Chapter 126
Advait, Abhishek and Arush were sitting on the breakfast table.
A pout was formed on Arush's face. He opened up a lid over the plate and his eyes shone up looking at his favorite sandwiches.
Advait made the sandwiches for him to pacify him.
Arush grinned widely but composed his emotions when he noticed Advait was looking at him.
"Bhai, mujhe pancakes paas karna." He said to Abhishek.
Abhishek raised his brow, "Khud utha le." He replied dryly.
"Bhaiy..." Arush was about to whine but sat up straight when he remembered he was upset from Advait.
Advait rolled his eyes at her dramatics.
"Sandwich kha le, tere liye hi banaye hai." Advait said.
"Mujhe nahi khana." He mumbled.
Advait ignored him and picked up a sandwich before forwarding in front of his mouth. Arush didn't open his mouth and looked away with a huff.
"Kha le, baccha." Advait said softly.
"Adi bhai ko khilao aap. Mujhe nahi khana." Arush replied.
"Mujhe khila do phir." Abhishek spoke up.
Advait forwarded the sandwich in front of Abhishek's mouth and he happily took a bite. Arush gripped the edge of the table.
"Ab to mai bilkul nahi khaunga." He said and tears bubbled up in his eyes.
Advait sighed, "Aru, aise nahi karte na baccha." He tried to coax him.
"Baat mat karo aap mujhse." He said in a slightly raised voice earning himself a whack from Abhishek.
"Bhaiya." Arush sulked and leaned against Advait's shoulder.
"Abhi, kyun maar raha hai bechare bacche ko?" Advait scolded.
"Bechara baccha nahi badtameez baccha hai ye." Abhishek replied making Arush offended.
Before Advait could say anything, Aditya and Vanya came downstairs. Aditya was grinning like a crazy person, in his mind he was all above the moon.
"Adi, baccha neeche kyun aa gaya. Rest karna chahiye tha na." Advait said on noticing him.
"Ab accha feel ho raha hai, bhaiya." Aditya replied with a grin.
"Kyun aisa kya ho gaya?" Abhishek asked, raising his brow.
Aditya and Vanya both averted their gazes, their cheeks coated red with the blush.
"Breakfast kar liya?" Advait asked to Aditya.
"Ji bhaiya." Aditya replied.
Advait nodded and ignored Vanya but she stepped towards him and held her ears, "Bhaiya, I'm sorry. Please aise ignore mat kariye na. Bhai bhi baat nahi kar rahe hain." She said with puppy eyes.
"Sahi kar raha hai." Advait replied nonchalantly.
Aditya felt bad for his Vanu and spoke up, "Bhaiya, maan jaiye na please."
"Wahi mai sochun, Vani ka lawyer abhi tak chup kaise hai." Advait said sarcastically making Aditya pout.
"Bhaiyaaa, please." Vanya repeated, innocently batting her eyes.
Advait rolled his eyes at her antics, "Aisa dubara nahi hona chahiye, Vanya." He said firmly.
"Promise. Ab Vanya bolna band karo." She said.
"'kay, meri princess." He said and pecked her head making her smile.
She made her way towards Abhishek's side and leaned against him, "Mere pyare bhai, aap bhi maan jao please." She requested.
"Jaa na, maska mat laga." Abhishek replied.
"Matlab aap maan gaye?" She asked hopefully noticing the change in his tone.
He lightly whacked her head, "Aur koi option hai?"
"Nope." She hugged him.
Arush was silently eating the sandwiches when Vanya's gaze landed on him, "Tujhe kya hua, chotu?" She asked.
He looked up and slowly shook his head before looking down. Advait was about to say something to him when Aditya spoke up.
"Bhaiya, mujhe aap se kuch baat karni hai." He said.
"Haan bol?" Advait said.
"Yahan nahi." Aditya replied in a low tone, glancing at everyone.
Arush narrowed his eyes listening to this, "Jo baat karni hai mere saamne karo." He said.
"Kyun, tu dada hai yahan ka?" Aditya retorted.
"Mere bhaiya hain aur unse jo baat karni hai mere saamne karni padegi." He replied.
