Chapter 4 - The Breaking Point

Next day,

Rudra and Rohan are having their breakfast in their house with their grandmother Kalyani. Nandini served them food. Tej comes there and looks at Rudra. Rudra didn't mind him.

Tej - "Oh, hello!"

Rudra didn't respond. Rohan and Nandini frowns and signed him to respond. Rudra looks at Tej.

Tej - "Honorable king can return home whenever he wants and goes whenever he wants. Am I running a chapel here?"

Rudra - "No, you're running a hostel here where you're the warden."

Nandini - "Mind your words, Rudra."

Tej - "Let him speak whatever he want, Nandini. You're the one who spoilt him with your immense love... No... It is actually me who gave everything he demanded. Now, he is roaming with his bike and wastes his father's money in the name of some illegal race participation shamelessly. You are just tainting my reputation by indulging in such useless races..."

Rudra - "I am not wasting your money, baba. Bike racing is also a profession. I am racing in official competition, but in a local level. That doesn't mean, I am doing anything illegal or some useless works. You're the one who says that work is worship."

Tej - "Don't twist what I said. Is riding a huge bike rashly like a eccentric fool a profession? Fool! Who will be responsible if you sustain any injury? You are having so many arrears and instead of clearing all this, you're wasting your time and money. Money doesn't grow in trees."

Rudra turns his face.

Kalyani - "Tej..."

Tej - "Mom, don't stop me now.... Rudra, when did you clear all your arrears and pass the exam? Everyone is asking me if my second son is employed. What could I say? Useless man!"

Rudra stood up from the table without having breakfast and goes. Guneet and Rohan tries to stop him while he doesn't heed to anyone.

Rudra murmurs at the sink washing his hands, "Everything is under one man control. No one has any freedom to do what they want. Always work work work..."

Tej scoffs, "Did you say anything?"

Rudra replies, "How could I say if my mouth is plastered?"

Tej gets exasperated while Rudra gets out of the house with his bike. He is shocked to see Romi looking at him at the gate of his house. 

Rudra opens the gate and welcomes Romi nervously.

Rudra - "Sweetheart, you're here. I am surprised."

Romi slaps Rudra and tears fell over her eyes. Rohan, Nandini and Tej come outside.

Rudra - "Romi..."

Romi - "Don't say anything, you loser."

Rohan - "Romi, what happened? Do you both know each other?"

Romi didn't reply to Rohan and she leaves the house. Rudra runs behind her in order to pacify her. Rohan and others are standing confused.

Tej - "At which problem did this boy land at? He makes me shameful daily. Now, he messed up with your friend."

Rohan - "Dad, please don't worry. I'll handle them."

Rohan sends Tej inside and comes outside. He walked some distance and finds Rudra holding Romi's hands and trying to pacify her.

Rohan comes to them and listens to their conversation.

Rudra - "I am sorry, Romi. Though my way is wrong, my intention is never wrong. Please try to understand me."

Romi - "What to understand Rudra? Are you thinking that I encourage relations with rich people only? How could you think so low of me, Rudra?"

Rudra - "No, Romi. I don't mean that."

Romi - "How could I trust you anymore, Rudra? Even few minutes back, you were saying that Rohan is your friend and they are not your family. Are you thinking that I am a fool?"

Rudra - "Romi, please..."

Rohan - "Guys, please stop it. What is actually the problem?"

Rudra tries to send Rohan away, but Rohan asked Romi about the problem. Romi reveals whatever happened. She further revealed that she investigated about Rudra to his neighbor. Romi cries.

Rohan feels bad for Romi and stares at Rudra. Rohan pulls Rudra's collar to confront him, but Romi intervenes.

Romi - "It is actually my mistake to not verify his background details before bonding with him. At the end, I am fooled."

Rohan leaves his collar.

Rohan - "Romi, I am extremely sorry for whatever happened to you. We never thought that we are also the reason for your agony."

Romi didn't reply and looks at both emotionally. Rudra feels ashamed of what he did. Romi looks at Rudra.

