Shot 3
After spending a contented time in the hospital shivru returned back to hospital just to find the nurse informing the people standing in veranda to go and meet anika. all were about to enter but rudra was smart enough to do a drama s that the Oberoy’s stop from getting inside. Bhavya was the first one to rush to rudra asking him if he was fine or not. Shivay was just nodding in a negative seeing rudra doing his stupid play and the rest life fools thinking that something can happen to him. Bhavya on finding no harm on his body slapped his head and asked angrily.
Bhavya (B): have you lost it rudra? You are not even hurt and you were making voice as if something serious has happened to you.
O: haan dumbbell have you totally lost the control over your senses.
Gauri (G): haan rudyji what was that for which you created such a mess. We all were about to meet bhaujai and you stopped us.
B: (in an irritated voice) seriously rudra will you open your mouth at least now.
M: (looking at rudra who wanted to speak but was not able to say due to the continuous shooting of questions said calmly) guys… guys… guys… take a break how do you expect him to answer if you all go questioning him like this. First let him speak something then only he can answer your question.
R: (half hugging him and in a crying voice) from among all these senseless people you are the only one who can understand me mahi bhaiya. Don’t know what would have happened of me if you would have not understood me.
M: (patting rudy’s cheek lovingly he smiled and said) I know pehelwan… (in an anger turning tone) but you will never know when these hands will hold your neck tightly (bringing his hands near rudy’s neck) if you don’t stop your drama and tell why you did this drama.
R: (stepping a bit away) amm… I think I am better without that too mahi bhai. And well I did this drama to stop you all from entering inside.
O,M,G,B: (surprised) what? Are you in your senses rudy…?
S: (coming to his little bro’s defend) amm ladies and gentlemen rudra is in his senses and he is saying the truth and he also did this drama on my saying.
M: (confused) but why shivay?
He explained the reason and at first all disagreed but he told them his discussion which he and rudra did. All were not ready to tell lies to anika at this stage of hers as it would mean to cheat her in other way. Shivay made them understand the circumstance and finally said defeated.
S: and if in case due to you all I come in front of anika then she will leave even from here and this time she will get clueless for permanent. And I swear if this happens then you will never see me again. (he said the final sentence firm and with pain visible in his voice)
Omru & M: (hearing this they got shocked and said in shock and pain) shivay/bhaiya…
S: (a layer of tear formed in shivay’s eyes. He looked at his brothers and said in an affirming tone) no need to get so shocked what I am saying is the fact and truth as I only know what all I have been through in these five months. And seriously again facing the same thing will shatter me completely. (looking at omru and even gauri and bhavya) and no one can understand what I am saying better than you four. (flashes of shivay suffering a cardiac arrest after anika left flashed in front of five minds) the reason I lived till now was the single hope that I will find anika soon and now that reason has lead me to take this step.
M: but shivay she has seen you and if we all say that it was not who whom she had seen then do you think she will believe. And why do you still think that anika will do something like this. I mean my mind is not accepting this fact that she will try to leave us shivay.
S: (holding him by his shoulders and said in a soft tone) I know she will do this because she is my wife and being my wife she is as stubborn as I used to be. And who can understand it better than you mahi. You only said that when she had met you that time at the chawl after knowing the truth that you were my twin she had promised that she will do anything to give you back whatever was snatched from you… didn’t she fulfil her promise to you even in her absence. And how can you expect her to forget such a big promise that too taken on the day which had changed both our lives in one go.
M: still shivay the truth has to come out one or the other day. Then why not today?
S: (agreeing he nodded in a yes and said leaving him) truth has to come out one or the other day. But not just today. And even then, if she refrains to accompany us even after doing my level best then at least I can have a minimal guilt that at least I tried something to seek her forgiveness though small enough compared to her sacrifice. For some time I will feel like I have gained back my life back which I lost in these five months.
G: but bhai what if she refrains to come even after your attempts to pacify her then… what will you do? Like you said will you leave us all and go. Wont you even look back then?
S: (omru hearing this half hugged her from either sides as they could see her tears forming its way through her eyes. While shivay smiled and cupping her face said in a soothing tone) can’t say anything about it. Might be or may not be… but haan one thing is sure I will by any means send my possible help to anika and my baby without coming in front of them. As I don’t won’t my baby to face the same consequence which anika and mahi faced all throughout their childhood. Even if anika refrains to call our baby as ours then too I will always believe that it is the symbol of the pure love which we both shared. The symbol of our unnamed relation which we had five months ago and even after this.
O: (holding shivay and saying in a fear of losing tone) so, you are serious on your decision that you will leave us all. Is it that easy for you to do shivay? are we all nothing for you shivay?
S: (with tears seeing his strengths falling weak) right now at this moment if I am alive here it is because of the efforts you all have laid and I owe my everything to you all this moment. (moving away from om’s hold) but if anika leaves me then I won’t be having anything to give back to you as a gratitude of the efforts you have done on me in these five months. If in case a situation arrives which forces me to take a step which forces me to leave you all then please take care of dadi and make her understand the situation and my state of mind.
