Chapter 39
Arush gulped in fear and slowly got up from his chair. He made his way to Advait with small steps lowering his head. Advait made him stand between his legs and hold both of his hands in one hand.
"Kahan gayi diary?" He asked, his voice was calm.
Silence.
"Batao." He pressed.
"Mi-Mil nahi rahi." Arush replied looking down.
Aditya mentally palmed his forehead at the foolishness of his little brother.
Advait caught his lie and his eyes hardened, maybe he would have left him for his mistake but now after his lie... he was screwed.
"Corner me jao aur murga bano." He ordered him.
Arush looked up at him with pleading eyes but met with his hardened glare.
"Sorry bhaiya." His voice was low barely above a whisper.
"I don't want your sorry jo kaha hai wo karo aur jab tak diary mil nahi jati na waha se hilna bhi mat." Advait warned sternly.
His eyes tear up instantly, the corner of his eyes pricked with the tears.
"Jao ab, diary kahan hai ye yaad aa jaye to aa jana." Advait said and busied himself in a file.
Arush looked at him and then at Aditya who was suddenly so interested in study.
He didn't want to face the humiliating punishment so he thought to told him the truth, "Bhaiya." He whispered.
"Agar diary kahan hai ye yaad aa gaya ho to hi muh kholna." He replied without looking up at him.
"Mere room me hai." Arush replied meekly.
Advait glared, "Go, bring it." He said curtly.
But Arush was still standing there trembling in fear of the anticipation.
"Bring it to me. Now." Advait said, his tone left no room for argument.
Arush flinched and left to bring the diary as he didn't have any other option. He came back after a good five minutes.
He stood maintaining a safe distance from Advait, the diary was clutched behind his back and the tears were threatening to fall from his eyes.
Advait forwarded his hand, "Dikhao."
A lone tear fell down on his cheek and he hesitatingly forwarded the pieces of his diary towards Advait.
Aditya squeezed shut his eyes to prepare himself for the blast.
Advait was incredulous, he looked between the diary and his innocent brother.
"What is this?" He raised his voice making Aditya and Arush jump on their places.
"Diary." He whispered in response.
"Is that what you called a 'diary'?" He sternly asked.
He caught the hold of his ear and again made him stand between his legs.
"Tumne kiya ye?" He asked twisting his ear.
He barely nodded his head when a sharp whack landed on his back and the more tears made it's way to his cheeks.
"Kya soch kar kiya ye books ko aise phada jata hai manners nahi hai?" He scolded harshly.
Aditya gulped and buried his face in his notebook to avoid unwanted attention.
"Bolo kyu kiya ye?" He yelled making him flinched at his place.
He looked at him with watery eyes, "Mu-Mujhe laga isko phadne se homework hum-humesha ke liye khatam ho jayega." He stuttered in fear.
Advait was looking at him like he was from another world, he was stuck between laughing his heart out at his brother's dumbness or to put some senses into his little mind.
But he chose to stay stern as it was necessary to introduce him to the consequences of his actions, "Ye dimag homework karne me chalta hai tumhara?" He narrowed his eyes.
Silence. He was only crying and his small body was shaking with each sob he let out of his mouth.
"Bilkul chup Arush abhi tak maara bhi nahi hai maine rona band karo." He told him while holding his chin forcing him to make the eye contact.
"Jab maine diary ke liye pucha to jhooth kyun bola?" His voice was dangerously calm and a shiver ran down his spine.
"Sorry." He hiccupped.
"Bohot jyada jhooth bolna seekh gaye ho na aaj saare manners seekhata hoon tumhe ruko." He took out the ruler from the drawer of the desk.
Aditya peeked up at the thing and immediately put down his eyelids.
Arush's eyes widened in fear his crying grew louder as he knew only his tears could save him now. Advait never implemented any physical punishment on him before so he was very much sure that he would not beat him, he was only doing this to scare him.
"Haath aage." Advait ordered, Arush cried more to melt him.
But he leaned back in his chair and looked at him without any expression, Arush continued crying but stopped after a few minutes when he realised Advait was not looking mad anymore.
"Chup kyu ho gaye? Continue... jitna rona hai ro lo aaram se maar khane ke baad waise bhi rona hi hai." Advait said breaking Arush's hope and his heart.
"Har baar ye drama nahi chalega Arush galti karoge to saja milegi bohot jhooth bolna aa gaya hai." He added.
"Tumhari ye diary ke murder ki punishment to hum baad me decide karenge magar aisa idea bhi apne dimag me mat laana ki tum mujhse jhooth bologe aur mai aise hi jaane dunga." He scolded making him feel guilty.
"Haath aage karo." He ordered him and Arush backed off slightly.
"Don't test my patience, Arush." He glared and that was it his eyes were enough to do the job.
Arush froze on his place and reluctantly forwarded his hand showing up his palm. Advait raised up the ruler in the air and brought it down on his palm with a loud and precised smack.
