Chapter 67
Advait was in his room, sitting on the bed.
His back was pressed against the headrest and eyes were closed.
His brows were drawn together in an unsettling frown.
He was feeling nauseous because of his migraine and clearly feeling irritated by his surroundings.
He didn't take the medicine, he never took it until it was completely necessary.
He hated being dependent on some pills and preferred torturing himself over taking medicine.
Shreya entered the room after feeding lunch to the kids. Aditya was still sleeping in his own room. She entered with a plate in her hand and placed it on the bedside table. Advait opened his eyes at the sound and looked at her grumpily.
"Your lunch." She said pointing to the plate.
He opened his mouth to say something but she replied before that, "Abhi aur Aru ne kha liya hai. Adi abhi so raha hai uthega to mai khila dungi." She said while going to the cupboard.
He let out a soft exhale before asking, "You ate?"
She looked over her shoulder, "Aap kha lijiye, mai kha lungi." She replied.
"Come." He said.
She turned towards him, "Mai abhi kaam kar rahi hoon." She said placing her hands on waist.
"Kya kaam kar rahi hain aap?" He asked trying to look what exactly she was doing.
"Apna wardrobe set kar rahi hoon." She replied already turning back to the cupboard.
"Do it later, Shreya. Come here and have your lunch." He said firmly.
"Stop bossing me around, Mr. Malhotra." She said still arranging clothes in the cupboard.
He stood up and picked her up by her waist with his one arm making her gasped loudly, "Advait..
He gently flopped her down on the bed as if her weight was nothing to him.
"What was that?" She glared at him after composing herself.
"Shh... Eat." He said forwarding the plate towards her.
"Kahan jaa rahe hain? Aap to khaiye." She said when he was heading outside.
"I'll eat later." He replied and left the room before she could protest.
He went out of the house, sat in the car and drove off.
He turned the wheel to a bakery shop, it was Aditya's favorite.
He stopped the car in front of the shop and went inside.
He bought all his favorite brownies and cakes, his hands were full when he stepped outside of the bakery.
He really did think he overstepped the line between discipline and abuse and now was preparing himself to pampered his little kid.
He didn't want to make him feel unloved because no matter what Aditya or the other two did, they would always remain his kids.
He drove back to the home already thinking of ways to pamper his little troublemaker.
The pain was still lingering in his head but his mind was occupied with the thoughts of his kid, his Adi.
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Aditya stirred slightly in his sleep, Abhishek was already sitting beside him he wanted to check on him and just came a few minutes ago. Aditya stretched out his body and sluggishly opened his eyes.
The first person he saw was Abhishek who was just sitting beside him, his face was neutral without any detailed expression.
Aditya's mind started working as sleep slowly came out of his senses. He sat up with a little difficulty making a groaning sound escaped his lips.
He leaned down his head on Abhishek's shoulder. Abhishek didn't protest but stay still.
"I'm sorry, bhai. I really didn't mean it. Trust me. It just slipped out of my tongue." He said, his voice was filled with honesty.
Abhishek heard.
"I'm not making excuses, bhai. I said it in...stupidity. I really do respect you. I'm not saying all these things because bhaiya has punished me. I mean it." His usually mischievous voice filled with only sincerity and softness.
"I'm sorry." He finally looked up from his shoulder to look at his face.
"It's okay." Abhishek replied ruffling his hair.
"I already warned you so many times to be careful with your words in front of bhaiya but you never listen to me." He said with disappointment.
Aditya looked away.
"You just didn't disrespect me but also back answered him. Just thank your stars that he didn't know about what you said to dadi." He shook his head with a sigh.
"Stop scaring me, bhai." Aditya whined.
"Fuck off bolne ke liye to 2 ghante dhoop me khada rakha agar wo pata chal gaya to humesha ke liye ghar se nikaal denge." He muttered.
Abhishek lightly flicked his forehead, "Ab band karde bhaiya ko pareshan karna, Adi. Pata hai unki tabiyat kharab ho gayi thi." He said.
"Kya hua?" Aditya asked, his voice alerted.
"Migraine issues." He replied shortly.
"Medicine li unhone?" Aditya asked further.
"Maine unhe bo...
Aditya bolted up and ran to the bathroom in panic just nearly escaping himself from toppling over the carpet. Abhishek followed him inside the bathroom as the door was opened.
Aditya was throwing out in the washbasin while coughing in between. Abhishek rubbed his back in panic, his face was covered in worry and eyes wide in concern and fear.
Aditya's knees buckled as his energy drained over.
He was about to fall down when a pair of arms caught him.
He looked at the person with watery eyes, it was Advait.
His face alarmed in panic, he steadied Aditya and rubbed his back as he vomited in the basin.
Advait turned on the tap when he was done and dabbed Aditya's mouth with water.
He picked him up and took him outside in the room.
He sat down on the bed setting Aditya in his lap.
Abhishek poured a glass of water and handed it to Aditya but he was feeling dizzy to make any movement so Advait took the glass and made him drink a few sips.