"Mere bhi bhaiya hain wo." Aditya replied.
"Mere jyada hain." Arush said.
"Shut up, both of you." Advait raised his voice.
He looked at Aditya, "Breakfast ke baad mere room me baat karte hain." He told him.
"Yaheen baat karo." Arush said.
"Arush." Advait said sternly making him pout.
He stood up from the table, "Mujhe nahi khana, aap ab mujhse pyar hi nahi karte ho." He said and went away from there.
Advait held the bridge of his nose in frustration.
~________________________________________~
Advait and Aditya were sitting in a room. Aditya was nervously looking down, his feet was tapping against the floor in anxiousness. Advait was patiently sitting in front of him waiting for him to say something.
"Bhaiya, wo.." Aditya said and stopped.
"Pichle 15 minutes se bhaiya bhaiya kar raha hai, uske aage bhi kuch bol." Advait said in irritation.
Aditya took a deep breath to gather the courage.
"Koi gadbad ki hai?" Advait asked, his tone was already firm in the anticipation.
"N-Nahi." He immediately shook his head.
"To bata baccha, itna dar kyun raha hai?" Advait encouraged.
Aditya glanced at him before looking down, "Bhaiya, wo Vanu aur mai. We lo...love each other." He said in a low voice.
Silence.
Advait stared at him for a minute before saying, "Isme kya naya hai?" He asked nonchalantly.
Aditya pouted, "Bhaiya, waise nahi aap samajh nahi rahe hain." He whined.
"To samjha, beta." Advait replied.
"Now, we're official." His voice was just above a whisper. His face was beetroot red with shyness.
Advait raised his brow and leaned back on the couch.
"Hum dono ne apni feelings confess kar di hai and now we're dating." Aditya said.
"To ab tu mujhse kya chahta hain? Teri baraat le kar hum Khurana residence chalein?" Advait asked sarcastically.
Aditya pouted and stood up before walking to Advait's side and burying his face in his shoulder, "Bhaiya, please aise mat boliye. Mujhe pehle hi bohot sharam aa rahi hai." He whined.
An amused smile came on Advait's lips and he slightly ruffled his hair.
Aditya looked up before speaking, "Mai apni life ka itna bada decision aap se chupa kar nahi le sakta islie aapko batana chahta hoon." He said.
"Aur agar mai mana kar doon toh?" Advait asked, feigning firmness.
Aditya hugged him tightly, "Aap jaisa bologe wo hi hoga." He mumbled, his voice came out muffled.
"Mujhe koi problem nahi hai, baccha. Bas iski wajah se teri aur Vani ki padhai par koi affect nahi hona chahiye.
" Advait replied. Aditya looked up from his embrace and Advait continued, "Pehle apne career par focus karo, kaabil ban jao uske baad jab tu bolega teri baraat le kar chalenge teri Vanu ko lene. " Advait teased him making him shy.
"I love you, bhaiya." Aditya muttered, leaning against him.
"Meri jaan." Advait pecked his head.
"Shaadi se pehle ek doosre se thoda door rehna hai. You know what I mean." Advait warned.
Aditya nodded his head, "Mai aapka baccha hoon, bhaiya. Aisa kuch nahi karunga." He promised, his face remained buried against Advait's chest.
Aditya pulled back and looked up at Advait, "Vani se kehna Rey ko bata degi, usey kahi aur se pata chalega to bura lagega." He said.
"Ji bhaiya." Aditya nodded obediently.
Abhishek was standing outside of the room listening to their conversation. He hadn't wanted to eavesdrop but his curiosity had forced him and he ended up outside the Advait's room to listen to their conversation.
He pouted, "Itna asaan hota hai kya?" He thought to himself.
~________________________________________~
Angad was lying on the bed. He was getting bored and tired of laying down at a same place all day.
He slowly sat up on the bed and dangled his legs down off the bed carefully.
He held the bedside table to support himself and tried to stand on the floor but his legs didn't support him and he was about to fall down on the floor but the two arms wrapped around him, steadying him.
Angad looked up and Arush was standing there. Arush gently made him sit down on the bed. There was not any evident expression on Arush's face but Angad was smiling looking at him.
