Chapter 37
It was around four in the noon Advait was in his office working on some files, his face was exhausted and eyes were red and swollen due to the lack of sleep.
Reyansh was sitting in front of him glaring at him but Advait was unfazed as his entire focus was on his work. Finally Reyansh let out a sigh.
"Advi, I'm warning you for the last time. You're burning in fever, go home and take rest." Reyansh warned.
"I don't have time for rest." He replied without even looking up.
The last thread of Reyansh's patience had been broken and he stood up snatching his files from his hands.
"Kya kar raha hai?" Advait said being irritated.
"Tu chup chap ghar chal raha hai ya mai tujhe utha kar le jau?" He threatened.
"Meri meeting hai thodi der me abhi ghar nahi jaa sakta mai." Advait argued.
"Hell with your meetings. Halat dekh apni theek se aankhein tak nahi khul rahi hai." Reyansh scolded looking at his red exhausted eyes.
"Okay calm down, I'll go home but after the meeting. Now please let me work." Advait negotiated.
Reyansh's glare hardened but the phone started ringing before he could give his friend the piece of mind.
Advait picked up the call after looking at the caller I'd. It was Abhishek.
"Han baccha?" Advait asked softly despite his throbbing head.
"Bhaiya." Abhishek choked from the other side making Advait's froze.
"Abhi, Kya hua baccha ro kyu raha hai?" He panicked.
Reyansh also panicked after listening to him, his face turned into worry.
"Abhi, bol beta kya hua kisi ne kuch kaha?" Advait asked, his heart was aching in concern and pain for his brother.
Abhishek was only crying, his sobs was breaking his heart into pieces. He was hicupping trying to say something but the constant choking on his tears was not letting him complete his sentence.
"Baccha please shaant ho jaa mai abhi ghar aa raha hoon okay please shaant ho jaa bas thodi der bhaiya abhi aa rahe hai." He tried to calm him down but his own voice was betraying him.
He stormed out of his cabin without wasting a second and Reyansh followed him. They reached to the parking area, Reyansh took the wheel and Advait settled himself beside him. Abhishek hung up the call making Advait panicked more.
Reyansh looked at Advait's panicked face and worried that he might get a panic attack so he started chanting calming words to keep him grounded.
"Relax, hum jaa rahe hain na theek hoga Abhi tu panic hona band kar." Reyansh said calmly.
Advait nodded and tried calling Amrinder but he didn't pick the call. He called on the landline and kaka picked up the phone.
"Kaka, Abhi kaha hai?" He asked, the second call picked up.
"Abhi... apne room me hain kya hua aap itne pareshan kyu hain?" Kaka asked.
"Aap uske room me jaiye aur usey dekhiye mai bas thodi der me aa raha hoon." He replied in urgency.
After a few minutes the car came to a halt and Reyansh and Advait stepped down with a hurry. They directly marched towards the Abhishek's room.
Abhishek was laying on the bed, he was no more crying and was just looking at the ceiling without any emotion. Kaka was sitting beside him caressing his head gently.
Advait closed the distance between them in just 3 long strides and reached to Abhishek.
Abhishek noticed Advait and quickly sat up straight lunging on him. He buried his face in his torso and his body again started shaking with sobs. Kaka stood up to give Advait space.
"Shh chup ho jaa ab aa gaya na mai bata mujhe kya hua?" Advait asked brushing his hair.
Reyansh stepped forward, "Kya hua buddy kyu itna ro raha hai?" His voice was tensed.
Abhishek finally looked up and Advait cupped his cheeks but his worry increased as soon as he touched his skin, it was burning, "Isey to bohot tej fever hai." Advait mumbled to Reyansh.
Reyansh touched his forehead and it was really burning. He made him lay down on the bed.
"Mai doctor ko call karta hoon." Reyansh said.
"Maine call kar diya hai doctor aate hi honge." Kaka replied.
"Thank you, kaka." Reyansh thanked him.
Advait was looking at Abhishek's face, his cheeks were streaked with tears and his face was tensed.
