? Woh bhi apni jaan pe khelke." ("Why did Shivaay save my life ? That too by risking his own life.")

"Mein nahi jaanta ki kisne tumhe Shivaay ke baare mein kya bataya hai, lekin jo kuch tum Shivaay ke baare mein jaanti ho woh sirf kahani ka ek sira hai." ("I don't know who has told you what about Shivaay, but whatever you know about Shivaay is just one side of the story.") Aryan replied. "Tumhe sirf aadha sach pata hai." ("You know only half of the truth.")

Annika looked at Aryan.

"Aadha sach ?" ("Half truth ?") Annika repeated with curiousity and confusion.

Aryan nodded and told her a selective part of truth.

He told Annika that Shivaay had befriended 2 drug dealers but Shivaay never helped them, apart from storing a single packet of drug for them and, later Shivaay was the one who got those 2 dealers and his gang arrested. Shivaay helped the police in nabbing the entire gang and that's why the inspector promised Shivaay that his name won't be mentioned in the case.

Annika was shocked to say the least, but more than shocked she was guilty.

What a fool she had been !

She accused a kind-hearted and a socially responsible man without actually knowing the entire truth.

She felt so guilty and bad, her guilt was amplified when she realised that, that same person had strived and risked his own life to save hers.

"Mujh...mujhse bahot badi galati ho gayi. Meine bina kuch soche samjhe unpr itna bada ilzaam laga diya." ("I...I made a mistake. Without thinking twice I accused him of such a serious crime.") Annika said through tears.

Aryan placed a comforting hand on Annika's shoulder. "Koi baat nahi, Shivaay bahot accha hai, woh tumhe maaf kar dega." ("It's okay, Shivaay is a good natured man, he'll forgive you.")

"Arry bhaiya !"

Annika and Aryan looked up to see OmRuRiTya running towards them.

"Bhai kaha hai ? Woh thik hai na ?" ("Where is Bhai ? Is he alright ?") Om asked with worry written all over his face.

Annika scanned OmRuRiTya's faces and felt extra guilty cause she was the reason due to whom Shivaay had got shot.

Just then Doctor arrived and told them that Shivaay was doing fine. The bullet was retrieved from his stomach and gratefully the bullet hadn't damaged any vital organs. The operation was successful.

Everyone joined their hands and thanked lord, even Annika did the same.

Suddenly Om's eyes caught Annika.

"Aap..." ("You...") Om came towards Annika. "...Aap toh wohi hai na jisne kuch din pehle Bhai ko news channel pe badnaam kiya tha ?" ("... You're the same reporter who had tried to defame bhai a few days ago, right ?")

Annika looked down in shame and gave a small nod.

"Kyu aayi hai aap yaha ?" ("What are you doing here ?") Rudy boomed as he stepped beside Om. "Bhaiya ko aur pareshaan karne ?" ("To put my brother in more trouble ?")

Annika's head snapped up and she quickly shook her head. "Nahi." ("No.") She said through tears. "Mujhse galati ho gayi. Meine Shivaay ko bahot galat samjha. Mujhe maaf kardo please." ("I was wrong. I misunderstood Shivaay. Please forgive me, I'm sorry.")

Rudy glared at Annika while Om slowly nodded.

"It's ok." Om said calmly.

"O ?!" Rudy shrieked in disbelief.

How could his brother just forgive the girl who had said such wrong things about his eldest brother ?

"Rudy it's okay." Om replied and looked at Rudy. "Unhe apni galati ka ehsas hai aur...wohi humare bhai ko hospital layi hai. Hume unhe thanks bolna chahiye." ("She has understood her mistake and...she's the one who has brought our brother to the hospital. We should thank her.")

Rudy thought over it and realised that Om was right.

Even though she had tried to defame Shivaay but she was also the one who had saved his life.

And nothing was more important than his bhaiya's life for him.

"Th...Thank you." Rudy mumbled and sat on a nearby bench.

"Aap ab patient se mil sakte hai. Bas dhyan rahe ki unhe aap disturb na kare." ("You can meet the patient now. But be careful, don't disturb him.") A nurse instructed as she left Shivaay's hospital room, after an hour or so.

OmRuAniRi, Aritya ran inside the room.

Om was about to break down when he saw Shivaay attached to numerous machines and looking pale as ever but before he could fall weak and cry, Gauri came by his side and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and provided him with the emotional strength.