Romi - "Here after you're no one to me, Rudra. Don't ever try to contact me or else, you'll see the worst one of mine.

Romi says strictly and moves away, wiping her tears. Rudra calls her to stop. Rohan stopped him holding Rudra's hand.

Rohan - "Come with me."

Rudra cried, "Bhaiyya... please let me...."

Rohan - "I don't want to slap you in front of public. Obey me."

Rudra goes with Rohan, but surprised to see few men standing in front of the house. Tej is speaking to them.

Tej stares at Rudra on seeing the brother approaching towards him. The men goes.

Tej - "What did you do now?"

Rudra - "Baba..."

Tej - "What are you thinking about yourself? Why the hell you need 30,000 rupees? And you borrowed money from them. They are now asking to pay the money with principal amount."

Rudra didn't reply. Tej's anger intensified and slapped Rudra. He is about to slap him further, but Rohan defended Rudra. 

Rohan - "Baba, we'll talk things inside..."

Tej didn't heed to Rohan

Tej - "Will you tell me the reason or not?"

Rudra tells everything to Tej... Trying to impress Soumya by acting as a high class boy... Son of rich man... Borrowing money to buy expensive things...

Tej - "I thought you are just careless and spending your time on some races. But I never thought you would stoop so low. I am ashamed to call you as my son. You are neither my son nor I'm your father. Get lost from here. Don't ever show your face to me."

Tej enters inside, followed by Guneet and Kalyani. Rohan looks at Rudra emotionally.

Rohan - "Rudra... You are my brother, right? You share all your issues and problems with me, right?"

Rudra looks on. Rohan continues, "Then, why did you lie that you're going just for your race practice? I have helped you in all the ways, right? If you could've told me about Romi, I myself could have solved your problems easily. Are we just strangers in disguise of brothers?"

Rudra's heart pricked on hearing his words. 

Rudra - "No bhaiyya... We are not strangers. I...."

Rohan - "Say Rudra... Why didn't you tell me the truth? You lost trust on me... It's okay, Rudra. Live your life with your own terms. After all, it is your life, right? "

Rohan gets inside the house. Rudra called him, but Rohan didn't bother. Tears fell from Rudra's eyes. Tej throws all his dresses and things from the house. Rudra takes all those things and leaves the house.

*****

Night 7 PM,

Rudra is roaming in the street with his bag. He hasn't eaten anything from the morning. He has walking here and there. He feels guilty to approach his friends Angad and Pramod. He is clueless to do what next.

A voice calls his name. Rudra turns back and see Soumya there. Rudra is surprised to see her there.

Rudra - "Soumya..."

Soumya - "Yes, It is Soumya. What are you doing here?"

Rudra - "Nothing..."

Soumya - "Is there written anywhere in my face that I am a fool?"

Rudra maintains silence.

Soumya - "Come on, let us have some food."

Rudra - "I am not in the mood of eating."

Soumya - "I know that you are prone to get hungry easier. Don't give any excuses and come."

Rudra - "Please Soumya, let me go."

Soumya holds Rudra's hands and took him to a dhaba and bought some parathas and aloo which is Rudra's favorite. Rudra and Soumya had the food.

Rudra - "If you know what happened, you'll hate me and in fact I myself is hating my existence."

Soumya - "I know what had happened already. Shraddha aunty and I come to your house to check your Dadi. There, we come to know everything from Rohan."

Rudra - "I am a loser and a cheater. I player with a girl's emotions and made my family feel low of themselves. I am just creating problems for me and my surroundings."

Soumya - "You have understood your mistakes, Rudra. Now you have to rectify it. You need to speak to Romi and starts working to earn money. You need to gain the trust of your family members that you lost."

Rudra - "It is not possible, Soumya. I never deserve any apology. You know, I borrowed a lot of money from you to buy a costly ring for Romi to propose her. I was thinking only about myself and now only I understand how others are affected due to me."

Soumya don't know what to say.

