My Nepenthe

Chapter 2

"Om" Anika called him as she barged into the room without a mere knock, her face pale and filled with anguish.

Gauri and her name sake husband turned to her worried.

"Bhabhi... what happened?" Omkara asked rushing to her as she wailed.

"Om... Shivaay... vo... pool side... Om" she spoke in between her sobs and he nodded before running out of the room in the direction of the pool where his brother lay wasted.

Gauri neared the woman who had always been kind to her "Bhaujai... what happened? Please just sit... Omkaraji will..."

"No Gauri... Shivaay... he will break down... I have to go"

"Bhaujai... just for a minute... sit ... I will get you water...I am sure Omkaraji will manage him for some time" she said placatingly making Anika sit on the bed. She then walked to the bedside table to fill a glass of water and gave it to her.

Anika looked at the glass and then at the girl who was like a sister to her. No matter how much she held herself back, she felt an unknown connection with the beautiful girl before her.... She reminded her of her .... chutki.

Gauri looked at Anika lost in thoughts and placed the water glass near her lips. Her sister in law, mutely drank the cool liquid quenching her thirst and wiped her mouth with her sleeve.

The younger one placed a comforting hand over the elder's shoulder making her look into her eyes which were visibly tired but the light in them always shown bright... giving her hope.

"Now tell me what happened bhaujai"

Anika narrated the incident where Shivaay planned to drug her to extract the truth which was responsible for their divorce and how the events turned out with both of them getting intoxicated, her ex-husband getting the major share. She told her how he broke down in her arms when she slipped the truth which would question his identity and honor.

"Gauri.... I never wanted to tell him the truth... I always loved him for what he is... I don't know how he will take it if he gets to know that he..."

"No bhaujai... do not tell me..." Gauri stopped her "This is between you and your family.... I don't need to know anything which doesn't relate to me" she said.

"But Gauri... Om knows... I know you will not..."

"Bade bhaiyya and you have always given me the position of the daughter in law of this house... I am forever thankful for it bhaujai... I love both of you equally... I don't want to side anybody when that time ever came..." she said with a fond smile.

"Who knows if bade bhaiyya forgets everything once he gets up tomorrow? When he asks me, I might tell him what I know... I don't want to hurt either of you...so let the matter rest for now... Sleep here for tonight bhaujai"

"But Gauri... Shivaay..."

"Omkaraji hai na... he will take care... shall I get you any clothes? Do you want to freshen up?"

When she got a yes in reply, she got up to walk to Anika's room to get a fresh pair of clothes asking her to use the washroom until she came back.

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"Anika" Shivaay mumbled in his sleep as his brother helped him into the room and made him rest by tucking him in his bed.

What a fate his brother had... He loved Anika and she loved him too... yet they cannot live with each other only because name, blood and lineage had to intervene.