Chapter 20
Shreya entered the mansion after a security check, she was going towards the main entrance when her eyes fell on Aditya who was standing with his head bowed down so he didn't notice Shreya. She furrowed her brows and stopped in front of him.
"Bahar dhoop me kyu khade ho mini malhotra?" She asked, raising her brows.
He looked up at her and averted his gaze feeling embarrassed, "Aise hi."
"Aise hi?" She narrowed her eyes.
He shrugged.
"Mr. Malhotra ne kuch kaha tumhe?" She concerned looking at his red face.
"Kuch nahi kaha....direct maara." He replied rolling his eyes mumbling the last part under his breath.
She amusingly shook her head at him, "Chalo ab andar jyada der dhoop me khade rahoge to bimar pad jaoge."
"Nahi chal sakta." He replied lowly.
"Kyu?" She asked.
"Bhaiya ne punish kiya hai." He meekly accepted.
She gasped, "Kitne zaalim hai tumhare bhaiya itne chote se bacche par atyaachaar kar rahe hain."
"Mere bhaiya zaalim nahi hai bohot ache hain wo." He glared at her.
"Kuch jyada hi." She mocked.
"Tuition nahi padhana apko?" He taunted her.
"Jaa rahi hoon." She gave him a tight lipped smile, "Dono bhai ek jese hain khadoos." She walked away mumbling under her breath.
"I heard." He yelled behind her.
"Good for you." She went inside flipping her hair.
In the living room, Advait called for Abhishek, "Abhi, Come here for lunch."
"I'm not hungry, bhaiya." Abhishek replied.
Advait shot him a look, "Come here, right now."
Abhishek came to his side and settled down on the chair. Advait started serving them food in their plates.
"Bhaiya." Abhishek said lowly.
"Hmm?" Advait answered while serving.
"Aap nahi khayenge?" He asked as he noticed only the two plates.
"Mai baad me kha lunga, tum dono khao." Advait replied, he couldn't eat without Aditya.
"Aur Adi?" Abhishek hesitantly asked.
Advait looked at him and sighed, "Tum dono khana start karo mai usey andar bula kar laata hoon." He replied.
"Abhi, jaldi kha teri class ka time ho gaya hai." Advait added seeing his slow speed.
Advait was about to call Aditya when Shreya entered the room, "Wah bechare bacche ko ghar ke bahar akela khada kar ke aap yahan aaram se baith kar khana kha rahe hain." She taunted accusingly glaring at him.
"Excuse me?" Advait said as it was the first time she was talking to him in that tone.
"No, you are not." She replied crossing her arms over her chest.
"Aap khud ko samajhte kya hain ha? Chote chote baccho par itna zulm karte hain agar ye chahe to aapke against case kar sakte hain." She dramatically threatened him.
Abhishek and Arush were looking at her like she has lost her mind. Abhishek gestured her to keep her mouth shut but she didn't notice. He didn't want Advait to lash out at her as she was his favorite.
"Really?" Advait fakingly gasped.
"Yes! Aur agar ye..." She said but Abhishek held her hand whispering, "Di, kya kar rahe ho aap, please chup ho jao."
"Kyu chup ho jau dekho tumhe inse darne ki koi jarurat nahi hai mai khadi hoon na yaha par mere rehte ye tum logo ko kuch nahi kar sakte." She replied proudly yet angrily.
"Mere bhaiya se aise baat mat karo." Arush yelled at her.
Advait snapped his head at him pinning him down with a glare. He again looked at Shreya who was still accusingly looking at him.
Abhishek gulped because Advait was only staring at her with a blank expression that was not a good sign, his hands were in his pockets and he was casually standing there.
"Aap upar chalo." Abhishek said and started dragging her towards upstairs.
"Nahi ruko aaj mai inhe dhang se sudhar kar hi jaungi." She said while Abhishek was dragging her.
"Baad me sudhar lena please abhi upar chalo." Abhishek pleaded. He looked at Advait's face that was red with anger but he was doing his best to control it, "Di please chalo warna yaha tsunami aa jayegi." He whispered and dragged her away.
Advait exhaled sharply waving his hand through his hair, he went outside to the front yard and spotted Aditya, "Come inside." He ordered him and left.
Aditya finally took a sigh of relief, he was on the verge of falling down on the ground. He slowly made his way inside with his limping legs.
Advait was sitting on the head chair of the dining table and Arush was on his lap, he was feeding him as he didn't eat anything by himself.
Aditya stopped in front of Advait, his eyes teared up instantly looking at him as he couldn't see his brother being upset with him.
Advait acknowledged his presence and said in a calm voice, "Go to your room and freshen up." He said while making bites for Arush, "I'm coming."
Aditya nodded and went to upstairs, it took him more than usual time to reached to his room. He stepped on the stairs slowly with the help of the banister.
