Becoming Sweethearts [✓]

Part Fifty One

Omkara, who had drifted into a sound sleep, woke up when he heard the soft sniffs against his chest, soaking the material of his t-shirt. Gauri, who had snuggled close to him, was still sniffing and whispering, "wapis aa jao, Omkara..." like a litany. "God, Gauri!" he murmured worriedly at her condition and pulled her closer to himself. Sitting up a little, he gently held her against his chest like she was a little child and slowly hushed her to sleep while rocking back and forth.

A soft knock at the door drew his attention and in a hushed voice he said, "Come in!" Shivaay entered the room and suddenly stopped when he saw the couple in an intimate embrace. "Ermm, should I come later?" he asked, looking at the floor, not before glancing at a sleeping Gauri. When he heard her whimper, Shivaay frowned, "Her fever hasn't gone down yet?" Omkara nodded, "Her body feels less warm, but she's still drowsy. Did the doctor give her a tranquilizer or what? She's never ever been this drowsy." He asked in a worried tone.

Shivaay nodded, "She wasn't fine last night, Om. Her BP had gone down, she had high fever; oopar se TV pe woh khabar sunkar toh jo hum sabki haalat ho gayi, especially Gauri ki, woh alag!" Pausing for a moment, he continued, "She was in complete shock, Om. The doctor did what he had to do." Omkara, with his heart aching at what he just heard, nodded wordlessly in understanding and then lulled her to sleep when she snivelled with a soft tremble.

"You wanted to talk?" Omkara asked as he gently lay her on the bed, but she did not let go of his hand. Instead, she placed his palm under her cheek and promptly went back to sleep. Shivaay smiled and nodded as he looked at his brother, "Just wanted to see you and make sure you're fine, Om!" Omkara held his free arm out and called him closer for a hug. "I'm fine; you don't have to worry now," he said, and Shivaay swallowed a lump. Omkara realized how taxing the last few hours had been on his whole family. He simply stayed in the embrace, allowing the great wall to wipe that tear from his eye so as to hide his vulnerability.

Rudra stormed into the room with a frown, and Omkara grinned. He was about to say something when Omkara quickly indicated not to scream because Gauri was asleep. Shivaay moved back and smiled at Rudra cheekily. Rudra frowned, "When I wanted to meet O, you asked me not to disturb him. Now you come in secretly and hug him, leaving me out. Aap dono hamesha aisa karte ho. You always leave me out from the hug! And when I come to hug you, you both say -"

"Moment nikal gaya. Pehle sweet tha, ab awkward hai!" Omkara and Shivaay chorused with a grin, teasing Rudra, who pouted when Shivaay patted his cheek. "Such a baby!" he whispered, and Rudra looked on as if complaining to Om about being called a baby by Shivaay. Om nodded with a smile, "I agree with Shivaay. Lekin ek baat hai; tu kitna bhi bada kyun na ho, mere liye aur Shivaay ke liye tu hamesha baby hi rahega. Samjha?" Rudra grinned and almost sat on Omkara's lap to hug him. "Uth ja, pagal!" Omkara frowned and moved him away. "Of course, of course! Earlier, you and Bhaiyya wouldn't mind me sitting on your lap. Now, ever since you two are married, you two have become paraya dhan!"

"You were six years old when I last allowed you to sit on my lap!" Shivaay said with a pointed stare. Rudra shrugged, "So what? You only said I'll always be your baby, right?" before Shivaay could answer, Annika entered the room and looked at them in shock. "What is everyone doing here? You know Gauri and Om need rest, right? She's not well; he's just come back after getting saved from such a disaster-"

"Annika," Shivaay started, "Technically, he never was on the plane when it took off. So how can he get 'saved' from the disaster when he never met it?" Annika frowned at him, "Aapka mooh jab bhi khulta hai, kuch na kuch kadwi baat hi nikalti hai na? Aur harr baar aapko meri baat kaatni kyun hai? Itne bade khatkhanne kyun hain aap?" "Khat what? Annika, what's that language?"