Rudra massaged his forehead, sitting in the VIP lounge of the airport. The long-haired creature accompanying him had his nose in a magazine. He felt beyond annoyed, he did not like those colorful stacks of magazines that contained nothing of his interest. In short, he felt alone.
From outside, any normal person would think that they had the most comfortable lives, he so wished it was what they thought. He felt a headache approaching, the entire universe had conspired to irk him today.
After an hour of pure boredom, the youngest Oberoi could finally rest his head on his plane seat. It would take fifteen hours to reach their destination, Canada, Ontario. Rudra could already feel boredom mocking him. He groaned internally. Having nothing to do, he reluctantly drowned in absorbing thoughts.
He aimlessly stared at the clouds outside. This time they did not resemble meaningless white-shaped objects. They resembled the future. Isn't that how the future was; we all predicted, or dreamt, how it would be. Yet it was all unclear, hidden, and unknown. Bravely we dive into the foggy unknown, not knowing where it will lead us.
He sighed and turned his head to look at his brother, who seemed lost in his thoughts as well, staring at the front blankly. Rudra felt his insides tremble.
What they were, what they had become.
Never in his nightmares, had he seen that he would become who he was. Well, he had changed so drastically, that he felt it as well. Deep inside a corner of his heart, he was well aware that he was being cruel to her, and also to himself. It was not her fault. Yet he blamed her, shamelessly. Why should he be only blamed, for something he had never done? It was hard to answer his questions, so he blamed her too: for making him love her.
It was only he, who knew how tormenting it was to know that there was someone out there for him, waiting and wanting, yet he could not be with her. Face her, love her, embrace her, and let her love him. He could never agree, but he was afraid. Afraid to hurt, fearing to lose, and scared to disappoint.
Maybe she would not love him anymore, maybe all her care was for the love forgone. Maybe she does not have the same feelings anymore. Maybe he will lose her as well, just like he lost himself.
Every time he shut his eyelids, he could see a face. If those smiles of hers brought pure rapture, her tear-stricken broken look made his heart fall. Never, even for once in his life, had he thought that he would be this much involved with a particular woman, who would mean so much to him.
Rudra closed his eyes shut, his headache had now severed, and so did his heartache.
Closing his eyes, he longed to fall into a dreamless sleep, a sleep, where he would not dream, as dreams only made him hope. Hope for a change, a miracle, an impossible desire.
Omkara mindlessly stared at the front. Every time he tried focusing on something, his thoughts would travel to the debt, the purpose of going abroad. He still did not know how this was going to be solved. Profit in any new project was uncertain and so was the loan. He was not aware if he was going to get it. They had an appointment with the manager, yet this was not certain.
He feared the consequence. If this branch of theirs became a failure, they would not only suffer from losses and withdrawal of investments but also tarnished reputation. He could not let the business, in which his brother had put his heart and soul and hard work, go in vain. He could not afford to lose his brother's dream, the same brother, whom he loved more than his existence.
He was ready to do anything, to make their business work, he was willing to even beg the people for money which they desperately required. Only for the sake of the dream, his brother chased. He had set his mind and begged in front of the God, his wife had faith in, for mercy, blessings, success, and aid.
Before leaving, his wife had made him and Rudra have the sweet made by her, wishing them luck. When Om went back into the lane of memories, regret flooded his heart. He had wronged her, the woman who selflessly loved him, waited for him, and cared for him.
He was aware, he was wrong. He ruined a part of their lives, which he could never erase, A long time of their life together, which had scarred her. The scar was so deep, that it could never fade. The hurt was so mighty, that it could never be forgotten. Though she had assured him that she held no grudges, that she would always be there, holding on the other side of the rope, waiting for him to open his arms wide to let her in.
"I am sorry, Gauri" His voice cracked at the end.
Gauri lifted her face from his bare chest, and supported her face on her elbows, snuggling into the comforter. She stared at him, her eyes full of love.
"I am sorry too, Om. Somewhere I am to be blamed too. I should have talked to you long before, tried to sort things out, reason things with you, yet I did not. If I had spoken to you, this would not have to be like this" Om could feel his love and respect grow for this woman.
Gauri lazily stroked his cheek, her eyes now shining with tears.
"No matter what, I will always be holding onto the other side of the rope, Om. Hoping, waiting, and praying for you. Om, I know very well that this is not the last time we are going to have issues, fights, and misunderstandings, but I believe that next time we'll trust each other a bit more than we did. And that is enough for me. I just want your trust, love, and respect, Om, and in return, I vow to do the same. I love you."
Omkara wiped away a few tears, which managed to slip out of his eyes. Not only did he feel overwhelmed, but also blessed. Blessed to have such a courageous woman, who was not hesitant to speak up, as his wife.
"Nehi naa, Shivaay" Anika stretched her husband's name. Shivaay smiled seeing her cute pout and laid a sloppy kiss on her forehead. They were currently laying next to each other, precisely, snuggling more into each other - if that was possible.
"I will try to come home early, Anika" he promised staring at her face. How did he get so lucky? He watched her unruly locks framing her face, the same locks, where he had weaved his hands hours earlier. Anika looked up to face her husband.
Her brows furrowed. "How hard will you try?" she questioned, looking at him almost mockingly. Shivaay smirked before replying, "As hard as I just rocked your world with my-" he failed to complete his uncensored reply as Anika slammed her plan over his mouth, "You seriously have no filter," Anika complained, glaring at her husband who happened to have no shame. Shivaay grinned ear to ear, looking at his wife's flushed face.
"Anika," Shivaay called as his wife fumed. Anika's eyes softened a bit hearing him call her, even after so long, his velvety voice didn't fail to make her breath hitch. It felt so good to be addressed affectionately, a euphoria she had not experienced in a while.
"I'll make you aloo puri and gajar ka halwa once I return home. Promise." Shivaay promised, in a tone of request. "Pinky promise?" Anika questioned, uncertainty embroidering her voice.
"Pinky promise," Shivaay hugged her tighter upon completing his sentence. "Mmmm," Anika closed her eyes in relief and willingly wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him tighter. As if trying to be so close to the man next to her, whom she loved unconditionally, that they never drift apart. Shivaay smiled in contentment, at least he had her. The woman he loved, the woman by whom he was loved.
How good would it have been, if they were in Oberoi Mansion? On their bed, their room, their house. Knowing that they had a family, people were present to love them. Knowing that they were not alone in fighting the world, all by themselves. Acknowledging that they had people to call ether own, a family to stand by them, in despair and glee.
Shivaay felt his chest constrict, his heart once full of love for the woman laying next to him, was not heavy with melancholy. He had no hopes of ever getting back to his family, again. Yet that did not mean that he could not protect them from here.
He would do anything for them, until his last breath.
