Chapter 50
Abhishek was crying hysterically, his face was buried in the pillow, his body was shaking from uncontrollable sobbing.
He was blaming himself for hurting Advait.
But a part of him was upset with Advait because he went to tell him the truth but he didn't listen to him.
His eyes were burning from all the emotions, the pain in his legs was terrible but not worse than the pain in his heart.
He was angry because he didn't even comfort him after the punishment.
Aditya and Arush sneakily entered the room, their heart broke looking at Abhishek in this state. Aditya put his hand on his shoulder making him flinched.
Abhishek looked up from the pillow, his eyes were watery and swollen. But he wiped off the tears as soon as he saw them and again buried his face in the pillow.
"Chup ho jao, bhai." Aditya rubbed his back.
"Jao tum dono yahan se." He said in muffled voice without looking up from the pillow.
"Bhai, kya hua aapko?" Arush asked, his own eyes were teary.
"Kuch nahi hua, maine kaha na jao yahan se." He snapped at them still burying his head.
Arush quickly hopped on the bed and snuggled to his side making space for himself under his arms and wrapped his little arm on his back. Abhishek felt overwhelmed with the little gesture as he needed comfort and Arush's small hug relaxed him a little bit.
He finally looked up wiping away his tears and hugged Arush. Aditya also joined the hug and continued rubbing his back. Aditya was not good at showing emotions so he silently comforted him.
Arush broke the hug and wiped off his tears with his little fingers. He leaned and kissed his eyes making him chuckled softly.
"Mat ro aap please." He mumbled.
"Nahi ro raha mai, bandar." Abhishek replied poking his nose.
He looked at Aditya who was staring at him with raised brows, "Kya hua ghoor kyun raha hai?" Abhishek asked.
"Video me aisa kya tha jo bhaiya ne aapki band baja di?" He asked with curiosity.
Abhishek glared at him, "Jaa kar bhaiya se puch le wo acche se bata denge." He said irritatingly.
He looked away sheepishly before saying, "Koi baat nahi itna bhi koi important nahi hai aapka jab mann ho tab bata dena."
"Mai bhaiya se baat nahi karunga unhone aapko maara." Arush mumbled.
Abhishek raised his brow amusingly, "Accha ji tu unse baat nahi karega?"
Arush shooked his head left to right two times. Abhishek rolled his eyes at his dramatic remark.
Aditya also hopped down on the bed but unintentionally touched Abhishek's legs while jumping on the bed and he let out a loud scream.
Aditya and Arush both dramatically backed off placing their hands on the chests.
"Kya hua?" Aditya asked horrified.
Abhishek whacked the back of his head very hard, "Dekh kar nahi chadh sakta tha idiot." He hissed in pain.
They both looked down at his legs as his trouser was already folded up and their eyes widened after noticing the long faint purple lines on his calves.
"Sorry mujhe nahi pata tha, aapko lagi to nahi?" Aditya asked apologetically.
"Nahi, bohot maja aaya andhon ki tarah chalna band kar de." Abhishek said angrily.
He pouted, "Meri kya galti mujhe kya pata tha bhaiya ne aapki acche se service ki huyi hai." He teased.
Abhishek gritted his teeth and throw the pillow in his direction but he dodged it off and the pillow landed on the Amrinder who was entering the room.
Their eyes widened in horror, Amrinder composed himself and looked at three of them one by one. They were expecting the scolding but he smiled making them sighed in relief.
"Sorry dadu, wo galti se aapko lag gayi." Abhishek apologized.
"It's okay bhai, thoda bohot to ye deserve karte hai bitc-dadi ke husband hone ke liye." Aditya whispered winking at Abhishek making Arush giggled.
"Shut up." Abhishek whispered through gritted teeth.
"Please sit." Aditya said to Amrinder giving him a tight lipped smile.
"Tum theek ho beta?" Amrinder asked while sitting down on the chair in the room.
Abhishek slightly nodded smiling at him and Aditya rolled his eyes at the formality.
Amrinder cleared his throat, "Sulekha ki baaton ka bura mat manna beta uski bachpan se hi aisi aadat hai, apni maa ki baaton me aa kar kuch bhi karti hai. Maine humesha se bohot koshish ki usey sahi aur galat me farak samjhane ki par..." He started to tell when Aditya cutted him off in between.
"Don't mind dadu, but your both children are terrible." Aditya shrugged.
Amrinder looked down feeling embarrassed because Aditya was not wrong.
"Adi, thodi der muh band karke nahi baith sakta apna." Abhishek said in a low voice.
He rolled his eyes, "Agar muh band karke hi baithna hai to mai apne room me jaa kar baithta hoon." He left the room.
Arush clunged to Abhishek's side snaking his arm with his.
