Chapter 40 - Bonds and Envy

Shivaay was going through the presentation of his new Lonavala project for one last time when he sensed someone at the door.

Priyanka was standing in the door frame of Shivaay's room with a smile. She was about to knock when Shivaay's voice made her stop in her tracks.

"Annika." Shivaay said without even looking at the door. "Accha hua tum aa gayi, meri blue file de do na please." ("Good that you came, please hand me my blue file.")

Priyanka giggled quietly and looked around the room.

The blue file was lying right beside Shivaay.

Priyanka walked upto Shivaay and silently picked up the blue file and gave it to Shivaay, who was still staring at his laptop screen.

"Thanks Annika-" Shivaay smiled and looked up to see his baby sister Priyanka staring at him teasingly. "Arey Prinku tum ?" ("Hey Prinku, it's you ?")

"Haan mein." ("Yup, it's me.") Priyanka replied. "Pr mein aapse gussa hu." ("But I'm mad at you.") She announced and turned away from Shivaay with her arms crossed.

"Kyu ?" ("Why so ?") Shivaay frowned.

"Kyu ki mein yeh toh jaanti thi ki Om bhai aur Gauri didi bf-gf hai aur mein yeh bhi jaanti hu ki Rudy bro aur Bhavya di ek dusre se secretly pyaar karte hai." ("I know that Gauri didi and Om bhai are dating and I also know that Ru bro and Bhavya di love each other secretly.") Priyanka counted and then narrowed her eyes at Shivaay. "Lekin mein yeh nahi jaanti thi ki aap aur Annika didi bhi ek dusre se pyaar karte hai." ("But I didn't know that you and Annika di are also in love.")

Shivaay's eyes went wide and he pulled Priyanka down to sit beside him.

"Aisa kuch nahi hai !" ("There's nothing of that sort !") He exclaimed. "Mein aur Annika sirf acche dost hai." ("I and Annika are good friends, that's it.") He clarified.

"Chalo bhi bhaiya." ("Oh c'mon brother.") Priyanka said. "Yeh toh koi chota baccha bhi bata dega ki aap dono ek dusre se pyaar karte hai." ("Even a baby will tell you that you and Annika di love each other.")

"Aisa kuch bhi nahi hai." ("I already told you you're getting it all wrong.") Shivaay repeated. "Aur tum na apna yeh dimaag padhai mein lagao, inn sab faltu ki cheezo mein nahi, alright ?" ("And put your smartness in studies, don't waste your wit in useless stuff, alright ?")

Priyanka pressed her palm against her lips as she laughed silently. She was enjoying teasing her brother.

The more he denied verbally, the more Priyanka believed he loved Annika.

"Waise tum itni raat gaye yaha kya kar rahi thi ?" ("Anyway, what are you doing here at this hour of the night ?") Shivaay asked as he resumed his work.

"Woh mein yaha apko aur Annika bhabhi ko range haath pakadne aayi thi-" ("I had came to catch you and Annika sister-in-law red-handed-") Priyanka replied casually and then bit her tongue when she realised what she had just blurted.

"What ?!" Shivaay yelled.

"I mean... Mein... Mein..." ("I mean...I... Me...") Priyanka stuttered. "Mein yaha apse kehne aayi thi ki... Mera saath ice cream khaane chaliye." ("I had came to say that... Let's go out to eat ice cream.")

Shivaay stared at her with raised eyebrow before saying. "Ice cream fridge mein rakhi hai. Jao jaake le lo yaa fir Shankar kaka se bol do woh de denge." ("Ice cream is in refrigerator. Go and have it or ask Shankar kaka he'll serve it for you.")

"Nahi bhaiya." ("No bhaiya.") Priyanka pouted. "Mujhe choco truffle flavour khana hai aur fridge mein sirf blueberry flavoured ice cream hai." ("I wanna eat choco truffle but we've only blueberry flavoured ice cream.") She complained.

