Chapter 115
Abhishek and Arush were sitting on the couch.
The room was silent as if an important meeting was happening there.
Aditya was standing in front of both of them with a determined and mock serious look on his face.
Abhishek and Arush dramatically exchanged a glance and rolled their eyes simultaneously.
"Kya hai Adi, ye look dena band kar aur kaam ki baat kar." Abhishek said exasperatedly.
"Exactly!" Arush agreed.
Aditya shook his face and again came into his mischievous mood.
"Thode dramatic effect ke liye aise looks dene padte hain, bhai." He whined.
"Fine." Abhishek said, "Aage bol."
Aditya jumped on the couch making Abhishek and Arush flinch. They gasped and clutched their hearts as if it would jump out.
"Kya kar raha hai, idiot?" Abhishek scolded.
"Dara diya." Arush said.
"Sorry sorry ab mujhe mood me aane do." Aditya said.
Abhishek suspiciously narrowed his eyes, covering himself with his coat, "Mo-Mood me aane do matlab....karna kya chahta hai tu?" He asked in fear.
"Operation." Aditya said making Arush's eyes widened.
"Kiska operation?" Arush gasped in mock horror.
"OPERATION DADI BHAGAO." Aditya declared with a proud look on his face.
Abhishek stood up quickly, "Tune iske liye itni urgent me mujhe office se ghar bulaya?" He asked incredulously.
"Accha khasa Sadhwi se baat kar raha tha, time waste kar diya." Arush mumbled.
Abhishek and Aditya heard that. Aditya jumped off the couch and they narrowed their eyes at him making him nervous.
"Mera matlab usse padhai ki baatein kar raha tha wo beech me chord kar aana pada." Arush explained.
"Par tum dono to alag class me ho." Aditya pointed out.
"Islie to, wo mujhse choti hai to mai usey samjha raha tha ki kaise padhai karni hai." He replied with an innocent smile.
"Tu?" Abhishek asked in disbelief.
"Usey samjha raha tha?" Aditya completed, mirroring his expression.
Arush nervously looked around and then looked at Aditya with a smile, "Operation dadi bhagao....bhool gaye?" He asked to divert his mind.
"Oh haan." Aditya said and again jumped up on the couch.
"Mai koi iss faltu discussion ke liye rukne nahi wala. Mujhe bohot kaam hai." Abhishek said and started to walk away.
"Mat rukiye, mai kaand karke bol dunga ki aapka plan tha." Aditya shrugged making him stop on his track.
Abhishek turned back and glared at him firmly, "Tu kya batayega ruk mai abhi bhaiya ko batata hoon kya planning kar raha hai tu." He threatened.
Aditya slumped down on the couch, stretching his arms royally, "Bata dijiye, phir mai bhi bhaiya ko bol dunga ki Arush ka Sadhwi par dil aa gaya hai." He said.
Arush gasped, "Isme mai beech me kahan se aaya?" He asked scaredly.
Aditya looked at him, "To bhai ko bol yahi par baithein aur humara iss plan me saath dein." He ordered.
Arush ran to Abhishek and joined his hands making pleading faces, "Bhai, please ruk jao warna meri band baj jayegi." Arush said.
Abhishek glared at Aditya who passed him an innocent smile in return. He sighed and silently walked to the couch before settling down on it.
"Jaldi bol." Abhishek said through gritted teeth.
Aditya leaned forward and gestured them to do the same. Abhishek and Arush also leaned forward and made a small circle. Their heads were pressed to each other.
"Ye dadi aise to yahan se jane wali hai nahi." Aditya whispered, "To humein hi kuch karna hoga." He added.
"Last time, unki kamar tod di thi tune ab aur kya karna baaki reh gaya hai?" Abhishek raised his voice breaking the silent environment and leaning back.
Aditya glared at Arush in warning and Arush quickly made Abhishek leaned forward with a pleading look.
"Last time, humne unki kamar todi thi...
"Humne nahi tune." Abhishek said in an accusing tone.
Aditya rolled his eyes and continued, "Iss baar kuch bada plan karna padega."
"Mere paas ek plan hai." Arush raised his hand.
Abhishek and Aditya nodded their head for him to continue.
"Jab dadi raat me so rahi hongi to hum pillow se unka muh daba denge." He said with a wide smile on his face as if it was the best idea.
Abhishek and Aditya exchanged a slow glance before whacking his head together, "Tu jaa yahan se." Aditya cooed him away.
"Unhe ghar se bhagana hai iss duniya se nahi." Abhishek said.
Arush clicked his tongue mumbling, "Sorry."
