Chapter 39 - Aftermath

Shivaay was in his room. He was sitting on his bed, staring at particularly nothing. He was lost in his thoughts.

He was consumed in the thoughts of the reunion incident.

It was still unbelievable !

Shivaay's maa, papa, bade papa and badi maa were back, along with his baby sister !

It felt like another cruel game of his stupid imagination to him but the echoes of the squeaky laugh of his baby sister reminded him constantly that this wasn't his imagination.

"Shivaay ?" Annika called softly as she knocked on the open door to his room.

Shivaay was startled for a moment but put on a fake smile and welcomed her inside.

"Mein apke sath 1 mahine se reh rahi hu." ("I'm staying with you since a month now.") Annika started as she popped a pill out of the wrapper. "Itna toh jaan hi chuki hu apko ki apki hasi ke picche chhupi duvidha aur dard dono dekh saku." ("I know you well enough to see your stress and pain through your smile.")

Shivaay stared at her for a second before averting his eyes to the floor.

"Aisa kuch nahi hai." ("There's nothing like that. I'm fine.") Shivaay replied, maintaining his smiley facade. "Mein khush hu." ("I'm happy.") He replied honestly.

"Toh meine kab kaha ki aap khush nahi hai ? Khushi ke sath sath aap kuch pareshaan bhi hai, aisa keh rahi hu mein." ("When did I say that you ain't happy ? You're elated as well as in stress, that's what I was saying.") Annika deadpanned as she handed him the pills.

Shivaay gulped down the pills and looked at Annika.

Annika held a curious expression on her face but her eyes displayed how worried she was for Shivaay.

Shivaay sighed.

"Pata nahi Annika." ("I don't know, Annika.") He started. "Mein khush hu ki meri family wapas aa gayi hai aur sab...sab sahi salamat hai. Itne saal meine raah dekhi thi iss pal ki lekin waise kuch bhi nahi hua jaisa meine socha tha." ("I'm glad that my family is back and everyone... everyone is alright. I had waited for this moment ever since but nothing happened as I had imagined.")

Annika nodded in understanding and acknowledgement.

"Mein nahi kehta ki Om ne galat kiya...Usey humare parivaar se gussa hone ka pura pura haq hai lekin...." ("I don't say, Om is wrong...He has right to be mad at our family but....") Shivaay kept the sentence hanging.

"...lekin kya Shivaay ?" ("...but what ?") Annika promoted softly.

"Lekin...mein khush hu." ("But...I'm happy.") Shivaay exhaled. "At least hume humara parivaar wapas mil gaya." ("At least we got our family back.") He smiled weakly.

Annika smiled back.

"Aap bura na maane toh ek baat puchu ?" ("Can I ask you something if you don't mind ?") Annika asked cautiously.

Shivaay nodded.

"Kya aapko bhi Om ki tarah apke parivaar walo ki baatein jhoothi lagi ?" ("Just like Om, do you also think your family was lying when they told you their story ?") Annika questioned timidly.

Shivaay took his own time to understand the question and to find a genuine answer.

"Mujhe yeh toh nahi pata ki unki kahani sacchi hai ya jhooti magar pata nahi kyu mujhe aisa lagta hai ki kuch toh hai jo woh humse chhupa rahe hai." ("I don't know if they were lying or not but I don't know why I feel like there's something they're still hiding from us.") Shivaay admitted. "Kai sawal paida hue mere mann mein unki kahani sunke." ("Numerous questions erupted in my mind on hearing their story.")

"Kaise sawal Shivaay ?" ("What sort of questions, Shivaay ?") Annika furrowed her eyebrows.

"Badi maa ne bataya tha ki uss don ke log humare picche pade the..." ("Janvi mom had said that the goons of those don were chasing us...") Shivaay said and Annika nodded. "...lekin woh humare picche kyu pade the ? Unke ammunitions toh already sarkar ne japt kar liye the aur tab papa, bade papa ke pass paise bhi nahi the chukane ke liye toh kyu woh Oberoi's ke picche pade the ?" ("...but why were they chasing us ? Their ammunitions had already been taken by the government and my uncle, dad didn't have any money to pay their losses either then why were they after Oberois ?")

