Chapter 47 - Results

 Om was in the living room, he looked stressed out of his mind.

"Sab meri galati hai." ("It's all my fault.") Om mumbled to himself. "I wish I hadn't agreed to Rudy's stupid plan." He groaned.

"O ! O !" Rudy called as he appeared beside Om, he looked happy. "Yeh dekho ! I've scored 87% ! Can you believe it ? Iss baar toh mein bhaiya se acche marks ke badle car mangunga." ("Look ! I've scored 87% ! Can you believe it ? I'll now ask for a car for scoring such good marks.") He chirped.

Rudy shoved his phone in Om's face, showing off his result but Om pushed it aside in exasperation.

Rudy frowned when he saw Om's stressed out face.

"What's wrong ?" Rudy questioned.

Om exhaled a heavy sigh. "I've failed." He mumbled dejectedly.

"You what ?" Rudy amused with wide eyes.

Om had always topped his class. He had never failed even once in his life.

"I failed in one subject." Om sneered. "All thanks to you !"

"Me ?" Rudy's eyebrows shot up. "Meine kya kiya ?" ("What did I do ?")

"Kisne kaha tha ek exam ke liye nahi padhunga toh kuch nahi hoga. 'Live a little', kisne bola tha ?" ("Who had told me nothing will happen if I don't study for one exam. Who had told me to 'live a little' ?") Om narrowed his eyes at Rudy.

"Haan toh...Meine yeh bhi kaha tha ki aap kar loge, aap pass ho jaoge." ("Yeah so...I had also said that you'll do it, you'll get passing marks.") Rudy replied defensively. "Ab aap waisa kar nahi paaye toh usme meri kya galati ?" ("Now if you couldn't do it then what's my fault in that ?")

Om heaved a breath out. "Bas, ab bhai se aur jhoot nahi bolunga. Mein aj bhai ko sab sach sach bata dunga." ("Enough now I won't be lying to bhaiya anymore. Today I'm going to tell him the truth.")

Rudy's eyes widened. "Aap yeh kya bol rahe ho ?!" ("What are you saying ?!") He almost shrieked. "Bhaiya humari jaan le lenge ! Woh fail hone ke liye aapse apki car le lenge aur apko yeh idea dene ke liye mujhe bhi car nahi milegi." ("Bhaiya will kill us ! He'll take away your car for lying, and he won't get me a car for giving you such a stupid idea.")

"I don't care." Om said. "Jaise hi bhai bahar se aate hai, mein unhe sab sach sach batane wala hu." ("As soon as bhai comes home, I'll be telling him the truth.")

Rudy frowned in fear.

Rudy's Shivaay bhaiya was cool but when it came to studies, he always became strict.

According to Shivaay, Education is the only important thing which could make one's life and he wanted his brothers to be well educated and have same seriousness about studies as him.

'I need to stop O, at any cost.' ~ Rudy said in his mind.

Just then footsteps sounded through the room and OmRu's head snapped in the direction of the sound.

Rudy looked scared while Om looked nervous yet determined.

After a moment, a figure appeared before OmRu making them release their breath which they didn't realise they were holding.

"Annika didi ?" Rudy mumbled with relief.

"Di, bhai kaha hai ?" ("Where's bhai, di ?") Om asked.

Annika, who was already angry, glared at Om at the mention of Shivaay.

"Tumhara bhai..." ("Your brother...") Annika started with a sarcastic smile. "...ek number ka gadha, stupid, idiot aur undeserving hai !" ("...is the most stupid, idiot, imbecile and undeserving person ever !")

With that said, Annika stormed off to her room leaving behind a confused and shocked to the core OmRu.

"Yeh didi ko kya hua ?" ("What's up with her ?") Rudy asked slowly.

"No idea." Om mumbled and shook his head to get out of the trance. "Lagta hai bhai ka aur di ka jhagda hua hai." ("Seems like bhai and di had another argument.")

Rudy hummed and came towards Om.

"O..Abhi bhaiya se apke results ke bare mein baat karna will be a suicide." ("O.. Talking to bhaiya about our deeds now will be a suicide.") Rudy said. "Kal tak wait karte hai na...Jaise hi bhai ka mood thoda shant dikhega hum unhe bata denge." ("Wait till tomorrow...As soon as bhaiya looks in a good mood, we'll tell him everything.")

Om thought over it. Rudy sounded right so Om nodded, finally agreeing to Rudy. Again.

