RiKara SS - Everything I Do - Pt22, 23 pg67 (18/7/17) - Page 40

Chapter 14

Remains of us

A week went by; and then a few more days. For the entire time she had spend in her maternal home; Ri has spoken only one sentence.

"Aap kush hai papa? She asked her dad, right after walking into the house like a soulless corpse and meeting his gaze with her shell like eyes. She had not waited for his reply, instead went inside, brushing past the stunned old man and dragging her luggage after her. Omkara had insisted on taking them for her, but she had turned him down at the gate. There was something harsh in her icy tone that discouraged any arguments. She was exhausted of both running and fighting. She had not been exaggerating when she said she needed a time out.

She sat in her favorite corner by the window sill of her old room, drawing patterns in the cold glass with a nonchalant finger. Not answering phone calls, or the knocks on her door; leaving untouched plates of many meals.

She wondered if he will come to take her back to that hell of a house or his family would finally convince him of the infertility of their relationship. Ri did not know why she had ran from the Oberoi Mansion, why those words had broken something inside her. She had always wanted Omkara to realize their relationship had no future, now that his family itself was doing it why was she suddenly feeling hurt? It's not like she did not want to let him go, in fact she agreed with them, he needed someone who can heal him; not someone wounded themselves. He was better off without her.

The waves brushed her feet, as her toes curled into the sand. She had been standing in that place for too long, watching the rippling waves chase after one another to the endless line of horizon and listening to the mindless giggle of the waters. One step further, made no difference, ten more still did not matter. She wasn't trying to drown herself; no; that had never been part of the plan. She was trying to force her body to feel something, force her brain to snap out of the shadows of self loathing it had retired to. Feel a bit of adrenaline, a desire to stay alive. It did not come; not when the water raised up to her waist. The salty air slapped against her cheeks, the water neither warm, no cold.

The sloping sand beneath her feet, felt welcoming than ever, the ripples calling out, the horizon closer; she almost took the next mindless step in, completely losing herself in the abyss of heavy emotions. But, someone gripped her shoulders, whipping her around, a pair of arms held her in a tight embrace.

"Pagal ho? Omkara barked at her, his dark eyes faded to caramel brown in the sunlight. "What where you trying to do? It took her a moment to find her voice, another to finally sum up her answer.

"I was looking for myself.

He looked at her as if she had lost her mind; she probably had, but it did not matter. Without another word he dragged her back to the beach, one of his hands remaining securely wrapped around her shoulders. It took Ri an entire minute to realize she was shivering, her teeth clattering together. Beside her, Omkara was trembling in fury, his jaw clenched.

Although she struggled his grip did not relent, instead she looked into his burning gaze and spoke.

"Didn't you get the document I sent?

"I did, he bit out the words, holding her against the cold frame of his car. "And I want you to tell me what you want me to do with it.

"I want you to sign it, she said simply. "Be free. I've entered a clause agreeing to give half my property in alimony, that should keep your dad happy, right? You're no longer bound to this curse of a relationship with a characterless cheat, Omkara.

"And, meanwhile what will you do? He was venomous. "Go back to him? His tone was suddenly so bitter that his words made him choke. When she met his gaze her eyes were ablaze.

"How does that concern you? His words had cut something inside her and the hurt tainted her words. He watched her for a moment more, as she blinked away some furious tears. "Sooch lo jo sooch na hai. I don't care! Humein divorce chahiye!

"Nahi milenga, he sounded as stubborn as she was. "I told you didn't I? Sab kuch "

"- Milenga aazadi nahi, she repeated his words. "I can't play this game anymore. I'm too tired, I've lost too much. Let's just end this here. Take it. Sign it and just leave Omkara.

He reached in for something inside the car and pulled out the file she had sent him, thrusting it into her shaking hands. Ri flipped it open, her eyes skimming the content. There on the dotted lines was his bold signature; right where she wanted it.

"Kush? Now, let's go. His tone was strained, for the first time she noticed the bags under his eyes, the weary look etched into his features. His eyes held secrets she was no longer privy to.

"What do you mean? She asked bewildered.

"You don't get divorced just by signing Gauri. Itna law toh mujhe bhi pata hai. It will take at least three months, and until then you are still my wife. He did not wait for her to grasp his words, instead snatched hold of her wrist, pulled open the car door and shoved her inside. "Aur tum mere saath chal rahi ho, abhi!

"Stop! Stop it! She yelled, struggling unsuccessfully against his grip. "I don't want to go back to that house!

He stopped and his eyes bored into hers.

"We're not going to Oberoi Mansion. He sounded so calm and serious that she was momentarily taken aback.

"Then where are we going?

"You'll see.

**

She had read in a magazine that no one knew where Omkara Singh Oberoi kept his secret studio the place he retired to when he was running out of inspiration the place where he vanished for long periods of hibernation. An odd kind of thrill ran through her spine as the idea hit her; this was his secret hideout and he was sharing it with her. Smokey blue and gray hills greeted her eyes from every direction, capped with feathery snow and dusted in wintery silver sunlight. The yellowish grass under her feet or the conifers on the edge of the landscape sang of a winter gone by. Himachal in all its glory lay before her eyes.

He had not said a word for the entire time she stood at the French doors of his studio, taking in the surrounding and oblivious to his presence. But she could feel his eyes on her, the warmth that radiated from his body. Finally she turned around to acknowledge his presence, her eyes sweeping across the stone sculptures that stood abandoned around them, frozen in artistic postures and observing them with empty eyes.

