Arnav stepped out of car and opened the door for Ayaansh. The boy had refused to even look at him.
"Ayaansh, we've reached." Arnav spoke to bring Ayaansh out of his trance.
Ayaansh nodded without meeting Arnav's eyes and followed the brothers to their home. Not his home! He knew that well.
Before Arnav could say anything to the boy, Aryan came running and dragged him inside the house.
"Finally we're home, Bhaiya. I missed my room very much!" Aryan said with a dramatic sigh.
Aniket whacked him. "24 ghante nhi hue Hume ghar se bahar rahe. Bas baatein karwa lo janab se."
"Haan toh? I love my room. Main aapki tarah do din me ek baar ghar nhi aata na." Aryan said with a mischievous smile.
Aniket glared him down and dared to look at his elder brother.
"Arre, Bhaiya, aap—" Aniket started but stopped as Arnav stared him sternly.
"Why weren't you home for last two days, Aniket?"
Aniket gave him a charming smile. "Do din kaha, Bhaiya, kal toh aa gya tha na."
Arnav sighed and shook his head before starting to walk away.
Aniket raised his hand to whack Aryan as soon as Arnav turned. Aryan yelled immediately. "Bhaiya, dekho Bhaiyu maar rahe hai aapke bache ko."
Arnav shot Aniket a look.
Aniket lifted up his hands in surrender. He had no intentions of getting whacked. He can deal with his little devil later.
"Dono Jake fresh ho jao. I'll make something to eat." Arnav walked away into the kitchen.
Aryan gave Aniket a teasing smile. "Aaj toh aapko ghar pe rehna hai na, Bhaiyu?"
Aniket was about to whack him again but Aryan jumped back in defense and smirked.
"Ek hi galti baar baar nhi dohrate, Bhaiyu."
"Abbe teri toh.."
Aryan laughed and ran away for his life. Aniket smiled. Aryan was the cheer of the house. They started living instead of surviving the moment Aryan entered their lives. Aryan was the treasure they would cherish for life.
Ayaansh stood there watching them longingly. For a moment he felt immensely happy to be at a place where a family was living together so happily. Unlike his family! The very next moment he was filled with inexplicable hollowness when he realised he isn't a part of the family.
He is a burden on them!
"Ayaansh."
Ayaansh looked at Arnav.
"You can take the room next to mine. Abhi wahan thodi problem hogi but I'll make the required arrangements as soon as possible. Tab tak liye adjust kar lo, okay?"
Ayaansh nodded.
Arnav sighed. He held Ayaansh's hands and made his sit. Ayaansh gave him a questioning look.
Arnav spoke gently. "Kuch bologe nahi toh mujhe pata kaise chalega tumhare mann me kya hai? Tumhe kya chahiye kya nhi? You need to talk, Ayaansh."
Ayaansh stood up. "Mujhe kuch nhi chahiye. Aap mujhe apne Ghar me rehne de rhe hai. Iske liye thank you, Mr. Singhania."
Arnav masked the hurt that flashed across his face when the boy called him Mr. Singhania but he respected Ayaansh's decision. None of them were ready for confrontations and acknowledgements right now.
"Tumhe thank you kehne ki jaroorat nhi hai. Ghar mera ya tumhara nhi, humara hai. Jao fresh ho jao and come down to eat in some time. I'll prepare something."
Arnav walked away saying that. Ayaansh looked at his retreating figure. He could hear the sincerity in Arnav's voice but he wasn't ready to accept it yet.
Arnav came out of the kitchen and placed the food on dining table. He looked at the watch. It was almost evening. His brothers must be hungry. None of them had eaten anything. Arnav was about to call out to them when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head. He sat down on the nearby chair. He hadn't had a wink of sleep in last three days. That must have taken a toll on him. He was about to get up when someone gave him a glass of water.
Arnav looked up to see Ayaansh looking at him worriedly.
"Aap theek ho?"