"Chalo, chalke sote hai." ("Let's go and sleep now.") Rudy said and pushed Om towards his room to be assured that he doesn't talk to Shivaay in his absence, before going to his own.

♠

Next day, early morning...
In the living room.

"Saare bags toh le liye na tum logo ne ?" ("You got all your bags ?") Annika asked as she gave Khanna her bags.

"Yes di." RiVya chirped.

"Arey di, Gauri, Bhavu, aap log kahi jaa rahe ho ?" ("Hey di, Gauri, Bhavu, are you going somewhere ?") Om furrowed his eyebrows as he saw all the bags.

Rudy and Shivaay came there too and looked equally confused.

"Haan Om, hum tino Shimla trip pe jaa rahe hai !" ("Yup Om, we are going on a Shimla trip !") Gauri told excitedly.

"Aise achanak ?" ("Why so suddenly ?") Rudy interjected.

"Haan, di ka gift hai humare liye." ("Yeah, it's a gift to us from di.") Bhavya grinned. "Mere aur Gauri di ke results acche aaye na, isiliye." ("Because I and Gauri di scored good marks in exam.")

"Results aa gaye ?" ("Results are out already ?") Shivaay stepped forward and everyone acknowledged his presence. "Tum logo me mujhe bataya kyu nahi, OmRu ?" ("Why didn't you tell me OmRu ?")

OmRu gulped.

"Woh...woh...hum..woh.." ("Uh... actually...we...uh...") OmRu stuttered as they looked at each other in fear.

"Haan, tum logo ne hume bhi apne results nahi bataye." ("You didn't show us your results either.") RiVya said with a frown. "Dikhao apne results." ("Show us what you've scored.")

"Dikhao apne results OmRu, c'mon." ("Show me your scorecards, OmRu, c'mon.") Shivaay said.

OmRu hung their heads low.

"What's wrong ?" Shivaay frowned and went to his brothers.

"Mein fail ho gaya." ("I've failed.") Om mumbled, shocking everyone else in the room. "I'm sorry."

Shivaay nodded and went to Om and hugged him.

"It's okay, Om, pichle mahine se tumhare sath jo bhi hua, woh attack aur woh sab, tumhe study karne ka time nahi mila hoga. It's okay." ("It's okay, Om, whatever happened with you last month, the attack and stuff, you must've not got any time for studies. It's okay.") Shivaay patted Om's back assuringly.

Om pulled out of the hug. He felt more guilty by Shivaay's calm and understanding reaction cause he had time with him but he had utilised his time in going on a date rather than studying.

"Lekin aise kaise fail ho gaye ?" ("But how can you fail ?") Gauri asked. "Meine humari date pe jab tumse pucha tha tab toh tumne bola tha ki tumhari study ho gayi hai, toh fir ?" ("When I had asked you about your studies on our date, you had told me that you're well prepared, then ?")

"Date ?" Shivaay asked.

"Haan bhaiya, exam ke ek din pehle Om ki aur meri 1 month aniversary thi, isiliye Om mujhe uss raat date pe leke gaya tha." ("Yes bhaiya, it was mine and Om's one month aniversary on the day before exam, that's why Om had taken me on a date that night.") Gauri replied. "Apko nahi pata tha ?"

Shivaay's lips parted a bit when he recalled that OmRu had told him that they were going to group study at their friend's home.

"Tum dono toh apne friend ke ghar group study ke liye gaye the na ?" ("Hadn't you two been to your friend's house for group studies that day ?") Shivaay raised an eyebrow.

Rudy sighed, their lil secret was already out, now there was no point in lying.

"Group study ke liye mein gaya tha." ("I had went for group studies.") Rudy confessed. "Aur O ko Gauri bhabhi ke sath date pe bhej diya." ("And had sent O and Gauri bhabhi on a date.")

"What ?!" Shivaay amused.

"Sorry bhai." Om started. "I know mujhe jhoot nahi bolna chahiye tha. I'm so sorry bhai." ("I know I shouldn't have lied to you. I'm so sorry bhai.")

"Tum bhaiya se jhoot bolke mujhe date pe leke gaye aur mujhse bhi jhoot bola, how could you Om !" ("You lied to bhaiya and took me on date and you lied to me too, how could you Om !") Gauri said with hurt-filled eyes.

"I'm sorry Gauri. Please forgive me." Om apologized.

Gauri glared at Om before turning to AniVya. "Mein car mein aap logo ka wait kar rahi hu." ("I'll be waiting for you in the car.") She said and left.

Om wanted to go to Gauri and talk this out but at the same time he didn't wish to leave Shivaay.

