Recap : Gopal kaka received a letter from Oberoi's and decided to take care of ShivOmRu as the Oberoi's had requested him to do.

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Gopal kaka didn't know how to face Shivaay after reaching home.

He knew that Shivaay was mature enough and deserved to know the truth but at the same time kaka also felt like telling him everything will only add up to his worries and may ruin his childhood.

So Gopal kaka told him the partial truth.

"Shivaay baba, mujhe aj apke mummy papa ka sandesha mila...Woh chahte hai ki aap tino kuch din mere saath raho." ("Shivaay baba, I received your parents'message today...They want you 3 to stay with me for a while.") Gopal kaka said shortly.

"Sacchi ? Kya aap mile unse ? Kya woh thik hai ? Kya woh hume lene aayenge ? Unka uss don se koi sambandh nahi hai na ?" ("Really ? Did you meet them ? Are they alright ? Will they come to take us back home ? They aren't related to that don in anyway, are they ?") Shivaay asked in one go. His eyes were so hopeful that Gopal kaka couldn't look him in the eyes.

"Nahi, woh mujhe nahi mile...Aur nahi unka uss don se koi sambandh nahi hai, unhe kisine phasaya hai." ("No, I didn't meet them...And no they ain't related to that don, they have been trapped by someone.") Gopal kaka replied.

Gopal kaka didn't want Shivaay to get involved in all this stuff but he also didn't want ShivOmRu to hate their parents for something they may or may not have done.

"Kya papa, maa, badi maa, bade papa, dadi sabko police pakad legi ?" ("Will police arrest dad, mom, badi maa and bade papa ?") Shivaay asked worriedly. "Pr unhone kuch nahi kiya." ("They didn't do anything wrong.") He said desperately.

"Baba, aap tension mat lijiye. Tej sir aur Shakti sir sab sambhal lenge." ("Baba, don't worry. Tej and Shakti sir will handle it all.") Gopal kaka assured but Shivaay wasn't convinced.

For the next few weeks, Shivaay made sure he watched news everyday just to make sure his family was safe or to know at least something about them.

At some point, Shivaay just watched news to see the pictures of his parents. He missed them so badly but he was not allowed to be weak, that's what he told himself.

For a few days after Gopal kaka received the letter, they used to receive blank calls on the landline, Gopal kaka never complained about it though, infact he always asked Shiv, Om or sometimes even Ru to receive those blank calls cause for some strange reason he felt that it was Oberoi's who were dying to hear their kids' voice.

But after a week those calls stopped.

Shivaay's hopes of meeting his family had started to slowly disappear as the weeks flipped by.

Shivaay was growing more and more quieter than usual. Kaka tried his best to assure Shivaay that everything's going to be okay but Shivaay wasn't having none of it.

Shivaay cried himself to sleep almost every night for God knows how many days. He refused to open up and talk about his fears with Gopal kaka, which worried Gopal kaka but he was helpless.

It was summer when ShivOmRu had arrived at Gopal kaka's home but now the vacation was coming to an end and even though Shivaay was refusing to go to school until he meet his family again Gopal kaka forced him to go school.

However, Gopal kaka knew he couldn't afford the fees of ShivOm's current school so he got them admitted to a local school whose fees was affordable for him.

A night before school,
Shivaay was grumpily packing his bag for the first day of school. He was a 5th grader now. Too smart for his age he was promoted to 5th grade at the age of nine.

"Baba, apne sab kitabe rakhli ? Aur Om baba aap pencil rubber mat bhulna." ("Baba, did you keep all your books ? And Om baba don't forget to pack your pencil and eraser.") Gopal kaka said as he helped them both with the books and stationary.

"Kaka mera ho gaya ! Meine sab rakh liya." ("Kaka I'm done ! I packed everything.") Om cheered making Gopal kaka smile at him fondly.

"Shiv baba ?" Gopal kaka looked at Shivaay.

"Kaka mujhe nahi jaana school !" ("Kaka, I don't wanna go to school.") Shivaay whined like a baby.

Gopal turned to Om and sent him in the next room to play with Ru and then he turned to Shivaay again.

