Chapter 5
Retaliate
A sudden chill had over taken her as the conference room burst into a bubble of conversation. She had done it, she had extracted her revenge. Ri looked at the now glaringly blank multimedia screen, where a video clip had been playing a while ago. As the world outside reeled with the news of Rudra Singh Oberoi's secret marriage her conscious curled up within. There was a bitter taste in her mouth. What had this battle of egos turned her into? There was no way he would marry someone who leaked one of their family's biggest secrets, right?
The thought evaporated as soon as she set her eyes on him. He was approaching her, pausing only to exchange a few words with someone on his way, his dark gaze never letting her go. She fidgeted with her fingers, unable to move from where she stood, until he was standing in front of her.
"I want a word," his tone was torturously calm, but a vein throbbed at his throat. He was angry. As she had imagined the revelation did not thrill her. Ri gulped, nodding slightly.
Omkara didn't wait for her to accompany him as he walked out of the conference room and across the reception area, still managing that pleasant facade to whomever that stopped him. Following him briskly, Ri marveled at the impact of his presence on the workers there. You couldn't deny Omkara Singh Oberoi had a certain level of charisma, that compelled you to give him attention. He walked with ease, no trace of the world weighing on his shoulders, his face always diplomatically pleasant, his eyes holding anyone's gaze until he could read what that person thought of him. She could only imagine what had kept him away from business for so long - for this was his natural habitat. This was the world he was born into. Here, he was his father's son.
Gesturing her inside, he closed the door once she had walked into his cabin. Ri watched the blinds unrolling and hiding them from everyone's view with fascination - this was going to be her life - where even arguments were hushed up inside sound proof glass cabins - if she couldn't manage to break things off with him. She let out a chuckle, watching the effect of her actions on him.
"Pathtar ko hum rab samajh beithe,
Aansoon ko moti samajh baithe
Kya kare jab bhool ho hamari
Dushman ko hum yaar samajh baithe" Her tone was cold, as emotionless as his had been. "Toh, did you like my counter attack Mr. Omkara Singh Oberoi?"
When their eyes met once more, she saw the silent storm ranging in his eyes and took an involuntary step backwards. When he spoke however, his tone was weary.
"I want you to stop," he said clearly. "Stop trashing around like a caged tiger, destroying everything senselessly. Whatever you do, you're going to end up married to me."
"I'm not going to stop, not when you think of me as a little pawn in your game. Every time you deceive me into this hell hole, I'm gonna retaliate!"
Omkara banged his fist on the table, effectively silencing her. She drew in a breath, realizing how tight her chest was suddenly feeling, staring at him with her wide eyes.
"Do you have any idea - what you did today? You destroyed someone's chance at love, someone's chance to find happiness with the one they cared for and -" he stopped her before she opened her mouth. "I'm not talking about my brother. I'm talking about the girl whose life you just crushed down."
"Then what about my life Omkara? What about my love?"
A bitter laugh escaped him, as he eyed her darkly.
"I honestly thought we could work this out. But I've never seen someone as selfish as you are. Everything in this world isn't about you Gauri, everything's not about your life, your love, your petty troubles!"
He was so close, that her neck hurt when she looked into his eyes. But he wasn't touching her, she noticed distantly. He was always keeping his promises and she was always breaking his heart. Is this going to be the mantra of their life?
"Next time, take your shot at me." His tone was low and bitter. "Hurt me, damage me, but don't touch my family." Tears pricked at her eyes, as the words my family sank in. He was doing everything for them, wasn't he? "I'm the one who wronged you, take me down." His voice had so much agony that for a moment she pitied him and in the next she recalled what he had done with her trust.
"Yes I'm selfish and if you think you are not, you're sadly mistaken Omkara" Her tone sounded so bitter and reproachful, that she had to swallow before continuing. "What do you think? Just because you're doing all of this for your mother, it makes you mahaan? No, it doesn't; you do it because you can't live without her! Because you can't survive without her. Then how are we different? Yes I'm selfish, I'm doing this for my love, the one I can't live without. And I will continue to; each time you tear us apart, I'm going to steal a little piece of that perfect family of yours."
"Perfect?" he laughed and laughed, until his breathing was reduced to a wheezing. "For a moment I believed we could be friends," he continued bitterly. "I dared to hope that life with you won't be that difficult. But I'm not supposed to hope for anything right? Whoever walks into my life, they bring nothing but pain. You're not the first to hurt me. He chuckled darkly at some unexpressed thought. "Let's do it your way. Let's fight this out."
He opened the door for her to leave and stood aside.
"See you at the wedding Gauri."
**
Thanks for reading!
If I have disappointed you in any way, please forgive me.
A line or two, if you feel I deserved it. I'm looking forward to your feedback and it fuels the writing!
Love,
Sakura
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