"Koi baat nahi wo kuch galat nahi keh raha tha." Amrinder said getting up from the chair.
Abhishek didn't say anything as he also knew Aditya just said the fact.
Amrinder was about to left when his gaze landed on marks on the Abhishek's legs. He gasped and stepped forward, the concern was visible on his face.
He hesitated before saying, "Mai dawai laga doon?"
Abhishek softly smiled at the gesture shaking off his head in denial, "It's okay, bhaiya laga denge." He said because he was confident Advait would definitely come to pamper him.
Amrinder nodded and left the room, Abhishek looked down at Arush who had slept clinging to him.
"Ye mujhe comfort dene aaya tha ya khud lene aaya tha." Abhishek mumbled looking at his peacefully sleeping form. He also laid down beside him cuddling to him.
Abhishek had barely slept for twenty minutes when his sleep broke because of the cold sensation on his skin. He lazily opened his eyes and see Advait was sitting just beside his legs applying ointment on his bruises with the utmost care.
He tried to sat up mumbling, "Bhaiya."
"Shh leta reh." His voice was heavy.
He continued applying the cream with gentle hands, he unintentionally pressed his finger on the bruise making Abhishek hissed in pain.
Advait flinched and looked up at him, his eyes twitched with the guilt noticing his brother's distress.
"Sorry." He apologized feeling guilty.
"Nahi lagi bhaiya." Abhishek murmured sluggishly still in sleep.
Advait focused on treating his wounds and headed to the bathroom to wash his hands. He emerged in the room again and sat down beside him. Abhishek quickly put his head on his lap closing his eyes.
"Mujhe pata tha aap aaoge." Abhishek murmured holding his hand in his.
I looked down at my Abhi who was not angry with me like any other child.
I was feeling so guilty, I shouldn't have slapped him in front of every one but I did.
I did out of hurt, my mind got blank when I looked at him smoking in the video.
I should have made him understand calmly or just gave him the chance to say his side but I. ..
I was hurt, disappointed not from him only, but from myself also. Bua's twisted smirking face was like a slap on my face, on my upbringing and I just lost my calm.
I shouldn't have done that, I should have talked to him first before acting like a reckless jerk.
He didn't even protest and endured my punishment silently and it tugged my heart and now when he must throw tantrums he was just silently sleeping on my lap like I was not the one who behaved so inappropriately with him an hour ago.
I couldn't live without them, they were the reason of my existence otherwise I would have been died a long ago with my mother.
I know sometimes I acted so recklessly without thinking much but I only wanted their good and safety.
I couldn't afford to lose them and because of my fears and insecurities, I overreacted oftentimes.
A lone tear escaped off my eye and fell on Abhi's cheek making him jerked up instantly. He looked up at me and sat up straight, I quickly wiped off the corner of my eyes.
"Aap ro rahe hain?" He asked, his voice was shaky.
I shooked my head, "Nahi baccha." I lied.
He studied my eyes for a few seconds before wrapping his arms around me. He broke into sobs, his body was trembling. I rubbed his back in concern, I hate seeing them like this.
"A-Aap meri wajah se ro rahe hain na I am sorry maine aapko hurt kiya please aap roiye mat mai phir kabhi aisa nahi karunga please aap rona band kar dijiye mujhe bohot guilty feel ho raha hai." He said between hiccupping.
I rubbed his back soothingly and pulled him back just to cup his cheeks, "I am sorry, baccha." I whispered.
He looked at me through tears. I gently rubbed my thumb over his cheek where the finger of my hand was printed. I was really an idiot, "I shouldn't have slapped you in front of every one." I said apologetically.
"Par galti to meri thi na." He mumbled and something twisted inside my heart.
"Tu mujhe kabhi kabhi bohot dara deta hai, Abhi." I was really concerned because of his naive nature, how would he survive in this ruthless world with this innocent and pure heart.
He blinked his eyes confusingly. I kissed the top of his head taking him in my embrace. His arms were wrapped around my waist and his head was resting on my chest, I was stroking his hair.
"Tu gussa nahi hai mujhse?" I asked him after a few minutes silence.
"Thoda sa hoon." He pinched his fingers to show me.
"Aapko pata hai mujhe bohot regret ho raha tha islie mai aapse khud confess karne wala tha." He said and I looked down at him.
"Aapko yaad hai maine aap se kaha tha mujhe aap se baat karni hai?" He asked innocently blinking his eyes at me.
My chest twitched with the instant guilt after the new found information. I tightened my grip around him.
"I should have listened to you." I whispered deep in guilt.
"Ya, you should." He pouted glaring at me.
"Sorry." I said looking down.
"Don't say sorry again and again bhaiya. It was my fault." He said.
He was just making me feel more guilty by blaming himself. He trusted me with all his heart and I didn't even understand him.
