Arnav came down and looked at the watch. He cringed. He was a good forty five minutes late. He needed to hurry up and prepare breakfast. Aniket and Aryan hated to have any meal cooked by maids. Arnav made sure they always had the food which satisfied them and their hearts.
Even as a three year toddler, Aryan had refused to eat anything that was not cooked by Arnav. Arnav had been hardly fifteen when he could cook better than half of the professional chefs in the town. And only an year back, a fourteen year old Arnav didn't know anything about kitchen other than making tea. He could do everything apart from cooking as other than all the household chores he used to do, he was not asked to prepare meals. But Aryan changed his life.
Aryan didn't want to eat the food which wasn't made at home and Arnav couldn't stand tears in his child's eyes. Not then, not now, not ever!
Initially he only learnt as much as needed for a child's sustainence but whenever he saw Aryan and Aniket eating food made by him with so much satisfaction, he felt his heart getting full with contentment. There wasn't much he was able to give them, if he could provide them with something that made them happy he would do it without any second thoughts any day. Learning to cook was literally nothing.
Arnav was about to enter the kitchen when he saw Ayaansh standing in the kitchen looking around like a lost child. Arnav tensed when he saw the boy taking out cold food in a plate. Arnav never let his brothers have cold food.
Ayaansh was still unaware of Arnav's presence. He quietly took out a roti from refrigerator for himself. He rolled it and was about to have it when he someone stopped him.
Ayaansh looked at the person in annoyance but looked away when he saw Arnav.
Arnav noticed his change of expression and ignored it. He took the roti from his hands and kept it back before walking to the kitchen counter without a word.
Ayaansh immediately assumed he was being punished for leaving his food midway yesterday night. He was used to such punishments but that didn't mean it hurt less. And he had no idea why it hurt more coming from Arnav. Ayaansh always believed only the people you love can hurt you. And Arnav wasn't one of them. It shouldn't hurt him. To mask up the hurt, Ayaansh chose to be annoyed.
Ayaansh started to walk out of the kitchen.
"10 minute wait kar lo. Breakfast bana raha hoon."
Ayaansh looked at Arnav startled.
Wasn't Arnav punishing him?
Arnav looked at the boy. "Baith jao, Ayaansh. It will take me ten to fifteen minutes at least to prepare breakfast."
Ayaansh nodded absentmindedly but didn't move an inch.
Arnav started taking out bread to make sandwiches. Ayaansh cringed. He hated to have those fancy foods in breakfast. Both Aniket and Aryan liked sandwiches with different stuffings. It was Arnav's saviour whenever he got late due to any reasons. Out of habit Arnav opted for the meal he could prepare at the soonest and both Aniket and Aryan had gladly.
Arnav was just preparing the stuffing when he remembered something. He looked at Ayaansh, still standing at the same place.
"Kal raat dinner bheja tha room me. Kar liya tha?"
Ayaansh looked away. He had not touched the food.
Arnav firmed his tone. "Skipping meals is not allowed, Ayaansh. I'll not take it well if you skip one more meal. Clear?"
Ayaansh nodded. Arnav's tone demanded obedience.
Arnav saw the sadness in his eyes and sighed. He needed to be gentler. The boy was already dealing with the greatest loss a child could have.
"Sandwiches are fine with you?"
"Anything is fine with me, Mr. Singhania. You don't need to bother."
It came out more harshly that Ayaansh had intended.
Arnav sighed. How would he deal with him if he wasn't even ready to have a talk?
Arnav finished the sandwiches and placed the plate in front of Ayaansh. Even though Ayaansh didn't like sandwiches, and specially not with those stuffings, he gratefully reached for the plate. He hadn't eaten for last two days. His hunger was making itself known. He digged into the breakfast.
Arnav sat with him to make sure he had his food properly. Looking at how he was digging into the meal, it was obvious he had been very hungry.
"Tumhe subah jaldi breakfast karne ki aadat hai?"
Ayaansh stopped eating but didn't look up. He was always an early riser unlike his parents. His parents were strict with meal timings. They had their breakfast at a particular timing and the staffs prepared it accordingly. Ayaansh had a habit of eating the cold food kept in refrigerator whenever he felt hungry early morning. That was the reason he had come down in the kitchen looking for something to eat. No one ever cared what he was eating.
Arnav sighed when he didn't get an answer.
"Aaj thoda late ho gya mujhe. Kal se jaldi bana doonga breakfast. You don't need to have cold food."
Ayaansh dared not to look at Arnav. He knew the wall would break if saw Arnav's soft eyes filled with gentleness.
Arnav got a call and he hurriedly got up to leave. He had an important meeting. He was about to leave when Aryan hugged him from back.
