Leenesh.Mattoo.|Rudra.Oberoi|AT#25|Mats.The.Love.Thread.

Till now, we have mainly seen two prominent sides of Rudra, one such is described by Tej Singh Oberoi as follows:

"Rudra ki subha college main, sham gym main aur rat kisi party main." - An apt description? The very first scene of him shows us Rudra enjoying himself in a club surrounded by girls, which is another story altogether: his many "girlfriends". Playboy or Casanova? Probably a little bit of both. Rudra seems to crave attention - be it through his multiple girlfriends whom he most definitely doesn't have any feelings for or be it through his antics at home, childish ideas or demands included. Considering that he is the ignored son within the family since no one really thinks about him as a candidate to the heir title and furthermore, his parents have their own broken lives to take care of. Thus, it is not such a surprise that Rudra seeks to be the focus of other people's attention- at parties, with his girlfriends, through building a Hulk like body (which is a hobby more than anything else as we know that Rudra doesn't particularly like using said muscles nor is he very confident in his physical strength when it comes to fights unless his brothers are there to support him) or, which he most likely enjoys the most, in the presence of his brothers.

And then, we have Rudra, his brothers' laadla:

They love to tease him, to indulge him, to spoil him rotten (Shivaay maybe more than Om) and they have taken it upon themselves to protect him from the darker parts of their lives. The result: He is a cheerful person, a glow of childish innocence has remained intact within him and that same glow manages to light up the world of the older Oberois. They go along with his antics be that praying to angels a la "ghost summoning" style or preparing a meal in the middle of the night or to cancel a dinner with the fiance to go and pacify him after a scolding. They smile when he smiles and sometimes, they laugh at his expenses.

Rudra considers Shivaay his mom, his dad, his hero, everything. Shivaay might not be as approachable to him as Omkara who is more often than not a "partner in crime" to him seems to be but still, Shivaay is not above indulging into childishness with Rudra. Maybe it's the influence of his baby brother, maybe it's that face that can pull off the cutest of expressions - but even Shivaay Singh Oberoi can enjoy himself through pranks with Rudra at his side or pulling Om's leg together. And those indulgent, sweet smiles? Only reserved for his brothers, especially when he is proud of his Rudy, and when there is any danger around the corner, the first names on his tongue are those of his brothers:

Since childhood, he has spent more time in Shivaay's room than his own as Shivaay would make him sleep there when Tej and Jhanvi were fighting- like a parent who keeps their child close and shields it from all the bad things going on around them. When he would be bullied in school or face any other problems, Shivaay would take care of it and thus, Shivaay slowly grew into that invincible superhero for Rudra whom he could always rely on. And when the possibility of his Shivaay bhaiyya dying cut through this bubble his brother had wrapped him in, the always happy and positive person disappeared, replaced by a child vulnerable and scared to death.

Omkara isn't any less for him. On one side, Omkara is that older brother and best friend in one with whom he can joke around, share his crazy ideas without hesitation, gossip about Lady Baba's flaws, whose sculptures he can give away to girlfriends as emergency gifts and with whom at his side he can pull Shivaay's leg. He is that confidant whom he can wake up in the middle of the night and only receive a harmless slap as a repercussion, and whom he can push into the cold water and still rely on to get him out of difficult situations.

On the other hand, Omkara can easily slip into the protective brother mode if the need arises - when facing the possibility of losing Shivaay, the one thing that keeps Om from falling apart is Rudra. He is at his side to slap him out of his despair and hug him to give him strength and assurance, but also to cling to his younger brother in order to keep himself together.

Though, we are yet to explore his more vulnerable side. Even though he broke down in front of Omkara during the hospital scene, the one person whom he opened up to wasSoumya, a complete stranger to him. It is an evidence to his innocence and purity of heart that he trusts a stranger enough to spill his heart's content to them. Even after Omkara's overdosing which surely hit Rudra hard, he kept silent and let Shivaay and Om battle out their demons - only jumping in when the moment permitted to make them smile.

