Chapter 32
Advait was in his room teaching his brothers. The room was silent except of the voices of the flipping pages and Advait's scoldings in between.
They were sulking because according to them studying on a holiday was a crime. But with the firm gaze of the Advait they started doing their homeworks reluctantly.
"Bhaiya, ab mann nahi kar raha." Arush sulked.
Advait looked up, "Acha aapke mann ke according padhai hogi ab." He asked giving him a look.
"Please na bhaiya chutti ke din kon padhai karta hai." Aditya joined.
"Tum log karoge." Advait said deadpan.
They glared at him but he raised up his brow as if daring them to disobey.
"Abhi, aur kitna time?" He asked Abhishek who was writing down the answers, Advait was taking his Economics test.
"10 minutes, bhaiya." Abhishek replied still writing in the notebook.
Advait started checking Arush's homework and he was still on the same page from the last 20 minutes.
"Aru, jaldi jaldi likho abhi dusre subjects ka bhi homework baaki hai." He said.
"Bhaiya mujhe nahi karna neend aayi hai." Arush said giving him his puppy eyes.
"Koi neend nahi aayi hai chup chap se homework complete karo." He scolded.
"Please." Arush said blinking cutely.
"You have two options, first sit quietly and do your homework, second complete your homework while kneeling down in the corner." Advait warned him.
But Arush was stubborn, "Bhaiya, please na ab nahi karna."
Advait hardened his gaze, "Stand up and get yourself in the corner."
Arush pouted looking down mumbling, "Sorry." and silently started writing.
"Adi, revision ho gaya?" He asked after sighing.
"Ji bhaiya." Aditya replied looking up.
"Close your book and start writing." He ordered.
Aditya did as instructed.
"Ho gaya, bhaiya." Abhishek forwarded his notebook.
Advait took it and checked his answers. He handed back the notebook to him mumbling, "Good." He smiled at him.
Abhishek smiled looking at the checked answers and his most of the answers were correct.
Arush didn't want to write more so he thought of an idea to escape the torture, he closed his eyes and acted he was asleep.
Advait looked at him and shook his head at his little brother's antics, "Drop the act, Aru." He said sternly.
"Bhaiya neend aayi hai." He mumbled leaning on him while closing his eyes.
Advait exhaled sharply, "Go to your room and sleep." He said.
Arush quickly opened his eyes with joy, "Sacchi?" He asked hopefully.
"Hmm jaao par kal tak mujhe tumhara homework complete chahiye." Advait warned.
Arush bobbed his head and kissed his cheek, "Pakka kar lunga, good night." He ran to his room before Advait could change his mind.
Advait sighed and shifted his attention to the Aditya and Abhishek who was looking at him with hopeful eyes.
"Jaao tum dono bhi baaki ki padhai kal karte hai." He said and they quickly stuffed their notebooks in their bags.
Aditya pecked his cheek and quickly left the room but Abhishek was still neatly stuffing his books in his bag.
"Bhaiya, aaj yahi so jaun?" He innocently asked after zipping up his bag.
Advait smiled looking at him, "So jaa baccha." He said taking him in his embrace and Abhishek melted in it.
Abhishek laid down on the bed and Advait settled beside him.
He started stroking his fingers in his hair and Abhishek closed his eyes feeling relaxed from the light massage.
Abhishek clutched his shirt lightly and snuggled more into his chest feeling safe and comforted.
Advait pecked the top of his head and continued stroking his hair until he drifted off to sleep.
~________________________________________~
The garden of the Malhotra Mansion was vibrant with different and colorful colors.
The tables were arranged on the side and plates of different colors were placed on it.
The atmosphere was filled with the excitement and happiness.
The garden was all silent except for a few mens who were preparing the thandai.
The guards were stood tall and attentive on every sides as Advait already tightened the security.
Inside, Advait took blessings of his grandparents and applied gulaal on their faces.
Then he went to kaka who was ensuring everything was done well.
