Chapter 23
Advait knocked on Abhishek's room door but got no response, he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion and again knocked.
No response.
He pushed the door open and entered the room but it was empty. He checked the bathroom but it was also empty. The panic gripped in his heart and he was about to leave the room to search for him in the mansion but a shadow in the balcony caught his attention.
He stepped into the balcony and a wave of relief washed over him looking at his younger brother who was sitting on a bean bag placed in the balcony. The headphones were glued to his ears and his eyes were closed, he was lost in the rhythm of the music.
Advait stood in front of him and tapped his shoulder. He instantly opened his eyes and sat up straight while pulling his headphones down to his neck.
"Itni der se knock kar raha hoon thoda low volume me songs suna kar beta." Advait said.
Abhishek nodded his head, "Kuch chahiye tha aapko?" He quietly asked.
"Kyu bina kisi kaam ke apne bacche se baat karne nahi aa sakta mai?" Advait asked wiggling his brows.
Abhishek shrugged and stood up. He passed the chair to him to sit down and again slumped down on the bean bag.
Advait sat down, he was thinking of the way how to talk to him as Abhishek was ignoring him.
"Kya sun raha tha?" He asked, trying to start the conversation.
"Songs." Abhishek shrugged.
"Oh I thought you were listening to news." Advait sarcastically said after receiving his wit replied.
"Well, you were wrong then." Abhishek replied looking at the outside view.
Then they again got silenced but Advait broke the silence.
"Aaj party me kya pehen kar jayega decide kiya?" He asked and Abhishek snapped his head towards him.
"Konsi party?" He mumbled.
"Tere friend ki birthday party, aaj hi hai na?" He intentionally asked.
"Par aapne to mana kar diya." He said lowly.
"Mana kar diya? Maine? Nahi to tujhe koi confusion huyi hogi maine to nahi mana kiya." Advait said dramatically.
Abhishek gave him a side eye look understanding his dramatics saying, "Hm mujhe hi confusion huyi hogi."
"Exactly! Chal ab bata kya pehen kar jayega." Advait asked.
"Mujhe nahi jana." He muttered.
"Kyu nahi jana?" Advait asked.
"Bas aise hi mera mann nahi hai." He replied.
"Sneak out karne ka plan hai kya?" Advait asked, his voice was teasing but edge with suspicion.
Abhishek looked up at him, "Room me lock kar dena kahi nahi jaa raha mai."
Advait expression turned sad and he cupped his cheeks, "Meri jaan naraaz hai mujhse?"
Abhishek averted his gaze ignoring him.
"I'm sorry beta maine befaltu me gussa kar diya mere bacche par." He said taking him in a side hug.
"Baat gussa karne ki nahi hai." Abhishek mumbled leaning on Advait's chest, "You said ki mai jaana chahu to jaa sakta hoon par phir aap mujhse baat nahi karenge."
"Mai aapse puche bina kahi gaya hoon kabhi jo aise bola mujhe." He said glaring at him but he was not even looking a bit scary but cute.
"I'm sorry for that." Advait sincerely said, trying best to stifled his laughter.
"Hmm fine." Abhishek lazily said, clinging to him.
Advait smiled and ruffled his hair, "To phir mai party me jaa sakta hoon?" Abhishek asked innocently looking up at him.
Advait chuckled, "hanji sir bilkul jaa sakte hain."
Abhishek hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek, "thank you thank you thank you so much bhaiya." He squealed in happiness.
"Bas bas bas....but ek condition hai." Advait said.
Abhishek whined but sat up straight after receiving a glare.
"11 baje mai tujhe pick karne aa jaunga." He said.
"Bhaiyaaa 11 bohot jaldi hai." Abhishek whined.
"Koi jaldi nahi hai 11 matlab 11." He replied.
Abhishek gave him his best puppy eyes mumbling, "Please 1 baje tak to rukne dijiye."
Advait gasped, "1 baje tak?"
Abhishek immediately said, "Ok ok relax umm 12:30 tak?"
"Not possible." Advait replied definantly.
"At least 12 tak to rukne dein please." Abhishek pleaded.
Advait looked uncertain but nodded his head, "Fine but 12 means 12 not even a minute late." He warned him.
"Promise." Abhishek kissed his cheek.
