Chapter 74
The atmosphere inside the car was chilling not from the cold but from the sheer fear of Advait.
His hands were gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.
The vein was popping up on his forehead in anger.
Aditya was sitting on the behind seat, he kept his head low.
His hands were shivering slightly because of the consequences he was about to face.
But he was not regretting his actions, he was not regretting disobeying Advait.
Abhishek was looking at Advait in a mix of fear and concern. He was praying to god for the well being of his stupid little brother. He didn't have the courage to say anything to Advait so he chose the best option to kept quiet.
The car came to a halt screeching the tires and Advait came out swiftly. He directly walked to the guards with long strides. His eyes were darkened and his whole body was trembling in rage. He marched towards the guards and they stepped back in fear.
"Who the hell gave you the permission to let Aditya go outside?" He thundered making the tall mens flinched in fear.
"B-Boss, we tried to stop him b-but madam ordered us to let him go." A guard replied, his head hung low.
Advait balled his hands, "Haven't I told you not to let the kids go outside without my direct order?" He asked sharply.
The guards dipped their head even more, "Sorry Boss." They said.
"Sorry my foot. I don't want to see your faces. Get lost." He spat in anger.
The guards looked up at him horrified, the security head stepped forward, "We're really sorry, boss. It will not be repeated. Please don't fire us." He said in panic.
Advait glared at each of them with a warning look for the last time before walking away from there in anger. The guards sighed in relief brushing off the sweat beads of their foreheads.
Aditya ran inside with Abhishek following him behind. He was about to ran upstairs when Abhishek stopped him by helding his hand.
"Kahan jaa raha hai? Chup chap yaheen khada reh Adi, bhaiya ka gussa mat badha." He warned.
"Bhai please haath chordo bhaiya meri haddiyan tod denge please chhupne do mujhe." Aditya replied, his eyes shimmering with tears.
"Ye pehle sochna chahiye tha na, tu janbuz kar baar baar same galti karta hai. You deserve it." Abhishek said making him feel guilty.
"Bhai please jane do na bohot maar padegi." He cried making a tearful face.
Abhishek glared at him, "Bohot jaldi realise ho raha hai?"
"Bhabhiiiii." Aditya yelled for help.
"Bhabhiiiii."
Shreya came downstairs and looked between the brothers, "Arey itni jaldi wapas aa gaye tum." She said to Aditya.
"Abhi tumhara exam kaisa hua.....aur tumne Adi ka haath aise kyun pakda hua hai?" She said looking at the grip of Abhishek.
He left his hand.
"Bhabhi please bacha lo, I am sorry maine aapse jhooth bola tha... " Aditya said panicking, his words were shaky.
"Relax shaant....hua kya hai itna dar kyun rahe ho?" She asked.
He was about to answer when Advait entered the living room in fury. Aditya quickly hid behind Shreya clutching her kurti from behind.
Advait marched towards them and stood straight in front of Shreya.
"Advait kya hua aap itne gusse me kyun lag rahe hain?" She asked in a low voice.
"Kisse puch kar aapne isey bahar jane diya?" He asked referring to Aditya. He was not shouting but the warning edge was clear in his voice.
Shreya taken aback by his tone for a moment, "Ky-Kya hua, Advait?" She asked stuttering.
"Maine pucha kiski permission se aapne isey ghar se bahar nikalne diya, Shreya?"He repeated gritting his teeth.
She flinched at the intensity of his words. She looked back at Aditya who was trembling, she connected the puzzles in her mind and got idea what must have been happened. She decided to take the blame on herself as she didn't want him to lash out on Aditya.
She looked down, "Sorry." She whispered.
"Sorry?" He repeated incredulously.
"Seriously Shreya sorry? Wo akele road par ghum raha tha agar usey kuch ho jata to? Tab aap kya bolti... sorry?" He asked sharply.
The tears rushed in her eyes, Advait noticed it and looked away cursing himself under his breath.
"Bha-Bhaiya." Aditya whispered weakly peeking out from behind Shreya.
Advait's eyes hardened at his voice.
"Bhabhi ki gal-galti nahi hai ma-maine unse... jhooth bola tha." He confessed but with fear.