Aryan was no better. He couldn't see his kid in this state.

Aryan's heart wrenched at the sight of Shivaay lying unconscious. He pressed his palm against his lips to supress the sob, which was about to escape.

Nitya saw Aryan and hugged him while mumbling soothing words in his ear.

On the other hand, Rudy just stood in the door frame staring blankly at Shivaay.

Shivaay meant world to Rudy.

Shivaay was Rudy's hero, his strength, his world, his everything and seeing Shivaay like this not only broke Rudy's heart but also scared him a lot.

Rudy couldn't stand there and look at Shivaay, he just couldn't. He stumbled a few steps back and ran away from there.

He ran as fast as he could, as far as he could until he had no energy left in himself to continue and collapsed on the floor.

Rudy tucked his knees closer to his chest and sobbed.

Suddenly a hand caressed the top of Rudy's head.

"Bhaiya !" Rudy mumbled and his head snapped up at the touch, but he got more sad when he realised it was Annika and not Shivaay.

Rudy started crying hysterically again.

Annika sympathized with Rudy and sat next to him, rubbing his back and mumbling soothing words to him.

After a while, Rudy started speaking up his mind.

"Apko pata hai mere bhaiya world ke best bhaiya hai. Woh mujhe humesha musibat se bachate hai, meri har wish puri karte hai, mujhe kabhi kuch pareshani nahi hone dete. Saari duniya se lad jaate hai mere liye." ("You know my bhaiya is the best brother in this entire world. He always saves me from troubles, he fulfills my every wish, he always makes sure I'm safe and not in any kind of pain. He can fight the entire world for me.") Rudy gave out a small smile through tears.

Annika too smiled a bit.

"Mujhse nahi dekha jaa raha unhe aise...aise bed pe pale aise hoke leta hua. Unse kaho na ki woh jaldi uth jaye, mujhse unki aisi haalat dekhi nahi jaa rahi, please." ("I cannot see him like...like this sleeping on bed looking pale as ever. Tell him to wake up, please, I cannot see him like this, please.") Rudy sobbed. "Mujhe darr lag raha hai, bahot bahot darr lag raha hai, agar bhaiya ko kuch ho gaya toh mera kya hoga ? Mein unke bina nahi jee sakta, mere bhaiya meri jaan hai." ("I'm scared, I'm very scared, what will I do, how will I live without my bhaiya ? My brother is my life. I cannot live without him.")

Rudy started taking shallow breaths and Annika realised that he was on the verge of a serious panick attack.

Annika cupped Rudy's cheeks and shushed him. She hugged him to her chest and rubbed his back comfortingly and made him take proper deep breaths.

She stopped a passing by nurse and asked for a few papers from her, after Rudy was a bit calmed down.

"Yeh lo." ("Here.") Annika held out a few papers for Rudy.

Rudy took the papers cluelessly and frowned.

"Aur faado isey." ("Tear them apart.") Annika said and started tearing the papers like a mannerless child.

Rudy felt hesitant to do something like that in the middle of a hospital corridor but after a few seconds he came along and started tearing up the papers.

Annika smiled when she saw him following her suit.

Surprisingly, tearing those papers down made Rudy feel more relaxed and calm.

"Kaisa laga ?" ("How did it feel ?") Annika smiled after all the papers were torn.

"Accha laga." ("Nice.") Rudy smiled too, he wasn't crying anymore, it was like somehow his sadness and fears were also torn apart with those papers.

"Good. Ab jao tumhare bhaiya tumhara intezar kar rahe honge." ("Good. Now go, your bhaiya must be waiting for you.") Annika patted his back.

Rudy nodded and stood up. He held his hand out for Annika to take and he pulled her on her feet as soon as she placed her hand in his.

"Thank you...uh...um.." Rudy stuttered when he got confused as for what to call her.

"Didi." Annika smiled.

"Thank you didi." Rudy finished and both of them walked back towards Shivaay's room.

♣

Shivaay woke up with a jerk and the first word which came to his mind and out of his mouth was 'maa' ('mother').

Shivaay wiped his sweaty face with the palm of his hand and groaned when the side of his stomach shot a deadly pain.

That's when he recollected bits and pieces of what had happened.

Harshad had kidnapped him and Annika. Harshad had tried to shoot Annika but Shivaay came forward and took the bullet, then Annika and Harshad both left him in that factory and then he fell unconscious.

