RiKara SS - Girlfriend pt3 pg12 (31/7) - Page 4

Before you dive in to the first update below, there is a few things you need to know. First of all this is hugely alternate universe or shall we say alternate timeline? For this story runs in 2015 that is well before we know Obros, and in 2007 when Omkara was a teenager. I've taken the creative liberty to assume he was 19 back in 2007 making him 29 in the present day 2017. Since I don't want to involve the Annika angle in Shivay's life so early in this story I've set the starting point in 2015 we'll go back and forth during the course of this story.

According to me, this deals with that dark phase of O's life we don't know much about. This was when Shivay was abroad for his higher studies and Tej was as usual up to no good. During the course of this story you'll learn how Tej went from dad to Mr. Oberoi and Shivay turned into the gravity point of O's life. We'll stop at present day once the past recollections are delt with.

I hope you enjoy!

Chapter One

Wo peheli mulakaat

2015, Mumbai, India

Shivay Singh Oberoi had just touched down, back from another round of negotiations in Perth, about the latest of Oberoi Hotel Projects. He was tired, a little drowsy and extremely glad at the way the talks were leading however seeing the lights on, in his brother's studio was nonetheless pleasantly surprising to the eldest Oberoi scion. Rudra was still in Delhi, involved in some basketball tournament and Priyanka was probably asleep. There was no doubt that it was Omkara, Shivay was looking forward to meet.

He knocked gently at the door, already catching a glimpse of Omkara at the opposite end by his work table, drown in a pool of luminous light; the rest of the studio was lost in pitch darkness, more like a tactic of keeping him from distraction. As usual, the bespectacled artist did not hear his brother, as he continued to sandpaper the rough edges of his latest sculpture. It was not until Shivay had walked in and uncaring of his designer dress shirt, leaned his elbow against the dusty worktop, he noticed the shadow of his brother. The brilliant grin that cracked his lips was unmistakable.

"Shivay!

"Back before your big day, as promised! Shivay said, pulling his brother into a brief hug and patting his back. "All set?

"Hmm, Omkara removed his glasses, setting aside the sandpaper and rubbing his hands together to rid them of the thin sheen of dust clinging to his palms. "This needs a bit of smoothing off before packing away. I need to get it done fast if I am to take the next day off, his tone was vibrant with excitement and it brightened Shivay's mild gray eyes. But his gaze turned softer at the ending of Omkara's little statement.

"So you won't be spending this birthday with us either? He asked softly, eyes focused on one of Omkara's chisels on the worktop.

Omkara exhaled softly, finding his brother's gaze locked upon him, his lips twisted into a mild smile.

"I know you don't mind, Shivay. He said then, pulling his hair free from the hasty pony he had pulled it into.

"It's the most I could do, Shivay's voice was silent, as he replied. "You know, I still feel, I failed you...I failed both of you. If I was here, if only I was...

"If you were here none of it would have happened, Omkara said softly. "True...but then perhaps I would not have met her. Then perhaps I'd not have so many beautiful memories. He smiled again. "You know, I heard something very meaningful recently, Kuch daage toot thi hai, nayi sapne bunne ke liye, kuch log bicharte hai, hamsafar milne ke liye...

**

2007, Mumbai, India

"All passengers... the last announcement rang through the airport premises as the two

hugging brothers finally broke apart. They had the same thick dark hair, one's slightly longer

than the others and tied in a stylish low ponytail. The other a head shorter with stormy gray

eyes held his shoulders squeezing them for a moment. Both looked at each other desperately,

with eyes that held a series of unexpressed conversations and longings but stepped back

increasing the distance between them.

"I gotta go, Shivay said, running a nervous hand through his hair, his eyes still lingered on his

brother's face, with worry. He did not like seeing Omkara like this, his features sunken and eyes full of brewing pain, the pallor of his skin had Shivay at the throes of concern, yet he chose not to comment on anything at the moment and instead returned the half hearted smile his brother offered him.

"Till next summer then, Omkara gave him a curt nod, digging his hands in his pockets. "Shivay, he added after a thought. "I'll miss you!

"Me too, Shivay replied in a tone choked with emotions and reached out to ruffle his brother's hair. "You'll go straight home, now, right? Omkara gave a half shrug, half nod and a made an incoherent sound from his throat, that could either mean yes, or no. "No Om, no more sleeping in the studio, Shivay said firmly. "Promise me you'll go home, promise me!

Omkara rolled his eyes at his brother's authoritative tone and shook his head. When Shivay

didn't retreat, he sighed hunching a little. "Fine...if you want me to go mad in that madhouse!

"Om!

"Don't Shivay, just let it be, Omkara said gesturing his brother in demand to end the conversation. This had been their debate for the entire summer; Omkara and his detachment from their joint family. Shivay would not have been much worried, had his brother been living off by himself decently, probably off in an ivy league university. What worried him was the dark aura that had permanently attached itself to his brother and the rumors did not please him. He had tried for the entire stretch of his holidays to get something out of his brother, anything, that would have helped him judge the situation. But Omkara was being his usual adamant self, had shut all the doors leading to his inner turmoils...there was no way, Shivay could read what went inside his head anymore. This new development scared the older Oberoi son, for as if from a sense unknown he knew that his brother was slowly slipping away from his hold and he feared that this was a part of the last time he ever saw his om.

