Chapter 28
Advait was doing his office work in the study room as his brothers locked him inside it. After a few hours his work got done and he wanted to get out of the room but it was locked from outside. He sighed and took out his phone to call Abhishek.
The call got picked up after a few rings, Advait could hear the hustle bustle from the behind but then a shushing sound escaped from Abhishek's lips and he said, "Ji bhaiya?"
"Abhi, study room unlock karo mujhe bahar aana hai." He said.
"Bahar aana hai abhi? Not happening." Abhishek said from the other side.
"Abhi..." Advait was saying but got interrupted by Abhishek, "Bhaiya aap apna office work karlein tab tak hume humara kaam karne dein." He said.
"Mera kaam ho gaya hai aur tum log kya kar rahe ho itni der se mujhe room me lock karke?" Advait asked.
"That's a surprise." He replied cheerfully.
"Abhi, pehle ye door unlock karo phir jo karna hai karna." Advait said rubbing his temple.
"Nahi bhaiya phir aap surprise dekh lenge." He replied.
"Abhishek, unlock this door. Right now." Advait commanded.
"Sorry bhaiya but I can't." He replied huffing from the other side.
"Agar tune abhi aa kar mujhe unlock nahi kiya na to bohot maar khayega." He threatened him.
Abhishek was about to reply when Aditya snatched the phone from his ear, "Don't disturb us, bhaiya. Bye." He said and hung up the call.
Advait glared at his phone but it was of no use. He rubbed his palm over his face and sat down. He started using his phone but after sometime he got bored and laid down on the sofa he dozed off in sleep.
~________________________________________~
It was around 8 at night, Advait was still lock inside the study room. He was sitting on the chair scrolling randomly through his phone. He looked up when the door of the study room slightly creaked open.
Abhishek entered with a tray in his hand and placed it on the table. Advait was glaring at him, "Kya hai ye?" He pointed at the tray.
"Apka dinner." Abhishek replied sheepishly.
Advait hurriedly stood up, "Mai yahan dinner karunga?"
Aditya entered from behind nodding vigorously, "Ji haan apko yahi dinner karna padega kyunki humara kaam abhi poora nahi hua hai aur abhi hum apko bahar nahi aane de sakte." He replied.
"Tum log aisa kya kar rahe ho jo mujhe subah se iss room me lock kiya hua hai?" He asked in a firm tone.
"Wo apko pata chal jayega abhi aap apna dinner kariye aur hume humara kaam karne dijiye." Aditya said.
Advait was about to catch him when he ran away dragging Abhishek with him and locked the door behind him.
~________________________________________~
In the night, when the clock was about to struck 12 the door of the room was again opened and this time three of them shown up. Advait quickly stood up and reached to them with long strides making them gulp.
He gripped Abhishek's ear but not tightly, "Kya chal kya raha hai ye subah se ab bohot ho gaya mai bahar jaa raha hoon bas." He said.
Aditya and Arush quickly covered their ears with their hands.
"Oww bhaiya hum aapko bahar le jane hi aaye hain." Abhishek replied.
Advait left his ear sighing in relief, he was about to step outside but Arush stopped him, "one second, bhaiya." He said.
"What now?" Advait frustratingly asked.
Aditya took out a silk cloth strip from his pocket and handed to Advait.
"What is this?" Advait asked being confused.
"A cloth strip." Aditya shrugged.
Advait shot him a look when Abhishek jumped in the conversation, "Bhaiya isse apni eyes cover kariye."
"Kyun?" He asked.
"Question mat kariye please." Abhishek said.
"Haan bhaiya please eyes cover karo na." Arush pleaded.
Advait exhaled mumbling something under his breath and covered his eyes with the cloth.
Abhishek, Aditya and Arush lightly jumped in excitement and guided Advait outside the room.
They took him to the living room carefully guiding him to stepped down the stairs.
They finally stopped and Advait was trying to peek out of the cloth when Aditya stopped him, "Bhaiya, no cheating." He ordered strictly.
"Okay!" Advait replied and stood straight in the middle of the room.
"Ab aap apni eyes se ye cloth hata sakte ho aur apni eyes open karna but slowly slowly okay." Arush instructed.
Advait removed the cloth of his eyes and slowly opened his eyes, his vision was blurred at first but then everything came into a view and he was amused it was an understatement.
His lips curled up into a wide smile looking around himself. There were balloons all over the floor, the room was decorated with the theme of a black and golden color. The sparkling lights were everywhere, the decoration was minimal but as per the Advait's likings.