He bent down to touch his feet and took his blessings.
Kaka got overwhelmed by the gesture, Advait and his brothers always considered them as his family and respected him.
Advait headed to the garden where the thandai was preparing, "Isme bhaang to nahi milayi hai?" He asked with his usual stoic face.
"Nahi sahab, aap bilkul chinta mat kijiye humne bhaang nahi milayi hai." One of the man replied.
"Kyu nahi milayi holi me bina bhaang ke kya maja aayega?" A voice came from the behind.
Advait looked behind and Reyansh was standing there keeping his hands on his hips. Advait shook his head and hugged him warmly mumbling, "Happy holi!"
Reyansh hugged him back, "Bhaang ke bina bhi koi holi happy hoti hai kya?" He sulked.
"Shut up, bacche bhi hain ghar me koi bhaang nahi piyega." Advait said with finality in his tone.
Reyansh pouted but didn't say anything as he knew Advait's wouldn't change his mind.
"Baaki sab nahi aaye?" Advait asked.
"Thodi der me aate hi honge." Reyansh replied.
"Acha, Chal andar." Advait said.
"Tu chal mai ek phone call kar ke aata hoon." Reyansh replied, taking out his phone from his pocket.
Advait nodded and went away, Reyansh waited for him to go outside and whispered to tha man, "Suno thandai me bhaang bhi mila dena."
"Par sahab ne mana kiya hai agar unhe pata chal gaya to..." The man said in fear but Reyansh cut him off in between.
"Kuch nahi hoga mai handle kar lunga, sab ko bhaang mat dena bas jis jisko mai bolu usko dena okay." He whispered but the man was still unassured.
"Arey don't worry yaar mai hoon na." Reyansh replied and left.
Meanwhile, Advait entered the living room where Abhishek, Aditya and Arush were already sitted with Amrinder and laughing on something.
Advait smiled looking at them, "Happy holi bacchon." He wished them.
They all stood up and hugged him tightly making him stumbled slightly from the sudden attack but he composed himself and wrapped his arms around them.
"Happy Holi bhaiyaaa!" They said cheerfully.
He ruffled their hairs. Abhishek bent down to touch his feet, Advait smiled and kissed his forehead.
He took the plate of the gulaal and applied on his cheek and Abhishek returned the gesture he also dipped his fingers in gulaal and spread on his cheeks.
Then Advait applied the gulaal on Aditya and Arush's cheeks. He playfully tapped his colorful finger on their noses to tease them.
"Bhaiya mujhe bhi aapko color lagana hai neeche aao." Arush said gesturing him to bend down.
Advait chuckled and bent down on his one knee, Arush cutely applied the color on his cheek with his small palms. But Aditya took a fistful of color and spread all over his face.
"Adiii" Advait narrowed his eyes to scare him but a mischievous smile on his lips was betraying him.
"Bhaiya aise mat dekhiye bhoot lag rahe hain." Aditya laughed at him.
"Acha beta ruk tujhe bhi abhi bhoot banata hoon." He replied and started catching him but Aditya was very fast he started running in the living room.
Advait ran behind him but every time Aditya dodged him. Amrinder laughed looking at them running behind each other. Abhishek and Arush giggled and tried to help Advait to catch Aditya. So Aditya took a turn to the other direction and collided with someone.
Everyone stopped on their places and Aditya looked up to see the person, Kalyani was standing there glaring down at him.
"Ye kya idhar udhar bhaag rahe ho ek jagah baitha nahi jaata?" She scolded, her tone was rude.
"Mai aapki tarah buddha thodi na hoon jo ek jagah baitha rahunga." He replied nonchalantly.
Advait quickly stepped in front and covered him standing in between, "Sorry dadi." He apologized.
She glared at Advait as he was apologizing for the Aditya's mistake but didn't press it and sat down on the couch.
"Happy Holi!" Reyansh shouted entering the room.
Abhishek quickly hugged him, "Happy holi, bhai." He smiled at him.
