Chapter 42
Advait's car came to a halt making a screeching sound, the kids perked up recognizing the familiar sound. Advait just barely entered the living room when Aditya and Arush jumped on him grinning widely.
"Bhaiyaa!" Arush clung to his leg while Aditya hugged his torso.
Advait kneeled down to match their level and ruffled their hairs, "Kaisa gaya mere bacchon ka din?" He asked guiding them to the sofa.
He noticed Abhishek from the corner of his eyes but didn't pass him a glance. He sat down on the sofa sighing tiredly.
Arush was quick to put himself on his lap and Aditya sat beside him. Kaka was coming up with a glass of water but Abhishek took it from him and send him back. He hesitantly approached Advait and forwarded the tray in front of him.
Advait briefly glanced at him and picked up the glass off the tray muttering a small "Thank you."
Abhishek felt a pang of hurt in his heart listening to his distant tone. Advait gulped down the water and again placed it on the tray without looking up at him.
"Hmm ab bataiye mood theek ho gaya aapka?" Advait asked Arush while gently flicking his nose.
Arush happily nodded hugging him tightly.
Abhishek looked down guilty as he noticed the change in his tone between when he was talking to him and Arush.
Tears started pooling in his eyes and he left from there before he had a break down in front of everyone.
Advait noticed him leaving from there, his heart churned at the sight of his younger brother's state but he was himself very much hurt at that time to comfort him.
"Lunch kiya tha isne?" Advait asked Aditya referring to Abhishek.
Aditya nodded, "Mana kar rahe the par Rey bhai ne jabardasti khila diya." He said.
Advait frowned, "Rey aaya tha?" He asked.
Aditya again nodded, "Aap Abhi bhai se baat nahi kar rahe?" He asked.
"How is it any of your concern?" Advait raised his brow.
"He was crying." Aditya said in a low voice looking up at him.
Advait eyes twinge with guilt.
"Aap baat kar lijiye na unse." He requested sadly.
Advait sighed, "It's between him and I, we'll sort it out. You don't have to worry yourself." He said in a gentle tone to ease his concern.
But Aditya's face remained the same, he was not liking seeing her brothers like this.
"Go and take back your video games from my study." Advait said to cheer up his mood.
It worked, Aditya looked up with sparkling eyes, "Really?" He asked in happiness.
"Yes!" Advait replied and ruffled his hair.
He kissed Advait on the cheek and ran away to get back the love of his life. Advait smiled at his retreating figure.
He looked down at Arush who was clinging to him, "Aru, bhaiya se baat kyun nahi kar rahe the subah se?" He asked him gently.
Arush shrugged, "Aise hi." He didn't want to tell him the reason. He had made up his mind to believe his bhaiya over anyone.
Advait raised his brow, "Aise hi?" He repeated.
Arush bobbed his head cutely.
But Advait noticed the flicker of hesitation in his eyes, he gently flicked his head saying, "Kal hi maar padi hai na jhooth bolne ke upar."
Arush pouted rubbing his head while looking down.
"Batao kyun baat nahi kar rahe the?"
Arush looked down jutting his lower lip out.
"Kya hua mere bacche ko kisi ne kuch kaha?" Advait asked gently coaxing him.
Arush nodded slightly but immediately verbally answered after remembering the rules.
"Kisne kaha?" Advait digged.
"Bua ne." He replied in a low voice.
His jaw clenched at the mention of her name but he forced out a smile to not to scare Arush, "Kya kaha bua ne?"
"Aap bura to nahi manoge?" Arush asked innocently.
"Mai kyu bura manunga baccha... batao mujhe kya kaha bua ne?" Advait encouraged him.
Arush looked down sadly, "Unhone bola ki aap mujhse pyar nahi karte kyunki...." He paused not wanting to say the word.
"Kyunki?" Advait pressed, his tone was firm but the voice was gentle.
"Aap mere sage bhai nahi ho." He whispered but Advait listened to him.