"Lekin Prinku, abhi raat ke 12 baj rahe hai. Itni raat gaye ice cream kaha se milegi ?" ("But Prinku, it's midnight already. Where will we get ice cream at this ungodly hour ?") Shivaay pursued his lips.

"Mujhe ek jagah pata hai waha pe 24/7 ice cream milti hai. Chalo na bhaiya please... please. Mein humesha se apne bhaiya ke sath raat mein ghumna chahti thi. Please." ("I know one place where we can get ice cream 24/7. Let's go there please... Please. I always wanted to sneak out at midnight with my elder brother. Please.") Priyanka gave him a puppy dog face.

"Prinku, kal chalte hai na. Kal subah meri bahot jaruri meeting hai." ("Prinku, we'll go tomorrow. I've an important meeting in the morning.") Shivaay said.

Priyanka made a sad face.

"Thik hai." ("Okay.") She said lowly. "Meine pehli bar apse kuch maanga tha. Lekin koi baat nahi, apki meeting mujhse shayad kai jyada important hogi." ("I asked for something for the first time. But no problem, your meeting is more important to you than me. I completely understand.")

Priyanka stood up and was slowly heading towards the door while secretly hoping that Shivaay would stop her and agree to her wish.

"Priyanka." Shivaay sighed making Priynaka smile. "Chalo chalte hai." ("Let's go.")

Priyanka turned to Shivaay with a big smile and ran into him, giving him a tight hug.

"Thank you bhaiya ! You're the best !" Priyanka yelled. "Chalo chale." ("Let's go.") She cheered and dragged Shivaay out of the house and towards his car.

♠

"Bhaiya." Priyanka mumbled worriedly as she stared at a car in the rear view mirror.

"Hmm ?" Shivaay mumbled as he turned the car from the corner of the road.

"Kuch log humara pichha kar rahe hai." ("Some people are following us.") Priyanka informed him in a scared voice.

Shivaay frowned before following Priyanka's eyes and watching the car following them.

"Yeh unhi logo ki car hai, bhaiya, jinhone hume kidnap kiya tha." ("This car is of same people who had kidnapped me yesterday.") Priyanka said on the verge of tears.

Shivaay looked at the car again and decided to ditch it by misleading it in some other way.

"Tum chinta mat karo, Prinku, mein hu na. Relax." ("Don't worry, Prinku, I'll handle it. Relax.") Shivaay assured while paying equal attention on driving.

Shivaay took some unusual turns and somehow managed to lose the car which was following them.

"Bhaiya, mujhe nahi khaani ice cream. Chalo ghar chalte hai." ("Bhaiya, I don't wanna eat ice cream anymore. Let's just go home.") Priyanka said as she sniffed. She was trying her best not to cry.

"Prinku, daro mat. Mein hu na ? Mein tumhe kuch nahi hone dunga." ("Priyanka, don't be scared. I'm right here. I won't let harm come anywhere near you.") Shivaay assured with a comforting smile.

"Pr apko kuch ho gaya toh ?" ("What if you get hurt ?") Priyanka asked, horror filling her voice and eyes.

"Mujhe kuch nahi hoga." ("Nothing will happen to me.") Shivaay said and parked the car before ice cream stall. "Kaunsi ice cream khane wali thi tum ? Chocolate truffle right ?" ("Which flavoured ice cream did you wish for ? Chocolate truffle, right ?")

Priyanka hesitated at first but then slowly nodded.

"Chalo, chalke ice cream enjoy karte hai." ("Let's enjoy our ice cream.") Shivaay smiled and patted Priyanka's back encouragingly.

Priyanka exited the car but stayed glued to Shivaay's side.

Shivaay bought two ice creams and sat on the benches outside the stall with Priyanka.

They both enjoyed their ice creams in silence.

Shivaay finished his ice cream first and decided to utilise his time by resuming his remaining work. He retrieved his iPad and started going through the presentation.