Arnav nodded and took the glass from him. "Thank you."
"Aap sach me thik ho?"
Arnav looked up. He could see the concern in boy's eyes. And it almost seemed familiar to Aryan's eyes to Arnav. The thought only made Arnav more restless than he already was.
"Sir, aap—"
"Mai thik hoon, Ayaansh. I'm alright." Arnav squeezed Ayaansh's hand gently in assurance. Ayaansh relaxed.
Aryan came down rubbing his eyes in sleep and made a beeline for Arnav.
Ayaansh stepped back.
Arnav smiled as Aryan settled on his lap like a five year old and buried his face into his chest.
"Neend puri ho gyi, bacha?" Arnav caressed his face.
Aryan nodded his head against his Bhaiya's chest.
Aniket came down and looked at the dining table. As usual his brother had made different dishes for both of them. He looked at Arnav who looked exhausted. But the love on Arnav's face could take away their exhaustion any day.
"Aapko banane ki kya zaroorat thi, Bhaiya? Staffs se banwa dete."
Ayaansh also looked at Arnav for answer. He was also wondering the same. The mansion had more staffs than whole lot of people back in his hometown he felt. Arnav Singhania didn't need to exhaust himself in the kitchen.
"Arre staffs ko khana banana thodi aata hai, Bhaiyu. Wo toh ekdam aapki shakal jaisa kuch banake rakh dete hai." Aryan answered before Arnav could.
"Tu phir bola!" Aniket glared at him but it was wasted as Aryan was busy snuggling to Arnav.
Ayaansh couldn't hold back his chuckle.
All three brothers looked up at him. They had almost forgotten Ayaansh was there. They were not used to having a forth person around.
Ayaansh averted his eyes awkwardly.
Aryan excitedly got up from Arnav's lap and hugged Ayaansh.
Ayaansh was taken aback. So were Aniket and Arnav.
"Finally you smiled, Bhai. I'm very happy you're here. I've someone to play with." Aryan said and without waiting for a reply dragged Ayaansh to the chair and made him sit.
Aniket and Arnav looked at each other. Arnav was pleasantly surprised. He wasn't expecting Aryan to accept Ayaansh so heartily.
The boy had not once asked Arnav who Ayaansh was or what relationship they shared with him. For him all that mattered was his Bhaiya brought someone home and now he was a part of their family. He had been raised with abundance of love to not be able to spread it to others.
"Aap Bhaiya ki haath ki pav bhaji khake dekho, Bhai. Our Bhaiya is the best cook in the world." Aryan went on and on without giving Ayaansh a chance to reply.
Somehow, Ayaansh found that really adorable. He didn't miss the fact that Aryan had said our Bhaiya. It warmed up his heart in a way nothing else could.
Aryan was about to serve the curry to Ayaansh when Arnav stopped him. Ayaansh and Aryan looked at him questioningly.
"Kya hua, Bhaiya?"
Arnav turned to Ayaansh. "Kisi cheez se allergy hai?"
That was all it took for Ayaansh to tear up. He blinked furiously to stop his tears from rolling down.
Arnav was troubled. He had asked a simple question. He looked at Aniket. What did he do to make the boy cry?
Aniket shook his head. He had no clue what had suddenly caused the tears.
"Yeh pasand nhi hai? Kuch aur bana doon?" Arnav asked gently.
Ayaansh looked at him with tear filled eyes for a moment before rushing out from there. He would have broken if he stayed in Arnav's presence a second more. And he didn't want to add on to Arnav's burdens!
Aniket could see how upset Arnav was. His Bhaiya hated skipping meals or leaving the dining table like that.
"Bacha hai, Bhaiya. Aap pareshan mat ho. Mai kisi se kehke plate room me bhej deta hoon."
Arnav nodded but he was troubled. He wanted to know the reason behind Ayaansh's tears. It disturbed him as much as Aniket or Aryan's tears.