R: (by this all the persons were having tears in their eyes. Rudra in between his turmoil asked in a painful tone) but leaving us all and going away from us… will that be so easy for you bhaiya?
S: (smiling in between tears he said casually keeping his hands in pocket) my everything lies in anika and at that moment I will lose my everything… without her earlier too shivay singh oberoy was nothing and will be nothing even from now on. She was my reason to live, to smile, to stay surrounded and when she is not there, there is nothing left for me… she is my reason to breathe and reason to battle for life. A person can live with life support if he has a reason to live and if that same person doesn’t have a reason to live then not even the biggest cure can save him. And in my case my everything belongs to anika…
Saying this shivay left from there stroking his hair leaving everyone in tears. Omru remembered five months ago they were in the same situation but the change was in place of shivay at that time it was anika. Om hugged mahi which was joined by gauri later and rudra hugged bhavya who was no less speechless with the turn of events. While shivay just entered a changing room on the way and sat down on a chair and let out his tears. He hid his face in his hands and lost the control on his emotions.
While all this was happening, little did they know apart from them there was someone else too who was hearing all this. And hearing and seeing everything told by shivay and the rest mehek too had tears.
She remembered anika’s saying which she had told in the evening that “AUNTY EVEN IF YOU MEET HIM THEN ALSO YOU WONT BE ABLE TO SCOLD HIM AS NONE OF US IS AT MISTAKE… NEITHER HE IS AT FAULT NOR I AM.” She at that moment felt that how anika was so correct about shivay. she thanked god for making her stop at the right moment from entering the ward at that time. She had seen shivay leaving and that was the moment when the tears which she had held back fell.
All the anger which she had on shivay and the rest, in a fraction of second turned into respect. In these months, she had only seen anika’s perspective but here on seeing shivay in such a condition she knew that she has to help them both else both their situation would get vulnerable. She had been aware of the condition which anika had laid and she used to be supportive for it but now she felt that if she too stood by that decision not only one [i.e. shivay] life but she would also risk the life of nine [i.e. anika, unborn baby, omkara, rudra, mahi, gauri, bhavya, dadi, sahil].
She felt the surrounding getting hazy so she held a compounder who was carrying water and drank the water in one go and thanking him went to the rest and kept her hand on omru’s back. They looked at her and at once made up their composure while the rest did the same. She smiled at them and said.
ME: (looking at omru) if I am not wrong then you must be omkara and rudra… (looking gauri and bhavya) you must be gauri and bhavya right. (they all nodded and they were smart enough to understand how mehek knew them all. She turned to mahi and said in an apologising tone) I am sorry but I have not heard anything about you.
M: (smiling) I am mahi… shivay’s brother… (mehek got confused) we are twins. And I guess you might have not heard anything about me because I am a new entry in this book who joined just five months back.
ME: you know what I must be thankful to you all for allowing anika leave… else right at this moment I wouldn’t have been standing here in front of you alive. Like your brother said the way he owes his present life to you all similarly my life owes to anika… she had saved me from death and how she did it I will tell it in patience. But right now, I think apart from my meeting with anika your all meeting is very important.
O: but mehek aunty how can we go in without shivay?
ME: (smiling) meeting anika is important not that who all are meeting. So, just get in and haan first wipe these crying faces as I know you all don’t want to know that what had happened here. And if in case she asks about shivay either deviate the topic and if she stays firm then tell that she had mistaken mahi to be shivay. I know she can’t disagree with anything you say.
B: but aunty shivay bhaiya… don’t know where he went and what will he do… I will go and look for him.
ME: (holding her back) no need bhavya. I know where he will be. And right now, he needs some elders support rather than siblings so you go and meet your bhabhi. I know she will be happy to see you all after a long time. And she has missed each one of you a lot. But haan don’t make her extra happy or even shocked as she gets fainting strokes. Till then I will handle shivay.
M: I think I have no work in since me and anika were not that close… I will accompany you in finding shivay. while I am sure the rest will take care of everything here.
Mehek nodded while all nodded and wiped their face and went in, while mehek and mahi went all the way round the hospital in search of shivay. the Oberoi’s entered the ward just to find anika resting her back on the bed and sleeping. Om went to her side and kept his hands on her shoulder. Anika looked up and on seeing him she understood that she was not dreaming. She held his hand and looked back at everyone to find them all smiling and she at once hugged om. She said in a very happy tone as for a moment she forgot that she was in Delhi and she was meeting them after she just saw shivay.
A: om… you all don’t know how much did I miss you all? I am so happy.
R: (in a complaining tone) not fair bhabhi… you always used to tell that we both are in one team and now you are hugging this long-haired creature and telling that you missed him the most. Go bhabhi I am not taking to you.
A: (leaving om and looking at rudra and making a pouty face she said coming close to him) oh, ho when did I tell that I never missed you my partner in crime agent 101 rudy. (hugging him) you don’t have a slight idea of how I missed you… our pranks…
G & B: (sadly) acha so every missing complaint and all… only until your devar bhaujai/bhabhi. We are just useless people, right?