He gently wiped off his tears and caressed his hair, "Kya hua?" He asked in a voice above a whisper.
Silence.
"Kyu roya itna jo tabiyat kharab kar li han?" He added.
Abhishek's face was looking like he was about to say something else but he changed his statement and replied, "My head is hurting." He whispered.
Advait and Reyansh both noticed the flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
"Buddy, kisi ne kuch kaha?" Reyansh asked softly, sliding a damp hair strand from his forehead.
Abhishek slowly shook his head.
Reyansh and Advait exchanged a glance before saying, "Doctor aa rahe hain na thodi der me theek ho jayega headache." Advait pecked his forehead.
Then he stood up, "Rey tu yahan baith mai abhi aata hoon." He told Reyansh and walked away.
He burst in Aditya's room and it was empty, then he headed to Arush's room and there they both were playing video game laughing loudly.
Advait gritted his teeth in anger and snatched the video games from their hands.
"Dhyan kahan hai tum dono ka?" He yelled.
Aditya and Arush quickly stood up gulping in fear.
"Aap jaldi kyun aa gaye?" Arush asked but quickly changed his statement after receiving a stern glare, "Mat-lab aap aaj jaldi aa gaye?" He innocently asked.
"Din bhar is video game me hi ghuse raha karo, Abhi ki tabiyat kharab hai aur tum dono ko pata bhi nahi chala ghar me rehte bhi ho ya nahi?" He scolded.
Aditya and Arush exchanged worried glances, "Kya hua bhai ko?" Aditya asked.
"Ye to tum dono mujhe bataoge." Advait glared, "School se aane ke baad kis kisne baat ki usse?" He further asked.
"Dadi ne usse kuch kaha?" He added.
Aditya tried to remember but he didn't know as he was busy in playing video games from the time he had entered the home after school.
But Arush said, "Lunch karne ke baad se maine Abhi bhai ko dekha hi nahi but maine unhe bua ke room me jate huye dekha tha."
Advait clenched his jaw at the mention of her name.
"Bhaiya, bhai kaha hain?" He asked.
"Apne room me." Advait replied.
Aditya and Arush were about to go when Advait voice stopped them, "Pehle apni saari video games mere study me rakho uske baad jana." He ordered.
Arush whined but complied and Aditya's face was looking like someone had asked for his life but he didn't argue as he was still mad at him for the morning.
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The doctor prescribed medicines to Abhishek and about to go when Reyansh stopped the doctor, "Wait, doctor."
Reyansh looked at Advait who was not ready to avert his eyes off Abhishek's face even for a second.
"Advait tu bhi apna check up karwa." He ordered.
"Mai theek hoon, Rey." He replied caressing Abhishek's hair.
Abhishek, Aditya and Arush perked up instantly, "Bhaiya ko kya hua?" Aditya asked Reyansh.
"Nothing." Advait replied.
Reyansh glared at him.
Arush and Aditya touched Advait's hands and his skin felt hot under their touch.
"Aapko to bohot tej fever hai." Arush said.
"Exactly." Aditya joined.
Reyansh eyed doctor to check Advait but Advait was stubborn.
"Maine kaha na mai theek hoon mujhe jarurat nahi hai check up ki." He said.
Abhishek opened his mouth to convince him but his voice betrayed him.
"You're literally burning." Aditya glared at him.
"Why do you care?" Advait raised his brow amused by his reaction.
Aditya's eyes darkened with something but the next moment he hugged him suddenly catching him off guard.
"I'm sorry." His voice was muffled again his midriff.
"I shouldn't have talked to you like that." He apologized.
Advait's lips broke into a smile. He ruffled his hair, "It's alright."
He looked up from his embrace, "Now get yourself treated please." He said with puppy eyes.
Advait sighed and reluctantly sat down, doctor checked his bp and it was higher than normal. Then he put thermometer in his mouth and he really had a high fever. The doctor prescribed him some medicines and advised him to take rest for a few days.
