Chapter 65
Advait was in his room sitting on the couch, he was still in his formal suit.
His gaze was fixed on something in front of him as his mind was swirling around different thoughts.
His eyes moved to his wife when she entered the room making jingling sounds of her anklets.
A smile crept up on his face looking at her serene face, she looked at him sensing his eyes on herself and raised her brow.
He didn't get up from his place and stretched his hand out in front of her. She looked at him and then at his hand before placing her hand over his but the next moment she found herself on his lap, he had pulled her on his lap in a swift motion making her gasp audibly.
Her hand instinctively palmed his chest to steady herself. He wrapped his arm around her waist keeping her fixed on place. Her face was red with shyness but Advait's face was glinting with a proud smirk as he had this kind of effect on her.
"Kya kar rahe hain aap?" She asked looking down as she was feeling so shy to look into his eyes.
He gently gripped her chin with his thumb and made her look at his face, "Mai kahan kuch kar raha hoon?" He replied in a husky voice.
"To phir mujhe kyun kheecha?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Bas dekhna chahta tha." He leaned forward, his hot breath touched her ear and she sucked in a sharp breath, "Meri biwi meri baahon me kitni khoobsurat lagti hai." He whispered on her neck and she curled her toes at the sensation.
"Please..." She almost said before she could stop herself.
Advait smirked stopping just an inch away from her neck. His hot breath was making her went crazy. He smiled at her words and pulled back.
"Please what, Mrs. Malhotra?" He asked teasingly.
She glared at him as he removed his mouth from her neck but couldn't say anything. He was enjoy teasing her and making her crazy for his touch.
She was about to stood up off his lap when he gripped her waist and pulled her back down on his lap.
"Kya hai?" She glared with a pout.
She bit her lips from inside to stop herself from blushing.
He slipped in his hand in his coat and took out a small box from it, forwarding it towards her. She raised her brow while looking between him and the box.
"What is this?" She asked.
He opened the box with a smile and there were two sparkling rings in the box. One was a simple yet magnificent and the other was a thin ring with a diamond on it. The diamond was sparkling in the lights making it look more enchanting.
She smiled looking at the rings and then looked at Advait.
"Usually rings exchange shaadi se pehle hoti hain but humari shaadi to..." He trailed off with a knowing look and she pressed her lips together giving him a look.
"But it's never late... To abhi engagement kar lete hain." Advait said.
She smiled.
He took her hand and slid the ring into her ring finger making her smiled. He held her hand up and pressed a kiss on the ring while looking into her eyes.
Then, he forwarded the other ring to her and gestured to her. She picked up the ring and slid it into his finger, She mirror his actions and kissed the ring on his finger making him chuckled softly.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
He closed her eyes exhaling softly as if her embrace sooth down something in his heart.
They wrapped in each other's embrace for a good time until Shreya pulled back after kissing his cheek.
But her eyes widened the next second, she witnessed her husband blushing, his cheeks turned red and a dimple on his right cheek showed it's existence.
Her heart fluttered at the sight of his blushed face, the man who always stays cold and stiff like a rock got melted just by a cheek kiss from his wife.
She was looking at him with wide open eyes, He scratched the back of his neck slightly embarrassed as he always kept creating a wall around himself and never allowed anyone to cross the boundaries but now showing emotions like blushing at just the mere touch of a woman making him feel slightly uncomfortable.
He cleared his throat to regain his composure and spoke up, "I want to introduce you as my wife to the world." He said, "I have decided to throw our reception party." He informed.
"Is that fine with you?" He asked for her permission.
Her heart swelled, he could take the decision by himself if he wants but he chose to ask for her opinion. It was just a little thing but it touched her heart, it made her feel valued that her opinions also matters.
She nodded her head.
"Great. Then, We have our reception on day after tomorrow." He announced.
~________________________________________~
The family had their dinner while enjoying and laughing freely after a long time. No one was there to passed a judging look or a mocking comment. The boys felt the sense of freedom and their hearts were light as if a burden had removed from there.
Now, the boys were settled in Advait's study.
Advait was sitting on his huge chair behind a polished desk.
Abhishek was sitting on a couch placed in the middle of the room, Advait gave him some questions to solve and he was scribbling pen on the paper.