Furthermore, Rudra is very possessive of his brothers. The mere thought of sharing them more than necessary with anyone else especially girlfriends does not appeal to him- he might make light comments on this fact, but you can feel that the fear of losing his brothers is deeply rooted inside of him. So much that he doesn't want them to get married at all because then, they would drift away from him according to him. The mere prospect that Bhaiyya might not get married turns him into this:

Compared to that, the mere prospect that a woman might have a soft corner for his Bhaiyya, turns him into an insecure child Om has to take care of:

And his brothers? He is their baby and comes with every problem to them while Shivaay is the Dad who loves to spoil him rotten and indulge him, and Om is the Mom that wants to steer him toward the correct path. As Om said to Shivaay, it's their job to teach him right from wrong.

And they don't even mind if he squishes them while sleeping:

Aakhir hai to end mein:

"Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts." - Paramahansa Yogananda

Story time! You want to know what we crazy people in Baby's adda get up to? Then keep reading this collab story we wrote in our last AT.

Our boys are even ready to tell their tale if you are ready to listen to it.

Why Puppies Are A Bad Idea.

Part I.

It started with a really simple premise one of us set up (Rev):

I seriously want Rudra to get a puppy and asking Om to help in hiding it from Shivaay. And Pinky will taunt Jhanvi, "Oh my Mata Jethanijii tumharae bete kam hain ke ab issko bhi lekhar aagayae."

Then Shiv scolds his mom not knowing the * puppy* raaz ...he backs his bros leaves pinky stunned. Phir one night as OBbros cuddle in Shiv bedroom... puppy too comes there.

Puppy sleeps under the bed and Shiv spends the whole night sneezing and then he gets worried that he got a cold and kept taking all those medicines. And he worried that OmRu might catch a cold too.

So wat will he do? Wake up OmRu and make them take tablets even though they don't have cold...he'll say you'll will catch it off

Then puppy sounds come...

After seeing the puppy Shivaay says Fhat The Wuck. Puppy in my room, he gives a look to om and Om to Rudra.

Shivay: Rudra I know it's your idea don't blame Om.

Om: It's his easiest way to escape just put the blame on me simple.

Rudra: I know you people don't love, you both love yourselves, am nothing to you people. Am leaving the OM.

Rudra in mind "Yeh kuch zyaada hogaya" am not going to come to you people for other 48 sorry 24 sorry 12 hours.

Thus, Rudra goes and hides away in one of the many, abandoned guest rooms without informing anyone. ShivKara, who hadn't taken his threat seriously, get disturbed by... silence. Hours' long silence which was much louder than Rudra's non-stop chatting.

Where was that little devil?

Shiv: Maybe he's in one of the guest rooms.

Om: What guest rooms? Thought we just have a handful of rooms the way Dadi kept giving it away.

Shiv: We don't have enough staff. I'm already doing the cooking.

Om: Right. So, how do we find him then?

A bark turned their attention back to the puppy.

Rudra suddenly starts feeling suffocation and unable to breathe, he tries hard to get out of the room but because of darkness he can't see anything and stars screaming names of Shivay and Om

Shivkara suddenly starts feeling tensed.

Shivkara: Rudra we know you are here please come out, you can keep the puppy and we are sorry.

No response they calls Rudra.

Rudra: Bhaiyya am not unable to breath.

Dark spots start to flicker in front of him. He tries to feel his way through the room but his legs refuse to carry him- blindly, he hits something and seconds later, the noise of shattering glass fills his ears, making him flinch badly and lose his balance.

Shivaay and Om startle at the noise.

Shivaay: Om did you heard that sound.

Om: It came from this side.

Shivkara: Rudra.

Rudra is unable to figure what's happening with him,he sensed some liquid like thing is oozing out from his head.

Rudra: O, bhayya am here but all in vain.

Shivaay: Where the hell that room is.

Om: It's my fault.

Shivaay: Ours.

Rudra tried to call out, but his head is spinning so fast, he could barely keep his balance.