"Happy holi buddy." Reyansh ruffled his hair.
"Bhai, vanu kaha hai?" Aditya asked the most important question of him.
"Kam se kam holi to wish karde phir puch lena." Reyansh lightly whacked his head.
"Ha ha happy holi ab bataiye kaha hai vanu?" He wished in urgency.
"Aa rahi hai." Reyansh glared.
"Happy holi chote maharaj." Reyansh pinched Arush's nose.
"Bhaiya, Reyansh bhai chida rahe hai." Arush whined making everyone laugh.
~________________________________________~
The silent garden was now buzzing with the people.
Everyone was gathered in the garden some were throwing colors on each others, some were taking elder's blessing and some were drinking the thandai.
Their clothes were dusted with the different vibrant colors but Advait was standing in the corner waiting for someone special.
It had been thirty minutes late and Shreya hadn't arrived yet, he was constantly checking the time but there was no sign of her.
At last he decided to call her but his movements froze in mid when his gaze stopped at his front from where she was coming to his side.
She was wearing a white kurti with a denim jeans underneath.
Her hairs were open and waving on her shoulders.
He was admiring her beauty when she stopped in front of him.
"Happy holi, Mr. Malhotra." She wished him.
"Happy holi Miss Shreya, I was waiting for you only." He replied looking at her lovingly.
She looked into his eyes before asking, "Kyun?"
"Kyun nahi?" He smirked.
She shook her head, "Aapko pata hai aap jo kal se kar rahe hai usey flirting kehte hain." She crossed her arms over her chest.
"I wasn't aware, thanks for informing." He replied.
"It means you accepted ki aap mere sath flirt kar rahe hai?" She raised her brow.
"Mai to bas jo sach hai wo kehta hoon ab aapko wo flirting lagti hai to wahi sahi." He replied bending down to her height.
"Mr. Malhotra aap..." She said but he cut her off, "Advait." He said.
"Ji?" She furrowed her brows.
"Call me Advait, ab to hum friends hai na." He said.
"Oh aur ye kab hua?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Abhi ho jayega." He replied and forwarded his hand towards her, "So, Miss Shreya, Will you be my friend?" He asked.
"And what if i say a no?" She asked smirking.
"I'll try harder." He replied smoothly looking at her intensely that sent shiver ran down her spine.
Her breath caught in her throat when he bent forward and whispered near her ears, "Kya aap iss nacheez ko aapse dosti karne ka ek mauka dengi?"
Her heart pounded inside her due to the closeness and she absentmindely nodded her head making him chuckled heartily.
"Hmm so ab jab dosti ho hi chuki hai to lijiye mera naam." He said.
The words struck in her throat, but she tried, "Ad-Advait." His name sound so foreign yet known on her tongue. She felt a faint but undeniable connection with it.
He placed his hand on his heart saying, "I didn't know my name could sound so beautiful." He said with a playful edge in his voice making her blush.
She looked down to hide her blush when Reyansh came from behind, "Happy holi, Shreya." He applied the gulaal on all over her face making her gasped.
"Haww bhaiii." She whined and Reyansh laughed she glared but also broke down into a laugh.
But it stopped when she saw Tia coming to their sides, Tia tightly hugged Advait and shook him to the sides, "Happyyy holiii." She sang.
Advait took gulaal from Reyansh's hand and covered her face with the color shouting, "Happy holi." She swatted his chest in return.
She turned to Shreya, She hugged her and applied the color on her cheeks then she looked at Reyansh and passed him a tight lipped smiled, "Happy holi, Mr. Khurana." She wished.
"Arey mujhe bhi to color lagao." Reyansh complained.
"Kaha color lagau, shakal dekh kar aaiye apni poore face par color laga kar ghoom rahe hai, bilkul alien lag rahe hai." She said and Advait laughed loudly.
They continued their teasing and roasted each other but Shreya only passed a small smile as she remembered about Advait being with someone else.
~________________________________________~