There are some marriages where the husband and wife are so all-sufficient to each other, up in each other, that the idea of a child doesn't seem real to either of them. In those situations, if a child is born, for whatever reason, it comes second to the spouses. They are so wrapped up in each other, that they seem to exist only for each other. If however, one of the spouses, usually the wife, devotes her attention to bringing up the child, and the husband comes second, he resents it and seeks consolation elsewhere.
-Five Little Pigs, Agatha Christie
Something similar happened to Tej and Jahnvi. They were passionately in love with each other, they loved working together and living together. But when Shakti, Tej's younger brother had his son before him, the concern of a successor to the Oberoi empire ate up Tej's mind. He didn't want a son so much as to shower affection, but to just set up his heir, a rival to Shakti's son. Once Omkara was born, Tej and Jahnvi were wrapped up in their lives again. Omkara wasn't ignored, he was loved, especially by Jahnvi, but he just wasn't the first priority. Omkara, thus grew closer to Shivaay. Though Shivaay was the apple of Pinky's eye, Pinky brought up her son, like looking after a hen for laying golden eggs. Both brothers didn't receive the normal affection that other kids of their age received from their parents.
It so happened that Tej and Jahnvi, so caught up in the business and their personal lives, forgot Omkara's fifth birthday. Only Shivaay and Dadi remembered. That day Tej and Jahnvi had their first, big fight, because Jahnvi decided to give more time to Omkara from then on. Their increasing squabbles became a marital issue, but they were given the wrong advice from Tej and Jahnvi's mothers that they should have a second child. This didn't solve their issue, it compounded the problem. All of Jahnvi's time went to her kids, and Tej was ignored. Consequently, he went to seek consolation elsewhere, whereas Jahnvi who was always so wrapped in Tej, went to drown her sorrows in the demon bottle. Neither was happy.
But now that Jahnvi was back on her own feet, taking charge of her own life, Tej's latent affection for Jahnvi arose in his heart again. When he saw the video of the press release of Jahnvi's new venture's launch party, he was strongly reminded of the woman he fell in love with. The same ambition, drive, confidence.
Tej was disappointed that circumstances had come to this where Jahnvi didn't even invite him to the launch party. That was to be expected from how he treated her shabbily over the years. Tej knew he couldn't mend this relationship. Not only because Jahnvi would never forgive him, rightly, but because he had also made promises to Svetlana to get married to her. Secretly, he hoped for Omkara to succeed in fulfilling the terms of the contract, whatever he might say to Svetlana, because at least that would give Tej a valid excuse to remain in his marriage with Jahnvi.
Tej looked at his scotch swirling in his glass, as he sat alone in his study, on a Sunday afternoon, forsaken by his wife, children, family, because he couldn't be a good husband or father, or even a good son.
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Soumya was spending her Sunday afternoon with Rehan. Rehan had made plans last night to watch a documentary film on migratory birds of Central Asia with Soumya. So, they were in Soumya's flat, sitting with a bowl of popcorn, watching intently as the film described the migratory patterns of a certain bird. Or at least, Rehan was watching the movie intently, while Soumya's mind was wandering.
Soumya had had an on and off relationship with Rehan. In general, he was a good guy, but he had these quirks which frankly exhausted Soumya. She didn't want to be rude to him, because in general Soumya wasn't rude to anyone unless provoked. But she found these movies and Rehan's ideas of a date tiring in general. She remembered how Rudy used to take the mickey out of Rehan sometimes, last year.
She and Rudra had a good time revising and having ice cream yesterday. Soumya was touched by how deeply Rudra was affected by her life. She smiled thinking of that memory when her phone vibrated. It was a Whatsapp message from Rudra.
'Hey Sumo, Chubby, I and a few others are planning to catch a movie at the theatre, do you wanna join?', it went
Much as Sumo wanted to join these guys, she couldn't rudely end her plans with Rehan.
'Sorry, Rudra. Would've liked to come, but I'm watching a docu with Rehan at my place. Next weekend maybe?' Soumya texted back
'Yeah, no problem, enjoy.' came back the reply from Rudra
'You guys have fun.' replied Soumya, and went back to watching, or trying to watch, the boring documentary with Rehan, feeling miserable about the scenario.
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Rudy was irritated for no reason at Soumya's inability to join them. Well, of course she would choose her boyfriend over them, specially when they had made plans before hand. Nothing strange about this, everyone does. Then why was Rudra so bothered by it?
What does she see in him? Rudy thought to himself. At that moment, Chubby called Rudy. Rudy picked up the phone.
"Hey is Soumya coming?" asked Chubby
"No, she had other plans." said Rudra
"Okay fine, you're coming to pick me up right?" asked Chubby
"Actually Chubby, I don't feel really well, and I'm missing O too, I think I'll go meet him this afternoon." said Rudy, inventing an excuse.
"But you just met Omkara bhaiyaa on Friday at the launch party?" asked Chubby surprised.
"Haan toh (Yes so), I feel like meeting him again, and Shivaay bhaiyaa is tired after his business meet and Annika bhaabhi rightfully deserves more of his time. So, I'm going to meet O. Sorry Chubby, I can't pick you up. You have fun with other guys." and saying so, Rudy cut the call.
Rudy wanted to darken his room, and sleep it off, but he thought that instead of sulking in his room, it might be better to actually visit O. So, he took out his sports car and drove to the South Bombay to pay O a visit.
"Rudy, beta, aa gayi yaad apni naani ki?" (Rudy beta you remembered your maternal grandmother?) said Rudra's Nani, as she welcomed him inside her house.
"Nani, I always miss you, but you've always liked Om better." said Rudra, jokingly
"Yes, and that's because Om and Prinku listen to me, and eat whatever I serve them, instead of you who is so obsessed with health that you eat all that bird's food." said his Nani, shaking her head.
"Ha, ha yes, thats how I get all the girls. 'Cos of my superb physique." said Rudra
"Saari life ladkiyon ke peeche bhaagta rahega kya?" (Will you run after girls your entire life?) asked Omkara as he entered the hall.
"O! I was missing you, so I came to visit." said Rudy, hugging Om to annoy him
"Missing me? But we met just two days back at the party?" asked O, disentangling himself from Rudra.
"Arey, why does everyone keep asking me that? Can't I miss my elder brother, who I haven't seen for 36 hours." said Rudy, in mock annoyance
"Yeah, yeah come inside my room, lets talk about how much you miss me." replied Om, shaking his head at Rudy's nonsense babble.
"O, you look different for some reason?" asked Rudy, once he comfortably settled himself on the bed.
"Different? How do you mean?" asked Om
"Different as in, a little like before, like there is more levity in your manner, you are sulking a little less. Whats the reason?" asked Rudy
"To tell you the truth, Ru, a huge weight has been lifted off my chest, all thanks to a friend a made recently." said Om.
"Friend? What friend? You are saying that there is another human on this planet who can tolerate your poetry without wanting to murder himself?" Rudy said in mock surprise.
"Very funny. Looks like it." said Omkara, and told the story of how he met Chulbul, and about Chulbul's not-so-funny play. He didn't tell Rudy about them trying to solve Ranveer's mystery, but he did tell about the mangoes incident.
"You're telling me that the guy made you, Sach ka boyfriend (boyfriend of truth) be a party to his mango-stealing plan?" asked Rudy, actually surprised this time. "I have to meet this Chulbul." said Rudy.
"Soon bro, I want you to meet him, my new friend." said Om, smiling to himself.