Ishqbaaz FF: As Good As It Gets. Update 6/12 on Pg6

Enough! He yells as he raises his hand to stop his mother. He's had enough. It's been a long day and he wants this to be done with. Now that the cat is out of the bag, may be he will take Rudra up on that offer to sleep next to him.

'I chose to marry her. It was my choice. Mine.'

His words linger on in the space between him and the rest of the Oberois. They are shocked. He can see it. They never expected this to be his choice. Shivaay Singh Oberoi's choice. He doesn't want to elaborate. It's hit him bad. His 'family size ego', she had once called it, has been hurt. Shivaay Singh Oberoi had been left at the altar.

There had been no love between him and Tia. Never. What they had was an amiable acceptance of who the other person was and each of them knew exactly what was expected of the other. It was Comfortable. Comfort. He who had been used to all the comforts in the world, was comfortable with Tia.

Anika on the other hand made him uncomfortable. For the first time he had contemplated losing. For the first time he felt like he could just be. Not a protector, not the wall, not a fighter, Not Shivaay Singh Oberoi but just Shivaay. Be just Shivaay. Like his mother's six year old with mopey hair and an untucked Shirt. Which is why this just wouldn't do. Anika wouldn't do. Discomfort wouldn't do. And so it was comfortable to shut his heart out and use his brain. The brain always made you do things which enhanced comfort while the heart just brought hurt and discomfort.

He is now ready to leave the scene before the family regains the use of speech. He steps away and leaves them with a few words, a bare excuse of an explanation 'I forced her. This marriage will be over tomorrow. The divorce won't take long to process. Ill give her a good alimony, more than she can imagine. I needed to marry her to save the family's reputation. Tia developed cold feet. I had to do what I had to. I was not going to be made a mockery of like Siddharth Vikram Rana. It's a shut chapter which needn't be discussed anymore. Please get someone to drop her home. Goodnight'

His words are cold and emotionless. He looks at Rudra and avoids Om. He is upset with Om though he is sure Om will follow him anyway. They'll have to talk about this. He walks away and the entire family hear the door to his room closing. His words are final.

Nobody knows what to say or whom to blame. Pinki crying desperately is dragged away by her husband. Tej decides it's best to retire to bed before he's expected to give an opinion and is dragged into the whole melodrama that could arise with pinki, his brother and mother. His wife pauses as she follows him out of the hall with a look at her eldest son. She trusts him. She knows he'll do what's right. She wants to help the poor girl who she's sure from the tears in her eyes and the droop in her ever proud gait, is here against her will. She wants to slap her nephew. How could someone who loves his own family so much be so heartless towards another? Where did they go wrong with bringing him up? Weren't all the four brought up together? Personalities may differ but this... this wasn't alright. They'd gone very wrong. She didn't think she could look at Anika again out of shame. She didn't think she could look at Shivaay again out of disappointment. She walks away secure in the knowledge that her eldest will never do this to anyone. A differentiation she has earlier never made.

Dadi and the children of the family look at the new bride. She cries and she is alone. Nobody knows what to say or what has happened. Shivaay's departure has left no opportunity to discuss anything further. The new bride doesn't look like she wants to talk about anything either. Omkara decides it's time . He knows his brother expects them to follow him. But he cannot. His brother has disappointed him in more ways than one tonight and he's not going to let him think what he's done is excusable. He tells the girls to take dadi to bed. She's had a long day. He tells Rudra to go to their brother while he drops Anika off.

Rudra refuses. He is worried more for Anika didi (or should he call her bhabhi?) right now. Shivaay and his cold words have scared him. He's never seen anyone so emotionless and he is Tej's son. He doesn't want to go to his eldest brother alone and face truths which he may not want to hear right at that moment. Truths which may disgust him and possibly bring his superman down in his esteem. He's not yet strong enough and now he realises that he may need to grow up sooner than he expected.

Omkara doesn't force Rudra. He knows the baby brother is afraid. Afraid to find out that his superman isn't really super after all. Is flawed. Is human.

Dadi can't bring herself to say anything, she holds Anika's hands. She doesn't want to ask her to stay, at least not right now. Not until she knows what has happened. The girl is someone who could make her grandson happy. So happy. She knows that. She has seen that. In their fights and in their nok-jhoks. She saw that in his care and her comfort. She saw that in his becoming a child again and her being the reason. She saw that in his eyes and her smile. However, right now his eyes are cold and her smile is gone. This is not how they should be together. Not forced. Her late husband would be so upset if their grandson was a disappointment of a lover. No, she would find out what happened. Tonight, everyone will think. Think over what they've done and what they want. Tomorrow will be the day to talk.

She leaves the room with a kiss on Anika's forehead. This is her acceptance of the new bride, her happy acceptance.

Omkara leads the way as Rudra holds Anika's hand and provides a younger brother's comfort to her. He's like Sahil, she realises with a jolt, but without the brains. She is suddenly assailed with the need to laugh. Rudra and Sahil what a pair they'll make. Sahil would probably teach Rudra a thing or two. Rudra would probably not understand that either. It'll be a riot - the puny little Sahil and dumbbell Oberoi.

An Oberoi.

That's what she is right now. The grin on her face disappears.

A part of her wants to tell them that she'll be fine going home alone and that they should be with their brother. Then there is the other part of her, the more dominant part which needs and craves the comfort of these two brothers. They feel like her own. They chose her today. For that she is grateful. They didn't abandon her. They meant it when they said she was family. They are showing it to her today.

For him though, they were probably just words. Family. Just words to him. Words which she had taken too seriously. Her grip on Rudra's hand tightens.

As they get into Omkara's car, they don't notice the lone figure standing on the verandah by the pool of his room watching them. As Omakara pulls the car out of the driveway, the figure suddenly feels like he's lost all that he has ever earned.