Aditya and Arush were sitting on the adjacent couch doing their holiday homework.
Advait looked up from his file to glance at Abhishek who was solving only three sums for more than forty minutes.
Advait sighed in himself looking at the boy who was scribbling his pen, burying his head in the notebook.
"It's been forty minutes, Abhi. I just gave you three Accounting problems to solve." Advait spoke up.
Abhishek looked up with a flickered of hesitation in his eyes, "It's nearly done, bhaiya." He said.
"Give me your notebook." Advait motioned for him to come.
Abhishek, "Just five more minutes." He requested weakly.
"I ask you to do something." Advait said, his tone took a firm edge.
Abhishek reluctantly got up from his place and stepped forward to Advait's desk. He handed the notebook to him and waited for the rebuke as he knew his answers were not correct.
Advait checked the notebook, first answer was half done. Second one was fully done but the answer was not correct and the third was not even touched.
Advait looked up from his notebook and threw a sharp look at the boy who was already accepted his fate and waited for the scoldings.
"What is this?" His voice was low, controlled.
Silence.
Aditya and Arush turned their heads to see their elder brother getting scolded.
"Ho gaya dono ka homework?" Advait asked when he noticed their curious gazes.
They both quickly shook their heads before digging their heads in their notebooks.
"Apni notebooks se aankhein uthni nahi chahiye dono ki." He warned sternly.
He diverted his attention on Abhishek, "Exams kab se hain?" He asked.
"Next week." Abhishek whispered.
"Loud and proper answer." Advait banged the desk loudly.
He flinched, "Next week se hai, bhaiya." He said, this time in an audible voice.
"Next week se exams hai aur ye preparation hai tumhari?" Advait raised the notebook in front of his face.
Abhishek bowed his head in shame.
"Kitni baar pucha hai koi problem hai Accounts me to mujhe batao...Mai phir se puch raha hoon Abhi koi problem hai kyun nahi samajh aa raha?" He asked, his voice was still firm but with a blend of care.
"I just don't like the subject, bhaiya." He muttered.
Advait sharply whacked his shoulder with the notebook, "Is this your excuse?" He raised his voice.
"Agar koi doubt hai to pucho clear karo, tujhe subject pasand nahi hai iska matlab ye nahi hai ki usey padhna band kar dega." He scolded harshly, "Mai tujhe subject me top karne ke liye nahi bol raha but atleast passing marks to lekar aa. Iss preparation se to paas bhi nahi hoga."
"Sorry." Abhishek whispered.
"I don't want your sorry. I want results." He snapped.
Abhishek looked down without replying, his shoulders were slumped with guilt.
Advait noticed his slumped posture and thought that he pushed him over the line.
He sighed and calmed himself down. He didn't want to pressurise his kid just wanted him to give his best which Abhishek was clearly not doing.
"Baaki subjects me koi problem?" He gently asked.
Abhishek shook his head without looking up, "Baaki sab ki poori preparation hai." He answered.
Advait sighed in relief.
He patted his shoulder, "Okay don't stress yourself. Ho jayega ye bhi." He said and Abhishek looked up at him with a less tensed face.
"Go and take Shreya's help and I want your full concentration. We can't afford to slack off." His tone was firm but not unkind making Abhishek feel at ease.
"I'll take your test tomorrow again. Go." He said and Abhishek left with a nod.
His eyes landed on the two troublemakers who were peeking up from the corners of their eyes. He shook his head tiredly at their little act.
~________________________________________~
The next day started with a lot of chaos, Arush had his breakfast with a lot of tantrums testing Advait's patience on each bite.
Aditya and Abhishek were arguing over something stupid increasing Advait's flaring temperature.
Shreya calmly handled the situation before the boys get thrashed by their eldest brother.
After enduring all the chaos on the breakfast table, Advait dropped Shreya to her college.
But he froze on his place when he returned back home.
The pillows were scattered all over the hall, the uncovered cushions were thrown on the floor.
Abhishek and Aditya were gripping a remote in their hands, no one was ready to leave the remote.
They were doing back and forth, the head of the device was gripped in Abhishek's fist while the rest of the part was gripped in Aditya's hand tightly.
A pillow landed on Abhishek's head, he turned his head without loosing his grip on the remote.
Arush had thrown the pillow with a mocked glare, he was standing on the couch to match their levels.