"Mere paas ek plan hai." Aditya dropped his voice to the lower octave.
"Dadi ko bhooton se bohot dar lagta hai to hum unhe ye yakeen dilayenge ki iss ghar me bhoot hai aur unhe dara ke bhaga denge." Aditya whispered and silently danced on his place.
Abhishek gave him a boring look, "Are you sure?" He asked.
"Damn sure." Aditya replied confidently.
"Bhaiya ko pata chal gaya to?" Arush asked in fear.
"Mai phir se belt nahi khaunga." He added.
"Mujhe agar daant padi to mai tujhe chordunga nahi." Abhishek warned.
"Don't worry brothers, maine aap dono ko kabhi fasaya hai?" He asked and both of them nodded their heads.
Aditya pouted being offended, "Par is baar nahi fasaunga, agar bhaiya ko pata chala to mai maar kha lunga." He said.
"Jaise tere lakshan hai wo to tu khane hi wala hai." Abhishek muttered under his breath.
Aditya forwarded his palm and both of them raised their brows in confusion.
"Arey taali do." Aditya said exaggeratingly.
Abhishek and Arush slapped their hands on his and Aditya yelled in a whisper, "Operation dadi bhagao start." All of them grinned widely.
~________________________________________~
Abhishek was walking in the corridor when he saw Advait who was coming from the front. Abhishek looked at Advait and tried to hide himself but it was already late. Advait had seen him already, he walked to him and furrowed his brows.
"Tu yahan kya kar raha hai?" Advait asked.
Abhishek looked around nervously, "Aa-p bhool gaye mai bhi yahi rehta hoon?" He joked to dismiss the interrogation.
"Oh is it?" Advait asked in a sarcastic tone with a sharp look making him stood up straight.
"Office se jaldi kyun aa gaya?" Advait asked firmly.
"Koi important kaam nahi tha, bhaiya islie socha jaldi chala jata hoon." He replied.
"Date kya hai aaj?" Advait asked.
"Huh?" Abhishek said in confusion.
"Date?" Advait pressed.
"2 September." Abhishek replied.
Advait furrowed his brows as if trying to remember something, "Aaj to Agarwals ke saath meeting thi na?" He asked.
Abhishek's face turned pale but he acted to look oblivious, "Meeting? Nahi to." He said.
Advait glared at him sharply and whacked his arm, "Jhooth bolna band kar, Tia ka phone aaya tha tu meeting beech me chord kar bhaag aaya." He scolded.
"Aisa kya urgent kaam tha yahan par?" Advait asked.
Abhishek sulked, "Mujhe nahi pata bhaiya, Adi ne urgent kaam hai bol kar ghar bulaya aur jab se mai aaya hoon wo khud gayab hai." He put Aditya in trouble.
Advait glanced at him from head to toe and shook his head before mumbling, "Bada ho jaa."
~________________________________________~
In the evening, the family was sitting together for the evening coffee and snacks, laughing and joking. Aditya and Kalyani were roasting each other while others were stifling their laugh.
Aditya exchanged a glance with Arush and Abhishek before speaking, "Waise 2-3 dino se raat me bohot ajeeb ajeeb si awaaze aa rahi hai." He said with a little smirk.
Advait raised his brow and looked at him suspiciously.
"Same bhai mujhe bhi." Arush said overdramatically, making a bewildered face.
Aditya looked at Abhishek to agree with him and Abhishek rolled his eyes, "Mujhe bhi." He said dryly.
"Kaisi awaazein?" Amrinder asked curiously.
"Payal ki awaaze chan chan chan chan." Aditya said, mimicking the voice.
"Meri payal ki awaaj hogi." Shreya replied with a dismissing shake of her hand.
"Nahi bhabhi, payal ki awaaj ke saath saath kisi aurat ke hasne ki awaaj bhi aati hai... jaise koi chudail jor jor se has rahi ho." Arush said, making a story.
Aditya turned his gaze at Kalyani, "Dadi, kahi aap to nahi hasti?" He asked seriously.
Advait tried to hide his smile but failed miserably. Shreya stifled her laughter.
Kalyani shot Aditya a glare.
"Mujhe to lagta hai humare ghar me kisi chudail ka saaya hai." Abhishek added.
Kalyani gulped down in fear. The sweat beads started forming on his forehead.
"Dadi, dariye mat bhai aapki baat nahi kar rahe hain. Aapke alawa ek aur chudail...." Aditya said but stopped himself when Advait glared at him.
"Tum mujhe chudail keh rahe ho?" Kalyani asked angrily.
