Chapter 36
Advait entered the house late at 10 p.m., the exhaustion of the past few days took a toll over him.
His head was throbbing like someone was hammering it.
His face was as usual stoic and firm but his drooped eyes could clearly tell the story of his exhausting day.
He hasn't eaten anything since the morning.
He dragged himself to his room, he headed straight to the bathroom and splashed some water on his face, then he took a warm shower to relax his tiring muscles.
Then he got changed into a comfortable clothes and without sparing himself a second he went straight to checked on his brothers.
He entered Abhishek's room, there Arush and him was engrossed in phone.
Abhishek was scrolling in his phone while Arush was sitting beside him peeking in his phone.
Advait cleared his throat to acknowledge his presence to them and they both looked up.
A wide grin spread on their faces and they stood up.
Arush threw himself on Advait, he caught him and protectively wrapping his arms around him.
"I missed you, bhaiya." He pouted resting his face on his shoulder.
Advait chuckled and kissed the side of his head, he looked at Abhishek who was already standing there looking at him waiting for his invitation.
Advait opened his one arm and he quickly hugged him.
He pecked his forehead ruffling his hair.
His headache had vanished for a moment after embracing his brothers in his arms.
"Adi kaha hai?" He asked while settling down on the bed, Arush was still clinging to him.
"Wo so gaya." Abhishek replied.
Advait furrowed his brows in concern, "Itni jaldi so gaya tabiyat theek hai na uski?"
"Poora din cricket khel raha tha islie thak kar jaldi so gaya." Abhishek complained.
Advait nodded, "Dinner kiya tha usne?" He asked.
"Ji." Abhishek gave him a nod but immediately answered remembering Advait accepted verbal answers only.
"Aur tum logo ne?" He further asked.
"Maine to kar liya par is bandar ne kuch nahi khaya." Abhishek replied pointing at Arush.
Advait looked down at Arush who was sitting on his lap clinging to him as if his life depends on him, "Dinner kyu nahi kiya aapne?" He asked raising his brows.
"Mujhe nahi khani wo vegetable mujhe uska taste bilkul nahi pasand." Arush replied with a grimace.
"Aise nahi karte saari vegetables khate hain chalo abhi dinner karo chal kar." Advait said putting him down on the floor.
"Nahi mujhe nahi khana." Arush whined trying to again hopped up on his lap but Advait stood up.
"Bhaiya aapne dinner kiya?" Abhishek asked.
"Abhi nahi baccha." He replied.
"Lunch kiya tha?" Abhishek digged knowing his brother very well.
Advait hesitated and averted his eyes, "Nahi kiya na?" Abhishek said more like a statement.
Silence.
"Aap apna dhyan kyun nahi rakhte hain aapne subah se kuch nahi khaya aur abhi bhi iss bandar ke piche pade huye hain." Abhishek scolded, his tone was caring.
"Mujhe time nahi mil paya beta. I'm sorry." Advait replied.
"It's not the excuse, bhaiya." He said disappointed, "Now go and have your dinner." He ordered sternly.
"Okay sir." Advait replied sarcastically.
Advait looked down at Arush who again cling to him, "Aru baby chalo aap bhi mere saath dinner karo." He said but Arush whined.
"Mujhe nahi khana aap jaao." Arush stubbornly said.
"I want you in the dining room in five minutes. Understood?" He said strictly in his firm voice.
Arush immediately nodded gulping in fear and left the room.
Abhishek chuckled looking at his retreating figure, "Isey pyar se baate samajh nahi aati."
Advait ruffled his hair lovingly, "Sab theek hai, Abhi?" He asked after studying his eyes for a moment.
Abhishek leaned on his chest and nodded. Advait securely held him in his embrace and Abhishek was feeling relaxed listening to his steady and soothing heartbeats.
"Bhaiya?" He whispered lowly.
"Hmm." Advait hummed.
A pause.
"Kuch nahi." Abhishek replied and sat up straight, "Jaiye wo bandar aapka wait kar raha hoga." He said smiling but it didn't reach to his eyes and it didn't go unnoticed by Advait.
Advait softly pecked his forehead and wished him night he exited the room.
He went in Aditya's room and he was sleeping soundly spreading himself on all over the bed.
Advait shook his head fondly and gently corrected his posture.
He covered him with the duvet and pecked his forehead before exiting the room.
