Everything I Do - RiKara SS

6

Chapter 6

Alliance
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Watching herself from the rear view mirror of her car, Ri added another stroke of eyeliner to her already bold eye. The thick layer of makeup, made her feel protected, less vulnerable. Taking a deep breath, she turned off the engine and snatched her handbag from the passenger seat. Still she had not stepped down. Ri loved her father, but sometime he made it so difficult; especially at moments like these, when she was bullied into things she hated doing.
"How hard can it be?" She told herself sternly. "Only two words are to be said, I'm sorry! Gosh -" she clasped a hand to her forehead, squeezing her eyes shut. "Get your act together woman!"
She marched inside the Oberoi mansion, continuing with her mental pep talk, and walked into a scene she'd rather not witness.
"I was silent as long as you were talking to your son," Shivay was saying, in his usual mild tone that had a poisonous layer of anger coating it in the present; glaring at a much taller - madder and if possible seething, Tej Singh Oberoi. "But this is a business man talking to his business asset, toh main beech mein bolunga!"
"Leave it Shivay," Omkara said reproachfully glaring at his father. One of his hands were grabbing Rudra's shoulder, trying to lend silent support to him and reached out with his other arm to hold Shivay back. "He is not worth it."
"Haan haan," Tej mocked him in return. "Jaao Shivay, now that you have successfully turned my sons against me, there's nothing more to fight for right?"
"Bade papa aap ko ho kya gaya hai?" When Shivay spoke again, his tone was bitter. "Firstly you forced Om into a relationship he doesn't want - and now, you want Rudra to end things with Saumya - his wife?"
"He himself didn't want this marriage until he heard that I had asked that girl to leave, and now suddenly, he can't live without her?"
Omkara shook his head.
"Aap shaadi ki baat na hi karo to behetar Mr. Oberoi, after all you didn't understand the woman you got married to, till date."
"Omkara, stay out of it!" Tej's voice was dangerous.
"I won't. It's my brother's life Mr. Oberoi, he will do as he sees right and you will stay out of it." His hair whipped around as he turned to Rudra. "Go," he urged. "Stop Saumya before she boards that damn flight! Go Rudra, don't make the mistake of listening to this man, who cares for no one but himself."
He shoved his brother towards the door and Rudra almost ran, not sparing a glance at Ri who was still frozen at the threshold.
"Omkara, yeh tum ne teek nahi kiya," Tej growled gritting his teeth and Omkara's lips twitched painfully.
"Perhaps that's the only right thing I did in a while Mr. Oberoi. Get used to it, not everyone's going to dance on your palm like me."
"Omkara!"
"Chillaiye mat," his tone was low as he stepped closer to his father, darker eyes boring into Tej's lighter ones. "If it wasn't for my mother who loves you like a fool, I'd have told you exactly what kind of a creature you are - a pathetic monster who eats away his own children for his survival,"
Shivay was too late by the time he noticed Tej raising his hand, he had jumped nevertheless, but someone else had beaten him to it. The sound of flesh against flesh shocked them into silence, and Tej Oberoi whitened, taking a startled step backwards.
Ri had been ready for the striking pain that came, she had came between that blow and Omkara because she couldn't stand and watch anymore, because she genuinely believed he did not deserve the slap. Whatever he had said had been true.
But she was not ready for Omkara's hands cupping her face, his thumb gently brushing away the streak of warm blood trailing down from the corner of her lip the blow had cut open. His eyes were so vulnerable as he searched her gaze for any trace of pain, her lips tumbled at that look - he was ashamed and it broke something inside her.
How many blows like that had he taken, both physical and mental? This was a hell to grow up in, she acknowledged slowly. It was no wonder he turned into a devil. The broken look in his eyes were instantly replaced with fury so strong that she felt the burn before they swept past her into his father's gaze.
"Mr. Oberoi!" He had almost launched towards the older man, when she threw her arms around his torso, struggling to hold him back. He thrashed against her grip, but she made him look at her - really - look at her.
"he wasn't aiming at me," her voice sounded so small, in front of all the angry men. "I came in between, he wasn't going to hit me. It's okay, it's okay -!"
"I - I," stammered Tej, running a nervous hand through his hair. "I'm sorry Gauri, I -"
With what it seemed like inhumane effort, Omkara stilled taking a large rattling breath in and wrapping his arm around her, steered her inside, with a muttered "you need to clean that up," in her ear and completely ignoring his father.
She was still shaking when he led her into the bathroom. Her childhood had been wonderful, filled with sweetest memories of her life. Had she not witnessed it Ri would have never believed a man like Tej Oberoi could exist. She watched Omkara in a new light, as he let the water running and soaked the corner of a fluffy white face towel. How easy had it been to believe he was a monster, this man tending her with so much affection. He was nothing but a victim himself, someone left with no choice but to hurt her, and it killed him in return, she could see it clearly now.
She hissed as the cold water pressed against the cut and his hand stilled. The innocent worry in his eyes almost killed her.
"I'm fine," she tried to smile and he bit his lip as her eyes watered with pain.
"Promise me something," he said seriously, his gaze holding hers as he pressured the cut to stop it bleeding. "Yeh jo tumnhe aaj kiya...Never do it again. We've hurt each other enough as it is - you don't need to take my share of it too."
"Aap ko dardh hua?" She asked slowly, a hand unconsciously reaching to grasp his tending her cut.
"Nahi toh," he sounded puzzled.
"Humain bhi nahi hua," she said then, pulling the towel away to examine the cut. "Give it a day, it'll fill up. There won't be any trace by the time of the pre - wedding shoot."
He understood what she was trying to say, the unexpressed acceptance in her words. Neither of them will back out from this relationship again - no matter where it took them. Unable to help himself he reached in and touched his lips to her forehead, it was a brief kiss, a faint touch that was almost not there. The moment he drew back his eyes searched her face for any kind of misgiving.
"I'm sorry I just -" he let the sentence hang, not sure how to end it. He just what - wanted to thank her? Was happy? To be honest Omkara didn't recognize the emotion filling his heart to the brim, but he was sure it was something as twisted as her smile in reply.
"I can't promise you love, or happiness now that we're on it. But I'll be there Omkara, I'll be waiting for you at the mandap. I'll be there."
His fingers ran down her hair, a touch that had suddenly started to feel home.
"I know, Gauri. I know."
**