Chapter 59
It was a morning, the sun was yet to arise. The roads were dark but illuminating with the soft, calm glow of the before sunrise. A few people were jogging on the road while few were doing yoga in the parks.
Advait Malhotra was running on the track, his posture was stiff.
His breathing was sharp but he looked composed.
His legs were moving with practised ease, the movements were not forced but behind him a sulking boy was running, panting like a puppy.
He seemed drained out of his energy and was practically dragging his body to keep up his pace.
"Bhaiya, Please Stop." Abhishek panted from behind him.
"Keep running. Speed up." Advait commanded slightly slowing down to match his tired puppy's pace.
Abhishek stopped, his hands were resting on his waist and he was panting to breathe. Advait stopped and gave him a look, he didn't say anything just waited for the boy to calm down.
"What's with that stamina of yours ha?" He lightly flicked his forehead.
"Nahi ho raha ab mujhse bhaiya." He replied tiredly.
Advait passed him a concerned look before masking his emotions. He knew the boy just needed some push, "Start running." He ordered.
Abhishek pulled up his most innocent puppy face, "Bhaiya please ab nahi hoga." He whined.
It didn't even take Advait one whole minute to melt down, he looked over at the disheveled form of the young boy and sighed internally.
"Fine but no more excuses from tomorrow." He warned firmly.
Abhishek's face lit up with a tired smile, "Promise." He blinked promisingly.
They both headed back home, Advait was walking while Abhishek was leaning down on his shoulder putting all the weight on him. Advait didn't say anything and just kept dragging the sack of potatoes with himself.
They reached the living room, Advait checked the wall clock. It was only 5:30 in the morning, so he guided Abhishek to his room.
"Freshen up and sleep for some time." He told him.
He nodded lazily and dragged himself to the bathroom. Advait also went to his own room to freshen up for the day ahead. It was Sunday so there was no hurry in the morning routine. After taking a shower and getting ready in his casuals, he made his way to Abhishek's room again.
He entered the room and the tired boy was already fast asleep with his mouth open. His soft snores were the only sound in the room, his hair was messy. Advait's lips curled up into a smile looking at his funny sleeping form.
He bring out the massaging oil from the drawer and settled down beside his legs on the bed.
He gently lifted his left leg placing it on his lap and started massaging his legs with the oil.
His movements were quiet but spoke volumes.
He gently moved his palms on his legs to ease out the soreness from them.
Abhishek's face shifted into relaxation, the lines on his forehead smoothed down slowly and he looked calm in his sleep.
Advait worked on his legs for a good twenty minutes before gently tucking him back in the blanket.
He headed to the bathroom to wash his hands, he returned in the room and settled down on the bed beside Abhishek.
His heart felt at peace looking at his serene face.
He was looking adorably innocent while sleeping, his hair was covering his forehead.
Advait gently smoothed back his hair caressing them, his eyes were holding an undeniable love for his brother when a faint memory of his childhood flashed back in front of his eyes.
Advait was eight years old, he was leaning down on his father's shoulder. His face was scrunched up in a pout and Angad was rubbing his back to cheer him up but his face remained the same.
When Priya entered the room, she looked at her little son. "Why is my baby sulking?" She asked, her voice was sweet and smooth.
"Mumma." Advait mumbled looking up from his father's embrace.
"Haan mera beta?" Her voice was filled with warmth and motherly love.
Advait made grabby hands towards her and she immediately took him from Angad's embrace.
He hugged her, his small hands were snaking around her neck.
She rocked him gently in her arms, "Kya hua beta daddy ne daanta aapko?" She asked, caressing the back of his head.
Angad looked at her with an offended face, "Main kyun daantunga apne pyare bete ko, ye department to aapka hai." He teased her playfully poking her nose.
She glared at him making him laugh loudly.
"Chup rahiye aap, mera baccha yahan itna udaas hai aur aapko hasi aa rahi hai." She said intentionally to get little Advait's attention who was clinging to his mother like a baby monkey.
"Batao kya hua kyun upset hai mera beta?" She asked.
"Daddy mujhe park le kar gaye the." He replied sadly.
Priya and Angad looked at each other with a confused face because they didn't understand what their son was upset about.
"Aapko park jana accha nahi laga?" Angad asked cautiously.
Advait shook his head in his mother's neck, "Kyun baccha park me to bohot saare bacche hote hain itne saare jhoole hote hain aapko wahan khelne me maja nahi aaya?" His mother asked, brushing back his messy hair.
Advait shook his face ear to ear with a small pout on his face, "Sab log apne bhai behen ke sath khel rahe the aur mai akela tha mere sath kisi ne nahi khela." He complained in a small voice.
Angad and Priya sighed in relief after knowing the issue behind their son's sulking face.
"Bas itni si baat chalo mumma aapke sath khelengi." Priya said with a bright smile to cheer him up.
"No. Mujhe bhi meri behen ya bhai chahiye." He said.
Priya fondly looked at her son but Angad put on a teasing smile, "Bas itni si baat, aap bas kuch months wait karo phir aapko bhai ya behen mil jayega." He said teasingly looking at his wife.
Priya widened her eyes, her cheeks flushed red, "Angad baccha hai wo kya baatein kar rahe hain aap uske saamne." She said while trying to hide her smile.
"Arey ab humare bete ne humse kuch maanga hai hume uski wish to puri karni chahiye na." He replied putting up a serious face.
Priya lightly swatted his chest making him shut his mouth. That's when a voice echoed in the hall and Advait hurriedly jumped out of his mother's embrace.
