Rudy saw his phone buzzing when he returned from his morning gym workout. It was flashing a name that instantly brought a smile to his face.
"Mallika didi! How are you?" asked Rudy cheerfully as he answered the phone.
"I'm am good Rudy, but tum na apne dimaag ka check up kara lo. (You need to get your brain checked)." said Mallika, good-humoredly
"Why Didi? I think its fine." said Rudra, feeling his head.
"You sent your internship application to our family, the Ranas? You know Siddharth was so shocked when he saw it, he called me from office to ask whether it was some sort of weird prank. It is not a prank, is it?" asked Mallika suddenly suspicious.
"Of course not Didi, I genuinely want to intern in the Ranas group of companies. They are, perhaps, the only business where I won't be be treated like a celebrity, and would actually learn the trade." explained Rudy.
"Oh, yes, that definitely makes sense. Siddharth was busy thinking that this internship was a ploy to get corporate secrets, honestly! I'll tell him in the evening, maybe, that this is a genuine internship application." said Mallika.
"In the evening? Why not tell him now? I mean, you can just call him" said Rudy.
"Yes, I can but then he'll find out where I am." said Mallika, in a off-hand way.
"Find out where you are? Mallika didi, you didn't....?" said Rudy, suspecting the worst.
"Well, what was I supposed to do? I accidentally spilled coffee on his files this morning, so now I am hiding." confessed Mallika.
Rudy chuckled. Mallika didi had some issues confronting her problems. Last year she ran away from her wedding because she couldn't confront Siddharth and his family about her very valid reservations regarding their marriage. Rudy's best memory was when Mallika didi fled after she accidentally got a chewing gum stuck in Om's long locks. That memory still brought tears of laughter in his eyes.
"Anyways Rudra, as far as I know you, this is drastic step. Let me guess, something big must have happened to bring about this change?" Mallika queried.
"Nothing major Mallika didi, I just wanted to do something on my own, and not always get everything because I'm privileged." said Rudy
"Woah...that sounds like something Om would say. Did he put up you up to this? But then you've been with Om your entire life, and the effect is showing now, so it must've been someone else." said Mallika.
Rudy hastily diverted the topic, because for some reason, though he really liked Mallika didi, he didn't want to confront that issue yet. "So Mallika didi, what do you think are the chances of my getting the internship?" he asked
"Now, don't feel bad Rudy, but your grades are not really good. I think they'll do final review of the applications once your college term is finally over. So, I guess if you did really well in the final year-end exams, you could still clinch it." said Mallika, encouragingly.
"Thanks for your take on this Mallika didi. I'll catch up with you later then." said Rudy.
"Bye Rudra. Take care and next time we meet, give me all the gossip!" said Mallika.
Rudra kept the phone down and thought to himself. Yes, there was a big change in his life, and he knew who to attribute that to. Its just sorting out those feelings was a little murky right now, and he didn't want to get into it. Looks like Mallika didi was not the only one running away from something here.
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Omkara pressed the accept button on his phone. "Yes, Joshi tell me." he said. He had asked Joshi, an associate of Khanna, to track the kid based on the photograph Omkara was sent by Ranveer months back to blackmail him. Omkara asked both Khanna and Joshi to keep it quiet. He didn't want Shivaay to come to know of this, because his elder brother already had a lot of problems of his own to deal with. Just yesterday, at the function, Shivaay had got Daksh arrested and officially accepted Annika as his wife. Om wanted his brother to enjoy some moments of peace and joy, with Annika bhabhi. He, Om, would meanwhile look into Prinku's matter and find out all he can to expose Ranveer, so that he can free Prinku from Ranveer's blackmail.
"Sir, we tried to trace that kid in Mumbai, but it looks like he doesn't go to school here. However, we think, there is a probability that the kid is studying in Panchgani, as quite by accident, we came across a group photo with the kid sitting in the group which was from a school in Panchgani. Do you want us to go and get the kid from Panchgani and bring him to Mumbai?" asked Joshi, his voice dripping with efficiency.
"No." said Omkara quickly. He still remembered how last year, Khanna and Shivaay's other bodyguards had kidnapped Sahil to blackmail Annika. Though they didn't harm Sahil in the slightest, he didn't trust these people around kids. After all, there was no fault of the kid in all this. Omkara would go to Panchgani himself, and deal with the matter. "Just text me the address of the school to which you traced the group photo."
