Chapter 128
The dinner table was set. Everyone was sitting on their respective chairs.
The aroma of the fresh food was lingering in the air.
They all were silently having their dinner.
Advait was noticing Arush from the corner of his eyes.
Arush was silently having his dinner, talking with everyone and deliberately ignoring his bhaiya.
Advait sighed and decided to talk with him after dinner.
Aditya lightly elbowed Arush, "Rajeev bhaiya ko mere paas bhej kar kitchen me akele Sadhwi ke saath kya kar raha tha?" He teasingly asked.
"Wahi jo aap Vani di ke saath karte ho." Arush retorted earning himself a whack.
"Adi." Advait spoke up firmly.
Arush rolled his eyes, "Jhoothi care." He mumbled but Advait heard him.
"Kya bola?" Advait asked.
"Maine aapse baat ki?" Arush asked, glaring at him.
Abhishek, Aditya and Shreya looked up after noticing the unusual tone of Arush with Advait.
Advait sighed, "Kyun aise baat kar raha hai, baccha?" He asked softly.
"Mai aapse baat kar hi nahi raha, bhaiya." Arush replied.
"Arush." Abhishek said sharply.
Arush looked away and no one spoke after that. They completed their dinner in silence.
After dinner Advait went to Arush's room but he wasn't there then his phone had started ringing and he got distracted with it.
He directly went to Abhishek's room and found him sitting on the bed.
His laptop was opened in front of him and he was typing something.
Advait made his way to his side and swiftly picked up the laptop from his lap before placing it on the bedside table.
"Baaki ka kaam kal, abhi sone ka time hai." Advait said.
"Important kaam hai, bhaiya." Abhishek whined.
"Mere bacche ki health se important aur kuch ni." Advait said and made him laid down, "Now sleep."
"Neend nahi aa rahi, bhaiya." Abhishek mumbled.
"Aa jayegi, baccha." Advait replied and wrapped his arm around him taking him in the comfort of his warmth.
Abhishek closed his eyes and Advait started caressing his hair.
His fingers were gently working in his hair strand, the comforting gentleness of his caressing hand was lulling Abhishek to sleep.
Abhishek's eyes were closed, after a many days, he was finally at comfort.
He slowly drifted off to the peaceful slumber but Advait's eyes remained open, he was making sure that Abhishek had a peaceful sleep.
His mind was drifted off to Arush and he thought to check on him again.
He gently tried to get out of Abhishek's hold but he hugged him tightly, burying his head in Advait's side.
Advait sighed and again started caressing his hair to make him sleep.
On the other side, In the kitchen Arush was washing dishes. He was not pouting like every time, his face was scrunched up in a deep thinking. He was feeling hurt that Advait hadn't come to talk to him even for once. He had decided not to talk to him and stay upset with him.
He was thinking all this when a dramatic coughing sound echoed in the kitchen. He turned around and Sadhwi was standing there with a bright smile on her face. Arush smiled looking at her.
"Mujhe laga tum nahi aaogi." Arush said.
"Aise kaise nahi aaungi?" She asked, walking to his side, "Padhai kar rahi thi islie time ka pata hi nahi chala." She said.
Arush nodded his head. They started washing the dishes but Arush was silent which was unusual for his personality.
Sadhwi frowned, "Kuch hua hai?" She asked.
"Kisey?" He asked.
"Tumhe." She said, keeping her hands on her waist.
Arush shook his head making Sadhwi narrowed her eyes.
"Mujhe bhi nahi bataoge?" She asked, giving him an innocent look.
"Jab kuch hua hi nahi hai to kya bataun?" He asked.
"To phir yun muh kyun fula rakha hai?" She asked teasingly.
Arush sighed and looked away.
Sadhwi pouted, "Batao na, Arush." She requested.
"Bhaiya ab mujhse pyar nahi karte." He mumbled.
Sadhwi looked at him for a whole minutes before bursting out in a loud laughter, "What?" She laughed.
Arush pouted in offense.
"Tum has rahi ho." He complained with a pout.
She giggled, "To hasun nahi to kya karun....tum bhi kya bacchon wali baatein kar rahe ho." She said, giggling in between.
"Mai serious hoon, Sadhwi." He said in a serious tone making her shut up.
She had stopped laughing and stood straight with tight lipped.
"Batao kya hua?" She asked, trying not to laugh.
"Mujhe nahi batana tumhe kuch." Arush said in annoyance.
"Arey nahi has rahi ab batao na please....tumhe aisa kyun lagta hai ki tumhare bhaiya tumse pyar nahi karte?" She asked.
Arush turned towards her, "Kyunki wo nahi karte." He stated.
"Aisa kuch nahi hai, Arush. Balki mujhe to lagta hai wo sabse jyada tumse pyar karte hain baaki sabse kaise sadu ki tarah baat karte hain aur tumse kitne pyar se bolte hain." She said.