He glared at him furiously and looked up at Shreya who looked down.
Advait reached for Aditya but he hid himself behind Shreya and she stood in front of him like a sheild.
"Move aside, Shreya." He ordered her firmly.
She shook her head, "Please Advait baccha hai galti ho gayi ab-ab se nahi karega." She said looking back at Aditya and motioned him to agree with her.
"Nahi-Nahi karunga." He said, his eyes wide with fear and the voice was trembling.
Abhishek went away from there, he couldn't bear the sight of his brother in tears but Aditya was wrong and needed a lesson so he walked upstairs from there.
Advait gently held Shreya and moved her aside taking Aditya from her behind. He grasped his forearm and made him stand in front of him.
"Kya jhooth bola?" He asked too calmly.
Aditya shivered.
"Aapne playground jane ki permission de di hai taaki guards ko wo bol de mujhe bahar jane dene ke liye." He whispered with a guilty look.
"Jhooth bolna bhi seekh gaya hai ab tu?" He asked in an icy cold voice.
He couldn't reply just muttered an apology under his breath.
"Now answer my question." He hissed making Aditya shrank on his place.
"Didn't I warn you not to step outside of the house?" He asked in a dangerous tone.
Aditya nodded meekly.
"Then why?" He yelled making a shiver ran down his spine.
"Why are you so adamant to disobey me again and again?" He shouted.
"Mai aapko disobey nahi karna chahta tha bhaiya par aap kabhi mujhe playground jane ke liye allow nahi karte hain." He complained.
"Mai kuch kehta hoon to tum logo ke bhale ke liye hi kehta hoon na ya phir mujhe shok hai ye sab karne ka?" His voice was raised, filled with hurt and anger.
The tears slipped down on Aditya's cheeks, "Sorry bhaiya." He whispered.
"Don't call me bhaiya." He snapped at him.
Aditya looked up at him with tearful, hurt filled eyes. Advait's words cut deep through his heart.
"Maine tujhe clearly warn kiya tha ki bahar nahi jana but tune mujhe... meri baat ko clearly disobey kiya."
"Very good, Aditya." He taunted.
"You know what, do whatever the hell you want. I won't talk to you from now on." He declared with finality.
Aditya cried more.
"Aap aise kyun keh rahe hain playground hi to gaya tha mar thodi gaya." He shouted while crying. Advait's words took a toll over his emotions.
A harsh slap landed on his face making him stumbled.
Shreya gasped and steadied him. She stood in front of Aditya, "Kya kar rahe hain aap Advait....baccha hai wo." She said raising her voice.
Aditya's hand glued to his cheek, his face was red from crying and the slap. Advait was furiously looking at him, his breathing was heavy and sharp.
He grabbed his hand and led him upstairs in his study room, "Bohot jubaan chalne lag gayi hai na teri... aaj teri akal thikane lagata hoon." He said while dragging him upstairs.
Shreya ran behind them, her eyes were wide with fear. But Advait closed the door on her face when she was about to entered the room. She banged on the door in panic, "Advait please wo baccha hai usey nahi pata wo kya bol raha hai... aap to samajhdaar haina please jane dijiye." She pleaded.
"Please Advait darwaja kholiye." She banged loudly.
Abhishek came out of his room. Shreya looked at him, "Abhi apne bhaiya ko samjhao na... Adi baccha hai galti ho gayi usse." She said.
Abhishek guided her aside from the door, "Aap shaant ho jaiye bhabhi." He said.
"Baccha hai wo unka kha nahi jayenge usey bas ek do haddi tod kar chord denge." He said with a serious face.
Shreya gasped horrified, "Kya?"
"Wo log aapas me handle kar lenge aap tension mat lo." He said reassuringly.
Shreya remained standing outside the study room. Her face was contorted in worry and fear.
In the room, Advait opened the drawer and pulled out the thick wooden ruler from it making Aditya's eyes widened.
He marched towards Aditya and striked his left arm with it without any word. Aditya hissed loudly stepping back.
"Har baar disobey karna." He hit his another arm.
"Badtameezi karna." Hit.