The puppy suddenly took off and after a moment of confusion, Shivaay and Om ran after it. The puppy stopped at one of the room at the end of the hallway on 3rd floor and started to paw frantically at the door.

Shivkara opened the door.

It's so dark that they can't see anything.

Om: Do you think Rudra will be in this room, he is afraid of these places and darkness.

Shivay: Puppy misled us, let's move.

Suddenly it started pulling Shivay to show something.

Shivaay was the first one to reach the door and burst through it with Om closely behind. Though, the moment he stepped insides, he froze mid-motion. Horror spread through his limbs, paralyzing them. Om gasped at what met his eyes- and within seconds, he was kneeling bext to his little brother's unmoving body, his heart beating frantically in his chest.

Om called out to Ru and got no response at first. Then he heard a barely audible moan and Ru moved his head slightly. That snapped Shivaay back to reality and he quickly called up the family doctor to come to the house immediately, almost shouting at the phone in his desperation.

Shivaay went to Rudra's other side and looked at the huge gash on Rudra's head. Om's chanting to himself, going through the first aid steps he needed to take to assess Rudra's injury. He had taken the course barely a month ago and now all his knowledge are fleeting by him. Om had to take a moment to calm himself.

"Let's get him to my room," Shivaay said tersely. "Doctor will be here any moment."

Om nodded his consent, picked up Rudra and they rushed out of the guest room, the puppy on their heels. And barking non-stop, that little flee bag. It was only a question of time when it would alert the whole house - not that they could care for any of that, right now. On their way, though, Shivaay caught a servant and told him to get rid of that dog, for the time being, at least - hadn't it been around, none of this would have happened!

It's been hour doctor left.

All family members left the room leaving Obbros alone.

Shivay:Om yeh teek hojayegana.

Om:Of course Shivay,don't you know he loves to irritate us.

Tears rolling from their cheeks. They never saw their dumbbell Oberoi lying like this like half dead.

Shivay: It's my fault I could have not snapped him for that puppy.

Om: Not yours but ours Shivay.

Shivay: Why is he not opening his eyes, doctor said he will regain his consciousness after 1 hour.

Right at that moment, Rudra stirred in the bed. In an instant Shivaay and Omkara was at his side. They both held his hands while Rudra struggled back to conciousness. Shivaay lightly caressed Rudra's hair, mindful of the wounded area of his head. Om called out Rudra's name, gently, guiding him back to them.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity, Rudra opened his eyes. Om and Shivaay let out a heavy sigh of relief. They silently offered their thanks to whatever divine intervention that kept Rudra alive. Their happiness was short lived however. When they looked at Rudra, they were not greeted by the exuberant smile that he always give them. They were instead met with a frown and a set of eyes tinged with confusion and fear.

"Hey," Shivaay whispered gently. "You're fine, now. Scared the life out of us, Rudra."

Rudra just blinked at him. His gaze wandered from Shivaay to Om and back to Shivaay, the frown deepening and the shadows of fear in his features darkening more and more. "Who are you?"

"Who are you?"

This one sentence strike very hard to Shivkara that they just froze.

Who are you and who am I?

They came back to their senses.

Shivay: Rudra stop acting, I know you are joking right.

Om: Yes Rudra please stop it now. Shivay agreed to keep the puppy here.

Shivaay mentally coughed.

Rudra: Puppy who's puppy and who are you and who the hell am I?

Rudra pulled his hands from their grasp and struggled to a sitting position. Om immediately reached out to prevent Rudra from losing his balance and Rudra pulled away in irritation. Shivaay was at a loss for words. This couldn't be happening. He cleared his throat and tried again.

Shivaay: Rudra, please. Be angry at us, punish us, but please don't do this. Tell me you're joking. Aren't you sunshine? Please?

Om: It's not even funny Ru. You can do better than this. Stop playing around all right?

He looked at them both. Why do they keep bothering him? His head was throbbing. his memories in pieces.

Who are they? Who am I? They called me Ru- Rudra? Is that my name?

He drew his knees to his chest, wrapped his hands around them and just stared at the two strangers before him, willing for any recognition, any spark of memory to come to life.