"Yes, sir." said Joshi and cut the call. A few seconds later, Om's phone beeped and he saw the text message with the address and the details of how to reach there.
Omkara thought how foolish he had been to believe to Ranveer so easily last year. There was definitely something going on, otherwise why would Ranveer sent this kid, supposedly his almost-orphan nephew, to study in Panchgani so far from Mumbai? And make it look like the kid was here in Mumbai suffering from the abandonment due to a comatose mother.
Now all Omkara needed was to meet up with Chulbul and tell him what he found out. Chulbul deserved to know, but Om didn't know how to contact Chulbul, he didn't have Chulbul's number. Never mind, he knew where his drama group were playing, and luckily they had a show this evening, as far as he remembered. He'll catch Chulbul there.
***************************************
"Looks like you have quite a fan following" said Omkara mockingly, looking at the crowds, as he joined the drama group after their show.
"Again you are making fun of our group?" said Chulbul, offended.
"Yes, and I would continue to do so, because it is ridiculous." said Om seriously, but his eyes were laughing.
"Karva chirota (bitter boy)" said Gauri, making a face.
"You said something?" asked Omkara
"Nothing, why are you here? If not to make fun of our play?" inquired Gauri.
"To tell you that my people have traced the child. I would have informed you in the morning only, if I had your number. What's your cell phone number?" asked Omkara
"Arey, hum apna number kaahe de? (Why should I give my number?)" said Gauri suspiciously
"So, that I can reach you when in need. Why are you getting all suspicious like a girl?" asked Omkara curiously
"Arey, chiraiyaa hai toh chiraiyaa ki tarah hi sochenge (Arey I'll think like a girl because I am a girl)" said Gauri, out of reflex.
"What did you say?" asked Omkara, as couldn't catch her words.
"Nothing. You...I don't have a phone here yet. You take Dandi bhaiyaa's number and you can reach me on that." said Gauri, lying through her teeth.
"Okay, fine. Yeah, so I traced the kid, and he's studying in a school in Panchgani. Thats not far from here. You are coming with me, right?" asked Omkara.
"Me? Why should I come with you? Akeli chiraiyaa kaise ek chirote ke saath jaa sakti hai? (how can a girl go alone with a boy?" said Gauri, horrified at the idea.
"What is this 'chirota' and 'chiraiyaa'? Why are you talking about birds? And of course, you have to come, after all this is your plan, and I'm following your directions. When should we leave?" asked Omkara.
Gauri thought long and hard. Of course, it was foolish to suggest him plans, promise to help him, and then back out at last moment. Anyways, Omkara was the man who saved her life and dignity back in Bareilly, and throughout their time together in the jungle or the hospital or anywhere, he didn't take advantage of her. Its silly to think that he could mean her harm, especially when she was dressed as a boy
But maybe....maybe he is not into girls. Maybe Omkara is into men. Gauri thought how he didn't show an iota of interest in her in Bareilly when she was dressed like a princess decked with jewels. That time Gauri thought he was a decent man, but what if he was decent because he was into men, and she did not attract his attention? He is over-friendly with Chulbul, trusted Chulbul in an instant, thats too fishy. He also keeps long hair and wears eccentric clothes. Why didn't Gauri see it sooner? She had heard of men loving men in big cities. Maybe Omkara was one of those men. Gauri didn't judge him for that, after all love is love, but Chulbul didn't love Omkara.
"Bro, are you planning to answer me sometime tonight?" said Omkara snapping his fingers.
Gauri thought if Omkara acted strangely with Chulbul, then she'll reveal that she is a girl, and Omkara would back off because he is into men. Yes, that seems like a good plan.
"Okay I'll come with you. Lets go this weekend, as I have work tomorrow." said Gauri
"Cool. My mother's big day is tomorrow, so it would have been impossible to leave tomorrow in any case." said Omkara.
Omkara took Dandi's number, wished them all good night and departed. He apologized for not being able to stay back for dinner, as he had office related work to do.
On the way back home, Gauri still kept on pondering whether Omkara was one of those men or not.
P.S. I apologize before hand for the slightly gay-insensitive tone of this chapter. Its only to stay true to Gauri's characterization of a less educated girl from a small town of North India, and they are pretty stuck up about homosexuality still.