Chapter 76
The next morning was different in the Malhotra Mansion.
Aditya woke up early and freshened up. He had made up his mind that Advait would send him to boarding school today.
He opened his cupboard and carefully pulled out the trolley bag from the last cabinet.
He zipped it open and slowly started arranging his clothes in it.
His eyes were dried not even the trace of tear was there in his eyes.
His lips were pressed in a thin line, his heart was aching with every passing second but he couldn't do much about it.
He packed up all his clothes and walked to his bedside.
There was a photo frame placed on the table.
He gently took it and neatly tucked it in the bundle of the clothes.
It was his photo with Advait in which he was swinging in Advait's arms and a wide carefree smile was on his lips.
He closed the cover and sat down on the bag before zipping it up securely.
He sat down on the bed blinking his eyes and waited for Advait to call him downstairs.
By eight, Advait and Abhishek settled down on the breakfast table after their work out. Advait was reading newspaper when Shreya came out of the kitchen and arranged the food on the table.
Advait folded the newspaper and looked around the table, he furrowed his brows.
"Adi aur Aru kahan hai?" He asked to no one particularly.
He just finished asking this question when Arush came running down the stairs with energy.
"Good morning, bhaiya." He chirped up, hugging his side.
"Stairs par nahi bhaagte Aru chot lag jayegi." Shreya chided gently.
"Good morning, bhabhi." He said ignoring the scolding.
"Good morning, bhai." He said to Abhishek.
"Good morning." Abhishek ruffled his hair.
"Adi kahan hai?" Advait asked to Arush.
Arush shrugged.
"Abhi, Adi ko bula kar laa." Advait instructed.
Abhishek stood up before giving a nod and went upstairs to call Aditya for breakfast. He pushed open the door and entered inside.
"Adi, neeche chal bhaiya bula rahe hain." Abhishek said.
Aditya thought Advait was calling him downstairs to drop him at the boarding school. He sighed and stood up from the bed. He walked up to his trolley bag and trolled it to the door.
Abhishek frowned, "Ye kya hai?" He asked.
"Bag." Aditya replied.
"Wo mujhe bhi dikh raha hai par isey kahan le ja raha hai?" He asked, irritated by his reply.
"Mere kapde hain isme bina kapdo ke kaise boarding school me rahunga." He said stepping forward with his bag.
"What?" Abhishek said in confusion.
"Kya keh raha hai mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha?" He said.
"Aap mat samjho neeche chalo." Aditya replied.
Aditya carefully trolled the bag to the stairs and with difficulty he started descending the stairs one by one. Abhishek looked at him with an irritated face and called for Advait.
"Bhaiya." He called.
"Idhar aayein jara." He said.
Advait emerged in the living room with Shreya and Arush. Abhishek swiftly came downstairs and pointed at Aditya.
"Bhaiya, Adi ko dekhiye wo apna bag le kar kahan jaa raha hai." He said.
Advait looked at Aditya who was still on the halfway and cautiously balancing the bag on the stairs. Advait went up to him and took the bag from his hand before coming down with it.
Aditya followed.
"Adi, kya hai bag me aur kahan le ja raha hai isey?" Advait asked gently.
Aditya looked up at him with a gentle frown, "Mera samaan hai boarding school le jane ke liye." He replied.
Advait looked at him for a good minute before sharing glances with everyone who were equally confused.
"Kya bol raha hai?" Advait said.
"Aapne hi to bola tha na boarding school bhejne ke liye." He said quietly not looking up at him.
Advait sighed in anger but the anger was for himself, "Maine aise hi bol diya tha baccha iska matlab ye thodi na hai ki sach me apne bacche ko boarding school bhej dunga." He said cupping his cheeks.
Aditya blinked at him.
"Aur ye kya hai." He pointed at the bag, "Tune apna bag bhi pack kar liya tujhe sach me lagta hai mai tujhe khud se door bhej sakta hoon?" He asked gently.
Aditya didn't say anything for a minute before saying, "Par mujhe boarding school jana hai."
Something in Advait's heart got twisted when his kid got ready to stay away from him.
"Adi, aise nahi kehte tumhare bhaiya ne gusse me keh diya tha unka wo matlab nahi tha baccha." Shreya spoke up looking at Advait's guilty eyes.
"But I really want to go to boarding school bhabhi. I already created a lot of troubles for everyone. I'm sorry for that." He replied, his voice was weak and plain.
He looked at Advait and added, "I'm sorry, sir."
Advait's heart broke into million pieces. He blinked his eyes while gulping down his guilt.
"Mai aapko nahi jane dunga." Arush clunged to his arm. His lower lip trembled in defiance.
"Mera baccha, maine sirf yun hi keh diya tha mujhe nahi pata tha tujhe itna hurt hoga. I am really sorry." He said, his voice was hoarse with tears.
"Please don't be sorry, sir. You're not at fault. You were right, maine aapko pareshan kar diya hai. Mai hostel se complain nahi aane dunga promise. I won't trouble you anymore." He mumbled.
"Complain to tab aayegi na jab tu yahan se jayega mai tujhe kahi nahi jane dunga. Apne dimag se ye khayal nikaal bhi de ki mai tujhe apne se door bhej dunga." Advait said firmly.