"Tum yahan mujhse milne aaye ho, beta?" He asked with hope.
Arush looked up at him, "Mai yahan se jaa raha tha wo to aapko aise dekha islie help karne aa gaya." Arush replied.
Angad's smile dropped a bit but he shook it off, , "Kitna bada ho gaya hai mera beta." He said looking at him with admiration.
Arush glared at him, "Mai sirf apne bhaiya ka beta hoon. Aap mujhe beta mat bulao." He replied arrogantly.
Angad looked down with hurt, aching Arush's heart. He felt bad for hurting him with his words.
"Sorry, mera wo matlab nahi tha. Aap please udaas mat hoiye." Arush said, his voice was just above a whisper.
Angad smiled, "Tum to aaj bhi waise hi ho, kabhi kisi ko udaas nahi dekh sakte." He said.
"Aap mujhse pehle mile ho? Mujhe to kuch bhi nahi yaad." Arush asked.
Angad chuckled "Baap hoon mai tumhara. Tum bohot chote the jab mai..." He couldn't complete his own sentence.
"Jab aap bhaag gaye the?" Arush asked.
Angad nodded looking down in shame.
"Kyun bhaag gaye the?" He asked.
"Mai bohot sharminda tha apne kiye par. Jo galti maine apni marzi se ki bhi nahi bhagwaan ne mujhe uski saza di." He spoke up, his voice was heavy with emotions.
"Meri galti bas itni hai ki mai apne bacchon se door chala gaya." He added. A lone tear fell down on his face.
Arush quickly wiped it off, just like Advait did with him, "Please aap roiye mat. Mujhe accha nahi lag raha." He said.
"Maine tum logo ke saath bohot galat kiya hai, beta aur iske liye tumhare bhaiya mujhe kabhi maaf nahi karenge." Angad said, wiping off the corner of his eyes.
"Kyun nahi karenge? Mai bolunga na bhaiya se. Mai unhe bataunga ki aapko apni galti ka guilt ho raha hai." Arush replied, "Second chance to sab ko milna chahiye na."
Angad's lips curved into a smile.
"Arush!" A stern voice flinched both of them.
Arush looked up and Abhishek was standing at the doorway. He marched towards him with long strides.
"Yahan kya kar raha hai? Mana kiya tha na tujhe inse baat karne ke liye?" Abhishek scolded him.
"Bhai, ye girne wale the mai bas unki help karne aaya tha." Arush replied meekly.
"Ho gayi help? Ab jaa bahar." Abhishek snapped.
Arush glanced at Angad before walking out of the room. Abhishek turned his head towards Angad.
"Mere bhai se door rahiye aap. Mai phir se aapko mere bhaiyon ko hurt karne nahi dunga." Abhishek warned, his eyes were sharp and words were like a whip.
"Abhi...
Before Angad could complete, Abhishek turned on his heels and walked out of the room leaving Angad behind with his guilt.
~________________________________________~
After a week, Reyansh was in his study room, casually reading a file in his hand as if his little sister was not doing sit-ups in front of him. Vanya was doing sit-ups, her face was scrunched up in pain and legs were aching from inside but she didn't stop.
"Bhai, please itne din ho gaye ab to ye silent treatment band kariye." She pleaded.
Reyansh again ignored her.
"Koi baat nahi mat kijiye, aap bhi jab tak mujhe maaf nahi karenge mai rukungi nahi." She said with tears bubbling in her eyes.
Silence.
"Aapki hi behen hoon agar aap ziddi hain to mai maha ziddi hoon." She said.
Reyansh kept ignoring her and she kept doing sit-ups in front of him. At a point she had lost the count, her legs started wobbling and heart was aching because of the ignorance but she didn't stop.
Finally, Reyansh looked up at her and felt pity looking at her little sister's condition. He sighed before speaking, "Stop."
"Pehle kahiye maaf kiya." She panted, her breathing was heavy.
"I said stop, Vanya." Reyansh raised his voice, banging the table making her flinch.
She stopped doing the sit-ups and stood straight. He glared at her, "Baitho, idhar." He said.
