Chapter 13
Shreya was descending the stairs while thinking of her day. She wasn't paying attention to her surroundings.
On the other side Advait was ascending the stairs while typing something in his phone. His focus was on his phone.
When Shreya bumped into him and was about to fall down but he caught her at the right moment.
She closed her eyes to prepare herself for the blow but when she didn't feel anything she slightly opened her eyes to look at him who was already staring at her.
They looked at each other oblivious to the surroundings. Her heart was bumping loudly and her breath got stuck in her throat. She was drowned in his light brown orbs. But his face was calm devoid of any emotions. He was just standing there supporting her waist on his hand.
Suddenly a loud voice broke their eye contact and they came back to reality.
"Bhaiyaaaa!" Aditya emerged running from a corridor.
They both quickly straighten up and fixed their composure.
She mumbled a quiet "thank you" and left from there without waiting for his response.
Advait shook his head at her retreating figure and looked at Aditya who was already looking at him raising his brow.
"What?" Advait asked.
"Nothing." Aditya shrugged.
Advait went from there to his room and got freshened up.
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Two weeks passed away, Abhishek started liking Shreya's way of teaching. Her friendly and supporting nature also helping him to grow his confidence.
Advait and Shreya met each other daily but didn't talk. Sometimes Advait asked her about Abhishek's progress but nothing more than that.
She keeps blabbering in front of everyone but always gets out of words in front of him. She became nervous and hesitant while talking to him. He was her crush but after meeting him she started feeling something more than a crush.
Advait also started liking her but just for her carefree nature and vibrant energy. Now he also knows that she was a great teacher so he felt a feeling of respect towards her otherwise before meeting her he was thinking of her as an immature person.
Both of them perspective has changed about each other. They both always tried to keep distance and avoid conversations but there was a pull that attracts them towards each other.
There was one fine Sunday. Advait was sitting in his room reading a novel. Aditya and Abhishek were also present there while Arush was taking a nap in his room.
Abhishek was sitting beside Advait using his phone. While Aditya was standing in his closet and looking at Advait's watch collection.
"Wow bhaiya, these are so cool." Aditya expressed looking at the watches with admiring eyes.
Advait smiled without looking up from his novel "Really?"
Aditya nodded vigorously "Yes! Can I try this one?" He asked picking up an old watch.
"No need to ask, baccha." Advait replied engrossed in his book.
Aditya placed the watch on his wrist and tried to buckle the strap but it get slipped from his hand and the watch fell on the ground with a cracking sound.
Advait immediately rushed to his side and checked him "Kya hua tujhe lagi to nahi?" He didn't notice the watch.
Aditya's eyes became teary as it was Advait's favorite watch. He pointed his finger on the ground. Advait followed his gaze and looked at the broken watch falling on the floor.
A wave of hurt and pain washed over his face but he quickly masked it off and looked at him.
"It's okay baccha, it was just a watch." He said cupping his cheeks.
"Sorry bhaiya, it was your favorite watch." Aditya whispered in guilt.
"Nothing's more important than you, baccha." Advait hugged him. Aditya was feeling really guilty.
Abhishek bent down to pick up the watch, the glass got cracked from the corner. His eyes burn with anger and hurt after recognizing the watch. He wasn't expecting this watch otherwise he would never let Aditya touch it on the first place.
"Are you mad, Aditya?" Abhishek yelled.
Aditya pulled away from the hug and looked at him.
"Abhi." Advait glared at him but Abhishek ignored it.
"Jab koi cheez sambhali nahi jaati to usey haath kyu lagata hai kya jarurat thi pehnne ki." He shouted.
Aditya was already in guilt and Abhishek's words were making him feel more guilty for his action.
"Abhi, baccha hai wo itni si baat ke liye chillane ki jarurat nahi hai toot gayi to toot gayi. It was just a watch." Advait scolded him and took Aditya in his embrace.
"It was not just a watch bhaiya. It was gifted by your mother." Abhishek said, his own voice was cracking slightly.
Aditya didn't knew about this, he looked up at Advait with the hurt. His guilt got intensified after knowing that the watch was gifted by his mother.
Advait noticed it and cupped his cheeks but Aditya left the room in guilt. "Adi!" Advait called but he didn't answered.
He glared at Abhishek "Kya jarurat thi ye bolne ki, he was already feeling guilty upar se tu....."
Abhishek looked away, he knew that Advait also got hurt as it was the last gift by his mother to him but didn't say anything so that Aditya didn't feel guilty.
He stepped forward and hugged him tightly. Advait wrapped his arms around him and sighed heavily.
"I know you're also hurt, bhaiya." Abhishek whispered.
Advait tightened his grip around him and blinked away his tears.
"Tujhe Adi ko aise daantna nahi chahiye tha." Advait said.
"I know bhaiya but maine wo watch dekhi and I just lost my control mujhe pata hai usne janbuz ke nahi kiya par mujhe gussa aa gaya aur usey blame kar diya." Abhishek replied.
Advait parted away and kissed his forehead "Mai usey dekh kar aata hoon." Advait was about to left when Abhishek held his hand.
"Aap yahi rahiye, maine us par chillaya na mai mana kar laata hoon." Abhishek said. Abhishek didn't let him go as he knew Advait needed some alone time to vent out his emotions.
Advait thought for a minute and nodded. Abhishek left the room.
Advait sat down on the bed while looking at the broken watch in his hand.
A wave of nostalgia hit him. The crack on the watch felt like a blow to his heart.
A lone tear fell down on his cheek without even knowing him.
He loved his mother the most. She was not only his mother, she was his world and his world got shattered when he saw his mother's lifeless body hanging off the fan.
He got shattered, but he had to live for his brothers because his cowardly father left their responsibility on him.
He had never spoken about these things to anyone but the wound was still fresh in his heart.
With time, he had learned to hide his pain and put on a mask of strength in front of everyone.
He looked at the watch and placed a gentle kiss on it with teary eyes, mumbling "I miss you mom!"
After some time, he composed himself and wiped his tears. He placed the watch on the bed side table and laid down on the bed. He closed his eyes and soon sleep engulfed him.
~________________________________________~
Abhishek entered Aditya's room. He was sitting on the floor, his knees were pressed to his chest and head was buried in them.
Abhishek stepped forward, Aditya looked up sensing a presence. His eyes were red and teary. He quickly wiped off his tears as he didn't want to cry in front of him.
Abhishek sat beside him on the floor. "I'm sorry Adi, I shouldn't have shouted at you."
"I'm not mad at you, bhai." Aditya replied resting his head on his shoulder.
They sat in silence for a long time, but Aditya's voice cut through the silence "I feel so guilty."
"Wo kitne hurt huye honge meri wajah se unke mom ka diya hua gift toot gaya, already humari wajah se unse sab kuch cheen gaya hai aur ab ek aur cheez." Aditya said and broke down at the last.
Abhishek hugged him tightly and rubbed his back to calm him down. But he was continuously crying. He didn't cry easily but it was the guilt making him weak from inside.
"Please chup ho jaa Adi, tabiyat kharab ho jayegi teri." Abhishek said constantly rubbing his back.
After a few minutes, he calm down and Abhishek made him sat on the bed and gave him a glass of water.
He just took a few sips and placed it back on the bed side table. "I want to take a nap." He said indirectly telling him to leave.
Abhishek gave him a quick hug and left from there.
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