Once Upon a University Campus

Eureka!

"What happened next Bhaiyya?" Rudy beseeched Shivaay. He had been massaging the older man's shoulder for some time now and the older man seemed to enjoy it enormously along with his coffee. "You are too pricey and this is not fair" Rudy grumbled.

"Alright.. What happened next was the usual stuff.. We met, and met and kept meeting. The more I met her the more I got comfortable in her company, the more mirthful I found myself. She lifted my spirits effortlessly. And then Badi Ma moved to Delhi. Those were testing times. I was not handling the situation especially with Om. She filled in my gaps. I am eternally grateful to you sweetheart for holding my brother in one piece. " Shivaay took Annika's hand and planted a fleeting kiss. "But for you I would not have known."

"O ?" Rudy looked at Om completely flummoxed.

"I owe it to you Annika." hand on his heart Om bowed his head to Annika. "It reminds me of Hanuman." Om was in his contemplative best and sat cross legged on the sofa like a yogi. Indeed it is not unusual for alcohol to bring about one's hidden yogi. "Hanuman was cursed into forgetting his abilities because his unmatched, yet uncontrolled strength had become a nuisance. When his search party reached the edge of the ocean searching for Sita Ma, he remained clueless of his real abilities. He did not remember that he was actually capable of leaping across the ocean. Jambavaan had to remind Hanuman of his unmatched strength, as the son of the wind god, he could ride the wind and accomplish the giant leap. Only then Hanuman was convinced that he could actually do it. After that he was able to take the plunge. "

Rudy's jaw dropped. "Holy mother of heavens! Hanuman too had a role in Shivaay Bhaiyya's love story?"

Sumo snickered and rolled her eyes "Rudy.." She uttered disparagingly. She was sitting a bit far from where Rudy stood, else she would have struck him again.

"Sorry sorry! Sumo.. Sorry sorry Hanuman.. I mean Hanuman Ji.. of course Hanuman ji is god and gods can do everything." Rudy mumbled apologetically looking up heavenward so as to not offend the almighty.

"It was not just a leap for Hanuman but a leap of faith. " Om continued nonchalantly. "That was what happened with me. I was so lost in my downward spiral that I could not see its consequence on my loved ones. My mother was grief stuck and I did not know. What my brothers were up to I did not care. And then one day, Mom is here and she is shattered, not because her husband's infidelity but because her son was a total idiot. Annika was my Jambavan. Just that she did not have to tell me about my abilities. She was a living example of indefatigable human spirit, having fought her battles all by herself. The miserable escapist in me could not help contrasting myself with her. There was no other way, but to leap, to get out of my self inflicted misery, to embrace my responsibility, to be the son Mom deserved." Om opened his eyes. " I owe it to you both. Shivaay for finally allowing me to face the truth, Annika for" enabling me to cope up with the truth." Om grew quite again.

"If not for her, I would have sheltered you indefinitely from every possible adverse circumstances Om. I could take a hundred assaults on my own soul, but not as much as a scratch on any of you." Shivaay was sombre.

"You would have, but that would not have helped me face the reality, to get out of my hell hole. For that I have Annika. How blessed I am to have both the Yin and Yan in the you and Annika. You are my defence and Annika my offence." Om smiled at Shivaay. The brothers had descended into a private conversation as if the others in the room did not matter.

"To tell you the truth, I found your behaviour around Annika unusual, having never seen you curious about a woman before. I used to be amused to see you skittish around her. But I was afraid of either of you ending up with a hurt. Thankfully no such thing happened. "