The small polaroid photos were hanging on the wall. They were not only the photos they were the memories of their brotherhood, memories of their childhood. Advait was overwhelmed looking at all the efforts his brothers did for him.
His trance broke when a loud sound of a party popper heard followed by the loud chorus of "Happy Birthday Bhaiya!" Abhishek, Aditya and Arush sang at the same time.
Advait turned towards them and they lunged onto him making him stumbled a little bit but he composed himself and hugged them back. They hugged each other and a let a moment slip away in each other's embrace.
"Thank you so much." Advait whispered and kissed their foreheads lovingly.
"Tum log subah se yahi karne me busy the?" Advait asked them.
"Nahi, isme to bilkul bhi time nahi laga abhi ek aur surprise to baaki hai." Aditya replied.
"Haan, jo sabse jyada time consuming tha." Abhishek added.
Advait frowned his brows, "Konsa surprise?"
"Aap yahi ruko, hum log abhi aate hain."
Arush said and they ran to the kitchen and came back with a cake.
Advait looked at them, a small smile was on his lips but his smile vanished when they placed the cake on the table.
"Ye kisne banaya hai?" He asked looking at the cake as it was not looking like a bakery cake.
"Humne!" They chorused.
"Tum logo ne?" He asked in disbelief and they nodded their heads.
"Maine mana kiya hai na tum logo ko kitchen me jane se agar chot lag jati phir." He said but his voice was soft and concerned obviously he couldn't scold the kids after looking at their efforts for him.
"Kuch nahi hua bhaiya aur kaka bhi humare sath me hi the." Aditya replied making him relaxed a bit.
Advait smiled and looked at the cake, it was a chocolate cake it was not looking perfect but for Advait it was everything more than perfect, the efforts and love his brothers had poured in the making of it made it the best thing in the world.
His vision got blurred as a few tears came into his eyes at the memory of his childhood. His mother always baked a cake for him on his every birthday and after her demise no one ever baked a cake for him.
He embraced his brothers and whispered a small 'thank you'. His voice was hoarse as he blinked away the tears from his eyes but it didn't go unnoticed by his brothers.
"Mujhe cake taste karna hai jaldi se cut kariye na bhaiya." Aditya said to divert his mood.
"Yes, let's cut the cake." Abhishek cheered up.
Advait chuckled and took a knife, he gestured to them to cut the cake with him and they all held his hand and cut the cake while singing a sweet happy birthday song.
Abhishek cut a first slice and forwarded it towards Advait, he ate the slice and smiled warmly, "Bohot tasty hai, thank you so much." Advait said.
"Really?" Abhishek asked happily.
Advait nodded and Arush quickly cut a slice for himself and about to eat it when Advait stopped him, "Aru, nahi." He snatched the cake from his hand and ate it himself.
Arush pouted, "Wo mera slice tha, bhaiya."
"Nahi, ye cake mere liye banaya hai na to bas mai khaunga. I won't share my cake with you all." Advait said.
"Haww ye kya baat huyi hume bhi to taste karne dijiye kesa bana hai." Aditya said.
Abhishek took a slice, "Aur kya bhaiya bas taste karne dijiye phir poora cake aap kha lena." He said while forwarding the bite towards his mouth.
But Advait again snatched the slice from his hand and ate it, he picked up the cake and protectively clutched it near his chest, "Maine kaha na mera birthday cake hai bas mai khaunga, dare you lay a hand on my cake."
"Bhaiya, just one slice." Arush pleaded.
"No." Advait firmly said and went to hide the cake in the kitchen.
He came back, "Agar kisi ne mere cake ko hath lagaya na to mai usse baat nahi karunga." He threatened.
"Meanie." Aditya mumbled under his breath.
They huffed looking at him and Advait smiled poking their cheeks, "Mere pyare bacche."
"Chalo ab jaldi se jaa kar so jao kal school bhi jana hai na." Advait reminded.
"Haan but usse pehle aap apna gift to dekh lijiye." Aditya said.
"Abhi aur gift hai?" Advait asked.
"Yes!" They said in chorus.
Abhishek went and came up with a middle size canvas in his hand, he was picking it up and only the back of it was showing. Advait looked at it with curious eyes.
Abhishek slowly turned it around and waited for Advait's reaction. But there was only silence, his face was unreadable. Abhishek and other two dreaded for his reaction they thought maybe Advait didn't like the gift and he would scold them for gifting this.
But a lone tear escaped from Advait's eye and he whispered, "This....this means a lot."
"Thank you.... thank you so much." His voice cracked slightly.