But he had regained his conscious again, just for a few seconds, when he was being transported to hospital and that's when he saw his maa and badi maa...or was that just his hallucination ?

Shivaay was just wondering about that vague and almost blurry memory when suddenly the door to his room opened and in came his family, looking worried as ever.

"Bhai !" Om exclaimed when he saw Shivaay was awake.

"O..Om." Shivaay smiled as he stifled a groan.

Doctor came up to check Shivaay and gave him some painkillers before leaving Shivaay alone with his family.

"Rudy kaha hai ?" ("Where is Rudy ?") Shivaay finally asked when he didn't see his youngest brother anywhere.

"Bhaiya !"

Shivaay's head snapped in the direction of the doorway and he saw Rudy grinning at him before he ran into Shivaay giving him a huge bear hug.

Shivaay held back a groan when Rudy hugged him and his eyes landed on Annika who walked inside the room after Rudy.

Don't know how, Annika just understood that Shivaay was in pain and she adjusted a still hugging Rudy in such a way that he didn't disturb the stitches anymore.

"Bhaiya, mein bahot darr gaya tha, aap thik ho na ?" ("Bhaiya I was so scared. Are you okay ?") Rudy cried once he pulled apart.

"Mein bilkul thik hu." ("I'm absolutely alright.") Shivaay smiled and patted Rudy's cheek. "Dekh fit and fine." ("Look, I'm fit and fine.") He smiled.

"Thank God." Rudy joined his hands and gratefully looked at the ceiling. "Mein uss kidnapper ko nahi chhodunga. Uski haddi pasli ek kar dunga." ("I won't spare that bloody kidnapper.")

Shivaay chuckled. "Shaant, Shaant mere pehlwan." ("Calm down my body builder.")

"No Bhai." Om said. "Rudy is right, uss kidnapper ko mein bhi nahi chhodne wala. Usey uski naani yaad dila denge." ("Rudy is right, I won't let that kidnapper live happily either.")

Shivaay smiled fondly when he witnessed the love his brothers had for him.

"Aao yaha." ("C'mere.") Shivaay said through teary eyes as he opened his arms wide.

OmRu ran into Shivaay's open arms and shared a O'bro hug.

Aritya and Annika adored the brother's bond with a smile.

"Bhul gaye na mujhe ?" ("Forgot me already ?") Aryan feigned a frown.

ShivOmRu chuckled through tears before inviting Aritya to join the hug too, making it a huge group/family hug.

Annika just smiled looking at the fond they shared.

Suddenly someone clapped and the moment was ruined.

Everyone looked at who it was and found Veer walking inside the room with a smile, actually more of a smirk, playing on his lips.

Veer clapped twice before pushing his hands in his pant pockets.

Everyone pulled apart from Shivaay and stood up straight.

"Lagta hai meine family moment ruin kar diya." ("Seems like I ruined the family moment.") Veer pursued his lips but he didn't look guilty at all.

Shivaay didn't reply, he just looked away.

Veer walked closer to Shivaay and bent over to whisper in Shivaay's ear. "Oops, I'm sorry, mein toh bhul hi gaya tha ki tumhari family nahi hai." ("Oops, I'm sorry, I forgot that you don't have a family.")

Shivaay's jaw clenched when he heard Veer's bitter comment.

"Kyu aaye ho yaha ?" ("Why are you here ?") Shivaay gritted straightforwardly without trying to hide the venom in his voice.

Shivaay would've handled Veer differently but he had no energy left in himself to face him right now.

Veer stood up straight and raised his hands up defensively. "Bas tumhe get well soon bolne aaya tha." ("Just came here to wish you get well soon.")

Veer produced a small card and a bouquet and placed it on the side table.

"Bol diya ?" ("Are you done ?") Aryan snarled. "Ab niklo yaha se, Shivaay ko aaram karne do." ("Now get out of here, Shivaay needs to rest.")

Veer glared at Aryan but exhaled his anger out and smiled. "Of course. Take care, Shivaay." He said and left.

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

Hey bubblies !

I know..I know you all are eagerly waiting for Oberoi's to join ShivOmRu but you'll have to wait for like a chapter coz I've to figure out the reason behind their disappearance and some other important things about the storyline to make sense of everything.

Anyway...This was a longer update.

Hope you liked it.

Till the next update
Have a safe and great life 😇