Chapter 26
It was Sunday morning in Malhotra Mansion. The atmosphere was the blend of calm and chaos. Arush was trying hard to talk to Advait but he was ignoring him since the morning.
Advait was dressed in a black crisp coat, his white shirt was neatly tucked in his black pants. He was looking extremely handsome in this outfit. His outfit was screaming unspoken authority.
He stepped down the stairs followed by Arush who was following him like a lost puppy. He didn't even let him get ready in peace and continuously tried to get his attention. But Advait was ignoring him and giving him silent treatment.
Advait entered the dining area and settled on his chair, Arush looked at him expectantly as he had the habit to sat on his lap and getting fed by his hands. But Advait didn't even glance at him.
Abhishek and Aditya came and sat on their places. Abhishek's face was as calm as always while Aditya's eyes were twinkling with mischief.
"Good morning, bhaiya." They greeted in chorus.
"Morning." Advait replied in his usual voice but it was filled with the warmth that was only reserved for his brothers.
"Aap office jaa rahe ho?" Aditya asked.
Advait barely nodded while scrolling through the mails in his phone.
"Par aaj to Sunday hai." Abhishek said.
"Ek important meeting hai beta. I have to go." He replied looking up at him.
"I'll come back soon." He added after noticing his brother's sad faces.
They nodded, Arush was still standing. Abhishek noticed that Advait was deliberately ignoring him and sensed something had surely happened.
"Kya hua Aru khada kyu hai baith na." He said.
Advait briefly looked at him but again averted his eyes. He passed a knowing look to Abhishek making him nod in response.
"Aaja Aru aaj mai tujhe khana khilata hoon." Abhishek said and tried to put him on his lap but he backed away.
"Aap khalo, mujhe bhaiya khila denge." Arush said hopefully.
"Abhi, mai kisi ko nahi khilane wala." Advait replied, "koi itna chota nahi hai ki khud na kha sake, jab jubaan theek se chalti hai to hath bhi chalne chahiye."
Arush's eyes turned teary at that, he looked down to hide his tears but a lone tear fell down on his cheek.
Abhishek saw that and quickly pulled him into a hug, Arush hugged him back and settled down on the chair beside him. The breakfast table was unusually quiet and they silently had their breakfast.
Advait's heart clenched looking at Arush who was innocently eating his breakfast looking down all the time.
"Hello baccho!" A voice came from the living room and they all turned their faces towards the direction.
Advait face turned into a warm smile looking at the man standing in front of him. He quickly stood up and touched his feet to greet him.
"Kaise ho beta?" The man, Raj khurana asked.
"Mai theek hoon, uncle." Advait politely replied, "Aap aur aunty kaise hain?"
"As usual fit and fine." Raj chuckled.
Abhishek came forward and touched his feet, "Hello uncle."
"Hello beta." Raj playfully ruffled his hair.
Aditya almost jumped on Raj, "Uncle, vanu nahi aayi?"
Advait face palmed himself and Raj let out a generous chuckle, he was about to reply but a chirpy voice interrupted him.
"Adiiiiiii!" Vanya entered excitedly running to him.
They quickly hugged each other while others rolled their eyes looking at them.
Raj looked at Advait with a serious face, "Beta, mujhe tum se baat karni hai." He said.
Advait noticed the seriousness in his voice and nodded, they headed to the study room to talk in private.
~________________________________________~
Advait was sitting on the sofa and Raj was sitting on the adjacent couch. Advait was preparing himself for whatever was coming on his way. Raj took a deep breath and looked at him.
"Tumhari dadi ka phone aaya tha mere paas." He started and Advait got the idea what was about to come.
"Unhone bataya tum unke calls ignore kar rahe ho." He said making Advait sighed in exasperation.
"I know the reason beta but aise unhe ignore karne se kya hoga." Raj said.
"Wo yahan aane ke liye keh rahi hain aapko pata hai na last time wo aaye the tab kya hua tha." Advait said remembering all the chaos.
"Wo baccho ko aur bachhe unko bilkul pasand nahi karte upar se bachho ko le kar unki bewajah nafrat, maine unhe clearly mana kar diya phir bhi wo yaha aana chahti hai." Advait said rubbing his hand over his face.
"Wo kal aa rahi hain." Raj informed making Advait's head snapped at him.
"Yahi batane ke liye unhone mujhe phone kiya, wo tumhe yahi batane ke liye calls kar rahi thi." Raj said.
Advait rubbed his temple in frustration.
Raj kept a hand on his shoulder, "Tension mat lo beta bas thode dino ki baat hai phir wo wapas punjab chali jayengi."
"Kuch dino me wo saalo bhar ka dard de jayengi, tareeka dekha hai na apna unka baat karne ka." He said.
"Unki wajah se mere Abhi ko kitna dukh pohcha tha apne aap ko har cheez ke liye guilty samajh raha tha." His voice was distant as if remembering the bitter memories.
"Maine beeji ko samjhaya hai tum bhi baccho se baat kar lena, jitna ho sake ye log ek dusre se door rahein waise bhi bas kuch dino ki hi baat hai." Raj said assuringly.
Advait noticed a shadow looming near the door and he absent mindely nodded. They discussed things for a few minutes and then they together left for their offices.
