Annika and Gauri had given up thinking about what would happen when their uncle returns, if he persuades them to go ahead with the search, what will be the results, what would they discover....they rather spent their time focusing on their present which seemed worthwhile.
"Chutki, you look....excited this morning?" asked Annika, as Gauri came down for breakfast.
There were only two of them, others were absent.
"No, Jiji, I am fine. In fact, you look excited this morning" said Gauri, throwing the ball back in Annika's court.
"Er, nothing" said Annika.
"Let me guess, nothing is Bade bhaiyaa doing something romantic for you" said Gauri, with a sly smile.
"Not really, Shivaay and I are just going to my old chawl this evening. We had another crazy bet yesterday night, on whether he would be able to live on a fixed amount of money, like how I used to live before being married to him, or before landing a proper job here as his wedding planner" said Annika.
"Jiji, you look victorious already" said Gauri.
"Thats because she has forgotten that Shivaay Singh Oberoi never loses" said Shivaay entering the dining hall, followed closely by his brothers.
Omkara rolled his eyes, while Annika and Rudra snorted.
"We'll see about that Billuji. Rudy, do you think your brother can live like a 'aam aadmi'?" said Annika, trying to control her laughter.
Rudra replied without missing a beat "No, I don't think bhaiyaa can manage."
This earned him a glare from Shivaay, to which Rudra reacted by shaking his head vehemently, when Annika was looking the other way.
Soumya came down for breakfast as well, and sat down next to Rudra.
"What are you guys planning for today? Soumya, how's packing going?" asked Annika.
"Progressing slowly, bhaabhi. I think, I don't want to leave so soon, but I'm also excited about the States" said Soumya. "Its the last day of Rudra's internship today, so we were thinking of heading out with Chubby and others this evening."
"Rudra, I completely forgot about your internship ending. How was the whole experience?" asked Shivaay.
"Its okay bhaiyaa, you were busy with work, and now you are not single" Rudra winked, as Shivaay rolled his eyes. "What surprises me is that O also seemed preoccupied. What were you busy with, O?"
Soumya elbowed Rudra, it has been months and still she hasn't been able to teach Rudra how to be tactful.
"Painting" replied Om, not looking at his brother.
Rudra raised an eyebrow, while Annika smirked looking at her sister.
"So, tell us Rudra, how was the experience?" said Shivaay, sliding over the awkward moment to help out Om.
"Good. Lets see what they write in the internship recommendations. I really want it to be good, I want to.....impress Dad, he actually seemed the most invested in this" said Rudra, unexpectedly.
Shivaay and Om, were taken back by this.
But if he had to be honest with himself, Om knew that Mr. Oberoi was making efforts to win over Rudra. That Rudra would actually believe his father, was something Om didn't expect.
Shivaay, on the other hand, was glad that his Bade Papa was paying attention to his son, positively. His own father had always been indifferent, though supportive. Oddly, Shivaay always interacted way more with Bade Papa, but the fact that he was not his own son, and OmRu's rival was an unspoken wedge between them.
"Okay, I'll see you guys later, I have to go for work" said Rudra. "Bhaabhi, make sure you click photos of bhaiyaa in the chawl."
He hi-fived his bhaabhi, while others laughed, much to Shivaay's annoyance.
**********************************
Gauri returned from work early, she was looking forward to whatever this was.
The last time they had gone 'sightseeing', was the night Gauri took him to the beach for helping him with his inspiration. After that things had been pretty up and down with them. She didn't know where this was all heading, but she didn't want to think about it; it was futile anyways.
"Gauri" Omkara called out, as she was about to step into her room.
"Don't leave your stuff, take something with you, sometimes I get too lost in....." but Gauri cut him off.
"In painting. I understand. Just wait five minutes" said Gauri, and she went in to pick up a couple of books and came back to join Om.
"Chale Omkaraji?" (Shall we go?) she asked. Omkara smiled, and led the way.
They had no plan where they would go, or what they would do, so they just let their feet open up the path.