"Baba, school jaana jaruri hai. Agar aap school nahi gaye toh aapke Papa ki tarah bade businessman kaise banenge, ha ?" ("Baba, it's important to go to school. If you don't study well and go to school then how will you become a good businessman like your dad and uncle ?") Gopal kaka tried to convince him.

"Pr kaka agar mein school chala gaya aur maa papa yaha hume lene aa gaye toh ?" ("But kaka what if mom and dad come to take us home when we're in school ?") Shivaay finally told kaka his fears, for the first time.

"Baba..." Gopal kaka's face and voice softened and he pulled Shivaay close. "...Agar woh yaha aaye na toh mein unhe rokh lunga jab tak aap school se wapas nahi aate, thik hai ?" ("...If they come, I'll make them wait until you're back from school, okay ?")

"Pr..." ("But...") Shivaay tried to oppose but Kaka cut him off.

"Aapko mujhe pe bharosa hai na ?" ("Don't you trust me ?") Kaka asked, Shivaay nodded. "Toh fir ? Mein unhe apse mile bagar jaane nahi dunga, okay ?" ("I won't let them go without you meeting them, okay ?")

Shivaay nodded again but he still looked unconvinced.

"Aur mujhe ek baat batayiye, Om baba ka kaun khayal rakhega school mein agar aap ghar pe rahenge toh ?" ("Tell me one thing, who will take care of Om baba if you stayed back home ?") Gopal kaka asked with a frown.

Gopal kaka let out a small smile when he saw Shivaay face changing.

"Haan, Om abhi chota hai usey meri jarurat padegi school mein." ("Yeah, Om is small he will need me in school.") Shivaay nodded in defeat. "Thik hai, mein school jaaunga lekin aap mujhe promise kijiye ki aap maa papa ko nahi jaane denge." ("Fine, I'll go to school but promise me that you won't let mom and dad go without meeting me.")

Shivaay extended his hand out for kaka to shake. Gopal kaka smiled and shook his hand.

"Aur ek baat baba, apke naye school mein yeh mat batana ki... Tej Oberoi aapke bade papa aur Om ke papa hai. Agar koi puche toh batana ki aap unhe nahi jaante thik hai ?" ("One more thing baba, don't tell anyone in the new school that you and Om are related to Tej Oberoi. If anyone asks just tell them that you don't know them, okay ?")  Gopal kaka said seriously.

"Pr kyu ?" ("But why ?") Shivaay asked worriedly.

Kaka sighed. "Hum jaante hai ki woh nirdosh hai lekin log nahi jaante...Agar apne kisiko bataya toh ho sakta hai ki woh aapko chidhaye ya fir pareshan kare, isiliye." ("We know they're innocent but the world doesn't...it's possible that people might bully you if you tell them, that's why.")

Gopal kaka half lied. He didn't wish to burden Shivaay with another tension by telling him that his and his brother's life was in danger.

"Thik hai." ("Ok.") Shiv nodded, he didn't understand why kaka told him to do that but he didn't questioned it.

"Om baba ko bhi aap samjha dena please." ("Please also explain it to Om baba.") Kaka smiled.

***

Days went by...
Gopal kaka worked thrice as hard to support the household. He worked at a hotel as a waiter in night shift 3 days a week while juggling his job at the orphanage.

He also looked at Ru when ShivOm were at school.

Shivaay wasn't oblivious to the hardwork kaka was doing for them and he was really grateful for it. He respected kaka and also saw his as a father figure.

Shivaay couldn't help but feel guilty for burdening kaka with the expenses of his and his brother's living and hence so he tried to save money wherever he could.

Shivaay never asked for anything from kaka apart from meals. He also managed to cut down the demand of chocolates and sweets of Om.

Shivaay wanted to help kaka but he was too young to work for a earning and besides, kaka would never allow him to do that so he just silently did what he could do to save money.

Om, on the other hand, missed his parents and family so much and being just 6 he always made sure everyone knew that he was missing his family.

He threw tantrums and cried whenever he missed his family but Shivaay was always there to pacify him and calm him down.

Om was too young to understand why his family suddenly left him and soon his confusion started to slowly turn into hate.