Shivay:Om call the doctor immediately.

Om: Shivay I think he is pulling our legs.

Rudra still looking at them blankly. Why are these two behaving as if they lost their life. And who's Rudra.

Am I, but I don't remember anything.

Om cups Rudra face, he is trying hard to control his tears. It can't happen,his Rudra can't forget him.

Om: Rudra please just say you are joking see Shivay is getting tensed and you know how he eats tablets when he gets hyper. Do you want him to do that?

Shivay: Yes Ru do you want me to do that, I will get you whatever you want just say you are joking.

By looking Rudra blank looks Shivkara started feeling more restless

The confusion in his face was honest as was the fear - of not understanding what was going on, of being with supposed strangers, of not recognizing anything or anyone. And the moment Om realized that, he felt as if he was going to suffocate on that realisation. This had to be a bad joke. Tasteless.

"I... I am calling the doctor back," Shivaay said, voice trembling. Omkara had barely time to react before his brother had rushed out of the room, phone in hand. God, he wished he could follow him. Leave this unbearably suffocating silence- but he was scared that upon his return, Rudra might have just vanished into thin air.

Om forced himself to be calm. If it was that hard for him, it must be devastating for Rudra. He slowly looked at Rudra, tentatively smiling at him. He started to speak, realized his voice was trembling and stopped.

No. This would scare Rudra more. Calm yourself.

Rudra: What's your name?

Om was startled. Rudra was smiling at him. A small smile, nothing like his usual one but Om clung to it like a drowning man.

Om: Omkara. But you can call me O.

"O. O." He tasted the letter and decided that he like this shortened version a lot more than Omkara. It was short and sweet. And it made the other smile which suited him a lot more than that troubled frown from earlier.

Shivaay tried to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat though, in vain. It was thick and refused to budge. He cleared his throat, catching both their attention, and dipped his chin a little. "And I am Shivaay," he said, only slightly wincing at how scratchy his voice sounded. "We're... your brothers."

Rudra touched his lower lip with his forefinger. "Who's older?"

**

It's been one week, still Rudra didn't show any signs of recovery.

Shivkara are trying their best to make him get his memory but if they start pestering him, he is getting irritated and snapping them back

Om was in his art studio and Rudra came there.

Rudra: O you are a painter?

He looks back and saw his sunshine there

Om: Come Rudra no am a sculptor.

Rudra: Dhono same hi tho hain,pehlae banao baad mein paint daalo ban gayae painter.Logic.

Logic, Om can't believe he said his logic. That too after a long time. His eyes filled with tears hearing it.

Om: Yes I got your logic.

He smiled at O and asked "Can I watch you paint?".

Om was surprised and smiled gently "You need not ask Rudra, you're always welcomed here. Have a sit right there. Let me know if you feel tired or if you have a headache".

Rudra. That's his name apparently. He's still getting used to it, like it belonged to someone else and not him. Still, things are much better now, compared to a week ago. He shuddered to think of how lost he was back then. How he felt so much fear that it threatened to consume him. Somehow, some part of him urged to reach out to the strangers, to just talk to them.

He decided to ask the one with the long hair his name. The long haired guy was startled, so he tried to smile, to show he genuinely wanted to know.

Then the one with the sad face told him they were brothers. Huh. It made sense in a weird way. Here he was in a room with two strangers and he has never felt more at home.

Then his mind clicked and he blurted out the question. "So, who's older?"

Om blinked, surprised - and caught off-guard by the sudden question. "Huh?"

Rudra raised both his brows impossibly high and put his hands on his hips. "Who is older? I call you O but..."

"I'm definitely older than you," Omkara said, amused. "Much older, in fact."

"And why don't I call you Bhaiyya, then?"

"Because you are a little pain, at times," Om muttered under his breath.

Rudra tilted his head to the side, eyes wide with confusion. "What?"

"I was saying that you just liked it." At least, I think you did. "And you do call me Bhaiyya... when you feel like it." Randomly, at most. "And Shivaay's older than me."

