ShivOmRu : A Bond Beyond Brotherhood

#18

Om pulled apart from the hug and stared at his feet in guilt. "Sab meri galati hai bhai." ("It's all my fault, brother.") He mumbled.

"Lekin kaise hua yeh sab ? Please thik se batao ki akhir hua kya ?" ("But how did it all happened ? Please explain it to me.") Shivaay asked with a surprisingly calm demeanor.

Om narrated the entire story, including his secret tutoring sessions with Gauri.

Om handed over the lil note which Shomit had given him.

Shivaay and Aryan read the note together with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry Bhai. Mujhe usey akela nahi chhodna chahiye tha. I'm sorry." ("I'm sorry brother. I should've never left him alone. I'm sorry.") Om sobbed and started hiccuping.

Shivaay and Aryan looked up from the note.

Shivaay wasted no time in rubbing Om's back gently while Aryan quickly produced a bottle of water from his car.

"Here, Om." Aryan said as he extended the uncapped water bottle.

Om took a sip of water and kept crying silently.

Aryan looked at Shivaay.

Shivaay was pretending to be calm and composed for Om. He knew that his own scared and panicked behaviour will scare Om even more.

But Aryan was not a kid, he could see Shivaay's vulnerable and frightened soul in Shivaay's eyes.

Aryan placed his hand on Shivaay's shoulder as a gesture of comfort. "Don't worry kid. Rudy will be fine."

Shivaay nodded and tried to smile but failed. Tears were brimming his eyes.

His baby, his Rudy was in someone's possession !

Only God knew if he was alright.

Shivaay's fist clenched and his fear was suddenly converted into anger.

If that bloody person even tried to pluck Rudy's single strand of hair, Shivaay would pluck out that person's entire arm !

"Don't worry Om." Shivaay started softly. "Rudy ko kuch nahi hoga. Mein usey wapas lekar aaunga." ("Nothing will happen to Rudy. I'll bring him back.")

"Lekin kaise Shivaay ?" ("But how, Shivaay ?") Aryan asked in a serious tone.

"Arry, mere liye please Om ka khayal rakhoge thodi der ke liye ?" ("Arry, will you please take care of Om for me, for awhile ?") Shivaay requested.

"Of course, kid." Aryan replied almost immediately. "Lekin ab tu karne kya wala hai ?" ("But what are you going to do ?")

"Mein abhi Kalyani Mills jaa raha hu." ("I'm going to Kalyani Mills.") Shivaay replied with a determined look mixed with anger.

"What ?!" Om and Aryan exclaimed in unison.

"Nahi Shivaay / Bhai." ("No Shivaay / Brother.") Om and Aryan said in unison again.

"Isme khatra ho sakta hai Shivaay. Hume pata bhi nahi hai ki unke pass konse hathiyar hai." ("This can be dangerous Shivaay. We don't even know what kind of weapons they have.") Aryan said trying his best to change Shivaay's mind.

"Haan, bhai." ("Yes brother.") Om said through tears. "Please mat jao. Kahi aap ko kuch ho gaya toh ? Nahi, please." ("Please don't go. What if something happened to you ? No, please.")