"Badi maa ne bola tha ki humare main storage house mein ammunitions mile the...Jab ki mujhe acche se yaad hai ki main storage house mein jaane ki permission kisi ko bhi nahi thi." ("Janvi mom had said that ammunitions had found in the main storage house...But I remember very well that no one was allowed to go anywhere near it, without permission.") Shivaay went on.

"Aur...aur ab itne saal baad bhi kyu pade hai humare picche ? Ab toh police ne bhi Oberois ko dhundna chhod diya hai, toh fir don ke log kyu haar nahi maan rahe ?" ("And...and after so many years why are they still behind us ? Even police has given up on finding Oberoi's then why didn't don give up on finding them ?") Shivaay spoke his mind. "Prinku ko kidnap karke kya milta unhe ? Papa, bade papa ke pass paise kaha hai firoti ki rakkam dene ke liye ? Toh fir Prinku ko kidnap karke karna kya chahte the woh log ?" ("What would they've achieved by kidnapping Prinku ? Papa, bade papa don't have money to pay the ransome. Then what were they going to do with Prinku ?")

Silence lingered for a moment in the room as Annika thought over Shivaay's doubts and Shivaay tried to connect the dots to get the answers.

"Aapke sawal...bilkul jayaz hai Shivaay." ("Your questions...are valid, Shivaay.") Annika said after a moment.

Shivaay nodded and looked at her with determination in his eyes.

"Aur mein unke jawab dhund kar hi rahunga." ("And I'll find all of the answers.") Shivaay promised. "Bahot saalo baad humara parivaar wapas aaya hai aur bhale hi hum abhi tak ek nahi hue lekin ab alag bhi nahi hone dunga mein." ("After so long my family is united and even though we haven't forgiven them yet, I'll still strive to make sure we don't fall apart again.")

Annika nodded with an encouraging smile.

"Ab yeh meri jimmedari hogi ki mere parivar ke kisi bhi member ko koi problem naa ho." ("It's now my responsibility to see none of my family member is troubled.") Shivaay announced. "Mein kisi ko kuch nahi hone dunga, kuch bhi nahi." ("I won't let anyone harm them in any way ever.")

"Mein bhi apka sath dungi, aapke sab sawalon ka jawab dhundne mein." ("I will be with you, I'll help you find all the answers.") Annika said. "Ho sakta hai ki hum dono sath milkar Oberoi's ki begunahi sabit karde." ("And maybe we would also be able to prove Oberoi's innocence before the world.")

Shivaay smiled. "Thanks Annika."

Annika smiled back.

♦

In evening...

Rudra dribbled the basketball as he absent-mindedly neared the basket.

Rudra was on the terrace of Oberoi villa, where Shivaay had built a mini basketball court for him.

Rudy lazily bounced the ball on the ground one last time before throwing it towards the basket. He didn't wait to see if the ball had went in the basket, instead he turned around and walked up to the edge of the terrace.

After a brief moment Rudy realised that he never heard the sound of the ball hitting the floor and hence he turned around to check and saw Bhavya holding his basketball in her hands and giving him a small smile.

"Hi." Bhavya greeted softly.

"Hey." Rudy smiled but didn't held her gaze for long. He turned around and watched as the setting sun hid between the clouds.

Bhavya joined him on the edge of the terrace.

"Mein jaanti hu tumhe kaisa feel ho raha hai." ("I know how you must be feeling.") Bhavya softly broke the silence without looking at Rudy.

Rudy looked at her with a faint smile on his lips but then he looked away again.

He didn't know how to respond to her.

"Tum mujhse kuch bhi share kar sakte ho, Rudra, mein tumhe judge nahi karungi." ("You can share anything with me, Rudra, I won't judge you.") Bhavya said and held his hand in hers making him look at her in the eyes. "Meri di kehti hai, gyan baatne se badhta hai aur pareshani baatne se kum hoti hai." ("My di tells me, our knowledge increases when we share it with someone and stress reduces when we share it with someone.")

Rudy sighed.

"M.. mein confused hu." ("I...am confused.") He admitted. "Mein pehli baar apne pariwar se mila aj, pehli baar unhe dekha...Jab woh hume chhod ke gaye the tab mein sirf 2 saal ka tha, isiliye mujhe unke baare mein kuch bhi yaad nahi." ("I saw my family for the first time today, I met them for the first time...When they had abandoned us I was just 2, so I had no idea what was my family like.")

Bhavya heard him out without interrupting.