"Please sir..." Aditya was about to say when Advait cut him off sharply.
"Bhaiya hoon mai tera, bhaiya bol. Ye kya sir-sir laga rakha hai?" He snapped.
"Aapne mana kiya hai." He replied flatly.
Advait squinted his brows and remembered what he said in his anger.
"Maine gusse me keh diya tha... itni baatein kehta hoon wo to kabhi nahi maani aur ye baat turant maan li." He said tiredly.
"Mujhe boarding school jana hai." He repeated his words.
"Adi, bhaiya ne keh diya na unka wo matlab nahi tha phir kyun baar baar same baat repeat kar raha hai." Abhishek scolded.
"Abhi." Shreya hushed him. She knew the little boy was hurt by his brother's words.
She crouched down in front of Aditya, "Jaane do is baat ko Adi, aa jao breakfast karte hain." She said taking his hand in hers.
But he didn't move from his place, "Mujhe boarding school jana hai aap log mujhe jab tak wahan nahi bhejoge mai kuch nahi khaunga." He said, slipping away his hand from Shreya's hold.
Advait kept staring at him with a blank face. He wasn't aware that he had hurt his brother's fragile heart by his words.
"Accha tu reh lega humare bina wahan par akele?" Abhishek asked deliberately.
"Reh lunga." He muttered looking down making Advait's heart shattered once again. His words stung at his heart.
Arush glared at him, "Mere bina bhi?" He asked narrowing his eyes in a glare.
Aditya sighed, "Reh lunga." He forced himself to say.
Arush teared up instantly and he started crying loudly. Shreya took him on her side.
"Gande ho aap." He cried burying his face in Shreya's side.
"Chalein?" Aditya asked looking up at Advait.
"Enough Adi, bas bohot ho gaya ye kya laga rakha hai maine ek baar bol diya na kahi nahi jayega tu iska matlab baat khatam." He said angrily but his voice was filled with pain and hurt.
"Mat bhejiye magar jab tak aap mujhe boarding school nahi bhejenge, na to mai kuch khaunga na kisi se baat karunga." He declared.
"Tu kahi nahi jayega aur khana bhi khayega." Advait replied firmly.
"Try me." Aditya shrugged.
"Agar tu ziddi hai na to mai bhi tera baap hoon, dekhta hoon kaise nahi khata." He said sharply.
Aditya started going upstairs when Advait quickly stopped him by holding his hand.
"Leave me, sir." He said struggling in his grip.
"Stop calling me sir." Advait said sternly.
"I don't know what else i should say." He replied.
"Call me bhaiya, you idiot." He raised his voice.
"You told me not to." He tried to freed his hand.
"And now I am telling you to call me bhaiya." He ordered.
Aditya looked away, "Nahi kehna mujhe aap mujhe boarding school bhej dijiye aur baat khatam kariye. Aapki bhi problem solve ho jayegi." He said in flow.
"Problem?" Advait whispered, his grip loosened.
"Tujhe lagta hai tu meri problem hai?" He asked, the hurt was clearly visible on his face.
Abhishek fisted his hands. Shreya didn't interfere knowing they need one to one conversation. Arush was sniffling on her side not looking up at anyone.
Aditya cursed himself under his breath looking at the hurt in his brother's eyes, "Pata nahi." He muttered looking away.
Advait rubbed his palm on his face before taking a deep breath.
"Mujhe sach me nahi pata tha maine tujhe apne words se itna hurt kar diya hai bas gusse me jo mann me aaya bol diya.
I am sorry for that Adi but trust me, I swear on my everything you are not my problem baccha.
Mujhe nahi pata maine gusse me kya bola magar tum teeno meri problem kabhi nahi ho sakte.
Tum to reason ho mere saans lene ka tum meri problem kaise ho sakte ho, I know tujhe meri baat ka bohot bura laga hai par maine jo kuch bhi kaha wo sacch nahi hai.
....tu baccha hai mera mai tujhse kabhi pareshan nahi ho sakta.
" He said cupping his face, looking straight in his eyes.
His voice was painfully clenched and he forced each word to let out off his mouth without sob.
"Maaf kar de apne bhaiya ko." He whispered and kneeled down while joining his hands. The person who is feared by everyone just by a glare was kneeling down in front of his brother. His brothers are the only ones in the world who could make him do this.
"Bhaiya." Aditya and Abhishek quickly stopped him, holding his hands.
"Uthiye aap please." Abhishek said pulling him up.
"Ye kya kar rahe the aap aise koi karta hai?" Aditya said angrily.
"I made a mistake of hurting my child." Advait said, "I am sorry." He muttered.
Shreya looked at her husband and realized the person in front of her was not the country's popular businessman. He was just a parent doing everything to bring his child back to himself.
"Stop saying that, mujhe nahi baat karni aapse, galti aapki thi par aapne mujhe guilty feel kara diya. Mai nahi baat karunga." His eyes were filled with unshed tears he was controlling since morning.
"Teri galti nahi hai, don't be guilty." Advait brushed away the tears from the corner of his eyes.