He froze on his place and his grip slightly tightened around Arush. His heart pounded against his ribs as it was the same situation he was dreading for years.
"Par maine unki baaton par believe nahi kiya mujhe pata hai aap mujhse bohot pyar karte ho wo jhooth bol rahi hain wo bohot gandi hain aur jhoothi hain." Arush added looking up at him.
But Advait remained unresponsive, his face was unreadable.
Arush shook him when he didn't get any reply, "Bolo na bhaiya, bua jhooth bol rahi haina." He asked.
Advait blinked and looked down at him. His arms were protectively wrapped around him as if afraid of losing him.
"Bolo na bhaiya." Arush whined.
Advait forced out a smile and stood up on his legs picking him up in his arms, "Let's make sandwiches for my baby." He said to divert his mind. He didn't want him to know the truth as his sensitive mind was not ready for it.
Aditya was always wit and smarter than his age and it was the only reason Abhishek told him the truth otherwise Advait was not ready to tell him either.
Arush squealed happily in his arms forgetting about their previous conversation, "Yeah sandwiches."
Advait kissed his cheek and took him to the kitchen to make his favorite sandwiches.
~________________________________________~
Meanwhile, Aditya shifted his video games from the study to his room. When he was passing in front of Abhishek's room he found him sitting on the bed lost in his own thoughts. The door of the room was already opened so Aditya went inside.
"Kya hua?" He asked while sitting down on the bed.
Abhishek shook his head without looking at him.
"Koi mar gaya?" He asked in a serious tone.
Abhishek glared at him for the absurd question.
He nervously smiled, "Hehe aap aise baithe the to mujhe laga koi gaya."
Abhishek smacked the pillow on his face, "Jaa yahan se dimag mat kharab kar." He said irritatingly.
"Dimag hai bhi." Aditya muttered under his breath chuckling to himself.
"Sunai de raha hai mujhe." Abhishek sternly said.
"Acchi baat hai sach hi bol raha hoon mai... aapki aur Rey bhai ki baatein sun li thi maine agar dimag hota to apna dimag use karte aap dusro ki baaton me nahi aate." He scoffed.
"Tujhse bada hoon mai mujhe lecture mat de samjha." Abhishek replied looking away knowing his brother was right.
"Kaam to Aru jaise hain... tujhse bada hoon mai." He taunted mimicking him.
"Tu jaa raha hai ya nahi?" Abhishek glared intensified.
"Nope." He shook his head from side to side.
"Kya chahiye tujhe?" Abhishek asked huffing in frustration.
"Revenge." His eyes sparkled with something dark.
Abhishek raised his brow, "What revenge?"
"Jinki wajah se aapko itna rona pada jinki wajah se bhaiya aap se naraaz hain unse revenge to lena padega na." Aditya said with a smirk.
"Don't you dare..." Abhishek recognised this look very well, he was about to warn him but Aditya cut him off in between.
"Relax bro, maine aapse kuch karne ko nahi bola I'll handle the everything...you just wait and watch." His smirk grew wider.
"Kisse badla lega bua ko to bhaiya ne subah hi ghar se nikaal diya." Abhishek informed him.
Aditya widened his eyes, "Really?"
Abhishek nodded, "Ji to aapka ye revenge mission yahi flop hota hai 'kay." He said with a tight lipped smile.
"It's fine bro, bhaiya ne bua ko bhagaya hai na wo bitc-dadi to ghar par hi haina wo konsi shareef hain ab maa beti dono ko hisaab unse hi lunga." Aditya's eyes flashed with anger.
"Adi, don't do anything stupid." Abhishek warned.
But Aditya was not ready to listen.
"Bhaiya ko pata chala na to bohot maar khayega tu." He threatened him but it was of no use.
Aditya waved it off, "Pata chalega tab na bhai, kisi ko kuch pata nahi chalega unhone aapko bohot rulaya hai ab unke rone ki baari." He said, his eyes glint with mischief.