Vanya sat down on the chair across the table and relieved a sigh of relief. Reyansh passed her a glass of the water and she gulped it down as she was thirsty because of the exercise.
"Bhai, I'm sorry." She requested.
"Mai nahi kahunga ki maine tujhe maaf kar diya hai kyunki tune mera trust toda hai jo wapas banne me time lagega." He said making her upset.
"Par bhai...
"Meri baat abhi khatam nahi huyi hai, Vanya." He spoke up firmly.
She looked down.
"Jhooth bol kar club jana wahan jaa kar drink karna." He repeated her mistakes, "I'm very upset with you." He stated.
"Sorry." She whispered, looking down.
"You are grounded until my further notice." He declared and she nodded her head.
"Par baat to kariye." She said innocently.
"Bolo kya bolna hai, I won't ignore you now." He replied.
Vanya looked at him, "Bhai, mujhe aapko kuch batana tha." She said.
"Batao." He said.
"I love Adi." She confessed, "He also loves me. We're dating." She said without hesitation.
"Since?" He asked without any expression.
"A week." She replied, "Aap baat hi nahi kar rahe the mai aapko batana chahti thi." She said.
Reyansh nodded his head, "Padhai par affect nahi padna chahiye." He said and she nodded in response.
"Uss gadhe se to mai khud baat karunga." He muttered under his breath.
Vanya made an offended face.
~________________________________________~
It was a Sunday. Angad was on the wheelchair, a house helper was behind his chair and guiding it around the garden.
He was feeling bored so he asked a house helper to take him out in the garden to get some fresh air.
He was weak, his face was pale. The distressed lines were formed on his forehead.
He was taking rounds of the garden when his gaze landed on a small bottle which seemed familiar to him.
He stopped and bent down to pick up the small container.
"Ye to..." He thought.
"Mujhe andar le chalo." He ordered the house helper.
The house helper wheeled him inside the mansion and he entered the hall where Advait was already sitting on the sofa with Shreya. They were having coffee while talking to each other when Angad entered the room ruining their moods. Advait's eyes hardened looking at him there.
"Maine aapko kaha tha na meri aankhon ke saamne mat aana." Advait said, standing up from his place.
Shreya also get up from her place.
"Beta...
Angad said but stopped when Advait fisted his hands listening to the word from his mouth.
"Mujhe tumse kuch puchna hai." Angad said in a slow voice.
"Magar mujhe aapko kuch nahi batana. Please jaiye yahan se." Advait said, dismissing him.
"Par....
"Dadi!" Advait shouted.
Abhishek, Aditya and Arush ran out of their rooms in hurry and stepped down the stairs.
"Kya hua, bhaiya?" Aditya asked.
"Tu dadi hai?" Advait snapped at him.
Aditya pouted and shook his head.
"Da...
Advait was about to shout when Angad spoke up in between, "Maa, bauji mandir gaye hain." He said.
Advait rubbed his forehead with his fingers. It had become his signature move when he was both frustrated and angry.
"Wo dono aapko yahan apni guarantee par laaye the aur ab aapko roz yahan chord kar mandir chale jate hain." Aditya taunted him.
Advait rubbed his palms over his face controlling his emotions.
"Inhe inke room me le kar jao." Abhishek ordered the house helper.
The house helper started to move the wheelchair but Angad had stopped him, "Tum jao." He told him and he went away from there before glancing at everyone.
"Advait, mujhe tumse sacch me kuch puchna hai." He requested.
"Puchiye." Shreya spoke up.
Advait snapped his head at her direction, "Ek baar sun lijiye na." She said.
Angad wheeled himself and stopped in front of Advait. He handed him the same small bottle he had found in the garden. Advait took it from him before glaring at him and read the label which was pasted on the bottle.
"Sleeping pills?" Advait murmured, furrowing his brows.
Abhishek sucked a sharp breath listening to it.
"Ye mujhe bahar garden se mili. Ye pills kaun leta hai ghar me?" Angad asked slowly but with a concerned edge in his voice.
Advait glanced up at him before looking at everyone in the room, "Ye kaun leta hai?" He asked.
"Jisey neend nahi aati hai wo." Aditya replied confidently as if it was the answer to the Advait's question.
