SS: Looking Too Closely
Swiping at the strand of hair which escaped from behind his ear, he sharpened the edges with a painting knife to create a vivid texture. From the palette he chose a murky blue, combining it with even a harsher black to highlight the impending storm in the nearby distance. Using the sharp edge of his knife, he slathered on a thick layer to accentuate the shadows hidden behind the folds of yesterday to come.
It was not a story he was after, but matter of moments which could alter one life into half.
Being split into halves, he already knew something about how even a minuscule of a second had the potential to catastrophically change a life. He was living such a life, unsure, confused, deliberating his every step afraid to fall into the rabbit hole he'd just gathered his way out of. It was dark and lonely down there even the shadows refused to lurk his way for they knew the secrets he hid in the silent chamber of his heart. They knew his misery, and felt it tenfold even before he could feel it himself.
He who had seen death so closely left the dark terrified because he did not run away or cower like the others.
He stared into the hollowness waiting for it to consume him.
Just as the painting was consuming him now, his mind already dictating his hands where to go, where to brush every stroke, wield every edge, and tarnish any hope fighting to ignite.
''Om--"
As if ready to shatter upon a touch, Omkara froze.
''We're going out tonight. Let's go. " Shivaay felt the tensed muscles underneath his hand and immediately concluded Omkara had been releasing his frustration in the aftermath of the scandalous clip of his father and Shwetlana. "Take a break."
"Shivaay, leave me alone." Dropping the brush from his hand, Omkara stood up. "I'd like to be alone if you don't mind."
"I do mind because you are my brother. Omkara there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you or Rudra, you know that. Today, I let you down by not being able to stop that atrocious clipping from making its way to various news channels. I have let you down, for that reason and many more I cannot leave you alone. I know you are suffering which makes it ten times worse for me because the reason behind your misery is me. I vowed to protect you from any harm."
"I am not a child, Shivaay. Neither are you responsible for the shortcomings of my parents. We already know my father was involved with Shwetlana, now the entire world knows not much of a difference." Omkara said, his words felt like copper on his tongue.
"There is a difference because secrets as long as they stay within four walls eventually fall to their own silent death, but if they are let out they can unimaginable destruction. They become leverage which could be potentially used against us and with the Oberois...a secret let out is a wildfire which can never be tamed."
Omkara let out a humorless laugh. "The Oberoi mansion is as hollow as its inhabitants because we have all learned to live in the burning fire."
Shivaay hated hearing the defeat in his younger brother's voice. Omkara was young and filled with potential yet he allowed his own demons to thwart his path. "Every fire has to die down one day...''
"Not this one, what my father started will only rise further in flames."
Placing a hand on Omkara's shoulder, Shivaay forced him to turn around. As expected even with all the bitterness, tears clung to his lashes waiting for someone to refute his words. "Flames can rise and die to ashes, but I will always be there for you Omkara. Your big brother will always do his best to make sure to protect you. Be it flames, or secrets, I will be your shield."
Unable to control his emotions, Omkara wrapped his arms around Shivaay. Then he cried, softly, wisps of tears, shedding away all his animosity for cruelty of life.
Patting Omkara's hair, Shivaay vowed he would go to the ends of the world to find out who was behind today's incident, then destroy them for the pain inflicted on his loved ones.
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The trio walked into blue haze, their regular spot for a night out. The pumping music, mixed with sweat and heat created a intensity that could felt from miles away. Some came here to lose themselves, others to find companions who were as lost as them, and some sought the thrill of the night hidden behind masks.
"Bro, why don't you ever bring to this place when I am sad?" Rudra asked Shivaay, while his gaze fixated on a girl, sitting on the table across from him. He smirked appreciatively letting her know he was interested.
Shivaay followed Rudra's gaze and found his conquest. He shifted purposely to block his view. "Because when you do things like this who could take you seriously?"
"O-- ", Rudra whined to Omkara hoping he would side with him.