"Mere 2 mann ho rahe hai...Ek baar lagta hai ki sidha jau aur maa ke seene se lag jau aur khub lad karau apna unse." ("I don't know what to do...One moment I feel like running into my mother's arms and getting all the attention and love from her.") Rudy confessed with a small laugh making Bhavya let out a small chuckle too.

But then he turned sad again.

"Aur jab O ki reaction yaad aati hai, jab bhaiya ka chehra yaad ata hai, jab humari zindagi ke kuch painful kisse yaad aate hai tab lagta hai ki O sahi hai." ("But when O's reaction is recalled, and when bhaiya's face comes before me, when I remember some painful parts of our life, I feel like O is right.") Rudy looked at Bhavya through teary eyes. "Mein aise kaise unhe apna lu ? Mere liye toh woh ajnabi hi hue na... Agar mein unse attach ho gaya aur woh fir mujhe chhod ke chale gaye toh kya mein seh paunga ?" ("How can I just accept them ? They're more or less a stranger for me... If I get attached to them and if they leave me again will I be able to bear it ?")

Rudy's bottom lip was trembling terribly as he struggled to keep his sobs and tears caged inside of him.

Bhavya placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Koi baat nahi, Rudra." ("It's okay, Rudra.") Bhavya assured softly. "Apne aap ko itna stress mat do." ("Don't stress yourself.")

Rudy didn't reply, he just cried in his palms while Bhavya tried to calm him down.

♠

Annika was going towards the kitchen when Gauri came from her opposite direction.

"Kya hua ? Kaisa hai Om ?" ("How's Om ?") Annika asked with concern.

Just then, Bhavya came there and joined Annika and Gauri with a sad smile.

"Om thik hai, di. Bahot gusse mein aur dukhi tha lekin ab thik hai." ("Om's ok, di. He was angry and sad but now he's doing fine.") Gauri sighed with a heavy heart. "Om ko meine kabhi bhi itna gusse mein nahi dekha, woh sach mein bahot hurt hua hai." ("I never saw Om this angry, he's really hurt.")

AniVya nodded in understanding.

"Rudra bhi pareshan hai." ("Rudra is also emotionally stressed.") Bhavya opened up. "Woh bechara bahot confuse hai ki kise choose kare, apni family ko ya fir apne O bhaiya ko. Woh samjh nahi paa raha ki usey apni family pe gussa hona chahiye ya fir unhe apnana chahiye." ("Poor thing is confused whether he should choose his family or his O bhaiya. He's unable to understand whether he should stay mad at his family or he shall accept them.")

AniRi's mood saddened when they heard about Rudy's condition.

Rudy was apple of their eyes, he was just like a baby brother (except for Bhavya) to them and knowing he was sad made them sad as well.

"Shivaay bhaiya kaise hai ?" ("How's Shivaay bhaiya ?") Bhavya asked.

"Woh bhi kuch khas acche nahi hai." ("He's not any better.") Annika admitted. "Lekin unhone apne pariwar ki jimmedari utha li hai. Unhe apne pariwar ki chinta hai lekin unhone bhi abhi tak apne pariwar ko maaf nahi kiya hai." ("But he has accepted his family's responsibility. He cares about his family but he hasn't forgiven them either.")

AniRiVya sighed together.

"Lagta hai di, ab hume hi iss pariwar ko milana hoga." ("Seems like we only will have to make efforts to mend this broken family.") Bhavya said, making AniRi nod in agreement.

"Mere pass ek idea hai." ("I've an idea.") Gauri announced with a smile and successfully got AniVya's full attention. "Hum dinner ke liye pure parivar ko ek sath le aayenge, kya bolte ho ?" ("We'll bring the family together for dinner, what says ?")

Annika nodded with a grin.

"Sahi hai." ("Nice plan.") Annika said. "Humare Papa kehte the, jo pariwar ek sath khata hai woh ek sath rehta hai." ("Our father used to say, the family who eats together, stays together.")

"Thik hai toh fir, hum aisa hi karenge." ("Ok then, it's final) Bhavya said.

Gauri brought her palm facing down in between the three of them and AniVya placed their palm on hers, locking their action plan.

♥

"Tumhe meri kasam." ("Swear on me.") Gauri huffed as she struggled to convince Om to come for dinner in the dining hall.