He sometimes thought that his family left them cause they didn't love him anymore and he didn't hesitate to let Shivaay know about this.

"Mein accha nahi hu na ? Mein bahot bura hu, isiliye Papa maa aur dadi mujhe chod ke chale gaye, hai na bhai ?" ("I'm very bad, ain't I ? I'm not good that's why mom dad and grandma left me, isn't it bhai ?") Om asked Shivaay.

Shivaay and Om were sitting on the terrace just enjoying the stars in the night.

"Om, kisne kaha tujhse yeh sab ?" ("Om, who told you all this nonsense ?") Shivaay sat up and looked at Om with a frown.

Om looked away from Shivaay and whispered, "Kisi ne nahi." ("No one.")

"Om..." Shivaay said softly and pulled his face up so that Om was looking at him. "...Kisne bola yeh tujhe ?" ("...who told you this ?")

Shivaay's tone was soft but his 'kanji' eyes flashed anger but it went unnoticed by lil Om.

"Woh bhai..." ("Um bhai...") Tears welled up in Om's eyes as he continued without looking in Shivaay's eyes. "...mere school mein kuch ladke hai, woh mujhe chidhate hai, woh bolte hai ki Omkara ke mummy papa usey chod ke chale gaye aur kabhi wapas nahi aayenge kyu ki Omkara ek bura baccha hai." ("...there are some boys in my school, they say Omkara is a bad boy that's why they left him and his brothers.") Om cried silently.

Shivaay's jaws clenched when he heard his brother's words but for the sake of Om he managed to say in calm tone, "Kal mein tere saath aaunga mujhe batana ki woh kaun hai joh tujhe yeh sab jhooti baatein batata hai." ("I'll come with you tomorrow, tell me who are those idiots who tell all this lies to you.")

Om nodded and wrapped Shivaay in his arms. "Woh sab jhoot hai na bhai ?" ("Bhai, it's all lies right ?") He asked in a low voice.

"Aur nahi toh kya ? Woh joh koi bhi hai na joh tujhe yeh sab batata hai woh sabse bada jhootha hai !" ("Of course ! The one who tells you all this is the biggest liar on the planet.") Shivaay gritted angrily but his anger melted when he looked at Om who was still crying in his chest.

"Woh bas mere Om ko rulana chahta hai lekin usey kya pata ki humara Om toh bahot strong hai aur aisi jhooti baaton se woh nahi rota." ("He just wants to make my Om cry but what he doesn't know is that Om is a strong guy and such little lies cannot make him cry.") Shivaay said and watched with a smile as Om slowly wiped his tears. "Mera Om toh duniya mein sabse best hai aur sab ussey bahot pyaar karte hai, maa, papa, bade papa badi maa, dadi, Shivaay, Rudra... sab Om se bahut bahut pyaar karte hai." ("My Om is the best in the world and everyone loves him for who he is. Mom, dad, badi maa, bade papa, Shivaay, Rudra... everyone loves Om so much.")

Shivaay pulled Om closer and tightly hugged him to his chest as if Om was going to disappear if he let go off him.

Next day Shivaay walked Om to his class. They both were just about to reach the classroom when a voice stopped them.

"Aye Omkara !"

Shivaay and Om turned towards the voice and saw a group of 3 boys walking towards them. Om slightly shivered which didn't go unnoticed by his elder brother Shivaay.

"Yeh kaun hai ?" ("Who's he ?")

One of the boys asked while eyeing Shivaay warily.

Those boys didn't look more older than 8 years.

"Main Om ka bada bhai, Shivaay Singh Oberoi hu." ("I'm Om's elder brother, Shivaay Singh Oberoi.") Shivaay said while giving an intimidating look to the three of them.

"Bhai, yehi woh tino hai." ("Bhai, these are those boys.") Om whispered from beside Shivaay. "Aakash, Deepak aur Nishant."

"Accha, toh tum log ho joh mere bhai ko tang karte ho ?" ("Oh so it's you 3 who bully my brother ?") Shivaay looked at the three with an expressionless face.

