Chapter 56
Arush was crying terribly, his small body was shaking with every sob.
Advait was gently rocking him back and forth but his crying only grew louder.
He was choking on his own tears, fat tears were constantly streaming down to his cheeks making his vision blurred.
His face was all red and swollen, the imprint of the slap was clearly visible on his cheek.
Advait's heart was breaking seeing his little kid in such distress.
"Please stop crying baccha... bhaiya ke liye shaant ho jao please." Advait pleaded his own voice wavering slightly.
Arush shook his head coughing badly, "Ad-Adi bhai hit m-me." He choked.
Advait's own eyes started getting mist seeing him in pain, "Mai Adi bhai ko bohot daantunga par pehle aap rona band karo please baccha... bhaiya ki jaan jaa rahi hai apni jaan ko aise dekh kar." He requested rubbing his back.
Arush hugged him burying his face in his neck, Advait continued rocking him to calm him down. He strolled in the room embracing him in his arms until his crying got stopped and only the sounds of sniffling could be heard.
Advait carefully sat down on the bed taking him on his lap, he was glued to him wrapping his legs around his stomach and hands around his neck. Advait gently adjusted him on his lap and looked at his sleeping figure, he brushed off the tears from his puffy cheeks before kissing the top of his head.
He stared at his small form and a small smile came up to his lips remembering the days when his little monkey used to keep him on his toes.
It was 10 in the night, the pure innocent giggling could be heard from the bathroom.
The little Arush was sitting curled up inside the bucket and was splashing the water, his doe eyes were filled with mischief and curiosity, his body was shaking with the giggles.
He was enjoying the best phase of everyone's life. ..childhood.
Advait was searching for him in the whole mansion in panic, Arush didn't want to sleep so Advait thought he must be hiding himself somewhere in the house.
Finally he entered his own room where Aditya and Abhishek were sleeping peacefully cuddling to each other.
He checked the room but Arush was not even there so he turned on his heels and about to left the room when the faint sounds of giggling reached to his ears.
He was quick to recognize the voice, the door of the bathroom was already half opened. Advait pushed opened the door and there Arush was curled up inside the bucket, he was enjoying his own company so much that he didn't notice Advait approaching him.
Advait stood towering over him that's when Arush snapped up his head. He blinked innocently looking at his elder brother but Advait glared him down making him pout.
Advait took a hold of his T-shirt from the back and pulled him up by his one hand as if he was a dumping bag. He dumped him outside the bucket and gently tucked at his ear.
"Mana kiya tha na maine pani me khelne se." Advait chided him gently.
Arush's eyes teared up at the gentle rebuke, Advait immediately left his ear.
"Bimar pad jaoge islie mana karta hoon baat kyun nahi maante aap meri... itni der se poore ghar me dundh raha hoon." Advait said softly cupping his cheeks.
Arush sniffled, "Solly." He said covering up his ears.
Advait crouched down and removed the wet clothes from his body. He wrapped him in a baby towel and picked him up to the room, making him stand on the bed.
He went to took out his PJs and a diaper, Arush needed diaper in the night. He oftentimes had a little accident in his sleep.
"Bhai utho... khelenge." Advait looked behind and see Arush was sitting on Aditya who was sleeping.
He quickly made his way to his side and pulled him up from there, "Aru, bhai so rahe hain na unhe pareshan mat karo." Advait said.
"Alu ko khelna hai." Arush replied in a babyish voice.
Advait sighed and looked at the wall clock, "Ye khelne ka time nahi hai Aru, sone ka time hai... chalo aao idhar."
Arush shook his head, "Khelna hai." He whined.
"Why are you being a stubborn brat, Aru?" Advait asked pointing him a look.
Arush puffed out his cheeks, "Alu no blat... alu good boy." He said offended.
"Good boys listens to bhaiya, come here." Advait said.
Arush shook his head left to right, he was in the mischievous mood.
"Aru." Advait said firmly and Arush shuffled towards him with a pout but a mischievous glint was there in his eyes. Advait stepped aside to pick up his clothes and he sneaked down from under his arm giggling loudly.
"Bhaiya pakdo mujhe." He ran away from the room laughing and giggling.
"Aru." Advait shouted and started running after him.
"Aru bhaago mat." Advait said from behind.
"Mujhe pakad kal dikhao." Arush giggled, he was running naked in the hallways. His feets were making a series of little taps, his innocent laughing was echoing in the house. He covered every corner of the house and Advait was panting while running behind him.
"Aru bas bohot ho gaya ab idhar aao." Advait said sternly still running behind him to catch him but the little boy was so fast.
Arush was about to headed to the stairs when Advait caught the hold of his arm pulling him back.
"Stairs par bhaagna allow hai aapko?" Advait asked strictly gripping his both hands in his one hand. His chest was heaving up and down from the running.
Arush cutely narrowed his eyes at him, "Mele sath khelo." He replied.
"Mai kya puch raha hoon, Arush?" Advait repeated firmly.
Arush looked down sadly sensing his anger.
"Raat ko timeout me khada hona hai aapko?" He threatened.
Arush vigorously shook his head mumbling, "Solly."
Advait rubbed his forehead and guided him to the room. He locked the room from inside not having the energy to run an another round of the house.
He made him sit down on the bed and spread the baby powder on his body, he picked up the diaper but Arush quickly backed away from him.
"No diapel... Alu big boy." He said shaking his finger.
"Even big boys wear it too, now come here." Advait said gesturing him to come closer.
"Bhaiya noooo please no diapel." Arush whined stomping his feet.