"Aur guards ko sath me le jana padega." Advait ordered.
Abhishek glared at him and said, "Ek kaam karein unhe hi bhej dein mujhe nahi jaana kahi."
Advait rubbed his temple with his fingers, "Theek hai mat le kar jaana khush."
"Bohot jyada." Abhishek jumped in excitement.
He went inside his room and picked up his phone with the speed of the rocket. He messaged Akash that he got the permission.
Advait also came inside, his attention went on his phone and the messages of his friend flashed back in his mind. He thought to check his phone but find it inappropriate to invade his brother's privacy. At last his over protectiveness win over the moral and he decided to check on his phone.
"Abhi, apna phone dikhana." He asked.
Abhishek looked at him in confusion as he never checked his phone before but handed him and went to select the clothes for the party.
Advait settled down on the bed and opened his friend's chat.
Akash, "Apna sneak out ka plan to ready hi hai na."
Abhishek, "Tera dimag kharab ho gaya hai? Mai sneak out nahi kar sakta."
Akash, "Tune kaha tha agar permission nahi mili to tu sneak out kar lega."
Abhishek, "Maine aisa nahi kaha tha idiot, mai sneak out nahi kar sakta."
"Tu party enjoy kar next time pakka pehle se permission le lunga."
Akash, "Please na yaar Abhi ek baar ki hi to baat hai kar le na sneak out kisi ko kuch pata nahi chalega."
Abhishek, "Kisi ko pata chale ya na chale par mujhe to pata hai na, mai bhaiya ka trust nahi tod sakta."
Akash, "Fineeee!"
"Mujhe already pata tha tu nahi maanega par socha ek baar try kar leta hoon."
"Chal koi na but next time pakka matlab pakka tujhe aana hi padega."
Abhishek, "Okay!"
"Bye. Enjoy your party!"
A smile spread on Advait's face, he was so proud of his brother that he chose him over anything else. He felt guilty to doubt him but was happy that he proved him wrong.
~_______________________________________~
Aditya and Arush were sitting on the couch in the room, they were playing video games and bickering with each other while playing.
The room door was open and Reyansh entered the room. He sneakingly went behind Arush.
Aditya saw him but he gestured him not to make a noise. Aditya understood the assignment and pretended to be engrossed in the video game.
Reyansh hid behind the couch and slowly tickled Arush on his neck. Arush flinched and looked back but no one was there.
Reyansh again tickled on his neck and Arush again startled and turned back to check but again no one was there.
After a minute of break, Reyansh again tickled him but this time Arush caught his hand and stood up on the couch.
"Aapne kya mujhe bewkuf samjha hua hai?" Arush glared at him.
Reyansh laughed loudly after getting caught, "Isme samajhne wali kya baat hai chotu." He said pinching his puffed cheeks.
"Matlab?" Arush furrowed his brows.
Reyansh chuckled, "kuch nahi."
"Bhai, Vanu kaha hai?" Aditya excitedly asked.
Reyansh rolled his eyes while settling between them on the couch, "Wo nahi aayi."
Aditya expression turned sad, "Nahi aayi? Kyu nahi aayi aap usey le kar kyu nahi aaye?"
Reyansh looked at him and thought to tease him as it was the perfect time for him to take his revenge, "Maine to usse bola tha aane ke liye par usne mana kar diya maine kaha ki Adi se mil lena par usne bola ki usey tujhse nahi milna."
Aditya jutted out his lower lip while looking down, "Jhoot bol rahe ho aap."
"Haww mai kyu jhoot bolne laga bhala." Reyansh said dramatically.
Arush noticed Aditya's sad expression and glared at Reyansh, "Mere bhai ko pareshan karna band karo jhoot bol rahe ho aap."
Reyansh raised his brow, "Oho bada pyar aa raha hai apne bhai par."
Arush ignored him and cupped Aditya's face between his small palms, "Aap inki baaton me mat aao bhai ye aapki aur vani di ki dosti se chidte hai islie jhooth bol rahe hain."
Aditya looked at him chuckling at his talks while Reyansh was trying to stifled his laughter.
"Ha ha mai chidta hoon bas." Reyansh said and broke into laughter.
"Dekha inhone khud bhi maan liya." Arush said.
"Bhai batao na vanu kyu nahi aayi?" Aditya pleaded.