"Bhai, remote dedo mai last baar keh raha hoon." Aditya warned.
"Warna kya karega?" Abhishek asked putting up his all the strength in grip.
"Phir se kahunga." He casually replied.
"Aap dono jab tak lad rahe ho tab tak mujhe TV dekhne do." Arush said in a tone that it was just the best solution.
He was again about to throw a pillow on Aditya but stopped mid-air when Advait's voice echoed in the room.
"Enough boys." He raised his voice making them pause mid fight.
Advait took long steps towards them making them shrinked on their places. Arush hopped down of the couch with an innocent face. Abhishek and Aditya looked down but their fingers were still curled around the remote.
Advait glared at them and then at the remote, "Leave it." His voice was sharp.
Both of them leave it in fear at the same time and the remote landed on the floor making a cracked sound.
"Mera cartoon." Arush mumbled making a crying face.
"Ye kya kiya tune?" Abhishek snapped.
"Maine kya kiya aapne kiya... aapne kyun chorda?" Aditya replied in an innocent voice.
"Maine pehle hi chord diya tha tune bhi chorda islie gir gaya." Abhishek said.
"Aapne baad me chorda aapse gira hai." Aditya accused.
"Adi, teri galti hai accept kar le."
"Galti aapki hai."
"Teri hai."
"Phir mai kuch bolunga to aap chid jaoge." Aditya said being annoyed.
"Watch your tone, Adi." Advait's sharp voice cut through the air halting their argument.
They both looked down and Arush hid behind Abhishek.
"Kya ho raha tha ye?" Advait asked.
Silence.
No response.
"Kya ho raha tha ye?" He repeated but his voice was raised this time.
"Mujhe TV dekhna tha bhai remote nahi de rahe the." Aditya said.
"Mai kyun doon mujhe bhi dekhna tha." Abhishek retorted in a snapped tone.
Advait gritted his teeth, he didn't like when someone used this tone in front of him.
"Sharam hai?" He asked looking at Abhishek making him look down on the floor.
No one spoke. Then tension was palpable in the room. Advait's eyes landed on Arush who was trying to hid himself behind Abhishek.
"Come forward." He told him.
Arush meekly stepped forward but the next thing he felt that he was on his tippy toes as Advait gripped his ear between his fingers and tugged it up making his eyes teary.
"Kaun hain ye dono?" He asked him pointing towards Abhishek and Aditya.
Arush looked at him with watery eyes.
"Tumhare kya lagte hain ye dono?" He repeated.
"Bh-Bhai." He sobbed.
"Bade bhai." Advait corrected, "Pillow fekoge inke upar?" He pulled his ear.
Arush shook his head, a lone tear fell down on his cheek but Advait hardened his heart, "Jyada sir par chad gaye ho? Ek thappad me saare manners yaad aa jayenge." He scolded showing him his hand.
Arush meekly nodded and sniffled, his lips were trembling in pain.
"Say sorry to them." He ordered, leaving his poor ear.
Arush rubbed his ear with his palm and turned at Abhishek and Aditya, "Sorry bhai." He held his ears.
Abhishek and Aditya nodded. They were scared as they knew, they were about to receive the same treatment even more harsh.
Arush looked up at Advait, "Bol diya." He said with quivering chin. His cheeks were wet with tears.
"In your room." Advait said in a calm tone and Arush scurried to his room.
Advait straightened up himself and turned his attention to Abhishek and Aditya who were standing with their heads bowed down.
"Exams ki to full preparation ho gayi hogi, is baar to top tu hi karega." Advait said in sarcasm.
"Peeche se." Aditya mumbled under his breath but it was too loud in the silence.
A sharp whack landed on his neck behind his ear making him yelped, "Bohot jyada jubaan chalne lagi hai?" Advait snapped, "Jyada beech me bolne ki aadat ho gayi hai?" His tone was sharp like a whip.
"Bohot time se maar nahi padi hai islie jyada badtameezi seekh gaye ho." He bore his glare on him.
Aditya's word died in his throat, he couldn't even bring himself to apologize.
"Bada bhai hai wo tera badtameezi bardaasht nahi karunga mai." He said referring to Abhishek.
"Aur wo karein to kuch nahi?" Aditya muttered looking at him.