The doctor left and Abhishek was already asleep due to the effect of the medicines.
"Tum dono jao jaa kar khelo Abhi ko rest karne do." Reyansh ordered the kids.
"Kya khelein video game to cheen liya." Aditya mumbled.
"To jaa kar padhai karo." Advait said and they scurried away the next moment.
Advait shook his head at his two monkeys but his expression changed when he looked at Reyansh.
"He's hiding something." Reyansh said pointing at Abhishek
"I know." He whispered rubbing his hand over his face.
Reyansh squeezed his shoulder in a reassuring manner. "Stop worrying. You need rest."
Advait nodded when Shreya entered the room with a chirping voice, "Hey Abhi!"
Reyansh and Advait jerked their heads at her direction and she stopped at her place.
"Aap log yahan?" She asked in confusion.
Advait stood up, "Abhi ki tabiyat theek nahi hai. I'm sorry aapko pareshan hona pada but he won't be able to attend his class today." He said apologetically.
"What happened to him?" She asked worrying.
"Fever." He replied stepping forward but his head started spinning and he stumbled a little.
Reyansh and Shreya quickly caught him and made him sat down on the bed.
"Fever to aapko bhi ho raha hai." She said when his burning skin came into contact with her palm.
"Par in janab ko ye baat samajh me nahi aati hai." Reyansh glared.
"Mai theek h.." Advait said but Reyansh cut him off with a stern glare, "Don't you dare complete this sentence."
"Medicine li aapne?" Shreya asked, her voice was firm.
Advait sighed and shook his head.
"Very good, what do you think of yourself? A Superman?" Her tone was frustrated.
"Dhyan kyun nahi rakhte hain aap apna." She added.
Advait was just sitting there taking her all the scoldings like an obedient kid.
"Medicine lijiye aur rest kariye, kuch khaya hai aapne subah se?" She bore her gaze into his soul.
Advait was about to answer when Reyansh jumped in, "Bilkul nahi, kaam se fursat mile Sir ko tab na." He complained and made a face to tease Advait.
"Aap bhi na bilkul fikar hi nahi hai aapko apni, chaliye pehle khana khaiye phir medicine lekar rest kariye." She instructed.
"Wait mai khana le kar aata hoon." Reyansh said and left the room.
Shreya continued lecturing him and he was admiring her facial expressions all the time.
She snapped her fingers in front of him when she realised he was lost in his own world. Advait blinked his eyes.
"Dhyan kaha hain aapka?" She asked narrowing her eyes.
"Aap par." He replied smoothly.
She placed her hand on her waist, "Itne fever me bhi flirt karna yaad hai aapko." She taunted.
He chuckled shaking his head and Reyansh arrived with a food of tray in his hand. He placed the plate on the bed side table, "Mujhe ek important kaam hai mai chala, take care." He winked at Advait and left the room.
Shreya looked at the plate and then at Advait, "Dekh kya rahe hain khaiye khana phir medicine bhi leni hai." She said.
Advait immediately clutched his head dramatically groaning in pain. Shreya quickly panicked, "Kya hua?" She asked.
"Headache." He replied, trying to sound in pain.
"I don't even have the energy to lift up a spoon." He said in a low voice for a dramatic effect.
Her face was twisted in concern, she made him sit down and supported his back against the head rest, "Aap aram se bethiye mai... khila deti hoon." She hesitant, unsure of his reaction but to her surprise he happily nodded his head.
She studied him for a moment and Advait realised his mistake, he stopped vigorously nodding his head and again put up the mask of a suffering person.
She made a morsel and forwarded it towards his mouth, he opened his mouth and ate it.
A comfortable silence settled in the room, she was feeding him with all the love, her movements were soft and indicated her care towards him.
His eyes turned up teary as it was the first time after his mother's demise someone was feeding him with their hands.
He blinked away the tear and smiled at her happily accepting the other morsel from her hand.
The taste of the food was long forgotten because by her hands it tasted like a heaven to him.
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