Chapter 44
Aditya left the room followed by Abhishek and Arush. He again slumped down on the sofa but Abhishek stood in front of him glaring at his soul.
"Stop drilling holes in my body, bhai." Aditya said rolling his eyes.
"Jubaan par control nahi hai tere? Andar kya bakwas kar raha tha?" Abhishek chided.
"Ek genuine question hi to kiya tha bhai." He replied in a cool tone.
"Adi, mai sach bata raha hoon bhaiya ko agar pata chal gaya na to tera saara attitude nikaal kar rakh denge." Abhishek glared.
"Kon batayega?" Aditya raised his brow.
"Mai bataunga." He replied.
"Oh bhai you love me a little too much to do that." Aditya smirked making Abhishek gritted his teeth in annoyance because he was right he would never do that.
"Don't worry bhai mai aapko kuch nahi hone dunga." Arush said protectively hugging Aditya from the side.
Aditya smiled, "Bhaiya se bacha lega?" He teased.
Arush innocently bobbed his head up and down and Aditya pinched his puffy cheeks in a playful manner.
"Dono maar khaoge." Abhishek mumbled and sat down while exhaling sharply.
Advait came out of the room with the doctor and Shreya was trailing behind them. The doctor exchanged a short conversation with Advait before leaving.
Abhishek, Aditya and Arush deliberately ignoring the eye contact with him, their legs were dangling off the sofa and they were swinging them up and down. Shreya glared at all of them.
Advait ignored them, he was about to go back to Kalyani's room when his gaze landed on the banana peel carelessly lying on the floor. His eyes blazed with annoyance as he got the idea Kalyani must have fallen because of that.
"Kisne giraya ye?" His voice boomed in the living room startling all of them.
They quickly stood up in fear and exchanged the look of nervousness. Aditya's face turned pale in fear but Arush quickly held his hand blinking at him reassuringly, "Don't worry bhai mai hoon na." He whispered.
"Bolo kisne giraya ye?" Advait asked his tone was controlled but firm.
"Adi bhai ne nahi giraya." Arush replied in a defensive tone.
Aditya and Abhishek snapped their heads in his direction and looked at him like he had grown two heads. Aditya mentally cursed him while daggering his sharp gaze in his poor soul and Arush... he blinked assuringly at Aditya who gritted out his teeth in return.
Advait threw a look at Aditya, "Idhar aa, Adi." He pointed at the front.
Aditya felt his throat dry and he swallowed down slowly. Before he could step forward Abhishek stepped ahead.
"Mujhse gir gaya tha bhaiya, sorry." Abhishek said quietly looking at him.
Shreya raised her brow at his confidently lying tactics.
"Aankhon me sharam hai?" Advait said, his voice could melt the steel.
Abhishek looked down immediately gulping down his saliva. He was an idiot to try to fool his older brother.
"Adi, idhar aa." Advait ordered and Aditya's legs moved on his own.
"Tune giraya ye?" He asked when Aditya stood in front of him.
He slowly nodded, "Ji."
His voice was a low whisper. He didn't look up even once. Advait studied his nervousness and knew there was more in the story.
"Galti se?" He asked in a calm yet authoritative voice.
A shiver ran down his spine, he could do anything but didn't bring himself to lie to Advait. So he chose the better option to kept quiet.
"Kuch pucha maine galti se giraya tha?" He asked again in a firm voice.
Aditya was fidgeting with his fingers which were clutched behind his back. His face was clearly showing his fear and Advait got the idea what must have happened but he wanted to hear it from Aditya.
Abhishek looked at Shreya with the pleading look to save Aditya. She shook her head but he gave him his most innocent look and she melted.
"Advait jaane dijiye na baccha hai." She protested weakly.
But Advait just ignored her words and continued glaring in Aditya's soul.
Aditya sensed that receiving no response could escalate Advait's anger. He crossed his fingers and meekly shook his head looking at the floor all the time.
Advait's eyes hardened, "In my room. Five minutes." He ordered and walked away.
Aditya instantly turned to whacked Arush as soon as Advait was out of sight but Abhishek jumped in between them.
"Usey kyun maar raha hai jab maine pehle warn kiya tha tab to samajh nahi aa raha tha." Abhishek scolded.
"Iski wajah se bhaiya ko pata chala... kya bol raha tha don't worry bhai mai aapko bacha lunga thank you very much mujhe bachane ke liye." He mimicked Arush's words taunting him.