"You are not grounded 'kay, I already punished you so harshly which I shouldn't. But just promise me you'll never touch that cancer stick again." I demanded.
"I promise. I'll never. I just got influenced but I regretted it immediately. Sorry." He cleared. I wished I would have given him the chance to speak.
"Tune jo kiya wo galat tha par tujhe apni galti ka ehsaas hua wo badi baat hai lekin mai bewkuf... maine teri baat hi nahi suni aur apne bacche ko aur guilt me daal diya." I poured out my emotions.
"Maaf karde apne bhaiya ko." I said holding my ears.
He jerked them away glaring at me, "Kitni baar kaha hai aapko aise mat kiya karo." He said irritated.
I chuckled softly, "'kay, I am sorry."
He groaned irritatingly, "Stop saying that."
"Theek hai baba nahi bol raha... sorry." I teased.
He cried dramatically snuggling to me more. I relaxed internally finally he was behaving normally.
"Bhaiya?" He said sitting up straight, his face was serious.
I nodded at him gesturing him to say.
"You expected a lot better from me but I..." He said looking down in guilt.
It was enough, I didn't let him feel more guilty when he was already regretting his actions.
"Listen to me baccha." I cupped his cheeks and he looked at me with a hint of hurt in his eyes.
"Don't take my words to your heart, I was very wrong to say that.
Teri umar hai galtiyaan karne ki... I said that thing in the heat of the moment.
I didn't mean it at all. Haan ye sach hai ki mujhe tujhse better expectations hai par iska ye matlab bilkul nahi hai ki tu un expectations ka bhaar le kar ghumein aur ek normal teenager ki tarah behave karna band karde, you have every right in the world to do mistakes and it is my responsibility to guide you but I failed this time.
I could have handled the situation better. " I made him understand.
His eyes sparkled with an unspoken emotion and his lips curved into a small smile.
"Bhaiya se galti ho gayi par bhaiya iss galti ko sudhar denge apne Abhi ko bohot saara pyar karke." I tickled his sides.
He started wiggling in my hold, he was very ticklish unlike me and Adi. I continued tickling him until his giggling filled the entire room. But then the monkey sleeping beside us woke up and passed us his pouty look.
"Meri neend kharab kar di." Aru accused glaring at us.
"Sorry maharaj ji aap din bhar ghar ka saara kaam karke aaram kar rahe the aur maine aapki neend kharab kar di." I said sarcastically.
Abhi laughed out loud poking Aru's chubby cheeks.
Aru whined and snuggled into me making Abhi gasped.
"Tu to keh raha tha mai bhaiya se baat nahi karunga." Abhi said and I looked down at Aru with raised brow.
He sheepishly smiled at me, "Bhai jhooth bol rahe hain maine aisa nahi bola." He said.
"Haww jhootha." Abhi said offended.
Aru stood up on the bed wrapping his arms around my neck, "Mai to apne bhaiya se bohot pyar karta hoon mai unse kyun nahi baat karunga." He said planting a wet kiss on my cheek making me smiled.
Abhi passed him a non-harmful glare, "Baigan." He muttered.
Adi entered laughing at the scene, "Aaiye janaab bas aapki hi kami thi." I greeted him.
He playfully raised his non-existing collars saying, "I know bhaiya, mere bina har mehfil adhuri hoti hai." He said dramatically.
I just rolled my eyes at him and gestured him to come closer. He stepped forward, standing beside me and I pulled him in a hug kissing his cheek but he wriggled out of my embrace. He was not a clingy baby.
"Har time pappiyaan-jhappiyaan karte rehte ho." He scrunched up his nose while wiping off the kiss.
I lightly whacked his head, "Maaro tab bhi dikkat aur pyar karo tab bhi dikkat." I playfully narrowed my eyes.
He smiled sheepishly when Abhi spoke up, "Tum dono jao yahan se mujhe sona hai." His words directed to Adi and Aru.
"Sona aapko hai to aap jao na." Adi replied.
"For your kind information, this is my room." Abhi retorted.
"Ab apne bhaiyon ke saath bhi mera tera karenge aap." He asked innocently blinking his eyes.
I sighed tiredly at their banter and said, "Adi, Aru bahar jaa kar khelo bhai ko sona hai na."
They both pouted but obeyed and left the room. I was also about to got up when Abhi laid down placing his head on my lap.
"Bhaiya sula do, bohot neend aa rahi hai." He mumbled already drifting in sleep.
I started waving my fingers in his hair and his muscles relaxed, the tension in his body slowly eased up and finally he drifted into a deep slumber.
I looked down at his innocent face and a soft smile appeared on my lips.
I gently placed his head on the pillow and covered him with the duvet.
I sat there caressing his hair for a few minutes and then stood up pecking his forehead softly.
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