"Tang ? Humne kab tumhe tang kiya Omkara ?" ("Bully ? When did we bully you Omkara ?") That Nishant boy glared at Om, scaring him.

Shivaay snapped his fingers before Nishant's eyes. "Mein yaha hu, yaha dekho, mujhse baat karo." ("I'm here, look here, and speak to me.") He said in a low growl.

"Yeh sab kya ho raha hai ?" ("What's happening here ?")

All the heads snapped at the voice.

A boy probably 14 or 15 years old walked towards ShivOm and Nishant.

"Kya hua Nishu ?" ("What's wrong Nishu ?") The boy asked Nishant.

"Jay Bhaiya woh..." Nishant stuttered.

"Mein batata hu." ("I'll tell you.") Shivaay said confidently and looked up at Jay who was taller than Shivaay. "Apka bhai, Nishant, mere bhai, Omkara, ko pareshaan karta hai, usey chidhata hai." ("Your brother, Nishant, bullies my younger brother Omkara.")

Jay looked at Nishant and understood that Shivaay wasn't lying when he saw Nishant's pale face.

"Na..Nahi bha..bhaiya." ("No...no...bhaiya.") Nishant stuttered yet again and was about to lie to his big brother when Shivaay cut him off again.

"Humare parents humare sath nahi rehte toh apka bhai mere chote bhai ko yeh batata hai ki woh kabhi wapas nahi aayenge kyu ki mera bhai bura hai." ("Our parents don't live with us so your brother tells my lil brother that our parents won't come back cause my brother is a bad boy.") Shivaay replied calmly while looking Jay in the eye.

Jay was startled. He looked at his lil brother in disbelief. "Nishu ! Kya yeh sach hai ?" ("Nishu ! Is this true ?") He asked.

"Nahi bhaiya !" ("No bhaiya !") Nishant squeaked and glared at Shivaay. "Jhoot bol rahe ho tum." ("You're lying.")

Jay eyed Shivaay and was about to say something when Om came forward a bit.

"Mera Bhai jhoot nahi bol raha...Nishant bhaiya har roz mujhe chidhate hai." ("My brother is not lying...Nishant bhaiya bullies me everyday.") Om said on the verge of tears.

Jay realised that Nishant was lying and turned to him. "Nishu, I'm very disappointed. Maafi mango abhi." ("Nishu, I'm very disappointed. Apologize now.") Jay said sternly.

"But Bhaiya..." Nishant started with pleading look but Jay dismissed his excuses and cut him off.

"Maafi. Abhi." ("Apologize. Now.") Jay replied with a glare.

Nishant sighed and looked at Om. "I'm sorry, Om." He said and was about to leave with his friends when Jay stopped him.

"Aur aage se tum Om ko nahi chidhaoge, samjhe ?" ("And you won't bully Om hereafter, understand ?") Jay asked but Nishant didn't reply so Jay turned to Om. "Om, agar tumhe isne kuch kiya toh tum mujhe batana, ok ?" ("Om, if he did anything wrong to you then come to me, Ok ?") Jay smiled warmly at Om.

Om looked at Shivaay for confirmation, when Shivaay nodded, Om smiled back at Jay and nodded. "Thank you Jay bhaiya." Om smiled.

"Thank you." Shivaay nodded at Jay with a smile. Jay returned the favour.

"Bye bhai." Om hugged Shivaay and left for his class.

Nishant and his friends also left, now it was just Shivaay and Jay in the corridor.

"Hi, by the way, I'm Shivaay Singh Oberoi." Shivaay smiled at Jay and extended his hand for Jay to shake.

"Jay, Jay Kumar Sharma." Jay shook Shivaay's hand with a warm smile.

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Hey guys !

This chapter didn't turn out to be as good as I had expected it to be, cause I wasn't able to concentrate on the feelings of ShivOm or Kaka...

It's hard to catch on the feelings of the characters sometimes when you're having a whirlwind of your own feelings in your head.

Anyway ! I hope I didn't bore you all. I know I'm actually rushing the story and I'm just going to rush it further in the next chapter.

Actual story will start in probably further two or three updates, where ShivOmRu will be all grown up.

Till the next update,
Have a safe and great life😇