Now, Rudra crossed his arms over his chest. "So, why don't you call him Bhaiyya? That's rude!"

Oh, God. The one time his baby brother approached him after the incident and he decided to be his bratty self. Where was Shivaay?

"Rudra..." Om turned around at the voice. A sigh left his mouth as he saw Shivaay standing at the door. But Rudra remained oblivious to the voice as he continued observing Om's statues with an amused face. Shivaay cleared his throat loudly to catch his attention. Rudra turned and smiled at him. Shivaay's heart fluttered at the smile. At least he smiles.

It wasn't yet the full blown smile that he's used to, but Shivaay takes it gratefully. These days he cherished every little display of affection Rudra gave him and Om.

He still remember the diagnosis from that terrible night.

"Concussion?" Shivaay and Om asked in unison.

"Yes, and quite a nasty one at that. I apologised for not alerting you to the possibility that this could happen." said the doctor, bracing himself for the infamous Shivaay Oberoi wrath.

Fortunately for him, Shivaay's thoughts was too occupied to notice.

"How... What... I mean...What do we do now?" Shivaay asked, voice laden with worry.

"Well, make sure he gets plenty of rest. The recovery time varies, it could be hours, days or months. Expect irritability, mood swings, headaches, confusion and loss of balance. He will be more tired than usual and sleeps a lot too..."

As the doctor rattled on, listing all the symptoms they could expect to plague Rudra in the coming days, Shivaay felt sick.

Shivaay still felt sick to the stomach remembering the doctor's words. And even now, when Rudra smiled at him, he was unable to shake off the unease completely. This just wasn't his baby brother - not fully. This was someone who woke up in a strange body and was slowly feeling his way into the skin.

Slowly but surely, Shivaay hoped.

"What's up, guys?"

Rudra shrugged. "I just wanted to know why O doesn't call you Bhaiyya if you're older!"

Shivaay couldn't help but huff in amusement at that - which turned into a half smirk when he caught Om's desperate look from behind Rudra. "Some people just don't have any manners."

"Excuse me!" Om protested. "That's rich coming from you."

Rudra looked between the two of them, frowning ever so slightly. "But Bhaiyya's always nice!"

And yes, Shivaay felt smug about that, he admitted. Proudly so - whereas Om just rolled his eyes at him. "Thank you. Now, who wants some sizzlers?"

"Mmm...Bhaiya, you are an awesome cook! " Rudra hummed in contentment as he licked the last bit from the spoon. Shivaay's eyes glazed with unshed tears as he heard Rudra praise his cooking. Om gently nudged his elbow and gestured him to serve Rudra some more. Shivaay scrambled off to the kitchen to fill the plate again.

Bhaiya...oh no I dont want anymore. You are so sweet but if I eat anymore I am sure to put up some weight and I dont want that!" Rudra said as Shivaay tried to serve him more. Om and Shivaay exchanged a look and rolled their eyes. of course he remembers that.

"Bhaiya...A lady is standing at the door." Rudra said and the brothers noticed his face scrunched up in an attempt to dig out the face from memory. Shivaay felt Omkara stiffen beside him and followed his line of gaze. He immediately understood the reason for Om's changed demeanor. Swetlana stood at the door her gaze boring down upon Omkara.

"What are you doing here?" Omkara hissed.

Svetlana just raised an eyebrow at him before her gaze drifte to a tensed Shivaay and from him to a confused Rudra. The corners of her mouth lifted up into a half-smile. "Am I interrupting?"

"Obviously," Shivaay said before Om had a chance to retort. "Bade Papa isn't at home, as you should know."

"Oh, I know that," she shrugged. "I just came by to check something."

Om couldn't help the but stiffen at how her eyes lit up. As if she had just found something very interesting. He was pulled out of his thoughts when someone pulled at the sleeve of his sweatshirt.

"O, who's she?"

"No one Rudra. No one you should be concerned about" Om replied, nearly spitting the words in his rage.

"Om" Shivaay said and when Om turned to him, he pointed subtly at Rudra. So much is conveyed in that small gesture.