"Isme kehna kya hai." Aditya mumbled.
"Aditya." Advait said firmly, glaring at his soul.
Aditya gulped, looking down.
Sadhwi entered the room with the tray of chai and coffee in her hands. Her face was glooming in a soft light. She gently placed the tray on the table and started handing everyone their cups. Arush quickly stood up to help her and she passed him a sweet smile.
"Mil gayi chudail." Aditya whispered looking at Sadhwi. His eyes were glinting mischievously.
A guard came inside and slightly bowed, "Boss, bahar koi aapse milne aaya hai." He informed Advait.
Advait furrowed his brows as he never allow anyone in his home then who would have come.
"Send him inside." Advait said.
There was the heavy silence in the room as everyone was waiting for the person to come inside.
A shadow came into a view and the moment the person's face came in front of Advait, his senses went blank.
It was the person he had never thought he would ever see in his life again.
He was shocked, it would be an understatement.
He was beyond shock, the disbelief was written over his face.
Amrinder and Kalyani exchanged a glance with each other before looking between the person and the Advait.
Kalyani smiled widely looking at him. Abhishek fisted his hands and stood up from his place in anger while Aditya, Arush and Shreya were clueless.
Aditya was trying to remember the person as he was looking so familiar to him but he couldn't able to recognize him.
Advait shakingly stood up from his place. His eyes were burning with the unshed tears looking at the person in front of him. Everything that had happened in the past had came flooded back in front of his eyes. His vision got blurry with the tears he was trying to control.
The person standing in front of him was the Angad Malhotra. His Father.
Advait's whole world had turned upside down, for a moment he thought he was dreaming but he wasn't. It was the harsh reality of his life.
The person who had ran away after snatching everything from his life and throwing his responsibilities on him had returned back now.
He had wanted to scream at the person standing in front of him but the child inside him had wanted to ran to his father and hugged him tightly.
Angad ran to Advait and hugged him to his chest. The tears started flowing down of Angad's eyes, he was hugging his son after a long sixteen years.
It felt like a dream to him but Advait remained stoic.
He didn't let his tears to spill out of his eyes.
He remained frozen on his place without moving his body.
"Who is he?" Aditya whispered to Abhishek as he hadn't remembered his father's face.
"Our sperm donor." Abhishek replied, glaring at Angad's back.
Aditya widened his eyes and a look of disgust has clearly written on his face.
Angad pulled back and cupped Advait's cheeks, "Kaisa hai tu? Tujhe pata hai ki-kitna dar gaya tha mai tv par teri news dekh kar." He said and sobbed.
"Kya lene aaye hain aap?" Advait asked calmly, breaking the silence.
Angad stepped back and furrowed his brows, "M-Mai tujhse milne aaya hoon baccha, apne bete se." He said with teary eyes.
Shreya's eyes widened with the information and Arush was looking at both of them in confusion as he was told their father had died.
"Konsa beta? Yahan aapka koi beta nahi rehta." Advait replied, his tone was too calm for his own liking.
"Ye kya bol rahe ho, Advait?" Kalyani said and quickly hugged Angad.
"Kahan tha tu?" Kalyani cried and asked in a whisper.
They both kept hugging each other. Kalyani was crying hysterically, looking at her son after so many years.
"Mujhe maaf kardo, maa." Angad said, tightening his grip around her.
Angad stepped forward towards Amrinder but he looked away. The rejection stung at his heart and he backed off.
Angad's gaze fell on Arush who was standing near Advait.
Arush narrowed his eyes looking at the Angad and spoke up, "Maine aapko kahin dekha hai."
Advait and the others snapped their heads to his direction.
"Aap to wahi hai na jo uss din hospital ke bahar mujhse takraye the?" Arush asked to be sure.
Angad nodded. He was about to step towards Arush but Advait stretched out his hand in front of Arush stopping Angad's movements.
"Mere bacchon se door rahiye." He hissed sharply.
Angad looked at Arush and then at Advait, "Mera beta hai wo, ek baar gale laga lene de." He said.
"Beta?" Advait raised his voice asking incredulously, "Wahi beta jisey aap rota hua chord kar chale gaye the?" He yelled.
Angad looked down in guilt and shame.
"Jab humein aapki jarurat thi tab aap humein chord kar chale gaye aur ab jab hum apni life me khush hain to kya lene aaye hain aap?" Advait shouted on top of his lungs.
Shreya quickly walked to his side and said in a calm but concerning voice, "Advait shaant ho jaiye, Sia ne aapko stress lene se mana kiya hai."