Finally he stepped downstairs and Arush was sitting on the chair sulking, his nose was scrunched up in annoyance. Advait rubbed his forehead to prepare himself for his tantrums. He lazily walked to the kitchen and served a plate for himself.
He settled on the chair with a tired sigh, he hasn't even realized that he was this hungry but now when the food was placed in front of him, his stomach growled from the hunger.
He made a bite and forwarded it towards Arush but he crossed his arms over his chest and looked away.
"Aru, please khalo bhaiya ko pareshan mat karo baby." Advait said, his tone was pleading as he was already tired.
"Maine bola na mujhe ye nahi khana." Arush huffed.
"Please beta aaj khalo, kal aap jo bologe bhaiya aapko wo bana kar khilayenge promise." Advait said, his voice was heavy from the exhaustion.
"Aap khalo mujhe ye nahi khana." He said stubbornly.
"Phir kya khana hai?" Advait asked tiredly, he didn't even have the energy to scold him.
He thought for a second and replied, "Sandwiches."
Advait exhaled lazily, "Abhi ye khalo subah sabse pehli cheez aapko sandwich hi milegi." He again tried.
"Nahi mujhe ye nahi khana." He sulked.
Advait sighed heavily rubbing his hands on his face, he stood up and went to the kitchen leaving his untouched plate behind on the table.
He started finely chopping vegetables and took out the sauces and bread from the refrigerator.
His head was striking with the pain but he ignored it and prepared the sandwich.
After nearly fifteen minutes he came back with a plate in his hand and placed it in front of Arush, "Eat it." He said.
Arush looked up at him, "Maine aapko pareshan karne ke liye nahi bola tha." He said when he looked at his tiring eyes.
"It's okay. Eat." Advait passed him a small smile.
"Mai aise hi so jata aap kyu pareshan huye." Arush said tearing up.
"I can't let my baby sleep hungry na." Advait pecked his nose, "Now eat." He said and they both started having their food.
After some time, Arush went to sleep and Advait was cleaning up the table when Kalyani's voice came from the behind.
Advait turned back to look at her, "Aap abhi tak soyi nahi?" He asked, his voice was groggy.
"Nahi bas tumhara hi intezaar kar rahi thi." She replied.
"Ji kahiye." He replied, his voice was distant but not disrespectful.
"Wo meri Sulekha se baat huyi thi usey yahan mumbai me kuch kaam hai to wo kuch din ke liye yahan rehne aa rahi hai." She informed him.
"Ye mera ghar hai dharamshala nahi hai jo koi bhi kabhi bhi rehne aa jayega." He replied irritated with the news.
"Kaisi baate kar rahe ho beta, bua hai wo tumhari aur wo to mana kar rahi thi magar maine hi usey yahan rukne ko bola." She said.
"Aaj raat ki train hai uski kal subah tak yahan aa jayegi."
Advait exhaled.
He noticed her for a moment before asking, "Aap kab wapas Punjab jaa rahi hain?" He asked directly.
She was slightly taken aback by his direct question but immediately masked her emotions, "Bilkul sharam nahi hai na tumhe." She said shaking her head with a hint of anger.
"I take after my grandmother." He replied flatly and walked away.
~________________________________________~
Everyone was settled on the breakfast table having their breakfast silently. Kalyani was looking at the wall clock from time to time anxiously waiting for her daughter's arrival.
Amrinder chuckled, "Aram se nashta karlo kalyani aa jayegi tumhari beti."
Aditya's ear perked up instantly, "Koi aane wala hai?" He asked to no one particularly.
"Tumhari bua aane wali hain." Amrinder replied smiling at him.
He and Abhishek frowned while Arush was too busy digging his breakfast.
"Humari bua bhi hain bhaiya aapne to unke baare me kabhi nahi bataya." Aditya asked looking at Advait.
"Islie nahi bataya kyunki wo Advait ki bua hai tum logo ki nahi." Kalyani replied.
Advait warned, "Dadi."
"Agar wo bhaiya ki bua hain to humari bhi to bua hongi na we do have the same father." Aditya said raising his brows at her.
"Enough, Adi." Advait ordered.
"But I didn't say anything wrong, bhaiya." He argued.
Abhishek lightly squeezed Aditya's hand to shut him down but he ignored it.
"Jaise wo Advait ki bua hai waise hi tum logo ki bhi bua hai." Amrinder replied reassuringly.