Arush narrowed his eyes, "Tumne mere bhaiya ko sadu bola?" He asked.
She gulped, "Na-Nahi, sadu nahi badu I mean bado ki tarah baat karte hain aur tumhare saath baccha samajh kar baat karte hain." She made up and clicked her tongue at the end.
Arush nodded his head, "Wo jo bhi ho par ab wo mujhse pyar nahi karte. Itne dino se befaltu me gussa karte hain mujhpe. Meri koi galti nahi hoti tab bhi daant'te hain." He said in a low voice.
Sadhwi sighed softly, "Daant'te bhi to wahi haina jo humse pyar karte hain." She said.
"Ye konsa pyar hai?" Arush scoffed.
"Tumhare bhaiya ka pyar." She replied, "Wo tumhe islie daant'te hain kyunki unhe tumhari fikar hai warna tum jo marzi karo kisi ko kya farak padta hai?" She explained him.
"Par mujhe nahi accha lagta jab wo mujhse gusse me baat karte hain." He said.
"Agar gusse me baat karte hain to pyar se mana bhi to lete haina." She replied.
"To phir abhi tak aaye kyun nahi mujhe manane?" He asked in a slight anger mixed with hurt.
"Har baar to aate hai, is baar tum chale jao. Agar tum saamne se jaa kar unse baat kar loge to chote nahi ho jaoge pata hai kyun?" She asked.
"Kyun?" He asked with a frown.
"Kyunki tum already chote ho." She giggled, her eyes were glinting mischievously.
Arush flicked her forehead making her laugh more loudly. They both giggled staring in each other's eyes.
"Mai samajh gaya. Bhaiya nahi aaye to kya hua mai khud unke paas chala jaunga." He said.
Sadhwi dramatically patted his back earning herself an another flick. She had started laughing again.
"Tumhe pata hai ye meri first punishment hai jo mai chahta hoon kabhi khatam hi na ho." Arush said referring to his dish duty punishment.
Sadhwi shook his head at him mumbling, "Buddhu."
~________________________________________~
Arush headed towards Advait's room and knocked on the door. He had decided to request him to sleep with him. With a wide smile on his face he again knocked on the door and Shreya opened the door.
"Aru, kya hua? Kuch chahiye tha baccha?" She asked politely.
"Bhabhi, aaj mai bhaiya ke paas so jaun please?" He asked with puppy eyes.
Shreya chuckled, "Tumhare bhaiya yahan nahi hai, baccha. Wo to Abhi ke room me uske paas so rahe hain." She informed.
Arush's face fell down, "Abhi bhai ke paas so rahe hain." He mumbled sadly.
Shreya noticed his expression and immediately regretted, "Wo Abhi ko neend nahi aa rahi thi na islie usne hi Advait se bola uske paas sone ke liye." She corrected herself.
But Arush didn't listen to her and went away from there with a pout glued to his face.
He was already upset with him and now instead of pacifying him, Advait was sleeping with Abhishek.
He straight walked towards Abhishek's room and slightly pushed open the door to peek inside.
He felt a pang of jealousy when he noticed Abhishek was sleeping, wrapping his arm around his bhaiya.
He was feeling ignored more than jealous.
He didn't say a word and walked back to his room before slumping down on the bed.
In Abhishek's room, Abhishek's face was covered with the sweat.
His face was scrunched up in panic, he was slowly shaking his head while murmuring incoherent words under his breath.
Advait's sleep broke due to the uneasy feeling in his chest but his eyes widened when he looked at the state of his kid.
"Abhi, kya hua?" Advait asked softly.
Abhishek didn't response. He was tangled in his nightmare.
"Don't.... leave me." Abhishek whispered breaking Advait's heart but the next sentence ached his heart more, "Mujhe... ch-chord kar mat jaiye, bhaiya." He whispered.
Advait lightly patted his cheeks, "Mai kaheen nahi jaa raha, baccha. Aankhein khol dekh yaheen hoon mai." He said in such a voice as if Abhishek was made up of a glass.
"Abhi, uth na beta please." He said helplessly. He was dying from inside looking at such condition of his child.
"Bhaiya...." Abhishek's fingers were twitching at his sides.
Advait shook his shoulder and jerked him out of his nightmare. Abhishek slowly opened his eyes, his eyes met with his brother and in the next moment he threw himself in Advait's arms. Advait wrapped his arms around him securely.
"Please yaheen rahiye, bhaiya." He said in a voice just above a whisper.
"Yaheen hoon mai, baccha." Advait caressed his back to soothe him down.
They stayed in each other's arms for a time until the storm inside their hearts had calmed down. Abhishek pulled back and looked into Advait's eyes.