Advait's eyes blazed with anger.
"Kya kiya maine?" Abhishek asked incredulously.
"To maine kya kiya? Aapne remote cheena to maine bhi cheena isme meri kahan galti hai?" He replied raising his voice. His pre teen hormones were on it's peak. He wasn't ready to back off and accept his mistake.
"Jis tone me tu baat kar raha hai na us tone ki galti hai." Advait spoke up.
"Main aise hi baat karta hoon." He said in the heat of the moment without realizing who he was talking to.
"Don't you dare back answer me, Aditya Advait Malhotra." Advait thundered. His eyes darkened with anger.
Aditya came out of his haze and looked up at him with guilty eyes, "I didn't mean it, bhaiya. Sorry." He said, his voice was soft.
"Ab kya sorry. Pehle bakwas karo phir sorry keh do." Abhishek scoffed, he didn't like the tone he took with his bhaiya.
Aditya turned sideways to look at Abhishek, "Maine aapse kaha?"
"Bhaiya se to kaha na." He replied.
"Haan to aap kyun beech me bol rahe hain?" He asked, irritation again crept up in his voice.
Advait rubbed his forehead to calm down his bubbling anger.
"Meri marzi, bolunga." Abhishek said equally irritated.
"Just fuck off." Aditya blurted out.
He stumbled but gripped the armrest of the sofa to steady himself. His face burned with the sting and hot tears rushed in his eyes.
"What did you just say?" Advait growled making him jump on his place.
He whacked his shoulder making him hissed. Abhishek gulped down in fear.
"Itne badtameez ho gaye hain teeno ke teeno mere saamne bhi sharam nahi aa rahi hai koi dar nahi reh gaya hai." He yelled.
The atmosphere was chilling calm in the room, the tension was thin in the air and Advait's sharp voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Tujhe maine kitni baar kaha hai apni language theek karne ke liye? KITNI BAAR KAHA HAI?" He shouted sending a shiver run down in his spine.
Aditya's hands were shivering on his sides, his head was ducked between his shoulders in fear and shame.
"LOOK UP." He commanded.
Aditya meekly looked up in his eyes, his vision was blurred because of unshed tears in his eyes.
"Bol ab kya bola tune Abhi se, mujhse bol." He said, his voice was barely controlled.
Aditya shook his head in fear, "Sorry bhaiya." He swiftly turned to Abhishek, "Sorry, bhai. I'm really sorry. Galti se bol diya." His voice was shaking under Advait's hard scrutiny.
Advait turned to Abhishek, "Fetch your books. Go to study. Find yourself a corner and start solving problems while kneeling." He ordered him in a dangerously calm voice.
Abhishek quickly turned on his heels and disappeared upstairs.
Advait's dark eyes landed on Aditya who was shivering in fear. He wanted to hide himself under the ground, he was hella scared of Advait as he was aware Advait could slide off anything but disrespect.
"Go kneel in the garden." He ordered him sharply.
Aditya passed him a pleading look as he didn't want to be embarrassed in front of the guards.
"Do you want me to drag you out there?" His tone was icy cold.
He shook his head and ran from there to outside in the garden. He looked around in the garden for a place where he couldn't be seen by any of the guard. He kneeled down near a wall in a shaded place. It was a sunny day.
Advait came out after a five minutes with a notebook and a pen in his hand. His eyes swept over the garden before landing on the Aditya.
He stood in front of him glaring him down. Aditya already kneeling felt himself small and vulnerable under his hard glare.
"Get up." Advait said and Aditya internally sighed in relief thinking his punishment has over.
But Advait's next words crushed his hope, "Kneel in the centre." He instructed.
Aditya could see the guards looking at him from the corner of their eyes. He stepped forward with slow and small steps and gently kneeled down on the grass. His eyes were fixed on the grass beneath him. The heat of the sun was directly landed on him and he shifted uncomfortably on his knees.
Advait thrust down a notebook and a pen in his hand, "Write down about your misbehavior until I ask you to stop.
" He said and walked inside leaving him alone kneeling in the scorching heat, his cheek was on fire.
He could have still feel the intensity of the slap and the embarrassment was the cherry on top.
Aditya placed notebook on the grass and leaned down to write, he already started regretting his actions but in a hard way.
~________________________________________~