They held hands, as if it was the most natural thing to do, and decided to take the Mumbai local to which ever place took their fancy.
Gauri climbed in first, and pulled in Omkara with her. Omkara admitted that he had been out of practice, otherwise he used the local frequently.
They got down at the Bandra station, and decided to walk along Bandstand.
Gauri obviously liked this section of the city, because the Bollywood stars lived here, and she was never tired of visiting this road. She stared at their residences dreamy eyes, while Omkara laughed internally but apart from his twinkling eyes, there was no way of knowing it.
He allowed Gauri to pull him to Salman Khan's residence, though Gauri had been here umpteen times. Gauri had full faith that one day she would meet Salman Khan in person. Omkara knew that Shivaay could arrange it in one phone click, but he knew that Gauri knew that as well, and she relied on her Shankarji to arrange it rather than Shivaay. Childish, he thought, but endearing.
Gauri bought chana from a stall, and started popping them in her mouth, while looking at the setting sun. They both stopped to admire the pinkish glow of the sun, as it slowly went off to sleep.
Omkara took out his painting equipments from his shoulder bag, set it up, and start painting. Meanwhile, Gauri took out her book and sat down to read, swinging her legs back and forth, as she sat on an elevated platform over the rocks, that lined the shore.
They both were absorbed in their work, and enjoyed each other's company in comfortable silence, with the whole world lost in its own music.
Gauri looked up from her book, and smiled at him, while the wind blew her hair behind her. Omkara smiled back, it was all peaceful and happy.
Some time later, Gauri tried to stretch and look over Omkara's shoulder to see what he had sketched so far, she couldn't make out much. Omkara put a fresh sheet over his present sketch, and held out his pencil to Gauri. Gauri looked up at him, and took the pencil from him. She looked at the blank canvass in concentration, and finally sketched something.
A man....a man with long hair and an earring, a very ugly man in Omkara's opinion.
"This is you" said Gauri, and started giggling.
Omkara frowned. "I don't look like this" he said.
"Really? Wait, here" said Gauri.
She came back a with a group of street kids, who looked almost woebegone.
"What do you think? Doesn't this picture look like this man?" Gauri asked the kids.
They were silent for a minute, and then the group burst with laughter.
"Yes, it does" they answered in unison
Omkara scowled.
"See, Omkaraji, I am right" said Gauri, laughing.
Gauri loved kids and they loved her back, she cheered them up. Omkara bought those kids some food, and had a good time trying to teach them how to draw, while Gauri taught them how to sing. After the kids left, Omkara rolled up his work; he had drawn enough to finish it at home.
He and Gauri went and stood by the sea, the water caressing their feet. They sat down on the rocks, to feel the wind on their faces.
Omkara asked Gauri about her studies, and she told him about her progress. Somehow the conversation shifted to politics and economics. Omkara expounded on socialism, but to his surprise, Gauri's opinions were more in favor of capitalism, though she didn't it frame her opinions like that. She probably had no idea what it was called.
Gauri favored state responsibility at the primary level, in providing education and health facilities, but not state owned enterprises or interfering in business. She seemed to disapprove thoroughly at what she called the 'handout' culture of the politics in their country.
For someone who lived her life in a small town, Gauri was very aware, may be more than Om, since she knew the ground realities better. But Gauri didn't argue her opinions, she kept forwarded her suggestions mildly, without any debate.
Omkara pondered why, and asked her to which she replied, "All this is fruitful if we are willing to do something about it, if not, then there is no end to debate."
Omkara looked at her searchingly; for a young girl, who didn't receive much education, her views were surprisingly well-developed. Omkara could have a mature conversation with her, despite Gauri's outwardly childlike demeanor.
They shifted to talking about other things. Omkara recited some Urdu poetry to which Gauri quoted some colloquial poetry of a famous Avadhi poet of rural origins. In this manner, they alternated between pleasant conversations and tranquil silences.
Omkara felt a certain calm in his heart which glowed inside him, warming him, yet cooling him. He was happy.
P.S. I always felt the song from the movie Lootera had a very Rikara vibe to it. :-)