Arush jutted out his lower lip, "Maine to aapki help hi ki thi." He mumbled.
"Next time se ye help apne paas hi rakhiyo." He glared.
"Bechare bacche ko kyun daant rahe ho pehle khud galti karo phir dusro ko blame karo." Shreya scolded him.
He didn't reply anything, his face was pale with the fear of the anticipation.
"Agar aaj mai rest in peace hua na to uske liye tu responsible hoga." Aditya said glaring at Arush.
"Time par nahi gaya na to pakka rest in peace ho jayega jaa jaldi." Abhishek chided.
Aditya made a crying face glancing at everyone, "Alvida dosto agar zinda raha to phir mulaqaat hogi." He said dramatically and left.
Shreya glared at Abhishek who looked at her confusingly in response.
"Jhooth kyun bola Advait se?" She crossed her arms over her chest.
He sheepishly smiled, "Adi ko bachane ke liye."
She lightly whacked her head and headed to his room. He went behind her leaving Arush alone.
"Ab se kisi ki help nahi karunga." He mumbled to himself, a pout was formed on his lips.
~________________________________________~
Aditya was standing on the floor bending down his body, his hands were gripping his ears from behind his knees and his bottom was stretched out backwards awkwardly in the air, practically he was in a rooster position.
His face was red with the shame and body was burning with the humiliation but he stayed up in the position.
Advait was sitting in front of him on the bed glaring down at him. His clenched jaw was describing his anger well.
Aditya shuffled on his feet due to the raising ache in his legs. It had been fifteen minutes of him bearing this embarrassing punishment but he didn't say a word until now even when Advait told him to be in the position he silently assumed it without any protest as he was already hella scared.
Then finally Advait spoke up, "Stand up!"
Aditya obeyed immediately, he slowly stood up with all the strength he had left in with himself but he didn't look up at Advait. His muscles were sore and tensed from the awkward position.
"Here." He pointed at the spot in front of him.
Aditya hesitated but meekly stood at the pointed spot.
"Explain." He ordered curtly.
Silence.
Advait's patience was hanging on a thin thread.
"Don't make me repeat, Adi." He said barely controlling his anger.
Aditya flinched and clenched his hands behind his back, his previous cool demeanor was long forgotten.
"B-Bhaiya wo mai-maine galtis-se..." He stumbled on the words.
"Stop stuttering." Advait snapped.
Aditya gulped down, his throat tightened, "Dadi har time hume bura bolti hain aur unhone Abhi bhai ko bhi rulaya to maine bas... badla liya." He said in a barely audible voice.
"Badla?" Advait asked incredulously.
"S-Sorry." Aditya stuttered but contrary to his words there was not even a slightest of guilt on his face. The only emotion was visible on his face was fear... fear of disappointing his bhaiya.
"Cut it." Advait gritted his teeth, "You and I, We both know that you are not feeling even a bit of guilty." He made a statement.
Aditya looked down, he couldn't deny the words as they were right. He wasn't feeling guilty about his actions.
"Dadi ne jo kaha jo kiya wo unki soch dikhata hai but you... I expect better from you." Advait said.
"Your actions represents my upbringing, ye parwarish di hai maine tumhe? Aise treat karte hai apne se badon ko... aur ye badla lena itna dimag chalta hai tumhara. Agar unhe serious injury ho jati to kya hota." Advait scolded.
"Wo badi hain to kya kuch bhi kahengi." Aditya mumbled under his breath but not having the courage to say it out loudly.
Advait put his finger under his chin and made him look up, "Say it out loud." He ordered. Advait looked at his scared eyes and his eyes softened slightly. He knew the boy didn't do this stupidity for himself, he did that for his brother out of his love for him.
Aditya hesitated before saying, "Aap hi to kehte hain respect earn karni padti hai. It doesn't have anything to do with the age." He recited the preach.
"Agreed, but that doesn't give you the freedom to do stupidity like that." He replied.
"Let's forget that age thing for a moment and tell me, Is it a good thing to hurt anyone physically?" He asked politely.
Silence.
"Tell me, Adi. Did I teach you this?" He asked again.
"No." Aditya whispered.
"Indifferences hona koi badi baat nahi hai par iska matlab ye nahi hai ki hum ek dusre ko physically harm karenge.
If you don't like someone just ignore them.