Priyanka was just eating her ice cream when her eyes landed on the picture on Shivaay's ipad.

"Yeh admi." ("This man.") Priyanka started as she stared at the picture of a flat land surrounded by mountains with a man with a blurred face accidentally captured in the frame.

"Admi ? Yeh photo humari zameen ka hai." ("Man ? This picture is of our land.") Shivaay said. "Yaha pe humara resort banne wala hai, jald hi." ("Soon, a resort will be standing in its glory on this land.")

"Yeh toh wahi admi hai !" ("That's the same man !") Priyanka exclaimed. "Jinn logo ne mujhe kal kidnap karne ki koshish ki thi, unme ek yeh bhi tha." ("The people who had kidnapped me yesterday, he was one of them.")

Shivaay looked more closely at the picture.

"Are you sure ?" Shivaay asked.

"100 % bhaiya. Isi ne mujhe behosh karne ki koshish ki thi." ("100% bhaiya. He had tried to knock me unconscious.") Priyanka replied. "Woh log mujhe lonavala leke jaane wale the, meine suna tha." ("I had heard that they were planning to take me to Lonavala.")

Shivaay stayed silent as he went over Priyanaka's words.

-------

"Tune sab le liya na ?" ("You got everything that you need ?") Om asked Rudy as they descended the stairs.

They were both heading to the college with Bhavya, who was already waiting for them in the car.

"Haan O. Sab le liya hai meine, don't worry." ("Yes O. I've got everything, don't worry.") Rudy replied.

Om reached the last stair and frowned when he saw Tej sitting with a newspaper in the living room.

Om didn't wish to deal with him right now so he averted his eyes and started speed-walking towards the door.

"Kaha jaa rahe ho ? College ?" ("Where are you going ? To college ?") Tej's voice stopped OmRu in their tracks.

"Ji...uh...papa ?" ("Yes...uh...dad ?") Rudy replied, awkwardly.

Tej nodded and walked up to OmRu.

"Meine suna ki tum arts mein masters kar rahe ho." ("I heard you're doing masters in art ?") Tej said to Om, dryly.

Om clenched his jaw and looked away without replying.

"Haan papa. O masters kar rahe hai Arts mein aur mein Business Administration." ("Yes dad. O is doing masters in arts and I'm studying Business administration.") Rudy smiled. 

Rudy was still feeling awkward with the elder Oberois but he tried his best to get familiar with them.

Tej gave an acknowledgement nod in Rudy's direction before eyeing Om up and down.

"Yeh kya haal bana rakha hai tumne apna." ("What have you done with yourself.") Tej said with disgust as he ran his eyes over Om. "Ladkiyon jaise baal badha rakhe hai, aur padh bhi kya rahe ho...Arts." ("You've grown your hairs long, like a girl, and mastering in arts.") Tej scoffed.

Om's hand tightened into fists but Shivaay had already told him not to argue with their elders so he was trying his best to keep his head down and walk away from Tej but it was getting harder now that Tej was unnecessarily throwing his opinions at him.

"If I'm not wrong, Shivaay is MBA postgraduate, isn't he ?" Tej quizzed.

Rudy nodded.

"Meri maano, tum bhi MBA course join karlo Omkara." ("Listen to me and join MBA course Omkara.") Tej advised.

That was it for Om. He hadn't yet accepted Tej and Tej was already taking charge of his life like he had raised Om with his life.

"Mujhe arts mein interest hai aur mein arts mein hi masters karunga." ("I'm interested in arts and I'll master in arts only.") Om replied calmly but beneath his skin he was bubbling up with anger.

"Oh c'mon." Tej said. "Tum ek Oberoi ho, mere bete ho. Tumhe business sambhalna hai...yeh arts varts is waste." ("You're an Oberoi, my son. You need to look after our business... Arts is useless. Just a waste of time.")