"Mai bohot dar gaya tha, bhaiya." He said, his eyes were burning with tears, "Phir se mujhe chord kar kaheen mat jana." He pleaded.
"Kaheen nahi jaunga, beta." Advait muttered while wiping off the sweat from his face.
Advait made him laid down on the bed and covered him with the duvet, "So jaa, mai yaheen hoon." He said.
Abhishek held his hand close to his chest like a child seeking comfort in his mother's presence. He closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to a slumber. Advait kept looking at him with concerned eyes, he had decided to do something. He couldn't see his kid like this anymore.
~________________________________________~
In the morning, Advait directly made his way towards Arush's room but he wasn't there. Advait frowned but stepped downstairs in the living room and found him sitting on the sofa with Aditya. Advait walked to his side before stopping in front of him.
"Good morning, bhaiya." Aditya wished.
"Good morning." Advait ruffled his hair.
"Good morning, Aru." Advait said gently, sitting beside Arush.
But Arush stood up as soon as Advait sat down beside him and went away from there without any word. Advait sighed in hurt and disappointment.
"Bhabhi se jyada nakhre to ye aapko dikhata hai." Aditya commented sarcastically earning himself a glare.
"Kya har waqt ghoorte rehte hain aap?" Aditya asked earning himself an another look.
Advait shook his head, "Garden me jaa." He ordered.
"Mai to mazak kar raha tha." Aditya said meekly.
Advait raised his brow in confusion.
"Tere liye kuch hai islie bhej raha hoon." Advait cleared.
Aditya sighed in relief and smiled sheepishly. He stood up and walked out in the garden and the next moment his eyes widened in excitement and happiness when he looked at his dream bike in front of him. He danced on his place before running back to Advait. He jumped on Advait making him groaned.
"Kamar todega kya meri?" Advait said but a small smile tugged on his lips was betraying him.
"I love you so much, bhaiya." He kissed on his cheek multiple times. It was his way to thank him.
"Bas bas bas.... Jaa kar chala to sahi." Advait encouraged.
Advait jumped in excitement and held Advait's hand, "Aap bhi chaliye." He said.
"Kahan le jaya jaa raha hai apne bhaiya ko?" Shreya asked, entering the room.
Aditya ran to her before picking her up in his arms and twirling her around. Advait raised his brow before whacking his head, "Neeche utaar." He said.
Aditya pouted, "Meri bhabhi hain." He said protectively.
"Meri biwi hain." Advait retorted with a tight lipped smile.
Aditya sheepishly smiled before putting Shreya down on the floor.
"Itni khushi kis baat ki manayi jaa rahi hai ye to batao." Shreya asked.
"Chalo mai aapko dikhata hoon." Aditya said and dragged Shreya with himself.
They reached the garden and Aditya hopped on the bike before starting it. Shreya's eyes twinkled in awe looking at the vehicle.
"Aaiye bhabhi, meri new bike ki sabse pehli ride aapke saath." He said.
Shreya giggled and sat down behind him. Aditya started the bike before wheeling it around the garden. He got slightly unbalanced but composed himself.
"Aaram se." Advait shouted cautiously.
Aditya took a round and stopped the bike. He stepped down of it but Advait lightly whacked his head.
"Aap theek to hain?" Advait asked to Shreya.
Aditya pouted, "Wah bhaiya, apni biwi ki fikar hai aur chote se bhai ki fikar nahi hai." He said.
"Bhai to teen-teen hai par biwi ek hi haina, beta." Advait replied to tease him.
Aditya sulked, "That was so rude, bhaiya."
Advait chuckled before pulling him in a side hug and pecking his head.
Advait's gaze landed on the Arush who was standing in the garden watching the scene unfolding in front of him. Advait went to his side and smiled.
"Tujhe new phone chahiye tha na? Maine order kar diya hai. Kal aa jayega." Advait informed him.
"Mujhe aapse kuch nahi chahiye." Arush said and walked away from there taking long strides, leaving Advait with his thoughts.
~________________________________________~
Aditya entered the Khurana mansion with Vanya and royally sat down on the sofa. Reyansh entered the living room and glanced at him. Aditya stood up from his place and walked to Reyansh's side.
"Aur kaise hain, saale sahab?" Aditya asked, snaking his arm around his shoulder.
Reyansh passed him a hard glare making him stood up straight. He was about to say something when his gaze landed on Vanya and he stopped.
"Vani, tumhe mom bula rahi thi." He told her.
Vanya nodded and went away from there. The moment Vanya left from there Reyansh whacked Aditya's neck making him ran away from him. He started running in the living room and Reyansh started catching him.
"Idhar aa, gadhe." Reyansh said in a raised voice while running after him.
"Nahi aap maaroge." Aditya replied, running for his life.