Kalyani scoffed but didn't dare to utter a word.
"Aapne hume pehle kabhi kyu nahi bataya unke baare me?" He asked to Advait.
Advait sighed as he didn't like this topic. He never liked talking about his relatives as they all are selfish and narrow minded people.
"She isn't that important." He replied dismissing his question.
Kalyani looked up angrily at his remark.
"Doesn't she count in the family?" Aditya continued his questioning session as the curiosity got the better of him.
"You are the one who doesn't count in the family." Kalyani glared at Aditya.
"Did I ask for your opinion?" He asked innocently batting his eyes.
"Adi, go get up and fetch your bag." Advait said before the argument escalated any further and his headache was making the situation worse.
Aditya stared at him, "I'm not done with my breakfast yet."
"Then eat it silently." He ordered, he knew he wasn't at fault but he didn't want his grandmother's words to hurt him.
"Tell this to your grandmother." He mumbled under his breath but she listened as she was sitting just right beside him.
"Mannerless." She taunted.
"Same pinch." He sassed rolling his eyes.
Advait pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"Dekh rahe ho kitna badtameez hai ye baccha." She glared at Advait, "Yahi parwarish ki hai tumne inki?" She bitterly said.
"Don't you dare say anything about my bhaiya." He warned pointing his finger at her.
Abhishek hushed him, "Adi bas bohot ho gaya."
"Kya bohot ho gaya ye kuch bhi bolengi aur mai sun lunga." Aditya raised his voice.
"Lower your voice, Aditya." Advait warned dangerously making Arush flinched who was sitting on his lap.
"Aap unhe kuch kyu nahi keh rahe galti to unki hai maine to inse kuch kaha bhi nahi beech me bolna inhone start kiya." Aditya argued.
"And why she dragged you in the conversation?" His jaw was clenched in anger making him look exactly like the angry Advait.
Advait stood up and said, "Come with your bags."
Abhishek and Arush headed to get their bags but Aditya was still standing there glaring at Advait as he ignored his statement.
"Jaao Adi." Advait again told him and he reluctantly walked away.
Advait was sitting on the driving seat waiting for his brothers to arrive. After waiting for a minute they had come Arush settled on the passenger seat while Abhishek on the backseat. Aditya was still yet to come, Advait impatiently tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.
Aditya showed up after a few minutes with a scowl glued to his face, he was mad on Advait as he scolded him for no reason. He settled on the backseat and slammed the door shut to let Advait know that he was angry.
Advait slightly clenched his jaw in anger but calmed himself down and ignored it taking out the car on the road.
He looked at Aditya from the mirror, he was looking outside the window all the time, his arms were draped over his chest. Abhishek looked at him and asked, "What's with that face?"
He simply shook his head without any verbal answer.
"Adi..." Advait just said this when he snapped, "I'm not talking to you."
Advait sighed rubbing his temple to ease out his headache, "Why?" He asked tiredly.
"You're asking me this?" He scoffed looking at the other side, "You clearly took your grandmother's side over me. You scolded me for no reason. I wasn't even at the fault." He poured out his emotions angrily.
"First, stop calling your grandmother again and again. She's your grandmother too." Advait said calmly but Aditya cut him off.
"No, she isn't anything to me." He replied furiously.
"Don't interrupt me in between ever again." Advait sternly warned.
Abhishek sensed the tension in the air and tried to cool it down, "Please calm down, both of you." He said but no one listened.
Advait pulled the car in front of the school, "Don't you dare slam the door again, Adi." He warned dangerously glaring at him through the mirror, the tension in the car thickened when it turned into a glaring competition.
They both were looking at each other with the same angry light brown eyes. At last Aditya backed off averting his gaze.
Advait cupped Arush's face and kissed his forehead mumbling "bye."
He did the same with Abhishek and about to cupped Aditya's face when he backed off mumbling, "Shower your love on your grandmother."
He got down off the car, he neither closed the door nor slammed it, he left it opened and went inside the school. Arush also jumped off the car.
"Don't mind him, bhaiya. He's just in one of his mood." Abhishek said and got out of the car. He closed the Aditya's side door also.
Advait banged his hand on the steering wheel in frustration, firstly his headache was making him irritated and his child was not talking to him making his urge to throw things grow even more.
~________________________________________~