Brother won over love and Om stayed back to talk this out with Shivaay first.

"Bhai.." Om was about to start an explanation but got cut off when Shivaay left without a word. "Bhai !"

Om hid his face in his hands and collapsed on the couch. He felt so disappointed in himself and ashamed for his deeds as well.

"Rudra !" Bhavya growled. "Mujhe tumse aisi umeed nahi thi ! Tum khud toh ulti seedhi harkatein karte hi ho, ab Om bhaiya ko bhi fasa diya !" ("I hadn't expected this from you ! You do all sorts of stupid things and now you're involving Om bhaiya in your stupid things too !")

"I'm sorry Bhavu." Rudy mumbled. "Mujhe nahi laga ki O fail ho jayega." ("I didn't know he would fail his exam.")

Bhavya rolled her eyes and stormed out of the house to join Gauri in the car.

"Bhavya listen to me !" Rudy called out after her and was about to follow Bhavya but Annika stopped him.

"She's mad right now, she won't listen to you." Annika replied. "Pehle jaake apne bhaiya se maafi maango. Tum dono ko Shivaay se jhoot nahi bolna chahiye tha, he's very hurt." ("Go and seek forgiveness from your brother first. You both shouldn't have lied to him, he's very hurt.")

"We're sorry didi." Om sighed.

Annika nodded and left.

♥

Shivaay was walking towards his car but at a slow speed cause he was thinking about OmRu.

Shivaay was upset, but more than upset he was hurt. Deeply hurt.

His brothers had lied to him, both of them, for the first time.

He felt like he had did something wrong to not deserve their trust.

OmRu didn't trust Shivaay, they both felt scared to tell Shivaay something, that's why they lied to him, right ?

Was Shivaay that strict ? Should he loosen up a bit ?

Shivaay train of thoughts was broken abruptly when was pulled behind a pillar by someone.

Shivaay yelped and glared at the person but when he recognised her, his face changed to one of nervous one.

"An..Annika ?" Shivaay whispered and gulped.

Annika had pulled Shivaay behind a pillar and had trapped him in between herself and the wall.

"Mr Shivaay Singh Oberoi." Annika hissed with narrowed eyes and snaked her hands to his collar and tightened her grip on his collar.

"I...I...I'm sorry." Shivaay yelped.

Annika tugged on his collar harshly. "How could you !" She growled. "How could you just leave when I confessed my feelings to you !"

"I..." Shivaay stammered. He didn't have any answer !

Shivaay had acted on impulse. He had never been in any situation as such and hence didn't know what he was supposed to do !

Shivaay had experiences of business meetings, talking to clients, convincing clients, talking business...but he had never talked about feelings with anyone. Not even once.

Sure he had confessed his feelings to OmRu but those were platonic feelings and Shivaay was certain that Annika wasn't talking about 'platonic love' when she had confessed her feelings last night.

"Aapke pass 3 hafte hai." ("You've 3 weeks.") Annika hissed. "3 hafte baad mein wapas aaungi, aur tab mujhe apka jawab ready chahiye." ("I'll be returning after 3 weeks, and I expect you to be ready with your answer then.")

"I'm sorry Annika. Mujhe tumhe aisa waha pe akele nahi chodna chaiye tha, lekin-" ("I'm sorry Annika. I shouldn't have left you alone like that, but-") Shivaay was cut off by Annika pulling him closer by his collar.

"Mujhe apki apology nahi, jawab chahiye." ("I don't want your apology, I want your answer.") Annika whispered, her eyes still glaring. "Got it ?"

Shivaay just stared at her, with any reply.

Annika pulled him more closer to her face, breaking his trance.

"Got. It ?" Annika repeated.

"Yes." Shivaay squeaked.

"Good." Annika smirked and quickly placed a kiss on his cheek before leaving.

Shivaay stood frozen on his place. He was astonished by Annika's gesture. He touched his cheek where Annika had kissed him and a smile appeared on his lips.

 

Did he love her ?

Shivaay frowned.

But what exactly is love ?

Shivaay exhaled and shook his head.

He decided to take a day off or at least do the work from home today cause she didn't feel like going to office anymore, and hence traced his way back inside the villa.

♣

OmRu were still in the living room.

"I'm sorry O." Rudy said with utmost guilt. "Mujhe apko aisa ghatiya idea dena hi nahi chahiye tha." ("I shouldn't have given you such a rubbish idea.")

Om didn't reply so Rudy hugged him.