Advait glared at his soul making him straightened up.
"Ye kaun leta hai tum me se?" Advait asked strictly.
Abhishek, Aditya and Arush quickly shook off their heads in denial.
"Mai nahi leta, bhaiya." Aditya replied in his defense.
"Mujhe to bohot acchi neend aati hai aur sapne bhi." Arush said.
Advait raised his brow at Abhishek who nervously replied, "Same." He said with a small but nervous smile.
Advait sighed, "Kisi guard ya house helper ki hogi." He said and dismissed the topic.
Abhishek sighed in relief.
~________________________________________~
The next day, Advait made the house helpers stand in front of him in the line. They all were standing in fear as it was very rare for them when Advait called all of them together.
"Aap sab me se sleeping pills kaun leta hai?" He asked, his voice was cold.
Their eyes were furrowed in confusion and they all shook their heads simultaneously.
"Hum nahi lete, sir." A man replied followed by the others.
Then, Advait asked the guards and their response was the same.
The pills bottle was not theirs. Advait's concerned grown up when they also denied.
He made his way towards Kalyani's room. She was sitting on the bed with a permanent scowl on her face and Amrinder was sitting on the couch reading a news paper.
"Advait tum yahan? Aaj apni dadi ki yaad kaise aa gayi?" Kalyani taunted.
"Mujhe aap se kuch puchna tha." Advait said, "Aap ya dadu me se koi sleeping pills leta hai?" He asked.
Amrinder frowned but Kalyani scoffed, "Haye haye sleeping pills le mere dushman. Mujhe to roz sukoon ki neend aati hai." She said.
"Sabka sukoon cheen kar sukoon ki neend to aayegi hi." Advait thought and shook his head in exasperation.
He didn't waste a moment and left the room.
In Advait's study, Abhishek, Aditya and Arush were standing in front of Advait who was glaring at their souls. Abhishek and Arush were silently standing but Aditya was scared.
"Konse kaand ke baare me pata chal gaya bhaiya ko." He mumbled under his breath.
"Bhaiya, maine galti se...
But before Aditya could complete his sentence, Advait spoke up, "Tum teeno me se sleeping pills kaun leta hai?" His voice was sharp.
Advait frowned but let out a relieved breath, "Haash bach gaya!" He said.
"Maine aapko bataya to tha bhaiya mujhe bohot acchi neend aati hai aur sapne bhi." Arush replied.
"Sadhwi ke sapne aate honge." Aditya muttered under his breath but Advait caught his words and snapped his sharp gaze at him making him shut up.
Advait looked between Abhishek and Aditya but Aditya quickly raised his hand in the air, "I swear, mai nahi leta bhaiya." He said in a defensive tone noticing Advait's accusing gaze on him.
Now only Abhishek was left, Advait looked at him with the questioning eyes.
"Mai bhi nahi leta, bhaiya." He replied without hesitating. He was always good at lying.
Advait banged the table in anger, "Agar tum me se koi wo pills nahi leta to wo bottle kya ghar me ud kar aayi?" He asked in a raised voice.
"Possible." Aditya muttered.
"Aditya." Advait said firmly.
"S-Sorry bhaiya, galti se muh se nikal gaya." He said in a voice just above a whisper.
Advait inhaled a deep breath before exhaling it out, "Tum teeno ne agar sacch nahi bataya na to teeno maar khaoge." He threatened.
"Par maine kya kiya?" Aditya and Arush whined together.
Advait looked suspiciously at Abhishek when he didn't say anything, "M-Maine bhi kuch nahi kiya, bhaiya." He said.
"Adi, Aru bahar jao." Advait ordered.
Aditya and Arush quickly ran out of the room in fear and Advait stepped towards Abhishek who was looking down at the floor.
"Tu sleeping pills leta haina, Abhi?" Advait asked him sternly.
Abhishek caught off guard and looked up at Advait, "Bha-Bhaiya, mai nahi...
But before Abhishek could complete himself Advait landed a harsh slap on his face. Abhishek's cheek burned with the warm sting. The tears bubbled up in his eyes not because of the impact of the slap but looking at the hurt in Advait's eyes.
~________________________________________~