ShivOmRu : A Bond Beyond Brotherhood

#39

A/N : Next update will be on 7th of February due to my exams.

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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.")