"Business sambhalne ke liye Shivaay bhai hai !" ("Shivaay bhai is there to handle the business !") Om boomed but took a couple of breaths and calmed. "Meri life hai, mujhe apne decisions khud lena shikhaya hai bhai ne toh aap 'please' meri life mein interfere mat karo." ("Its my life, bhai have always taught me to take my own decisions so 'please' don't interfere in my life.")

"I see, Shivaay ne tumhare dimaag mein yeh sab bhara hai." ("I see, Shivaay has corrupted your mind.") Tej spat. "Usne tumhe decision lene ka freedom nahi diya, usne tumhe apne hath ka puppet banaya hai." ("He hasn't gave you freedom, he has made you a puppet of his hand.")

"Yeh aap kya bol rahe ho !" ("What are you saying !") Rudy interjected. "Aap galat soch rahe hai." ("You're taking it all wrong.")

"Bolne de, Rudy." ("Let him speak, Rudy.") Om said while maintaining eye contact with Tej. "Aj hum bhi toh sune ki humare, papa, ke kya vichar hai humare pitah samaan bhai ke baare mein." ("Let's listen what our dad has to say about our father alike brother.")

Tej lost his cool.

How dare his son call someone else his 'father alike' in front of his own father !

"Boliye." ("Go on.") Om gave a sarcastic smile to Tej.

"Are you really a fool ?" Tej growled. "Tumhe dikhai nahi deta kya ho raha hai ? Woh Shivaay tumhe apne se niche rakhna chahta hai, woh saara business khud hadapna chahta hai isiliye usne tumhe aisa bana ke rakha hai. Tumhe arts mein dhakela aur khud Business mein aa gaya." ("Can't you see ? That Shivaay wants to put you under him, he wants all the business for himself and that's why he has made you like this. He pushed you in arts and came in business administration himself.")

Om glared at Tej but he wasn't surprised by his words.

What would you expect from an estranged father anyway ?

Om knew Tej wouldn't appreciate ShivOmRu's bond.

"Aap galat soch rahe hai." ("You're wrong.") Rudy insisted. "Bhaiya ne kabhi hume force nahi kiya, humne khud apni apni streams choose ki hai. Aur bhaiya humare liye aur hum bhaiya ke liye apni jaan tak de sakte hai, naa kabhi paisa aur jaydad ShivOmRu ke bich aayi hai aur naa kabhi aayegi." ("Bhaiya never forced us, we chose our streams ourselves. And bhaiya can give up his life for us and we'll do the same for him if the situation calls, money or property never came between ShivOmRu and it never will.")

"Chodo Rudy." ("Leave it, Rudy.") Om said bitterly. "Jise rishte ke maayne hi nahi pata usey kya samjh aayega ki bhai kya hote hai. Jise aj tak paise aur property ke upar kuch dikha hi nahi woh kya samjhega ki humare bhai ne humare liye kya kuch kiye hai aur unka humare upar kitna bada ehsaan hai." ("The person who doesn't understand the importance of relationships, won't understand what brothers mean to eachother. The man who has always kept his property and wealth above everything won't understand what great efforts our brother has taken to raise us and how indebted we're to him.")

Tej glared at Om before scoffing his eyes away from Om and giving out a smile that said 'You-guys-are-dumb-but-one-day-you-will-realise-that-I-am-right'.

"Chalo yaha se, Rudy." ("Let's leave Rudy.") Om rolled his eyes. "Pehle hi mood kharab kar diya kisine ab late college jaake din nahi kharab karna mujhe." ("My mood has already been spoilt by someone, now I don't wish to spoil my day by reaching late to college.")

Rudy nodded and went out of the house.

Om was about to follow Rudy but he stopped at turned to Tej with fire in his eyes.

