Promises[MalliKara/ShivIka SS] (Chapter 2 Pg 11)11/11

"Mallika you need not leave like this," Shivay told her for the umpteenth time.
She was standing at the main entrance of the Oberoi mansion. One hand on the luggage while the other was clenched in an attempt to stop anymore tears from escaping her eyes. She was facing the entrance so that no one could see her struggle.
"You can stay here as long as you want."
She turned around making her soft brown curls bounce.
"And what? Let the media blabber about how I ran away from my own wedding straight to my ex-boyfriend?" she asked him. "You'll be dragged into this mess too."
"Mallika we are friends no matter what-"
"But the media will never show it that way. I need to leave this house."

She looked around at all the three brothers. Shivay was tensed and helpless because he knew she was right. Rudra being the youngest was just sad to see her go. She then looked at Om, the middle brother. He had a very unreadable look on his face. As if many thoughts were swirling in his head.

"I need to go," Mallika said and headed towards the open door.
She stopped midway and it struck her. She had one last thing to do before she left. She turned around to find only two brothers out of three. Om was no where around. She let go of the luggage and walked back.

"I knew you would calm down and listen," Shivay said, relieved.
"I have one last thing to do before I leave," she said.
The two puzzled brothers watched her walk into the house wondering what she was talking about.

***

Mallika stopped when she reached the artist's room. She slowly walked in to see Om sit by the window. He was immersed in sketching something. She was right behind him and looked over his shoulder to watch him sketch a girl. She looked like she's walking away.
"Is she wearing an salwar suit or a dress?" Mallika asked.
"I heard you come in," Om said with a smile as he looked up to see her tear stained face.
She sat down next to him and took the sketch from his hand.
"That didn't answer my question," she said. "By the way who is she?"
"Not important," Om said promptly.
Om is not the one to lie. He is too truthful for his own good. Mallika raised an eyebrow at him surprised by his too soon a reply.
"What?"he said. "It isn't, not right now."
She looked back at the drawing of the girl.
"This has a bit of sadness all over it," she said.

"Now you know how Siddharth feels about you running away on your wedding day," Om said.
That broke Mallika's heart a little more. She handed the sketchbook back to Om and got up to leave when he grabbed her wrist.
"Mallika," he said. "We are friends. I see how much it hurts you to be away from him."
She sat down again, trying to blink back the fresh tears.
"It's complicated," she said.
"Anything that's complicated can be solved by talking," Om replied.
"His mother needs to understand that there are two people in this marriage and she can't treat me like a side piece who is born to just take care of her son."
"Then tell her that."
"Are you serious. She'll kill me or worse, she'll make Sid call of the wedding."
"Truth always helps," Om said calmly. "And if what you say is true and Sid loves you then he'll support you."
"When I told him about this he just told me to adjust-"
"Actions speak louder than words" he interrupted.

Mallika sighed.
"Why are we talking about this. I'll start crying again," she said.
"You are done crying. You did that lightly scratching your nose thing," Om said as he lightly scratched his nose to imitate her.
"What?" Mallika said rather surprised.
"You have a habit of lightly scratching your nose when you are done crying," he said.
She smiled but was also a little puzzled. "How do you know that?"
Om's face showed that he just said something he shouldn't have.
"Om?" She said and raised her eyebrows.

"Well" he started. "Iused to have . a small crush on you."
Om rubbed the back of his neck while Mallika started laughing.
"What?" She said admist her laugh and then noticed that Om still looked embarrassed.
"Oh my God! You are serious," she said and started laughing again and Om joined in.
"When was this?" she asked after both their laughter died down.
"Long time ago," Om said stretching out the word long. "I was a teenager with a school boy crush on a pretty girl who ended dating my brother."
"And you love your brother too much that you never told me," Mallika completed with a smile.

"Yeah," Om admitted."But you both seemed happy and now I'm with Riddhima."
"I don't know why everyone thought Shivay and I were happy," Mallika said. "And coming to Riddhima. That's why I'm here."

Now it was Om's turn to be puzzled.
"I've noticed you both and it doesn't look like things are going well," Mallika said.
"Well, Shivay told me that in relationships there are changes-"
"Firstly, I can't believe you are considering the relationship advice from Shivay," Mallika interrupted. "Secondly, what I saw didn't look right."
Om stopped taking waiting for Mallika to continue.
"People to change people but that's because they love each other. Not because one forces something on the other."
Om nodded contemplating what she was saying.
"I used to be such a workaholic but after meeting Sid, something changed. I started giving more time to bonds and relationships and it didn't happen because he told me to do it. It happened because I fell in love. I never felt forced to change but before I knew it my live for him did change me. Not all of me, just some things."

"Riddhima-" Om started.
"Riddhima is forcing this on you. She shouldn't be the one bringing pink cushions for your room," Mallika interrupted once more as she gave an annoyed look when mentioning the cushions.
"Moreover, she shouldn't be buying you cloths and then video chatting with you too frequently to make sure you are wearing it. It's unhealthy."

"Then what should I do my love guru," he said folding his hands in front of her.
Both of them grinned at this.
"Promise me," she said. "Promise me that you will not be in a relationship when you feel suffocated. You are an amazing guy and you deserve better."
Om nodded his head slowly.
"That girl; she's out there somewhere," Mallika continued. "Go find her. Maybe she's that girl you were sketching."

She took the sketchbook and showed the drawing to Om. He smiled at his work and then at his friend as she smiled; her dimples showing.

"I will, if you promise me that you will go straight to Siddharth and sort things out. Go get your happy ending."

They both smiled.
"I'm never going to lose a friend like you," Mallika said.
"Never," Om replied, shaking his head with a smile.
She hugged him and he returned the gesture.
"I'll miss you all."
"We'll miss you too Mallika."

With that she walked out of the room. She peeped back in to see Om looking at his sketch of the woman walking away with a tinch of sadness on his face. She smiled and wished that he finds that woman and she never walks away from him ever again.