Mind your tone. You're upsetting Rudra.

Om held his anger in check and turned to Rudra. The boy was looking at him in concern, eyebrows knitting in confusion. How Om hated this lost little boy, how desperately Om wants to protect him.

"No one", Om tried again, gentler this time. "She just works with Dad"

"Oh. Well, I should say hello then. Wouldn't want to be rude" Rudra cheerfully announced

Then to the horror of his brothers and to the delight of Svetlana, Rudra walked up to her, extended his right hand and said,

"Hi. I'm Rudra."

"Hi Son", replied Swetlana with a smile

"Son!" exclaimed Rudra, "You called me son, you know no one here calls me son, neither dad nor mom, bhaiyya and O treat me like a child but I so much wanted to hear this word"

"I will always call you son", Swetlana replied affectionately, then after seeing Om and Shivaaye eyeing her angrily, she corrected herself "You are the son of my boss and its my duty to fulfill all your demands"

"I am the son of your boss too", Om said curtly "and I want you to leave"

Swetlana glared at Om and then left

"Why did you ask her to go O", asked Rudra, "She was so sweet"

"Not everyone who looks sweet is sweet, Rudra," Om said tersely.

Rudra really didn't understand that. Wasn't it simple? Chocolate looked and smelled sweet hence, it was such, too. Why not people? But then, both his brothers looked unhappy with that woman and he did trust them. "Did I upset you?"

Shivaay and Om exchanged surprised looks before the latter shook his head and forced a small smile on his lips. "Of course not. I guess we're done eating, huh?"

"But not done done," Shivaay said. "Let's watch a horror movie!"

Rudra didn't know why the word "horror" had him feel uncomfortable but still, watching a movie with Shivaay and Om? It would be fun! Om, on the other hand just eyed Shivaay suspiciously. "Horror?"

Shivaay nodded. "Anything to try and trigger memories!" - And if nothing else, they would get to cuddle that bundle of energy. It was a win-win.

**

"I told you this was a bad idea," Om hissed at Shivaay.

"I was just trying to get him to remember. I didn't think he would react like this!" Shivaay shot back.

If it wasn't for the shaking, terrified boy currently clutching at his arm, Om would've killed Shivaay. How did he think watching horror movies would actually help Rudra with his memories? How could he put Rudra through that?

Shivaay tried to ease the guilt currently eating him up from inside. How could Om blame him for trying? Om didn't try to come up with ways to make Rudra remember. He kept wanting Rudra to take his time. Shivaay was tired of waiting. He knew he needed something drastic to jog Rudra's memories.

Things had gone wrong from the first horrifying scene they watch. Rudra didn't scream, he didn't even make a sound. His eyes grew wide, his pupils dilated. What worried Shivaay and Om the most was when his breathing started to become erratic. Shivaay called out to Rudra, shaking him gently to get his attention. It took several tries until finally Rudra snapped out his stupor and looked around him in confusion. The minute he laid eyes on Om, he immediately clutched Om's arms and burried his face there, shaking and trembling like a leaf.

Shivaay, a little hurt that Rudra didn't turn to him for comfort, felt as though Rudra blamed him for it. He tried to soothe Rudra again.

He gently carded his hands through Rudra's hair. Rudra flinched but didn't move away. His eyes were closed, face half buried at Om's arms, still clinging tightly.

"Hey Ru. I'm sorry you got scared by the movie," Shivaay whispered. "Are you mad at me? I'm sorry".

No response.

"Come on. You're not being a crybaby are you?" Shivaay teased, using the nickname Rudra hates the most, in hopes of getting a reaction out of him.

Rudra shifted and mumbled something.

"Hmm? What's that? Did you say something?", Om asked.

Rudra sighed in irritation, opened his eyes and looked at Shivaay. And there it is, the pout they haven't seen in days.

"M not a crybaby. I'm your baby."

To be continued next time!

Credit: Rev, Jessi, Sue, Lachu, Preeta and myself. (Shout if I forgot anyone!)