"I'm sorry. Really very sorry." Rudy mumbled again.

"It's okay." Om finally exhaled as he held Rudy closer. "Galati toh meri hai. Mujhe samjhna chahiye tha ki sahi kya hai aur galat kya aur tujhe bhi samjhana chahiye tha. I'm sorry." ("It's my fault. I should've understood what's wrong and what's right and should've made you understand too. I'm sorry.")

"Kya chal raha hai ?" ("What's happening ?")

OmRu's head snapped up in the direction of the voice and found Janvi smiling softly at them both.

OmRu pulled apart and gave her a small smile.

"Kya baat hai ?" ("What's wrong ?") Janvi frowned, already sensing her kids' low mood.

Tej too came there in the meanwhile.

Om sighed while Ru explained the situation.

"Very bad, OmRu." Janvi said sternly. "Tum logo ko Shivaay se jhooth nahi bolna chahiye tha." ("You shouldn't lied to Shivaay.")

OmRu hung their heads low.

"Arey, inhe kyu bol rahi ho ? Bacche hai aur inki umar mein yeh sab natural hai." ("Hey, why are you scolding them ? They are kids and it's natural to do all these things in their age.") Tej defended his sons. "Shivaay hi overreact kar raha hai. Om Arts mein hi master kar raha hai, ek-adh bar fail bhi ho gaya toh kya ?" ("Shivaay is overreacting. Om is anyways mastering in Arts, so what if he fails for once ?")

"How can you say that Tej ?" Janvi mused. "It's not failing a test, Tej, it's about trust. They shouldn't have lied to Shivaay."

Tej rolled his eyes. "Oh c'mon, Janvi, Shivaay unka sirf ek bada bhai hai aur mein unka papa hu...Jab mujhe koi fark nahi padta toh Om ke fail hone se Shivaay ko kyu fark padhna chahiye ?" ("Oh c'mon, Janvi, Shivaay is just their elder brother while I'm their father...When I don't mind Om failing a test, then why should Shivaay ?")

Om stood up abruptly, suddenly feeling angry to hear Tej's words.

"Kyu ki woh humare sirf bhai nahi hai, woh humare papa saman hai, woh humare liye humari duniya hai aur hum unke liye unki jaan hai." ("Cause he's not just our brother, he's next to father for us, he means the world to us and we are his soul.") Om said. "Woh humesha hume sabse aage dekhna chahte hai. He strives to make us the best, to get us the best." ("He wants to see us ahead of the world. He strives to make us the best, to get us the best.")

Rudy nodded.

"Bhaiya ne humesha humara bhala chaha hai. Humare liye sab seh lete hai." ("Bhaiya has always been our well-wisher. He faces everything for us.") Rudy interjected. "Pata hai ek baar unhe bukhar aaya tha aur mera project submit karna tha agle din, toh bhaiya ne bukhar ke bawajood puri raat jaagkar mera project complete kiya. Aur sirf complete hi nahi kiya balki sabse accha project mera hi bana tha puri class mein." ("Once he was running a fever and I had a project due next day, so bhaiya spent the entire night in doing my project even when he was weak and completed my project. It was the best project in the entire class.")

Tej scoffed and looked away.

"Bhai ne humesha hum dono ko apne se pehle rakha hai. Khud ki jarurat bhulke humari jarurate puri ki hai unhone." ("Bhai has always prioritised us even before himself. He forgot his necessities to fulfill ours.") Om added. "Bhai ne jo humare liye kiya hai, woh hum kabhi nahi bhul sakte." (" We cannot forget what bhai has did for us.")

Janvi smiled at her sons, while Tej rolled his eyes.

"Aur bhulna bhi nahi chahiye." ("And you shall never forget it either.") Janvi said. "Ab jao aur jaake Shivaay se maafi maango. Jao, jao, jao." ("Now go and apologize to Shivaay. Go, go, go.")

OmRu smiled at Janvi and left.

After the Veer incident, Om's attitude towards his family had changed slightly. Om had started warming up to his mother, though he was still reluctant to opening up to Tej cause Tej always spoke ill about Shivaay.

As soon as OmRu left, Tej turned to his wife.

"Yeh kya tha ?" ("What was that about ?") Tej hissed. "What's this 'pacify Shivaay' nonsense ?"

Janvi faced Tej with a pointed look of her own.