"Aj jo zeher ugal rahe the na aap mere bhai ke baare mein, woh zeher please apne pet mein hi rakhiye, agar apne aisa kuch bhi kiya jissey mere bhai ko ya mere bhai ke dil ko thes pohonche toh yaad rahe ki mein woh bardasht nahi karunga." ("Please keep the poison, which you were spitting out for my brother today, in your stomach, I won't tolerate it if I get to know that you have hurted my brother in someway or the other.") Om whispered in dangerously low voice before storming out of the house.

Tej glared particularly at nothing.

"Waah Shivaay, waah ! 16 saalon mein mere bacchon ko mujhse tod diya tumne. Very nice." ("Wow Shivaay, wow ! You estranged my kids from me over the past 16 years. Very nice.") Tej said to himself with anger. "Magar mein bhi Tej Singh Oberoi hu, mujhe apni cheeze aur bete wapas lena acche se aata hai." ("I very well know how to get my things and my kids back.")

♣

In the evening...

Shivaay's room....

"Shivaay, mein apki Americano laayi hu." ("Shivaay, here's your Americano.") Annika cheered as she entered Shivaay's room.

"Thanks Annika." Shivaay mumbled. "Coffee rakh do waha pe aur aao yaha." ("Keep the coffee there and come here.") He said as he patted on the couch next to him.

"Kya baat hai, Shivaay ?" ("What's wrong, Shivaay ?") Annika furrowed her eyebrows before sitting beside Shivaay.

"Mein kal raat Priyanka ko lekar ice cream khaane gaya tha..." ("I had went for an ice cream treat with Priyanka last night...") Shivaay narrated the entire story of how people were following them and how he ditched them and also told her that he had a blur picture of one of the kidnappers of Priyanka.

Shivaay showed the blurred picture to Annika, when Khanna knocked on the door.

"Khanna, yeh lo." ("Khanna, here.") Shivaay said and took the tab from Annika and handed it over to Khanna. "Mujhe yeh picture clear karke do, iss admi ka chehra saaf saaf dikhna chahiye aur iss admi ko dhundkar lao." ("Edit this picture clear, I want to see this man's face and find this man.")

"Ok sir." Khanna said and left with Shivaay's tablet.

"Agar yeh admi hume mil gaya toh mein humari family pr hone wale attacks rok sakta hu, aur mujhe mere sawalo ke jawab bhi mil jayenge." ("If I succeeded in finding this man then I'll also be able to stop the attacks on my family, and I may also find answers to my questions.") Shivaay explained.

Annika nodded in understanding.

♠

Tej was talking to someone through the landline present in his bedroom when he saw Janvi entering the room and hung up the call.

"Meri abhi abhi Mr Bansal se baat hui, papers ready hai." ("I just spoke with Mr Bansal, papers are ready.") Tej informed Janvi with minimal emotions whatsoever.

Janvi nodded. She looked anxious and stressed.

"Tej, kya yeh sab karna jaruri hai ?" ("Tej, is this all necessary ?") Janvi mumbled with teary eyes. "Hum abhi abhi apne baccho se mile hai, unhone ab tak hume maaf bhi nahi kiya aur... unhe aise dhoka dena sahi nahi hai, Tej." ("We've just met our kids, they haven't even forgiven us yet and... Deceiving them like this is not right, Tej.")

"Tumhe kya lagta hai Janvi, mein yeh sab khushi se nahi kar raha, humari majburi hai." ("What do think Janvi, I'm not doing this all willingly, we're helpless.") Tej said. "Hume yeh sab karna hi hoga, humare liye nahi, humare baccho ke liye." ("We've to do this, not for our sake, but for our kids'.")

Janvi broke down in tears.

Tej sighed and held his wife in a hug as he tried to comfort her.

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

Hey bubblies !

I don't think it's surprising that Tej didn't like ShivOmRu's bond, I mean c'mon! It's Tej we're talking about for god's sake! He always wants people to put him first, doesn't he?

But what is he upto this time? 🧐🤨

Anyway...

Until The Next Update
Have a safe and great life 😇