G: (anika looked at both of them and gauri said annoyed holding bhavya) common bhavya lets leave as no one is even bothered about us.
B: (smiling inside) haan bhabhi you are correct… common let’s leave.
A: (coming to the and holding them both) aye dramebaz… enough haan. how can you think that I will miss my sweet devranis? Haan…
Gauri and bhavya smiled while anika opened her arms and both the girls hugged her. while hugging them anika’s eyes searched for shivay but that was the moment she realized that she had promised never to see him. She left the girls and all could see the tension on her face. she then asked turning to omru.
A: well what are you all doing here?
O: that we must ask you bhabhi… as you were the one who left us like this and came here and didn’t even inform us.
A: om I am not expecting a question back from you as an answer to my question.
O: fine. Well we came here to attend a family function.
A: oh, so that means everyone is here.
R: arre no bhabhi just we all…
A: so, what were you doing in the party yesterday… at our place.
B: voh since bhaiya had cracked a big deal and was not having any time to attend the function asked us to attend it on his behalf. So, since he is elder than us we obeyed what he asked us to do.
A: that means he is here… (in a disappointed tone)
R: (coming and half hugging her) arre no bhabhi why will he come here and if in case he would have been with us then why is he not here right now…
A: (recalling last encounter and seeing him with them she said confused) no but I had seen him with you…
G: nahi bhaujai… you are mistaken.
A: no gauri… I think you are trying to fool me because before fainting I remember I had seen shivay only… yes, I had seen him first then I had seen you all.
B: no bhabhi we are telling you the truth… he is not with us.
A: (realising that they must be trying to say this lie just because of her promise to leave she said) if I am not wrong then you must be doing this drama that shivay has not come and all just for the sake to stop me from fulfilling the promise right.
O: no bhabhi we are saying the truth.
A: common om I know you never tell lie. Tell looking at me that shivay was not the one whom I had seen with you all. But I am damn sure that it was shivay only whom I had seen because even if I see his shadow then too I can identify him… and I had seen him such close. I am sure I am not mistaken. That was shivay only whom I had seen. Yes, that was shivay.
Now everyone looked at om as they knew that he never told a lie. While shivay’s talking and anika’s words was just ringing in om’s mind. He knew he could never lie to his best friend but he also knew that if he didn’t lie now then he would be never seen his brother again and if his brother left then the life back in OM will end.
Anika on not getting any answer from om looked at everyone just too see them either not meeting eyes or looking somewhere else.
Om on the other hand was on turmoil whom to choose his brother or his friend and finally, he chose shivay. not because he was his brother but he was selfish enough because if he chose his friend then he will only lose friendship but if he lost his brother he would lose everything…
1st his brother then his family. So, he chose to be selfish rather than being a truth teller this time. He said.
O: no bhabhi… that was mahi whom you had seen not shivay… as shivay has just moved on in his life and is back to his normal SSO form just doing work and living his mechanical life… after all the reason for which he had to live has left him. And you know I never tell lies so, think now you can believe what I am saying and the one whom you saw yesterday was not shivay but mahi… (apart from anika the rest were shocked to see om telling lie so smoothly. They just looked at him in disbelief)
A: (she had some hope that somewhere what she saw was true but om’s words just made her sad. So, she to just lighten her mood asked) but mahi… what is he doing with you all.
G: amm voh ka hai bhaujai… when you left home we all met mahi bhai and apologised to him on behalf of everyone and he was kind enough… so, he forgave us easily. And when we were called for this function we thought to call him and he came. That’s it.
A: (sadly) that’s it… (saying so she came and sat on the bed while gauri held om’s hand and asked him to calm down as the situation was now in control. While anika thought in mind) but I am very sure that the person whom I had seen was shivay and not mahi… but om never lies… (mentally slapping her) god I am thinking too much… (sadly) but how I wish that shivay could be here… but then my promise… (with pain) it is better that I don’t meet him as it will then become difficult for both of us to handle.
B: bhabhi what are you thinking?
A: (coming back to senses) haan… nothing just that I was thanking him mentally… that he did a good thing by not coming bcz if he had come then I would have to leave and then we both will not able to handle that… (stressing her words) AND I CAN’T SEE SHIVAY BEING IN PAIN ONCE AGAIN… DUE TO ME AS HE IS THE ONLY REASON WHY I AM LIVING TILL NOW.
Hearing this all just stood numb as this was what shivay had told them moments back. While anika’s eyes too teared up and here shivay was also breaking down. Even on being near they were keeping themselves away.
(SOMETIMES SACRIFICING SOMETHING VALUABLE GIVES US COURAGE TO HANDLE EACHOTHER. AND THE TIME WHEN YOU SACRIFICE SOMETHING IMPORTANT REALIZE THAT YOU ARE MADLY IN LOVE…)
If you like then don’t forget to comment. I have nothing more to say as I am sad after typing this shot. This is priya signing off…