Arnav smiled. "Good morning, bacha."
"Aap mujhse mile bana office ja rhe the?"
"I was getting late, beta. Teri vacations hai na isliye tujhe nhi uthaya."
"Aapke paas mere liye bilkul time nhi hai, Bhaiya. This is not done."
Arnav could hear the sadness in his voice. He had been very busy lately. Arnav turned around and cupped Aryan's face. "Sorry, Bacha, this weekend I'll be at home. We'll spend as much time as you want, okay?"
"Sachii?" Aryan's eyes sparkled.
Arnav nodded and kissed his forehead. "I've prepared the breakfast. Have it and be a good boy. Mai chalu?"
Aryan hugged him once more and pulled back happily.
Ayaansh found the interaction extremely adorable. The Singhania family dynamics baffled Ayaansh. He hadn't known such families exist. He hadn't known such love exists. He wished he could have gotten at least a few shares of the love from his parents that this family had.
Aryan turned to find at Ayaansh at the dining table. He smiled broadly and ran to him. "Good morning, Bhai."
Ayaansh almost smiled. Aryan's happiness was contagious. Anyone could not remain sad or unhappy in the boy's presence.
Aryan sat down next to Ayaansh and served himself. They ate in silence. His Bhaiya had told him to give Ayaansh some time to adjust with them. He didn't want to make Ayaansh uncomfortable. Ayaansh was grateful for the silence.
After some time, Aniket came down and smiled when he looked at Ayaansh and Aryan together.
Aniket was planning on taking his breakfast and leaving the duo quietly but his younger brother yelled as soon as he saw him.
"Bhaiyu, you lost the bet. I woke up before you!"
Aniket whacked him. "Kiddo, you even slept before me. Wo nhi yaad aaya tujhe?"
"Kitna atyachar karte ho aap chhote se bache par. Aane do Bhaiya ko I'll tell how you hit me." Aryan threatened.
Ayaansh bit his smile at the horrified expression Aniket gave Ayaansh before whacking him once again.
"Bhaiya ko pata hai tu kitna sach bolta hai, samjha? Ab kha chup chap."
Aryan laughed and hugged Aniket by his midriff. Aniket ruffled his hair. "Kya chahiye tujhe?"
"Mai aapko aise hug nhi kar sakta?" Aryan gave him his most innocent look.
Aniket smiled. His little brother was too much of a brat to be trusted in these situations.
Aryan tugged at his hand again. "Aaj gaming zone chale?"
Aniket laughed out.
"Bhaiya se puch. Mujhe bolke kya hoga."
"Aap pucho na please, Bhaiyu, please."
Aniket shook his head. None of them could deny Aryan and the boy absolutely knew how to play his cards. "Thik hai, sham ko chalte hai."
"Thank you, Bhaiyu. You're the best." Aryan hugged him excitedly.
Ayaansh got up to keep his plate in the sink when Aryan called out to him.
"Bhai, aap bhi chaloge na humare saath?"
Ayaansh stiffened. He didn't want to hurt the boy but he didn't want their company either. The more he stayed in their presence, the more he realised how lonely he was.
Aniket noticed his stiffened demeanor and pulled Aryan back. "Pehle Bhaiya se puchne toh de. Uske baad dekhte hai, okay?"
Aryan took the hint and nodded.
Ayaansh walked out.
It was past evening when Aryan randomly entered Ayaansh's room. He was getting bored. His Bhaiya and Bhaiyu were not at home and he was bugged. He had even called his Bhaiya but he was busy in a meeting. He was getting annoyed when he realised Ayaansh was at home. He couldn't stop himself from seeking his company.
Ayaansh was surprised when Aryan walked into his room unannounced and settled himself on the bed.
"Aap bhi bore ho rhe ho na, Bhai? Mai bhi bohot bore ho raha hoon."
Ayaansh sighed. He couldn't disagree. He had never been the one to sit idle doing nothing. He always kept himself busy but now neither did he have the energy not did he feel like doing anything.
"Maine Bhaiya ko bhi call Kiya par wo toh kisi stupid meeting me busy hai." Aryan continued.
Ayaansh was amazed how the boy could be so comfortable with him without having any kind of relationship with him. Wasn't he scared of strangers? Wasn't he scared that he would hurt him?
Aryan's phone rang and Aryan smiled as he saw Arnav's number flashing.
"Bhaiya?" Aryan picked up the call.
"Kuch khaya, Bacha?" Arnav asked.
Aryan shook his head, forgetting his Bhaiya couldn't see him.