"If you think the scenery will heal me, you're sadly mistaken Omkara, she said the words flatly, dismissing the hurt that flashed across his face.

He was driven by his guilt, she could see it clearly. It bothered her, that he thought of her like some broken statue he was supposed to patch up. She had understood the reasons behind his actions, leading to their marriage he had not wounded her. Ri was beginning to realize that his pity burdened her, suffocated her until she was forced to run. She did not want to be his latest charity project. So instead, she hardened herself and looked into his agonizing gaze and maintained her cold, indifference. His pity would not heal her and Ri did not bare her wounds to someone who could not heal them.

To his credit, he took it in stride and shook his head at her.

"We're not here for the view, he said simply, stretching out his hand for her. "Come I'll give you a tour.

Ri folded her arms firmly across her chest and shook her head, before turning back towards the window.

"Just leave me alone, she said shortly, "I'm fine as I am. Suddenly feeling overwhelmed she collapsed on one of the stone benches lined up against the windows. "You think it's easy? Her words were ripped from her against her better judgement. Something bitter and bottled up, finally finding its way out. "D'you think it's fun to break and mend? What am I to you, Omkara? Some broken sculpture that you're gonna patch up?

"You're my wife, he simply replied, a world of meanings compressed into that simple three words. She inhaled a broken breath, holding a sob from escaping.

"And that gives you the right to write my destiny? Decide when I should heal, when I should laugh or cry?

"I'm sorry Gauri " his voice was equally weak, the guilt choking him up. She blinked at him, suddenly finding her answer.

"This is your repentance? To rid yourself of your guilt, you wanna make me better? She sounded empty, suddenly disappointed. "Then why don't you give me what I want? Why don't you free both of us from this unwanted bond?

He knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his. When she looked into them, his dark eyes had a look of determination in them. It was a warm look, that invited her to drew courage from him, depend on that hold he had on her something that she never wanted to do.

"Get it all out, his words were quiet against the undisturbed silence in the vast studio, but loud in her head. "Pour it out Gauri don't let the pain simmer inside you until it rots the very core of your soul. Cry curse, scream let it go!

Tears poured out like acid, burning her eyes, then a path down her cheeks, dripping in to the back of his palm. His own eyes were wet, when their gazes met again.

"Why can't I forget him, Omkara? Why does it hurt so much? He deceived me, he lied I hate lies! Then why do I always end up thinking about him why do I always end up dreaming of him?

Raising his hand, he tucked back an escaped lock behind her ear and let his hand rest on her dump cheek.

"That's cause you love him, he said gently. "Wounds of love never heal Gauri, they simply stop hurting after a long long time and then you're ready to get wounded again.

Ri stood up, his hold sliding around her hands, her eyes staring aimlessly out of the window.

"I can never give you what you want Omkara, she said in a hallow tone, wind filling the gaps between her words. "I can never heal enough to heal another.

With those words she briskly walked past him, out of the gallery and up the stairs, bolting shut the door of her room before he even managed to start following her.

**

Three days ago...

For almost a day, Shivay had been driving. The streets of Mumbai had suddenly started to seem like a wicked maze that had swallowed every trace of his brother. He had gone to all his frequent spots; checked on Gauri's place twice over; but both of them had vanished from the city in a matter of hours. He leaned against the car, staring at the dusky sky outside Omkara's gallery, suddenly feeling the exhaustion hitting him in full strength. He felt weary and defeated. He couldn't shield his brother from the harsh reality of his life.

Every time he closed his eyes, Omkara's bloodshot eyes loomed into his vision. There was a look of betrayal in their depths, something broken beyond repair within his soul. When he had stretched out his arm to grab his shoulder, his brother had stumbled back, shaking his head.

"Tujhe patha tha, Shivay? His tone was low. Shivay knew Omkara was daring his answer and praying he wouldn't say the words he did next.

"Yes. But Om I "

He gestured Shivay to be silent, rubbing some moisture off his eyes.

"All these years, I cursed Mr. Oberoi for hurting her, for each of her tears. And now, you're telling me I was half responsible for all that?

"Aisa nahi hai Om! He interrupted sharply. "Badi maa loves you!

"Why? Why should she love me Shivay? You know what? Now I realize why she continued to descend in to that darkness. It was because I was always in front of her eyes, reminding her of all his deeds, opening her wounds every day!

"Om " he didn't know what more to say, as he looked around in search of the right words Shivay saw Rudra leaning against the door. His face was white, eyes widened with fear.

"Aap jaa rahe ho O? He asked weakly. "Where are you going? Why are you leaving? In a few strides he crossed the distance between them and pulled his younger sibling into a hug, pressing a silent kiss into his hair. "Don't go O, Rudra continued. "This changes nothing right right bhaiyya? He looked at Shivay over Omkara's shoulder. "One leaked video can't break us apart right?

"Mujhe jaane de Rudra, Omkara said quietly. "Give me some time to make peace with myself.

"Aur Gauri? Shivay asked. "What are you gonna do about her?

Omkara picked up a folder from the nearest table. Shivay had seen him receiving it the day before and the dark look that had crossed his brother's face as he read the papers.

"It seems that she has made her choice, Shivay.

**

Waiting keenly to know your take,

Thanks for reading,

Sorry if anyone's hurt or disappointed.

Love,

Sakura