Chapter 41
Advait got ready in the formals and left for his office after picking up the kids from school.
Abhishek was in his room sitting on the floor, his knees were pressed to his chest and his arms were wrapped around a frame in his hands.
His eyes were mist with tears and the cheeks were streaked with water.
He looked at the frame mumbling, "Mumma!"
"Maine bhaiya ko phir se hurt kar diya." He sobbed.
"Ab wo mujhse kabhi baat nahi karenge." He choked on his tears.
"Mujhe hostel nahi jana mumma, mujhe bhaiya ke paas rehna hai." He cried bitterly, his body was shaking due to pain.
"Mai kya karoon kaise manaoon unko,aap sun rahe ho na mumma." He said looking at the frame with hopeful eyes.
"I miss you mumma I miss you so much." He whispered while brushing his fingers over the photo.
He sat there clutching the photo frame to his chest, his mind was swirling around Advait. He was thinking of the ways to pacify him but nothing came to his mind.
His hand searched for his phone and he picked it up with a trembling hand. He dialled a number and put the phone on his ear.
Ring.
Ring.
"Hey buddy!" Reyansh chirped from the other side.
"Bhai." Abhishek sniffled.
"Abhi, kya hua?" The concern took over his voice.
"I need you, bhai." He said between his tears.
"Chup chup rona band kar mai abhi aa raha hoon. Ghar par hi hai na tu?" He asked, already getting out of his cabin.
"Haan." He sobbed
~________________________________________~
Advait was sitting in his cabin engrossed in his work but his mind was suffocated with the words of Abhishek.
He was not angry with him but disappointed.
The frustration was bubbling inside him, he has fired the three people from the moment he entered the office just because of their small mistakes.
He was studying an important file and his subsided anger has increased over again noticing the minor mistakes in the file. He pressed the button of a device placed on his desk. After a minute, Tia entered in the cabin.
"What the hell is this?" He snapped as soon as she entered.
She didn't mind much to his tone as she was aware of his bad mood since the morning. "What happened?" She stepped forward.
"Who made this report?" He gritted his teeth barely controlling his anger.
She hesitated before answering, "Maine banayi hai kya hua?"
"Isko report kehte hain neend me banayi hai kya dhyan kaha rehta hai tera." He said angrily.
She felt a pang in her heart but composed herself, "Kal meri tabiyat kharab thi par report aaj submit karni thi islie maine jaldi me bana di." She replied, her tone was low.
"I'll do it again and submit to you by evening. Sorry for this time." She added.
Advait noticed her face and cursed himself in his mind, he didn't want to shout on her but all the tension was making him frustrated.
"Go and rest. I'll handle it." He said to make it up to her.
But she picked up the file from his desk muttering, "I'll do it, sir." She left the cabin.
Advait sighed looking at her retreating figure, he smashed the paper weight on the wall in anger.
His phone rang, if it would be anyone else he would have throw the phone but he picked it up after looking at the caller I'd.
"Hello bhaiya." A voice came from the other side.
"Haan Adi?" He asked.
"Bhaiya, mai playground chala jau ghar me bohot bore ho raha hai." Aditya asked with extra sweetness.
"Lunch kiya?" He asked completely ignoring his question.
Aditya pouted, "Kar liya."
"Hmm, nahi jana." Advait answered.
Aditya was quick to plead, "Bhaiya please please please aapne mere video games bhi le liye mai bohot bore ho raha hu kuch hai hi nahi karne ko."
"Padhai karo." Advait replied flatly.
Aditya sulked, "Bhaiya please naa aaj jane dijiye itne din se nahi gaya mai."
"Abhi aur Aru ke saath khel bahar nahi jana mana kar diya na." He said rubbing his temple.
"Bhai to subah se apne room me lock hai aur Aru bhi..." Aditya said but he cut him off in between.
"Abhi subah se apne room se nahi nikla?" He asked concern etched in his tone.
"Nahi, mai unhe lunch ke liye bulane gaya tha par unhone andar se hi mana kar diya." Aditya informed.
Advait raked his hand through his hair, "Usko jaa kar bol lunch kare tabiyat kharab hai na uski medicine leni hai."