"Dikh raha hai mujhe?" Abhishek said drowned in his imagination.
"What?" Aditya asked.
"Tera future." Abhishek replied flatly and smacked his face with the pillow.
"To phir chashma laga kar dekhiye warna aapki aankhein kharab ho jayengi kyunki wo bohot bright hai." He replied raising up his invisible collars.
Abhishek shook his head, he knew that his little brother would definitely end up getting himself in a big trouble.
~________________________________________~
Advait ignored Abhishek throughout the day even on the dinner table. Abhishek tried talking to him but he didn't even pass him the glance and if he replied his voice was distant and eyes were cold which pierced Abhishek's heart.
Advait was in his room sitting on the couch. A book was there in his one hand and his other hand was resting on the armrest. His eyes were fixed on the letters but his mind was somewhere else.
Abhishek stood at the entrance of the room, the door was already opened. So he just knocked on it looking at Advait.
Advait looked up at the sound, he raised his brow, "Kuch chahiye tha?" He asked in no nonsense tone.
Abhishek meekly stepped forward, he went to his side with small steps and settled himself next to him on the floor. He placed his head on Advait's lap catching him off guard.
"I'm sorry, bhaiya." He whispered.
Advait's face remained stoic he didn't make any moment and just sat there with an unreadable look on the face.
"I'm regretting my every word. I didn't mean to hurt you, bhaiya. I wasn't thinking... I'm really sorry please forgive me." He pleaded, his shoulders were shaking as the sobs let out of his mouth.
"Punish me however you want but please don't ignore me... galti ho gayi mujhse wapas se nahi karunga please baat karein mujhse." He hicupped between his sobs.
Advait clenched his eyes in hurt and pain. His fingers were twitching to caressed his kid's hair to comfort him. His chest was aching with the every tear his brother shed, he felt his hot tears on the rough fabric of his jeans.
"Please forgive me bhaiya." He clutched his leg tightly around him making him snapped at him.
"Abhishek." He raised his voice freeing himself of his hold.
"Don't you dare do this again." He sternly said.
Abhishek sniffled, "Karunga agar aap maaf nahi karoge to aise hi aapke per pakad kar rakhunga." He again held his leg looking up at him pleadingly.
Advait furiously glared at him, "Per chord mera bohot maar khayega." He threatened.
"Maar lena par please maaf kar dein baat karein mujhse." He showed his puppy eyes.
"Abhishek Malhotra." Advait pressed his name in the tone that no one could risk to disobey.
He immediately left his leg looking down.
"Itna gussa ho gaye ki apni vasiyat se hi nikaal diya mujhe." He mumbled slowly.
Advait squinted his eyes and gripped his ear tightly.
"Oww bhaiya." He let out a yelp but didn't stop him.
"Kya kaha sir aapne...care to repeat that please." He twisted his ear hardly.
"Aa-Aapne bas Abhishek Malhotra bola na apna name add nahi kiya islie maine joke maara oww please jane dein lag rahi hai bohot jor se." He replied in pain.
"Bohot jokes yaad aa rahe hain na rukiye abhi aapka stand up karwata hoon." He gave his ear a hard twist before leaving.
He rubbed his ear to let go of the pain, "Maaf kar diya?" He hopefully asked.
"Stand up." Advait ordered him making him obey instantly.
He also stood up in front of him crossing his arms over his chest, "Hmm hostel jana hai sir ko?" He taunted.
Abhishek looked down at the scolding, his eyes were fixed on the floor in shamehe didn't like Advait calling him 'sir'. He always used that to embarrass him when he reprimanded him.
"Sorry." He said but his voice came out as a whisper.
"We're over with the apologies now it's time to face the consequences." He said and Abhishek gulped audibly.
"Go and fetch the cane from my study." He ordered and Abhishek's eyes tear up instantly.
~________________________________________~