"Death is sweeter than harrowing ars."

~•~•~•~•~

'Retrograde amnesia??', Shivaay and Rudra furrowed their eyebrows.

'Yes. It is a kind of amnesia which occurs when the patient receives some mental shock and to save him/her from the torment of the memories causing the shock, his/her brain erases the memories. Thus they cannot remember the particular incident or anything related to it.', said Dr. Ghoshal, currently the best available psychiatrist and psychotherapist.

'But, why did he forget us too?? Even his name!', Shivaay banged his fist on the table of the doctor's cabin, startling him.

'Either you and his identity also caused him distress, or..', the elderly doctor paused for a moment, 'Actually there are three types of retrograde amnesia. His case is quite close to a pure one. But, the good thing is, he remembers the daily basic knowledge, which means we can hope for his recovery. But, these assumptions are made only by two hours. I need to observe him more, to get to any firm conclusion.'

'What? But doctor, if we hit him in the head again, will he not recover his memories?', Rudra looked hopeful.

'I'm afraid that will be more dangerous for him Mr. Oberoi', Dr. Ghoshal smiled fondly, 'Even we cannot pressurise him to remember things. Take it as a resurrection where your brother remembers nothing and help him to lead a normal life, starting everything from ground zero again.'

'Okay doctor. Uh, once he is checked fully, can we take him home?', Shivaay asked while entering Omkara's cabin.

'Yes you can', the doctor in charge of Omkara assured the brothers.

'Thank you doctor. Om, I guess you should get ready to go home.', Shivaay turned to Omkara and his face lit up with a bright smile.

*****

Holding the handles of the wheelchair, Shivaay pushed Omkara in, whereas Rudra was checking upon the medicines.

'Okay Omkara. Its time to meet your family again. As I said, I'm your cousin and Rudra is your sibling', he took him near Grandmother, who stiffened for a moment and tried to step back, but with one eye-sign from Shivaay, she gulped and caressed Omkara's rough, disheveled hair.

'Grandmother', Shivaay introduced.

Omkara tried to bend and touch her feet for blessings, but failed miserably. 'Sorry grandmother', he smiled helplessly.

'Its okay child', Grandmother heaved a sigh of relief as soon as Omkara was made to face Pinky, and her relaxation didn't go unnoticed by Omkara.

'This is my Mom, your Younger Mom, Pinky Singh Oberoi', Pinky passed Omkara a stiffened fake smile, making him feel dejected.

'Your Younger Dad, my Dad', Shakti patted his head lightly.

'Master', Bhavya kneeled at his level, her lips trembling, eyes misted.

Omkara looked at Shivaay astonished. 'Master??'

'Um.. She used to work for you before she got married to Rudra and your accident happened at the day of her marriage, so,'

'So, she couldn't had an addressing to call me by', Omkara completed Shivaay's sentence. Turning at Bhavya, he said, 'You don't need to call me this master and all. Just call me Omkara or Brother in-law.'

'You okay, brother Omkara?', Bhavya's voice broke a bit.

'I'm okay.. ',

'Bhavya'

'Oh. I'm okay Bhavya.', Omkara felt a warmth at his heart for the first time after stepping in his home.

Svetlana was trembling even after knowing that he knew nothing about her.

'She is Svetlana, your Dad's.. girlfriend', Omkara's eyes followed Shivaay's hand to meet a lady, a bit oldie, but gorgeous.

'Hello Svetlana.. Aunty', Omkara almost jumped on his wheelchair as the whole household broke into fits of laughter.

'Haha.. Om.. Om.. You used to call her by her first name', Shivaay said with a herculean effort to make his words recognizable.

'Oh. I'm sorry.. Svetlana.. Yes. Svetlana.', Omkara bit his tongue in embarrassment.

But Svetlana remembered the girl who called her Aunty for the first time.. The rustic, uncivilized girl, Gauri.

Tej was hesitant to meet Omkara. He was afraid if he remembered him and insult him publicly.

'This is your Dad, my Elder Dad', Shivaay pointed towards a hesitant Tej.

'Hello, Dad.'

Tej looked at his son tearfully. It had been ages since he heard this addressing from Omkara.

But Omkara misinterpreted his emotions and cupping his hand he looked up at him, like the quiet kid once he used to be, 'I'm okay Dad, don't cry.'

Finally, Shivaay took him before a large garlanded photo of Jhaanvi.

'She was your Mom',

'Mom', Omkara caressed the picture, 'When?'

'She died of a blast when you were eleven years old.'

'Oh.', streams of tears ran down his cheek.

'Brother Omkara', Bhavya came up from behind holding Ruvyan her hands, and placed him in his lap ignoring the daggers that Rudra shot at her by glaring.

'Hey there boy, what's your name??', Omkara asked the boy in a baby voice.

'He is Ruvyan. Me and Rudra's son.'

'I'm your Om uncle', he kissed the boy's forehead and tried to give him back to Bhavya, but Ruvyan clung to him, whining  in protest, surprising everyone.

Anika was running behind Ansh with a glass of milk in her hand. But she froze in horror when he ran into Omkara who was self wheeling inside their room, with Shivaay following behind him closely.

'Whoa! Slow down champ!!', Omkara patted Ansh's back enthusiastically.

'Om uncle, you awee (are)  a eeal (real) tight shweeper (sleeper)', Ansh pouted.

'Hawww, sorry champ!'

'Hihi', Ansh giggled, 'I've panned (planned) a new name fo (for) you, shweeping beauty.'

'Hahahahaha', Omkara broke into a full throated laugh as he kissed the heads of both of the boys.

'Om, this is Anika, my wife',

'Hi sister in-law'

'Om! You used to call her Anika only', Shivaay butted in.

'Oops! Sorry sis- Anika!'

'Its okay Om', Anika spent all the power she could muster up from her body and mind to pull herself back from showing her gritting teeth behind her fake smile, hide the glares behind concern in her eyes, and restrain herself from pouncing upon him and claw his heart out of his chest.

'I guess you should take rest Om', Shivaay took him away sensing the materialized hatred of Anika in the air of their bedroom.

*****

'Let me go Shivaay!', Anika struggled to take the knife back from Shivaay's grip, 'I'll kill him!! I've waited for five years Shivaay, I've waited for this moment to arrive, please Shivaay, let me go!!', Anika fell on Shivaay's feet, but he stopped her, nodding his head in negative.

'Nooooo', Omkara jerked upon his bed in a half sitting position, his eyes red in dread, his breathing harsh due to shock, his whole body writhing and shaking, unable to endure the agonizing wreck.

'Did you hear that Anika??', Shivaay smirked victoriously, 'Just as I wanted. I guess he lost his peaceful sleep for this night, Anika. If god is on our side, he will suffer more in this way, and beg for peace, tranquillity, but, he will not be given a single moment of blissful happiness', Shivaay gritted his teeth.

'Let's go and watch his misery along with our resolve of avenge blooming slowly ', Shivaay whispered in Anika's ear, and shouted, 'Don't worry Om, we're coming for you!!'

And he left his bedroom walking patiently towards Omkara's room, holding a beaming Anika's hand.

All the psychology students or psychologists.. Do let me know if I served anything wrong about retrograde amnesia.

Why has Omki been woken up at night??🤔🤔

Let's think.

Happy reading!!
With love,
Sarani.