#Fun Fact - The heart of the blue whale, the largest animal on earth, is five feet long and weighs 400 pounds. The whale in total weighs 40,000 pounds.

"Dad?"

"Yes Aaru."

"Why isn't mommy your wife?"

"That's because I and your mother aren't married. She is only your mommy."

"But Daddy-"

"What Aaru? Stop this all. Let's go play fetch outside. Even the weather is good."

"Mommy is getting married. She also said that uncle, who she is marrying is my father from now on. What is marriage dad?"

"You won't understand buddy. It's too philosophical. You are just a kid of four years and more. You are small. My buddy."

"Pilo- pillsocal. What is that?"

"Philo-so-phical. It's the wisdom of words. It's too big. You aren't big enough to realise."

"I'm big. Tell me. Real-ise?"

"Realise. You won't understand. Told you."

"I do understand." The little kid stomped his foot against the bottom and pouted. "Why aren't you married? My friends say that all parents are hubby and wife. Is it?"

"Accha? Who said that? Ryan?" His father asked with knitted brows and picked the kid in his arms.

[Trans - is it?]

"Yea. Ry said that."

"Aren't you guys too big to speak of this?" The kid giggled as his father tickled him, asking a quick question. His father sighed in satisfaction as he successfully diverted the topic and he was glad to do that.

"Yes. We are big. We daily have milk." His son proudly answered and curled up against his father.

"That's my boy. Come let's have healthy and strong badam milk."

"But choti dadi already gave me." The little guy spoke slyly making his father smile at his antics.

"OMKARA OBEROI. I need you down in the next five seconds." Heeding the loud and clear shouts of his grandfather little Aarush giggled and watched his father's paled expression.

"Come let's go and see what your dadu has been holding for us." Om accommodated his son in his arms and walked out of his room, which had been shut for years and only recently opened, to reach his father who waited for him down the stairs.

"Yes, Dad." Omkara settled on the couch opposite his father with his son on his lap.

"Aarush?" Tej counterfeited his angered expression to a smiling one when he looked at his grandson.

"Yes, Dadu?"

"Pinky is making Pinni, would you go get a few for me? I'm craving for those." He asked resting his index finger on his chin.

[Info - dish, Pinni is made with desi ghee, wheat flour, jaggery and almonds. These ingredients give a lot of heat and energy to the body. Made in the shape of laddoos, Pinni does not go bad for a lengthy time and does not require to be chilled.]

"You love them?" Tej nodded with a small smile as Aarush asked jumping from his father's lap. "Why choti dadi is making? For you?"

"No, you silly. We all are visiting your bade papa and bade mummy. So." Tej giggled along with the child kneeling to match his level.

"Yes. Yes. I like them. A lot." Aarush spread his tiny arms as he expressed his enjoyment. "They don't talk big-big words like daddy. Today he said pillo-so... pillosocal."

"That's philosophical."

"Yeah same to same."

Aarush snickered and ran away in search of his choti dadi and pinni.

"I heard that Myra is getting married? What's going on? Do you even think of informing us about your life matters? Shivaay came to us informing us that he and Sonu are taking the relationship forward. Even Rudra told us when he began dating Lavanya. What going on in your life, for fuck sake?" Tej ragged banging one of the cushions aside from him.

Om gulped the chunk formed but didn't answer. He couldn't answer when he was wrong with courses. He was guilty and didn't dare to look up. Tej blew out a sigh, understanding the bubbling emotions and he softened.

"I know not everyone needs to keep us updated. You all three kids are different. I do understand but since your breakup years back with Riddima, you are hideous. What's the matter, son?" Tej asked softly crawling to him and brushing his fingers.

When he didn't answer, tej started.

"More than a father I have been a best friend to you and Shiv. Only for Rudy, I have been the strictest father. It's okay if you don't want to reveal." Tej muttered.

"I and Myra had planned to partway years back. Back for the sake of Aarush, we waited. However, during that period, her family forced her into an arranged match and she found her love in that guy. In a good way, we parted and I decided to have custody of my buddy." Om silently whispered, his tone muffled but Tej presumed all.

"Didn't you love her?" He asked.

"No. I'm still trying to figure out what love is meant to be. Shivaay once told me but I never found it like that. Myra was my closest friend after Ishu left me. I'm not affected by her wedding maybe because I never really loved her however I do miss her because I was highly habitual to her. Don't worry, I will overcome this. This is nothing compared with those days."

Tej nodded not appreciating what to speak next. His son was highly sensitive and he didn't comprehend how to solve the problem. His heart pricked watching his son depressed but he remained warm and gentle.

"Son, I know it's hard to move on so quickly. But for your and Aarush's sake, you have to come out of your shell. I miss my old son who was quiet but quirky at the same time." Tej patted his shoulders.

"Yes, dad."

"You will also move in here. Aaru does need his grandparents. He needs to know that he has a big family." Om teared up seeing his ever angry childish man turned into a father. His father did everything in his hands. So he requires to be a definitive son to their families not run away.

"Your mother cries wishing for her son and grandson. She weeps to watch Shivaay behave well with her and Pinky. It's not jealousy but overrunning emotions. You need to get out of your shell and be the same."

"Yes, dad."

••

Taking talking with his father, Tej Om was emotionally drained. In his deep difficulties, he ignored his family. He knew his family was super supportive but he never cared to open up.

"Gosh, these fans. Uff! They yanked my jacket." He swirled his head hearing his brother's dramatic loud and high pitched tone.

"On top of this, that moti Soumya insulted me." He mumbled unknown of the other presence in the living hall and went ahead to make a beetroot smoothie.

Sighing at him Om followed him to the kitchen.

"Isn't it body-slamming? You preach however don't follow. Isn't it?" Om crossed his arms across his chest and asked him as he leaned to the countertop.

"Hey O you have kept your hair long. It's nice. What shampoo and conditioner do you use? Is it panteen? Or keratin treatment?" Rudra asked touching his brother's hair now and then.

Annoyed with him Om snapped. "Don't you dare change the subject?"

"How is Aaru? Is he here?" Rudra asked looking around and peeking out of the kitchen. "Why is pinni here? I'm on my diet? God no one understands me, only my Vahini does."

"Aaru is with choti maa. And coming to the point Pinni it is for Shivaay and Annika. Tomorrow all of us are going."

"Really?" When Om nodded he broke into the brightest smile. "I will sleep with my bhaiya. #missionannoybhaiya and #spoilmoments start. I'm so happy." He squealed.

"What's the matter with Soumya? Who is she?"

"Oh that. She was my classmate who I hated badly then and presently she is head of my team. Yuck. Where have I stuck? Can't she be like Sista?" Rudra heard his head and cried.

"Haha. What did she do? Usually, you are good to everyone."

"She is taking revenge on me. Remember Ria? The first girl I dated? Sister of Vihaan, my deadly senior?"

"Yea!"

"Ria is her best friend. Since I broke her BFF's heart she is in revenge mode."

**

That's the background of Om's life. Love isn't his cup of coffee. It's an emotionally draining chapter.

It's a shorter chapter.

I feel like this book is not exposed to any reader. There are hardly a hundred readers reading. Can you guys spread this on your announcement board by tagging me 😊