"Kasam ? Ab yeh kasam kaha se aa gayi bich mein ?" ("Swear ? Why shall I swear on you now ?") Om groaned.

"Tu aa rahe ho ya nahi ?" ("Are you coming or not ?") Gauri glared at him. "Nahi aaoge toh jaan lo ki mein bhi tumhare sath breakup kar lungi !" ("If you won't come then just remember that I'll break up with you.")

Om's eyes went wide. "What ? Who breaks up on such minimal things ?"

"I do." Gauri hissed.

"Fine. Let's go." Om sighed and rolled his eyes when he saw Gauri giving him a triumphant grin.

Gauri linked her hand in Om's and dragged him towards the dining table.

All the Oberoi's, except for Prinku, were seated around the table, even Shivaay and Rudy were seated.

Gauri dragged Om there and forced him to seat in the chair beside his mother, Janvi.

The food was already served and it seemed like everyone was waiting for Om's arrival.

Om glanced at his mom beside him and gave a look to Gauri which she swiftly ignored.

"Finally !" Tej exhaled, turning every head in the room towards himself. "Mujhe toh laga ki tum aane mein thoda aur waqt lagaoge." ("I thought you'll take more of your own sweet time to come.")

Om was about snap a bitter reply when his eyes met Shivaay's and Shivaay signalled him not to pick a fight with Tej.

Om obeyed Shivaay and looked away without a word.

Tej noticed Shivaay signalling Om and averted his eyes away from the table in annoyance but didn't say anything.

Om looked at Shivaay again, and forced a small smile when he saw Shivaay mouthing 'thank you' with smile.

Shivaay then glanced around the table before turning to Annika, "Prinku kaha hai ?" ("Where's Prinku ?")

"Woh apne room mein hai. Usey apka diya hua kamra itna pasand aaya ki woh bahar nikalne ke liye hi tyyar nahi hai." ("She's in her room. She liked her room so much that she isn't ready to come out.") Annika chuckled.

ShivRu chuckled while others smiled fondly.

"Meine usey khana khila dia hai, aap sab log bhi khaiye na." ("I've already made her eat the dinner, you all can start eating.") Annika smiled.

"Yeh dekho, hum kya laaye hai tum logo ke liye." ("See what we've brought for you guys.") Pinky smiled grabbing everyone's attention.

"Yeh lo, Om." ("Here Om.") Janvi served some Gulab Jamuns in Om's plate.

"Aur yeh tumhare liye." ("And this is for you.") Pinky smiled as she served Shivaay pakodas.

"Shivaay ko pokode aur Om ko Gulab Jamun bahot pasand the bachpan mein." ("Shivaay loved pakoras and Om loved Gulab jamun when they were kids.") Pinky informed as she passed laddoos to Rudy who smiled at her.

"Exactly." Om said quietly. "Bachpan mein hume yeh pasand tha, ab mujhe mitthi cheeze acchi nahi lagti." ("We used to like it when we were kids, now I don't like sweets.")

Om took the Gulab Jamun bowl and placed it away from his plate. Janvi's face saddened but she still smiled.

"Aur mein ab yeh unhealthy, oily food nahi khata." ("And I don't eat this unhealthy, oily food anymore.") Shivaay added with a straight face and looked away.

Shivaay, again, didn't meant to be rude. He had actually, truly prohibited himself from eating unhealthy, oily food for the sake of his health.

Pinky and Janvi nodded without a word but their face showed how sad they were feeling.

Rudy didn't like Janvi and Pinky's sad face. He didn't know them both personally but they were his mothers none the less.

His heart ached to see them sad.

"Lekin mujhe laddoo bahot pasand hai." ("But I like laddoos very much.") Rudy gave Janvi and Pinky a small smile as he took a bite of the sweet, making Janvi and Pinky smile with teary eyes.

Rudy looked at Om but Om wasn't looking at him, he was busy in glaring at the table so Rudy looked at Shivaay and heaved a sigh of relief when he saw his bhaiya giving him a smile.

AniRiVya smiled at Rudy's gesture as well cause they all knew that eating sugar was against Rudy's strict diet plan, but he had ditched his plan for a day for his mothers.

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

Hey bubblies !

Isn't Rudy a cutie ?? 😍💖

This was just a filler chapter...Nothing interesting occurred in this chapter, I know...

Until the next update,

Have a safe and great life 😇