Chapter 19
Advait was dangerously looking at Aditya he stepped forward and dragged him in front by his arm. Aditya flinched looking at Advait's scary eyes. Shreya was standing there, she was also scared for Aditya.
Advait glared down at Aditya and asked in a calm voice, "Bunk par gaya tha?"
Aditya's eyes teared up only from hearing his cold voice. He didn't reply to anything and looked down.
Shreya stepped forward, "Wo Mr. Malhotra...." She just said this when Advait showed her his palm, his eyes never leaving Aditya.
"School bunk kiya tha, Aditya? Jawab de." He again asked. His voice was clearly indicating his thin patience.
Aditya was barely nodded when his face jerked up to the side and he fell down on the road. Advait slapped him right across his face, it was the first time he slapped him on his face.
Shreya gasped and immediately crouched down to help him to stand up. Aditya's tears started to flow continuously and his body was shivering badly. He didn't have the courage to look into Advait's eyes anymore.
"Ye kya kar rahe hain aap bachha hai wo Mr. Malhotra." Shreya said as she took Aditya by his side but Advait was not ready to move his gaze from him.
"Get in the car, Aditya." Advait furiously glared at him.
Aditya was sobbing uncontrollably he immediately sat in the car on the back seat to avoid any further slap.
Advait looked at Shreya but before he could say something, she lashed out at him, "Ye kya tareeka hai bachhe ko treat karne ka beech road par aapne us par hath utha diya kitna embarrassing hoga ye uske liye."
Advait studied her for a moment with a blank look, "Should I drop you somewhere Miss Shreya?" He asked clearly ignoring her words.
She looked at him confused for a moment and sighed shaking her head, "Dekhiye Mr. Malhotra mai apko ye samj..." She just said this when Advait got in the car and drove to his home.
She offensively looked at his car's retreating figure and muttered, "meanie" under her breath.
Advait was silently driving the car but his face was not calm at all, his jaw was clenched and sharp.
His grip on the steering wheel was tightened than usual.
Aditya was still silently sobbing in the back seat, he was only praying not to reach at home because he knew if they did he'll surely be dead today.
But his hope shattered when Advait pulled the car in front of the mansion. He got out of the car and went to his side, he opened the door and pulled out Aditya from the car. He dragged him to the living room and made him stand in the middle of the room.
Aditya's sobbing got louder due to fear of anticipation. Advait was only staring at him calmly yet dangerously.
"Kaha gaye the?" He asked him.
Aditya started crying loudly, "Bhaiya sorry." He managed to whisper between his sobs.
"I asked you something, Aditya." Advait again asked, his voice was so calm that sent shiver ran down through his spine.
"Ma.. Mall." Aditya stuttered while shivering.
Advait again raised his hand on him and this time back handed him. Aditya stumbled but composed himself, his hand was tightly pressed to his cheek to remove the sting of the slap.
Abhishek, Arush and Kaka emerged from upstairs, they looked at Aditya and ran to his side.
Abhishek hugged him tightly, Aditya was gripping his shirt tightly in his hands and crying bitterly. His head was throbbing from the intensity of the slap.
Arush also hugged him from behind and rubbed his back with his small hands.
"Advait baba kya hua kya baat hai?" Kaka asked in concern.
But Advait was only busy in boring holes in his soul, "Idhar aa." He ordered Aditya looking at him.
Aditya shivered and tightened his grip on Abhishek, "Sunai nahi diya?" Advait shouted.
"Bhaiya kya hua hai kya kiya hai isne?" Abhishek asked holding Aditya in his embrace.
Advait pressed each word, "idhar aa, Aditya."
Aditya reluctantly left Abhishek and came in front of Advait. He wiped off his tears and looked up at Advait with his innocent doe eyes but Advait was nowhere near to be melted.
He held his hand and dragged him to his room. Abhishek, Arush and Kaka followed him but he closed the door on their faces.
He made Aditya stand in the middle, "Sorry." He whispered pleadingly holding his ears.
Advait took out a long thin cane and gave him a hard hit on his calves. Aditya screamed in pain. He immediately rubbed the area to remove the sting. His eyes were red due to crying as tears were not stopping.
Abhishek banged the door from the outside, "Bhaiya, please open the door." He pleaded.
Arush was crying listening to Aditya's screaming. Kaka was also tensed but didn't say anything as he had faith in Advait more than anything he knew Advait wouldn't do anything unnecessarily.
In the room, Advait again hit him on his calf making him flinched in pain, "Kiske sath gaye the?" He asked.
Aditya cried but replied, "Cla...ssmates."
"Tera plan tha?" He further asked.
Aditya vigorously shook his head indicating 'No'
"Wo khu..d mere paas aaya tha puchne ke liye mera id.. idea nahi tha i swear." He hiccuped.
Advait's expression didn't change a bit, "Security crash karke kaise nikle?"
Aditya gulped he knew Advait asked this question on purpose and most probably he already knew the answer but want to listen from him.
"I want an answer." Advait firmly said.
"Play... Playground ki wa.. wall cross karke." He whispered lowly.
Advait's glare intensified he gave him the hardest hit on his leg. Aditya screamed as the pain shot through his leg and started ranting apologies.
"Meri baato ki koi value hai tere liye?" Advait yelled.
