RiKara SS - You and I Collide [COMPLETE] pg 63(19/4) - Page 42

This is one hell of a bitter chapter, but as always, the darkest hour is just before dawn!😃

Enjoy!😳

Chapter 19

Broken heart

The darkness had eclipsed her and the realization was painful. Omkara found his eyes drawn to her again and again, but Ri did not even once return his gaze. His mother had accepted her almost immediately, perhaps it was due to the traces of herself she found in Ri. He had watched the younger woman, embrace the older one, sobbing bitterly as she did so. They had done the Shagun in the hospital itself, while she was still being treated for her gunshot wound, among other things. The Rokha was supposed to happen that evening.

They sat in the car in silence, in their way from hospital, she watched the Mumbai streets pass by, her eyes empty and unfocused. Since that distant day at Bareilly, she hadn't spoken a word. The silence, and that bitter disappointment in her face, was torturing him. Omkara knew she was broken, those memories still gave her nightmares; it killed him to think that had he been a little faster, she would have escaped without her psyche being scarred beyond repair. But he knew she would eventually heal, he had been looking forward to that. However watching her now, resigned to her own world of shadows, he doubted his own choices.

This was her revenge, he knew it without asking.

She was no longer the Ri he had known in Delhi, or saved in Bareilly, she was some different person. She tucked an escaped strand of hair behind her ear, and her bangles jingled. He winced, his eyes drinking her in once more. She was dressed in a white anarkali suit, which had a heavily embroidered red dupatta. Silver bangles adorned her wrist, tinkling with every small movement and jumkhas with red stones dangled from her ears. She felt fake, an illusion that was supposed to remind him of his mistakes every time he saw her.

"You priced me, I will never forget that," she had said, the first time they were alone after the terrible events at Bareilly. "Yeh rishta nahi sauda hai, saude mein dil nahi diya jaata."

Involuntarily his mind reflected back to Shivay, the moment they met again. His brother was awake, adding to the happy atmosphere back at home. Omkara recalled the moment he had hugged his brother, Rudra too had jumped in almost instantly. But Shivay had known, something was terribly wrong. His hazel eyes narrowed the moment Omkara sank to his knees, his face buried in his brother's hands.

"Om Kya hua? Are you alright? Om?"

"It hurts Shivay, god - I didn't know it hurts so much." His voice was muffled against their interlocked hands.

Shivay smiled wistfully, at his younger brother's turmoil, his fingers slowly ran through Omkara's hair.

"Toh tujhe bhi hua na?" His tone was mildly amused. "It was you who said, that when you're in love you suffocate when the other gasp for a breath, your tears fall when they cry? Admit it mere bhai, you've fallen in love."
"Shivay," his tone was gently admonishing as he raised his head, eyes bloodshot and teary. "I can't tell her anything - it will ruin our chances. But I can't see her fainting away, wo tooti hui thi, ab bhikhar rahi hai, and I'm responsible for everything!"

"Om-"

"You don't understand Shivay, she hates me, and punishes herself. I'm such an evil person that I turned the woman I love into a pawn of my game." His voice broke bitterly. "How can I ever expect her to love me back?"

Shivay cupped his face, making him look up into his hazel gaze.

"Tu Bura nahi hai Om, haalath bure hai. These circumstances require desperate measures. If she is breaking apart, hold her together. Make her see your point of view. Pyaar karta hai uss se? Toh pyaar nibhana bhi seekh." He paused. "Now go and wipe your face, you two really are bros," he chuckled, his eyes shifting to Rudra. "Both are crybabies!"

His mind returned to present as he parked the car, the sufis from Dargah filling his ears. Ri looked at him, her hooded gaze a tad bit curious.

"Aap ne ghadi yahan kiyon rokh di?" Her tone was empty, and that word aap, hard hitting. She was not going to forgive him ever, or stop reminding him that everything had changed between them. Her words from yore rang in his ears, tum na bohot achche ho!

Omkara shook his head and stepped down, walked around and opened the door for her.

"Come," he offered her his hand. She placed her hand in his, not meeting his gaze.

The silence between them did not bother him here. It was serene, as they went their separate ways and prayed. His eyes never left her face, as he gladly noticed the same peace had befallen her. He wondered what she wished for, and prayed the god to grant her just that. Perhaps she wished him out of her life, or her own freedom, he did not care. He wanted to see her happy.

"Why did you bring me here?" She asked finally, as they sat side by side, outside. Her eyes were staring ahead, at the sky of pale blue, where setting sun was stroking deep reds and golds. Shell pink clouds scattered towards the edge of the horizon.

"Taare nigahon ke, aasmaan mein nahi milte,

Baaten dilon ki subaan pe nahi milte" He muttered softly, a wistful smile curling his lips.

"I don't fancy asking questions, you're certainly not ready to answer, I think we should leave," Ri stood up, in an instant reflex he caught her wrist and those bangles jingled as she turned around.

"Stay with me," he repeated her words, his dark gaze shimmering softly in the setting sun. Ri sighed, fingers of her other hand reaching to smooth over his hold.

"Kya chahate ho tum?" She sounded exhausted.

"To make a memory," his words were simple enough. "Will you give me a moment of your life Gauri?"

She sighed and sat down, her shoulder brushing against his, wind blowing her hair into his face. Omkara inhaled that familiar fragrance of lavender and mint, lacing his fingers through hers and closed his eyes.

"This is all I can have, I know that." His words were silent, she did not hear him.

"Mujhe dar lagta hai," Ri spoke softly, after a moment. "That I might end up hating you." Some tears hung heavily on her lashes. "I had made up my mind that I would never love the man Ragav chooses for me. Why did it had to be you?"

"I will never ask you to love me," he said casually. "I promise you that."

"And that scares me more," her voice was small. He turned to look at her, those espresso eyes glowing golden in the setting sun. He could drown in those pools of molten fire, the pain spilling over in unshed tears. "I don't want to become another Jhanvi Oberoi." Those words, cut open fresh wounds on their way to his heart. But Omkara said nothing, listening to her talk was better than wondering what was brewing in her silent mind. "I wish I never met you, I wish I never loved you. God - I wish it stops hurting!"

Her hand slid from his, as she stood up. A suppressed sob shook her frame and she folded her arms against her chest, turning away from him. Omkara rose to his feet, biting his lip and fisting his hands to stop them from reaching her.

The breeze played with her hair and the sun vanished, leaving the first handful of stars to welcome the twilight.

"Let me go Omkara, this relationship suffocates me. I can see nothing but storms all around and that darkness is pulling me down with it." She let him embrace her, her head came to rest against his heart. He breathed her in, wordlessly, a soothing hand running through her hair. "It hurts so much to hate you, it hurts more to love. Make it stop, please, make it stop."

**

The eve of finale, and everything is foggy and thick with emotions.

Leave a couple of words, as always looking forward to hear from you.

Sorry for any disappointments.

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Sakura