"What are you up to Tej ?" She hissed back. "Mein kai dino se dekh rahi hu ki tum Shivaay pe bewajah gussa karte ho, OmRu ko uske khilaf bhadkane ki koshish karte ho...What's wrong with you ?" ("I'm observing you since weeks now, you get upset on Shivaay for no reason whatsoever, you even try to get OmRu against him...What's wrong with you ?")

Tej looked away.

"Tej, kya baat hai ?" ("Tej, what's the matter ?") Janvi softened. "Mujhe batao." ("Tell me.")

Tej sighed and sat down on the couch, Janvi too followed his suit and sat beside him.

"I'm jealous." Tej muttered a moment later. "Mere bete meri jagah Shivaay ko de chuke hai, woh dono mujhse jyada Shivaay se pyaar karte hai, uske pichhe jate hai, uski baatein maante hai....Tum soch bhi nahi sakti kitna dukh hota hai mujhe. Meri Shivaay se koi aapsi dushmani nahi hai, mujhe bas apne bete wapas chahiye." ("My sons have given my place to Shivaay, they love Shivaay more than me, they follow him, they obey him....You have no idea how much it hurts me. I don't have any personal enemity with Shivaay, I just want my sons back.")

Janvi placed her hand on Tej's shoulder in a comforting manner.

"Tej, tumhe Shivaay se jalne ki koi jarurat nahi hai." ("Tej, you don't need to feel jealous of Shivaay.") Janvi started. "Agar OmRu usey itni izzat dete hai toh woh isiliye nahi ki woh tumse pyaar nahi karte. Shivaay ne itne saalon mein bahot mehnat se OmRu ke dil mein apni yeh jagah banayi hai." ("If OmRu respects Shivaay more that doesn't mean they don't love you. Shivaay had faced a lot of hardships in all these years to make his place in OmRu's hearts.")

"Agar tum OmRu ke sath jyada time spent karoge toh tum bhi OmRu ke dil mein apni jagah bana paoge, Tej." ("If you spend more time with OmRu you'll get your special place in their hearts too, Tej.") Janvi smiled encouragingly.

Tej nodded half-heartedly, still somewhat unconvinced.

"You're right...I guess." Tej whispered the last part before adding loudly, "I'll try my best to win my sons."

♠

Om was walking towards the table with a hand-baked cake in his hand with a smile. He was a few steps away from the table when he unknowingly stepped on a skateboard and was about to fall down but balanced himself.

Om had baked a sorry cake for Shivaay cause last time Rudy's sorry cake had worked on Shivaay.

This was a bit special cake though. Om had baked Shivaay's favourite Banana cake with cream cheese and had added whipped cream and choco chip toppings on it. He had spent 3 hours in the kitchen to bake it and there was no way he was going to let anyone ruin it.

"Rudy ! Rudy, apna skateboard uthav ! Yeh koi jagah hai skateboard rakhne ki, mein abhi cake ke sath girne wala tha." ("Rudy ! Rudy keep your skateboard away ! Is this even a place to keep a skateboard, I could've fell off with the cake.") Om yelled.

"Haan, abhi rakhta hu O, bas yeh cupcakes lekar aa hi raha hu." ("Okay, I'll keep it once I get the cupcakes on the table.") Rudy yelled back.

Om shook his head and placed the cake on the table before kicking the skateboard away.

"Mein bhai ko lekar aata hu, tab tak Rudy bhi aa jayega." ("I'll get bhai here until Rudy comes with cupcakes.") Om mumbled to himself and left to fetch Shivaay.

Rudy came out of the kitchen with cupcakes in his hands. He was just walking towards the table when he saw skateboard in his way.

"Thank God I saw it." Rudy said to himself. "Verna mein gir jaata aur saare cupcakes kharab ho jate." ("Else I would've fell off and cupcakes would've got ruined.")

Rudy then kicked the skateboard away without looking if anyone was coming from that way or not.

Shivaay was coming with Om from the direction in which Rudy had kicked the skateboard and Shivaay accidentally stepped on it and fell face first on the table, in the cake.

"Bhai / Bhaiya !" OmRu gasped before helping Shivaay up.

OmRu tried their best to hold back their laughs when they saw Shivaay looking like a Santa Claus with whipped cream all over his front hairs, moustache and beard, and eyebrows.

"Sorry bhai." Om winced.

Shivaay sighed and wiped the whipped cream with his palm but only smeared it more so he left to get himself cleaned in the bathroom.

Om face-palmed before glaring at Rudy making him gulp.

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

Hey bubblies !

Uh, now I seriously don't know when exactly I'll write about Prinku, but I promise it'll be written soon.

Anyways,

Take care of yourselves.

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