Reyansh replied, "Beta mai direct office se aa raha hoon islie nahi le kar aa paya usey."
Aditya nodded sadly but Arush again glared at him, "To pehle nahi bata sakte the meri bhai ko pareshan kyu kar rahe the." He rudely said.
Reyansh chuckled but before he could reply anything Advait entered the room, "Aru, ye kya tameez hai baat karne ki apni tone theek karo." He chided him.
Arush ignored him and sat down on the couch crossing his arms in defiance. Advait shook his head at him. Reyansh went out to attend a call and Advait crouched down in front of Aditya.
He folded up his pants, there were still three black lines of cane. Advait applied the ointment on his legs gently and asked, "Abhi bhi pain ho raha hai?"
Aditya shrugged, "Bas chalne par."
Advait's eyes filled with guilt, he kissed his cheek mumbling, "Sorry."
"Mujhe to daant diya aur unko pyar kar rahe ho." Arush said with a pout.
Advait took him up in his arms and peppered his face with kisses making him giggle in response. Reyansh entered smiling looking at them.
"Baat kari tune Abhi se?" Reyansh asked.
Advait nodded, "Haan ho gayi."
Abhishek bursted in the room and a wide grin curled up on his face looking at Reyansh, "bhai aap kab aaye?"
He hugged him tightly, "Mai to kab se aaya hoon tu hi apni party ki preparation me busy hai."
"Partyyy?" Aditya and Arush shouted at the same time.
"Konsi party? Kiski party?" Aditya curiously asked.
"Haan bhai konsi party batao na." Arush jumped off Advait's arm and hold Abhishek's hand.
"Don't be so excited bandar, mere friend ki birthday party hai jisme mai jaa raha hoon only me okay." Abhishek replied teasingly.
Aditya scrunched up his face and huffed. He started playing the video game again.
"Mujhe bhi party me jaana hai." Arush stomped his feet.
"Mere friend ki birthday party hai usme tu jaa kar kya karega." Abhishek asked.
"Wahi jo aap karoge." Arush replied innocently.
Reyansh and Advait chuckled at him. Advait started checking his mails ignoring their bickering.
"Nahi tu nahi jaa sakta." Abhishek announced.
"Kyu nahi jaa sakta mujhe bhi jana hai." Arush whined.
"Chotu, jab tu bhi Abhi ki age ka ho jayega na tab party me jana." Reyansh replied.
"Yes, bhai bilkul sahi bol rahe hain." Abhishek agreed.
"No no no mujhe bhi party me jana hai." Arush stubbornly said.
Advait sharply looked at him, "Aru, zidd nahi karte."
"Mujhe bhi party me jana hai bhaiya." He whined.
"Stop whining, Aru." Advait said while looking into his phone.
"Abhi bhai ko to jane de rahe ho aap mai bhi jaunga." He said.
Advait pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled sharply, Reyansh noticed his flaring temper and calmly said, "Aru, aise zidd nahi karte beta. Abhi bhai bade hai na aap se islie apke bhaiya ne unhe permission dedi aap abhi chote ho..."
Arush jerked away his hand, "Mai aap se baat nahi kar raha aap mujhse mat bolo."
Advait stood up from his place and marched towards him, he harshly turned Arush towards him.
"Aise baat karte hain bado se?" He yelled on his face.
Arush flinched and the water collected in his eyes. Aditya quickly hid his video game under the cushion.
"Kitni baar kaha hai apni tone theek karne ke liye." Advait shook him, dangerously looking at him.
Reyansh took Arush behind him and stood between them, "Koi baat nahi jane de baccha hai."
"Badtameez baccha hai ye." He sharply glared at Arush who shrinked in his place.
Advait left the room muttering, "Kuch keh kar fayda nahi hai."
Aditya sighed in relief and immediately took out his video game from under the cushion and again started playing.
Reyansh quickly hugged Arush who was sobbing silently, "Shh chup ho ja."
Abhishek looked disappointedly at him, "Bhaiya ne kitni baar kaha hai tujhe tameez me baat karne ko kisi din bohot maar khayega tu."
Arush cried more listening to Abhishek and Reyansh whacked his head lightly, "Kyu rula raha hai usey."
"Mai to sach bol raha hoon." He mumbled rubbing the spot he whacked.
~________________________________________~