*****

Rohan tried calling for Rudra's mobile but Rudra refuses to attend the call. Rohan interrogated his friends Angad and Pramod. But both of them have no clue about his presence. Rohan started searching for Rudra in the streets.

Rohan tried again for his number but Rudra denies again. Soumya looks at Rudra who is denying Rohan's call asked him, "Why are you declining the call?"

Rudra - "I don't have any courage to speak to him or even look at him. I broke his trust."

Rudra weeps silently. Soumya feels bad for him and gives tissue paper.

Soumya - "Rudra, think about his condition. He must be searching for you now. He is very upset that he fought to you."

Rudra feels guilty.

Rudra - "No, I cannot."

Soumya - "Or else, I will call him."

Rudra looks on.

Soumya messaged Rohan through her phone about the location and further asks him to come to Public Garden.

Rohan feels relieved upon seeing Soumya's message and goes to the garden.

Soumya pays the bill for the food and she sits on her scooty and Rudra sits back. Soumya's starts her scooty and they are travelling.

Soumya looks at Rudra's guilt-ridden face and feels bad for him.

Soumya - "Don't think about the same thing, Rudra. Rohan bhaiyya would definitely back you."

Rudra nods his head with a 'Hmm..."

Soumya - "Smile a little, Rudra. Flies won't enter."

Rudra pouts and Soumya smiles. 

The scooter comes to the garden and Soumya parked her scooty nearby. They were about to enter the garden but suddenly a car hits her scooter. Rudra and Soumya looks back upon hearing the sound and shocked to see the scooter lying down. The car was also stopped there and the driver comes out and worries.

Soumya lifts her scooter and checks it. Fortunately, the scooter doesn't have any major damages.

Rudra - "Can't you ride carefully?"

The driver didn't listen, but looks at Soumya as if he had seen her somewhere. 

Driver - "You're Soumya Mukherjee, right?"

Soumya was surprised and blinks how he knew her as she doesn't know him. Without waiting for her reply,

Driver - "I am Ayaan Basu. Bike racer and the Manager of the leading Automobile Industry - Basu Automobiles."

Soumya - "Ayaan Basu... Are you the one who came to my house for seeking alliance with me? Sorry, I was not there in the house and I thought of contacting you but  forgot it."

Ayaan - "Thankfully, you rememeber me, at least now. By the way, throw this damaged scooter and come with me. We shall go for a drive and can even decide about the alliance."

Soumya - "Sorry, Ayaan. I am not coming now as I am with my friend now. He is Rudra, my childhood friend. Even he is a bike racer who has won many races."

Rudra extended his hand while Ayaan ignored it and waves his hair, which irritated Soumya and Rudra.

Ayaan - "Okay, I am leaving. Bye Soumya."

Soumya just nodded. Ayaan took his car and left the place.

Soumya - "This man doesn't know to respect."

Rudra - "Exactly. You deserve someone better."

Soumya - "Firstly, I am not even in the mood of marriage. Don't know how did he get my contact."

Saying this, Rudra and Soumya get inside. They found a bench and waited for Rohan. Soumya cracked some jokes to make Rudra feel better. Its been half-an-hour but Rohan didn't come.

Soumya tried for Rohan's phone but didn't get any signal. So they moved some distance and tried for Rohan. Rohan's mobile rings somewhere near them. Rudra and Soumya were astonished and search for his mobile and found Rohan's mobile behind bushes.

Rudra took Rohan's mobile and wondered how it landed here. Soumya looks some distance forward and signs Rudra upon seeing some shadow.

Rudra and Soumya moved slowly and finds Rohan lying unconscious with bruises and injuries and some amount of blood was spread over there.  

Rudra and Soumya were frozen.

To be continued...

Precap:
Rudra donated his blood for Rohan. Rohan tells that he met with some accident. Soumya and Rudra finds something fishy. Tej worries as the hospital bill is high. Soumya decides to help but Tej politely refused and says that they have sufficient money. Someone said there is no need to pay anything. Everyone looks at the woman. She is Dr. Anjali Sharma, daughter of Nandini Sharma and Pankaj Sharma.