Hello friends,
Weekend update below. Please let me know if you are liking this one and whether I should continue. It will be a limited length - based on the seasons as you would have guessed. Also, both Omkara and Gauri are very young, I have imagined Omkara as the first time we saw him in IB - with the wig, innocent looking and Gauri's look is very fresh but gothic, mostly blacks, greys and whites with smoky eyes and kohl lined eyes.
THE ENCHANTED SEASONS
Summer
Part 3: The two sides of summer...there will always be two.
Omkara sat sneezing endlessly whilst Anika was vigorously wiping his head with a towel. Alongside wiping, she was also using the pressure to show Omkara how she felt about this whole event - a fiasco.
"God only knows what you are up to these days? Why do you have to get into trouble every time? Have you sworn to not listen to me at all? Or is it that you want to do exactly the opposite of what I say, always? Anika was reprimanding Omkara, anger dripping from her face.
"Anika di... Omkara opened his mouth to justify his actions but was shut instantly.
"Keep quiet, you. I don't want to hear anything. Look at you, all wet and you have caught the chill as well, in summer! I mean, who would believe it? You are unique, really. And how many times have I asked you to cut your hair? You look like a clown with those locks hanging about you, and what's with the beard and moustache'. Let me remind you, you are only eighteen Omkara, not thirty eight. Or have you forgotten how to count? This is not the time of our ancestors, in case you are pretending to be a High Brahmin with all this long locks and all. How will you even get a girlfriend like this? I am sure girls run hundred miles from you...
Anika carried on with her monologue like an express train, which Omkara was quite used to, he smiled to himself, thinking of the girl, the only girl who he wanted to be interested in him. But before he could get lost in her dreams, Anika poked him again.
"Now, will you tell me, where you have been? How did you get wet? What was the need to get out of the car in heavy rain? She finally got to the point after ages.
"Nothing Di. I just helped a damsel in distress, her car was broken down and I dropped her home. You only taught me to be helpful, right? Omkara tried to get some glory.
"Hmm. Not in your case Omkara. I know, how you ignore most girls in your college, their moms are always mooning you for them. Who is this girl, who you suddenly thought of helping out? Anika knew her brother inside out.
"They are new in town. Her name is Gauri Singh. Omkara left out the last part on purpose.
"Hmm. Is she pretty? Where did you drop her? Where do they live? If they are new in town, I should go and check on them, and also try to recruit them for the annual Pooja. Anika was talking to herself.
"No. No Di, there is no need. Why do you want everyone to attend the Pooja? You are obsessed about it. Omkara countered.
"Obsessed? Omkara! This is family tradition, the Trivedis have been the high priests of Sheesham from times immemorial and after me, you have to carry these traditions forward. We have made many sacrifices to keep our presence, else we would have been extinct by now. Anika was angry now.
"Now, tell me the address of the newcomers. Anika insisted.
Omkara knew he was caught and will not be able to hide the truth from her anymore.
"Woh Di. You will not be able to recruit this one.
"Why? Don't you know about my persuasion skills? Anika replied smugly.
"Di. She is actually Gauri Singh Oberoi, I dropped her at the mansion. Omkara gave in, not wanting to prolong the discussion any further.
Anika's hand became still on his head, the towel dropping from her grip, as soon as she heard the name. Omkara looked back to check on her sister. She stood there, as if frozen, staring blankly at the wall, a small tear was travelling down her cheek from the left eye.
"Di. Di. Are you all right? Omkara was worried. Nothing affected Anika ever, she was very strong, so what happened now?
Omkara had to shake Anika out of her state. Nothing remained hidden from Anika, she was the gossip queen of Sheesham, but somehow she had missed this news.
"Omkara, Omkara, promise me, you will never go there again. You will not talk to that girl, ever.
Anika was frantic by now. She was crying and speaking at the same time. She looked beyond reason.
"Why Di? What's wrong? Why are you asking this? Even Shivaay Singh Oberoi became indifferent and elusive when he heard my full name. What is it? Tell me. Omkara was curious and anxious.
Anika had stopped listening by now. The moment she heard his name from Omkara, she stopped listening. She was not in control anymore. She had to get away; she had to meditate, to get her strength back, and so she left, without answering Omkara. He had no recollection of the events that happened so many years ago, he was sent away, and he was only a child, so he was protected from the truth. She knew Omkara was sensible and obedient, but it was herself she was worried about.
"Why is this happening to me? Why? Haven't I suffered enough? And now, he is back, how will I?
Anika could not get to finish that sentence, not even to herself. She knew she did not have the answer, there was no answer!
At Oberoi mansion, Shivaay was trying to get Gauri to listen to him.
"Bachha, you have to be careful. I have allowed you to go to college only because you insisted so much, but I cannot put you at any risk. Do you hear me? Am I clear on this? Shivaay looked determined.
But he knew Gauri was a stubborn child, more a brat, and it was only his fault. He had spoilt her endlessly, his little sister, the last remaining memory of his father. He loved her like a father; she was his daughter more than a sister. She could demand anything from him in the middle of the night and it would be presented to her. Gauri was his weakness. No matter how he thought about it, how much he twisted the facts, there was no way around this truth, that he would never let any harm come to her, never! He was desperate. He had to protect her, she was one of a kind, their last hope, and he had a feeling that the decision to let her go to college could work against them.
"Gauri. Bachcha. Are you even listening to me? Shivaay was almost pleading now to an engrossed Gauri who seemed lost in her piano notes.
"B. I can't seem to get this tune right. Please help me na... Gauri looked at him with puppy eyes. She called him B short for bhaiya when it was just the two of them.
"Bachcha, first come here, sit next to me. Shivaay patted on the sofa and embraced her when Gauri filled that space.
"You know why we are here, right? Promise me, you won't do anything that can lead to trouble, or reveal our true purpose. Specially stay away from that boy who came to drop you.
Gauri nodded uninterested. "Ok B. As you say, in any case, I am not interested in him.
She knew how to calm her B down, exactly what to say, unlike Omkara with his sister.
Next day, it was an extremely hot and muggy day. In college, when Gauri walked into class, a series of hushed conversations followed her. They weren't actually hushed, some of them, they were loud enough for her to hear. It was mostly jealous girls who wanted Gauri out. They were jealous of her beauty, her style, her power and money. Ever since Gauri had stepped into the college, the boys had stopped taking notice of them, as if they were under some trance, they were mesmerised by her.
"I can't stay in this college, where we have these kinds of people. Someone shouted from the back. It must have been Ishana who sparked the disdain against Gauri once again.
"I know, why does she even need to study? Don't they have enough money and power already?
"I don't think such people should be allowed in educational institutions, forget theology class.
They carried on, as the tutor had not yet entered the class. Omkara was listening to all this, not understanding what was going on. He looked at Gauri, who looked furious but was trying to control herself. She held onto the two sides of her desk, as if directing all her anger there and then something completely unexpected happened.
A fierce gale blew the window panes in, crashing them to the walls and the blackboard was split in the middle, as if struck by lightning!
Omkara looked at Gauri who had her eyes closed, sweat beads were forming on her forehead, her head swinging to one side, it looked like she was about to faint. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, a dreadful urgency, he leapt out of his seat and bent down on the floor just in time to take Gauri's head in his lap.
...END of PART 3 ...
So, what do you think? Liking it so far?
More black magic to come in the next updates, family rivalry etc.
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RoS' Dream Weaves :
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/ishqbaaaz/4967448/rings-of-saturn-dream-weaves-index-of-written-projectsEdited by RingsOfSaturn - 7 years ago