He held the canvas in his hand and gently traced his fingers on over the painting.
It was the painting of a picture of his childhood.
In the picture he was standing there with his mother and his mother's arm draped around him warmly yet protectively.
He was looking so innocent and happy in the picture in his mother's arms. His mother's face was divine and it was radiating positivity.
Advait was lost in the memory of the picture, he was really overwhelmed by the idea of the gift. It was the bestest gift he ever received.
Abhishek was always fond of paintings and loved to do paintings since his childhood but it was not only the painting, he has poured his heart out in the painting. He was preparing it from the last one month and after seeing Advait's reaction it was all worth it, his efforts paid off.
Advait hugged him tightly resting his chin over his head, Abhishek's eyes also became teary by his reaction, "thank you so much for this baccha. I love you so much." Advait whispered.
Abhishek slightly parted away and wiped away his tears with his thumb pads making him smile a little. Aditya and Arush also joined the hug and they rested in each other's arms receiving all the love and warmth.
At midnight, Aditya sneakingly went to the kitchen. He looked here and there for any danger when his eyes landed on the figure behind the counter. He tip toed to the figure and Arush came into a view. Arush smiled sheepishly looking at him as he was hiding from him.
Aditya raised his brow, "Tu yahan kya kar raha hai?"
"Wahi jo aap kar rahe ho." Arush replied in a hushed voice.
"Mai... mai kya kar raha hoon?" He stuttered.
"Jhooth mat bolo aap bhi cake khane hi aaye ho na." Arush said mischievously raising his brows.
Aditya meekly nodded, "Haan."
Arush laughed looking at him, "Shhh dheere has, bhaiya ko jagayega kya." Aditya covered his mouth.
"Ye kya ho raha hai yahan?" A voice came from the entrance of the kitchen making both of them froze at their places.
They meekly turned around and found Abhishek was standing there crossing his arms over his chest. His eyes were narrowed in suspicion.
"Itni raat me kya kar rahe ho tum dono yahan?" He asked.
Arush fumbled, "Wo...bhai wo na."
"Kya wo wo jaldi batao kya kar rahe ho dono yahan?" Abhishek asked narrowing his eyes even more.
"Pehle aap batao aap itni raat me yahan kya kar rahe ho?" Aditya asked smirkingly crossing his arms over his chest.
"Mai to wo.... ye wo." Abhishek stuttered looking for an excuse.
"Kya wo wo jaldi batao kya kar rahe ho yahan par?" Aditya said mimicking his words.
"Shut up." Abhishek silenced him.
"Arey bhai confess kar lo na aap bhi humari tarah yahan cake khane aaye ho." Arush said.
"Haan." Abhishek sheepishly said.
"To phir kya bhaiya ke aane ka wait kar rahe ho chalo khate hain." Arush said.
They opened the fridge and started looking for the cake when their gaze landed on it and they all exchanged a mischievous look.
Abhishek took it out of the fridge and placed it on the floor, Abhishek and Arush settled down on the floor. Aditya came up with the spoons and sat beside them, they all digged their spoons at the same time and ate it.
A heavy silence followed, their expression changed amused from disgust, they looked at each other with the unswallowed bites in their mouths. Abhishek stood up first and threw up in the dustbin followed by Aditya and Arush.
They drink water from the bottles and sighed in relief, "Yuck kya tha ye." Abhishek exclaimed horrified.
"Wahi jo humne banaya tha." Aditya replied in dilemma.
"Par itna ganda." Arush made a disgusting face.
"Aisa lag raha tha sugar ki jagah salt bhar diya ho." Aditya said.
"Aisa lag nahi raha tha aisa hi tha pura taste kharab ho gaya." Abhishek replied.
"Magar bhaiya ko to bohot tasty laga unhone koi dusra cake khaya tha kya." Arush said being confused.
Aditya slightly whacked his head, "Wo hume bura na lage islie unhone tasty bola aur ab pata chala islie wo hume cake taste bhi nahi karne de rahe the." He said.
"Ye cake nahi torcher hai, bhaiya ne mana kiya tha phir bhi pata nahi kya padi thi isey taste karne ki." Abhishek replied making a yucky face.
"Iske taste ko bhoolne me hi mujhe 2 janam lagenge." He added exaggerating it.
"Bas ab dialogue maarna band kariye aur chup chap chal kar so jate hain isse pehle bhaiya aa kar dekhein." Aditya said.
"Haan kya pata cake to mila nahi par pitai mil jaye." Arush said laughing earning a glare from his two brothers.
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