THE NEXT NIGHT

"Ghar khaali khali sa lag raha hai" Shivaay commented and Anika, Rudy nodded.

"Anu, she will be fine" and Shivaay wrapped his arms around her shoulder and she placed her head on it.

"Dar to lagta hi hai na Shivaay" Anika said.

"Bhabhi, jitna mai janta hun Gauri didi dabangg hai. She will be safe" Rudy too consoled Anika.

"Kisine Om se baat ki? Regarding this?" Shivaay asked.

"O se kyun?" Rudra asked back but then his mind clicked.

"I don't think it affected him so much. I mean usne kitni baar hi baat ki hai Gauri se" Anika said as mostly OmRi talked when no one else was present. So its obvious observation for Shivaay, Anika and Rudra.

"True, mai ata hun uske room se" Shivaay said.

"But he doesn't like anyone going to his room at this hour" Anika said.

"Ha Bhaiya" Rudra added.

"I know. But uske aur mere bich ye sab rules acche nahi dikhte. Use chillana hai to mujhpe chillayega." Shivaay said

"To phir, hum bhi chalte hai" Anika told and the trio moved to his room at 11.

Shivaay knocked and it opened revealing the room to be empty.

"I am going there" Shivaay said but Anika held his shoulders.

"Don't. He is finally in talking terms with us, I don't want him to sink in like before because you invaded his privacy" Anika said.

"Anu, its high time he talks to us. I am fed up of his drama" Shivaay removed her hand but she was reluctant.

"Trust me. I will handle him" Shivaay said and Anika nodded. As they moved inside his artist room, smoke and foul smell filled their noses.

They spotted Om lying on the ground and beer bottle smashed on the floor, glass pieces scattered everywhere.

Shivaay ran to his rescue and held him tight. They were baffled to see him in the state. There laid his half finished portrait and brushes on the ground.

"O, O tu thik hai" Rudra held his arms while Anika rubbed the palm.

"Hume ise akela chorna hi nahi chahiye tha" Shivaay said.

"Shivaay aap sambhaliye khudko" Anika's eyes welcomed fresh tears. She has always considered both Om and Rudy as her own brothers as she doesn't have one.

"Haa Shivaay" Om slurred.

Shivaay patted his cheeks lightly and Om opened his eyes completely only to get shock.

"Tumlog kya kar rahe ho yaha?" He removed their hands and got up.

"Ye sab kya hai?" Shivaay asked like a big brother.

"This is my life, interfere mat kar" O said and tried to move past them but Anika stopped him.

"Om" she said.

"No one" he said between his hiccups. Its obvious that he is high beyond his senses.

He pushed everyone around and went to his room while they followed.

"This is the last time I see you drinking or smoking" Shivaay said but Om didnt reply.

"O, kis baat ki saza aise de raha hai khudko?" Rudra said with moist eyes.

"Tu chup reh Rudra. Tu baccha hai" he coughed.

"Mai to adult hun. Enlighten me Omkara" Shivaay's temper raised.

"Shivaay you know everything. Mai kala saya hun. Nikal de iss ghar de mujhe" he faked laugh and then tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Tumhari galti nahi thi Om. Baat karo humse" Anika said.

"Meri hi galti hai. She traded my life with hers. What else is left?" Om said.

"Sau baar keh chuka hun Om, apni life nahi rok sakta tu for anyone" Shivaay said.

"She wasn't anyone Shivaay" Om said in high tone and left the room taking his car keys.

"Kaha ja raha hai?" They all followed but his paced increased and he soon drove away on his car.

Shivaay took out his car immediately.

Till one distance, they could see his car but now its out of sight.

"Damn!" Shivaay said.

"Mai call karti hun use" Anika took out her phone and dialed his number but he wasn't picking up.

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Gauri was scrolling her phone as she couldn't sleep. But then she was surprised by knock on her door.

"Who can be at this hour?" She thought and fear engulfed her.

She peeked through the hole and there stood Omkara and her eyes widened in shock.

She opened the door and he fell on her. She tried her best to hold him to the sofa.

When he was settled there, she closed the door.

"Aap yaha?" Him being drunk is nothing new for her now. She dialed Anika's number.

"Didi, aap kaha hai?" She asked

Anika briefed her.

"He is here" Gauri said looking at his messed up state.

"I don't wanna talk to them, bata do" Om said

"Haa thik hai didi, aap chinta mat kijiye hum sambhal lenge inhe." Gauri said and hung up.

"Yaha ka address kisne diya aapko?" She asked him.

"Sohini" he said and closed his eyes.

"What the hell? Aap aisi halat me humare ghar aaye hai. Hua kya hai?" She sat near him.

"Tum nahi samjhogi" he said and put his head on her shoulder.

"Aap nahi bolenge to hum kaise samjhenge?" She ran her hand through his hairs and he held her across her stomach while her breath stopped for a second or two.

"Its okay Gauri, he is vulnerable" she consoled her mind.

"Even if I tell, you will side with them. No one understands me" he said like a baby.

"Mai aapke liye nimbu pani leke aati hun, nasha utrega" she was about to get up but he held her tighter.

"Mat jao na please" he snuggled more into her.

"Nasha utrega to you will vanish" he said and unknowingly she smiled.

"Hum jana nahi chahte lekin aapki harkatein majboor karti hai hume" she said honestly.

"Because no one should stay with me. Not my family not you" his tears stained her night suit but she cared less.

"Sabko dur bhejne se kya hoga?" She asked.

"I will destroy everyone. Aur mai nahi chahta ye" he said

"Nahi. Ek mauka dijiye logo ko apne life me. I am sure you won't regret" Gauri said with a smile and he hugged her the next instant. She too wrapped her arms around him

"Itna aasaan nahi hai Gauri" he sniffed while she patted his back.

"Kyu? Samjhaiye. I will understand you" she demanded.

He broke the hug and looked into her eyes.

"You will hate me forever if you know the truth" he said, his eyes red and fluffy.

"Omkara ji, I won't." she assured him.

"Noo. Everyone will. I am a bad person. I am the worst" he got up.

"apne man me rakhne ka kya matlab?" She asked but he was mum.

"I have always known there is something bothering you. Aur jabtak aap apne past se fight nahi karte, koi nahi Karega. Come out of that shell" she said

"I can't" he shouted.

"Why" she matched his pitch.

"I killed my mother Gauri!!!"

EMOTIONAL BONDING AND A BIG REVELATION. EXCITED FOR THE NEXT ONE? KEEP LOVING THE BOOK. AND THANKS souji28 FOR TAGGING READERS AND MOTIVATING ME.

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