Arush sneezed lightly, he looked at Advait while rubbing his nose with the back of his hand.
"Dekho sardi ho gayi na idhar aao kapde pehno jaldi." Advait concerned.
He didn't listen, Advait pulled him closer by grasping his arm and made him wear the diaper ignoring his protest.
He ducked down the T-shirt from his head and smoothed it down after packing him in the pajamas. Arush was sulking all the time.
"Now sleep, bohot late ho gaya hai betu." Advait said making him lie down.
But he again sat up straight, "Mele sath khelo thodi del." He requested.
"Sone ka time hai ye kal khelenge promise." Advait coaxed him but he wasn't ready to understand.
"Please bhaiya." He requested blinking his eyes innocently.
Advait nearly gave up on his demand... nearly.
"No baby, we'll play tomorrow. Sleep for now." Advait said but Arush was stubborn.
"Abhi khelunga... mai bhaag la hu mujhe pakdo." He said and jumped off the bed but Advait caught him before he could run away from there.
"Can't you understand at once?" He asked narrowing his eyes to scare him but whom he was kidding, Arush showed him his toothy grin at return. His front two teeths were not there, Advait internally chuckled at the sight but remained firm.
"Bohot naughty ho gaye ho pitai ki jarurat hai aapko." Advait said showing his hand to him.
"Aap ni maloge." He said and covered his mouth to hide his giggling.
Advait held his own head in his hands, he was exhausted working all day in the office and needed a good sleep but here this little monkey was not ready to let him take a sigh of relief.
He took a deep breath and changed his approach, "Enough Aru, Either you're going to sleep now or I'll put you in the corner for the whole night." He threatened with the scary tone.
Arush immediately hopped up on the bed and laid down covering himself in the duvet from head to toe. Advait thanked all the gods in heaven but the relief was only for a few seconds. Arush rolled towards Aditya from under the covers without getting up thinking Advait couldn't see him.
He whispered in Aditya's ear, "Bhai utho na..." He whined.
Advait was seeing all of this, he removed the duvet from his body, Arush's eyes widened like a fish, he quickly closed his eyes to try to fool him but Advait gripped his ear lightly and made him stand.
"Jyada masti aa rahi hai?" Advait scolded.
Arush shook his head cutely.
Advait took him to the corner and made him stand there.
Arush pouted.
"Hold your ears." Advait commanded.
Arush quickly covered his ears staring up at him.
"I told you to hold them not to cover them." Advait said and crouched down, he made him hold his earlobes muttering, "Aise..."
Arush made a cute pout to melt him, Advait sighed and turned him around to face the wall.
"Stand like this." He said and went to sat down on the chair.
Arush was staring at his feet while mumbling things under his breath.
"Chup khade raho Aru, bohot energy hai na saari energy nikal jayegi." He said.
His eyes landed on the wall clock in every minute, his foot was tapping on the floor continuously. He decided to made him stand there for five minutes but his heart couldn't, he stood up and turned him around it was only three minutes of him standing in the corner.
Advait turned him around and Arush stared up at him with a grin as he already knew, Advait wouldn't make him stand there for longer.
"Solly..." Arush giggled.
Advait tried to glared at him but failed, Arush made grabby hands at him and Advait picked him up taking him to the bed.
"Nini aayi..." Arush mumbled.
Advait sighed in relief, "Finally... chalo mera Aru ab soyega.
" He laid down on the bed and made him laid down on him.
Arush clinged to him like a koala resting his face on his chest and wrapping his legs around his stomach.
Advait was gently patting his back to make him sleep.
Soon they both dozed off in sleep embracing in the warmth of each other.
Arush shifted in his sleep dragging Advait out of his thoughts.
He brushed down his hair and kissed his head a couple of times, then gently settled him on the bed and tucked him in the blanket.
He sat there for a few minutes caressing his hair and cheeks.
Shreya was seeing all this while standing at the door, her heart fluttered watching his tenderness for his brothers.
Advait noticed her and stood up after glancing at Arush for a last time. He went out of the room and kept the door opened slightly.
He and Shreya looked in each other's eyes but didn't say anything as if reading each other's pain silently.
"Aru theek hai?" She asked.
He nodded, "Hmm."
"Aur aap?" She further asked.
He looked in her eyes and smiled slightly, "Mai bhi theek hoon."
Lie
And Shreya caught it the moment words slipped out of his mouth.
"Let me drop you home." He said and started walking. Shreya followed him downstairs.
Abhishek and Aditya were already sitting there, still in anger. Their postures were stiff and heat was radiating from their bodies. The tension in their muscles could be clearly noticed.
Advait briefly glanced at them, they both stood up. "Kahan hai wo?" Abhishek asked.
"Mere room me so raha hai." Advait replied.
Abhishek started walking he was about to headed towards Advait's room when his voice stopped him.
"Abhi, don't you dare say anything to him." He warned.
"I need to talk to him." He replied, turning back at him.
"Tujhe usse kuch bhi kehne ki jarurat nahi hai... I'll handle him." Advait said.
"Like you always do." Aditya scoffed at him, "By tolerating his misbehavior."
Advait took a few steps towards him but Aditya didn't back off, he continued glaring at him. Abhishek and Shreya exchanged a nervous glance anticipating the worst.
But to their surprise, Advait cupped his face between his own hands tenderly. Aditya's eyes softened slightly at the gentle touch.
"I'll talk to you once I'll be back." Advait said in a barely audible voice, he could clearly see the concern and hurt behind the anger. His brothers were concerned for him, they were carrying his hurt.
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