"Back answer karna." Hit.
"Bas yahi seekha hai na tune." He hit on his upper thigh and a scream let out of his mouth. His face was soaked with tears.
Advait's again raised the ruler high in the air and landed down on his left leg.
"Us din cursing ke liye punish kiya par tujhpe koi asar nahi hua tune aaj phir se wo word use kiya itna dheet ho gaya hai tu." He gave two continuous hits on his back.
"Do you think it makes you look cool?" He shouted. Aditya's shoulders were shaking violently with the sobs.
"Mujhe laga koi stranger hai maine islie bola." He said in his justification, wiping off his cheeks with the back of his hands.
Advait gave him a glare that could melt the steel.
"I'm really out of words for you, Aditya." He said in a disappointed voice.
The room erupted in silence, the small sobbing voices the only sound was in the room. Advait raked his hand through his hair before speaking.
"Pyar ki language tujhe samajh me nahi aati hai na koi baat nahi ab se tujhe maar ki language me samjhayenge sab." He said. Aditya looked up at him with confused watery eyes.
"I'm sending you to a boarding school." He declared making Aditya's heart dropped to his stomach.
"Meri baatein to yahan tujhe samajh me nahi aati hai wahan roz maar padegi na to apne aap sudhar jayega." He said angrily just to threatened him. He would never allow anyone to even raise their voice on his kids let alone a hand.
Aditya cried bitterly and Advait hit the back of his hand with the ruler, "Shut up." He snapped.
Advait hardened his heart and tried not to look at his brother's tearful face.
"Meri baatein tere liye koi value nahi karti na, Aditya?" He asked.
"Karti hain, bhaiya. Please mujhe boarding school nahi jana." He pleaded, his words were wavered.
"Kyu sunu mai teri baat? Tune suni hai kabhi meri?" He asked raising his voice.
Aditya looked down, "Mu-Mujhe bas playground jana tha mujhe nahi pata tha aap itna gussa ho jayenge." He mumbled sniffling.
Advait shook his head angrily, the kid was still not regretting his actions. He was just guilty for making Advait angry.
"Don't come out of your room until I asked you to." Advait said and headed out of the study room leaving a sobbing mess kid behind him.
Shreya entered the room the second the door opened.
She looked at Aditya's trembling form standing in the middle of the study.
His face was cherry red and eyes were puffed from crying.
She immediately closed the distance between them and hugged him tightly.
Aditya let himself drown in the motherly warmth he was receiving from Shreya.
"Bha-bhi mujhe boarding school nahi jana." He tried his best to control his tears in front of her.
"Kisne kaha tumhe boarding school bhejne ke liye?" She asked wiping off his face.
"Bhaiya ne." He whispered and a lone tear fell down on his cheek.
She hugged him, "Unhone gusse me bol diya hoga koi tumhe boarding school nahi bhejega rona band karo." She said caressing his back.
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Advait was standing in the balcony of his room. His posture was stiffed. Shreya entered the room to talk to him but the room was empty. Just when she was about to leave the room her eyes landed on the tall frame standing in the balcony.
She stepped in the balcony and stood on the entrance.
"Advait?" She said.
But he didn't turn back.
"Advait."
No response.
She slowly stood behind him and wrapped her arms around him, resting her face on his back. His body relaxed involuntarily and She felt him relaxing in her arms.
He turned around and hugged her to his chest. His arms were wrapped around her waist in a tight grip. Her warmth calmed the storm inside his heart. He kissed her temple with the utmost gentleness before pulling her back just enough to look at her face.
"I'm sorry Advait mujhe nahi pata tha Adi..." She was about to say but he put his finger on her lips making her stop.
"I am sorry jaan, I shouldn't have talked to you like that." He said.
She stood on her tippy toes and pecked his lips making him smile, "It's okay, husband." She said.
He again buried his face in her embrace inhaling her beautiful scent. They were standing in the balcony engulfed in each other's arms.
"Advait." Her muffled voice reached to his ears.
"Hmm." He hummed.
"Don't you think you were harsh on Adi." She said slowly.
He stood up straight, "No." He said in a flat tone, "He deserved it."
She sighed.
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