27th December 2019

Gone were the days when the Oberoi Mansion would become a hullabaloo at the mere idea of a festival. They believed in celebrating everything, celebrating life. Why wouldn't they, with money to spend like the flow of water, happiness to be continuously spread and love for each other to be grown. Things had gone haywire,

Janhavi had become quieter now, reasons not known to anybody. Long gone was the understanding and conpassionate woman, all left behind was a shell. Previously, she would seek respite with Rudra but now that he had married Bhavya in a private affair as well, Janhavi's loneliness grew. And an idle mind is a devil's workshop. While she would spend hours outside the house, not informing anyone about her whereabouts, her time in the house was focused on Anika.

Janhavi was a mess, really. Her simple thought was, both she and Anika had lost their husbands. Both had to stay away from them. While Anika had begun to grow and thrive, Janhavi was withering. She hated how she saw so much of herself in Anika. They were both wives of powerful, influential husbands, both caught in the same storm. They were both strong themselves, a spark in them, had immense love for their family and wanted to be independent. Then of course, was her huge secret, one which she did not wish for anyone to come to know. She knew she was in the wrong here but she couldn't let Om and Rudra suffer anymore.

That evening, she sat in the living room, a random magazine in hand. "Mom?" She heard Om's voice and looked up to find her son standing there with a small smile. She could see the tiredness in his face. Making him sit down, she ran a hand through his hair.

He smiled softly before he laid down in her lap, not caring that they were in the living room.

Janhavi looked at him and her eyes pooled with tears. There was a lot of guilt in them. She would never ever forgive herself for doing this to her family. When Om saw his mother's eyes watering he got up and cupped her face.

Janhavi sniffed and immediately wrapped her arms around him, feeling lighter when she did.

Om felt his stomach drop when his mother weakened. He had seen her sit all by herself and wondered if he could just find his old Mom in there who would smile at him and assure him that it would all be good. Who would tell him that he was the best at what he was doing, even if he knew he was doing terrible. Om knew he was falling weak, failing at upholding the legacy that the Oberois were. God forbid, if this continued, they would end up bankrupt. Everyone working for him had finally realised that he was terrible at what he was doing and related to his truthful nature which both his father and Shivaay lacked.

At this point, Om knew it was only Janhavi who could help him see light. She was a fantastic businesswoman back from her day but seeing her break down minutes after he came to her, Om knew, this was a dead end. He blamed himself of expecting something from his mourning mother.

Then, he blamed her. How long would she mourn for someone who wasn't coming back? Why could she not, for the sake of her children and her family look beyond the past? Om was done living in the past when he could see his present and future falling apart, along with his family.

Slowly, he calmed himself down, chiding himself for being so harsh towards his mother. She was in a difficult phase. She had loved Shivaay like her own and then saw her husband lay dead, shot by her favourite son. At times like these, Om wondered why she had to love Shivaay so much that it left her shattered.

What was there to not love and appreciate and respect and admire? A aprt of him would say. He was the perfect son, nothing like Om.

This would lead to a cycle of constantly derailing himself, blaming each and everyone trying to find something to hold on to.

As he calmed his mother down, Om took a decision.

"Mom, I think you should leave for London."

Janhavi looked up sharply, wondering what brought it on. "Om why wou-"

"Mom, I cannot see you like this." Om took Janhavi's hand in his, wondering how to explain without letting any bitterness show.

"You have become a shell of a woman that you were and I know losing Dad has created a void nothing will be able to fill-" Om gulped the lump in his throat, "but I know you and I want you to be happy. Dad wouldn't want you so sad. He would be upset that I couldn't keep his beautiful wife happy when she was too young for these wrinkles." He smiled lightly through his tears, wiping Janhavi's.

"Om, I will never be happy again."

"No. You will not be as happy as you were with him around but you can be happy or at least, not sad." Om sighed. "You are ruining yourself and I can't just look on as you do this to yourself. I know living here is going to be difficult so why don't you go to London. You have spent a majority of your life there and I an sure Dad will love to see his wife there."

Janhavi would have graciously accepted it. She wanted an out from the loop of poison and hatred, herself but she knew she couldn't.

"Om, I can't. I am sorry." Janhavi stood up and walked to her room, leaving behind a distraught Omkara.

---

A new year was here, another year began with the Oberoi family breaking a little more. On the eveing of January 3rd 2020, Janhavi Singh Oberoi walked in with a pale face, as if she had aged a thousand years together.

When her sons had caught her like that, preventing her from stumbling and falling into a bundle, she looked up at Om with much difficulty.

"Get me away from here, Om. Please." her voice cracked and Om and Rudra hugged her tightly, wondering what did this to their mother.

Little did they know, she had lost her husband yet again.

---

*low whistle* So what do you think is up with Janhavi. I hope I am doing justice to these characters. Getting thousand words together for an update is a task at times, I find myself lost but can't say I am not happy with the product :P

Waiting to see your reactions!

BlackManiacx