"Okay, he accepted the defeat in the end. "But think of the people who need you Om, think of

our family.

"Call me once in a while, Omkara said suddenly, his eyes focused on the ground. "I'd like to

hear someone who don't pretend to care.

"I will, Shivay said, squeezing his brother's shoulder once more. "I'm sorry for leaving like this Om, I'm sorry that I can't always be there.

"Not your fault, Omkara said dismissively as he waved his brother one final goodbye. "Have a

safe journey Shivay, call Choti Mom once you reach, otherwise she'll Oh My Mata everyone back at home. An unconscious grin cracking his lips, Shivay nodded one last time, before walking away. His mother was always a source of humor between the brothers.

Omkara stood at the same spot for a moment longer, watching the back of his older cousin

disappearing from his view before turning his heel and walking away towards the exit. The

suited guards of Oberoi Securities tailed after him, their trained eyes sweeping the crowd

silently in search of any possible threats. He stopped at the sleek Audi that was supposed to

take him back and one of those guards stepped up to open the back door for him. Shaking his

head at the man, Omkara grinned to himself.

"Tell Mom not to wait for me for dinner, he told him carelessly digging up the keys of his bike

from the side pocket of his leather jacket and ignoring the door held open for him walked away, flipping his hair with an air of unashamed disinterest.

**

He sketched the mauve shaded sky aimlessly. There was a thin string of a pale moon, a cluster of evening stars but the view was as boring as the busy street outside was. Omkara simply didn't want to go home, neither did he feel like joining his gang hanging out at one or the other club. Shivay had left a vacuum he was in no hurry of filling with anything, for the moment the silence and loneliness was more than enough. He had switched off his mobile, too disturbed by the nonstop ringing. He looked up from his tasteless sketch to find the waiter looming over, already opening his mouth to burst his serene bubble. He sighed.

"Just bring me another coffee, he said a little annoyed and the man walked off, scribbling on his notepad hurriedly. "Take all the time you need! Omkara called after him, a little sarcastically.

"Oh, there you are! A new voice called out and before he had raised his head from his sketchpad a blur of textbooks, landed on the table. Recovering from the initial shock, Omkara realized that the voice belonged to a girl who was now making herself comfortable on the chair opposite and spreading her books all over the table. He raised an eyebrow when she continued to ignore him and prop open her heavy volume and cleared his throat. She looked up at him expectantly, and he was stuck watching her eyes. They looked like two bottomless pools of dark water, glittering in the yellowish moonlight. Golden flecks swirling in their depths. Her thick framed glasses were balanced on the point of her tiny nose, and she looked ridiculous when she looked up at him. He forgot he was going to ask who she was and before he had recovered his voice, someone else bet him to it.

"You're back girl? How many times do I have to tell you, that I - The beefy man who was probably the owner of the coffee place, made an appearance waving his fists at the unknown girl and from what Omkara could see, his face was purple with anger. The girl simply leaned back and sighed, rolling her eyes, as the man's eyes drifted from her to Omkara and his voice died out abruptly.

"I'm on a study date, she told him dismissively. "Not wasting your resources, I believe he has drank enough coffee to last both of us a couple of weeks by now.

The owner took a long breath, trying to will himself into a composed silence and turned to Omkara with a replica of a polite smile.

"Is she really with you?

It seemed the man was silently begging him to say no; amused, he nodded slightly.

"I am.

The girl exhaled the breath she was unknowingly holding and folded her arms, giving the owner a look that clearly told him he was dismissed. Omkara watched her a little puzzled, there was that attitude which made you think she had no care in the world about the beefy man, but beneath the aloofness she had been afraid what his answer might be.

"Don't think this is a forever pass, the man went away, muttering some more incoherent complaints to himself.

"I owe you one. The girl told him, her grin still cheeky and her eyes glittering. "Thank you for playing along.

"Why did you do that? He asked her curiously and she pulled off her wool cap, making her thick dark curls tumble down around her face.

"He'd have had me thrown out, otherwise, she said shortly. "I guess you're in no hurry to leave...could you wait for another half an hour, I'll get this done by then. She asked him hurriedly and Omkara dragged his eyes back to the girl and noticed she had buried herself in a yellowish library book and was religiously writing away in her note pad. He repeated her words in his head, trying to make sense of what she was saying and shook his head slightly, making a mental note that she never said please as a part of her request. She looked up after a moment, sensing his stare.

"Will you, or won't you? Her tone was still aloof, if not a little haughty. He was sure she'd find some other way around her problem whatever it was, if he declines to help her. But for some reason, he was curious.

"Fine, he said shrugging, still a bit confused but knowing full well she was nowhere near answering his questions than finish reading that huge pile of dusty books and when back to his sketchpad, turning over a fresh page. From the corner of his eye he noticed the girl was looking at him, then she muttered something to herself and started to write again. He made a few lazily strokes with his pencil and started shading them, coaxing the shapeless into the form of two heavily lidded eyes...a close replica of those stealing glances at him across the table.

**

Open to your views. I do hope you enjoyed it, please let me know either way.😳

Thanks for reading, will look forward to see you with the next chapter.

Love,