He gently rubbed his back in slow circles.
Aditya leaned himself on Advait's chest closing his eyes, "Bhaiya." He mumbled in a low voice.
"Haan baccha." Advait's response was quick, his hand didn't stop caressing his hair.
"Pain." He whispered, his voice was filled with vulnerability.
Advait's heart broke at the painful voice of his kid. His heart was tight with the ache, the guilt took over his body and he started feeling weak from inside, considering himself responsible for Aditya's condition.
"Kahan pain ho raha hai mera baccha?" He asked, forcing out his voice.
"Poori body... dard kar rahi hai bhaiya." He clunged to him like a lifeline.
Advait gritted his teeth cursing himself in mind. He could tolerate anything but seeing his kids in pain.
"Shh... Chup ho jaa meri jaan abhi theek ho jayega. Mai doctor ko call karta hoon wait." He said in a reassuring manner.
Abhishek was constantly rubbing Aditya's back and his eyes were fixed on Advait as he had to be careful with him, having a panic attack in these situations was normal for him.
Advait slipped out his phone from his pocket and called the doctor with trembling hand.
Abhishek stood up to his side and caressed his back, he cupped his cheeks between hands, "Look, he is fine.
He'll be okay. Stop panicking." He said looking straight in his eyes just like he had seen Reyansh to provide the sense of reassurance to him at these times.
Advait inhaled a deep breath trying to calm himself down.
He hated that. He hated feeling weak at the times when his brothers needs him the most. But his own medical conditions never allow him to, he was facing these issues since he has seen his mother hanging off the fan and whenever he sees his brothers in pain the trauma comes back triggering in his mind.
His chest was heaving up and down, Aditya was leaning into him motionlessly but suddenly let out a gagged sound.
Advait was quickly on his feet taking him to the bathroom in his arms but Aditya couldn't control himself and threw out on Advait's shirt.
But Advait was unbothered with it, he gently wiped off the sweat beads forming on his forehead.
Shreya, Kaka and Arush come inside the room with the doctor. Their faces were contorted in concern and eyes were sharp in worry.
Advait emerged in the room with Aditya in his embrace and gently laid him down on the bed, "Advait, kya hua Adi ko?" Shreya asked looking at Aditya's pale face. Advait didn't reply his eyes were fixed on his little brother.
"We were talking and he was normal but suddenly started vomiting." Abhishek spoke up.
Arush hopped up on the bed and placed his little hand over Aditya's head, "Bhai ko fever to nahi hai." He said.
The doctor checked his temperature and it was normal.
Then, he stretched out the skin under his eye to look into his eyes.
His movements were professional and practised.
Finally, he stood up from his place and said in a professional tone, "He has a heat stroke.
Feeling nauseous is one of the symptoms of it. " He informed.
Advait bawled his hands, his chest aching from the guilt. Everyone looked at him but chose to not to say anything.
"Make him drink liquid, his body is dehydrated. I'm prescribing some medicine for his body pain. He'll be fine by tomorrow." He reassured.
Shreya took the prescription from his hand and Kaka accompanied him to the door. Advait's eyes were still fixed on Aditya but Abhishek's prior concern was Advait's health. He made his way out to his study, opened the drawer and came back with the pills in his hand.
He entered the room when Shreya was soothingly rubbing Advait's shoulder, "He'll be fine, Advait." She whispered.
"You need to change." She added.
But Advait didn't blink, the guilt was clawing at his heart.
His chest was tightened with the unnamed ache and suddenly the room started feeling small.
He was feeling suffocated as if the walls of the room were crashing him between them.
Shreya furrowed her brows together looking at his condition, "Advait, relax.
.. Kya ho raha hai?" She asked as she was not aware of his medical condition.
"Bhaiya, kya hua?" Arush asked.
Abhishek barged in the room and forwarded the pills to Advait but he shook his head stubbornly. "Konsi medicines hai ye?" Shreya asked, rubbing the back of his hand.
"Bhaiya please medicine le lijiye." Abhishek pleaded.
"Mai... theek hoon." He panted.
"Bhaiya lelo na medicine." Arush requested.
"Stop being stubborn, bhaiya. Please." He begged, gulping down his own tears looking at his brother's condition.
"Abhi, kis cheez ki medicine hai ye?" She asked again.
Advait struggled to breathe. Arush started crying seeing Advait's state.
"St-Stop crying... I'm 'kay." He breathed out to calm the Arush down.
"He's getting a panic attack. It will help him." He replied hastily.
Shreya's eyes widened in realization but she did'nt have the time to process the information. She forcefully tossed the medicine in Advait's mouth and made him drink water. Abhishek sighed in relief, his features eased down. Arush took Advait in a tight hug sobbing softly.
Slowly, the medicines started to indulge in his senses and he calmed down. Shreya hugged him, her eyes were teary. She was feeling hurt that Advait didn't tell her such a serious thing about himself.
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