"Aur mera playground?" He asked making a pout.
"Nahi jana, jitna kaha hai utna kar." He replied and hung up the call.
~________________________________________~
Reyansh knocked on the door impatiently, Abhishek opened the door and threw himself in his arms. Reyansh securely held his trembling form and rubbed his back. He took him inside and made him sit on the bed but Abhishek was not ready to left him.
"Bas bohot ho gaya rona band kar." Reyansh rubbed his back.
But he shook his head continuing crying, Reyansh pulled him away just enough to look at his face.
He cupped his face looking straight into his eyes, "Bas bilkul rona band." His voice was gentle but tone was firm.
Reyansh gently wiped off his tears with his thumb pad and he stopped crying.
"Bata ab kya hua?" He asked him.
"Bhaiya mujhse baat nahi kar rahe." His voice was shaking.
Reyansh sighed in relief, "Bas itni si baat gussa hoga wo kar lega baat itni si baat ke liye itna sara rone ki kya jarurat thi. Tujhe pata hai na wo tum logo se baat kiye bina nahi reh sakta." Reyansh made him understand.
"Nahi karenge...unhone bola tha agar maine phir se same galti repeat ki to wo kabhi baat nahi karenge." He sniffled.
"Kya kiya tune?" Reyansh asked softly.
Abhishek looked at him and knew Reyansh would become mad at him but he answered. He told him the whole story about what happened in these few days.
Reyansh's soft eyes hardened listening to him. Abhishek told him about what he said to Advait and the next moment his face jerked to the side. He looked down feeling guilty not having enough courage to look into Reyansh's eyes.
"What did I told you the last time?" Reyansh glared.
Tears flew down to his cheeks, "Bhai, sorry."
"Kya kaha tha maine, Abhishek?" He yelled.
"Kisi bahar wale ki baaton me nahi aana." He whispered.
"Aur tune kya kiya?" He bore his glare in his soul.
"Bhai mai kisi ki baaton me nahi aaya bua ne jo bola usme galat kya tha." Abhishek said with hesitancy.
Reyansh's eyes got more hardened.
"Mai ab bada ho gaya hoon bhaiya ne already itna kuch kiya hai mai unpe aur burden nahi banna chahta." He said, his voice was just above a whisper.
Reyansh again slapped him right across his face making him cry.
"Burden nahi ho tum log uspe bhai ho uske farz hai uska tumhara dhyan rakhna." He said, "Aur jab tu ye sab bolta hai na to usko feel hota hai ki tu ye islie bol raha hai kyunki wo tera saga bhai nahi hai." He completed gritting his teeth.
Abhishek snapped his head at him, "Don't say this bhai maine kabhi aisa galti se bhi nahi socha, bhaiya mere liye sab kuch hain bas wo jab humari wajah se itna suffer karte hain to mujhe bilkul accha nahi lagta." He sobbed and more tears spilled down from his eyes.
Reyansh eyes softened slightly, "I know tu usse bohot pyar karta hai par wo nahi chahta ki uska Abhi itna sab soche... Wo chahta hai ki tu bhi baaki bacchon ki tarah rahe masti kare naa ki in sab chizon ka guilt le kar ghumein."
"Apni jaan maanta hai wo tum teeno ko tumhe khud se door karne ke baare me soch tak nahi sakta aur tune usse hostel jane ke liye keh diya... usko kaisa laga hoga." Reyansh said.
"Bua ne bola ki hum bhaiya par burden hain agar mai hostel chala jaunga to unki problems kam ho jayengi." Abhishek replied, his eyes tearing up again.
"Accha theek hai mujhe ek baat bata?" Reyansh said making him nod in response.
"Dadi ya bua har koi tujhe hi target kyun karte hain? Tujhe hi ye sab kyun kehte hain?" Reyansh said and Abhishek looked confused.
"Mai batata hoon because you're easy to manipulate." He replied making him look down in guilt, "Koi Adi se to ye sab nahi kehta because they know ki wo unki baaton me nahi aayega in fact unka hi muh band kara dega."