In Abhishek's room, "Tumne mujhe kuch bolne kyu nahi diya?" Shreya glared at him. "Aaj ache se samjha deti mai tumhare bhaiya ko samajhte kya hain wo khud ko." She scoffed.
Abhishek rolled his eyes, "Kya samjha deti aap galti to Adi ki thi bhaiya ne to bas usey samjhaya."
"Samjhaya? Usey samjhana kehte hain?" She crossed her arms.
"Take a deep breath and calm down, please." He instructed her looking at her huffed face.
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In the living room, Advait was done feeding Arush and he instructed kaka to prepare a plate for Aditya.
He took the tray of food in his hand and made his way to Aditya's room. The door was open so he entered inside and it was empty. The sound of water running could be heard from the bathroom.
Advait placed the tray at the bed side table and settled himself on the bed waiting for Aditya.
After exact 3 minutes he emerged from the bathroom. Advait looked up at him, he had changed his school uniform, his face was still red and he was looking exhausted. But then Advait noticed his limping walk when he was coming to his side and a fresh wave of guilt settled in his chest.
He closed his eyes for a moment and cursed himself in his mind. He opened his eyes and Aditya was standing in front of him holding his ears, "Sorry, bhaiya." He whispered looking down.
Advait sighed, "Pehle khana kha lo baad me baat karenge." He said in a soft voice placing the plate on the bed.
Aditya swiftly jumped on his lap burying his face in his chest caughting him off guard. Advait lovingly caressed his hairs mumbling, "khana nahi hai?"
"Aap khila do." Aditya looked at him with his doe eyes and Advait noticed his finger prints on his cheeks. He softly pecked his cheeks.
He started feeding him with his own hands. He was pecking his temple after each bite and Aditya was snuggling more to him even he didn't know when he drifted off to sleep in the middle of the eating. He was very exhausted and tired from the punishment.
Advait was patiently waiting for him to take the bite from his hand but when he didn't Advait noticed that he drifted off to sleep. He placed back the bite in the plate and tried to make him lie down but Aditya didn't let him go his grip got tightened on him.
Advait carefully placed the plate on the bed side table and sat back comfortably with the support of the head rest. Aditya was sleeping with a slightly open mouth.
His exhaustion was clearly visible from his face.
Advait never stopped caressing his hair and eventually he also drifted off in sleep with him on his lap.
After an hour, Advait sleep disturbed due to his uncomfortable position. He looked down at his brother who was sleeping comfortably on his lap resting his side face on his chest.
Advait smiled softly and gently made him lay down on the bed he covered him with a duvet and kissed his temple.
He caressed his cheek where he had slapped him before. He was gently caressing it as if wanted to remove the pain it caused to his brother. He bent forward and kissed his cheeks multiple times.
Then, he stood up and folded his pants till his knees to see any injury. His guilt intensified when he noticed the blue lines of cane were formed there. He took out the ointment and genty applied it on the marks.
Aditya flinched in his sleep when the cold cream touched the bruised skin. Advait slowed down and applied it with extremely gentle hands.
Advait laid down beside him and hugged him to his chest. He was feeling really guilty after seeing the damage he had done to his brother, "Bhaiya is so sorry mera baccha." He mumbled hugging him tightly.
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Advait was making Aditya's favorite white sauce pasta in the kitchen. His movement were practiced and he was moving effortlessly in the kitchen. It was almost the ending time of Abhishek's study session.
Kaka came to help Advait but he politely denied him as he wanted to do everything by himself. He put the pasta on the stove to let it boil and started cutting vegetables for it.
His movements stopped when he heard the little footsteps walking towards him, "Bhaiya!" Aditya was standing at the entrance of the kitchen.
"Uth gaya mera baccha." Advait went to him and kissed his cheeks.
Aditya giggled and hugged his torso, "Kya bana rahe ho aap?"
"Your favorite, white sauce pasta." He picked him up in his arms.
Aditya grinned widely.
"I love you, bhaiya." Aditya snuggled his face in the crook of his neck.
"Love you too, bhaiya ki jaan." Advait sat him down on the counter and pecked his nose.
He again got busy in cooking and Aditya was silently observing his every moment. He was very fond of cooking but Advait didn't even allow him to enter the kitchen without his permission.
"Bhaiya." Aditya hesitantly whispered.
"Hmm?" Advait answered while stirring the vegetables in the pan.
"Sorry!" Aditya said looking down, he was feeling guilty of his actions.
Advait looked up at him and ruffled his hair with a soft smile, "We'll talk later about this hm."
Aditya silently nodded his head and mentally prepared himself for another round of the scolding.
Shreya was noticing the interaction between the brothers with a lovely smile on her face and slapped her forehead lightly for doubting Advait's love for his brothers.
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