"Maasi!!" His little feet ran up to a woman who was standing in front of him with open arms.
He crashed in her arms and she happily picked him up twirling him around with a wide smile on her face.
"Maasi ki jaan." The woman kissed his cheek with pure love.
"Swati, tumne to kaha tha tum 2 din baad aane wali ho?" Priya asked while coming to her. They shared a deep hug, they were not only best friends but always like sisters to each other.
Swati briefly glanced at Angad who immediately averted his eyes, his face was twisted with a scowl as if her only presence was disgusting. Angad walked away from there with decisive steps.
Swati settled down on the couch with the little Advait in his arms. He was curled up in her lap and she was hugging him like a mother hugged his son. Priya went to the kitchen to make coffee for Swati.
She returned with a tray of two steaming cups and placed it gently on the coffee table. She glanced at Advait who was happily playing in Swati's lap, he was giggling loudly as she was peppering his face with the kisses.
"Abhi tak to bohot upset the ab maasi ko dekhte hi mood change ho gaya." She said playfully narrowing his eyes.
Swati looked up at that, "Upset tha kyun?" She asked and looked down at Advait who again started pouting remembering his previous mood.
"Kya hua maasi ki jaan ko?" She asked lovingly.
"Isey bhai-behen chahiye." Priya said with a roll of eyes.
Swati looked between both of them before bursting into a laughter, "Bas itni si baat aapke paas bohot jaldi bhai ya behen hoga." She said.
Priya looked at her furrowing her brows but still smiling.
"Aapki maasi aapko bhai ya behen dengi par aapko promise karna padega ki aap usey bohot saara pyar karoge." She said slightly tickling his sides.
He giggled.
"Mai usko bohot saara pyar karunga aur apne toys bhi dunga. Humesha usko apne paas rakhunga." He replied, his little voice was filled with sincerity and love for his unborn sibling.
Swati patted his cheeks, her eyes were shining with pure love for the little Advait.
Priya raised her brow at Swati silently asking her. Swati's lip curved up in a smile, "Me and Vikrant. We're getting married next week." She said with a smile that didn't reach to her eyes.
Priya was too happy for her friend to notice that, she pulled her into a tight hug.
"Finally my best friend is getting married. I'm so excited." She squealed in excitement and Swati's smile stayed glued to her face without any true feeling.
Advait jerked out of the memory, the two person he had loved the most betrayed him to no repair. His jaw clenched at the horrible memory, the buried pain came up on the surface crumbling his heart. Abhishek slightly stirred in his sleep taking him out of the nightmare.
Advait looked down at his little brother, his expression swiftly softened at the sight of his innocent face. He leaned down to press a soft kiss to his forehead and caressed his hair mumbling, "Mera beta."
~________________________________________~
Kalyani and Amrinder were sitting in the living room chattering with each other. The atmosphere of the house was unusually calm as the little hurricanes were yet to wake up. Advait was in his room working on some files.
Aditya stepped down the stairs sluggishly while stretching his arms lazily. He just woke up from his sleep and felt thirsty and the jug in his room was empty so he made his way to the kitchen to get the water.
His gaze went to Amrinder and Kalyani who were settled on the couch, "Subah subah inka chehra dekh liya poora din bekar jayega." He mumbled under his breath looking at Kalyani.
"Good morning dadu." He wished him.
"Good morning beta." He wished back with a smile.
Kalyani scoffed and Aditya mirrored her reaction and headed to the kitchen.
"Good morning kaka." He said while opening the fridge to took out the water bottle.
Kaka who was preparing tea looked over his shoulder, a small smile formed on his lips looking at Aditya, "Good morning, Adi." He replied warmly.
"Kuch chahiye tha beta?" He further asked.
"Just some water." He replied before gulping down a big sip from the bottle.
Kaka nodded and settled the two steaming cups in the tray. He was about to leave from there when Aditya stopped him.
"Ye coffee kiske liye hai kaka?" He asked.
"Coffee nahi chai hai beta tumhare dadu-dadi ke liye." He replied.
Aditya thought for a moment before taking the tray from his hands, "Aap kyun pareshan ho rahe hain mai de deta hoon." He said.
"Arey koi baat nahi beta laao mai de aaunga." Kaka said smiling at the kid's gesture.
"It's okay kaka... aur haan yaad aaya aapko bhaiya bula rahe the." He said with an innocent face.
Kaka nodded, "Theek hain mai jaata hoon." He replied and Aditya looked at his retreating figure with a mischievous smile.
He placed the tray on the counter and looked in the kitchen for something.
His eyes sparkled when his gaze landed on a container labelled 'salt'.
He jumped up on the slab and picked down the container adding a spoonful of salt in a cup of the hot tea.
Then carefully placed back the salt container on its place.
He emerged in the living room with the tray and placed it on the table in front of them. Amrinder smiled and Kalyani suspiciously raised her brow at the sudden change in a little brat.
Aditya put up an innocent smile on his face and handed the cups to both of them making sure to give Kalyani the salted tea. She took the cup from his hand still in suspicion, he didn't wait for them to drink the tea and hurried upstairs. Both of them shared a confused glance with each other.
Kalyani sipped on her tea and immediately spit it out, her face scrunched up in a scowl. The distasteful taste lingered on her tongue and she choked on it. Amrinder rubbed her back, "Kya hua?" He asked unaware.
Aditya laughed looking at the scene unfolding in front of him from the upstairs hiding behind a pillar. He had to pressed his hands on his mouth to stop himself from laughing loudly. But his laugh vanished hearing a voice from behind him.