RiKara SS - Pretty Little Liars - interlude pg 13 (11/5/17) - Page 8

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Chapter 5

To be trusted

The sound of breaking china echoed in the silence that followed. The maid jumped back, her eyes wide with fear. The woman paid her no attention, as she turned back to what she had been doing earlier - broodingly glaring out of the window. Of cause it was barred - just like every other damn opening in this - freaking - prison, but still the breeze and the light that managed to sneak in was refreshing and soothing to an extent.

"Ma'am," the young maid tried to reason, settling the still intact glass of juice on the farthest surface she could find.

"Don't you ma'am me!" she snarled. "Now go and tell your boss, he's not going to get everything his way! Leave now, before I do some real damage!"

"At least the juice -" the maid started again.

"LEAVE!" She shrieked, banging her fists.

The maid left reluctantly, knowing her quota of handling wrath was far from over. This probably was the easiest part - her boss - was demon himself.

Watching her go Annika collapsed in to the snuggly sofa, her face buried against the crook of her elbow. She had resolved to herself that she would not cry - period! But with every passing day, locked up away from the very reason she was alive, it was not an easy job. She wondered where it had all gone wrong. Surely, the world did not get upside down in a fraction of a second, surely there were signs of the storm which she had missed out on, surely she wasn't so wrong to consider Om a friend at the beginning?

It had been three days, trapped here, all she did was replay the events again and again, trying to zero out the moment when it all begun. Trying to find a way out, to fix things. It was true, she was obsessed with fixing things like her husband used to joke. But she couldn't think of anything even remotely suspicious happening before the major show down, right after Priyanka consumed a deadly dosage of sleeping pills.

"It was my sister's fault," she recalled Om's bitter tone. "It was my sister's fault that she came to you, She trusted you to solve her problems, to save her from that monster. Tell me Shivay, what were you doing, when that creep was making my sister's life a living hell?"

"Om," as always her husband tried to reason, his own eyes brimming over with tears of guilt and pain. She knew how broken he was and was surprised that Om couldn't. The regret was plain in his face. " I was trying to help her."

Om laughed bitterly.

"Yeah right, help her by getting her married to that? Don't tell me Shivay Singh Oberoi couldn't find out the man was a trickster, a cruel maniac, don't tell me all your detectives didn't realize he lived in a slum?"

"Oh my mata Om!" Pinky had cut in. "What are you trying to imply?"

"I'm not trying to imply Choti mom," he replied, eyes still fixed on Shivay. "I'm stating that Shivay Singh Oberoi knowingly, intentionally, deliberately, destroyed my sister's life, because he was more concerned about protecting the family name. Am I wrong Shivay? You did this because you thought Prinku was pregnant?" Shivay stretched out a hand to grip Om's shoulder and he jerked it away. "Don't you dare touch me," he stepped back. "It's over Mr. SSO, whatever bond we had, as I feared your obsession with naam, khoon, kandaan had burned it off. My sister almost died because of you, in my book that is unforgivable."

His hair whipped around as he turned his heel and walked off, Shivay chasing after him. Whatever that transferred between them afterwards had sealed the deal of hatred. Annika sighed pulling herself into a ball.

One mistake was all it took, to tumble age old walls of family.

"Annika?" She jerked and looked up, noticing anew how different he was. Om - no - Omkara it was - stood there, his arms folded against his chest and hair pulled back from his pale face. There was no twinkle in his eyes, or any warmth of his old personality. She turned her face away and stared at the opposite wall. "Why aren't you eating anything?"

"Why do you care Mr. Oberoi?" She asked icily. "Aren't I better off dead?"

"Damn," he ran a hand through his hair out of habit than anything else. "Can't you just cooperate for a while?"

"I will never aid a man who tries to hurt my husband, what is it that you're after by keeping me like this?"

"I'm afraid you won't believe even if I tell you," for a moment he sounded almost broken, her heart almost melted at that voice. "Please Annika - Bhabhi, don't make this difficult for both of us."

She turned to look at him, her eyes boring into his depthless orbs. She yearned to see that old Om somewhere inside him. That Om who was her thoughtful and caring friend.

"Do you know how much he loves you? Have you any idea how much you're hurting him?"

"Annika," he clenched his jaw, his eyes squeezed shut for a moment. "Please, keep him out of this."

"What have you done to yourself?" She mused aloud. "Why Om? What changed?"

"Everything," his tone was curt once more. "I don't fancy dwelling in the past, what I am, is what I am, end of story."

"I have nothing to do with this story then," she imitated his tone. "Show yourself out."

"Annika.." he sounded exhausted.

"Leave Mr. Oberoi before I forget that you and I used to be friends!" She ignored him and buried her face in her hands once more, her frame shaking with suppressed sobs. Omkara sighed, his hand almost reached out to stroke her hair, before he stopped himself. His hand balled into a fist so that it wouldn't give up to the temptation of consoling her, he went out, shutting the door with a snap.

There was a pause in which Annika tried to catch her breath, hold herself from completely breaking down and the door opened again.

"Didn't I make myself clear?" She croaked without raising her head.

"Think of your baby," someone said from the doorway. Annika looked up to find Chulbul there, a new plate of cucumber sandwiches in his hand. Annika gave him a curious look. Chulbul walked to her and knelt at her feet. "You don't want to punish him or her, do you?"

"Who are you?"

"I know you won't believe it, but I am a friend, someone you can trust." He offered her the plate. "Please Ma'am, for your baby?"

"No," her tone was firm. "You're another of his minions."

"I'm not - at the least - one of his minions." He pulled a face. "He's not very fond of me - is he of anyone really?" He placed the plate on the stool and clapped his hands together, pretending to think. "I think not. His hobby is hating people right?"

"Then what are you doing here? And why should I trust you?" Annika sounded doubtful. "Why would you help me?"

Gauri sighed stealing a glance at the door which was safely shut.

"I guess I should give you a reason huh?" Swiftly she took off her cap and pulled her hair free of the wig. Annika's eyes widened, as the dark waves cascaded her face. "Now you know my secret." She winked at her. "Please eat something Mrs. Oberoi."

She took one of the sandwiches reluctantly, and Gauri grinned.

"Get me out of here, or please tell Shivay where I am." Annika breathed, biting into the cold piece of bread. Gauri hesitantly gripped one of her hands and squeezed.

"I will, trust me."

**

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