~________________________________________~
Aditya and Vanya were talking and Arush was sulking sitting in front of them. Abhishek was in his room preparing for his school test.
Vanya noticed Arush's expression and plopped down beside him, "Kya hua chotu, aisa muh kyu bana rakha hai?"
Arush looked at him innocently, "Bhaiya mujhse baat nahi kar rahe."
Vanya wrapped her arms around him, "Haww aisa kyun?" She asked, her voice was soothing.
"Vanu door hato usse." Aditya quickly jumped in the conversation, his jealousy kicked in.
"Shut up, Adi." She sternly said.
He quickly shut his mouth with a pout on his face.
"Bata Aru kya hua, bhaiya kyu nahi baat kar rahe tujhse?" She asked him.
But Aditya again interrupted them, "Bhaiya par chilla raha tha to kyu baat karenge wo jab aise karega to." He said giving him an angry look.
"Maine tujhe chup rehne ke liye bola na beech me kyu bol raha hai." She glared at him.
"Par vanu..." He said but stopped by her glare.
"Bol Aru." She coaxed him.
"Maine galti se unpar chilla diya tha jan mujh ke nahi kiya sacchi." He replied in a little voice.
"Bohot gandi baat hai aise nahi karte na bhaiya humse bade hai aise baat nahi karni chahiye thi tujhe." She calmly made him understand.
Arush started crying, "Maine unhe bohot baar sorry bola par wo mujhse baat nahi kar rahe." He sobbed.
Aditya felt bad looking at him, no matter what but he can't see his little brother crying. He took him in a side hug.
"Rona band kar pehle." He wiped his tears.
"Aru, chup ho jaa bhaiya naraaz hai na to tu unhe mana lena wo maan jayenge." Vanya said rubbing his back.
"Kaise maanenge?" He hicupped.
"Mere paas ek idea hai par pehle tu chup ho jaa phir hum dono mil kar bhaiya ko manane ka plan banate hain hm." She said lovingly.
Arush wiped his tears, his crying slowly subsiding and they started working on Vanya's plan.
~________________________________________~
It was the afternoon when Advait had done from his meeting and headed to home. He picked up some cupcakes from a bakery on his way home for his kids.
He passed the huge iron gates that were already opened for him. He stopped the car in front of the mansion and stepped out of it.
He entered the living room and settled on the couch, Kaka came up with a glass of water. Advait accepted it with a grateful smile and took a few sips of it.
He stood up to headed upstairs when Abhishek bumped into him. His phone fell down in which he was busy while walking.
"Oh shit!!" He exclaimed.
"Language." Advait reprimanded him.
He clicked his tongue muttering an apology, he quickly picked up his phone and checked for any damage but luckily it was not affected.
"Thank god!" He sighed in relief clutching his phone to his chest.
"Is baar to bach gaya agli baar nahi bachega, saamne dekh kar chala kar phone me aankhein ghusa kar nahi." Advait scolded.
"Ji bhaiya, sorry." He quickly apologized and about to go when Advait caught him by his ear and again made him stand on his place.
"Oww bhaiya kya kar rahe hain oww sorry na ab se saamne dekh kar chalunga." He said while clutching Advait's hand to ease the pain.
"Ye iss baat ke liye nahi hai." Advait said glaring at him.
"Oww to phir kis baat ke liye mere kaan ka murder kar rahe hain?" His face scrunched up in pain.
Advait twisted his ear hardly, "Tujhse kitni baar mana kiya hai maine eavesdropping karne ke liye?"
Abhishek gulped as the realization dawned upon him.
"Ek baar me baat samajh nahi aati na bohot chalne lage hain ye kaan ha." He again twisted his ear.
Abhishek's eyes turned teary, he tightly clutched his hand, "Bhaiya I'm sorry please bo-hot dard ho raha hai chor-chordijiye." He pleaded with tears pricking out of his corners.
Advait finally left his ear, it became cherry red and Abhishek immediately started rubbing his ear to remove the pain.
"Kab jayegi ye adat ha, dusro ki baatein sunna achi baat hai?" He scolded him.
"Bhaiya, kuch nahi sunai de raha tha sach me kuch nahi suna maine." Abhishek replied, his voice was heavy as he was controlling his tears.
"Kyu sunna tha tujhe, tere matlab ki baat hogi to mai bata dunga na agar kisi cheez ke liye mana karta hoon to samajh me nahi aata hai?" He sharply said.
Abhishek looked down, "Sorry." He said in a very low voice.
"Bas har time sorry karna phir se wahi hai tum logo ko." Advait said and sighed.
"Nahi karunga." He mumbled.
"Corner me jaa." Advait ordered.
Abhishek whined, "Bhaiya, bada ho gaya hoon mai."
Advait dramatically started to think, "Baat to sahi hai." Abhishek quickly nodded.
"Wait, ruler le kar aata hoon." Advait said making Abhishek jumped in fear.
He quickly went to the corner and Advait glared at him, "Face the wall and raise your hands." He instructed.
"Bhaiyaaa." Abhishek again whined but assumed the position after seeing his deadly glare.
Advait shook his head and headed to his room, he opened the door and furrowed his brows after looking at his room.
~________________________________________~