Anika stared at her husband whose hazel eyes were fixed on the laptop, as she brushed her hair. She had taken him to the park and introduced him to Anshi. Shivaay was surprised. Well, he had missed small parts of her life in a short time.
Yet sometimes small is significant.
Upon her husband's insistence, they had been to one of the most luxurious restaurants in the city for dinner while returning home. As Anika freshened up, Shivaay started working on his laptop.
"Shivaay?" Anika called her husband who was frowning at the laptop. She had been desperately wanting to know what he was up to. Even though he had taken leave for the week yet was busy doing something whenever he got time.
"Yes?" Shivaay responded not taking his eyes off the screen. Anika resisted the urge to murder him. Shivaay's wife sneakily approached him.
"Anika, wait-" He looked at her flabbergasted when she abruptly shut the laptop from behind.
Anika walked to his side, before pushing away the tea table slightly. She stood in front of him before placing herself in his lap, in a way that she was straddling him. a way of sitting, she had begun to love recently. Shivaay looked at her confused.
Anika's honey-brown eyes stared at his hazel ones as she placed both her hands on his cheeks.
"What's wrong, Shivaay? Now look, don't say that it's nothing. It's clear that something is bothering you, and remember that you promised never to hide stuff from me?" Anika reminded her while her husband nodded like the good husband he was.
Shivaay's sighed as he snuggled into Anika.
"A few months back, Oberoi Industries had taken a loan to set up their branch in Canada. After setting up the branch here, they could not make a profit, hell, they couldn't even run it. They have applied for a loan again, which I want to grant, but it is taking time as it is a big amount," Shivaay narrated, not moving his head from his chest. Anika ran her hand through his hair. She finally knew what was bothering him even though that satisfied her, it made her worried about the upcoming consequence.
"Shivaay?" he hummed in response. "What if this loan isn't granted?" She already knew the answer, yet dared to question. Lifting his head from her chest, he looked dead into her eyes, "Then Oberoi Industries would be in ruins."
Rudra knocked on the door of Om's room, though it was kept ajar.
"Aree, please come in Rudy bhaiya" Gauri responded to which he passed a smile in gratitude. Om had been reading a book about drugs and rehabilitation while Gauri was folding clothes. Omkara placed his spectacles on the bedside table, as he looked at his youngest brother.
"What's keeping you busy nowadays, huh?" Om ruffled his youngest brother's hair playfully as he sat beside is on bed.
How could he reply, that he was here all along?
As Rudra narrated the history of loss to his brother, Om paled. Guilt flooded this heart. Rudra told me from the beginning of the incident. The setup, the loss, the pressure from investors, the concern of reputation, alas the loan,
Om's heart fell, while worry embraced Gauri. He couldn't afford to let this company fall. The same for which his brother toiled away day and night. The thought itself was terrifying. Oberoi Industries was not just a company worth millions, it was a dream, which had come true.
"We have to go to Ontario. Soon, Rudra." Om could only manage to choke this out. He could not fathom what had happened and imagine what was to happen. So much had happened...
So much had happened right in front of him, in his presence, but all he could do was be unaware of it all. Drugs. Those drugs had him wrapped around them. A part of him snickered at himself. Drugs did not come to him, he willingly went to them. They were not at fault, it was all him.
Taking all the blame willingly, was comforting sometimes.
Over the years, Rudra had mastered the art of controlling his sentiments. He quickly nodded, before exiting the room.
Times changed everything, except fate.
When he was drowning in guilt, a hand reached out to him, as Gauri caught hold of his right arm. As if recognizing that soft, gentle touch, Om leaned in. He tilted his form as he hastily wrapped his hands around her stomach, letting warm tears roll off his cheeks.
"It is all my fault," he mumbled, almost inaudibly, in her stomach. Guari shook her head sideways. Her own eyes prickled with unshed tears. She could feel his agony, conflict, and guilt, which were eating him up.
Rudra did not enter the bar that night. He simply waited outside. The guard of the reputed bar was kind enough to offer him a tool to sit on, as he had known him long enough. The guard was amused at how Rudra was anywhere but outside.
Without any alcohol, Rudra felt lonely and annoyed. As the cold wind of January blew, his heart reminisced. Hot chocolates by his brother were the best thing in winter.
Flashbacks followed;
The sound of tired screeching against the road broke his trance. Bhavya unmindfully got down from her jeep. Rudra's eyes were stuck on the officer in her uniform.
No matter how much he stared, his heart never stopped yearning for a second more.
Bhavya froze as their eyes met. Rudra was keen to look away instantly. He couldn't risk drowning in those orbs again.
"And somebody claimed to pass by the bar," He stated snickering, before heading for his car.