Ignore her words kuch galat kehti hain to jawab do unhe uss baat ka but tareeke se.
..unhe jawab dena hai but apne manners ko yaad rakh kar.
Kisi aur ki wajah se hume apne manners nahi bhoolne hai. " He gently made him understand.
"I hate her." Aditya again whispered.
"No, you don't." Advait replied.
Aditya looked up at him blinking confusingly.
"Hate is such a strong word. You just don't like her. 'Dislike' is the right word to use." He replied and a pout formed on Aditya's lips.
"I'm sorry." Aditya apologized, this time genuinely.
"Are you?" Advait raised up his brow.
He nodded, "I shouldn't have done that." He realized, "But I still don't like her." He added after a moment.
"That is fine." Advait smiled softly.
"One more thing Adi, be careful with your words from the next time." Advait warned sternly.
"Ji." He nodded.
Advait looked at him for a moment before gently pulling him in his embrace.
Aditya wrapped up his arms around him melting in his embrace, "Sorry bhaiya." He whispered.
"All is forgiven now." Advait smiled ruffling his hair.
They parted away from the hug and Advait pinched his nose lightly, "Itna dimag padhai me kyun nahi chalta tera." He teased.
Aditya leaned on his chest hiding his face in embarrassment.
~________________________________________~
Advait was wearing a white shirt paired up with the black pants, an apron was hanging on his neck and his fingers were moving effortlessly chopping the vegetables.
His face was stoic and cold showing the disappointment more than anger.
He was deliberately ignoring Abhishek who was doing sit ups in front of him.
Abhishek's face was drenched in sweat and his legs were throbbing from the pain but he was constantly doing the sit ups.
"Bhaiya, ignore mat kariye na please." He pleaded.
But Advait ignored him royally.
Aditya and Arush were sitting on the chairs near the dining table waiting for the food to be prepared and enjoying the drama unfolding in front of them.
"Sorry bhaiya, ab se kabhi jhooth nahi bolunga promise." He again pleaded, he was panting and struggling to continue the sit ups.
Advait again didn't even glance at him and continued doing his work.
Aditya let out a snicker at that earning himself a glare from Abhishek and Advait.
"Teri wajah se bhaiya mujhse baat nahi kar rahe hain aur tujhe hasi aa rahi hai." Abhishek said through gritted teeth while doing the sit ups.
"Maine aap se kaha tha jhooth bolne ko?" Aditya retorted.
Abhishek looked away at that and again looked at Advait with pleading and hopeful eyes to get his forgiveness.
"Bhaiya, please per bohot dukh rahe hain maaf kar dijiye." He begged with teary eyes.
"Then stop doing this drama. I didn't ask you to do that." Advait snapped.
Abhishek stopped and stood straight smiling a little bit as Advait started talking to him.
"Mujhe koi baat nahi karni Abhi jaa yahan se." He said turning away.
Tears started forming in his eyes at the harshness of his words.
"Bhaiya meri galti thi bhai ne mujhe bachane ke liye jhooth bola aap mujhe punish kar lijiye par bhai se baat kar lijiye please." Aditya said after looking at Abhishek's teary face.
"Tujhe bachane ke liye jhooth bola kyun mai kha jata tujhe? Bohot bada ho gaya hai ye." He rebuked.
"Ab kyun neeche dekh raha hai jhooth bolte huye to aankhon me bilkul sharam nahi thi." He said looking at his bowed head.
"Sorry." He whispered as tears started flowing down from his eyes.
"Bas jara sa kuch bol do to inka rona shuru ho jata hai." Advait said after looking away.
Abhishek rubbed his eyes to stopped the tears.
"Stop crying." Advait ordered with gentle yet firm voice.
He was just like a coconut for his brothers, hard from outside but a very big softie from inside and the sight of his brothers in tears made his anger melted away in a second.
Abhishek stopped crying and only a few sniffles could be heard from him.
Advait gripped his chin and made him look up in his eyes, "This is the last warning for you Abhishek Advait Malhotra, if you ever lie to me again or hide something from me... you won't like the consequences." He warned dangerously making Abhishek gulped down slowly.
"Clear?" He asked in an authoritative tone.
"Crystal." Abhishek mumbled looking at him.
Advait softly wiped off his tears and hugged him to his chest, Aditya and Arush also jumped up at him and joined the hug. He let them stay in his embrace for a longer moment savoring the warmth of having his brothers in his arms.