"Agar aap chahti hain ki mai shaant ho jaun to kahiye iss aadmi se chala jaye mere saamne se." He said to her.
"Ye kya tareeka hai apne baap se baat karne ka?" Kalyani asked firmly. Her tone was sharp.
"Ye aadmi mera baap nahi hai." Advait declared, pressing each word.
"Tumhe mujhse naraaz hone ka poora haq hai, beta. Mai jaanta hoon maine bohot badi galti ki hai....
Angad was about to say when Advait cut him off firmly, "Galti nahi gunaah." He said, "Gunaah kiya hai aapne, meri maa ke kaatil hain aap." He accused, shouting at him.
Angad stepped back with the hurt and looked at him pleadingly, "Meri baat samjho beta, mai majboor tha."
"Majboor?" Advait asked in disbelief, "Meri maa ko dhokha de kar dusri aurat ke saath teen aulaade karne ke baad, aap majboor the?" He asked furiously, the vein on his forehead was clearly visible because of his anger.
"Tumhara gussa jayaz hai, Advait par ek baar meri baat sun lo beta." He pleaded.
"Baat sunna to door, mujhe aapka chehra tak nahi dekhna. Jaiye yahan se." Advait replied, pointing at the door.
"Adva...
"Suna nahi aapne, kya kaha bhaiya ne?" Abhishek said, fisting his hands to control himself.
Angad turned towards Abhishek and smiled at him, looking at him from head to toe, "Abhi, kitna bada ho gaya mera beta." He whispered to himself.
"Don't call me beta." Abhishek warned, "Beta nahi hoon mai aapka." He added firmly.
A lone tear escaped off Angad's eye and he shifted his gaze on Aditya. He walked to him and hugged him tightly. Aditya made a face and quickly got out of his hold.
"Thoda sa door se baat kariye." Aditya said, making a distance.
Advait had started breathing heavily. Shreya quickly went to grab a glass of water for him. She returned with the glass and handed it to him but Advait didn't take it.
Advait stepped forward and glared at Angad's soul, "Jaiye yahan se." He said dangerously.
"Please ek baar meri baat sunlo, Advait." Angad again requested.
"Maine kaha nikaliye yahan se, iss pehle mai guards bulaun." He warned.
"Mai majboor tha, Advait." Angad said, raising his voice in desperation.
"Apni hawas ko majboori ka naam mat dijiye, Mr. Malhotra." Advait shouted making everyone flinch.
"Advait." Angad raised his hand to slap him but before the slap could land on Advait, his brothers came forward. Arush tightly gripped his hand gritting his teeth. Abhishek grabbed Angad by his collar, his jaw was clenched but Aditya's hand was tightly gripped around his neck choking him.
"How dare you?" Abhishek hissed.
"Mere bhaiya par hath uthane ka socha na to haath tod dunga." Arush warned.
But Aditya remained silent, his body was shaking with rage and eyes were red with anger. His grip around Angad's neck remained tight.
Everyone gasped, Shreya, Amrinder and Kalyani widened their eyes. But Advait didn't react as he knew this was coming the moment Angad had raised his hand.
Angad was struggling under Aditya's hold. His face had turned red and eyes became wide in horror and panic.
"Pagal ho gaye ho kya, baap hai wo tumhara." Kalyani said in horror.
"Move." Advait told them.
The atmosphere was chill and silent. The tension was thick in the air. But their grips remained unfazed. Their faces were flashing with anger and protectiveness towards Advait.
"I said move." Advait ordered sternly.
They reluctantly left him and Aditya jerked him away leaving his neck. Angad had stumbled down on the floor, Kalyani was quick to his side. Angad was gasping for air, he was breathing heavily. Shreya came towards him with the glass of water and forwarded it to him.
Angad looked at Shreya's soft eyes for the first time. Her face was worried for him, she gently offered him the glass. Angad took the glass and drank a few sips with difficulty. Advait was glaring at Shreya's soul but she was unfazed.
"Uthiye aur nikaliye yahan se." Aditya said, grabbing his hand and made him stand up.
But Shreya came in between, "Peeche hato." Shreya ordered.
"Bhabhi par..." Aditya was about to say but Shreya cut him off in between.
"Maine kaha peeche hato, Adi." She repeated.
Aditya reluctantly stepped back still in anger.
Shreya turned towards Angad and joined her hands in front of him, "Aap please yahan se chale jaiye." She requested yet her voice was firm.
Angad glanced at everyone, his gaze lingered on Advait for a moment longer and he turned on his heels. Advait clenched his fists and looked away burying down his emotions inside him.
~________________________________________~