My Nepenthe

Chapter 3

“Rudy… she listens to you… ask her not to go" Omkara asked his brother who glared at him.

“Why should I ask? She is your wife"

“It was not our choice Rudy… I was obligated to marry her and she stood there numb… may be she was shocked or something… I don’t know… I went with the drama not thinking that it will mean so much to her"

“Obligated??... who asked you?”

“What does that mean… I cannot let her die… those people cannot take the law into their hands”

“Right… a big fan of justice you are" Rudra said in all sarcasm when his brother sighed.

“We can discuss this later… at the moment go and stop Gauri… if she hadn’t left yet…that is" he said looking at his watch in tension.

“O… listen to me… you hated her till yesterday and even now, you don’t consider her your wife… why do you want her to stay…?”

Omkara turned his gaze away vaguely muttering “I don’t know” when his brother at him irritated with the response.

“I can understand if you cannot talk to her when you are not sure… but you can talk to me O… If I am getting into your business, I need re-assurance that I am not causing harm to that girl who I consider my Bhaabhi… give me one good reason and I will do as you tell me”

“Because I feel guilty with the way I treated her”

“Not a reason enough O"

“I want to help her out in some way or other…for… for what she has done to me"

“Go to hell with your gratitude… now stop wasting time and tell me the real damn reason” Rudra shouted making his brother sigh in defeat.

“I… I don’t know how to explain Rudy… I never even admitted this to myself" Omkara said in a whisper and Rudra calmed down nearing him, to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“Gauri… she… she pulls me towards her… I neglected the feeling thinking she is a bad habit waiting to drown me… that habit which makes you addicted to it" he said in a trance.

“But I know now that she is just a simple girl struck by bad fate. I want to know what makes me want her to be by my side… to be mine... She is a Nepenthe"

Rudra looked at Omkara with a blank look as he said “Sab kuch sir ke upar se gaya (Everything went above my head) Can you speak in an easier language?” he said and his brother rolled his eyes.

“We are poles apart Rudy… I hate lies and she doesn’t care if she lied hundreds in a day… I barely even acknowledged her presence and she is devoted to me…”

“All my life I came across woman who are lying, deceiving, greedy or characterless… Suddenly this village girl barges into my life, considers herself my wife… gives me the place of a God… all this… is… is…too hard to believe okay… It was too hard for me then… I was actually scared to believe it"

“If this pull…or whatever….is mere attraction or gratitude or else guilt on my part, I don’t want her to be stuck with damaged goods such as me only because I took pheras with her”

Rudra smiled at his brother “See… I understood now… Why do you become so emotional O?... if you like her… ask her out.. simple.. why is shaayari so important in life?”

“Rudy… just shut up okay… I am waiting for the attraction to fade off… if it…."

“What if it doesn’t?”