"Playground jana tha na tujhe breakfast karte hain uske baad mai khud tujhe playground le kar chalunga." Advait said kissing his temple.
"Nahi jana mujhe kahi." He replied, stepping back.
"Adi ek thappad maarunga ab bohot der ho gayi tujhe." Abhishek snapped. Advait's helpless face was clawing at his chest.
"Abhi jao tum sab ja kar breakfast karo, mai Adi ko le kar aata hoon." Advait said and motioned Shreya to take them away.
"Chalo, Abhi." She said and Abhishek stomped away from there.
Advait held Aditya's hand, "Aaja breakfast karte hai."
Aditya pulled back his hand, "Mujhe nahi karna breakfast aap kariye." He said, the anger was clearly evident on his face but his tone was neutral.
"Phir kya karna hai?" Advait asked exhausted.
"Boarding school jana hai." He said almost crying.
"Adi, ho gayi na galti maaf kar de beta. Please aise saza mat de apne bhaiya ko." He begged.
"I'm no one to punish you, sir." He forced out the words and a lone tear slipped out of his eye.
Advait was quick to wiped off the tear from his cheek.
"Tujhe mujhse baat nahi karni hai na... koi baat nahi mat karna par breakfast to kar le." Advait said, his adam's apple was bobbing due to the building up emotions inside him.
"Aap kha lijiye na aapko kya farak padta hai mai khaun ya nahi khaun?" He replied not realizing the impact of his words.
Advait's lips were pressed in a thin line and he walked out of the mansion before his bubbling emotions poured out of him. Aditya looked at his retreating figure and ran behind him to see where he was heading to. Advait settled down in the car and pulled the car on the road in speed.
Aditya fidgeted with the hem of his T-shirt with a guilty look, "Jyada bol diya kya?" He mumbled to himself.
Shreya came back in the living room but it was empty. She called for Aditya and Advait. Aditya entered the living room with a guilty face and teary eyes.
"Adi tum bahar kahan gaye the aur tumhare bhaiya kahan hain?" She asked glancing over his shoulder at the entrance.
"Pata nahi." He replied looking at the floor.
"Pata nahi matlab wo abhi yahi the na tumhare saath." She said in concern.
Aditya nodded, "Wo car me baith kar kahin chale gaye." He replied.
"Kahan chale gaye tumhe bataya nahi?" She asked, suddenly not feeling good.
Aditya shook his head.
Abhishek and Arush came out of the dining room, "Kya hua, bhabhi?" He asked looking at her concerned face.
"Ku-kuch nahi, tum log jao breakfast karo mai abhi aati hoon." She replied as she didn't want them to be worried.
"Bhaiya kahan hain?" Arush asked looking around the hall.
Aditya was looking down.
Abhishek stepped forward, "Adi, bhaiya kahan hain?" He asked.
"Wo kahin chale gaye." He replied.
"Kahan chale gaye aur tune unhe roka nahi?" He asked sharply.
"Abhi shaant ho jao kisi kaam se gaye honge mai unko call karti hoon." She said and picked up her phone from the table.
She dialled the number and waited but call was not picked. She again tried but again the ring went but the call not answered.
Abhishek shook Aditya making him look up, "Bhaiya gusse me gaye the kya?" He asked.
Aditya didn't reply.
"Bol, Aditya." He yelled.
Shreya pulled Abhishek away from Aditya, "Kya kar rahe ho, Abhi? Us par kyun chilla rahe ho?" She said despite the heaviness she was feeling in her chest.
"Bhaiya jyada stress lete hain to unki tabiyat kharab ho jati hai....pata nahi kahan gaye honge?" Abhishek mumbled, his face etched in worry.
"Bhabhi, bhaiya ko phir se call karo na." Arush suggested.
She tried but the call again did not answer.
She looked over three of them, their faces were wide in panic, "Bacchon tum log tension mat lo tumhare bhaiya ko koi urgent kaam yaad aa gaya hoga thodi der me aa jayenge. Chalo apna breakfast complete karo." She tried to divert their minds.
"Mai bhaiya ke saath hi khaunga." Arush said.
"Mai bhi." Abhishek replied.
Aditya was crying, his shoulders were shaking with the sobs. He was blaming himself for not stopping his brother from going outside. Shreya took him in a hug waving her fingers through his hair.
"Bas Adi aise rote nahi hai, tumhari galti nahi hai baccha. Shaant ho jao, Advait thodi der me aa jayenge." She said to soothe him down but her own heart was beating loudly.
Advait was driving his car on the deserted road.
His fingers were tightly clutched around the steering wheel.
His feet was heavily pressed against the accelerator increasing the speed of the car.
His heart was bleeding for hurting his little brother's heart.
His each word was piercing through his heart like a knife.
His breathing was heavy, he looked around in the car for water when his gaze landed on his vibrating phone lying on the passenger seat.
He picked up the phone and the notification of seven missed calls from Shreya popped up on the screen.
He opened the call log and about to dialled her number when a loud sound of horn reached to his ears and he jerked his head up.
A truck was coming from the front at full speed.
Advait tried to dodge the truck, he harshly turned the steering wheel and the car crashed.
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