"Aaj bua ne kaha hai kal ko koi aur aa kar kahega logon ka muh band nahi kara sakte... tujhe logon se jyada apne bhaiya par trust karna seekhna hoga." He said.
"Advait ne kabhi tujhe aisa feel karaya hai jaise tu uske liye burden hai?" He asked gently.
Abhishek instantly shook his head.
"Jaan hai tu uski aaj ke baad aise khayal dimag me bhi nahi laana apne warna uska pata nahi par mujhse bohot maar khayega." Reyansh warned.
Abhishek nodded rubbing his hot cheek, "Abhi bhi bohot maara aapne." He pouted.
"You deserved it." He replied flatly making him pouted more.
"Bhaiya ne next week hostel jane ko bola hai." Abhishek said his lower lip trembling.
Reyansh rolled his eyes, "Kahi nahi jaa raha tu don't worry tere bina ek din nahi reh sakta wo aaya bada hostel bhejne wala."
"Pakka na, bhai?" Abhishek asked unsure.
"Promise buddy." He replied ruffling his hair.
He hugged him tightly, "I love you, bhai." He mumbled.
Reyansh chuckled, "Oh, I thought you only love Rupali." He teased.
"Bhaiiii." He whined in embarrassment.
"Don't take her name." He said making a huffed face.
"Kyun?" Reyansh asked while laughing.
"Mujhe laga wo sirf mujhe dekh kar smile karti hai par Akash ne bataya wo usko aur Ritesh ko dekh kar bhi smile karti hai." He said in a disappointed tone.
Reyansh laughed out loud making him huffed.
"Bhaiya ko kaise manaoon... aap help kar do please." He asked cutely showing his best puppy eyes.
"Mai koi help nahi karne wala maine pehle hi warn kiya tha tujhe par meri to sunni hi nahi hai to ab bhugto." He taunted.
"Bhai, please na... " Abhishek was about to say when his eyes landed on Aditya who was standing at the door.
Reyansh followed his gaze and looked at him.
"Bhaiya ka call aaya tha unhone bola hai khana kha kar medicine le lo." Aditya said looking at Abhishek.
"Tune abhi tak khana nahi khaya?" Reyansh raised his brow looking at Abhishek.
He sheepishly smiled.
"Chup chap jaa kar khana kha." He sternly ordered him and Abhishek ran away from there before he could get an another slap.
Reyansh also get up and looked at Aditya who was already looking at him intensely.
"What?" Reyansh raised his brow.
Aditya shook his head and walked away.
Reyansh furrowed his brows and also went behind him.
~________________________________________~
Advait entered Tia's cabin and she was engrossed in completing the file. She looked up at him raising her brow.
"Do you need anything, sir?" She asked coldly.
Advait sighed and went to her side, "Chal tujhe ghar drop kar deta hoon." He said, indirectly trying to pacify her.
"No need, sir." She taunted.
Advait rubbed his forehead, "Acha chal sorry meri galti hai mujhe tujhpe chillana nahi chahiye tha subah se mera..." He said but she cut him off in between.
"It's okay sir. You don't have to give me an explanation." She said focusing on the file.
Advait inhaled slowly and took her in a side hug, "I'm sorry yaar please naraaz mat ho." He apologized sincerely making her smile but she schooled her expression and remained firm.
"Subah se dimag kharab tha mera aur sara gussa tujhpe nikal gaya but I'm really sorry mujhe dhyan rakhna chahiye tha teri tabiyat kharab hai." He said, "Apne idiot dost ko maaf nahi karegi?" He added to melt her.
She slapped on his arm, "Chal chal jyada butter mat laga kar diya maaf tu bhi kya yaad rakhega."
"Tabiyat kaisi hai ab?" He asked placing his hand on her forehead.
"Kal se to better hai." She replied.
"Mai ghar jaa raha hoon tujhe bhi drop kar deta hoon rest kar lena." He said pulling her up in one swift motion.
"Tu jaa mujhe ye report ready karni hai uske baad chali jaungi." She replied again sitting down on her seat.
"Do hell with this report, tu ghar chal." He again made her stand and dragged her from there.
~________________________________________~