When We Fell Again...

A Lock on Lips

Hi Guys!!! I was hoping to get this done by Valentine's Day, but the excitement of this part made me finish beforehand! I hope you guys like it and please please please leave votes and comments!!!

___________________________________

 A Lock on Lips

Om was slowly sipping his drink at the bar as Bhavya tended to another customer. A lot was going on his mind as the Scotch swirled against the ice and mixed in the flavor of the drink and with his muddled thoughts. He had almost all of his paintings sent off and loaded onto the grand walls of The Gallery for his first exhibition tomorrow, but the feeling of excitement and bubbly tension was missing. All he felt was an uneasy feeling that made him want to relax and bolt as the same time. His stomach was in a twist and his thoughts were spiraling out of direction, much like a hurricane that unloaded its spiralling terror once it had hit town. Why am I feeling this way? he wondered, ignoring the constant looks of concern that Bhavya was passing as she worked to get drinks out for the big group of college seniors in the back of the bar. And just as he finished his last sip of the drink, his phone rang with an all too familiar Caller ID. He glanced at the screen and felt his heart go into his mouth as he realized just why his stomach was knotted in tension. Om continued to stare at his phone for a long second and then picked it up on the last ring.

"Hi Dad, uh, how are you?"

He could hear a muffled noise on the other side before the deep baritone of Tej Singh Oberoi's voice projected through the phone's speaker. A voice that hundreds of employees at Oberoi Labels would fear to hear and a voice that commanded the attention of the board members into a patronizing silence.

"Om, bete, you haven't been calling in the past few days."

Om sighed as he rubbed his hand over his forehead. "Ya, I had a project at work that's been taking a lot of time. I've just been really busy."

It wasn't a lie, he thought as he nodded absentmindedly to Bhavya who was now gesturing to know who had called. He had been busy with projects and work. The problem was that his father didn't really know or have the slightest idea which projects and what work he had been busy in.

"They keep you busy?" Tej asked flippantly.

"Dad" Om warned not wanting to start another 'discussion' on this topic again. He had had enough of the passive aggressiveness and outright blackmails before he had moved out to Boston to join the small start up he worked for.

"Okay..okay..I'm just asking." Tej said. His son had finally called him after a few days and he didn't want to start with the elephant in the room. But, he did plan on convincing him one day or the other to get his butt back to NYC where it belonged. "So, how's the project going?"

"It's okay I guess." Om shrugged flipping a small copy of the exhibition invitation in his hand. His painting of her eyes had been on the front and center of the invite and he was obviously very proud but nervous. "Tomorrow's the presentation. I'm a little nervous."

Tej sighed into the speaker, but Om knew that his Dad was also smiling. "Just be yourself and don't forget to flash that charming dimple for me."

"Dad, it's a project on my work not on my halfway decent looks that you and Mom granted me."

"I know. And you will be just fine." Tej assured with a rare note of softness coming into his voice.

"Speaking of, you told me that once this project is done, you're coming back home. Om?"