"Nahi maarunga, aa idhar." Reyansh said and stopped.
Aditya stopped and carefully stepped towards him but Reyansh grabbed him by his arm and dragged him towards him before whacking his head.
"Agar tune meri behen ko touch bhi kiya na Adi to mujhse bura aur koi nahi hoga." Reyansh warned.
Aditya nodded but stopped when he realised Reyansh hadn't said anything against their relationship.
"Matlab aapko humare relationship se koi problem nahi hai?" He asked.
Reyansh softened, "Dekh Adi, tu chahein kitna bhi shararati ho par ek baat mai bohot acche se jaanta hoon. Meri behen ko tujhse accha ladka kabhi nahi mil sakta." He said sincerely.
Aditya smiled and pulled him in a hug. Reyansh patted his back before gently pushing him away, "Chal chal ab jyada pyar mat dikha." He said teasingly.
Vanya came downstairs running, "Bhai, mom ne to mujhe nahi bulaya." She said.
Reyansh smiled nervously, "Accha, mujhe aisa laga hoga." He said and Aditya narrowed his eyes at him.
Vanya ignored him and walked to Aditya before holding his hand, "Chal Adi mere room me chalte hain." She said.
"Room me kyun?" Reyansh asked in a hyper voice.
Aditya and Vanya jumped back slightly listening to his sudden burst, "Movie dekhne." Vanya replied simply.
"Nahi, jo dekhna hai living room me dekho. Room me nahi jana." Reyansh spoke up.
"Kyun bhai, room me kyun nahi?" She asked.
Reyansh looked away hesitantly. Aditya rolled his eyes and said, "Chal na yaheen movie dekhte hain, Vanu."
Vanya nodded her head and they sat down on the sofa to watch the movie. Reyansh looked at them and sighed in relief before walking away from there.
~________________________________________~
The room was suffocated with the silence. The tension was lingering in the air. Advait was standing, his gaze was focused on the door. He was in his cabin in the office and impatiently waiting for someone. A slight relief washed over his face when the door opened and the person entered the room.
"Kya hua, bhaiya? Sab theek to haina? Aapne mujhe itna urgently kyun bulaya?" Sia asked.
Advait looked at Sia before gathering up the courage to say, "Tu Abhi se shaadi karle." He said.
Sia blinked in confusion at the sudden strange request of Advait, "Kya matlab?" She asked.
Advait came forward and joined his hands in front of her, "Mujhe pata hai mai tujhse bohot badi cheez maang raha hoon, beta par please mere Abhi se shaadi karle.
Usey teri jarurat hai, mai usey roz aise tadapte huye nahi dekh sakta.
" He pleaded, his eyes were shimmering. His helplessness was clearly evident in his voice.
Sia held his hand and put them down, "Kya kar rahe hain aap, bhaiya. Aap pehele baithiye aur mujhe bataiye hua kya hai?" She asked in worry.
She made him sit down on the chair and Advait told her everything about the sleeping pills, Abhishek's insomnia and his nightmare. Sia's face contorted in concern for Abhishek.
"Abhi ne mujhse bhi kuch share nahi kiya." She mumbled in hurt.
Advait closed his eyes, "Wo kisi ko kuch batana nahi chahta. Bohot badal gaya hai mera baccha. Kisi se kuch share nahi karta sab kuch akele jhelne laga hai." He said and looked up at Sia, "Ab bas tu hi usey sambhal sakti hai. Mai Abhi ko aise nahi dekh sakta, Sia."
"Please usse shaadi karle." He added.
"Abhi ko kisi ki jarurat hai. Meri jarurat nahi hai, bhaiya." Sia said, "Aur agar mai maan bhi jaati hoon to kya Abhi maanega? Wo mujhse shaadi karega? Pyar karega?" She asked seriously.
Advait stood up from his place, "Abhi maan jayega. Mai mana lunga usey aur rahi baat pyar ki to wo tujhse pyar bhi karega just give him sometime." He replied desperately, "I know mai bohot selfish ho raha hoon par jis bacche ko maine paala hai usey mai roz tadapte huye nahi dekh sakta." He begged.
Sia was only staring at him without any word.
"Aap jaante haina bhaiya mai bhi Abhi se pyar karti hoon aur usey aise nahi dekh sakti par mai usey jabardasti kisi rishte me nahi daalna chahti." She spoke up.
"Koi jabardasti nahi hogi." Advait replied, "Mai Abhi ke saath koi jabardasti nahi karunga. Wo khud tere paas aayega tujhse shaadi karne ke liye puchne." He said with a determined face.
"Ab kya karne wale hain aap?" She asked.
Advait didn't reply and stared at something at a distance with a focused gaze. His mind was wandering around the thoughts of Abhishek.
~________________________________________~