Delicate - A Rikara Tale (Completed!)

Seventeen - Thoughts and Trouble

A/N  I am sorry about the long wait. Real life took over. I have my dissertation work and exams and I haven't had time to write much.But here is the update. I hope you enjoy it. The next chapter will be a long, Rikara one.

Silence filled the room that the three brothers were in.

It was unfamiliar, and Rudra shifted in his place on the bed, his feet tapping the floor, his palms becoming a little sweaty.

Silence was never something that Rudra felt at home with, and so he had always prefered filling it with small talk, music and tales of his varied exploits with all too willing and beautiful women.

However, as dense as he was known to be, he knew from the narrowed eyes of his elder brother O that if he opened his mouth things would not go every well for him.

And so, Rudra Singh Oberoi took a deep breath, lowered his eyes to the floor and muttered a "Yes, Om."

If Rudra had hoped that the submissive, wronged puppy image he was trying to portray would soften his brother's rage, he was utterly mistaken.

"Is that all you have to say for yourself?" Shivaay's tone was the kind he had reserved for Anika Bhabhi back then, back when he had misunderstood her, absolutely detested her.

Rudra knew what that tone meant. Shivaay was utterly frustrated with him. "I'm sorry?" Rudra looked up, palms held up in surrender. He hoped they would accept it and not look at him with that look on their faces.

Om's face was scrunched up.

Rudra swallowed.

He knew that look well too.

That was the look that Om reserved specially for their father.

Rudra knew he fucked things up. He was the kind to act first, repent later.

"Shivaay, I want to talk to O. Alone." Om's tone was grim, final. Leaving no room for negotiation.

Rudra watched Shivaay nod at Om and leave.

But what had he done now?

---

Anika smiled at her precious Chutki as she watched her adventures in the kitchen, praying her sister was culinarily blessed.

Gauri had laughed and asked who ate White pasta for breakfast after Anika had told her the favourite meals of the household in order to help her for the first Rasoi.

"O bhaiya." Prinku had provided shyly.

"Gauri Bhabhi, the sauce!" Prinku had swiped a fnger into the freshly made Bechamel sauce

"Is something wrong with it?" Gauri's forehead showed some wrinkles.

"Needs more salt!" Prinku passed her the salt shaker.

And now, the shy, almost invisible Oberoi sister had a smile on her face and was helping Chutki with small tips from the internet.

'My Chutki, not so small anymore though. How I wish I had not missed so much of her life." Anika sighed.

"What happened jiji." Gauri's voice was cheerful and she looked up from the Bechamel sauce she was mixing together now.

Anika couldn't help but smile and give her sister a one armed hug. "I am so proud of you."

Gauri smiled at her and Anika continued her earlier attempts of trying to get Gauri to tell her how her Ishqbaazi with Om had began.

"Jiji, I need to make the protein shake for Rudra bhaiya and the parathas for Saumya." Gauri pleaded.

"Woah... Saumya bhabhi left." Prinku offered.

"Where, so early? Without breakfast? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! " Gauri was astonished.

"Woah.. woah.." Prinku blushed from the intensity of Gauri's eyes on her. "Saumya bhabhi went to work. She's an RJ"

Gauri nodded. "But she should have breakfast no?"

Anika squeezed Gauri's hand gently and decided to check up on what her husband was upto.

---

"Whatever you are doing, I don't approve." Omkara finished. "Fix it. Before I have to lose another member of my family. Before I have to start calling you Mr. Rudra Singh Oberoi instead of Rudy."

Without another word, Om stalked off, not caring what any onlooker would think of him.

He had not expected this of Rudy, this animosity, this hatred for Saumya over a misunderstanding.

Rudra's behaviour was just one more reminder of Om's own failure to be there for his siblings.

He bumped into something and looked down to find Prinku's large, scared eyes.

"What happened...?"

Before he could say anything, Prinku had ran off.

Om could swear he heard a sob.

----

Breakfast had been a solemn affair though everyone had praised Gauri's cooking.

Om had guessed that Gauri had made the pasta and the sandwiches. It had made Gauri's face light up with joy.

She'd been elated when he'd told her that he was taking her to visit her mother since they couldn't do the usual ritual of Pag Phera. Gauri's smile and slightly watery eyes had made him want to engulf her in a tight hug in front of everyone but he decided to wait until they were alone. He did, after all, want to talk to her about so many things.

Now that he knew how liberating it felt to say things instead of letting them fester inside, Om wanted him and Gauri to confide in each other, to share every sorrow and joy.

He believed that honesty was the very definition of love.

And yet, he thought it was too early for him to be in love with Gauri.

But his feelings could wait. There were problems he had to solve. Things he had to take care of.

Rudra's behavior. Whatever Prinku was hiding.

And more than anything, why was Mr. Oberoi present for breakfast and looking at his mother now and then?

Omkara was overwhelmed by everything but he did not mind feeling things.

As long as he had Gauri and his family by his side, he would be happy.