He screamed in pain rubbing his hand over his clothes to reduced the sting. Aditya felt bad looking at him but can't do much when he was at fault.
"Dusra haath." Advait demanded with a stern expression.
Arush shook his head and started ranting apologies while rubbing his palm in pain. His tears were constantly flowing down to his cheeks but Advait was adamant to teach him a lesson.
"Bhaiya sorry ab se jhooth nahi bolunga sara homework karunga ab nahi maaro please." He ranted in pain sobbing in tears.
"Arush." He took his full name strictly.
His crying filled the room and he raised up his another hand, Advait again brought down the ruler on his palm smacking it loudly. The hits were not harsh but sharp enough to leave the sting of discipline behind.
Advait's heart ached looking at his kid who was crying and choking on his own tears but he remained firm. Arush was in pain and he only needed his bhaiya whenever he was in pain, he came forward to hug him but Advait turned away halting his movements.
"Go stand in the corner."
Arush looked at him as his bhaiya never punished him this severly before.
He looked at him with tearful eyes to melt him but Advait looked away, "Go and stand there Arush waise bhi ab tumhara homework to mujhe pata nahi hai to jab tak Adi ki padhai nahi ho jati corner me khade raho." He said without even looking at him.
"Yahi aapke paas khade ho jau?" He asked innocently tilting his head.
Advait glared, "Shor nahi karunga." He mumbled lowering his gaze. He didn't want to stand in the corner as he became very clingy when he was in pain and needed Advait by his side.
Advait sighed and a smile appeared on his face listening to his cute request but he masked it off.
He looked at his tear streaked face and it felt like something twisted inside his heart, "Rona band karo pehle." He said calmly, his tone was no more angry but a firm edge was still there.
Arush cutely wiped off his tears with the back of his hand and stood straight like an obedient kid making Advait internally cooed at him.
"Now keep standing." He said and turned away.
Arush stood there without making any noise but didn't move his eyes from Advait even for a second. Advait was trying his hard to be firm but the constant lingering of his doe puppy eyes made him melt.
He finally turned towards him, "Kya hai?" He asked playfully narrowing his eyes to scare him.
But he quickly shook his head looking down.
Advait took hold of his hand making him stand near him.
"Jhooth bolna acchi baat hoti hai?" He calmly asked him.
Arush again shook his head.
"Words." He pressed.
"Nahi." He whispered.
Advait listened but said, "Awaaz nahi aayi mujhe."
"Nahi." Arush said this time loudly but still in a low voice.
"Diary phaadne se ya fekne se apka homework complete nahi ho jayega agar aisa hota to baaki bacche itni mehnat kyu karte direct apki tarah diary phaad dete aur homework khatam haina." He said sarcastically.
Arush bit his lower lip in embarrassment. He realised his foolishness.
"Apna homework karna seekho usse bhaagne ke tareeke mat dundho, padhai important hai uske bina kuch bhi nahi hai... kal apni class teacher ko apni iss diary ki halat dikhana aur new diary maangna wo punish karengi to mere paas mat aana." He said.
Arush looked at him his lower lip trembling and the waterwork about to start again.
"Aise kya dekh rahe ho diary phaadne se pehle mujhse pucha tha?" He glared.
Tears started flowing down from his eyes and he sniffled.
"Shh wipe them off." Advait said softly.
"Aaj ke baad mujhse jhooth mat bolna last warning hai ye agar koi galti huyi hai come to me and confess but mere puchne par agar mujhse jhooth bola na to you'll not like me." He said dangerously, his tone was calm but edge with an underlying warning.
"Nahi bolunga." He replied meekly.
"Mam se baat kar lunga mai nahi punish karengi wo aapko but don't repeat it 'kay." Advait said softly.
Arush nodded still looking down at his feet.
"Ab nahi hug karna?" Advait said, his tone was teasing but gentle.
Arush looked up at his tone and threw himself in his arms making him smile.
He picked him up and placed him on his lap. Arush sniffled and hide his face in his chest. Advait peppered his face with the kisses pampering him.
"Aapne mujhe maara." He mumbled near his chest, his voice was small and muffled.
"Jhooth nahi bolna chahiye tha phir." Advait muttered rubbing his back.
Arush sniffled more, "Pehli baar maara." He mumbled, "Pyar nahi karte ab aap mujhse."
Advait sighed, he didn't mind it as he knew he was just blabbering just because he was upset.
"Hmm aur kuch?" He continued caressing his hair.
Arush looked up glaring at him with his swollen puffy eyes, Advait chuckled at that and pecked his nose. He again rested his face on his chest taking all the warmth and love.
"Adi, kitna time lagega?" Advait asked clutching Arush to his chest.
"Just five more minutes, bhaiya." Aditya answered without looking up.