"I am with Shivaay on this, bro. Sorry." Omkara straightened his lips, but then smiled. "Fine, go and have fun."
"No." Shivaay held up his hands. "Tonight is our night. We are celebrating."
Confused, Omkara looked at Rudra. "Exactly what are we celebrating?"
Shivaay gestured for service, turning to his brothers. " Us. This year hasn't exactly been the best for our family but we three have always stuck by each other. "
"As long as my father continues to mess up...'' His words were cut short by the waitress who stopped at their table.
"Hi guys, I am Ishana, your server for tonight. What will you have?"
The brothers rattled off their orders and Ishana left right after.
"Omi Bhai, don't stress. Mom and dad will just have to figure their battles. You cannot fight the wall that has drawn into their relation, none of us can, so my advice is just chill!" Seeing his brothers surprised reaction, he lazily shifted in his chair. "Yeah, I went deep, ocean deep. Watch out world Rudra Oberoi is on to you." He grinned, holding up his collar.
"Rudra, is that really you?" Omkara checked his forehead, than his hands. "No fever. I think our Rudra has finally seen the daylight."
"Well, twenty two years of wait isn't that bad." Shivaay commented teasingly. "Our little brother is finally growing up."
"Next time---" He began to warn, but quietened down feeling gentle slaps on his head from both brothers.
"You were saying something?" Omkara laughed, generously at Rudra adorable miffed expressions.
"I was saying..."
"Your drinks." Ishana announced setting down the tray. She quickly glanced at the brothers, and resumed placing the drinks. "Will that be all?"
"For now." Rudra replied.
Ishana turned to leave, but collided with Rudra's chair. She clumsily caught onto his arm in a nick of time saving herself from the cold, hard floor.
"Are you okay?" Omkara inquired, helping her.
Ishana nodded. "Sorry." She bent down to retrieve her notepad and in the process stuck a small black chip against black mocs. Standing up she patted her black skirt, again apologizing to the brothers as she took her leave.
Omkara slapped Rudra who was looking at the waitress, more so at the sway of her hips.
"What?" Annoyed, Rudra faced Omkara. "She's pretty and she fell on top of me. Don't tell me to remain unaffected."
"She is merely a waitress." Shivaay stated, his tone dry.
"Waitresses are human as well." Omkara defended.
"I was only saying her class is not worthy of being noticed."
"Shivaay, don't measure a person's worth in status...at the end of the day we are flesh and human. Which means the same heart beats in all of us. "
"Status makes a person. Tell me something Omkara, why do beggars on a street go unnoticed? There are thousands of them on the streets yet it is as they don't even exist? We may all be humans but we are divided, and every person associates with those worthy enough to be seen or at least their equals. So, if you can't been seen, you fade into an oblivious tantamount to being non-existent."
Omkara shook his head knowing well enough it was impossible to change Shivaay's mind.
"To us." Rudra raised his glass and toasted to his brothers.
They celebrated their unique bond with fervor and joy, while in the nearby distance Ishana watched them narrowed eyes scrutinizing their every move. Their laughter pricked her eyes. The shine in their eyes forced her hands to clench. Their bond made her want to shatter every glass around her.
The Oberoi's had stolen her parents from her. Her childhood. Her home. Her beliefs. Her support. She had nothing but herself, and the one thought of surviving to cripple the Oberoi's.
Today she felt closer to her goal than she had in years.
They thought they were good chess players especially Shivaay Oberoi, but he didn't know she had mastered game from the age of eight when she had been tossed from one shelter home to another. She learnt chess was never about winning, it was always remembering you were playing a game.
Only a game, Ishana repeated to herself as she tucked away a USB into her pocket.
[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3Zb_4ZOM7M[/YOUTUBE]
This song inspired this rambling of an OS!
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I am so intrigued by Omkara's character. To me he is the most interesting from the lot of them. So naturally when I did not feel satisfied by the last couple of episodes I had to write a OS to put into words what I wish had happened.
Let me know your thoughts!
Naagin 7
Tum Se Tum Tak