"Maine rolls bana kar rakha hai. Just put some spread on and have it. I'll be home for dinner, okay? Ask Ayaansh as well. He must be hungry too."
"Aapne kuch khaya?"
Arnav smiled at the other side. "Kha liya tha, bacha. Ja tu kha le."
Aryan shook his head. "Mai jaanta hoon aapne nhi khaya. Come home soon, Bhaiya. I'll not have dinner without you."
"I will, bacha. Ab Jake kha le."
Aryan said him bye and disconnected the call.
Aryan's stomach gave a grumbling noise. Apparently, the boy was hungry. He looked at Ayaansh. "I'm hungry, Bhai. Aapko bhi bhook lagi hogi na?"
Ayaansh hesitated. He didn't want to bother anyone but he was really hungry.
Aryan didn't give him a chance to deny and started dragging him down to the kitchen. "Bhaiya aayenge toh dinner bana denge. Abhi make do with me."
Ayaansh pulled Aryan back. He didn't know if the boy knew anything about kitchen. Was he even allowed to enter the kitchen?
"Koi zarurat nhi hai. Mai kuch bana deta hoon. Tum ruko."
Aryan shook his head. "Bhaiya doesn't like us cooking in the kitchen, Bhai. He said he will teach me cooking once I'm eighteen. By that rule, you aren't allowed to cook either."
Ayaansh almost scoffed. He had cooked in the kitchen many times. He hadn't been a pampered prince to follow such rules. But he remained quiet in front of Aryan. He didn't want him to learn breaking rules from him.
Aryan took out some rolls and put some spread onto it. He rolled it and handed one to Ayaansh. Ayaansh was pleasantly surprised. So the pampered prince also knew survival skills.
"Bhaiya ne sikhaya hai. Jab woh nhi hote toh mai yahi karta hoon. Kha lo aap bhi."
Ayaansh took the role and started eating. He coughed a bit. Aryan immediately passed him water.
"Aaram se, Bhai. Bhaiya kehte hai khana kabhi jaldbaazi me nhi khaate."
Ayaansh could hear the concern in his voice. The boy tugged at his heartstrings. He knew somewhere he was letting the boy in and that scared him. He didn't want to hurt the boy. He looked at Aryan who was eating with zero regard of hygiene. The spread was all over his lips and cheeks. Ayaansh cringed.
Aryan noticed that and laughed out. His Bhai was just like his Bhaiya. Had it been his Bhaiya he would have gotten another nth lecture over hygeine by now.
"Aap toh bilkul Bhaiya ke jaise ho, Bhai."
Ayaansh heart warmed up listening to that. He even noticed how Aryan's every second sentence had his Bhaiya. It was as if the boy's world started and ended with his Bhaiya for him.
Aryan looked at the watch and got up. "Meri online classes ka time ho gya, Bhai. Mai jata hu, haan?"
Ayaansh nodded.
Ayaansh lied down on his bed restlessly. He had been having wierd burning sensation in his chest for last half an hour. He drank two bottles of water but nothing helped. The burning sensation was just growing more and more. Ayaansh buried his face in his pillow as he started feeling dizzy. He didn't know for how long he tried to hold on before he lost consciousness.
Arnav was on his way back home. He had cancelled his last meeting of the day and hurried out of office. He was feeling restless for no apparent reason. He called Aniket and Aryan both to check up on them. Both of the assured him they were fine. Aniket was busy with some client and Aryan was at home. Arnav couldn't shrug off the feeling and decided to go home.
Arnav reached home and walked to Aryan's room. He saw Aryan studying and relaxed. He was about to walk back to his own room when something urged him to walk ahead and enter Ayaansh's room.
Ayaansh was lying on the bed. He looked asleep. Arnav turned to go but his gut feelings told him something was wrong. He could just feel it. He turned back and walked into the room.
Arnav slowly approached Ayaansh and looked at his face. Arnav sighed. The boy was indeed sleeping it seemed. They boy looked so innocent and drained out of energy. Arnav's heart went out to him. He sat on the bed and couldn't hold back himself from caressing the boy's face.
Arnav's face lost its colour as soon as he touched Ayaansh's face. The boy was burning up. Arnav immediately pulled him closer and patted his cheek.
"Ayaansh?"
"Ayaansh, wake up."
"Ayaansh-"
Arnav's blood ran cold when he realised Ayaansh had not been sleeping. He had been unconscious. Arnav pulled him to his chest and rushed him to the hospital.
Arnav could only think of Ayaansh's innocent eyes looking at him. His eyes filled up as he realised it was his brother lying unconscious in his arms. Arnav blinked off the tears and sped up the car. Arnav Singhania would never let anything happen to his brother!
Write a comment ...