Advait looked down when again a muffled voice came to his ears, Arush didn't stop blabbering even for a second and Advait answered all of them in one word just to make him sure that he was listening to all his complaints.
"Pain ho raha hai." Arush mumbled.
"Kaha par?" Advait asked.
He cutely raised up his small palms to show him, they were slightly red. Advait clenched his jaw for a second but composed himself.
"Abhi room me chal kar bhaiya ointment laga denge apne bacche ke theek ho jayega hm." He coaxed him.
He bobbed his head.
After a few minutes he got down off his lap, "Kya hua?" Advait asked.
"Washroom jana hai." He replied and ran away.
"Don't run, Aru." Advait shouted from behind but he was already out of the room.
Arush ran to the washroom of his room and did his business. He was again about to headed towards Advait when Sulekha stopped him in the hallway. She was retreating from Abhishek's room.
"Kaha jaa rahe ho Arush beta?" She asked in the extra sweet tone.
"Bhaiya ke paas." He was about go when she stopped him.
"Arey itni bhi jaldi kya hai thodi der apni bua ke saath bhi baat kar lo." She said.
Arush looked at her, he was meeting her for the first time so he didn't know about her evil intentions he only focused on her sweet voice.
He was about to answer her when he remembered his bhaiya had refused them to talk to her.
She noticed the hesitation in his eyes and said, "Koi baat nahi beta agar tumhe baat nahi karni to.
.. Mai to bas bore ho rahi thi to socha hum log sath me mil kar mere phone me games khelenge kher jaane do. " She intentionally said.
Arush thought about the offer and said, "Okay par bas thodi der mai jyada phone use karunga to bhaiya daantenge."
She smiled viciously, "Pakka bas thodi der. Chalo."
She took him in his room and gave him her phone. He happily started playing the game as his video games were confiscated by Advait and he wasn't allowed to use phones either so he was enjoying very much.
She talked to him about random things just to get some information from him and when she had enough she pressed the nerve.
"Tumhare bhaiya tumhe game khelne nahi dete?" She asked sweetly.
"Khelne dete hai but jyada phone use karne se mana karte hai warna meri eyes kharab ho jayengi na." He replied while focusing on the game.
She rolled her eyes, "Aisa to kuch nahi hota mai bhi to har time phone use karti hoon meri to eyes bilkul theek hain." She said and Arush looked up at that, "Even your bhaiya wo bhi to laptop par kaam karte rehte hain unki khud ki eyes to bilkul normal hai." She deliberately used his example.
"Maybe he doesn't want you to use the phone." She said.
"Aisa kyun?" He confusingly asked.
She shrugged.
But a smile formed on her lips when she noticed the red marks on his palm, "What is this?" She asked trying to sound concerned.
Arush looked down sheepishly, "Bhaiya ne maara." He mumbled.
She gasped dramatically, "Haww itni jor se."
But Arush didn't give much to her reaction, he waved it off, "Meri galti thi na maine apni school diary phaad di aur unse jhooth bhi bola." He made her understand innocently oblivious to her devilish intentions.
"Oh little Arush itni si baat ke liye bhi koi maarta hai wo bhi itni jor se." She said sympathetically.
Arush looked confused the game was long forgotten he was too engrossed in her talks.
"Mujhe to lagta hai tumhare bhaiya tumse pyar hi nahi karte." She said sadly.
Arush stood up glaring at her, "Mere bhaiya mujhse bohot pyar karte hain bohot jyada." He replied angrily.
"Agar wo tumse pyar karte hote to itni jor se thodi na maarte tumhe." She said making his eyes teary.
She smirked looking at his reaction as her plan was working.
"Jaane do ye sab baate wo tumse pyar karenge bhi kyun tum konse unke sage bhai ho." She dropped the bomb.
Arush blinked at her, "Matlab?"
She stood up waving a dismissive hand in the air, "Kuch nahi mai bhi kya baatein le kar beth gayi." She said, her tone was apologetic.
But Arush stopped her, "Nahi mujhe batao kya kaha aapne abhi." He asked.
"Ab tum itni zidd kar rahe ho to mujhe batana hi padega." She said again sitting down, "But promise me tum apne bhaiya ko nahi bataoge ki ye baat maine tumhe batayi hai warna wo mujhse gussa ho jayenge. Tum chahte ho aisa ho?" She asked feigning innocence but her tone was dripping with malice.
"Nahi bataunga. Promise." Arush said quickly eager to know the truth.
"Tumhare jo bhaiya hai na jinse tum bohot pyar karte ho wo tumhare sage bhai nahi hain... sautele hain." She said her voice was just above a whisper but loud enough to shattered Arush's heart.
He didn't even properly know the meaning of 'Sautela' but the word didn't settle right with him.
"He is not your real brother." She said bitterly.
Arush looked at her with watery eyes hoping that she would say that it was an ugly prank but she sat there unwavering with a firm look on her face.
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