"Us din jab ye stunt kiya tha tab maine mana kiya tha na ye repeat karne ke liye haan ya naa?" He shouted in anger.
Aditya barely nodded, "Phir bhi kiya us din ki chot abhi tak dhang se theek nahi ho payi aur tune phir wahi kiya." He looked down.
"Bina security ke bahar jane ko mana kiya tha but koi asar nahi hai meri baato ka." He said disappointed.
"Kitna dangerous ho sakta tha ye tujhe chot lag sakti thi agar tujhe kuch ho jata to mujhe to pata hi nahi lagta kyuki mere liye to mera bachha school gaya hua hai padhai kar raha hai par yaha to kuch aur hi chal raha hai." He said, his voice was heavy from the exhaustion.
"Pareshan kar diya hai tune mujhe." He added and Aditya started crying more loudly in guilt. His words cut deep through his heart.
"Meri koi baat nahi sunni hai tujhe bohot shok hai akele bahar ghumne ka baar baar ghar se school se bhaagne ka hai na." He shouted making him flinch.
He gripped him by his arm and opened the door. Abhishek instantly came in front, he was about to hug Aditya but Advait dragged him from there.
"Bhaiya sorry." Aditya cried.
"You're sorry because you get caught." Advait answered while dragging him away.
Abhishek, Arush and Kaka followed, "Bhaiya please jaane dijiye usey." Abhishek said.
"Bhaiya!" Arush said on the verge of tears.
Kaka took him in his embrace, "Beta rona band karo apke bhaiya kuch nahi kahenge Adi ko aap rona band karo."
Advait dragged him in the front yard and made him stand there, "Don't you dare move from here." He warned him.
"Bhaiya please, I'm sorry." Aditya said wiping his tears but Advait ignored him and went inside.
Abhishek looked at Advait, "Bhaiya please usey andar aane dijiye."
"Apne room me jaa, Abhi." Advait said while going to his room.
But Abhishek ignored him and went outside to met Aditya. He immediately hugged him and wiped off his tears.
"Shh bas rona band kar bhaiya abhi thodi der me tujhe andar bula lenge." Abhishek reassured.
"Wo bohot naraaz hai." Aditya whispered in guilt.
"Koi baat nahi tu mana lena unhe pehle rona band kar de mai yahin hoon." Abhishek replied.
Aditya shook his head, "Aap andar jaao warna apko daant pad jayegi."
"Kuch nahi hoga tu chup ho jaa." He replied cupping his cheeks.
"Bhai please andar jaao aap aur jakar uss bandar ko chup karao mai theek hoon." Aditya chuckled to lighten the mood.
Abhishek sighed and kissed his forehead he went inside. Advait was in his room, he was pacing back and forth in anger. He was angry on himself to raise his hand on Aditya. With a loud thud he threw the vase on the floor and it pieces shattered in the room.
In the living room, Arush parted away from Abhishek and said, "Mai bhaiya ke paas jau?"
"Agar abhi maar khani hai to jarur jaa bhaiya abhi gusse me hain jab gussa shaant ho jayein tab jana." Abhishek made him understand.
"Please na bhai mujhe abhi jana hai." Arush said and went upstairs.
"Ye ladka pit kar hi maanega." Abhishek said shaking his head.
Kaka said, "beta tum lunch kar lo tumhari tuition class ka time hone wala hai."
"Nahi kaka, mujhe bhook nahi hai." Abhishek replied.
"Par beta...." Kaka said but Abhishek gently cut him off, "Please kaka abhi nahi." Kaka nodded and left.
Aditya was standing in the front yard, his face was red due to crying and shame.
He stood there without any movement as he didn't want to catch any attention towards him he was already feeling humiliated being punished outside the home and the guards and security were staring at him making it more embarrassing for him.
His legs were in pain and head was throbbing he only wanted to be comforted in his brother's arm. He was standing there for almost 30 minutes and now his legs started giving up.
In Advait's room, Arush stood outside and slightly open the door. Advait was sitting on the bed with his head between hands he looked up as he sensed a presence.
"Bhaiya." Arush said and about to take a step but Advait's firm voice halted his steps, "Stop right there, Aru."
Advait stood up and carefully picked him up in his arms so that he couldn't hurt himself from the pieces of the broken vase. He sat him down on the bed and settled beside him.
"Aap theek ho, bhaiya?" Arush tugged on his sleeve.
Advait hummed, "hmm."
"Aap theek ho?" He asked tilting his head.
Advait exhaled sharply and pressed his hands on his head.
Arush instantly stood up on the bed behind him and started massaging his head with his little hands. Advait startled and looked back at him.
"Kya kar raha hai?" Advait asked tiredly.
"Aapko sir dard ho raha hai na to apka sir daba raha hoon." He replied in his babyish voice.
Advait softly smiled at his gesture and kissed his cheek, "Mai theek hoon beta."
Arush hugged him tightly and Advait sighed in relief relaxing a bit in his little arms, "Khana khaya aapne?" Advait asked to which Arush shook his head.
Advait glared at him, "Kyu nahi khaya?"
"Aapne khilaya hi nahi." He innocently replied.
Advait sighed and picked him up in his arms, "Chalo lunch karlo." He took him downstairs. Abhishek was already present there as he was not ready to leave Aditya alone.
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