"Bhai aise kyu chale gye, Bhaiya? Mujhe unse baatein karni thi." Aryan asked.
Arnav sighed. Aryan was too young to get involved in such issues. He had to make sure Aryan doesn't get hurt in any way.
"Woh abhi bohot pareshan hai, Bacha. Kal baat kar lena tu. Abhi kha le."
Aniket made Arnav sit back after Aryan left. He knew his brother was getting migraine again. His migraines gets triggered whenever he's tensed or upset.
"Dawai li aapne?"
Arnav sighed. He hadn't taken medicine for last two days. "Le loonga yaar, Ani."
Aniket glared at him. "Mai aapko car kharidne nhi bol rha, Bhaiya, jo jab aapka mood hoga tab le loge."
"Ani, tu—"
"Don't Ani me, Bhaiya. Skipping meals is not allowed in our home. The same rule applies to you, Bhaiya."
"Abhi toh tere saath dinner Kiya."
"Yeah, I saw how you hardly touched anything."
This time Arnav glared him down. "Jyada himmat nhi badh gyi teri?"
Aniket rolled his eyes. "I know when you're angry and when you're not, Bhaiya. Chup chap kuch Khao aur dawai lo aap."
Arnav shook his head. "Dinner ho gya, Ani. I'll take medicine."
"Bhaiya, aap—"
Aniket stopped when he saw Arnav's eyes. As he had said, he knew when to not cross his Bhaiya.
Arnav got up and left. Aniket sighed. His brother always loved without reservation and he could already see the soft spot he had for the boy. Arnav wouldn't eat untill he makes sure Ayaansh has eaten.
Arnav sat in his room restlessly. Sleep was far away from his eyes. His body was exhausted but his heart refused to cooperate. He got up and picked up the empty jug from his side table.
Arnav was walking back to his room after filling water when he saw Aryan's empty room. He made his way to Aniket's room. As he had expected Aryan was sleeping beside Aniket peacefully. Arnav carefully walked in and tucked the blanket around them properly. His brother played football even in his dreams it seemed. The blanket was everywhere but on their bodies.
Ayaansh's eyes filled up looking at them. He could see the live radiating from Arnav's face. Ayaansh felt the longingness creeping up his heart. All his life he had craved for nothing but love but he didn't realise at that moment he was craving Arnav's love. Ayaansh wanted to walk away but for some reasons he was unable to. He might have known Arnav for only a few hours but he already knew Arnav Singhania had a heart which only knew how to love. He was yet to realise that Arnav Singhania had a heart which didn't know how to not love!
Arnav caressed Aryan's face. His smile was Arnav's peace. No matter how restless his heart became, the solace was only a smile. Arnav pressed a gentle kiss on Aryan's and then Aniket's forehead and moved away.
Arnav turned back after shutting the door and was surprised to see Ayaansh there. What was the boy doing at midnight?
"Ayaansh?"
Ayaansh was startled to hear the voice. He didn't realise Arnav had already come out. "Haan, woh.. mai woh.."
Aryan stuttered as he struggled to find an excuse. He had always been bad at them.
"Pani lene aaye the?" Arnav asked and Ayaansh immediately nodded. He was grateful for the excuse.
Arnav almost smiled. Just like his brothers the boy didn't know how to lie. Kitchen was in completely opposite direction and Aniket's room was the last one so there was no chance of passing by either.
"Yeh lo. Kuch aur chahiye?" Arnav handed him the jug of water he had filled for himself.
Ayaansh shook his head and walked away. Ayaansh blinked off his tears. Arnav's gentle voice was breaking something inside him. He knew he had to put Arnav at a distance. His fragile heart couldn't bear the risk of unmet expectations. He couldn't let himself hope for something that wasn't his. Arnav Singhania was not a part of his life and he couldn't let him be a part of his wounded heart.
Only if he knew Arnav Singhania was the only healing his heart longed for!
Do leave a word behind!
Love,
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